Cassell

[CTBasketball]

Cassell was a JUCO All-American and we fought off other high-major D1 schools to get him. But right, because he's struggling in his first few games in college it absolutely means that Ollie is doing his dad a favor by giving him a scholarship.

What were we going for? Scouting reports said he is a lethal outside shooter.

He shot 33% from 3 last season. 43% from the field. He is slow, but a pretty good ball handler. No athleticism really. Is it not obvious why Louisville backed out last minute? And the other teams after him were like South Florida, OK State, WVU, and Florida State. Not exactly top programs like us.

 

[huskymagic]

His last attempt for 3 was as deep in the cylinder as I have ever seen a miss go. If he shoots OK, they win. What was it 2/12?

What part of 20% from 3 is confusing you. There is no ifs in life there is only what is happening. If only Cassell was like T-Sam and understood his limitations UCONN would have won this game by 8 to 10 points.

 

[huskyniner]

What were we going for? Scouting reports said he is a lethal outside shooter.

He shot 33% from 3 last season. 43% from the field. He is slow, but a pretty good ball handler. No athleticism really. Is it not obvious why Louisville backed out last minute? And the other teams after him were like South Florida, OK State, WVU, and Florida State. Not exactly top programs like us.

Right, Louisville recruited him hard and then backed out last minute because they suddenly discovered he's not worthy of being a Cardinal. Couldn't have been because they realized he would be a Husky and it's not worth recruiting him anymore.

Early season struggles for a first-year college player. Take a breath, buddy.

 

[AstarIsBorn31]

Uconn turns him into a great shooter... Boneyarders need to calm down... Shot selection is his problem, he needs a niels approach where only good 3s are taken.. Itll come were fine...

 

[johnhuskies95]

What were we going for? Scouting reports said he is a lethal outside shooter.

He shot 33% from 3 last season. 43% from the field. He is slow, but a pretty good ball handler. No athleticism really. Is it not obvious why Louisville backed out last minute? And the other teams after him were like South Florida, OK State, WVU, and Florida State. Not exactly top programs like us.

If you honestly think that Ollie took him as a "favor" to his dad, then I really am speechless.

 

[CTBasketball]

Uconn turns him into a great shooter... Boneyarders need to calm down... Shot selection is his problem, he needs a niels approach where only good 3s are taken.. Itll come were fine...

He took wide open shots.

 

[guyergym]

What part of 20% from 3 is confusing you. There is no ifs in life there is only what is happening. If only Cassell was like T-Sam and understood his limitations UCONN would have won this game by 8 to 10 points.

As I said in another thread, a big problem was that Hamilton wasn't aggressive at all in the last few minutes. It's probably a combination of it being his fifth career game and being hit in the nose earlier, so there's no need to kill the kid. But still, he has to be more assertive going forward. A team like Texas isn't going to leave you open. You have to GET open.

It's not like Ollie, a national championship coach, and Boatright, a national championship guard, decided, "Hey it's crunch time, let's feed Sam Cassell Jr." As Texas keyed on Boatright, Cassell was the only one making himself available.

 

[Cheeky]

And here's the dumbest post of the day!

Not so fast - 1st, it's early and everybody is still emotional. Second, the buddy guy posted in another thread that the Purvis dunk on which he injured his ankle was a "showboat" dunk. Gotta at least consider that one for the DPOTD award.

 

[pnow15]

Boatright is playing the best ball of his career and probably as good as any guard in the country.
TSam needs to back up Boat for 6 mins a game.
Sam Jr. has yet to prove he can do anything at this level, especially shoot. Sam Jr will be left open for a lot of jumpers.
Calhoun and Purvis are huge question marks. One of these two has to stay healthy and be a player or UConn will be playing in the NIT.
The Big, Facey, Brimah and Nolan, are progressing.
UConn could be in trouble.

 

[Cheeky]

TSam was automatic on drives during the tourney. Now he's bricking layups. Hard to explain.

Not so.
During the tourney, 3 of the other 4 defenders were glued to Boat, Bazz, and Giffey, which means that, after he beat his guy, there was blue sky to the rim, and an easy pass for a dunk if the last defender left the big.

 

[Milo65]

My problem is not with Jr., he is struggling right now. The problem I have is that in crunch time, when we really need points, he is taking shots. Why is he taking shots in crunch time? It should be all about Boat and Hamilton in crunch time, unless we get an open look inside. I don't get it.

 

[Gurleyman]

My problem is not with Jr., he is struggling right now. The problem I have is that in crunch time, when we really need points, he is taking shots. Why is he taking shots in crunch time? It should be all about Boat and Hamilton in crunch time, unless we get an open look inside. I don't get it.

One of the 3s he took late was because he had no choice, Hamilton gave up an open look to reverse the ball to him even more wide open. It was either shoot or turn it over.

The step back from the elbow - probably not the best shot in hindsight on a day he's struggling. But a clean look (no defender stepped back with him). And I'm thinking that's a shot he feels comfortable with (it's a Sam Cassell Sr. special).

We needed Hamilton to have Cassell's shooter's ego late, but he was reluctant. He hid a little bit in crunch time. Another spoke on the freshman training wheels.

 

[BUConn10]

he un-necessarily fades away from every jump shot he takes, even the wide open 3's.

 

[mauconnfan]

We saw him make shots and he can. We need him to shoot good.

Funny all these Calhoun haters need someone else. His shot looks good they aren't going in.

It's 6 or 1/2 dozen of the other right now I'm afraid. TSam is awful on O and he can't make a shot but is capable. We will need him eventually and if Omar shoots it like last year then what?

 

[mauconnfan]

he un-necessarily fades away from every jump shot he takes, even the wide open 3's.

That's his shot - he moves in and fades - same as the one's he made in the pre-season. And let's not start the "Assumption, SCSU" crap either because he was open today and took good shots. They're not going in - people are looking for him and setting him up because they know he can shoot.

 

[Pudge]

Some of you start typing ... and amazing things come out.

Didn't your Mom ever tell you to keep your mouth shut or you let the world know what a naïve know-nothing you are?

Cassell will get better. HOWEVER, I don't like him with the ball. He is not a confident ballhandler & not the guy you want breaking the press when TWO guys are on Boatright. And ... YES ... Cassell needs to be told to tone down the under 4 shot selection. Good shots need to be defined; and I'd say 4-7 of his were not. That comes as the years goes on.

The BIG things to watch for are the confidence of Terrence Samuel and Kentan Facey. I think both can develop immensely over the next few months & that is what is going to make us a better team. I don't know what we will get from either Purvis or Calhoun; and I would love to see something positive. Brimah has a ways to go.

 

[UConnDan97]

Cassell will be fine. Keep in mind that he hasn't had a boat-load (pun intended) of high pressure games on national tv yet, much less being asked to deliver the big shot during one of them. He'll get better throughout the season, there's no doubt about it. And when Purvis and Calhoun are healthy again, we'll have more guards in the rotation to keep up the high-pressure defense. That will mean that Cassell will have his legs deep in the game when we need him to hit those important shots.

The loss felt like a kick to the scrotes, but the intensity on defense is there, and I think we're going to have a successful year this year. Especially if DHam keeps his trajectory going...

 

[mauconnfan]

Some of you start typing ... and amazing things come out.

Didn't your Mom ever tell you to keep your mouth shut or you let the world know what a naïve know-nothing you are?

Cassell will get better. HOWEVER, I don't like him with the ball. He is not a confident ballhandler & not the guy you want breaking the press when TWO guys are on Boatright. And ... YES ... Cassell needs to be told to tone down the under 4 shot selection. Good shots need to be defined; and I'd say 4-7 of his were not. That comes as the years goes on.

The BIG things to watch for are the confidence of Terrence Samuel and Kentan Facey. I think both can develop immensely over the next few months & that is what is going to make us a better team. I don't know what we will get from either Purvis or Calhoun; and I would love to see something positive. Brimah has a ways to go.

Have to say he's slow but I like him with the ball more than TSam. He did lose it once trying to do too much but his handle is better and he was fine throwing it over the soft pressure. If he makes a couple more shots as I said, there is no discussion today. But there was a lot more to this game than either of these 2.

 

[gtcam]

Cassell, I am quite sure can shoot the ball - he is seeing that high level JUCO is nothing like high level D1
I am sure his shooting percentage will improve but I think we can all be honest and admit we knew he is nothing like his father athletically.
My biggest concern is why was he getting those 3's in the 2nd half and not DHam???
Also why was Cassell in on that last play and not Facey. Not sure if it would have made a difference but I would have gone with length over slower player.

 

[SubbaBub]

He's missed open shots. That's about it. If that's not his history, then he will get a little more run especially if we are running short of guards. Best to root for him 5 games in, not that his genetics would allow him to give a rip what this board thinks. Calhoun hasn't been making shots for a while, injured or not. Has the Boyle sickness infected the BB board?

KO played 8 guys today and one was a cameo by Rubin. Let's not wring our hands yet, because if your healthy and on scholarship, you are likely playing.

 

[Danzz]

Give me Cassell over TSam anytime. Cassell isn't shooting well right now but we have seen him do it whereas we've never seen TSam shoot well from the outside. I don't think either are particularly good defenders and both get beat off the dribble.

 

[boog204]

TSam was automatic on drives during the tourney. Now he's bricking layups. Hard to explain.

He absolutely was money on those tourney drives. But I have zero memory of him being an effective finisher those other 34 games last year. Perhaps the tourney games were the outliers? He hasn't been able to finish with any consistency this year.

 

[tentoes4rings]

Give me Cassell over TSam anytime. Cassell isn't shooting well right now but we have seen him do it whereas we've never seen TSam shoot well from the outside. I don't think either are particularly good defenders and both get beat off the dribble.

TSam isn't a particularly good defender? Did you watch at all down the stretch last year? He did get beat badly by Felix on one layup today but overall he's an excellent on ball defender. Other than leaving their best three point shooter open three times today, defense wasn't the problem. Inept offense and not being able to pad the lead the last 6 minutes is what lost this game.

 

[Fishy]

Cassell is just not a great shooter - wasn't one in high school and wasn't one at junior college. If you're waiting for him to hit 38-40% of his threes, you're going to be waiting a while.

He is a volume shooter, though, and that's starting to become a problem.

The kid is an 80% free throw shooter from way back...when he resolves to just stand out and throw the ball towards the basket, he's basically turning the ball over. Move towards the basket, post up a smaller guard, get to the middle against the zone, whatever...just stop pretending you're Ray Allen out there.

 

[mauconnfan]

Cassell is just not a great shooter - wasn't one in high school and wasn't one at junior college. If you're waiting for him to hit 38-40% of his threes, you're going to be waiting a while.

He is a volume shooter, though, and that's starting to become a problem.

The kid is an 80% free throw shooter from way back...when he resolves to just stand out and throw the ball towards the basket, he's basically turning the ball over. Move towards the basket, post up a smaller guard, get to the middle against the zone, whatever...just stop pretending you're Ray Allen out there.

Agree to a point Fishman but everyone needs shooters and hate to say it, but looking at everyone besides Boat (he missed 13 shots today) and DHam we're in trouble. He shot it well enough preseason I will wait to see - and it looks decent leaving his hand. He can help at 30-35% from 3 actually! I do agree though he looks good on the short back up his guy game with the little fade away. Omar needs to get back to or better than his frosh or there will be some major packing in all year.

 

[willie99]

he has to play better, or he'll be playing less

I'm sure he'll contribute in a positive fashion in the future

 

[mauconnfan]

he has to play better, or he'll be playing less

I'm sure he'll contribute in a positive fashion in the future

Agree no doubt but so does everyone else though. Besides Facey, Boat and Dham and possibly Phil on D there isn't one person who played well enough to warrant positive feedback.

 

[imno1]

I agree with Fishy. Sam has missed enough shots that had no chance to go in to tell me he's not a great shooter. It's unfortunate because we could really use one. Sam will continue to be asked to shoot though since we have so few options. Is there a shot chart on him for the season? As bad as he has shot I think he is much better from the left side of the court especially in the corner. Call me crazy but I'd like to see Facey a little more involved in the offense. Rumors were he was pretty good from 15' in.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Team really missed a healthy Purvis yesterday. Three point shooting is critical in college basketball, if you can't hit them, they shut down the lane and everything becomes difficult. With interior defense like Texas has, that's a real problem.

I recall during preseason, many of you said Cassell would start and get 25 mins a game. I didn't see it. He's a nice player, once he learns what he can and can't do at this level. That's going to take some time. It's a pretty big adjustment from JuCo to playing the #7 team in D1. Samuel was and is clearly the better PG.

 

[Danzz]

Yes

TSam isn't a particularly good defender? Did you watch at all down the stretch last year? He did get beat badly by Felix on one layup today but overall he's an excellent on ball defender. Other than leaving their best three point shooter open three times today, defense wasn't the problem. Inept offense and not being able to pad the lead the last 6 minutes is what lost this game.

Cassell is just not a great shooter - wasn't one in high school and wasn't one at junior college. If you're waiting for him to hit 38-40% of his threes, you're going to be waiting a while.

He is a volume shooter, though, and that's starting to become a problem.

The kid is an 80% free throw shooter from way back...when he resolves to just stand out and throw the ball towards the basket, he's basically turning the ball over. Move towards the basket, post up a smaller guard, get to the middle against the zone, whatever...just stop pretending you're Ray Allen out there.

He made all his shots in his highlight video.