Baylor Post Game Thread

[IndyLives]

Defense is still too leaky. The opposition again shot nearly 50%. On the plus side, the 7 blocks was encouraging & UConn held their own on the Boards. First time all year this team showed a lot of fight in the trenches.

 

[HailUConn]

Liam is bona fide top 5 recruits nationally. He has top flight BBIQ. His ball handling is soooo underrated, and he could get his shots off anywhere. Every time he drives to basketball, he either gets fouled or converts His game will accelerate as he gets more reps in and stronger.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I think pairing Johnson and Reed really helped Johnson as he didn't have to be a physical defender all the time he was in the game.

It was the right matchup for a very specific opponent tonight. The downside is or course that this will only embolden the double big crowd.

 

[IndyLives]

This was a must win to keep the 3-peat alive. Huge win.

 

[Kolumbo]

Reminds me a quote from hartfords Sophie Tucker 100 years ago

“I’ve been rich.
And I’ve been poor.

Rich is better.”

 

[AllHusky]

He's a natural born scorer and one of our only guys who can score off the bounce. He won't turn it over but he's not going to create much offense for others either, he just isn't a point guard. That one pass to Jaylin was really slick though.

I liked seeing Hurley building Aidan and Samson up tonight.

Aidan and Samson built themselves up, Hurley just gave them the opportunity!

A couple of pieces clicked tonight. Need a few more, and some consistency, but big step.

I'm in the play Nowell camp.

 

[jorge34]

Ball is a floater. He just doesn't know how to play hard. He tries to get by on physical attributes alone and that doesn't work hard as you need to defend.

Then he needs to sit and float back in for just 10-15 minutes a game

 

[Huskyforlife]

Surprised nobody gave Reed props, he was awesome again today.

 

[Icehawk]

Alright, that's the right direction boys! Overall, improvement pretty much everywhere and super happy to see SJ and AM have good games, they both needed it badly. Let's keep this train moving and the Kool-Aid flowing.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Ooh that felt good. Samson and Mahaney have drawn quite a bit of flack here (from myself as well) but both did what this team needed them to do tonight.

Agreed. Nice to see Aidan be assertive. Samson played well. Nice to see

 

[Fan1978]

Tough physical win against a very good team. Big deposit in the confidence account.

McNeeley is better than I thought he would be at this point.

Samson played a great game, several of his fouls were bs. Mahaney played great as well, hopefully this helps his confidence. McNeeley and Reed excellent as well. Ball can really shoot the 3, unfortunately he is an absolute liability on defense. He can’t stay in front of anyone. The stupid turnovers are an issue as well. Hassan needs to dribble and shoot less. Particularly from 3. Stewart is solid and excellent passer. He needs to improve his defense on drives. Ross still a work in progress but plenty of potential. Certainly not his best game. Still waiting to confuse him with Reggie miller

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Nowell? He hasn't played 20 minutes in a game yet. I would have been in favor of him getting some of Hassan's time today but the most minutes he's played this year was UMES in a blowout.

18 in that game. I said ~20. I meant from that game to this one. Just seemed odd.

 

[Kemba429]

I'll just excuse your excitement for winning this game, but the most important win under Hurley? Think about what you are saying. I would have to say the games in which we won 2 national championships as well as all the tournament games that led up to those championship games may be just a tad more important.

Not exactly what I meant when I said it like that. In terms of a regular season win, and rising to the occasion.

In the past couple years, it was obvious we were at the top through feast week. This year, everyone and their brother has counted us out, belittling Hurley because of his “sideline antics” he’s exhibited his whole career, amongst other things. If we lose this game at home thats a major gut punch with our remaining December schedule going into conference play.

Definitely couldve worded it better

 

[RuffRuff]

It’s like the lateral quickness isn’t where you’d think it should be given the kid’s physique. I don’t know if instincts and anticipation not being where you’d like them to be play a part or not, but it’s somewhat strange.

Solo the equivalent of NFL combine underwear all star. He looks the part, has fancy measurables, but once you put him on the floor it looks like he just started playing last week.

Liam was a baller today. Worked his @ss off. Set a tone of toughness for the team. We need that out of someone in this squad badly. As great a cerebral leader AK is, that way of leading isn’t natural to him.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Reed and Stewart were both excellent. Need more of Stewart. And Solo needs to learn how to stay in front of his man.

Also, I love Robert Wright. We need a guy like that.

We have a guy like that. He didn’t play.

 

[AllHusky]

It was the right matchup for a very specific opponent tonight. The downside is or course that this will only embolden the double big crowd.

Double Bigs, did somebody say double bigs?

 

[TheHorde]

It was the right matchup for a very specific opponent tonight. The downside is or course that this will only embolden the double big crowd.

Those two on the court together with Alex and either Liam or Stewart would scare the hell out of me from a ball handling and dribble drive/penetration standpoint.

 

[WallStreetHusky]

Solo Ball not only has no defensive footwork but is like a mummy with his wingspan and hand speed. He always keeps his arms down, no defense.

 

[HailUConn]

A class act, Scott Drew on Liam:

 

[JesusAllen11]

McNeeley is a go to option for us. His ability to beat his man off the dribble use his size was impressive , he isnt scared of contact. Him and Karaban as the offensive anchors is a great base if McNeeley is consistent, which it seems like he will be. The last game in maui was an outlier imo.
-Mahaney performance on offense was promising, looks like a performance he can replicate, but him off the bench has to stay barring injury.
-Solo was a roller coaster. As was Ross. Their rise to stardom comes next year. Stewie too , even tho he was quiet than erratic tonight.
-I’ve accepted samson will always be a foul machine. But if he is gonna foul out , its better spread out like tonight vs the 2 fouls in 3 min special he loves to do. He isnt perfect, but he alwsy effective with extended mins and especially when he doesnt have be tenative with foul trouble.

• Samson and Tarris duo was enjoyable to watch. I see potential there.
• Team is a work a progress but come march , roles will be set and cohesion will be high. This team is plenty talented just alot guys need experience. But Uconn wont be an easy out come march and will be feared by most.

 

[Palatine]

Diarra had a sub par game but he is still a much better option than Nowell. The less Nowell plays the bigger his legend will grow. But in reality, he is a freshman feeling his way, nowhere near Diarra on the defensive end. And Mahaney was huge tonight. He gave the team a lift at critical moments in both halves. Nowell will get his chances but not in games like tonight.

 

[Boost'ED]

This was the first game I was able to watch fully (I missed the Maui games, being they were during working hours) and some observations:

1. Our defense is clearly not comparable to the last two years.
a) We allow way too much dribble penetration, seemingly as if our guys are expecting Donovan to erase/alter shots.
b) I zeroed in on Solo a bunch of times (many have observed his poor D), and the assessments are accurate. He's not the quickest to react laterally.

2. Rebounding was pretty average; there were a number of rebounds which our guards last year would have gobbled up.

3. Ball handling at the end was poor. Our lack of a steady secondary ball handler (Hassan being our best) was evident. It was such a luxury to have Tristen, Cam, Stephon, and Hassan (off the bench) all being able to handle the ball. I can't believe some thought Ball could be a PG?

4. We have no clear player that can create and score. Again, our embarrassment of high-level playmakers (Tristen, Cam, & Stephon) last year has spoiled me as a a fan.

5. IMO, Danny will need to piecemeal a tournament team this year, and most games will be high tension.

Solid win, but it will be a long maddening season.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Really needed that. Baylor IMO is good not great and were missing some, as we were with AK, but we need that one.

McNeeley is real good, Jaylin was a bright spot and overall our bigs played well. Defense was a lot better in the 2nd half other than last couple mins. No clue why Ahmad is back nailed to the bench, especially when Hassan was no good for a lot of the game.

Solo is an awful defender. He can hit some shots, but I don’t think there has ever been a guard with his physical profile this bad defensively. On top of his lack of skill, he has no focus. Hurley has a decision to make methinks. Ross was awful and got the boot, Solo was arguably more detrimental and got all the mins. It’s all a bit confusing.

Again, really needed that win. Proud of the boys shorthanded. Still a ton to work on. On to the next.

I was watching Solo closely on those last two blow-bys. He seemed much more concerned with trying to locate screeners that he completely lost track of the guy with the ball. Even the announcers mentioned that he didn't even force the ballhandler to change direction.

I'm really worried about all of the sophomores and their inability to keep their man in front of them. It puts a ton of pressure on our bigs and has been a key reason (though not the only reason) why they've been in perpetual foul trouble.

 

[Skiblets]

Can we talk abt solo ball’s defense

Rick Carlisle channeling the legendary John Mckay

 

[uconngb]

Question now, is it something that Dan Hurley will employ at all with AK back? Agree taking Samson Johnson out of the primary 5 role really played into his strengths. Anything that helps minimize Solo on the floor could be useful. Solo and his 1 rebound and 2 turnovers and 0 assists in 30 minutes, along with series of bonehead plays in crunch time, are killers.

He is an enigma but his couple of random 3s are currently not enough to offset everything else that he either doesn’t do or does negatively.