Arizona Post Game Thread

[mauconnfan]

Tough loss, few thoughts:

Our Huskies played them tough despite the obvious. Really was afraid of a blowout, no moral victories in Storrs, but they did pretty good have to be somewhat proud.

Arizona might not be as good as I thought, will need to see more. They’re good, Peat is good and Bradley is very good, the others are solid but the bench is ehh.

Reed or not, getting out rebounded by 20 is inexcusable. Alex last 2 games in 70 minutes 6 rebounds total, he needs to get much better rebounding the ball.

9-18 FTs, killer. They haven’t shot it well from there yet so this may be a year long issue and we know having watched our huskies win titles how important the FT line is when you there. Need to tighten that up.

Reibe grew before our eyes, that was fun to see. Just when I thought he’d be lost in the size and depth of AZ he proves to be ready for his next step of maturity. He was good, tough moved his feet on D and can make shots. Solid game for Eric so good to see!

Ok I’m not going to break down each guy I will just get to the facts of the finish and why we didn’t win. Solo Ball took an ill advised 3 way too early in the clock. This is a bad shot for several reasons starting with he wasn’t squared at all. Add to it we needed to run the offense and get a good luck. More importantly he’s throwing bricks from 3, for now not the same shooter as last year, not close. He’s a junior need him to be smarter and make better decisions as well as shooting better from 3. (His mid range game was money though). An even bigger non call and play was Silas going to the basket and lost it OOBs….of course he did the Arizona defender walked right into him from the side it’s a foul and a horrible missed call. The other killer was the missed rebound by Stew off the backboard, needed that one.

So much to talk about and again, moral Ws don’t count but in this situation there’s still a lot of light at the end of the tunnel for sure.

Oh yeah one more thing, Reed was out because of the same type of play these guys got right for Reibe. Actually the bridge by Rob Wright was worse on Tarris and never was called flagrant, still pissed at that! Amazing how much we need Tarris hope this isn’t long at all. Lastly we need Mullins back that extra shooter is monstrous without Solo making 3s.

 

[KingAG]

Our on-ball perimeter defense was also exposed tonight, so we resulted to grabbing which got us in foul trouble.

Is this becoming an unsolvable problem when we have any of Solo, Alex, Stew, Malachi, and Ross on the court for extended minutes? The usual suspects just can’t stay in front.

I actually thought we played an excellent defensive game. We just couldn’t end the possession with a rebound

 

[CTBasketball]

I actually thought we played an excellent defensive game. We just couldn’t end the possession with a rebound

Rebounding yea that was bad. I felt as if we gave the lane up way too many times.

 

[Devland]

Just to further drive home the point of Reed missing.

Krivas'/Peat's OR really did kill us. Peat had five all night and got them a three, a TO, a two and another two. Krivas got four and got them a TO, a two, a foul (1/2), and a two. So they were a plus 12 points with those Oboards.

Reed has averaged 7 DR per game in his three games and 25 MPG.

People focus on Reed being out as the reason for the rebound discrepancy. In the championship years every position rebounded and we weren't as reliant on just a couple people rebounding. Guys like Newton, Castle, Andre Jackson, cam Spencer....

 

[uconnyankee]

So we still lose if we have Reed and Mullins? Because that is the natural extension of what you are saying here.

I think there are several things that happened last night.
First, missing Reed and Mullins put the team in a big hole. Had they played, I think it’s a different outcome.
Second, despite the hole, the team did just enough to almost steal a win. You can cherry pick a bunch of plays and also look at the missed FT’s.
Shooting 50% from FT isn’t good and needs to improve. As it turns out, that was the difference in the final score.
Arizona was the better team last night. More physical, more athletic, and more dominant. Huskies played with a lot of heart. They almost pulled it out.
Give credit to AZ. Get the Huskies healthy and experienced for March.
This team is built for a deep run.

 

[Lafayette]

Not saying we lost due to Reed and Mullins out but:

• Mullins is a plus free throw shooter and a deadly distance shooter and driver and good on D
• Reed would have gotten more points and rebounds

Lost by four and very well could have won it Reibe’s last one went in then he might have made the FT.

Anyway I see it we were at 60% and still made it a heck of a game.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Tip your cap to Zona and move on.

 

[Deepster]

Only because the wrong guys on the team were shooting most of them. Reibe and Koroma were 3-10. Team was 9-18. So the rest of the team was 6-8 (75%).

Why does that matter? They’re on the team and they played significant minutes and if Reed is hurt off and on this year they’re our center? It was a hug factor in costing us the game.

 

[Husky Alien]

Would have won the game no trouble, not sure

Because this is a big time game. Other players play hurt all the time, and being afraid this might impact him long term, when he would have another 9 days off after this because no way you play him against Bryant, is just ridiculous

It's coaches decision not his. Tbh, if he's not 100% I would rather have him out now and have him back for Illinois game. He just might sit out the Bryant game. Hurley is funny like that.

 

[ctbro1999]

Without Reed and an untested Mullins, I'm thinking 2-4 or worse. UConn doesn't have enough athletic talent and definitely not enough scorers.

Here is one of those "DOOMED!" takes BY is known for.

 

[ctbro1999]

At the end of game, looked like Reibe was really taking the loss to heart and beating himself up a little.

Kid was thrown into fire, and played way above expectations. Great learning for him. Lot of upside there.

If only his shot at the end rolled another 1/2 inch forward...

 

[ctbro1999]

I didn't ask a question.

He's struggling from 3, it wasn't the BEST look he could get ... which I said. But I want my best shooter to want to take a big shot in a big moment.

Looks like Solo's improved his mid-range/take it to the hoop game, but his 3-pt shot is just off. And his defense is what it is. Really hoping he pulls out of his funk. Gonna need him if we're gonna make a run at #3 in the last 4.

 

[ctbro1999]

3rd center who when the team is healthy isn't expected to log minutes in real games, it's slim pickings at that point tbh

Yeah, anyone blaming our 3rd string center for last night's loss needs to get their brain checked.

 

[rich1122]

FT 9-18
3pt 8-25

 

[Chin Diesel]

Solo’s horrible shot at the 90 second mark spelled D O O M

I'm a lit less bothered by that shot than most on here.
Yep. It was poorly timed.
But......if Solo is going to become a sniper in the Hawkins/Spencer role, he has to take those shots.
I'd much rather have a shooter taking aggressive shots than passing up shots. Hesitation by shooters annoys me.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Yeah, anyone blaming our 3rd string center for last night's loss needs to get their brain checked.

He was the second string center last night and his FT's hurt the team.

 

[freshler40]

This thread is way too kind to Karaban tonight. For a decorated senior….at home…against the #4 team in the country? He had 1 pt in the first half. That’s inexcusable.

He’s a complimentary player? What or who did he compliment tonight? He’s been in this intricate offense for 4 years and he can’t get shots in half court sets? Okay. So let’s just hope everyone else gets better and he chips in when he can.

We didn't have bigs on the court that could set picks for Karaban. When you compared the tip off sizes of Arizona's team it looked like a long night but our scrappy team almost pulled it out.

 

[ctbro1999]

He was the second string center last night and his FT's hurt the team.

He's also our 3rd string center for a reason. Normally he wouldn't see any PT in a non-buy game unless pushed into service due to a last minute injury/serious foul trouble from the other 2 C's. There are a dozen other things to blame for reasons we lost last night than his play.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Reibe and Reed get some time together going forward. Also, I think that maybe a little more 3 guard offense is going to happen when a healthy Reed is on the court.

@StllH8L8ner , here's the fan.

 

[FightOnCT]

So we still lose if we have Reed and Mullins? Because that is the natural extension of what you are saying here.

What? No, I’m saying that we could’ve won without them. Them being there would’ve only made it an easier win

 

[Conndog]

We didn't have bigs on the court that could set picks for Karaban. When you compared the tip off sizes of Arizona's team it looked like a long night but our scrappy team almost pulled it out.

Loved Reibe’s game, but he hasn’t mastered setting & using screens yet due to inexperience

 

[ctbro1999]

Loved Reibe’s game, but he hasn’t mastered setting & using screens yet due to inexperience

I feel like he can make huge strides in growth this season. And last night's game was big in supercharging his development.

 

[Deepster]

We didn't have bigs on the court that could set picks for Karaban. When you compared the tip off sizes of Arizona's team it looked like a long night but our scrappy team almost pulled it out.

If last night was the first (or one of the rare) times Alex has disappeared, I may give that point some weight. It’s not. You don’t need Shaq out there. Just someone to create enough of an interference to create space and the guys on the court have been setting picks since grade school.

 

[mauconnfan]

We didn't have bigs on the court that could set picks for Karaban. When you compared the tip off sizes of Arizona's team it looked like a long night but our scrappy team almost pulled it out.

Zero excuses for Alex sorry. Get open, get physical and get an offensive rebound and put back, or just get a rebound. He has 6 in the last 2 games in over 70 minutes on the court inexcusable. Needs to get 6-8 a game he’s plenty big and smart.

 

[Fan1978]

Silas turning it over and getting burnt on D in one sequence, Reibe missing a bunny and 1 opportunity to send it to OT potentially, Solo forcing a horrible shot for no reason, so many opportunities to squeak by with the win.

Reed and Mullins being out was the difference, we’re really good and gonna be a problem at full strength, but I can’t be the only one who feels like we should’ve pulled this out still?

Demery was hammered and foul should have been called particularly since peat was awarded a phantom foul on the prior possession. Demary was also fouled prior to passing to reibe. Certainly would have preferred him at the line. Not the worst officiated game but certainly not what you hope for in a home game. Thanks for all the fouls putting 48 percent career karoma on line and ignoring several physical non calls on ross.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Hyperbole: That Solo contested off balance 3 pointer up 1, under 2 minutes left, was worst shot in Husky history

I don’t know. Tough to beat Roscoe

 

[Edward Sargent]

20 more rebounds and more made FTs than FTs attempted would mean to me that we lose by double digits. With the FTs the majority were taken by Reibe and Koroma. Alex missing two had me yelling at the TV. I think we will be fine when we get healthy

 

[RuffRuff]

Zero excuses for Alex sorry. Get open, get physical and get an offensive rebound and put back, or just get a rebound. He has 6 in the last 2 games in over 70 minutes on the court inexcusable. Needs to get 6-8 a game he’s plenty big and smart.

Alex’s issue is that he is so mechanical that if the system he is used to isn’t operating (big picks) he just tends to short circuit. He has zero variety or creativity in his game. He can be masterful when the system is flowing, but when it’s not he gets stuck in his head down drive mode and awkward attempts to create offense.

Him and Stew having a total of 6 rebounds in 63 minutes was killer. Stew not picking up that late rebound that led to an AZ put back was killer. Sure he hit a few shots, but didn’t show up at all where we needed him (glass), as one of the couple guys out there with the physical ability to keep up with their horses.

Ross pulled a no show. We’ll be fine when Mullins and Reed are in there and homeostasis is restored.

Starting to wonder if the extra muscle Solo put on messed with his shot at all. This is a brutal run he’s on.

 

[Lafayette]

In Summary - I feel really bad for Bryant.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

@StllH8L8ner , here's the fan.

View attachment 113418

😂 I’d pay handsomely for a Boneyard Q&A with Danny just to see his reactions. $50/per question straight to the NIL slush fund.

Double bigs is fun to think about especially now that Reibe has shown he can step behind the arc, but not really practical. Maybe if we get a big lead on someone, Danny will give us a few minute look to satisfy the masses…er handful.