Butler Postgame Thread

[RuffRuff]

Mullins has yet to give us a full game of dominance. I guess he is just not there yet. Maybe it is his lack of bulk, but he seems to disappear for extended periods. Can't expect too much from a freshmen, but the potential is clearly there. Just waiting for that moment when he decides to be our best player. He is a surprisingly good rebounder. But he has gotten beat badly off the dribble a few times lately. I don't have confidence he can defend without fouling.

I mentioned it in the chat - he's a really nice player, but when compared to some of the freshmen that are really having great seasons this year, I'm not sure he's even in the top 20 when you look across the country. One part may be because we don't need him as much, another is that he's not an on ball player. He generally requires the offense to get him open most of the time, so unless the actions get him space, he's not really creating much. He doens't shoot a great % when he doesn't have space. Even Solo is showing more variety in his game, with the pump & drives to the middy or rim. It's not always pretty, but it's versatile. Mullins is 90% catch and shoot. It's hard to really dominate in any fashion when that's almost your entire bag.

Love Mullins, but it wouldn't be a bad idea for Hurley to not constantly overindex on shooters as it can be offensively limiting. This would have been the kind of year where could have used a really versatile athlete/scorer at the 3 with Solo at the 2.

 

[Dove]

TNT should do more of our games... this extended post-game studio analysis with Bruce pearl, mashburn, Jalen rose is good stuff

But Jalen Rose's hairline, tho.

 

[Mr. French]

I mentioned it in the chat - he's a really nice player, but when compared to some of the freshmen that are really having great seasons this year, I'm not sure he's even in the top 20 when you look across the country. One part may be because we don't need him as much, another is that he's not an on ball player. He generally requires the offense to get him open most of the time, so unless the actions get him space, he's not really creating much. Even Solo is showing more variety in his game, with the pump & drives to the middy or rim. It's not always pretty, but it's versatile. Mullins is 90% catch and shoot. It's hard to really dominate in any fashion when that's almost your entire bag.

He’s not being asked to dominate, he’s a part of our team and system. The other teams and frosh you’re mentioning have different offenses and require different things.

 

[Donyell 360]

And when he came in we immediately gave up a huge run and went from up 7 to down 1. He’s still living off the hype of his good 12 min vs PC. At least we don’t have to hear about how he should play over Solo anymore from some people on this site.

At least his length gives us something, unlike Smith who is undersized. Why do you blame Stewart specifically for that run?

 

[Kemba15]

I mentioned it in the chat - he's a really nice player, but when compared to some of the freshmen that are really having great seasons this year, I'm not sure he's even in the top 20 when you look across the country. One part may be because we don't need him as much, another is that he's not an on ball player. He generally requires the offense to get him open most of the time, so unless the actions get him space, he's not really creating much. Even Solo is showing more variety in his game, with the pump & drives to the middy or rim. It's not always pretty, but it's versatile. Mullins is 90% catch and shoot. It's hard to really dominate in any fashion when that's almost your entire bag.

A lot of Klay Thompson to his offensive game and that’s not a bad thing at all

 

[Donyell 360]

I mentioned it in the chat - he's a really nice player, but when compared to some of the freshmen that are really having great seasons this year, I'm not sure he's even in the top 20 when you look across the country. One part may be because we don't need him as much, another is that he's not an on ball player. He generally requires the offense to get him open most of the time, so unless the actions get him space, he's not really creating much. Even Solo is showing more variety in his game, with the pump & drives to the middy or rim. It's not always pretty, but it's versatile. Mullins is 90% catch and shoot. It's hard to really dominate in any fashion when that's almost your entire bag.

Mullins is a little shaky with his handle but he can get into the paint. He clearly has that fadeaway in his bag. He is a good rebounder despite his lack of weight. He is also a good passer. He doesn't seem sped up. But he definitely disappears at times. Maybe he defers too much to the upper classmen.

 

[storrsroars]

But Jalen Rose's hairline, tho.

Looks painted on. It's distracting.

 

[RuffRuff]

Mullins is a little shaky with his handle but he can get into the paint. He clearly has that fadeaway in his bag. He is a good rebounder despite his lack of weight. He is also a good passer. He doesn't seem sped up. But he definitely disappears at times. Maybe he defers too much to the upper classmen.

Maybe that's part of it, but he often comes out aggressive. He does have the fade away in his bag, but seldom used practically speaking. He's mainly a 3 point hoister. Handle is definitely iffy - a couple times in the last couple games he almost dribbled it to the defender. His on ball doesn't seem to be a big part of his game right now, so not much of a creator. You can't just hand him the ball and expect him to generate offense. He's much more of a system shooter.

There is a laundry list of frosh this year that can create offense.

 

[alphasigko]

HEY! Don't say we played awful D, you're just being negative!

You're right, but you can't say it in a post game thread. People get upset.

That be very true statements!

 

[Donyell 360]

once again. 15-5 on the road as a freshman, what more do you want? He's not AJ Dybantsa, hes not getting 40, not in Dannys current game plan at least.

I would like to see him have similar production in the second half like he had in the first half. Why is that too much to ask considering his talent? I think he will get there but not sure.

 

[RuffRuff]

He’s not being asked to dominate, he’s a part of our team and system. The other teams and frosh you’re mentioning have different offenses and require different things.

Sure, but you don't think it would be nice to have at least one on ball creator on this offense? Silas isn't really able to generate much that way. We just want a big batch of catch and shooters? In thinking to 2024, we had 3 guards that could create off the dribble.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Hurley needs to regain control of himself. He is starting to get Ts with regularity again. The refs can swing a close game in March.

What game were you watching?

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Defense metrics did not like the game tonight, Bart or KPom

Metrics aligned with the eye test. Our D was objectively horrible pretty much all night.

 

[RuffRuff]

Defense metrics did not like the game tonight, Bart or KPom

Wild in a game we only gave up 70.

 

[Donyell 360]

Hurley needs to regain control of himself. He is starting to get Ts with regularity again. The refs can swing a close game in March.

A leopard cannot change its spots

 

[Mr. French]

Sure, but you don't think it would be nice to have at least one on ball creator on this offense? Silas isn't really able to generate much that way. We just want a big batch of catch and shooters? In thinking to 2024, we had 3 guards that could create off the dribble.

I’m sure they could, but that’s not being coached. Silas does it fairly well too.

But I didn’t say I didn’t want creators, I said Mullins isn’t being coached to do what you’re wishing.

 

[alphasigko]

Stewart still gives us D and is a bigger body than Ross so matches up better with bruisers down low. His offfens is off right now but I wouldn't call him unplayable. Smith though right now I'm wondering if he is injured as he just looks off compared earlier to the year.

When was Stew's offense ever "on"?

 

[uconngb]

Happy for Solo but let's see him become more consistent besides teams like Butler. Smith is almost unplayable and he didn't even play good D. Kind of sad to see. Glad Tarris had a monster 2nd half. Need to keep feeding the beast and no more floaters for him hopfully. LOL! Demary was tough and made some big shots. Mullins had a great first half and good to see he scored 15 in his homecoming. Tough place to play and decent win after much better 2nd half. Defense is starting to worry me a little as teams are penetrating on us pretty easily.

He played matador D….or said differently, he played no D. It’s a real problem.

 

[Donyell 360]

A negative that continues to be a negative, inbounds plays. Just not sure why we can't figure it out

And they didn't even pressure us consistently.

But at least we returned the favor and gave them some trouble of their own.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Wild in a game we only gave up 70.

There’s a logjam in the low-mid 92 AdjPts/100 for D. Our raw score went from 92.1 to 92.5. Less than a half a pt per 100. It doesn’t hurt to look under the hood to see what actually happened w the stats.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

A lot of Klay Thompson to his offensive game and that’s not a bad thing at all

Who would’ve said that was a bad thing?

 

[jdb50]

What I wouldn't give for Ross or Stewart to be an animal rebounder. They just aren't. Reibe in midseason slump. Looked lost at times. Solo saved our bacon by having a night. And Tarris showed what he has when he dials in. Wish Hiurley would stop having him high hedge. It is a negative for us defending the rim.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Not much to say so I’ll just say this. Beware of the enemy you can’t see. For you are at his mercy. We aren’t the hunters, we are the hunted.

 

[superjohn]

Defense metrics did not like the game tonight, Bart or KPom

This is extremely upsetting.

 

[2014DualCs]

Other than basically a 1 minute stretch, it was gross. But that’s my opinion, you can disagree.

I mean we played with em the entire game minus the “kill shot” 10-0 run. So I’ll level at not gross, but surely not our best.