Boat's Defense Last Kentucky Possession...

[Gurleyman]

I mean to post about it right away, but the whole winning a national title thing distracted me. Be sure to watch it when you peruse the highlights again. Complete Ricky impersonation. Granted we're up 6, so it isn't a high pressure possession, but he was awesome.

First, he picks Andrew Harrison up full court, makes him come back to the inbounder so he doesn't have a head of steam on the catch. Then he just slows him down enough and makes him change directions twice, so it takes Kentucky a good 6 seconds to get into anything resembling an offensive set. Then he switches with Giffey on a dribble handoff and picks up Young - both guys completely in synch on the switch. Boat gets right up in Young's shirt and forces him to take a very wide, uncomfortable loop around the top of the key without even being able to look at the basket. Young throws a sloppy one-handed pass that forces Aaron Harrison out to 30 feet to make a difficult catch. Harrison had Kromah on him and tried one of his deep, miracle threes, but it was not a clean look, it was way deep, and it took them over 10 seconds to even get that crappy shot off when there was only 25.1 to begin with.

Then he gets the last rebound for good measure.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I mean to post about it right away, but the whole winning a national title thing distracted me. Be sure to watch it when you peruse the highlights again. Complete Ricky impersonation. Granted we're up 6, so it isn't a high pressure possession, but he was awesome.

First, he picks Andrew Harrison up full court, makes him come back to the inbounder so he doesn't have a head of steam on the catch. Then he just slows him down enough and makes him change directions twice, so it takes Kentucky a good 6 seconds to get into anything resembling an offensive set. Then he switches with Giffey on a dribble handoff and picks up Young - both guys completely in synch on the switch. Boat gets right up in Young's shirt and forces him to take a very wide, uncomfortable loop around the top of the key without even being able to look at the basket. Young throws a sloppy one-handed pass that forces Aaron Harrison out to 30 feet to make a difficult catch. Harrison had Kromah on him and tried one of his deep, miracle threes, but it was not a clean look, it was way deep, and it took them over 10 seconds to even get that crappy shot off when there was only 25.1 to begin with.

Then he gets the last rebound for good measure.

I was kind of shocked to even be thinking the Boat was turning in a Ricky Moore-like tournament on defense. I never thought there would be another performance on defense in the same ballpark as Ricky's. But I also thought that there would never be another magical run by UConn led by an undersized guard who just would not allow us to lose. There were so many pieces that had to come together in just the right way for our guys to pull this off and it is remarkable that it happened. Given that Shabazz' excellence was a consistent factor this year, Boat's defense was the single most important additional piece in this dream becoming reality. That every other player made key contributions is a testament to each of them and to KO. Just incredible and amazing.

 

[RichZ]

Given that Shabazz' excellence was a consistent factor this year, Boat's defense was the single most important additional piece in this dream becoming reality.

Gif's transition to a quality FOUR man when needed. was also huge.

 

[champs99and04]

Ricky Moore was the name that kept ringing through my head as I watched the final three games of the tournament.

Here are the combined stats of Appling, Wilbekin, and Andrew Harrison in their match-ups with Boatright:

6-19, 10 turnovers, 3 assists

Three lead guards with a combined nine years of college experience, all of whom were made to look like a junior varsity kid practicing against the varsity team for the first time. Ryan Boatright's defense was the primary reason I was so confident we would beat Kentucky. I knew he would hound the rookie Harrison into mistakes (he was clearly rattled early in the game, hence the back court violation), force him to initiate the offense from several feet behind the three point line, and deny easy entry passes to the post. He made Scottie Wilbekin - a kid pundits raved about all year because of his intangibles and decision making - look dreadful and disinterested. He abused Appling so badly that I genuinely felt bad for him.

I don't think we'll ever see a Ricky Moore again, but Boatright's defensive performance over the final three games in this tournament were very reminiscent of Ricky at the peak of his powers. Obviously, in Napier, UConn had the best guard in the tournament. But there is also a strong argument to be made that UConn had the second best guard in the tournament, as well. I mean, look at those numbers again: the guards he was assigned to combined for more than three times as many turnovers as assists. Short sample size and all, that's a pretty remarkable feat to pull off against three guards who were all playing well heading into their match-up with us.

 

[huskiesouth]

Poster is totally accurate - had KY run down the floor and hit a quick 3 game was down to one possession. RB's defense throughout the tournament was a crucial factor in the team's run.

Kromah's contributions against Kentucky are another example of why one team loses and another team wins.

He had kind of left the Husky radar in the last month or so, and then he plays with total mature confidence, grabs important rebounds, plays great defense, makes FTs and bodies outs guys (a stat that does not exist even if spelled correctly) to make a material difference in the outcome of the game.

These are more examples why the letter 'I' is not in the correct spelling of 'team' or 'success'.

 

[formerlurker]

I think Boat is the new standard of Final 4 UCONN defense.

No offense to Ricky Moore.

 

[husky91]

Major agree. He established tempo of both games, just amazing. Great Husky!

I think Boat is the new standard of Final 4 UCONN defense.

No offense to Ricky Moore.

 

[Tenspro2002]

It really is amazing how much he stepped up his game on defense. It kind of makes you wonder where this kind of intensity and focus was the rest of the time. It seems like every game there'd be a play or two where Boat would make a lazy effort or fail to stay in front of his man and allow an easy layup. In the Tournament, there was none of that. And, even better, his defensive pressure led to a lot of turnovers and runouts -- huge momentum plays that got us easy points and let us feel good about ourselves.

He was finally able to turn his diminutive size into an advantage, rather than a handicap. It was amazing, watching him matched up against Harrison, the size disparity was so great it looked like a funky setting in NBA Jam.

 

[Obrero]

All true. But Boat's playmaking ability on offense was also a huge factor. He was not just a defensive stopper, although clearly this part of his game became the most important in the tournament. Opponents did not have an answer for the combination of Napier and Boatright, on both ends of the floor.

 

[intlzncster]

It really is amazing how much he stepped up his game on defense. It kind of makes you wonder where this kind of intensity and focus was the rest of the time. It seems like every game there'd be a play or two where Boat would make a lazy effort or fail to stay in front of his man and allow an easy layup. In the Tournament, there was none of that. And, even better, his defensive pressure led to a lot of turnovers and runouts -- huge momentum plays that got us easy points and let us feel good about ourselves.
.

It's called growing as a player. Really nice to see.

 

[7774]

I think Boat is the new standard of Final 4 UCONN defense.

No offense to Ricky Moore.

Definitely do not agree with that. Ricky was on a level that I have seen no one else reach.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

It really is amazing how much he stepped up his game on defense. It kind of makes you wonder where this kind of intensity and focus was the rest of the time. It seems like every game there'd be a play or two where Boat would make a lazy effort or fail to stay in front of his man and allow an easy layup. In the Tournament, there was none of that. And, even better, his defensive pressure led to a lot of turnovers and runouts -- huge momentum plays that got us easy points and let us feel good about ourselves.

He was finally able to turn his diminutive size into an advantage, rather than a handicap. It was amazing, watching him matched up against Harrison, the size disparity was so great it looked like a funky setting in NBA Jam.

Something important changed in the way he came to think about himself and the team. Another important thing that happened that showed the difference was the time when Bazz tried to position him and inadvertently pushed him. On the replays, look at Boat's face. There was no flash of anger or concern about how he looked. They continued to move forward to the thing that really mattered...winning. I don't see that happening last year or even early this year.

And besides that, his pullup jumpers with the rainbow arcs were things of beauty.

 

[Hoophound]

Boat became a man. He let go of any notions that he had regarding how to play offense and defense and did exactly what the coaches wanted him to do. When he did that and let go of his stubborn pride, he blossomed. Mentally, he matured by leaps and bounds and I think it was profound for him. Once he dug in on D and became more thoughtful with the ball it worked and he stuck with it. His success just started snowballing from there. He went from unpredictable to solid as a rock. I suspect he will seem like a wise old man on the court next season. His focus on defense also bodes well for his pro prospects. He showed some serious ability to guard bigger players that he has never shown before. Boat's stock is way up.

 

[Strummer]

No doubt Boat's great pressure D was critical to our run.

Notwithstanding, there are three plays that will always stand out to me in this tourni:

1. Brimah pulling down a board as he is getting shoved under the basket, composes himself, pivots, baby hook, foul, karate chop.

2. Neils hitting the huge 3 from the left corner to stop the run.

3. Boatright, with Kentucky rolling, receiving the ball on the right side at the 3 point line with 6 or 7 on the shot clock, me having the very distinct thought that, "this is going to end in Boat getting stuffed or throwing up crap," followed by Boat breaking Randle down left, pulling up to what looked like a 40" vertical top out, and shooting, over Randle's solid D, SPLASH - what I consider to be the biggest shot of the game, because it looked like Kentucky started to seriously doubt themselves at that point.

 

[Pudge]

Think about who is on the UConn bench. You do HAVE Ricky Moore there - who had a very intense prideful manner of what he was about. Kevin Ollie harassed guards the entire 94 feet. I am here to tell you that Karl Hobbs was a particularly menacing defender; up in your grill & low to grab your mistakes.

We are going to see this in UConn teams going forward. Boatright is a great model of our development of the skilled 6 foot guard (a scorer in HS) into a higher level.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Boat became a man. He let go of any notions that he had regarding how to play offense and defense and did exactly what the coaches wanted him to do. When he did that and let go of his stubborn pride, he blossomed. Mentally, he matured by leaps and bounds and I think it was profound for him. Once he dug in on D and became more thoughtful with the ball it worked and he stuck with it. His success just started snowballing from there. He went from unpredictable to solid as a rock. I suspect he will seem like a wise old man on the court next season. His focus on defense also bodes well for his pro prospects. He showed some serious ability to guard bigger players that he has never shown before. Boat's stock is way up.

He truly did. I confess, I was a huge Boat critic. But change his game he did and changed my mind for sure. He was awesome in the tourney - a leader, and a shut down defender who also gave them some offense to support Bazz. Terrific job.

 

[Tommyboy]

3. Boatright, with Kentucky rolling, receiving the ball on the right side at the 3 point line with 6 or 7 on the shot clock, me having the very distinct thought that, "this is going to end in Boat getting stuffed or throwing up crap," followed by Boat breaking Randle down left, pulling up to what looked like a 40" vertical top out, and shooting, over Randle's solid D, SPLASH - what I consider to be the biggest shot of the game, because it looked like Kentucky started to seriously doubt themselves at that point.

He was so ridiculous high on that jumpshot it was unreal. Especially only minutes after hurting his ankle. That right there was a man that did not want to lose.

 

[Waquoit]

Definitely do not agree with that. Ricky was on a level that I have seen no one else reach.

That last play not withstanding, Ricky's man scored 25 in the title game and was 5-10 on threes. Boat has surpassed him.

 

[SellersElbow]

No offense to Ricky Moore.

You don't have to worry there. Ricky chews up offenses and spits them out!

 

[intlzncster]

That last play not withstanding, Ricky's man scored 25 in the title game and was 5-10 on threes. Boat has surpassed him.

Rickey's man was also an AA senior. UK's guys were talented freshman.

 

[Scoe]

That last play not withstanding, Ricky's man scored 25 in the title game and was 5-10 on threes. Boat has surpassed him.

Wasn't Ricky guarding William Avery and then switched over to Langdon, I will have to rewatch the game.

 

[James]

Wilbekin was a conference POY? Right? He also frustrated ISU talented frosh pg from flint Michigan. Arcidiacano?

Rickey's man was also an AA senior. UK's guys were talented freshman.

 

[intlzncster]

Wilbekin was a conference POY? Right? He also frustrated ISU talented frosh pg from flint Michigan. Arcidiacano?

True, but Langdon >> Wilbekin.

 

[Scoe]

Ricky Moore was the name that kept ringing through my head as I watched the final three games of the tournament.

Here are the combined stats of Appling, Wilbekin, and Andrew Harrison in their match-ups with Boatright:

6-19, 10 turnovers, 3 assists

Three lead guards with a combined nine years of college experience, all of whom were made to look like a junior varsity kid practicing against the varsity team for the first time. Ryan Boatright's defense was the primary reason I was so confident we would beat Kentucky. I knew he would hound the rookie Harrison into mistakes (he was clearly rattled early in the game, hence the back court violation), force him to initiate the offense from several feet behind the three point line, and deny easy entry passes to the post. He made Scottie Wilbekin - a kid pundits raved about all year because of his intangibles and decision making - look dreadful and disinterested. He abused Appling so badly that I genuinely felt bad for him.

I don't think we'll ever see a Ricky Moore again, but Boatright's defensive performance over the final three games in this tournament were very reminiscent of Ricky at the peak of his powers. Obviously, in Napier, UConn had the best guard in the tournament. But there is also a strong argument to be made that UConn had the second best guard in the tournament, as well. I mean, look at those numbers again: the guards he was assigned to combined for more than three times as many turnovers as assists. Short sample size and all, that's a pretty remarkable feat to pull off against three guards who were all playing well heading into their match-up with us.

Absolutly he was the 2nd best PG in the tournament, best PG duo in Uconn history, in 2011 we had Kemba and Shabazz but Shabazz wasn't SHABAZZ at the time although still very good.

 

[intlzncster]

Wasn't Ricky guarding William Aver and then switched over to Langdon, I will have to rematch the game.

Could be, my memory of this sort of tting is suspect.