Castle quote that Solo Ball should paint on his wall.

[Palatine]

“I really don’t try and hunt shots, I just really try to play through the offense,” Castle said. “I see how they’re guarding me and I just try not to settle and don’t allow that to stop me from getting (to the) paint and playing my game.”

Solo could make a difference in the paint the way Castle and Spenczar do. He has a nice little close in game. He has hit short jumpers when he puts himself in a position to take one. There is an entire court out there, he has the game (and the body with his 7-foot wingspan) to use it, and stop settling for outside shots.

 

[3rdbass]

“I really don’t try and hunt shots, I just really try to play through the offense,” Castle said. “I see how they’re guarding me and I just try not to settle and don’t allow that to stop me from getting (to the) paint and playing my game.”

Solo could make a difference in the paint the way Castle and Spenczar do. He has a nice little close in game. He has hit short jumpers when he puts himself in a position to take one. There is an entire court out there, he has the game (and the body with his 7-foot wingspan) to use it, and stop settling for outside shots.

Yeah it still baffles me that he is fine just sitting at the 3 pt line with his athleticism and decent handle. He came in as an aggressive player that can go to the hoop but besides a couple early season games I haven't seen it an it is to his detriment as he really isn't involved in the game. Hurley has dropped his minutes accordingly due to this lack of aggressiveness.

 

[RichCTBB]

Hassan playing lights out and Steph getting healthy is what dropped Solo’s minutes

 

[husky429]

He has the handles to make some aggressive straight line drive, but not the confidence.

 

[HailUConn]

That’s most IQ. You can not teach it or flip it on like switch. AK is inserted into the starting line and never looked back. As a matter of fact, Hurley once said that I cannot run the offense sets without a player like AK, or something to that effect. Castle is another freshmen that has it. We are so lucky to have them together.

 

[navery12]

He's shooting 41% at the rim, until he improves on that I'm fine with what he's been doing

 

[coachn]

He is playing through the offense like the rest of his teammates.When he needs to step up he'll be ready.
He has the talent and maturity to handle his roll.

 

[AllHusky]

I don't think he does. at least not consistently. It appears that when the ball leaves his hand he is unsure what to do next, or has to think about it. Noticed him in the Xavier game make a pass and follow it with a sharp decisive cut to the basket. When he does that, or drives like that, he and we will be tough to handle.

Experience and confidence are lacking, but it is a Catch 22, the less he gets it, the less he'll play. Hopefully the kind of movement we saw in that one play against Xavier becomes the rule, not the exception.

 

[Deepster]

Solo settled into being too much of a “3 and D” guy. Castles quote and the OP are spot on.

 

[huskyharry]

“I really don’t try and hunt shots, I just really try to play through the offense,” Castle said. “I see how they’re guarding me and I just try not to settle and don’t allow that to stop me from getting (to the) paint and playing my game.”

Solo could make a difference in the paint the way Castle and Spenczar do. He has a nice little close in game. He has hit short jumpers when he puts himself in a position to take one. There is an entire court out there, he has the game (and the body with his 7-foot wingspan) to use it, and stop settling for outside shots.

Love " Spenczar"...he should market it

 

[Hey Adrien!]

It's the time of the year that rotations thin out and teams end up playing their key guys.

Solo Ball not being a part of the rotation has more to do with how well Spencer, Castle and Hassan have been playing.

Long term, I'm super excited of what Ball can do next year and beyond.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He has the handles to make some aggressive straight line drive, but not the confidence.

Just pick your spots. Hurley will never punish aggressiveness. He’s stronger and longer than a lot of guys who will be guarding him.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Solo settled into being too much of a “3 and D” guy. Castles quote and the OP are spot on.

This. That was his role at the beginning of the year unfortunately. Most of this board wanted him to take as many 3s as possible for “reps” purposes during the OOC and Hurley encouraged it as well.

This is the result now. Next year when he has more responsibility and freedom to make plays he’ll be fine though. Just doubt he finds his way at this point with the vets in front of him and limited opportunity to find his footing.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Hassan playing lights out and Steph getting healthy is what dropped Solo’s minutes

Spencer and Newton played 39 and 38 minutes last night. If Solo was playing well enough there’s no reason he couldn’t help get those down closer to 30 minutes for both of them.

 

[jibsey]

Solo has to get at least some minutes. He has too much athleticism and talent to waste and we want him back next year. PT is the bogeyman for players moving.

 

[inWV]

Spencer and Newton played 39 and 38 minutes last night. If Solo was playing well enough there’s no reason he couldn’t help get those down closer to 30 minutes for both of them.

Solo has played well enough to have minutes, but that game was a war. Cam and Newton were not coming off the floor during the foul fest that was going on in the second half. UCONN won that game on the line, with Newton and Cam hitting a total of 18 FTs.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Solo has played well enough to have minutes, but that game was a war. Cam and Newton were not coming off the floor during the foul fest that was going on in the second half. UCONN won that game on the line, with Newton and Cam hitting a total of 18 FTs.

If you can’t trust a guy to play in a close game, then he isn’t playing well enough lol.

We can’t say a moment or game is too big for someone and then on the other hand say there’s nothing wrong.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Solo has to get at least some minutes. He has too much athleticism and talent to waste and we want him back next year. PT is the bogeyman for players moving.

Given the likely losses to NBA at year end and what's coming in, playing time won't be an issue for Ball next season. He still needs to earn it, but he will get plenty of PT if he does.

 

[AdamaNation]

Yeah it still baffles me that he is fine just sitting at the 3 pt line with his athleticism and decent handle. He came in as an aggressive player that can go to the hoop but besides a couple early season games I haven't seen it an it is to his detriment as he really isn't involved in the game. Hurley has dropped his minutes accordingly due to this lack of aggressiveness.

Still had the best blocked shot of the year.

 

[3rdbass]

Solo settled into being too much of a “3 and D” guy. Castles quote and the OP are spot on.

Problem his D hasn't been that great. He is just a 3 pt guy right now.

 

[PAHusky]

Guys chill out. Castle and Ball are obviously two totally different players. Couple of things to consider here:

1. We have no idea what Hurley has told Ball to do offensively out there. Maybe he gave him a total green light for three, etc. I'm sure he's not discouraging him from getting to the rim once in awhile but who knows what his actual instructions are
2. Freshmen without handles as good as Castle take awhile to get confidence to drive straight north and south, let alone actually beat guys off the dribble. Remember Hawkins? Hawkins at least played on a team without a total target on his back and without crazy expectations, so he could take some risks. Solo dribbling now is far down the list of things I want to see happen on offense

Long story short - I think he'll be fine, I think his shooting stroke looks good, I think once he adjusts to not just being able to athlete his way by everyone like HS he'll be fine at getting to the rim, and I think he deserves a couple more minutes a game.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Ball is going to terrorize the BE next year. This is all prep for him to do that.

 

[How Sway?!]

Solo has to get at least some minutes. He has too much athleticism and talent to waste and we want him back next year. PT is the bogeyman for players moving.

Way too early for this kind of speculation

 

[TheChamps990411]

“I really don’t try and hunt shots, I just really try to play through the offense,” Castle said. “I see how they’re guarding me and I just try not to settle and don’t allow that to stop me from getting (to the) paint and playing my game.”

Solo could make a difference in the paint the way Castle and Spenczar do. He has a nice little close in game. He has hit short jumpers when he puts himself in a position to take one. There is an entire court out there, he has the game (and the body with his 7-foot wingspan) to use it, and stop settling for outside shots.

Yeah im a bit disappointed in SB. Far too much talent there to not make a bigger impact on this team. Hes built like a mack truck for a guard, he can shoot the ball and hes a high tier athlete. His problem is between his ears. I dont know what it may be but its in his head because the physical talent is all there.

 

[jibsey]

Way too early for this kind of speculation

Not saying it is happening at all but lack of PT moves kids. We all know that. Next year room opens up PT so it's not a problem in all liklihood.

 

[HooperScooper]

Solo has to get at least some minutes. He has too much athleticism and talent to waste and we want him back next year. PT is the bogeyman for players moving.

Don't worry, Hurley's got this. Communication is the key.

Freshman Jayden Ross saw some minutes early in the season, but is now one of the last players off the bench. Hurley believes the athletic, energetic forward has bought in to the idea that his future is still bright in Storrs.

"We try to stay in the ears and the minds of all of our young players," the coach said. "You're currently in a program that, for the last season-and-a-half, has done college basketball better than anyone else has done it, in terms of winning. But also, from a player development standpoint, this is a pretty good program to be in. But you've got to pay your dues. Andre (Jackson Jr.) did it early in his career, Jordan Hawkins did it early on in his career. You've got to just trust us. I don't think there's a better place to be than this place is for Jaylin (Stewart) and Jayden and Solo (Ball) and Youssouf (Singare). They're probably all not playing as much as they'd like to, but you're in one of the premiere places you can play, with a coaching staff that is truly committed to these guys."

The question from a media member starts at about 13:30 of this video.

 

[HooperScooper]

Yeah im a bit disappointed in SB. Far too much talent there to not make a bigger impact on this team. Hes built like a mack truck for a guard, he can shoot the ball and hes a high tier athlete. His problem is between his ears. I dont know what it may be but its in his head because the physical talent is all there.

It's called being a freshman. There's a cure for it. It's called being a sophomore.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Ball sometimes, just appears to be going a hair too fast. In the games he has played well, he seems a bit more settled.

As he develops, I'd like to see him develop a bit of a back down game like many of the Nova guards have. With Ball's wingspan and touch, he could probably get a few easy hoops per game with that. Have him set a back pick, post him and reverse the ball back to his side, dump it down and see what he could do. I think it will be there in time.

 

[TheChamps990411]

It's called being a freshman. There's a cure for it. It's called being a sophomore.

True.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Don't worry, Hurley's got this. Communication is the key.

Freshman Jayden Ross saw some minutes early in the season, but is now one of the last players off the bench. Hurley believes the athletic, energetic forward has bought in to the idea that his future is still bright in Storrs.

"We try to stay in the ears and the minds of all of our young players," the coach said. "You're currently in a program that, for the last season-and-a-half, has done college basketball better than anyone else has done it, in terms of winning. But also, from a player development standpoint, this is a pretty good program to be in. But you've got to pay your dues. Andre (Jackson Jr.) did it early in his career, Jordan Hawkins did it early on in his career. You've got to just trust us. I don't think there's a better place to be than this place is for Jaylin (Stewart) and Jayden and Solo (Ball) and Youssouf (Singare). They're probably all not playing as much as they'd like to, but you're in one of the premiere places you can play, with a coaching staff that is truly committed to these guys."

The question from a media member starts at about 13:30 of this video.

This new reality is annoying but may as well get over it when we’re winning like we do.