Chief’s Briefs - Florida Edition

[Conndog]

Those two missed rebounds when Florida was on the line for 1-and-1 late in game, did they score on each of them? I’d have to watch the game again to see, and I can’t remember if it was the first or second FT. If they had simply made the free throw each time instead of making a 2-point or 3-point shot, UConn would have been better off- Florida’s lead wouldn’t have increased as much.

Grest point someone made of how Florida switched the location of their screen from top of key to 45 degree angle of court- made it hard for UConn to adjust, and Florida bigs got a few dunks as result.

i’ll be happy if I never see the high hedge again- it’s cool on paper, but it but ed UConn all season long IMO.

 

[my2cents]

I agree with all the previous posts. I have nothing to say/add.

 

[NYC_HUSKY22]

On to next year, McNeeley needs another year.

Probably does - but I can't imagine a scenario where he's anything but NBA bound

 

[Chief00]

Chief you must know the rule about fouling 3 point shooters. They must be given room to land after shooting and Alex clearly did not. But why do they get 3 free throws when it is after the shot has been taken? And why is this a foul for a 3 point shot but not a 2 pointer.

Yes, that’s why he should not have leaned in. Even given that I thought there was no contact when he landed but by leaning in, as I indicated they will call it.

 

[Chief00]

Those two missed rebounds when Florida was on the line for 1-and-1 late in game, did they score on each of them? I’d have to watch the game again to see, and I can’t remember if it was the first or second FT. If they had simply made the free throw each time instead of making a 2-point or 3-point shot, UConn would have been better off- Florida’s lead wouldn’t have increased as much.

Grest point someone made of how Florida switched the location of their screen from top of key to 45 degree angle of court- made it hard for UConn to adjust, and Florida bigs got a few dunks as result.

i’ll be happy if I never see the high hedge again- it’s cool on paper, but it but ed UConn all season long IMO.

Agree high hedge was a disaster this year for multiple reasons, I have covered before.

 

[Chief00]

But there was exactly three possessions where UConn had potential for a FG inside those 5 minutes, as they got FTs the other possessions. They missed one, and had two TOs.

There was a TV timeout after the first TO and IConn got Karaban an open lane to the basket, bad shot, good play.


Then Liam turned it over and Hurley called his timeout. UConn got an open Ball three.


What do you want there. For Hurley to call a TO after a missed layup? Or after the FTs? He got a timeout after each TO, and got good open shots for his two best shooters after those TOs. That’s all he could have done.

It was a 12 point swing that gave Florida an 8 point lead with 40 seconds left. That decided the game but you would do nothing different.

 

[HuskyBoi]

This year's team missed go to guards. Ball and Karaban are capable catch and shooters but we missed the one on one abilities of Newton, Spencer and possibly Castle. They took the pressure off everyone else to get open and get better looks on the floor. McNeeley was great in the one on ones earlier this year but teams figured his game out in the last month. We had so many open looks in this game that just didn't go down but someone like the aforementioned guards could've gotten us over the line like Clayton did for UF.

 

[Coach J]

I was thinking about this as well, though I think it is misplaced to "what if" a single moment in the game. I'd have to rewatch it, but I'm not sure if the shooter would be free, or as free, without the foul.

I did rewatch it, he still set the screen - it would not have mattered much. I almost wonder if the staff actually teaches that figuring they will get away with it more times than not because he always does it - I disagree for several reasons

1. The last thing we need is for our bigs to be in foul trouble.
2. Those fouls count towards the bonus which we routinely were in earlier than our opponents all year long in both halves of most games, unlike the previous two years when it was the reverse.
3. It can cost you not only made baskets, but potentially momentum not only for the team, but the player making the shot.

So in this instance with Johnson in the first half vs Florida it lead 5 negative events.

1. Taking 3 points off the board.
2. Johnson picking up his 2nd personal.
3. Putting FL 1 foul closer to the bonus and double bonus.
4. Killing our team momentum and taking pressure off of Fl instead increasing it.
5. Maybe preventing Solo Ball from getting into a good rhythm.

 

[sirjames]

Chief - I have to say that you are missing a lot by being so judgmental and critical all the time. The last game of the season, an enormous effort by the team and an uplifting (effort wise) and positive way to end a trying season. Also, drop the casual fan crap or leave - the subtle insult to 99% of the people on here is getting very old. If you are such an expert get a coaching job yourself and allow all of us to comment on YOUR team! But better yet, amend your ways or go away.

 

[Chief00]

I am tired of the national media and Clueless Blogger/Fans criticizing Hurley, with zero evidence to support their viewpoint.
This season our opponents have had 25% more foul shots than UConn:
775-618 =157
157/618 =0.254
That’s ridiculous for a team that’s seldom overmatched.

 

[Chief00]

Chief - I have to say that you are missing a lot by being so judgmental and critical all the time. The last game of the season, an enormous effort by the team and an uplifting (effort wise) and positive way to end a trying season. Also, drop the casual fan crap or leave - the subtle insult to 99% of the people on here is getting very old. If you are such an expert get a coaching job yourself and allow all of us to comment on YOUR team! But better yet, amend your ways or go away.

Looks like Chief touched a nerve. I don’t generally use the term “Casual Fan” in a negative way. In fact, I often say “Beloved Casual Fan”. You can learn a great deal from @nomar who takes pride in being the “ #1 Casual Fan”. We lost but my opening post was not negative - I said the game was very winnable and like the coach of the team thinks there are things we can learn from this loss.
I have great relationships with many of the players over many years.

 

[jibsey]

Chief, you have a personal connection to the program, always have had so. Would you say it would be safe to say that Hurley will not get caught again without a point guard who can defend and get their own shot going to the hole and maybe have another #2 guard beyond what we already have or is coming?

 

[Chief00]

Great chart. Someone tell Hurley and Luke to create more below the break and corner 3s next year.

ESPN has with boxscore etc

 

[Chief00]

Chief, you have a personal connection to the program, always have had so. Would you say it would be safe to say that Hurley will not get caught again without a point guard who can defend and get their own shot going to the hole and maybe have another #2 guard beyond what we already have or is coming?

I honestly have not pivoted yet to the portal etc. But, Hurley has mentioned Castle and Newton were “switchable” on defense because of their size /athleticism. So I think he knows now to play the high hedge you need the personnel on defense. On offense they need a ball handler who can create and we need to confirm if we truly have shooters?

 

[caw]

It was a 12 point swing that gave Florida an 8 point lead with 40 seconds left. That decided the game but you would do nothing different.

You are moving the goalposts.

I was responding to your claim UConn went 7 minutes without a FG, which is just blatantly wrong on it's face, as it was five minutes. Not to mention absurd considering UConn got 6 points in that five minute FG drought from the FT line.

Further you claimed you would have had Hurley use a TO in that time frame. I broke down the possessions in that timeframe and showed, A) he did use a TO and B) he also got a TV timeout. After both timeouts he got good possessions with an open lane for a AK layup and an open three for a Ball three. AK didn't convert, which is a problem separate from anything Hurley could have done.



Now if you want to shift to discussing the final two minutes, that is a different discussion all together and there is a single place Hurley could have used a TO better. They scored on a FT (not a horrid foul considering they were going to have Clayton open from three if Condon passed it as he was looking to do when Diarra ran into him). They hit one of two and got the Oboard, and were fouled and hit both. Now you could argue this is where Hurley should have called his final TO and set up a play. I honestly forget which shot UConn got here but I want to say it was a bit of a rushed McNeeley three. Clayton came down and hit a three, off balance. So sure, you can argue that is where Hurley should have used his final timeout. That however is a vastly different spot from your original point which I disagreed with. So, yes, when you move the goalposts and change the argument you are correct.

 

[Chief00]

You are moving the goalposts.

I was responding to your claim UConn went 7 minutes without a FG, which is just blatantly wrong on it's face, as it was five minutes. Not to mention absurd considering UConn got 6 points in that five minute FG drought from the FT line.

Further you claimed you would have had Hurley use a TO in that time frame. I broke down the possessions in that timeframe and showed, A) he did use a TO and B) he also got a TV timeout. After both timeouts he got good possessions with an open lane for a AK layup and an open three for a Ball three. AK didn't convert, which is a problem separate from anything Hurley could have done.



Now if you want to shift to discussing the final two minutes, that is a different discussion all together and there is a single place Hurley could have used a TO better. They scored on a FT (not a horrid foul considering they were going to have Clayton open from three if Condon passed it as he was looking to do when Diarra ran into him). They hit one of two and got the Oboard, and were fouled and hit both. Now you could argue this is where Hurley should have called his final TO and set up a play. I honestly forget which shot UConn got here but I want to say it was a bit of a rushed McNeeley three. Clayton came down and hit a three, off balance. So sure, you can argue that is where Hurley should have used his final timeout. That however is a vastly different spot from your original point which I disagreed with. So, yes, when you move the goalposts and change the argument you are correct.

It’s a game, you or I don’t set goal posts. We were up 4 with 7 minutes left and we were down by 8 with 40 seconds left. That’s a 12 point swing. During that period regardless of how long your comment is, we lost the game. I would have called another time out to try to clean up the mistakes we were making, you would have apparently made no change to what resulted in a loss.

 

[caw]

It’s a game, you or I don’t set goal posts. We were up 4 with 7 minutes left and we were down by 8 with 40 seconds left. That’s a 12 point swing. During that period regardless of how long your comment is, we lost the game. I would have called another time out to try to clean up the mistakes we were making, you would have apparently made no change despite that resulting in a loss.

The remaining 40 seconds were intentional fouls and McNeeley’s Hail Mary 3, etc but the game was essentially over.

No the goalposts are set on the comment you made. You were simply wrong.

And then you shifted your comment to encompass more of the game. Just say it man, you were wrong and are now changing what you want to talk about.

And yes, for that initial comment you were talking about, I wouldn’t change a thing.

For the last two minutes, I’d have done the same thing as Hurley after the missed rebound and FTs. I’d have trusted my players to get a good shot and have saved my final TO bc in a one possession game you may need it to ice the game, to call before a final shot, etc. and I just had two less than two minutes ago.

I bet if he had called it and it came down to a final possession and he didn’t have one to set a play at the end of the game you’d complain about that. That’s who you are.

 

[Chief00]

No the goalposts are set on the comment you made. You were simply wrong.

And then you shifted your comment to encompass more of the game. Just say it man, you were wrong and are now changing what you want to talk about.

And yes, for that initial comment you were talking about, I wouldn’t change a thing.

For the last two minutes, I’d have done the same thing as Hurley after the missed rebound and FTs. I’d have trusted my players to get a good shot and have saved my final TO bc in a one possession game you may need it to ice the game, to call before a final shot, etc. and I just had two less than two minutes ago.

I bet if he had called it and it came down to a final possession and he didn’t have one to set a play at the end of the game you’d complain about that. That’s who you are.

Ok I get it, your strategy lost. While you put down our beloved Casual Fans, you forget Jim Calhoun’s quick timeouts, immediately when something went wrong. Sometimes seconds into a game or half. Jim’s theory was that players learned things best in real time. He could care less if there had just been a TV timeout.

 

[caw]

Ok I get it, your strategy lost. While you put down our beloved Casual Fans, you forget Jim Calhoun’s quick timeouts, immediately when something went wrong. Sometimes seconds into a game or half. Jim’s theory was that players learned things best in real time. He could care less if there had just been a TV timeout.

Again you are somehow can’t admit you a) were just blatantly wrong and b) goalpost shifting and c) Monday morning quarterbacking.

Hurley called a timeout 70 seconds after the TV timeout.

He literally can’t call a timeout before every single UConn possession to end a game. At some point you have to trust your guys.


As for Calhoun, tell me when he called his last timeout in 1999 against Duke? Should he have used it earlier?

 

[Chief00]

Again you are somehow can’t admit you a) were just blatantly wrong and b) goalpost shifting and c) Monday morning quarterbacking.

Hurley called a timeout 70 seconds after the TV timeout.

He literally can’t call a timeout before every single UConn possession to end a game. At some point you have to trust your guys.


As for Calhoun, tell me when he called his last timeout in 1999 against Duke? Should he have used it earlier?

You praise failure and criticize success, good luck with that. You also need to realize in addition to strategy purposes, timeouts in the last minute also have a clock stoppage purpose if behind.

 

[Scrutineer]

I think it is "move" 3 pointers.

Karaban, McNeeley and Ball are stellar on catch and shoot 3s. But our offense is movement, and I just dont see Karaban as a move 3-point shooter coming off a pick. He needs to park in the corner and catch and shoot.

That'a the one problem of not having a post up offense or a 1-on-1 player to create catch and shoot and put defense in rotation.

The shots UConn takes for 3 are good shots, but they are for the Jordan Hakwkins move shooters of the world, more so than a catch and shoot player like Karaban.

Ball is better stationary catch and shoot as well IMO. They need a drive and kick guy or a post up big who can pass out of the post to stationary guys in the corner.

I guess I remember all the times AK and SB did make shots coming off screens. AK did that repeatedly last year and many were from several feet beyond the arc. It was almost his signature shot.

 

[Waquoit]

Today was the best game Dan Hurley's coached here. Period.

Yet it's been overshadowed by the post-game. That's the true shame of all this.

 

[Scrutineer]

Perhaps the coaches fell in love with the passion that Johnson played with rather than fixing the mistakes he repeatedly made. Over-all, Johnson has played his best ball lately, yet his decision making in certain areas did not change.

Chief - I have to say that you are missing a lot by being so judgmental and critical all the time. The last game of the season, an enormous effort by the team and an uplifting (effort wise) and positive way to end a trying season. Also, drop the casual fan crap or leave - the subtle insult to 99% of the people on here is getting very old. If you are such an expert get a coaching job yourself and allow all of us to comment on YOUR team! But better yet, amend your ways or go away.

Who knew this is supposed to be a love fest? I always thought Chief's purpose was to share his thoughts on what went well or what could be improved.

After reading the comments in these threads recounting all the errors made, rebounds fumbled, open shots missed, poor choices made, etc. it would appear the vast majority of the people here don't view the outcome as a positive way to end a trying season, but more like a lost opportunity that will haunt the players, coaches and fans for a long time.

The effort was great and, as a result, it was a very winnable game. It made me think of Donyell Marshall's missed free throws 31 years ago........against Florida.

 

[Chief00]

You must have watched a different game than I did. I saw a game where we would have been down double digits at halftime but for Johnson’s defensive and rebounding intensity. And a game where Reed still doesn’t understand defensive rotations sufficiently that we don’t end up giving up uncontested shots at the rim.

Johnson is a great kid who plays hard but sometimes we can confuse playing aggressive with playing effective. Despite a similar number of minutes (695 vs 660), Reed had 160 defensive rebounds this season compared to 73 for Johnson. So Reed had 120% more defensive rebounds, despite you seeing Johnson’s “rebounding intensity” and understanding of “defensive rotations”. At the end of defensive plays, Reed was in much better rebounding position and there were missed shots by our opponents to rebound rather than made shots by them.

While Johnson overplaying a 6-2 guard 30 feet from the basket may demonstrate intensity - what were the results? They both had 23 steals this season. Reed had 5 more blocks this season and both had too many fouls (Reed 96/ Johnson 100). While doing the Briefs this season in key games we went on runs with Reed on the floor and gave up points with Johnson playing.

 

[jibsey]

I know one thing has to stop. Reed bumping and fouling players beyond the 3 point line. That was his first foul @gainst Florida.