Chief’s Briefs - Georgetown Edition

[Chief00]

Georgetown narrowly beat us in assists and rebounds. Georgetown, also shot 8% higher FG and 17% greater from 3PT. These metrics are often a barometer for victory.

However, Demary and Reed won the game for us. Reed had 15 points and was 5-5 from FT and had 11 rebounds. Demary had 11 points, 5 assist, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. They shot a combined 50% FG. A strong argument can be made that Demary has become our on-court leader in recent games.

Karaban and Ball combined for 5-21 FG (24%) and 1-11 3PT (9%). Yet, they combined for 67 minutes of the team’s 200 minutes. The theory being they would win it at the end and they both made a couple plays late, but were 0-4 FT combined in the closing 2 minutes. Ball has played very poorly since Hurley started playing head games with him a couple games ago. The lesson here is they both got to play better for more minutes but of course a win is a win.

The Bottomline is UConn doesn’t get enough easy baskets, especially off the 13 turnovers they produced. While we typically beat pressure, we did not make them pay down the other end. In short, we need to work on developing a fast break mentality when the opportunity presents itself. Too often we walk it up. While we are good at halfcourt sets, they are a lot of work and a running game can get guys off who otherwise might be slumping.

 

[Fan1978]

Ball needs to get out of his own head. His defense seems to be getting worse again. Was very disappointed in his drive at end of first half. 11seconds too early to go and a forced a horrible shot. They are giving him the 3 now, needs to take his time. I hope he finds his confidence soon because this time is not winning a natty unless he finds himself.

 

[pj]

Blocks and steals were a key boxscore advantage; a fastbreak would help take better advantage of them.

It's a good point that a lot of minutes are going to players not currently performing. What do you do about it? You seem to think that what Hurley has done is play "head games". But maybe that's what Solo needs?

 

[mauconnfan]

Georgetown narrowly beat us in assists and rebounds. Georgetown, also shot 8% higher FG and 17% greater from 3PT. These metrics are often a barometer for victory.

However, Demary and Reed won the game for us. Reed had 15 points and was 5-5 from FT and had 11 rebounds. Demary had 11 points, 5 assist, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. They shot a combined 50% FG. A strong argument can be made that Demary has become our on-court leader in recent games.

Karaban and Ball combined for 5-21 FG (24%) and 1-11 3PT (9%). Yet, they combined for 67 minutes of the team’s 200 minutes. The theory being they would win it at the end and they both made a couple plays late, but were 0-4 FT combined in the closing 2 minutes. Ball has played very poorly since Hurley started playing head games with him a couple games ago. The lesson here is they both got to play better for more minutes but of course a win is a win.

The Bottomline is UConn doesn’t get enough easy baskets, especially off the 13 turnovers they produced. While we typically beat pressure, we did not make them pay down the other end. In short, we need to work on developing a fast break mentality when the opportunity presents itself. Too often we walk it up. While we are good at halfcourt sets, they are a lot of work and a running game can get guys off who otherwise might be slumping.

Demary the only one I can say was a key component for the win consistently. Reed was really good out of the gate but minus some rebounds, not so much for the 2nd half. He has to learn to throw the ball out of the double team, it’s hardly ever a good possession when he can’t. Solo hasn’t been good for well before the PC game, which by the way he deserved to sit the remainder of that one. Today was a lot of the same Hurley is trying to let him find himself, so far it’s not working. His last minute or so almost beat us himself. Beat back door for an and 1 when we’re trying to get on a roll. The long pass last 15-20 seconds he wasnt ready for his guy to catch he ran out to guard him and he went by like a matador for a very fast dunk. Then 2 short armed FTs? I mean if it continues more Stewart is needed. Time to step up and get his head back. I mean he wasn’t the only one who wasn’t good, rough day and lucky yet again to get a W. Better teams ahead this kind of showing won’t keep us moving towards a 1 seed that’s for sure.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Ball and Karaban didn't shoot it well, but hit some key shots toward the end (except from the foul line).

Watching the offense, and I said this in the chat and another thread, when guys drive, players have to keep moving. Aside from passing out to an open shooter, another thing Reed needs to improve is how to move and make himself a scoring option to a driver. Too often he watches and let's his man defend 2 guys.

Need Demary to be on the floor. He can't play only 7 minutes of any half. Needs to learn to let a guy have layup once in while if it means he can stay on the floor. He's a net gain in the end and still will be. Also, I believe it will make Malachi more effective.

Out of all the misses, does anyone know how many were half way down and out. It was bad shooting, but a lot of shots were a half inch from going down. It wasn't brick city like some bad shooting games can be.

Still a win in the end, but a lot needs to be cleaned up before facing the likes of Nova and Creighton.

 

[Mets1432]

The Bottomline is UConn doesn’t get enough easy baskets, especially off the 13 turnovers they produced.

This team has almost 0 fast break abilities. This team really misses an Andre Jackson type player who can get out and run.

13 turnovers and how many points on the break? 2 ? 4?

I know we run good offensive sets but nothing is better then a wide open layup or dunk.

 

[Fan1978]

Ball and Karaban didn't shoot it well, but hit some key shots toward the end (except from the foul line).

Watching the offense, and I said this in the chat and another thread, when guys drive, players have to keep moving. Aside from passing out to an open shooter, another thing Reed needs to improve is how to move and make himself a scoring option to a driver. Too often he watches and let's his man defend 2 guys.

Need Demary to be on the floor. He can't play only 7 minutes of any half. Needs to learn to let a guy have layup once in while if it means he can stay on the floor. He's a net gain in the end and still will be. Also, I believe it will make Malachi more effective.

Out of all the misses, does anyone know how many were half way down and out. It was bad shooting, but a lot of shots were a half inch from going down. It wasn't brick city like some bad shooting games can be.

Still a win in the end, but a lot needs to be cleaned up before facing the likes of Nova and Creighton.

Probably 5-6 3 pointers in and out

 

[Chief00]

This team has almost 0 fast break abilities. This team really misses an Andre Jackson type player who can get out and run.

13 turnovers and how many points on the break? 2 ? 4?

I know we run good offensive sets but nothing is better then a wide open layup or dunk.

I agree. We need some running mentality.

 

[DMIL]

Georgetown narrowly beat us in assists and rebounds. Georgetown, also shot 8% higher FG and 17% greater from 3PT. These metrics are often a barometer for victory.

However, Demary and Reed won the game for us. Reed had 15 points and was 5-5 from FT and had 11 rebounds. Demary had 11 points, 5 assist, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. They shot a combined 50% FG. A strong argument can be made that Demary has become our on-court leader in recent games.

Karaban and Ball combined for 5-21 FG (24%) and 1-11 3PT (9%). Yet, they combined for 67 minutes of the team’s 200 minutes. The theory being they would win it at the end and they both made a couple plays late, but were 0-4 FT combined in the closing 2 minutes. Ball has played very poorly since Hurley started playing head games with him a couple games ago. The lesson here is they both got to play better for more minutes but of course a win is a win.

The Bottomline is UConn doesn’t get enough easy baskets, especially off the 13 turnovers they produced. While we typically beat pressure, we did not make them pay down the other end. In short, we need to work on developing a fast break mentality when the opportunity presents itself. Too often we walk it up. While we are good at halfcourt sets, they are a lot of work and a running game can get guys off who otherwise might be slumping.

The staff needs to figure it out. I think they are close. When the three ball isn't dropping you have to be able to pivot inside and to the mid-range game along with being opportunistic with fast breaks.

This team has the pieces and Hurley hasn't quite found the formula to unlock this team to greatness yet. Solo Ball is a big piece to this particularly offensively. What he lacks on defense he more than made up for it offensively in the past. In the interim, we need an effective contingency plan until the Solo Ball we know and love gets his confidence back.

Overall, our execution isn't where it needs to be 18 games in and they are leaving plenty of buckets on the floor with shot selection and failure to execute on the turnovers generated.
On the positive side, these guys are learning how to win together despite and this will yield significant dividends in March.

This staff will figure it out. We need this team to unlock itself. Love your point about lack of fast breaks Chief. Until they start knocking down that three ball at a higher clip they will need to explore a different approach in the interim to generate some easy buckets. The playbook is out on UCONN now until they adjust, knock down threes and become bulletproof.

Go Huskies 🐺 💯!

 

[twiceahusky]

Ball has played very poorly since Hurley started playing head games with him a couple games ago.

Another interpretation is that Ball has played very poorly since he started playing very poorly. Correlation or causation?

 

[giddyup]

Team is awful shaky. Silas is largely holding this team together. I don’t see any other leadership.

 

[SwingDog]

Team is awful shaky. Silas is largely holding this team together. I don’t see any other leadership.

Shaky- yet still winning, which says something about the overall character, mindset, and resolve of this team. They don't quit and they find a way to win, ugly or not. Hopefully, they emerge from this unsettled period with better play across the board- starting with Villanova on Saturday. Perfect time to take a week off after a victorious but grueling stretch of games. And I think the leadership is there, but this team needs to get its fire and intensity back.

 

[Improviser]

Another interpretation is that Ball has played very poorly since he started playing very poorly. Correlation or causation?

Calhoun would bench (at least for a time) nonperforming or underperforming players. It usually worked. I think this is more correlation. The defensive deficiencies are nothing new. Maybe, Ball is slow laterally or isn't focused.

 

[cohenzone]

The team hasn’t had that “look” of our better teamd lately, kind of being dictated to rather that putting the opponent in their heels. Still managing to win. No real in your face takeover playerz that charactetized our NC teams.

Shot making is a whole other thing. If shot selection is ok and the right people are most often the shooter, there isn’t much you can do about misses. They certainly work on shooting all the time. I am not geberally worried about our good foul shooters being atrocious at the end today. Unlikeliy to happen a whole lot. Go Huskies.

 

[Chief00]

Ball needs to get out of his own head. His defense seems to be getting worse again. Was very disappointed in his drive at end of first half. 11seconds too early to go and a forced a horrible shot. They are giving him the 3 now, needs to take his time. I hope he finds his confidence soon because this time is not winning a natty unless he finds himself.

I agree for us to win, Ball needs to get back to his offensive better self. My view is we need his offense more than his defense.

 

[Chief00]

The team hasn’t had that “look” of our better teamd lately, kind of being dictated to rather that putting the opponent in their heels. Still managing to win. No real in your face takeover playerz that charactetized our NC teams.

Shot making is a whole other thing. If shot selection is ok and the right people are most often the shooter, there isn’t much you can do about misses. They certainly work on shooting all the time. I am not geberally worried about our good foul shooters being atrocious at the end today. Unlikeliy to happen a whole lot. Go Huskies.

lol - Maybe Hurley is too focus on proving he can win the close ones rather than blowing teams out. I am just joking.

 

[Chief00]

Team is awful shaky. Silas is largely holding this team together. I don’t see any other leadership.

Silas has really stepped up the last few games when others are failing. We need more of a plan to get Mullins not only into our game plan but to be a focal point. Too often an inferior shooter takes a questionable shot rather than finding Mullins for a better shot.

 

[Chief00]

Another interpretation is that Ball has played very poorly since he started playing very poorly. Correlation or causation?

Despite his stated focus on defense this season, we may have to come to terms that Ball and Mullins can be such big offensive weapons in rhythm, that we may need to back off defensive perfection.

 

[ucp990411]

Georgetown narrowly beat us in assists and rebounds. Georgetown, also shot 8% higher FG and 17% greater from 3PT. These metrics are often a barometer for victory.

However, Demary and Reed won the game for us. Reed had 15 points and was 5-5 from FT and had 11 rebounds. Demary had 11 points, 5 assist, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. They shot a combined 50% FG. A strong argument can be made that Demary has become our on-court leader in recent games.

Karaban and Ball combined for 5-21 FG (24%) and 1-11 3PT (9%). Yet, they combined for 67 minutes of the team’s 200 minutes. The theory being they would win it at the end and they both made a couple plays late, but were 0-4 FT combined in the closing 2 minutes. Ball has played very poorly since Hurley started playing head games with him a couple games ago. The lesson here is they both got to play better for more minutes but of course a win is a win.

The Bottomline is UConn doesn’t get enough easy baskets, especially off the 13 turnovers they produced. While we typically beat pressure, we did not make them pay down the other end. In short, we need to work on developing a fast break mentality when the opportunity presents itself. Too often we walk it up. While we are good at halfcourt sets, they are a lot of work and a running game can get guys off who otherwise might be slumping.

Do you have inside information about the mind games Hurley played with Solo or are you just talking out of your butt?

 

[HCCForever]

Ball had some nice looks for some threes but he couldn’t get therm to go. I think he loses focus on D as he sometimes plays great D but not as long as needed.

His steal and dunk highlighted his athletic ability. He just seemed to glide by the defender.

UConn could easily have won by seven if Braylon, Solo and AK shot FTs better than 1 for 6. Hope that’s the last time those three miss FTs when trying to close out game.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Despite his stated focus on defense this season, we may have to come to terms that Ball and Mullins can be such big offensive weapons in rhythm, that we may need to back off defensive perfection.

I do wonder if focus on other aspects of his game including D have impacted his game like it did with Alex’s last year.

 

[giddyup]

Silas has really stepped up the last few games when others are failing. We need more of a plan to get Mullins not only into our game plan but to be a focal point. Too often an inferior shooter takes a questionable shot rather than finding Mullins for a better shot.

The kid makes some great plays but also throws up some real bricks. I think getting him more involved as option -1A or 1B is critical to getting the game shot reps to be the scorer we want.

I’d also like to see Silas take more looks.

As much as folks talk about Reeds numbers, the fact is he leaves a lot on the table, misses a ton of bunnies and rarely if ever kicks out. He’s constantly crowded at the rim because Ds know his tendency, so they collapse down. Reed shrinks the floor to a 6 foot radius deleveraging every other player.

Ball simply is a liability and needs to play limited minutes until he earns time playing well.

AK hasn’t improved one iota in 2 years and doesn’t seem like it capable of being your first scoring option.

Smith dribbles way too much and starts the O late in the clock killing rhythm.

Stewart brings some hops and adds intangibles on D and contesting on the boards. We don’t need three guys competing to be 3 hero’s.

Reibe is a disappointment for a 7 footer. He plays like he’s 6’8” and 100 pounds. He needs a lot more work and needs some physical development.

Overall, we lack a real athletic multi-tool forward that can bang, hit the boards and score on the inside. We are very 2 dimensional. Feed Reed or take a 3. The offense is stalling because there is no inside out movement and the guys are floating outside the arc. As good as each guy should be they don’t complement each other. Silas is the saving grace stirring enough activity to keep them functioning at a level that gets them by.

 

[nychuskyfan]

I thought we had very poor shot selection. Reed had 11 pts in the first 5 mins. After that a bunch of quick 3s not in the offensive flow - I think just about everyone took one of those. Reed ends the half with 11 pts.