Chief’s Briefs - AZ Edition

[Waquoit]

Yes we do, his name is Mullins. That's what that kid will be. When Solo is off, Mullins can pick up the slack having a deep 3 threat every possession.

That's a lotta pressure on a kid who hasn't played yet.

 

[BlueandOG]

Great game with a tough outcome. With two key players out, we looked REALLY good. Take the hit, regroup, come back stronger next time.

 

[RuffRuff]

Saw a guy on fld of 68 last night saying Solo's trying too hard to get fouled...

Chicken or egg - if he's losing confidence in his shot, he may be telling himself to try to get fouled. The one 3 he took that he missed rim on trying to get fouled was really wild, top of the key. He looked open, had a good look and he tried to get fouled.

 

[ctbro1999]

For who? Stew played very well last night despite the huge missed rebound late. 2 games in a row solid defensively. Ross didn’t show much so Stew is fine for now. We need Mullins back.

Stewey made some big shots too in the 2nd half to help bring us back.

 

[Kolumbo]

It's just bad luck. When it happens to 1-and-dones or potential 1-and-dones there is more of a spotlight on it. RIP had a serious contusion to his thigh, Price & Larrier tore ACLs, A. Gilbert's entire career with shoulders.. etc.
Look at what the women's team has gone through in the last 5 years.
Part of it also being the program that you are. The teams from Storrs have one of the bigger spotlights shining down on it when it comes to basketball.

Hurley mentioned in his presser that they have a problem in Storrs with ankle injuries and muscle pulls. We know the practices are probably more grueling than your average practice so maybe that contributes. He made the point several times, UConn at full strength will be much better

I agree, he kicks his legs out every time trying to draw the foul. Even if he gets 1 call a game, it is not worth it if it's affecting his mechanics.

At this point the kick is probably part of the mechanics for many shootings. I don't necessarily know about Solo but it seems to be one of those annoying habits/tactics. Like jumping into the defender if he leaves his feet, can't stand that move

 

[shizzle787]

Mullins is someone you have to follow around all game for his shooting. They would have had to rotate a forward to guard him else play 3 guards. He stretches the floor sure.

Hate to say it but Stewart still needs to come off the bench.

Stewart has regressed, but Ross has improved so it's a wash there.

 

[Glastonhusky]

Hurley mentioned in his presser that they have a problem in Storrs with ankle injuries and muscle pulls. We know the practices are probably more grueling than your average practice so maybe that contributes. He made the point several times, UConn at full strength will be much better


At this point the kick is probably part of the mechanics for many shootings. I don't necessarily know about Solo but it seems to be one of those annoying habits/tactics. Like jumping into the defender if he leaves his feet, can't stand that move

Could just be a habit, but I don't remember him doing it last year.

 

[boog204]

It just can’t be underestimated how important Reed is to this team. He’s our only interior option, our only in space rebounder, and far and away our most imposing player. Just having him on the block provides additional spacing and defensive awareness. Not a knock on Reibe, but he’s not a post option at this point.

I’m worried that we are still not as athletic as our opponents and I think this could be an issue moving forward. Defensively we are better, but we commit so many dumb fouls that force us to have awkward lineups - especially with Reed and Mullins out. A Smith, Solo, Ross, Stew, Koroma lineup is not a good look.

On Solo, he’s shooting poorly, but his shot selection leaves a bit to be desired. If he’s that close to getting fouled on wvery three then that means they are highly contested which to me means not a great look. And these aren’t just close out contests.

Lastly, I’m reading lots of about Koroma and his weaknesses. He’s here as an emergency option. If Reed is healthy, DK doesn’t play one minute this game. What exactly did you expect from a low D1 transfer? Kid plays hard and competes. That’s enough for me.

 

[RuffRuff]

Stewart has regressed, but Ross has improved so it's a wash there.

The Stewart missed rebound in the last two minutes that led to an easy put back was rough. Not sure where his eyes were on that one.

3 defensive rebounds in 28 minutes when we need someone badly to compliment Reibe on the boards in a game like that is tough. He hit a couple threes last night, which is nice, but this is just not where we need Stew longer term. His advantage is size, yet it still feels like he wants to be a spread 3 catch and shoot guy. Would have been nice to see him laying out on the boards and grinding in a paint a bit last night.

 

[JB75]

Still can’t believe Reed was ruled out last minute yesterday, especially since you can rest him Sunday’s game and he won’t have to play again till a week from tomorrow. Even some spot minutes would’ve greatly helped.

 

[Palatine]

Very much why we needs Mullins back. With him back, we have options/insurance as it comes to the three point shooting until Ball hopefully figures this out. Solo's mid range game is nice, but it was supposed to be as compliment to his 3s, which are more valuable. We could also put our best defensive roster out there while not losing the shooting.

Swing Mullins to the 2, Ross to the 3, and we have a really interesting rotation.

I hate depending on a player that has never suited up in college game. Hope is not a strategy. But I really hope this kid is the goods.

 

[freescooter]

The difference in this one was Arizona simply dominated inside. Reibe played well on offense but just got bullied on defense. He is like a lot of bigs who have talent but aren’t big enough or strong enough to be a full time 5 at this level yet. The other thing that stood out to me was that we are not that big. Arizona looked like a bunch of draft horses compared to race horses. When the game got physical the Clydesdales had a huge advantage. We made a spirited comeback to make the game exciting for sure but I don’t know why but it never felt like we were going to win. I guess because to win we’d have needed to be perfect over the final 2 minutes and we were’t all night.

 

[boog204]

Still can’t believe Reed was ruled out last minute yesterday, especially since you can rest him Sunday’s game and he won’t have to play again till a week from tomorrow. Even some spot minutes would’ve greatly helped.

Yeah! Play him on an injury to risk getting more injured and kill the entire season. Cmon, man. Dude could barely move at the end of the BYU game.

 

[Kolumbo]

I thought we were going to win. We came all the way back to take the lead and we were in the driver's seat. I am not surprised we lost because we played poorly throughout the game and that is what happened at the end. I think Solo wanted to hit the dagger but it was a gamble and not necessary. The shot chart shows just how different the two teams played and perhaps mostly due to Reed being out.

 

[shizzle787]

I thought we were going to win. We came all the way back to take the lead and we were in the driver's seat. I am not surprised we lost because we played poorly throughout the game and that is what happened at the end. I think Solo wanted to hit the dagger but it was a gamble and not necessary. The shot chart shows just how different the two teams played and perhaps mostly due to Reed being out.

View attachment 113426

Totally agree with the Solo shot. We were up one, and he tried to put it away. We needed a better shot at that moment.

 

[ctbro1999]

Totally agree with the Solo shot. We were up one, and he tried to put it away. We needed a better shot at that moment.

Yeah, hero ball (no pun intended) was not what we needed there, Solo.

 

[NewBlood]

That's a lotta pressure on a kid who hasn't played yet.

Not asking him to be rim attacker, major defender, aggressive rebounder. Asking him to be the thing that he has been and continue to be, a damn good shooter. If you asked him if he's up to the task, what do you think he would say?

Actually all he has to do is better the play of Stewart because that's the current starter in his place.

 

[gtcam]

Is there an issue with our training staff?

I think it comes down to the fact that even though these freshmen come into a program as highly touted, they are not physically prepared for the prospect of going against grown men 4 or 5 years older than them on a daily basis and get beaten up in practice sessions like that of Dan Hurley's.

 

[CL82]

Totally agree with the Solo shot. We were up one, and he tried to put it away. We needed a better shot at that moment.

Yep. It wasn't that best decision, but I like the fact that with the game on the line he wanted to take the shot.

 

[Inyatkin]

Three-point shooting always fluctuates. Always.
Niels Giffey had one of our best three-point shooting years in our history in 2014 at 48 percent. Six games in the NCAA tournament that year? 26 percent.
For all the talk of Solo bulking up or foul baiting or what, there is always variance in three-point shooting, and we as a board forget that fact every single year.

 

[buddy]

The difference in this one was Arizona simply dominated inside. Reibe played well on offense but just got bullied on defense. He is like a lot of bigs who have talent but aren’t big enough or strong enough to be a full time 5 at this level yet. The other thing that stood out to me was that we are not that big. Arizona looked like a bunch of draft horses compared to race horses. When the game got physical the Clydesdales had a huge advantage. We made a spirited comeback to make the game exciting for sure but I don’t know why but it never felt like we were going to win. I guess because to win we’d have needed to be perfect over the final 2 minutes and we were’t all night.

You are correct. This is a "donut" team. They way to beat this team is to keep pounding it inside or driving the lane with penetration. They opposition seems to blow by and usually get an and one. One the other hand, foul the UConn players as much as possible as they will more likely than not miss the front end of a one and one and the opposition will get the ball back because UConn can't rebound. This is likely going to be a pattern for the entire season. Even New Haven was able to penetrate and get close or midrange shots uncontested. The BYU win, it appears now, was very lucky, and would have been a loss if the game was one minute longer. I only saw the last 5 minutes of the Illinois game. Their large size point guard I fear is going to eat the UConn defenders for lunch. They did get punked. Hurley was right.

 

[Old Man UConn]

Az was the worse possible matchup with Reed out. Tall and very physical. Still fouling to much by playing bad defense. Reibe will be better latter in this season for games like this. Will be a big factor next year. Ball is not playing to his ability if he cannot shoot the ball better. Played like champs and to maintain and stay in the game.

 

[NJHusky]

Three-point shooting always fluctuates. Always.
Niels Giffey had one of our best three-point shooting years in our history in 2014 at 48 percent. Six games in the NCAA tournament that year? 26 percent.
For all the talk of Solo bulking up or foul baiting or what, there is always variance in three-point shooting, and we as a board forget that fact every single year.

Unfortunately the antidote to bad 3 Pt shooting was on the bench last night

 

[Tenspro2002]

And where would the BE be without UConn….

The BE very, very clearly needs UConn, but also very, very clearly resents that they need UConn and would prefer that one of the Catholic schools be their standard-bearer.

 

[Marat]

The difference in this one was Arizona simply dominated inside. Reibe played well on offense but just got bullied on defense. He is like a lot of bigs who have talent but aren’t big enough or strong enough to be a full time 5 at this level yet. The other thing that stood out to me was that we are not that big. Arizona looked like a bunch of draft horses compared to race horses. When the game got physical the Clydesdales had a huge advantage. We made a spirited comeback to make the game exciting for sure but I don’t know why but it never felt like we were going to win. I guess because to win we’d have needed to be perfect over the final 2 minutes and we were’t all night.

I think only their freshman Koa Peat stood out physically. With Reed, UConn would have looked more physical no doubt.