Alex Karaban doesnt care what you think

[Mike Honcho]

Why? To me that's just one more crafty tool in the bag.

Flatulence is one of the more innovative ideas to generate separation on the basketball court that I've heard in awhile.

 

[willstafa24]

In the chat and threads there has been a lot of calls for him to stop shooting. People feeling bad for him. People saying his head is not right or that he lost his nba shot.

He is still shooting when he gets a good look and he wants to go the line at a big moment even if he hadn't been that guy this year from a conversion standpoint. He doesn't care about any of that noise.

We are quick to do this to our favorite guys and it's corny. We did it to AJax, and Hawk, and Hass, and Sanogo, and Joey C etc.

But he keeps shooting. And he should. Because he knows what he can do.

(BTW, he has been doing some great things outside of shooting 3s)

I'm still on that Karavan

I think the is that he should have a more dynamic game, ie McNelley. Alex was 0-7 from 3 and 5-7 from inside the arc with 1 FT attempt. He did make a couple great moves getting into the lane with some nice 4 foot floaters and he can do that much more often than he does. That's where the frustration lies.

On that possession where he attempted three 3s he could have certainly faked the last attempt and gotten into the lane. (Again, McNeeley would have done that) The fact that he hasn't recognized this in his game is surprising.

 

[Magic32]

Perhaps things will free up for him since teams will key on Liam and Solo more. Now he isn't the number one option and he excelled in that role previously. He just seems to take some tough shots, either deep or layups vs shot blockers now.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Perhaps things will free up for him since teams will key on Liam and Solo more. Now he isn't the number one option and he excelled in that role previously. He just seems to take some tough shots, either deep or layups vs shot blockers now.

Most of his looks from deep last night were wide open.

 

[cap10dingus]

If you understand the game and watch his shot arch it's pretty clear he's pushing the ball now. I haven't looked in detail at his leg push but I'm also betting he's not getting as much height off the ground. Not sure of the cause initially, usually wrist related injury or leg related injury causes this to start then it becomes mental, but he needs to spend some time focusing on the arch end of his shot with the coaches. It's killing me that it doesn't appear they are working on it when he comes out game after game with this flat arching shot. Once he does that they will start falling again, his stroke is still consistent, hallmark of a great shooter, just bricking like crazy because it's flat lining. He'll get it and when we look back this will have benefited the team.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

In the chat and threads there has been a lot of calls for him to stop shooting. People feeling bad for him. People saying his head is not right or that he lost his nba shot.

He is still shooting when he gets a good look and he wants to go the line at a big moment even if he hadn't been that guy this year from a conversion standpoint. He doesn't care about any of that noise in the
We are quick to do this to our favorite guys and it's corny. We did it to AJax, and Hawk, and Hhootinh ass, and Sanogo, and Joey C etc.

But he keeps shooting. And he should. Because he knows what he can do.

(BTW, he has been doing some great things outside of shooting 3s)

I'm still on that Karavan

My theory is if he made shots in the past he will make them in the future unless he stops shooting . Let the game come to you , You will get better looks with McNeeley and Ball outside threats , , Whatever you do don’t stop going inside when you can. I think the board overlooks how strong hr is .

 

[uchusky32]

If you understand the game and watch his shot arch it's pretty clear he's pushing the ball now. I haven't looked in detail at his leg push but I'm also betting he's not getting as much height off the ground. Not sure of the cause initially, usually wrist related injury or leg related injury causes this to start then it becomes mental, but he needs to spend some time focusing on the arch end of his shot with the coaches. It's killing me that it doesn't appear they are working on it when he comes out game after game with this flat arching shot. Once he does that they will start falling again, his stroke is still consistent, hallmark of a great shooter, just bricking like crazy because it's flat lining. He'll get it and when we look back this will have benefited the team.

He’s aiming. No arc. Even on his 1 free throw.

 

[NJHusky]

He’s missing free throws in big spots. There is zero talk of concussions from Hurley. It’s not a concussion. This is a classic case of the yips, Mackey Sasser style.

I'm not saying it is..just that its a possibility.... Sorry but you have no way of knowing that it isn't As the poster above mentioned...Rizzo returned to play within a week, then was put on the IL 60 day later!!. So you can pass the test, but still have after effects....if his depth perception is off 2%, his shot isn't going in

Here's Rizzo's quote

"I don’t think anyone missed it, honestly. We did the test. I passed the concussion test. I sat out for four days, played, felt fine and didn’t feel anything. Even talking to the neurologists, they said with concussions sometimes, it’s the aftereffects. Maybe the brain wasn’t fully healed. As far as registering as a concussion, there were no signs of that."

 

[HooperScooper]

I don't think Alex cares what anyone on here thinks. Obviously. But I'm sure he cares what he and his coach think. And neither of them are telling him not to keep shooting. He's a smart kid and wise beyond his years. He's going to break out of this slump. Hopefully very soon.

“It’s been tough,” he told The Courant. “It’s been tough just because you obviously want to see your 3s go in and you’re known as a shooter. When it’s not falling, it weighs on you mentally. But there’s a reason why I’m playing 40 minutes a game, there’s a reason why I played 38 minutes today. My shot’s not falling, so I’ve got to find other ways to impact the game and continue to lead for this team on the court. Eventually the shots will fall. I’m working my ass off in the gym every single day, so the storm’s eventually gonna end and I’ll be lighting it up soon. Everything happens for a reason.”

As Liam McNeeley carries UConn men, Dan Hurley calls for ‘reinvention’ as rest of his team struggles

Liam McNeeley accounted for more than half of UConn’s points with 38 in its 70-66 win at Creighton, providing a valuable piece as the Huskies workshop lineups.

www.courant.com

Alternate access:
McNeeley carries UConn men in career night, Karaban’s woes continue as team looks to ‘reinvent’ itself

 

[Mr. French]

If smoking some ayhuaska gets his shooting ready for March, I know a guy.

Based on your posts, this is starting to click!





jk

 

[RuffRuff]

Based on your posts, this is starting to click!





jk

I'm a man of levity

 

[alphasigko]

No, a concussion is a physical injury

A physical.injury that affects the brain.

 

[F101Voodoo]

In the chat and threads there has been a lot of calls for him to stop shooting. People feeling bad for him. People saying his head is not right or that he lost his nba shot.

He is still shooting when he gets a good look and he wants to go the line at a big moment even if he hadn't been that guy this year from a conversion standpoint. He doesn't care about any of that noise.

We are quick to do this to our favorite guys and it's corny. We did it to AJax, and Hawk, and Hass, and Sanogo, and Joey C etc.

But he keeps shooting. And he should. Because he knows what he can do.

(BTW, he has been doing some great things outside of shooting 3s)

I'm still on that Karavan

Well stated. Sometimes in the heat of the game some of us let our emotions rule our “brains”.

 

[F101Voodoo]

The Karaban hate is ridiculous. Man was a key piece in back to back championships lol. How quick the fanbase is to forget and turn on him is sad

I get he's been in a slump but he could just as easily end it at any moment

Hope he does.It may happen as quilt as it went the other way. For a lot of us it is concer not hate. I could never hate a Husky.

 

[king conn]

For those who are blaming this on the concussion, I seem to remember him shooting us out of a 10 pt second half lead against Colorado. Brick after brick.

 

[superjohn]

So Karaban was a 40% three point shooter in his first 8 games right after the concussion and then he became an 11% three point shooter over his last 7 games because of a concussion he had 76 days ago?

Sure...

Karaban was a 41% three point shooter his first 5 games last season before going 17% from three his next 4 games. Later on last season he shot 48% from three over 4 games before going 18% from three over his next 4 games. The reality is he's a wildly streaky shooter who is on a terrible streak and he's pressing.

 

[F101Voodoo]

We all are in his corner, but something no right with his shot. Is it possible lingering effects from the concussion?? I know sometimes it takes a while even if you think you are fine. Has he gone for an eye exam?

Didn’t Anthony Rizzo have lingering issues even after he came back after 2 weeks off

those are things I wondered about out of concern not ever hatred..

 

[F101Voodoo]

Isn’t a concussion mental?

It is physical that can have both mental and physical side affects. Almost like PTSD. I once denied the existence of PTSD after Vietnam. Facts proved that I was wrong about that. Just as I do of my Vietnam veteran brothers I speak out of concern for them not hatred.

 

[RuffRuff]

So Karaban was a 40% three point shooter in his first 8 games right after the concussion and then he became an 11% three point shooter over his last 7 games because of a concussion he had 76 days ago?

Sure...

Karaban was a 41% three point shooter his first 5 games last season before going 17% from three his next 4 games. Later on last season he shot 48% from three over 4 games before going 18% from three over his next 4 games. The reality is he's a wildly streaky shooter who is on a terrible streak and he's pressing.

Furthermore and not as a dig, but a lot of his big games last year were against bad teams and bad defenses.

He was 8-29 from 3 in the tourney, 27%.

If you remove the cupcakes and 3 worst BE teams last year in DePaul/Gtown (who were historically abysmal) and Butler (who had an awful defense), he shot 29% from 3 last year. Now you put him in a lead role, and here you have it.

Here's the reality folks - he's an average shooter. He has a quirky corkscrew release that is not designed to be efficient, but if you can get him time/space to work it, he's made it work. We have to get him back to a level where he's at least a threat, but Alex isn't a guy that was ever burning nets. I'd honestly have to think at the NBA level they'd reconstruct his release.

A ton of his overall efficiency last year was a product of teammates and back cuts, etc.

 

[NJHusky]

Alex is in a shooting slump ; it should end because he is a good shooter . In the last two minutes of a tied road game he made a go a head basket grabbed two important rebounds and after missing a shot that should have gone in on a good move hustled and forced a play to keep the ball in UConn’s hands . Four winning plays in last two minutes… Mike drop

I'm a big fan...but did you forget the missed 1/1 that would have sealed the game?

 

[Storrs South]

I think it's a very few set of individuals that are bashing him. He's our Captain America this year; supposed to be the leader and represent everything right about this program.

Hopefully whatever slump he's going through gets resolved.

Regarding his game, last night was a strong performance from him in all facets minus his shot. He found multiple ways to contribute positively.

The worst kind of nights for him are the one's like SJU where he was a net negative and let's his inability to shoot the 3 impact his focus and effort. That is rare for him and last night was a good bounce back and if his shot fell it would have been a fantastic evening for him specifically.

If he can continue to grab bounds, be a connector, and play solid defense that keeps the team moving in the positive direction while he fixes his shot.

Even when his shot isn't falling he pulls the defense out, they have to respect it, and that creates driving lanes for Liam, Hass, and Solo so he can help shooting 3s even when he doesn't make them.

 

[CTBballfan243]

He just needs to visit the shot doctor. Break his shot mechanics down and start from scratch.

 

[Staven]

I understand how frustrated the fan base is with Alex's performance this year. Many were expecting much more with regards to scoring and overall play. Like Coach Hurley stated recently nobody is crowned in February and aside from overall team play the same applies to Alex. He is too good of a player / shooter to continue to perform on a subpar basis and I believe when the time comes i.e. March, Alex will show up and be the player everyone was expecting him to be. Keep the faith he will prevail when it will count the most.

 

[HooperScooper]

Based on your posts, this is starting to click!





jk

He and Jaydumo20 have been hanging out a lot