Chief’s Briefs - East Texas A&M

[Chief00]

A 35 point win but not a Rembrandt. Too many turnovers (19), most just sloppy plays where we don’t read the defense.

The scoring load was balanced and several
players shot 60-75% (Karaban, Ball, Diarra, Reed, and Johnson). Hurley actually played Mahaney with Diarra tonight for a few minutes but no conclusion either way if it is something that will work successfully or not.

Reed is starting to contribute more as he was 1 point short of a double/double. Johnson was efficient with dunks and blocked shots. We got 17 points, 15 rebounds and 6 block shots from the center position. Starting to trend upwards with both guys displaying progress on knowing how they can contribute to winning.

Karaban (2-4) and Ball (2-3) were our only good 3 point shooters. Altogether, we shot 29% from the 3 point line despite getting numerous good looks. Mahaney (2-7) and Ross (1-5) led the 3 point shooting disappointment.

Our 2PG % was respectable with many layups driving results. Again, Diarra got other guys going but needs to clean up some careless turnovers.

Usually a team who blows out an opponent at home has less fouls but we are UConn and despite 2 NC’s we were out shot on the foul line 22 to 14 at home.

We did have a huge assists spread (18 to 4) and comfortable rebound advantage (44 to 35). So we played unselfish and hard. However, we need to clean up the 19 turnover sloppiness.

 

[jibsey]

19 turnovers? That’s trouble against a decent team.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Very sloppy. Dan Hurley did not look happy. In the 2nd half Dan Hurley pulled out players quickly.

 

[bendm]

Reed is starting to contribute more as he was 1 point short of a double/double

Just nitpicking but reed had a double double in 2 of the first 3 games so he’s been contributing. Agree with everything else you said

 

[Al Czervik]

Nowell needs to run point.

 

[Kitaman]

Not sure anything can be garnered from this game. The competition was certainly at a disadvantage all game. I just think it provided all of our new players to adjust and learn each other's tendencies, spots, angles, etc.. In other words a full game 'practice' to develop chemistry and run offenses/defenses to prepare for Maui. To evaluate player's game performance off of tonight as it relates to their future is unfair because of the competition or lack thereof.

We have so many new parts we may need till January to have it all come together. You can see something special is cooking!

 

[Chief00]

Not sure anything can be garnered from this game. The competition was certainly at a disadvantage all game. I just think it provided all of our new players to adjust and learn each other's tendencies, spots, angles, etc.. In other words a full game 'practice' to develop chemistry and run offenses/defenses to prepare for Maui. To evaluate player's game performance off of tonight as it relates to their future is unfair because of the competition or lack thereof.

We have so many new parts we may need till January to have it all come together. You can see something special is cooking!

I agree, everything is a work in progress, with no guaranteed outcomes.

 

[Chief00]

Nowell needs to run point.

I think Hurley is coming to terms with the PG rotation in his preseason thoughts, may need to be revisited. I think there was a miscalculation based on Euro Ball hopes. With only one returning starter, the importance of breaking the opponents down by dribble penetration is magnified. A perfect orchestra of passes and cuts is less mature as we have seen.

 

[Chief00]

Just nitpicking but reed had a double double in 2 of the first 3 games so he’s been contributing. Agree with everything else you said

I agree Reed is close to averaging double/double with 9.7 rebounds per game and 12.7 points average. Tarris did have a season high 3 blocks last night and 2 assists as he is checking more boxes to being a complete center. He is basically splitting Center minutes with Samson Johnson, so Samson getting into foul trouble is a factor in some individual game statistics for Reed.
Tarris’s 76% FG percentage is even above Donovan levels.
A good team is good up the middle, a very well respected coach once told me. We are starting to see a good combined center performance against weak opponents. The combined Center results are ahead of the combined PG results. Although, it is clear that Hassan is the one guy who is the rising tide that lifts all boats when he is in.

 

[gtcam]

After this game. one thing is apparent. AM is not a point guard and should only be backing uo Solo at the 2 position. HD and Nowell are your 2 PGs and I feel that Nowell is the best pure PG on the squad.
Watching this game was like going to the dentist with an abscessed tooth - painful and couldn't wait for it to end - had to watch the Celts for a while to gain some sanity and then they almost gave the game away to Cleveland.

 

[PAHusky]

Is Nowell the future at the pg position and maybe the only true pg currently on the roster? Sure

Has he really done anything to go from 10th man to starting pg against the second string of awful non-conference opponents? No, not really. This board loves hyping up guys based on a few minutes here and there

Pretty sure Dan Hurley is thinking that it's more likely that AM comes around as a workable point guard than coaching a freshman up enough in a few months. Pretty sure I agree with him too, as KEA might be the only pg in UConn history I think could run a team of this caliber their freshman year.

 

[RJScootin]

This team is bored like many of the fans playing these division 2 teams. I fully expect Coach Hurley to have boys locked in for Maui.

 

[Chief00]

Is Nowell the future at the pg position and maybe the only true pg currently on the roster? Sure

Has he really done anything to go from 10th man to starting pg against the second string of awful non-conference opponents? No, not really. This board loves hyping up guys based on a few minutes here and there

Pretty sure Dan Hurley is thinking that it's more likely that AM comes around as a workable point guard than coaching a freshman up enough in a few months. Pretty sure I agree with him too, as KEA might be the only pg in UConn history I think could run a team of this caliber their freshman year.

I still think Hassan is the best PG option this year. Not close.

 

[jibsey]

I still think Hassan is the best PG option this year. Not close.

If that’s the case his minutes are about to go up big time.

 

[Chief00]

If that’s the case his minutes are about to go up big time.

I definitely think he will get starters minutes. They have so many 6-6 to 6-8 options at wing and power forward - I wonder how valid Hurley’s guards height concern is? Of course, it would be better if both were 6-5.
But, putting Mahaney at his true position - shooter - might make him more comfortable and shoot like his form/technique indicates he is capable of.