Chief’s Briefs- Marquette Edition

[gtcam]

UConn is 15-3 so I'm not freaking out. UConn has all 3 teams that beat them at home later in the season,

That being said:
1) I had this game pegged as a L a few weeks back after watching Marquette play at home twice. I saw how Smart kept switching up Defenses and on offense he had a plan and stuck to it. Tonight his defensive plan was to shut down AS and Hawk and let Newton dribble with no idea running the offense with AJ and Karaban taking shots. It worked. When Hawk, Newton and AS came out, UConn was scoring. What was Dan Hurley's plan? I wish I knew.
2) Nice to see AK get involved offensively - he had the hot hand why didn't Dan Hurley draw some plays for him to get some more outside shots?
3) DC was a beast. Period. If he gets starter minutes he is a NBE 1st team player. Patient, smart with/without the ball and for the most part, solid on D. If he could develop the mid range game that AS has ignored the kid would be 1st team AA - that's how good he is.
4) Newton is not a PG or a SG - besides the one really good game he had in Oregon, he is lost and not deserving of the minutes he gets.
5) Why hasn't anyone on this team developed to be a true floor leader? Not the rah rah guy that AJ is but a leader who will keep the team in it mentally during close games. Should be AS but he has made to inclination to do so. That is so important to a team - Bazz, KEA, TB, Emeka, CV, Kemba, etc.
6) The refs had some curious late calls and no calls. I saw at lest 4 traveling violations on Marquette players before the hoisted 3s. But the refs were not involved in being blamed for the L
7) UConn has to beat Creighton on the road. Are there any other big game road games left besides that one - the way Creighton is going it might not even be that eye opening. This places UConn in an area of having to be in the final four or even final game of the NBE tournament for seeding purposes. Thank God they won the tournament in Oregon.
8) Being up by 11 after a huge run on the road shut down the crowd and Dan Hurley made a massive line change - not smart. Keep the pedal to the metal and build up the lead - Mazzulla does that with Celtics and it drives me nuts
All is not lost but not winning at least one of these 3 might bite UConn in the arse seeding wise
Bring on the Johnnies BUT don't take them lightly.

 

[Kolumbo]

This is all on Coach Hurley now. He has talented players. It's time for him to step up and coach the team to wins or losses. Lead them to wins. I'm tired of his monotone responses. Either step up or don't step up, we'll see what he is made of

It was almost as if the first half run happened without him knowing about it. And then he had no idea in the second half. I don't think he is the guy who will win championships, at least not on purpose.

 

[Conndog]

Question. Why are we better than Xavier, Marquette and Providence?

Good question, sobering- I used to think we had no flaws, that on any night anyone could (and that someone would) go off big to get a win. But we aren't better than those teams, and they know how to put out a winning formula regarding defense and offense against us. I think they have steadier, more experienced coaching too. Hurley may get there yet. He is lacking perhaps the ideal player (an aggressive guard) that can open things up and draw fouls on drives. Maybe next year for the missing players- but this year's team is still dangerous, and Clingan keeps getting better and bettert.

 

[3rdbass]

We can gripe about coaching (I’m no Hurley fan), defense (why do we consistently give baseline) or officiating (I don’t)…….but the overwhelming problem that will not be resolved until (maybe) next year is that we have no quarterback/playcaller/leader…aka point guard. And every opponent knows it.

Also, we don't have a wing player who can penetrate consistently off the dribble and score too. Dribble penetration from both guard positions is our achilles heel this year.

 

[3rdbass]

This is all on Coach Hurley now. He has talented players. It's time for him to step up and coach the team to wins or losses. Lead them to wins. I'm tired of his monotone responses. Either step up or don't step up, we'll see what he is made of

It was almost as if the first half run happened without him knowing about it. And then he had no idea in the second half. I don't think he is the guy who will win championships, at least not on purpose.

This team surely isn't fun to watch anymore since they got into big east play.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

The second half is where it counts and we lack a closer when it gets tight. Yiu have to have a couple of go to guys that you can bank on in tight, well contested conference games. We also lack good to very good to elite point guard play. You need that conductor to dictate tempo and hit guys in their spots in rhythm. This is part of the reason we had so many turnovers which kills any momentum we are trying to build. This is also why we had quite a number of dead possessions which is becoming a theme. This is what prevents us from blowing these games wide open against good conference teams.

Our coach has been outcoached in the 3 losses unfortunately. When you have certain obvious mis-matches you have to continue to relentlessly exploit them. AJ appears to be our best hope at the point. Newton needs to get set up for his scoring opportunities. Hawkins needs to find different ways to score when his outside shot or 3 ball is dropping.

Our bench has also become inconsistent. I'm not sure if this team can overcome the lack of having a very good point guard. I'm curious to see how Samson does once he returns. There is a certain level of ruggedness missing from this team. We are all looking for this team to turn a new corner and put it together consistently. In all 3 losses those teams seemed more hungry and opportunistic. We haven't responded well in these situations. Dan Hurley will need to figure this out. It's a trend and a problem now.

I’m curious to see how Sanogo does once he becomes 1st man off the bench.

 

[Chief00]

Yeah we played our starters. You know, the guys that have been our best players all year and in practice every day. Players don't always play the same one half to the next. You go with your best guys until you get enough evidence to the contrary. 1 half isn't enough evidence. Sanogo did have a nice minute or two in there in the 2nd where he had a block sandwiched between 2 baskets, but he was bad before and after that, so Hurley pulled him and didn't really go back to him until he absolutely had to, even switching defense to change the game and let us rest a bit on defense.

Our 16-0 run was against a bunch of their backups, who didn't play the last 10 minutes or so. Their starters didn't get tired, because home game energy and good conditioning.

Our four best players are: Clingan, Sanogo, Jackson and Hawkins. No one else is even close. Karaban against some match-ups is #5. Newton, Joey C and Diarra, are flipping a coin. Obviously, we need Hawkins and either Karaban, Newton or Joey C on court at same time for outside shooting.

 

[Chief00]

Sanogo had ZERO defensive rebounds tonight.

Hurley’s high hedge defense puts Sanogo out of position for defensive rebounds.

 

[coachn]

Agree with Jckson at PG. Newton out and Clingan in. Chief your the best.

 

[August_West]

Our four best players are: Clingan, Sanogo, Jackson and Hawkins. No one else is even close. Karaban against some match-ups is #5. Newton, Joey C and Diarra, are flipping a coin. Obviously, we need Hawkins and either Karaban, Newton or Joey C on court at same time for outside shooting.

Meh, when a team shoots 24/32 inside the arc, no one is getting defensive rebounds.

I said this week going into game we were in trouble if we were inbounding all game off made baskets like the xavier game. As great as Clingan was offensively it was his defense that could’ve won it for us.

 

[Viet Vet]

Food for thought.

The last time UConn won a true road game against a ranked opponent was January, 2014……….. nine months before we played our first Hockey East game.

 

[Chief00]

What about Sanogo’s game tonight could possibly make you think playing 2 bigs is the answer? He had 5 turnovers tonight. Put him at the 4 with Clingan and he might have7 or 8 turnovers and Marquette’s four would have eaten him up.

Fair question, but he’s had many good games and needs to be on the court with Clingan to start the game. Let’s dictate matchups for a change!

 

[Billy Jack]

I’d love to hear from the fans of playing 2 bigs exactly how this is going to be done. High/low post? Is there any evidence that either of these guys has the passing skills to play the high post? Or the shooting skills to pop jumpers from the FT line?

Both of these guys are low post players who need room to maneuver inside. As much as I agree that we should play the best talent, I just see these two getting in each other’s way if they’re on the floor at the same time.

And defensively, which of them is going to get out of the paint to chase mobile 4’s likeHopkins or Prosper. The modern game is played out on the 3-point line even by 4’s. Sanogo would have to be the guy who would chase out there, but he doesn’t seem to have the quickness for that assignment.

Perhaps they could go to a 3-2 zone like Syracuse does, but Danny is a man-D guy. So that ends that discussion before it’s even begun.

Help me out. I’d really love to figure out how this could work, but I’m just not seeing it.

 

[Malamute]

I’d love to hear from the fans of playing 2 bigs exactly how this is going to be done. High/low post? Is there any evidence that either of these guys has the passing skills to play the high post? Or the shooting skills to pop jumpers from the FT line?

Both of these guys are low post players who need room to maneuver inside. As much as I agree that we should play the best talent, I just see these two getting in each other’s way if they’re on the floor at the same time.

And defensively, which of them is going to get out of the paint to chase mobile 4’s likeHopkins or Prosper. The modern game is played out on the 3-point line even by 4’s. Sanogo would have to be the guy who would chase out there, but he doesn’t seem to have the quickness for that assignment.

Perhaps they could go to a 3-2 zone like Syracuse does, but Danny is a man-D guy. So that ends that discussion before it’s even begun.

Help me out. I’d really love to figure out how this could work, but I’m just not seeing it.

That is coach’s job to figure out but more of two bigs needs to start now. What we are doing is not working against well coached teams that have the now easy to figure out scouting report at their disposal. Also, hard to believe all you have to do is guard Hawkins tight and we can’t get him a shot or he can’t figure out how to do it. He is way too good of a player. I’m afraid tonight gents we simply just got beat by a team that played better. Going forward Chief is right let other teams adjust to us.

 

[uconnfan68]

I’d love to hear from the fans of playing 2 bigs exactly how this is going to be done. High/low post? Is there any evidence that either of these guys has the passing skills to play the high post? Or the shooting skills to pop jumpers from the FT line?

Both of these guys are low post players who need room to maneuver inside. As much as I agree that we should play the best talent, I just see these two getting in each other’s way if they’re on the floor at the same time.

And defensively, which of them is going to get out of the paint to chase mobile 4’s likeHopkins or Prosper. The modern game is played out on the 3-point line even by 4’s. Sanogo would have to be the guy who would chase out there, but he doesn’t seem to have the quickness for that assignment.

Perhaps they could go to a 3-2 zone like Syracuse does, but Danny is a man-D guy. So that ends that discussion before it’s even begun.

Help me out. I’d really love to figure out how this could work, but I’m just not seeing it.

We’re close to the ideal Syracuse team, we should be playing their zone. We’re getting torched by quick guards and wings.

 

[auror]

We’re close to the ideal Syracuse team, we should be playing their zone. We’re getting torched by quick guards and wings.

Lmao good one.

 

[Chief00]

I’d love to hear from the fans of playing 2 bigs exactly how this is going to be done. High/low post? Is there any evidence that either of these guys has the passing skills to play the high post? Or the shooting skills to pop jumpers from the FT line?

Both of these guys are low post players who need room to maneuver inside. As much as I agree that we should play the best talent, I just see these two getting in each other’s way if they’re on the floor at the same time.

And defensively, which of them is going to get out of the paint to chase mobile 4’s likeHopkins or Prosper. The modern game is played out on the 3-point line even by 4’s. Sanogo would have to be the guy who would chase out there, but he doesn’t seem to have the quickness for that assignment.

Perhaps they could go to a 3-2 zone like Syracuse does, but Danny is a man-D guy. So that ends that discussion before it’s even begun.

Help me out. I’d really love to figure out how this could work, but I’m just not seeing it.

First thing you have to do is try it. Worked well against PC for 4 minutes and haven’t seen it since. Very strange. Calhoun use to do it all the time, and generally never had the issues you are so concerned about. Rather it puts the other team in a reaction mode.

 

[Billy Jack]

That is coach’s job to figure out but more of two bigs needs to start now. What we are doing is not working against well coached teams that have the now easy to figure out scouting report at their disposal. Also, hard to believe all you have to do is guard Hawkins tight and we can’t get him a shot or he can’t figure out how to do it. He is way too good of a player. I’m afraid tonight gents we simply just got beat by a team that played better. Going forward Chief is right let other teams adjust to us.

I frankly don’t Hinkle these 2 bigs will work well together, regardless of whose job it is. But they should be able to figure out schemes such that when the ball goes into the low post, the perimeter players can make cuts to get free and the big man passes out of the double team and they find the open man. I think that has much greater potential for generating more offense. We’re a good rebounding team. E should be able to take advantage of that, make better outlet passes, and find our perimeter shooters for open 3’s off the break. I thought we were doing more of that earlier in the season.

 

[XLCenterFan]

Hurley changed the lineup that went on a 14-0 run because… reasons? He’s a bad in-game coach and he proves it time and time again.

Yup. He can recruit. He can motivate. He cannot manage a game.

 

[Husker Husky]

Hey, give some credit to Marquette. They play hard. Always moving. Yes, they beat us at the foul line and at least 20 of their points were on balls thrown in the vicinity of the rim, that found the bottom of the net. But, they were at home, friendly rims. Next time we see them it will be at home. Different story.

 

[Scottobot]

If we had last year's PG, this team would be unstoppable. Cole is the missing piece.

Disagree. I liked Cole, but he didn’t pass the ball.

 

[uconn13]

Yup. He can recruit. He can motivate. He cannot manage a game.

I admit that I am old(er), but I seem to remember Hurley the player wasn't the smartest guard around when he was on the floor at Seton Hall back in the 90's, or am I wrong?

 

[freescooter]

Hurley changed the lineup that went on a 14-0 run because… reasons? He’s a bad in-game coach and he proves it time and time again.

Well you know he is just learning. He has never been a high major coach before. And it isn’t like we are paying him top dollar. By the time he has been here 4-5 years he won’t make the same mistakes.

 

[freescooter]

Tired BS. Clingan is in the best condition of ANY BE player.
Not an ounce of fat on that boy. What sacrifice that boy made before season..
Saw it with my own eyes last Saturday. Wants to win like his life depends on it.
Needs and should be in the game all the time . Winner. He and Jackson should never be out of the game. Karabn also when he plays like he did tonight.

Disagree on Jackson. He should come off the bench in certain situations. You can’t play 4 on 5 at the offensive end against good teams.Nobody respects his offense so they can cheat and double Sanogo and others. Heck he doesn’t even respect his offensive game. And his occasional highlight reel dunks = 2 points.

 

[PAHusky]

Tired BS. Clingan is in the best condition of ANY BE player.
Not an ounce of fat on that boy. What sacrifice that boy made before season..
Saw it with my own eyes last Saturday. Wants to win like his life depends on it.
Needs and should be in the game all the time . Winner. He and Jackson should never be out of the game. Karabn also when he plays like he did tonight.

Is this Clingan fan fiction? He’s a hell of a player and a good kid. He’s not anywhere close to the best conditioned BE player. He’s not even close to our best conditioned player. He gets winded after dominating in five or eight minute spurts and needs breathers constantly.

 

[PAHusky]

That is coach’s job to figure out but more of two bigs needs to start now. What we are doing is not working against well coached teams that have the now easy to figure out scouting report at their disposal. Also, hard to believe all you have to do is guard Hawkins tight and we can’t get him a shot or he can’t figure out how to do it. He is way too good of a player. I’m afraid tonight gents we simply just got beat by a team that played better. Going forward Chief is right let other teams adjust to us.

Our problem on offense is lack of ability to get to the rim and no go to scoring option. How does double bigs solve that? All of you complaining about our spacing and lack of shooting last year want to go back to that now? You play those two with AJax and you have three guys the D knows won’t take a shot from outside 12 feet unless they absolutely have to.

On defense, assuming you don’t go zone, what have you watched from AS this year that makes you think he stays in front of 4’s at all on the perimeter?

 

[pj]

These games are lost in the off season

Good teams can take away our offense, because for whatever reason Hurley refuses to bring in guards that can drive to the basket and dish or score off the glass.
Teams get in our shirts on the perimeter and dare us to go by them and we can't because we don't have that guard. Ours just keep backing up, hoping they stop bothering them. There is no room for our shooters to shoot.

It is not enough to bring in great shooters. You need guards that can break down a defense.

Imagine a penetrating guard drawing defenders, dumping it off to our outstanding big men, or kicking out for open 3's instead of the rushed 3's we take now when we get a crevice to shoot in.

Tristen Newton has been that guard who can drive to the basket and score. Don't know why it hasn't translated yet to UConn.

It does seem like Hurley believes he can teach point guard skills, and doesn't need to recruit a natural point guard. But the best point guards have a gift that can't be taught.

 

[pj]

Never thought I’d see a Danny Hurley team be this soft defensively. Not going to win many games giving up 80 plus.

15-3 lost 3 really tough road games in the big east against 3 of the best teams in the country. Everyone calm down. All 3 of these teams come here as well. It’ll be fine.

This is what makes me optimistic. Defensive liabilities are something Hurley knows how to address.

 

[pj]

Our problem on offense is lack of ability to get to the rim and no go to scoring option. How does double bigs solve that? All of you complaining about our spacing and lack of shooting last year want to go back to that now? You play those two with AJax and you have three guys the D knows won’t take a shot from outside 12 feet unless they absolutely have to.

On defense, assuming you don’t go zone, what have you watched from AS this year that makes you think he stays in front of 4’s at all on the perimeter?

We have an ability to have a 7'2" guy stand near the rim and deliver lob passes to him, and our two bigs are shooting 70% that way. That's a very efficient offense.

Two bigs might call for a zone. That's the challenge with that lineup.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

With a huge opportunity available at pg and the amount of options available in the portal, ultimately choosing to go with a mis-cast sg to fill that role is looking like the critical error for this season.

Imagine we had gone after a player like Boum or Kolek instead?