Andre Appreciation Thread | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Andre Appreciation Thread

Quick nod to Andre for a masterful performance tonight. If we want nets, he’s going to be the one to take us to another level. I was beyond impressed with his defense, creating extra possessions, passing, and confidence to hit shots in rhythms while also attacking the rim. Amazing.
 
Andre over the last 5 games:

11 pts 7.2 Rebs 4.8 asts 67% FG 36% 3PT

Has gone to the line 18 times over this stretch too. He went to the line 13 times throughout the rest of conference play.

Not only is it exciting to see how this carries over to tournament play, but it’s also exciting to know we get him back for next year to build on this play. Can’t help but feel like he has Kemba-like qualities.
 
Is it just me or does he play way better whenever he rocks the cornrows?
 
I have noticed two things about his shot over the past 5-8 games.

First, he has stopped taking any step-back threes. I swear he went like 0fer after hitting one, once. He doesn't have the shot for it and I hate whoever told him it was a good idea to take it. I would wager he has taken 8+ of those over the year. If he never shot one of those he would be at a decent if not respectable % for the year.

Second, he's really only taking threes when shot-clock dictates he needs to take it.



New to this game, he seems to be jumping less. Not quite a set shot but not full lift either. I couldn't go through film of other games to compare, but it seemed that way on the initial viewing.
 
He’s the most important player on the team 5x over. He’s also absolutely lockdown when needed. He had some defensive slumps recently, but he genuinely could match up agains the top wings in the league and be formidable. He’s that good defensively.
 
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Rocktheworld said:
Come on, man. This is silliness. Absurd, abject silliness.

The kid’s got heart but for the love of god let’s not compare him to Kemba in any appreciable way. Put down the booze and go to bed.
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I’m talking from a heart, leadership, unselfish aspect. Intangibles. Not skill wise even though they both started off as mostly athletes that played with heart. Kemba being at least a finisher around the rim to start but Andre is getting there.
 
He’s playing the way they need him to. When he’s close to the basket on the offensive end when a shot goes up no one keeps the ball alive or makes plays off missed shots like he does it’s amazing stuff. Would love for him to stop those 2 or 3 awful passes a game but take the good with the bad. Seems much more focused on D as well. It’s a bonus when he makes a couple tres.

He’s in a good place with his game so is the team. Keep it going!
 
HuskyWarrior611 said:
Andre over the last 5 games:

11 pts 7.2 Rebs 4.8 asts 67% FG 36% 3PT

Has gone to the line 18 times over this stretch too. He went to the line 13 times throughout the rest of conference play.

Not only is it exciting to see how this carries over to tournament play, but it’s also exciting to know we get him back for next year to build on this play. Can’t help but feel like he has Kemba-like qualities.
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It also avails him the opportunity to mash it for hoop gods to look favorably upon UConn nation. He needs to start trying to posterize more guys. Sets such a tone. Looks like he’s getting there.
 
When it comes to x and o(s) and skill development this forum is excellent at understanding these aspects of the game. When it comes to player temperament not so much.

Hurley has been masterful in altering schemes as opposing teams have adjusted to our initial strengths. And we pointed this out. Just as masterful is how he has handled the different personalities on this team.

Andre is a perfectionist and plays at level of intensity very few players can match. Now the latter part of this statement most people will agree with. But the initial part can be disputed based on his mistakes and failures.

I contend that those mistakes and failures are primarily due to two things. The first thing is that his team mates are not always playing at the level of his speed/reaction. The one player who has consistently been at Andre's level this season is Adama. But there was a learning curve of two seasons for that to happen. The rest of the team needed time to adjust. Luckily for this season's recent success they are now anticipating his movements much better.

The second thing is that Andre is not a confident individual. His wolfing and back talk are superficial bravado coping strategies he utilizes to get himself psyched. They give a false impression that Andre is mentally tough. It got exposed during his slump. With each mistake and inability to contribute Andre took it personally and went through a downward spiral of negativity, resulting in poorer play, more negativity and so on. It even resulted in reducing, although not eliminating, his defensive play.

And this is where Coach Hurley was masterful. When Andre was down on himself Hurley was extremely supportive of him. You see it on the sidelines. You see it in how they now run offensive plays for him. You see it in that they kept him as a starter. And now his confidence is growing. He's developing a deeper degree of understanding of who he is and what he needs to do mentally and emotionally to be successful.

It is my opinion that the relationship Andre has with Coach Hurley is why he strongly supports the program and why he made the statement he will stay with the program longer than we thought. He needs more time with his mentor to continue developing that aspect of his basketball play to make him successful - a belief in himself.
 
MervthePurvis said:
It also avails him the opportunity to mash it for hoop gods to look favorably upon UConn nation. He needs to start trying to posterize more guys. Sets such a tone. Looks like he’s getting there.
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That step through Euro is a play he would not have even attempted earlier in the season. The more confident he gets that he is actually the best option to score on drives most times the better. That should’ve been and 1 was also great to see. It seems like now that he’s actually going to the rim with purpose to score he’s become a much better finisher.
 
I notice another subtle change to his shot last night. It looked to me like he dropped the height of the ball at the start of his motion. If he has 4ft of space and lots of time then why not do that if he feels more comfortable doing it. No one will be able to react soon enough to block the shot. If I can be critical of something in his game last night it was the held ball call near the end of the game. Seems that when he gets super pumped he gets cocky which can lead to technicals. He has changed that part of his game for the better as well, but last night he should have just let go of the ball. Nothing to call a technical on, but I just hope he continues to keep his emotions from boiling over.
 
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I was one of the more vocal posters about Andre when he was struggling and my comments were limited to too many minutes, too little consequence for turnovers.

But I never stopped rooting for him, not once.

Last night Andre looked lIke a Pro out there and albeit a couple needless turnovers, looked like the player of the game for us.

Andre was my player of the game last night. I also like how Hurley came to senses and played Joey C for a bit - even though He didn’t do much, we need him ready for the bigger things ahead.
 
AJ makes his own AJ stats. These stats are immeasurable, and have not been developed yet, because no one in history has ever covered a basketball court, non stop, the way he does. The regular stats are just gravy which he really doesn't need to prove his worth. We do not win without him....period. When he is out, there is always a serious threat of a run.
The comments that mention this AJ makes us much better, is really an insult......because no AJ is easily the greatest one individual impact to our success......and I would bet that on a team vote, including coaches.
 
Last week Josh Hart on the Knicks dominated a game with just 4 points. (team high plus 30 in 29 minutes) All great teams have those glue guys who do everything beyond scoring. I look forward to AJ being one of those NBA glue guys after he leaves us in 2025, post threepeat.
 
If he can get consistency in his 3 pt shots, we all know that he will go down as one of the best Huskies ever!
 
UGo said:
I was one of the more vocal posters about Andre when he was struggling and my comments were limited to too many minutes, too little consequence for turnovers.

But I never stopped rooting for him, not once.

Last night Andre looked lIke a Pro out there and albeit a couple needless turnovers, looked like the player of the game for us.

Andre was my player of the game last night. I also like how Hurley came to senses and played Joey C for a bit - even though He didn’t do much, we need him ready for the bigger things ahead.
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Joey C defense was good he made some veteran savy plays like selling the charge call, and on the play where Clingan left the paint Joey C got out of the way to avoid a foul but put his hand in the way just enough to get the guys concentration off a little this missing the layup.
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
He’s the most important player on the team 5x over. He’s also absolutely lockdown when needed. He had some defensive slumps recently, but he genuinely could match up agains the top wings in the league and be formidable. He’s that good defensively.
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When he is focused and locked in and not demoralized (I.e Xavier game in Gampel), absolutely . You could make the case for defensive BEPOY although I would give it to Kalkbrenner
 
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