Alex looked like Alex again today - loved it

[hollywoodhusky]

playing with confidence and over powering guys just like last season...also- just nice to see him having FUN out there again ...his body language was so much better today...great to see ! Congrats to AO ! now please...for the love of God...please JC- keep giving him big minutes !

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

now please...for the love of God...please JC- keep giving him big minutes !

are you suggesting that a lack of minutes is the reason for his poor play ???

i think its the other way around.

 

[superjohn]

He needs big minutes, He might make a couple of mistakes but he has to know he can play through that without getting yanked. He is so valuable to this team and it was great seeing him have fun again.

 

[tzznandrew]

I think his poor play at the start of the year contributed to him playing fewer minutes, and then this got his confidence down.

I don't think its much of a surprise that Alex played this game like Alex-of-old when he didn't really have to look over his shoulder.

 

[huskymagic]

I think his poor play at the start of the year contributed to him playing fewer minutes, and then this got his confidence down.

I don't think its much of a surprise that Alex played this game like Alex-of-old when he didn't really have to look over his shoulder.

Very true. Him, Roscoe, and Giffey are important for this team to win. They bring toughness, rebounding, and scoring as well.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I loved seeing Alex giving Niels a hug during the game and put his arm around him after the game. Alex can be such a positive force when he is in a good place.

 

[Scot-e]

AO and RS looking like their old selves. That's great news. This Boat BS does suck though.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

AO and RS looking like their old selves. That's great news. This Boat BS does suck though.

So true.

Seeing Roscoe and Alex out there playing awesome D, grabbing boards and even scoring some points was great. Just have to hope this Boatright issue gets settled.

 

[CL82]

A. Oriakhi, F-C 24 5-8 0-0 2-2 1 7 0 2 1 2 3 12

Not a bad line.

 

[DogMania]

He needs big minutes, He might make a couple of mistakes but he has to know he can play through that without getting yanked. He is so valuable to this team and it was great seeing him have fun again.

Not only do I not agree with this but the numbers nor what I've watched all season long tells that story. Alex simply was playing poorly, but JC kept up putting him out there, keeping him out there and hoping he'd turn it around. He's finally playing better and has put two very good back to back games. If Alex plays like this moving forward this team will be very tough to beat.

 

[Ts5034]

Lets just face it. Boatright will be out for at least a month if not more. Something will have to off set that and i think AO stepping up and playing like he did today will do that. The front court will be the X factor for Uconn the rest of this season. If AD and AO play at a high level every game, then NOBODY can compete with Uconn down low.

 

[TheChamps990411]

this is just one game against nd so im curbing my enthusiasm about the reemergence of AO. the biggest positive i saw to day was the defensive effort in the 2nd half. i think jc has found the right mix and its seem to be coming together i really liked
NG
AO
AD
JL
SN
with RS coming in at PF and either AO or AD at the 5. the defense was better and the offense seem to run smoother. i think you could see TO minutes go down. if we get boat back i think we have a good rotation going with RS,RB,TO and DD off the bench.

 

[Burnsbros23]

AO's jumper looked better than ever.

I think I have realized he is the leader of this team. When he is playing well the whole energy of the team is different. The bench is standing and cheering. I think everyone likes him so much that when hes playing bad and getting yanked it kinda just drains the bench's energy and the team's energy. Really couldn't be happier for a kid turning it around really hope he continues his good play.

 

[SouthTampaBill]

I think they should get AO the ball down low for the first two sets of every game and get him involved right off the bat.

It seems to get his head into the game.

 

[DogMania]

Like the Phoenix, Alex has risen from the ashes. We're a different team when he plays well.

JC definitely had to be happy with his rotations today. Any combination of SN, JL along with AD, AO, NG or RS played very well together. The combination of 5 of these 6 players on the floor are by far the best defensively. If these 6 continue to play well, we might seen a reduction in minutes from Olander and Daniels. I'm sure both will get minutes, but Giffey and Smith are simply bringing in on both ends of the floor. I'm not saying Tyler hasn't been solid all year long, but he's just not as athletically gifted as Scoe who can dominate defensively when his head is on right.

It will be interesting to see what happens if and when Ryan returns. We need to see how this rotation does against teams that bring a lot of on the ball pressure, which ND is not known for doing, but I would not be shocked if this 6 player rotation, with occasionally RB spelling Bazz at the point, turns out to be UConn's best rotation.

 

[SouthTampaBill]

Realistically if RB does not return we have no chance

 

[Chin Diesel]

Best all around team effort was today. Literally every player contibuted positively. I don't think JC gave the quick hook to anyone. It's a bit of chicken/egg thingy but when JC is calm, the players are calm. I'm guessing here, but JC knew the players needed a gukding hand today and not the sledgehammer. Great game by all the players and coaches.

 

[Rico444]

When Alex and Roscoe play with this intensity, we are going to be scary. Think about it -- we played a team that had a 29 game win streak at home, Lamb couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot, Shabazz was average, and Boatright was out, yet we won by 14, and pretty much dominated the 2nd half.

 

[ctchamps]

There is no formula to get Alex going. If the guards get him the ball early, which they have done in several games, and Alex misses easy shots, he starts getting down on himself, his body language changes and he underperforms in other aspects of his game. This results in the necessity to bench him. This is all about Alex. He's temperamental. That's just the way it is with him. A likable kid who is tough on himself.

It was good to see the plus side from his game. I'm really happy for him and hope he has several other games like this one.