Chief’s Briefs - Marquette Edition

[TerryBoyz]

Donovan Clingan the star of the game. Dominant defense, 22 points and 16 rebounds. Stewart the next UConn star had 9 points on 3 for 4 from three. About Winnjng Tristen Newton had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Great second half by a great team.

Was the first half about poor offense or great defense? Probably both, but fortunately Marquette was in the same boat shooting 32% to our 30%.
In the second half Donovan has hit to finish and either Cam or Alex got to warm up their shot. They were 1/8 the first half.
I thought the officiating was good and Donovan look in really good form
on the FT line shooting 6-8 (75%).
Hurley may be happy with a 16 point win, but
he will need to explain to Andrea why their son did not play. Good luck Danny. lol

Good shout with clingan’s FT shooting. It was a welcome surprise.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Stewart was unconscious or very confident? He hit the threes, even with a bank and he runs the court well. Tends to be in the right place at the right time.
I notice on the other hand Ball has been playing less. Part of that is the success of Spencer and certainly Diarra contributioning to winning runs and uptempo. But, I wonder if something else isn’t at play? Injury or something else?

Defense it why he is not playing. It has to be. The depth and the interchanging of Spencer, Castle, Newton and Diarra could have something to do with it. But in my mind it’s defense. Go back and look at Stewart on defense early in the year. He was consistently out of position. No even if he gets caught not rotating correctly he realizes it and corrects in time before it leads to an open shot. Ball with all of his physical skills still gets beat off the dribble way too much. Especially gets beat by overplaying the man he is covering strong hand and then is a half step behind. I just hope he stays because he can shoot and is physically with his wing span for his size a two way weapon just waiting to break out.

 

[Edward Sargent]

We say the boys aren’t about individual awards but I think Donovan just reminded Oso, Dixon and Kalkbrenner that he’s a little more than an Honorable Mention

 

[pj]

Stewart was unconscious or very confident? He hit the threes, even with a bank and he runs the court well. Tends to be in the right place at the right time.
I notice on the other hand Ball has been playing less. Part of that is the success of Spencer and certainly Diarra contributing to winning runs and uptempo. But, I wonder if something else isn’t at play? Injury or something else?

Yes, the development of Stewart, Diarra, and Samson has been impressive and bodes well for next year. Ball showed promise while filling in for Castle early in the year, but now seems to have fallen out of the rotation entirely. Danny has mentioned that the portal is beckoning to UConn players, you have to wonder if he's lost time because he's player #9, or because the fit between Ball and the program has been off in some way.

 

[RichCTBB]

Ball is still a freshman guard with a lottery pick in Castle and a 6th man of the year in HD ahead of him. Oh, and 2x 25 year old first team all big East players in the starting back court. Ball didn’t take himself out of the rotation. He fell into the early rotation through Steph’s injury.

 

[Chief00]

We say the boys aren’t about individual awards but I think Donovan just reminded Oso, Dixon and Kalkbrenner that he’s a little more than an Honorable Mention

He’s the most dominant player in the conference by far - it is an embarrassment to the Val Big East that he’s not the MVP or first team. lol - honorable mention.

 

[AllHusky]

I’d like to HONORABLY MENTION that Cling Kong is a pretty good player of basketball. Also an HONORABLE young man. Did I MENTION that he is a projected Lottery pick?

 

[giddyup]

When Clingan starts slow, he tends to stay on the court a little longer. Can't win in the first four minutes and you can't win sitting with fouls.

Great point

 

[Chief00]

Yes, the development of Stewart, Diarra, and Samson has been impressive and bodes well for next year. Ball showed promise while filling in for Castle early in the year, but now seems to have fallen out of the rotation entirely. Danny has mentioned that the portal is beckoning to UConn players, you have to wonder if he's lost time because he's player #9, or because the fit between Ball and the program has been off in some way.

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[pj]

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Not too worried about Stewart, Hurley knows he's a future star, UConn has a good environment and is competitive with NIL, and Stewart fit with the culture and has earned a significant role. He must know he'll be a leader at UConn next year.

I'm more worried about the guys that didn't earn time this year. As a coach you hate to invest a year developing guys and then lose them and have to start over. Turnover can wear you down.

 

[uconnfan68]

Stewart was unconscious or very confident? He hit the threes, even with a bank and he runs the court well. Tends to be in the right place at the right time.
I notice on the other hand Ball has been playing less. Part of that is the success of Spencer and certainly Diarra contributioning to winning runs and uptempo. But, I wonder if something else isn’t at play? Injury or something else?

Nope. He started until Steph came back. Hass took his minutes because he’s been very good. Hard to play 5 guards, but we can if we need to.