Chief’s Briefs - Cornell Edition

[CL82]

very excited to see diarra ... get on the floor

Really? Seems like it would be a mess.

 

[hardcorehusky]

5 games in and I look at a massive improvement individually and collectively. If you look at where we are from where we were- you are happy. If you look at where we are to where we can be, it is even more exciting. Players are learning to push themselves and play together both offensively and defensively. Hurley is only into the first few layers of how he wants them to operate. Calhoun teams got better throughout the year and this will happen with this team too. Polley is improving, Carlton is showing flashes, Hurley said Gilbert would need about 10 games to knock all the rust off. Jalen is learning to lead and Vital will continue to be infuriating. Tarin Smith is a huuuge upgrade on Antoine Anderson and Brendon Adams will get his shot at times as well.

Remember, we will add Wilson to the mix, Diarra might not make an impact until tournament time and Whaley has been hurt- there are lots of pieces to still put together.

 

[bendm]

Really? Seems like it would be a mess.

i'm not taking diarra's one year under KO into consideration at all...

yakwe is a severely undersized center with mittens on his hands offensively. in theory diarra should provide the same level of rebounding plus much needed switchability on defense with his athleticism

 

[JB75]

Diarra is already better than yakwe. He can’t come back fast enough. He’s not going to be our savior down low, but will be an added upgrade and will only get better

 

[Stainmaster]

i'm not taking diarra's one year under KO into consideration at all...

yakwe is a severely undersized center with mittens on his hands offensively. in theory diarra should provide the same level of rebounding plus much needed switchability on defense with his athleticism

...that was a poop joke, not a reference to Diarra's play.

 

[gtcam]

I think Coach Hurley was better with the TOs in the 2nd half
In MSG and in 1st half vs Cornell there were occasions when I and others around me thought he should have halted play, didn't, and things got a bit more ragged. He was superb in the 2nd half. I like when he coaches rather than ref baiting and whining - I understand at times why but it wont always weigh in his and/or teams advantage
Polley was much better on offense (having a height advantage helped) but his D is still plain lousy - don't know what it looked like on TV but in person he is either too slow side to side and/or he gets physically punished
The bigs were not good overall but Carlton did seem more comfortable later in the game. Cobb should have dominated but played like his head was elsewhere. - disappointing especially noting the size advantage they enjoyed last night. There needs to be consistency in this position.
AG was like a chicken with his head cut off most of the night yet I found it interesting that he was receiving accolades and praise from Dan Hurley when I thought he needed to be reigned in a bit - interesting strategy and I will not second guess Dan Hurley on this one. I love AGs heart and desire - when the rust comes off - watch out!!!
CV had one of his better overall games - he was into it and the most under control Ive seen - did a lot of communicating with TB on the bench - a good thing
JA did start hesitant but he is so smooth in many aspects of the game. By the time January comes around I feel he will dominate.
T Smith had another really good performance but at some points was trying to do too much and heard about it from Tom Moore - he corrected his play immediately - UConn needs him and he is a huge difference maker in this team - huge. His playing on the team makes it much different than last years team so I disagree with Chief00 on his statement about being the same team - TS and AG give this team a lot more versatility and combos
Freshman Adams looked to be much more comfortable vs Cornell than in MSG - I think in 2 years he will be a very good player here at UConn. If he tries not to do the difficult things on the floor and let the game come to him - as witnessed by his 3 pt shot - he was patient, squared up and caught/shot - a beautiful thing

 

[Chief00]

Our guards need to do a better job at finishing through contact at the rim. A lot of those fouls in the paint should have been and-1s.

With Gilbert I don’t know if he has the size : strength to finish strong. I personally think he needs to be more selective about over penetrating. He needs to have the game flow down a little and rush less. His outside shot has improved. I would like to see him use that and drive to dish but not as a last resort.

 

[Austin316]

With Gilbert I don’t know if he has the size : strength to finish strong. I personally think he needs to be more selective about over penetrating.

Gilbert might be our best free throw shooter on the line but his previous injuries make me wonder if it’s worth his longevity. Be selective in the games that don’t matter and play aggressive in our RPI games.

 

[nomar]

How did you not fit Cockburn into this post?

Tom started chasing me

 

[Chief00]

Gilbert might be our best free throw shooter on the line but his previous injuries make me wonder if it’s worth his longevity. Be selective in the games that don’t matter and play aggressive in our RPI games.

Agree, except he also needs to improve his FT %.

 

[Chief00]

I think Coach Hurley was better with the TOs in the 2nd half
In MSG and in 1st half vs Cornell there were occasions when I and others around me thought he should have halted play, didn't, and things got a bit more ragged. He was superb in the 2nd half. I like when he coaches rather than ref baiting and whining - I understand at times why but it wont always weigh in his and/or teams advantage
Polley was much better on offense (having a height advantage helped) but his D is still plain lousy - don't know what it looked like on TV but in person he is either too slow side to side and/or he gets physically punished
The bigs were not good overall but Carlton did seem more comfortable later in the game. Cobb should have dominated but played like his head was elsewhere. - disappointing especially noting the size advantage they enjoyed last night. There needs to be consistency in this position.
AG was like a chicken with his head cut off most of the night yet I found it interesting that he was receiving accolades and praise from Dan Hurley when I thought he needed to be reigned in a bit - interesting strategy and I will not second guess Dan Hurley on this one. I love AGs heart and desire - when the rust comes off - watch out!!!
CV had one of his better overall games - he was into it and the most under control Ive seen - did a lot of communicating with TB on the bench - a good thing
JA did start hesitant but he is so smooth in many aspects of the game. By the time January comes around I feel he will dominate.
T Smith had another really good performance but at some points was trying to do too much and heard about it from Tom Moore - he corrected his play immediately - UConn needs him and he is a huge difference maker in this team - huge. His playing on the team makes it much different than last years team so I disagree with Chief00 on his statement about being the same team - TS and AG give this team a lot more versatility and combos
Freshman Adams looked to be much more comfortable vs Cornell than in MSG - I think in 2 years he will be a very good player here at UConn. If he tries not to do the difficult things on the floor and let the game come to him - as witnessed by his 3 pt shot - he was patient, squared up and caught/shot - a beautiful thing

Can’t find that post but thought I qualified it like by saying mostly the same. Basically, the starting lineup is back and all but 2 backups (Smith and Adams). Both solid players but not game changers. Smith was a very good 6th man at an Atlantic 10 school.

 

[polycom]

Can’t find that post but thought I qualified it like by saying mostly the same. Basically, the starting lineup is back and all but 2 backups (Smith and Adams). Both solid players but not game changers. Smith was a very good 6th man at an Atlantic 10 school.

Smith isn't a game changing on what team? Duke? sure. But for us? He is absolutely a game changer.

 

[pj]

Can’t find that post but thought I qualified it like by saying mostly the same. Basically, the starting lineup is back and all but 2 backups (Smith and Adams). Both solid players but not game changers. Smith was a very good 6th man at an Atlantic 10 school.

Alterique really wasn't present last year so add him, and Smith could easily be starting over Vital, him being the backup is more of a team sociology decision than a basketball capabilities decision.

 

[mauconnfan]

UConn out-rebounded Cornell 35-29, including 11-7 on offense. They are 4-0 when out rebounding their opponent. UConn couldn't out-rebound a team with Spud Webb, Mugsy Bogues, Earl Boykins, and Isaiah Thomas last year.

The Box score shows zero box outs though. That's not encouraging...(okay, @mauconnfan Last time I do that. Promise!...or not...)

Use it all you want. Truth is Webb, Boykins, Bogues and Thomas would’ve been a tougher rebounding opponent than Cornell. If you think you proved me wrong by UConn outrebounding them by 6 you’re off a bit. Bunch of semi-athletic 6’-6’4 guys only getting outrebounded by 6 we need to give them credit.

Happy Turkey 25 lol

 

[tzznandrew]

Diarra at full health should take all of Yakwe’s minutes outside of immense foul trouble.

Which, if last year is any indication, will be every game.

 

[tzznandrew]

Diarra is way better than Yakwe. This board is unbelievable

I mean, Yakwe has been pretty damn bad, but he was injured all summer. Wasn't he just cleared right before the first game? I'm willing to let a former Top 100 recruit and BE All-Rookie get his legs under him a bit.

 

[HawkHusky]

I believe even when healthy, Yakwe was a much better defensive than offensive player. I'd be happy with just some good defense.

 

[Scrutineer]

Agree, except he also needs to improve his FT %.

Did you mean his 39.2% FG shooting?
His 78.9% FT shooting is not great, but still very good at this stage of his comeback.
His 44% 3 Point shooting is not too shabby either.

 

[Chief00]

Alterique really wasn't present last year so add him, and Smith could easily be starting over Vital, him being the backup is more of a team sociology decision than a basketball capabilities decision.

Good point about Gilbert. Smith, who Chief likes, is more memorable as a very good sixth man than if he would be a starter.

 

[Chief00]

Did you mean his 39.2% FG shooting?
His 78.9% FT shooting is not great, but still very good at this stage of his comeback.
His 44% 3 Point shooting is not too shabby either.

Agree, Chief has crazy high PG foul shooting standards. When he’s shooting 90% it changes the dynamics of the end of games.

 

[Husky25]

Use it all you want. Truth is Webb, Boykins, Bogues and Thomas would’ve been a tougher rebounding opponent than Cornell. If you think you proved me wrong by UConn outrebounding them by 6 you’re off a bit. Bunch of semi-athletic 6’-6’4 guys only getting outrebounded by 6 we need to give them credit.

Happy Turkey 25 lol

I meant the conflation of boxing out vs. rebounding. Nevertheless, your counterpoint is well taken.

Happy TG to you and yours, Mau!!