Chief’s Briefs - DePaul Edition

[MU in MKE]

We shoot 48% they shoot in the 39% but the Big East officials kept DePaul in the game with a 28 to 10 foul shot advantage. For those who think Val Ackerman does a good job, think again.

There always seem to be quite a stretch from some people here to blame Val for anything they don't like and say what a poor job she's doing, even when she has little to do with it. Officials are not picked by the conferences, they're only nominated and from there all conferences can do is petition their preferred refs. The officials are independant contractors of the NCAA.

In addition, for those preferred officials, the BE (and many conferences) don't even stand alone in this area. The BE, ACC, A10, MEAC, and maybe others that I'm unaware of, are part of an alliance that works together to recruit, train, retain, and overall manage the officals they use amongst their conferences.

So you can complain about the officials, but blaming Val because of poor officiating is, like i said, kind of a stretch.

 

[ctchamps]

Anyone else notice that moment after Ross picked up his first foul Samson went up to him demonstrating he should hold his arms straight up to avoid fouling. I loved it especially since for most of the game he was trying hard to employ it.

Also in the last six minutes Samson's defense was exceptional. There was very little to fault and it was important in stopping the bleeding.

An additional note was the Ross block near the end of the game. It was an easy lay up that Ross came out of nowhere to block. It was AJ like. I believe we got a quick outlet that led to a Karaban three. A pivotal play to say the least.

 

[Scrutineer]

The FT discrepancy each game is amazing. McNeeley is bumped all the time when he dribbles the ball and nothing is called. Opponents are bumping and grabbing UConn players as they run their sets and nothing called. Then their opponent drives out of control towards the hoop, initiates contact and throws up a shot that doesn’t even reach the rim and the refs call a foul every time.

Maybe Val wants the games against us to look more competitive as a way to improve the league's chances to get more than three bids............since UConn has the aura nationally, if others play us closer than expected that might mean the league has better teams than originally thought and deserves another bid or two.

 

[Scrutineer]

I’m trusting Hurley (rather than Yard jockeys) and his staff to utilize his bench properly regarding Mahaney, Nowell, , Stew, Ross and the rest. They know who to play and when.
You want to know why? Because Hurley and his extensive talented staff staff spend every waking second with these players and not us at practice and know who does what best.
Seems reasonable, right?

Reasonable?
For you maybe, but this is the Boneyard!

 

[Scrutineer]

With you Prankster. Some times don’t see much progress on actual defending, but he clearly wants to be better, whereas I thought he was indifferent early in season. Just seems like it doesn’t come naturally to him.

Ross is sneaking up on relevance. Make an offensive play for gods sake Jayden!

Ball probably never had to play defense in HS so that could be a huge adjustment for him and watch out if Ross can relax (and slow down on his offense) and start to make shots within the flow of the game.

 

[Scrutineer]

To me, the biggest differences in this team versus last year is how much DC covered up for last year's guards being beaten off the dribble. If he were playing, it would have been a 30+ point win.

The other difference is last year's team had three guys who could (and did) bring the ball up and then flow into the offense where each was able to make winning shots or plays. HD, AM and SB are nowhere close to that SC, TN and CS gave us overall.

 

[CL82]

There always seem to be quite a stretch from some people here to blame Val for anything they don't like and say what a poor job she's doing, even when she has little to do with it. Officials are not picked by the conferences, they're only nominated and from there all conferences can do is petition their preferred refs. The officials are independant contractors of the NCAA.

In addition, for those preferred officials, the BE (and many conferences) don't even stand alone in this area. The BE, ACC, A10, MEAC, and maybe others that I'm unaware of, are part of an alliance that works together to recruit, train, retain, and overall manage the officals they use amongst their conferences.

So you can complain about the officials, but blaming Val because of poor officiating is, like i said, kind of a stretch.

So, in your opinion, a call from the league commissioner regarding poor officiating would be entirely ignored?

 

[ctchamps]

Ball probably never had to play defense in HS so that could be a huge adjustment for him and watch out if Ross can relax (and slow down on his offense) and start to make shots within the flow of the game.

Ball and Ross were relentless on defense in the AAU games I watched. One game they were being blown out and even though they had little chance of winning they played hard up to the final play.

I believe we will see Ball be fine on defense. Agree with you about Ross.

 

[El Obrero]

Too much negativity here. We get great effort from the entire roster.

Exactly!
Like I was saying in the other thread: #6Florida and #10Kentucky just gave up over a hundred points each, in regulation. (Kentucky did it at home, and won.) But I’m supposed to think that with this defense, UConn (and the #2 offense in the country) can’t possibly compete for a title?
And all you whiners made this decision in December, knowing who is currently coaching the team??
SHUT UP!!

 

[prankster]

So, in your opinion, a call from the league commissioner regarding poor officiating would be entirely ignored?

Yes! I think that is what he is trying to say.

"Poor officiating? Absolutely nothing a conference can (or should) do."

 

[prankster]

So, in your opinion, a call from the league commissioner regarding poor officiating would be entirely ignored?

As I think on it, The Big East also has a "Supervisor of Officials, Men's Basketball".

My expectation is that that position involves a bit more than than answering periodic phone calls from Val Ackerman with, "Gee, Val! We agree! The official did suck. But there just isn't a darned thing we can do about it. Have a nice day. Good talk."

But, then again, the Supervisor of Officials, Men's Basketball is that enduring friend of UConn Basketball, John Cahill.

 

[Chief00]

There always seem to be quite a stretch from some people here to blame Val for anything they don't like and say what a poor job she's doing, even when she has little to do with it. Officials are not picked by the conferences, they're only nominated and from there all conferences can do is petition their preferred refs. The officials are independant contractors of the NCAA.

In addition, for those preferred officials, the BE (and many conferences) don't even stand alone in this area. The BE, ACC, A10, MEAC, and maybe others that I'm unaware of, are part of an alliance that works together to recruit, train, retain, and overall manage the officals they use amongst their conferences.

So you can complain about the officials, but blaming Val because of poor officiating is, like i said, kind of a stretch.

I am well aware of an officiating consortium of a few conferences. But, if a league commissioner is not responsible for the integrity of their conferences games, what are they responsible for? That is job #1!

 

[Chief00]

He's learning how to fit and he'll get there. His defense has improved and his understanding of the offense and his teammates has improved. He's been building the foundation and he'll show his ability to lead on the floor by the end of the year. We're fortunate we have Hass to lead the team and Mahaney is fortunate he can be an understudy for a bit.

Other than the height narrative, why is he not a shooting guard?

 

[Chief00]

A pretty damn good PG3 and a waste of his talents
Not the 1st time Dan Hurley has done this but I'm afraid he is wrong with this one.

I agree, Mahaney can be a natural shooting guard. He has a textbook shot when he’s in rhythm and that happens when he is not the lead point guard.

 

[pj]

Other than the height narrative, why is he not a shooting guard?

We know he's a quality shooting guard, as he was that at Saint Mary's. But we have other quality shooting guards.

Hurley brought him here to be a point guard, Mahaney said he left Saint Mary's to stretch himself and be challenged in a new role. I expect he wants to learn to be a point guard (which is his path to the NBA if he has one), and I think their mutual goal is to develop him as a point guard. If he can't master it in time, then his minutes will diminish, as they have.

I think Hurley puts a high weight on player development, he wants to develop Ross as a backup shooting guard, Ball as a starting shooting guard, and Mahaney as a backup point guard, and developing in those roles is in the best interest of the players. We're not in danger of missing the NCAA tournament and come March we can re-arrange the rotation for the best performance of the team. I like how Hurley is doing things.

 

[Excalibur]

Other than the height narrative, why is he not a shooting guard?

If you watch his St. Mary’s film, he was best operating from straight on, getting downhill or measuring his man for a pull up 3. He didn’t run off of screens and catch and shoot on the move. He was a ball dominant guard who handled a ton. We don’t want that on our wing.