Chief’s Briefs - Marquette Edition

[Chief00]

How to avoid the peaks and valleys?
One issue is 4 guys in our rotation shoot below 64% from the FT line, including a point guard (Smith @ 50%) and a center at 48% (Reibe). Stewart and Reed also need to improve in this area.

Another issue is during the first half our three best shooters were 0-6 from 3PT (Karaban, Mullins, Ball). We did not play with the patience that we have recently played with. In particular, Mullins has to stay away from random fouls that don’t advance our key areas of focus. We finished the game with Karaban, Ball and Mullins a combined 2-17 from 3PT. We are too good to be satisfied with this result.

Rebounding is always a key to victory and at halftime we were down by 2. We were not getting weak side rebounds and not putting a body on our man. In the second half we rebounded better and dramatically improve to a 49 to 37 advantage. This was one of the keys to us building our lead. We also had the Assists advantage with us up 16 to 9.

What also made us win was our shooting advantage (44% to 31% FG) and (21% to 17% 3PT). Both our defense and offense ability resulted in these difference.
I thought we finished well with good dunks around the basket. I would like to see Mullins with the ball more and moving without the ball rather than standing aimlessly in the corner. He plays better when he is actively in the game rather than serving as a decoy or attempting to spread the court.

One of the bright spots today was Reed moving better than he has in recent games. He was more explosive and quicker with his footwork. If he’s back to normal in this area, it will be huge!

 

[Spaceman213J]

It's funny how a game like this could have swung either way. If Marquette hits a few more three's the game could have become plenty uncomfortable. If UConn had hit a few more, the bench could have come in a lot easier to finish off the game.

Hopefully, this gets Demary jump started shooting/scoring more. Needs to stay on the floor and avoid fouls.

Smith has been big for UConn this year, but he has to dribble less. Also, in the second half he was better at once he turn the corner around the pick and continuing on to collapse the defense.

The team has to be a little less unselfish at times. Did a little overpassing at times.

It was an ugly game, but it was still a comfortable margin. They can't all be pretty. Hopefully, they shoot better against Providence.

 

[cohenzone]

They don’t miss shots on purpose. Making amd missing 3 pointers is not a mistake. It is a miss. Every game is different , every shot is iits own little world. Shot selection is something else. Mullins ouright gunned a very long 3 after his make very early in the clock. They could go 11 for 15 next game.

 

[Chief00]

It's funny how a game like this could have swung either way. If Marquette hits a few more three's the game could have become plenty uncomfortable. If UConn had hit a few more, the bench could have come in a lot easier to finish off the game.

Hopefully, this gets Demary jump started shooting/scoring more. Needs to stay on the floor and avoid fouls.

Smith has been big for UConn this year, but he has to dribble less. Also, in the second half he was better at once he turn the corner around the pick and continuing on to collapse the defense.

The team has to be a little less unselfish at times. Did a little overpassing at times.

It was an ugly game, but it was still a comfortable margin. They can't all be pretty. Hopefully, they shoot better against Providence.

I agree Demery’s three 3’s were huge today. Smith gives us some key things but until he improves his foul shooting he will be a liability with the ball against top competition late in the game.

 

[Chief00]

They don’t miss shots on purpose. Making amd missing 3 pointers is not a mistake. It is a miss. Every game is different , every shot is iits own little world. Shot selection is something else. Mullins ouright gunned a very long 3 after his make very early in the clock. They could go 11 for 15 next game.

I agree there are game to game differences but also think that fouls and movement contribute plus or minus to the rhythm /vibe that gets our shooting going.

 

[mjmoney23]

Good Briefs Chief! Agreed about the foul shooting, particularly from Smith as a PG. Also, can Reed never pass up an open layup for a 3 point attempt again? It's one of those plays where if the shot isn't made its as bad of a play as you can make. Mullins took 2 very far threes, once again, awful shots if they don't go in. I thought Solo played a fantastic game on both ends. Seeing Silas hit threes was very refreshing. The season will go as far as he can take us. He needs to stop with the fouls, both Coach Hurley and Coach Murray mentioned his foul trouble on the post game show. I can't believe with how bad we shot the ball thay we blew Marquette out. Never would have imagined this even last year.

Question for you..What has happened to Gampel? We were able to hear the ball bouncing from the last row during game time. Yea its not the Marquette of yesteryear, but Hartford was more alive for UMass Lowell than Gampel was today. Outside of the 2nd half if Arizona, the atmosphere at Gampel has been that of a morgue this year.

 

[HHusky]

Thanks for hitting the nail on the head Chief, with your on target analysis!

 

[HooperScooper]

Question for you..What has happened to Gampel? We were able to hear the ball bouncing from the last row during game time. Yea its not the Marquette of yesteryear, but Hartford was more alive for UMass Lowell than Gampel was today. Outside of the 2nd half if Arizona, the atmosphere at Gampel has been that of a morgue this year.

Students on break probably didn't help. But yeah the crowd could have been more into the game today.

 

[Chief00]

Good Briefs Chief! Agreed about the foul shooting, particularly from Smith as a PG. Also, can Reed never pass up an open layup for a 3 point attempt again? It's one of those plays where if the shot isn't made its as bad of a play as you can make. Mullins took 2 very far threes, once again, awful shots if they don't go in. I thought Solo played a fantastic game on both ends. Seeing Silas hit threes was very refreshing. The season will go as far as he can take us. He needs to stop with the fouls, both Coach Hurley and Coach Murray mentioned his foul trouble on the post game show. I can't believe with how bad we shot the ball thay we blew Marquette out. Never would have imagined this even last year.

Question for you..What has happened to Gampel? We were able to hear the ball bouncing from the last row during game time. Yea its not the Marquette of yesteryear, but Hartford was more alive for UMass Lowell than Gampel was today. Outside of the 2nd half if Arizona, the atmosphere at Gampel has been that of a morgue this year.

Good questions about Gampel and I have been criticized when I have observed that Hartford has been the better home court advantage the last three years. Today, the Gampel defenders will probably say that school is out of session. But, overall the Hartford building has a better cross section of fans. Gampel probably gets too many university administrators and I don’t know the criteria for student tickets - does the selection process align with being a fan or is it random luck?

 

[Chief00]

As for Mullins, I love his confidence but I agree after a make the goal is not to increase degree of difficulty. The goal should be an equal to less difficult shot.
At other times though Mullins was open for good shots, waved but did not get the ball. We are good but still a work in progress.

 

[Chief00]

Thanks for hitting the nail on the head Chief, with your on target analysis!

Thank you, we have such a high bar to aim for, and sometimes I think my critical thinking is too negative but it’s really about aspiring for our team to be great - so I focus on the little but fixable things that could hold us back.

 

[CL82]

Smith has been big for UConn this year, but he has to dribble less

This. I'd rather see a swinging the ball and forcing the defense to adjust.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Students on break probably didn't help. But yeah the crowd could have been more into the game today.

Crowd was feeling blue yesterday.