Chief’s Briefs/ Creighton Edition

[Fan1978]

He was our best defensive player. He wasn’t guarding Neil. What the heck game did you watch?

Diarra was awesome on defense. He waa only on neal on a few switches and blocked his shot on the last one. Neal abused ball and owned stewart to a lesser extent. He only drove to his right but apparently ball and stewart did not notice

 

[Waquoit]

[Hass] was our best defensive player. He wasn’t guarding Neil. What the heck game did you watch?

He led the team in scoring, rebounds, steals and assists. Alas, only second in blocks. Shot 50% and had 0 turnovers. Still, I know a guy who says he blew the game.

 

[Hurleyman216]

I was at the game and have to say there were a ton of missed calls…the touch foul at the end of the first half that was literally called to take away our chance to throw up a shot (which went in). The play before that where the Creighton player flopped taking a 3…Stewart never touched him. That right there was a 6 point swing. Lots of other bad/non calls as well. Called Stewart for a push off foul in the 2nd half that clearly was just a long rebound. Karaban got called for a foul getting a rebound when he was getting hooked, should have been a fouls the other way. Creighton guy went over the back on Ball who had him boxed out with just a few minutes left and no call (luckily we got the ball on that one). Solo got absolutely clobbered on a drive and pull up in the 1st half which he made, I thought Hurley’s head was going to blow off at that point. Not to mention at least 2 moving screens where there was nothing there. Basically same old same old. Phantom calls on us while the other team can do whatever they feel like. It gets tiring playing 5 on 8 every game. We need to get McNeeley back, finish out with a respectable record and get the out of this league. Have a feeling we may be getting a Big 12 invite in short order, so as much as I love the Big East I won’t miss these 3rd tier officials.

 

[RuffRuff]

So in a back and forth game 15 foul shots to 5 doesn’t make the difference? And the BS non shooting call on Hassan’s 3?

You do realize we get outshot at the FT line every single game, right? It’s not the refs, it’s a product of the roster/scheme.

 

[RuffRuff]

I was at the game and have to say there were a ton of missed calls…the touch foul at the end of the first half that was literally called to take away our chance to throw up a shot (which went in). The play before that where the Creighton player flopped taking a 3…Stewart never touched him. That right there was a 6 point swing. Lots of other bad/non calls as well. Called Stewart for a push off foul in the 2nd half that clearly was just a long rebound. Karaban got called for a foul getting a rebound when he was getting hooked, should have been a fouls the other way. Creighton guy went over the back on Ball who had him boxed out with just a few minutes left and no call (luckily we got the ball on that one). Solo got absolutely clobbered on a drive and pull up in the 1st half which he made, I thought Hurley’s head was going to blow off at that point. Not to mention at least 2 moving screens where there was nothing there. Basically same old same old. Phantom calls on us while the other team can do whatever they feel like. It gets tiring playing 5 on 8 every game. We need to get McNeeley back, finish out with a respectable record and get the out of this league. Have a feeling we may be getting a Big 12 invite in short order, so as much as I love the Big East I won’t miss these 3rd tier officials.

At some point you have to get tougher, take what refs give, punch back within the rules, embrace physicality and set tone. Not complain about the refs which is an every game thing. Basketball is a contact sport, not ballet.

 

[El Obrero]

Karaban forgot how to make a basket, that’s the story of this game. Sorry, but it’s gotta be said. He was in the paint all day, laying bricks. He must’ve shot 20 percent front ten feet in, on mostly uncontested shots.

 

[alphasigko]

Karaban forgot how to make a basket, that’s the story of this game. Sorry, but it’s gotta be said. He was in the paint all day, laying bricks. He must’ve shot 20 percent front ten feet in, on mostly uncontested shots.

Note that this has been the case since his return from the concussion. I do not have the differential in 3 pt misses before and after, but I bet it is worth calculating.

 

[Kenny11]

Karaban is a uconn legend and all but he’s been a little disappointing this year, from the standpoint of being our best player.

 

[gsmooth]

Diarra was awesome on defense. He waa only on neal on a few switches and blocked his shot on the last one. Neal abused ball and owned stewart to a lesser extent. He only drove to his right but apparently ball and stewart did not notice

That was what I was screaming at the TV, "overplay his right and make him go left". But that was one of the things Hurley said was that the players are not digesting the scouting reports well. Neal was Creighton's player of the game. When UConn got the early lead he got hot and brought them back in the game and calmed them down.

 

[homunculus]

At some point you have to get tougher, take what refs give, punch back within the rules, embrace physicality and set tone. Not complain about the refs which is an every game thing. Basketball is a contact sport, not ballet.

Yeah, I’m sure this is what you were saying as you watched this game.

 

[Chief00]

I was at the game and have to say there were a ton of missed calls…the touch foul at the end of the first half that was literally called to take away our chance to throw up a shot (which went in). The play before that where the Creighton player flopped taking a 3…Stewart never touched him. That right there was a 6 point swing. Lots of other bad/non calls as well. Called Stewart for a push off foul in the 2nd half that clearly was just a long rebound. Karaban got called for a foul getting a rebound when he was getting hooked, should have been a fouls the other way. Creighton guy went over the back on Ball who had him boxed out with just a few minutes left and no call (luckily we got the ball on that one). Solo got absolutely clobbered on a drive and pull up in the 1st half which he made, I thought Hurley’s head was going to blow off at that point. Not to mention at least 2 moving screens where there was nothing there. Basically same old same old. Phantom calls on us while the other team can do whatever they feel like. It gets tiring playing 5 on 8 every game. We need to get McNeeley back, finish out with a respectable record and get the out of this league. Have a feeling we may be getting a Big 12 invite in short order, so as much as I love the Big East I won’t miss these 3rd tier officials.

Great insights. I wish other posters would have the players’ backs more. This bias, unethical and unprofessional officiating makes it very tough on our players, who deserve better. The official feel the anti Hurley Maui PR has inoculated them from the need for being fair despite their hatred of Hurley.

The bottom line is UConn doesn’t have a 15 point handicap this year against good teams - so a 5-15 foul shot disadvantage at home really hurts. As many flaws that we have this season our loses tend to be when our opponents take at least twice as many foul shots, often 3x’s.
Many here need a wake up call.

 

[Hurleyman216]

Great insights. I wish other posters would have the players’ backs more. This bias, unethical and unprofessional officiating makes it very tough on our players, who deserve better. The official feel the anti Hurley Maui PR has inoculated them from the need for being fair despite their hatred of Hurley.

The bottom line is UConn doesn’t have a 15 point handicap this year against good teams - so a 5-15 foul shot disadvantage at home really hurts. As many flaws that we have this season our loses tend to be when our opponents take at least twice as many foul shots, often 3x’s.
Many here need a wake up call.

Agreed, it’s a 2 part problem. We need to get better and we also get bush league officiating. Last year we were so much better than most teams played that it didn’t matter. Hurley completely threw the BE officiating under the bus after the 2023 National Championship and they still haven’t forgotten.

 

[uconnfan68]

I was at the game and have to say there were a ton of missed calls…the touch foul at the end of the first half that was literally called to take away our chance to throw up a shot (which went in). The play before that where the Creighton player flopped taking a 3…Stewart never touched him. That right there was a 6 point swing. Lots of other bad/non calls as well. Called Stewart for a push off foul in the 2nd half that clearly was just a long rebound. Karaban got called for a foul getting a rebound when he was getting hooked, should have been a fouls the other way. Creighton guy went over the back on Ball who had him boxed out with just a few minutes left and no call (luckily we got the ball on that one). Solo got absolutely clobbered on a drive and pull up in the 1st half which he made, I thought Hurley’s head was going to blow off at that point. Not to mention at least 2 moving screens where there was nothing there. Basically same old same old. Phantom calls on us while the other team can do whatever they feel like. It gets tiring playing 5 on 8 every game. We need to get McNeeley back, finish out with a respectable record and get the out of this league. Have a feeling we may be getting a Big 12 invite in short order, so as much as I love the Big East I won’t miss these 3rd tier officials.

It’s cute that you think Solo boxed that guy out. Didn’t try, and probably didn’t know he was there.

 

[gsmooth]

At some point you have to get tougher, take what refs give, punch back within the rules, embrace physicality and set tone. Not complain about the refs which is an every game thing. Basketball is a contact sport, not ballet.

I think you are both correct, both things can be true.But I think most people would say UConn isn't allowed to do the things their opponent is allowed to do. How does Creighton have only 5 fouls after 39 minutes of game time? That's absurd. I saw from watching on TV Creighton players grabbing the UConn players as they were running off screens. Also Kalkbrenner sets a lot of moving screens. Sure some moving screens occur every game, that's normal, but he does it a lot, especially in PnRs when a defender tries to go under the pick.

Make no mistake about it, this was winnable game for UConn but they didn't make the plays. Whether it was AK missing in the paint, Hass fouling Ashworth at half court with a reach in with 1.5 minutes left with UConn down 1, Samson throwing the ball away at the end, or Solo Ball's awful defense that got Jamiya Neal cooking.

This team is short on athleticism, so with bad 1 on 1 defense, their help defense is bad too and can't help and recover to their man.

 

[scotty0330]

Karaban is a uconn legend and all but he’s been a little disappointing this year, from the standpoint of being our best player.

Outstanding supporting player, great leader, glue guy, makes smart plays but not a good leading scorer. His offense is especially lacking. Doesn’t have skills to create own shot. He is a catch and shoot or drive to his right. Can’t do much of anything off the dribble and lacks any real post play either. Doesn’t diminish who he is or what he helped accomplish here just it’s is who he is.

 

[Hurleyman216]

It’s cute that you think Solo boxed that guy out. Didn’t try, and probably didn’t know he was there.

The play was literally right in front of me, you have no clue what you’re talking about. It wasn’t even close.

 

[prankster]

I was at the game and have to say there were a ton of missed calls…the touch foul at the end of the first half that was literally called to take away our chance to throw up a shot (which went in). The play before that where the Creighton player flopped taking a 3…Stewart never touched him. That right there was a 6 point swing. Lots of other bad/non calls as well. Called Stewart for a push off foul in the 2nd half that clearly was just a long rebound. Karaban got called for a foul getting a rebound when he was getting hooked, should have been a fouls the other way. Creighton guy went over the back on Ball who had him boxed out with just a few minutes left and no call (luckily we got the ball on that one). Solo got absolutely clobbered on a drive and pull up in the 1st half which he made, I thought Hurley’s head was going to blow off at that point. Not to mention at least 2 moving screens where there was nothing there. Basically same old same old. Phantom calls on us while the other team can do whatever they feel like. It gets tiring playing 5 on 8 every game. We need to get McNeeley back, finish out with a respectable record and get the out of this league. Have a feeling we may be getting a Big 12 invite in short order, so as much as I love the Big East I won’t miss these 3rd tier officials.

Point shaving?

Never bet on a UConn game. Because John Cahill appears to. And he has the influence.

 

[boog204]

Karaban is a uconn legend and all but he’s been a little disappointing this year, from the standpoint of being our best player.

Because he’s not. AK is a great second or third guy. Anyone who expected him to be a 18-20ppg scorer and be an all American wasn’t seeing him for what he is.

 

[boog204]

Karaban is a uconn legend and all but he’s been a little disappointing this year, from the standpoint of being our best player.

Because he’s not. AK is a great third guy. He can hit open threes, get hockey assists, and create great angles.

Anyone who expected him to be a 18-20ppg scorer and be an all American wasn’t seeing him for what he is

 

[RuffRuff]

Yeah, I’m sure this is what you were saying as you watched this game.

I am not one to b&tch and moan at the refs every single game that it’s “unfair” when it’s the same exact situation over the course of half a season. Definition of insane, or conspiracy theory.

 

[RuffRuff]

Outstanding supporting player, great leader, glue guy, makes smart plays but not a good leading scorer. His offense is especially lacking. Doesn’t have skills to create own shot. He is a catch and shoot or drive to his right. Can’t do much of anything off the dribble and lacks any real post play either. Doesn’t diminish who he is or what he helped accomplish here just it’s is who he is.

He’s a delicious side, not the main course.

 

[SwingDog]

What a heady play by Diarra at the end, when knowing Ashworth was going to foul him, put up a shot from 3 in the process- and the referees totally blew the call by not giving him three free throws. Hurley said he didn't see it but I know we all did.

Hurley's right: this team doesn't have the viciousness or tenacity of the teams from the last couple of years. He's been harping on how nice they are off the court but how they need to be change come gametime. I think they can develop a mean streak, and McNeeley is just the guy to light the fuse.

 

[jdb50]

Did Alex take a 3 shot in the first half? Creighton really took that away today in both halves. The Stewart phantom rebound foul and the 2 calls with Diarra are unexplainable in a fair situation. Creighton grabbing on all cutters off screens. We have a number of players that struggle to grab a rebound. Ball needs more shots. He is open and ballhandlers don't see him. Stewart played well today. He hit some 3s we really needed. Samson with the ball at the key and no one guarding him, I mean no one. He can hit free throws so can he shoot from there?

 

[ctkaiser]

Diarra was also taken advantage of under the basket. Whenever they has a mismatch, they went straight to the hoop.

Regardless 63 points will not get it done.

They run a good offense and create mismatched. Can't keep leaving their C wide open at the hoop and Neal had a career day. UConn had some kind of career day for missing shots under 10 ft. I think Kalkbrenner was in their head.

 

[uconnfan68]

The play was literally right in front of me, you have no clue what you’re talking about. It wasn’t even close.

I saw it too. He didn’t come close to trying to box out.