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- Aug 26, 2011
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First off, while the general pessimism on this board is understandable given the discouraging final ten minutes, I think we all need to realize Maryland is a good team, probably headed for the tournament, that is going to beat some good, maybe even great teams this season. Add that to the fact that it was an extremely Maryland friendly environment, and if you had told me this morning we were going to win by one, it would have sounded pretty good to me.
As for the game itself, there was a lot of evidence to suggest this team might live up to, or even exceed, expectations. There were also a few things that really concerned me. As a disclaimer, I haven't watched the replay of this game, and my live time observations are often intensified because of the emotional investment I have in every possession. So take my insight for what it is worth.
I don't want to come off as reactionary, because Maryland at some point was going to make a run and at least give UConn fans reason to sweat. But it would be an understatement to say I was disappointed with the way they unraveled down the stretch. For a veteran-laden team with as much big game experienced as they've accumulated, the lack of composure demonstrated in the final ten minutes - particularly from those we never would have expected it from - is not something I envisioned in this years team. It could be simply an isolated incident rather than the marking of a trend, but when you're up 17 with 10 minutes left, we should not be holding our breath on the final possessions of the game. We abandoned any semblance of offensive fluidity, the communication on both sides of the floor was noticeably absent, and as a whole the team seemed dis-discombobulated and out of sync.
Defensively, there are a lot of improvements that need to be made. Obviously, the officials have made it a point of emphasis to eliminate hand checking from the game. In that regard, it shouldn't come as a surprise that UConn was whistled for 22 fouls that resulted in 21 Maryland points. What I was more concerned with was the amount of open three pointers we yielded, particularly to players that are going to make you pay for it. Granted, it's the first game of the season, and defensive rotations, more than I think any other facet of the game, are generally fundamental imperfections that the suddenness of early season basketball exposes. But UConn returns five starters, so I expected the rotations, recoveries, close-outs, and discipline to be a bit further along in the developmental process.
All that being said, you can't blow a 17 point lead unless you first acquire one, and it was more than a bit exciting to discover the relative ease with which UConn made a pretty good team look quite bad. And really, that's my biggest fear with the way that game ended; I don't want a crappy final 10 minutes to obscure what was otherwise a fairly dominant performance by a team with an overwhelming supply of weaponry offensively. The way UConn was able to align their offense at times tonight - with Boatright and Napier toying with defenders off the dribble, capable deep range shooters repeatedly finding themselves all alone, and our big men frequently roaming unsupervised underneath the basket - was on par structurally with the 2011-12 Missouri team I compared this squad to the other day. Think about it, this team had 67 freaking points at the 12 minute mark in the second half, and it probably could have been more. It's been a long, long time since I've seen a UConn offense capable of effortlessly lighting up the scoreboard. Our points in recent years have been excruciatingly hard to come by at times, and if tonight was any indication - which I think it may have only been the tipping point - this will be one of the most efficient offenses in the country as I suspected.
Brief player notes:
DD - The consensus view will likely pin Daniels's performance tonight as something of a disappointment given the off-season chatter, but I'm not overly disappointed. He took a three on one of the first possessions of the game that rimmed out, and then seemed hesitant to shoot from there, instead often opting to force the issue pursuing driving lanes that weren't really there. I liked that we tried to involve him from the post - we experienced varying degrees of success, but with the touch he's displayed around the rim, it's only a matter of time before he breaks through (probably next game). My biggest complaint is that he only recorded two rebounds. Nobody's asking him to average 9 a game like he did towards the end of the season, but it needs to be at least 6.5-7.
Boat - I can't say I was all that impressed with Boat tonight. He did display some nice court vision, and his ability to slice into the cracks of the defense - especially against the zone - and locate teammates may be his most vital attribute to this team. But he really struggled in the way of generating his own offense - he shot 4 of 12 from the field, and I'm fairly certain 3 of those were open court dunks. Down the stretch he was, IMO, surprisingly tentative, and I wonder if fatigue (37 minutes) played a role. Defensively he'll have to improve, but as others have pointed out, his defense on the final possession was nothing short of phenomenal.
Omar - He struggled to find his shot early, but emerged in the second half with a couple three's that extended the lead. He made a really nice move to the basket in the first half that I didn't see much last season - generally last year he would have barreled somebody over or dribbled it out of bounds, but on this play he demonstrated poise and seemed to have a better understanding of how to find the creases in the defense.
Giff - I agree with those suggesting Giffey should have played more than 17 minutes tonight, but I can't necessarily fault Ollie for sticking with a lineup that was performing well in the beginning of the second half. The one question regarding Giffey this season is whether he'd continue to build on his momentum from a successful summer abroad, or if he'd revert back to his three point shooting woes that have plagued him his entire career. I think he answered those questions pretty emphatically - the box score looks pretty, sure (5-6 from the field, 3-3 from deep), but what matters more to me is the way he shot them. The tentative Giffey who treated every three point attempt like it was a life-altering decision appears to be gone.
Phil - He pretty much provided what I expected. His post defense was uneven, but he took up some space out there, battled on the boards, and seemed to be at least somewhat of a threat on offense. It's a start.
Tyler - I'm not going to exonerate Tyler from all of his off-season shenanigans, but I think it's fair to say many of his alleged character flaws were blown out of proportion and not much different from those of any other 21-year-old college kid. The kid isn't a fan favorite but he has busted his a** for this program the last three years, and I couldn't be happier he was the one to hit the big shot.
Samuel - I liked what I saw. He played the best perimeter defense of all the guards, he didn't force the issue offensively, and the drive to the basket in the second half displayed poise beyond his years. Yeah, he missed the free throw late, but I don't think the average Joe understands how difficult it is to hit a free throw in a basketball game when you haven't been to the line the entire game, much less when it's in the biggest moment of the game. I recall a freshman by the name of Shabazz Napier missing a free throw that would have put the MSU game away a few years ago in Maui, so maybe this is an omen.
Kromah - He, along with Giffey and Brimah, was the story of the first half. 8 points in 13 minutes off the bench...talk about instant offense. The kid without question has the athleticism and skill set to compete at this level.
Bazz - 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists - once again, Shabazz was the best, most complete player on the floor. I noticed a couple other posters questioning his decision making down the stretch, and while he certainly wasn't as flawless with his decision making as we're accustomed to him being, I hesitate to place too much of the blame on his shoulders for a bang/bang call (the play he fouled out on) and a technical that was iffy at best.
Brimah - Holy s***. I have no idea how he was overlooked by so many scouts and coaches. It's not just the statistical output that astonishes me, it's the fact that his head damn near hits the rim when he goes up to dunk the ball, and my God, his timing on those weak side blocks brought back Emeka/Hasheem memories. The biggest problem for him will simply be staying on the floor. For as active and astoundingly mobile as he is, he is still a string bean and will struggle to guard bulkier forwards in the post. But against teams who don't have dependable low post options, yikes. The kid is going to be able to roam free in the paint and wreck havoc.
This team is already intervals ahead of where they were at this time last season. The ball movement is free-flowing, the team speed striking, and the defensive instincts all our guards possess are very conducive to turnovers and fast break opportunities. We can banter back and fourth about this game into the morning hours - and in fact, we are - but I'm just going to keep going back to one stat: 67 points in 28 minutes. And we're one game in. Just wait until game seventeen, when when all the offensive sets Ollie has implemented are second nature, Shabazz and Boatright have a better understanding on where their teammates prefer to receive the ball on the court, and the overall cohesiveness is at an all-time high. This team just scratched the surface tonight - and they put up 67 points in 28 minutes. This is going to be as dynamic a team UConn has seen in a long time. God, I can't wait until Monday.
As for the game itself, there was a lot of evidence to suggest this team might live up to, or even exceed, expectations. There were also a few things that really concerned me. As a disclaimer, I haven't watched the replay of this game, and my live time observations are often intensified because of the emotional investment I have in every possession. So take my insight for what it is worth.
I don't want to come off as reactionary, because Maryland at some point was going to make a run and at least give UConn fans reason to sweat. But it would be an understatement to say I was disappointed with the way they unraveled down the stretch. For a veteran-laden team with as much big game experienced as they've accumulated, the lack of composure demonstrated in the final ten minutes - particularly from those we never would have expected it from - is not something I envisioned in this years team. It could be simply an isolated incident rather than the marking of a trend, but when you're up 17 with 10 minutes left, we should not be holding our breath on the final possessions of the game. We abandoned any semblance of offensive fluidity, the communication on both sides of the floor was noticeably absent, and as a whole the team seemed dis-discombobulated and out of sync.
Defensively, there are a lot of improvements that need to be made. Obviously, the officials have made it a point of emphasis to eliminate hand checking from the game. In that regard, it shouldn't come as a surprise that UConn was whistled for 22 fouls that resulted in 21 Maryland points. What I was more concerned with was the amount of open three pointers we yielded, particularly to players that are going to make you pay for it. Granted, it's the first game of the season, and defensive rotations, more than I think any other facet of the game, are generally fundamental imperfections that the suddenness of early season basketball exposes. But UConn returns five starters, so I expected the rotations, recoveries, close-outs, and discipline to be a bit further along in the developmental process.
All that being said, you can't blow a 17 point lead unless you first acquire one, and it was more than a bit exciting to discover the relative ease with which UConn made a pretty good team look quite bad. And really, that's my biggest fear with the way that game ended; I don't want a crappy final 10 minutes to obscure what was otherwise a fairly dominant performance by a team with an overwhelming supply of weaponry offensively. The way UConn was able to align their offense at times tonight - with Boatright and Napier toying with defenders off the dribble, capable deep range shooters repeatedly finding themselves all alone, and our big men frequently roaming unsupervised underneath the basket - was on par structurally with the 2011-12 Missouri team I compared this squad to the other day. Think about it, this team had 67 freaking points at the 12 minute mark in the second half, and it probably could have been more. It's been a long, long time since I've seen a UConn offense capable of effortlessly lighting up the scoreboard. Our points in recent years have been excruciatingly hard to come by at times, and if tonight was any indication - which I think it may have only been the tipping point - this will be one of the most efficient offenses in the country as I suspected.
Brief player notes:
DD - The consensus view will likely pin Daniels's performance tonight as something of a disappointment given the off-season chatter, but I'm not overly disappointed. He took a three on one of the first possessions of the game that rimmed out, and then seemed hesitant to shoot from there, instead often opting to force the issue pursuing driving lanes that weren't really there. I liked that we tried to involve him from the post - we experienced varying degrees of success, but with the touch he's displayed around the rim, it's only a matter of time before he breaks through (probably next game). My biggest complaint is that he only recorded two rebounds. Nobody's asking him to average 9 a game like he did towards the end of the season, but it needs to be at least 6.5-7.
Boat - I can't say I was all that impressed with Boat tonight. He did display some nice court vision, and his ability to slice into the cracks of the defense - especially against the zone - and locate teammates may be his most vital attribute to this team. But he really struggled in the way of generating his own offense - he shot 4 of 12 from the field, and I'm fairly certain 3 of those were open court dunks. Down the stretch he was, IMO, surprisingly tentative, and I wonder if fatigue (37 minutes) played a role. Defensively he'll have to improve, but as others have pointed out, his defense on the final possession was nothing short of phenomenal.
Omar - He struggled to find his shot early, but emerged in the second half with a couple three's that extended the lead. He made a really nice move to the basket in the first half that I didn't see much last season - generally last year he would have barreled somebody over or dribbled it out of bounds, but on this play he demonstrated poise and seemed to have a better understanding of how to find the creases in the defense.
Giff - I agree with those suggesting Giffey should have played more than 17 minutes tonight, but I can't necessarily fault Ollie for sticking with a lineup that was performing well in the beginning of the second half. The one question regarding Giffey this season is whether he'd continue to build on his momentum from a successful summer abroad, or if he'd revert back to his three point shooting woes that have plagued him his entire career. I think he answered those questions pretty emphatically - the box score looks pretty, sure (5-6 from the field, 3-3 from deep), but what matters more to me is the way he shot them. The tentative Giffey who treated every three point attempt like it was a life-altering decision appears to be gone.
Phil - He pretty much provided what I expected. His post defense was uneven, but he took up some space out there, battled on the boards, and seemed to be at least somewhat of a threat on offense. It's a start.
Tyler - I'm not going to exonerate Tyler from all of his off-season shenanigans, but I think it's fair to say many of his alleged character flaws were blown out of proportion and not much different from those of any other 21-year-old college kid. The kid isn't a fan favorite but he has busted his a** for this program the last three years, and I couldn't be happier he was the one to hit the big shot.
Samuel - I liked what I saw. He played the best perimeter defense of all the guards, he didn't force the issue offensively, and the drive to the basket in the second half displayed poise beyond his years. Yeah, he missed the free throw late, but I don't think the average Joe understands how difficult it is to hit a free throw in a basketball game when you haven't been to the line the entire game, much less when it's in the biggest moment of the game. I recall a freshman by the name of Shabazz Napier missing a free throw that would have put the MSU game away a few years ago in Maui, so maybe this is an omen.
Kromah - He, along with Giffey and Brimah, was the story of the first half. 8 points in 13 minutes off the bench...talk about instant offense. The kid without question has the athleticism and skill set to compete at this level.
Bazz - 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists - once again, Shabazz was the best, most complete player on the floor. I noticed a couple other posters questioning his decision making down the stretch, and while he certainly wasn't as flawless with his decision making as we're accustomed to him being, I hesitate to place too much of the blame on his shoulders for a bang/bang call (the play he fouled out on) and a technical that was iffy at best.
Brimah - Holy s***. I have no idea how he was overlooked by so many scouts and coaches. It's not just the statistical output that astonishes me, it's the fact that his head damn near hits the rim when he goes up to dunk the ball, and my God, his timing on those weak side blocks brought back Emeka/Hasheem memories. The biggest problem for him will simply be staying on the floor. For as active and astoundingly mobile as he is, he is still a string bean and will struggle to guard bulkier forwards in the post. But against teams who don't have dependable low post options, yikes. The kid is going to be able to roam free in the paint and wreck havoc.
This team is already intervals ahead of where they were at this time last season. The ball movement is free-flowing, the team speed striking, and the defensive instincts all our guards possess are very conducive to turnovers and fast break opportunities. We can banter back and fourth about this game into the morning hours - and in fact, we are - but I'm just going to keep going back to one stat: 67 points in 28 minutes. And we're one game in. Just wait until game seventeen, when when all the offensive sets Ollie has implemented are second nature, Shabazz and Boatright have a better understanding on where their teammates prefer to receive the ball on the court, and the overall cohesiveness is at an all-time high. This team just scratched the surface tonight - and they put up 67 points in 28 minutes. This is going to be as dynamic a team UConn has seen in a long time. God, I can't wait until Monday.
