Arizona Post Game Thread

[UCFan1513]

Does UConn practice Free Throws

Nope, not a chance 🙄

 

[cp176]

Reibe was a stud
We needed a killer guard tonight and nobody showed up for that spotlight
Karoma deserves some minutes

I loved seeing Reibe get those minutes and he didn’t disappoint. I agree with you here about Karoma. He played tough and deserves some minutes.

 

[UCan3]

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

I am not ready to blame anything for the loss in terms of guys being out. It is what it is.

The development of Reibe was inspiring..

If I had to point to one this, it’s Solo making bad decisions in the end of the game. He took a contested 3 early in the shot clock with under 2 minutes when we are up by 1.

The shot had no chance of going in.

And if I had to point to one other thing, it was the free throw shooting. They hit their FTs and we struggled and lost by 4….

And the officiating never seems to be fair shake. So much body contact and grabbing allowed by Arizona, and very little on our end. Not sure why this is but if that was a NCAA Tourney game, I think we win that game.

By credit Arizona, they are a big, physical team that finished at the FT line and rebounded like a top 5 Team. No asterisk here - they won and we lost even w/ complaints here and there on offficiating.

I know Hurley mentioned that we need to get healthy but frankly, I don’t care for this stuff. Your team is your team. We will have injuries and it should be next man up. When I see other coaches do this, I think the same thing - sounds like an excuse.

What do I take from the game?

Some real positives from our new additions to the team. They mostly showed up. They just have to learn how to play with each other - more “bang bang” plays. They are learning and tonight was phenomenal experience for them.

I could care less about the loss.

This is why we are playing these games to prepare us for March and last night did exactly that. We found our weaknesses and now we need to adjust no matter who is available for the game or not.

 

[cp176]

I don't think he was brought in for offense. He was brought in for defense and rebounding and did fine. He is our 3rd sring Center and undersized. Not sure what you expected out of him.

I don't think he was brought in for offense. He was brought in for defense and rebounding and did fine. He is our 3rd sring Center and undersized. Not sure what you expected out of him.

Karoma played his butt off. Of course it would have been nice if he’d made the foul shots but he was active and involved. The bigger question for me is what happens when the team is healthy. Both Stewart and Ross are going to have to see their minutes limited if they can’t become more consistent on both ends of the floor. This is their opportunity to show that they can get the job done. I don’t see the great growth that some do here. Hopefully it comes.

 

[White Dwarf]

Exciting game. Lots to learn from it. This made me laugh 😅

 

[cp176]

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.

 

[CTBasketball]

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.

 

[caw]

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.

 

[Chasm64]

The out of bounds play that was reviewed. I think it was Solo diving out of bounds to tip it back in. They didn't show his feet but if his feet were in, that was a clean save and it was crunch time. Did anyone get a better look at that?

Solo knocked it in, the ball was never out of bounds.

 

[TheShot1990]

I’ve enjoyed scrolling through the comments and laughing. Keep it up, everyone.

I enjoyed the first few pages of comments which reminded me of going to a bar and trying to figure out why the hot chick wouldn’t give me her number.

The rest of this forum reminded me of what happens after midnight when it devolves into a brawl.

 

[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.