Chief’s Briefs - Marquette Edition

[Chief00]

Solo Ball carried us tonight with his timely 3’s and 25 points. He also added 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Solo is our star and hits big time shots.

UConn 25 Turnovers kept Marquette in the game. However, not converting off the turnover and missed foul shots kept UConn in the lead.

Alex Karaban had a solid game with good foul shooting and tough play. He was our emotional leader tonight too. While his shooting had been disappointing at times this season, an untold story is how much he has improved on defense, being much stronger than he was a couple years ago.

Samson Johnson played a good game and made his key foul shots. Reed needs to play up to his ability and that means staying on the court by not committing foolish fouls given how Big East consortium officials call UConn games.


We led them in rebounding and assists. When our centers play in the paint we play both better defense and offense.

Mahaney had an opportunity tonight but turnovers and fouls hurt him.

Stewart can be a factor in games if he cleans up his turnovers (6 tonight), but he can score, rebound and defend in the post. Ross while a favorite of Hurley’s has not made as much of his time with McNeeley out.

 

[GHSWolverines]

I wish JS can play a full game. He is so inconsistent.
SB has a sweet stroke. Loved him attacking the boards.
GREAT road win with players hurt

 

[SwingDog]

Great effort across the board. Good free throw shooting a plus too. And you're exactly right, Chief: Solo was that guy tonight. Incredible performance by him.

The 25 turnovers was painful...many of them unforced. Bottom line- proud of the critical road win against a great Marquette team that refused to go down without a fight.

 

[Spaceman213J]

To your point on KB, I remember the game against Providence and Hopkins, who is a really good player, basically manhandled him. There have been stories about how his defense is what he mostly heard about from NBA scouts and that he is really trying to work and improve on it.

Also, I hate when he gets the ball at the end of the shot clock and guys stop moving. I think part of it is that he is so important setting back picks and moves so much, when he's out top with the ball, the guys begin watching him instead of running the offense. Last year, it didn't matter who had the ball, the picks continued and they would still get a lot of layups with under 5 on the shot clock.

The only thing I would disagree with you on was Ross tonight. He affected the game with giving minimal offense. His defense was mostly very good to great for the vast majority of the game.

Also, it seems that when Solo gets going, he engages more on defense, too.

I hope there is a way to get Diarra healthier somehow as the season goes on. I feel bad for him. It looked like a few times he knee was locking up or giving way and his explosiveness is gone.

 

[Mets8692]

Did Shaka skip the handshake line?

Imagine the national media if Hurley ran off to the locker room after a loss without shaking hands.

 

[jdb50]

Did Shaka skip the handshake line?

Imagine the national media if Hurley ran off to the locker room after a loss without shaking hands.

No he and Dan had a quick handshake at the front of their teams.

 

[Chief00]

To your point on KB, I remember the game against Providence and Hopkins, who is a really good player, basically manhandled him. There have been stories about how his defense is what he mostly heard about from NBA scouts and that he is really trying to work and improve on it.

Also, I hate when he gets the ball at the end of the shot clock and guys stop moving. I think part of it is that he is so important setting back picks and moves so much, when he's out top with the ball, the guys begin watching him instead of running the offense. Last year, it didn't matter who had the ball, the picks continued and they would still get a lot of layups with under 5 on the shot clock.

The only thing I would disagree with you on was Ross tonight. He affected the game with giving minimal offense. His defense was mostly very good to great for the vast majority of the game.

Also, it seems that when Solo gets going, he engages more on defense, too.

I hope there is a way to get Diarra healthier somehow as the season goes on. I feel bad for him. It looked like a few times he knee was locking up or giving way and his explosiveness is gone.

Good points. I agree Karaban has advance a long ways defensively since his first matchup with Hopkins as a freshman. In fact, he may be a leading shot blocker this season. I also think with Alex it is very important how guys play with him on offense. The last two games he is going to the basket more and then converting foul shots.

 

[inWV]

With Liam, they are nine deep for the stretch run. All of those the players have aspects of their game that is of value. Does a third title exist in the play of these nine?

 

[CL82]

Also, I hate when he gets the ball at the end of the shot clock and guys stop moving. I think part of it is that he is so important setting back picks and moves so much, when he's out top with the ball, the guys begin watching him instead of running the offense. Last year, it didn't matter who had the ball, the picks continued and they would still get a lot of layups with under 5 on the shot clock

I'd like to see us start looking for our shot another 5 to seven seconds earlier. Seems like too often we ran out of time and are forced to throw up a prayer.

 

[Chief00]

I'd like to see us start looking for our shot another 5 to seven seconds earlier. Seems like too often we ran out of time and are forced to throw up a prayer.

I couldn’t agree more. A finely tuned team of precision might need 10 seconds to run a play at the end of a shot clock but we need at least 15 seconds. Too often with us we get a bad shot, turn the ball over or just run out the clock.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Solo Ball carried us tonight with his timely 3’s and 25 points. He also added 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Solo is our star and hits big time shots.

UConn 25 Turnovers kept Marquette in the game. However, not converting off the turnover and missed foul shots kept UConn in the lead.

Alex Karaban had a solid game with good foul shooting and tough play. He was our emotional leader tonight too. While his shooting had been disappointing at times this season, an untold story is how much he has improved on defense, being much stronger than he was a couple years ago.

Samson Johnson played a good game and made his key foul shots. Reed needs to play up to his ability and that means staying on the court by not committing foolish fouls given how Big East consortium officials call UConn games.


We led them in rebounding and assists. When our centers play in the paint we play both better defense and offense.

Mahaney had an opportunity tonight but turnovers and fouls hurt him.

Stewart can be a factor in games if he cleans up his turnovers (6 tonight), but he can score, rebound and defend in the post. Ross while a favorite of Hurley’s has not made as much of his time with McNeeley out.

Ross other than Ball was one of the main reasons we won tonight. He has shown plenty. When Liam comes back I imagine Ross will play more because he can fill three roles on defense. Effectively and I mean pretty much neutralize any opponent player 1 through 3. So that is an easy call. Stewart can spell Liam and AK and how much time are they on the bench.

Not sure how you make that last comment on Ross. Your takes are usually way better and intuitive than that. Once Liam comes back we will not need what Stewart brings as much as what Ross brings. Objectively it is pretty obvious.

 

[Ctrane]

I agree that Ross played very good D

 

[dogpause]

This team may not be quite ready from an execution standpoint, but they do seem to have the heart of a champion.

 

[homunculus]

Solo Ball carried us tonight with his timely 3’s and 25 points. He also added 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Solo is our star and hits big time shots.

UConn 25 Turnovers kept Marquette in the game. However, not converting off the turnover and missed foul shots kept UConn in the lead.

Alex Karaban had a solid game with good foul shooting and tough play. He was our emotional leader tonight too. While his shooting had been disappointing at times this season, an untold story is how much he has improved on defense, being much stronger than he was a couple years ago.

Samson Johnson played a good game and made his key foul shots. Reed needs to play up to his ability and that means staying on the court by not committing foolish fouls given how Big East consortium officials call UConn games.


We led them in rebounding and assists. When our centers play in the paint we play both better defense and offense.

Mahaney had an opportunity tonight but turnovers and fouls hurt him.

Stewart can be a factor in games if he cleans up his turnovers (6 tonight), but he can score, rebound and defend in the post. Ross while a favorite of Hurley’s has not made as much of his time with McNeeley out.

overall good post, except Ross played really good D down the stretch.

I’m excited about the idea of all our players playing well at the same time. If Liam is back healthy, AK and Diarra keep playing hard and doing their thing, Reed plays like a Kodiak and Samson keeps down the fouls, Solo keeps his incredible shooting going and we get the better game-by-game contributions from Stewart, Ross and Mahaney, this team is absolutely still a contender by March. That’s a lot of “ifs” but we’ve seen it all come together at the right time before.

 

[Seamus84]

The basketball gods were kind to us last night….

 

[AdamaNation]

I couldn’t agree more. A finely tuned team of precision might need 10 seconds to run a play at the end of a shot clock but we need at least 15 seconds. Too often with us we get a bad shot, turn the ball over or just run out the clock.

Let’s give Marquette some credit in defense especially when we lacked a solid ball handler. Our 25 turnovers was a potential 50 or more points we lost but we dodged a billet with Marquettes abysmal shooting in the first half. I feel next game we flirt with 12-15 turnovers but they shoot closer to 40-45% for the game. It will be a dog fight. I can get the love for Ross. He did a good job handling the ball when we needed it

 

[Spaceman213J]

With Liam, they are nine deep for the stretch run. All of those the players have aspects of their game that is of value. Does a third title exist in the play of these nine?

Of course, luck will be part of it, but I'm worried about the overall health of the team. Diarra, Liam and AK have all suffered injuries and Diarra's injury may be something that lingers. Samson Johnson was great last night, but he expends so much energy sometimes, he was gassed 1 minute and half into the second half. He was really laboring at times to get up and down the floor.

Can't have 25 turnovers though.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

At halftime, that we were only -2 on points from the free throw line and only -4 on points off turnovers was massive.

Great win! Ball was huge the entire game, Stew started it off, Ross was solid. Our sophs may be on their way to where we need them.

 

[RuffRuff]

One of the crazier team stats this deep into the season is that we are 2nd in the country in blocked shots after Auburn in a year our biggest concern was rim protection loss. Now the type of blocks we are seeing aren’t the type that create that constant fear in the paint, but still impressive.

 

[bendm]

One of the crazier team stats this deep into the season is that we are 2nd in the country in blocked shots after Auburn in a year our biggest concern was rim protection loss. Now the type of blocks we are seeing aren’t the type that create that constant fear in the paint, but still impressive.

Yeah I’ll happily trade some blocks/fouls for better positioning and defensive rebs

 

[coachn]

Couldn't watch listened on radio expecting blowout by Marquette.
Hurley had them ready mentally. Defense is getting closer to NATY level. Maybe next big game we can meet up .Missed you at Marquette last year.

 

[RuffRuff]

Couldn't watch listened on radio expecting blowout by Marquette.
Hurley had them ready mentally. Defense is getting closer to NATY level. Maybe next big game we can meet up .Missed you at Marquette last year.

For this team that win last night was about as satisfying as it gets. Breathed new life into this season, and the fanbase. And it resurrects a lot of faith that this team has the kinda stones that it takes to make a run.