Chief’s Briefs - Michigan State Edition

[mauconnfan]

I am of the opinion that the two coaches told the refs to call it very close, so the players would know what they can and can't get away with. They increased the total fouls from 5 to 6 because they knew there were going to be a lot of calls.

Then why did they both bitch so much? I don’t think so but who knows.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Then why did they both bitch so much? I don’t think so but who knows.

That was definitely preseason level bitching on both parts

 

[Scottobot]

Down 2 key starters and a 7 point win against MSU for positive context.

However, John Gaffney continuation of his embarassing officiating for another year is a tribute to a failed Big East Commissioner.

74 foul shots tonight, MSU (44) vs UConn (30). What part of this is a result of his known dislike for Hurley and how much is just poor officiating can be debated but the horrible end result is unacceptable.

UConn needs to practice more discipline so they can play games like they practice and not be in the penalty with 11 minutes left in the first half.

Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, Silas Demary, and Jayden Ross were our best players tonight, despite Solo going 1 for 7 from 3.

It’s good when Alex drives, he didn’t always finish successfully but he was 8-8 from the foul line. Add that to Solo going 5-5 from the FT line.

Reibe is not a complete player yet, but he has a high upside. Eric has a good skillset and is pretty athletic. He needs to get stronger so he can play more physical in the paint without fouling. He had 5 fouls tonight. Silas Demary played well overall but had 5 fouls too against very quick guards.

Jayden Ross was 4-5 FG including 2-3 from three. While he only had one rebound, Jayden was a live body and kept the defensive intensity up.

Did not see much high hedging tonight.

My thoughts
#1 defense looks better. More pressure on ball, even a little full court press which I would love to see more of, perimeter players getting beat less often on drives.

#2 Ross looking like the most improved player over last year

#3 They don’t look like a good shooting team, especially without Mullins. I think they can still be a great offensive team if they run good sets with good cuts. Furphy had two really nice passes to Reibe for easy baskets. Karaban and Ball had a lot of nice drives to hoop. More of that please and let quick threes.

#4 I actually saw UConn players boxing out. we got a few rebounds where Uconn boxed out and ball bounced a couple times before UConn calmly scooped up the ball. In particular Reibe boxes out alot.

#5 UConn did not attempt to block shots that they have no or low chance at getting to. Last year we had players consistently going for blocks they can’t get to, missing and then being way out of position to rebound or defend

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

#3 They don’t look like a good shooting team, especially without Mullins. I think they can still be a great offensive team if they run good sets with good cuts. Furphy had two really nice passes to Reibe for easy baskets. Karaban and Ball had a lot of nice drives to hoop. More of that please and let quick threes.

Despite a combined 1-10 from three from Solo and Furphy they shot 38% from three as a team

 

[HooperScooper]

Despite a combined 1-10 from three from Solo and Furphy they shot 38% from three as a team

And on top of that does anyone believe that Ball is going to be a 14% three point shooter for the season?

Plus there's going to be a lot more room on the perimeter when Reed comes back.

I'd put money on the team being a very good three point shooting team for the season. Last year the best 3 point shooting team was Bradley at 39.8%. UConn was #124 (about top third) at 34.85%. I'm going with top 50 or so this season at 36.5%.

 

[jdb50]

Saw Ross and Reibe defend but not waste a foul on Mich St 3 point attempts. I hope this continues teamwide. Furphy was close on his shots and looked like he was real comfortable playing a high level team as did Reibe. Dan Hurley has a lot of options this year to deal with any injuries or foul trouble.

 

[Scottobot]

Despite a combined 1-10 from three from Solo and Furphy they shot 38% from three as a team

I definitely thought they would be good at shooting before I watched the preseason games, and expect Ball to be good. I was surprised that they shot 38% in this game, it didn’t feel like that. Regardless I think they have a lot of good options to score high percentage shots inside 3 line and hope they leverage that.

 

[SoCalCanine]

My thoughts
#1 defense looks better. More pressure on ball, even a little full court press which I would love to see more of, perimeter players getting beat less often on drives.

#2 Ross looking like the most improved player over last year

#3 They don’t look like a good shooting team, especially without Mullins. I think they can still be a great offensive team if they run good sets with good cuts. Furphy had two really nice passes to Reibe for easy baskets. Karaban and Ball had a lot of nice drives to hoop. More of that please and let quick threes.

#4 I actually saw UConn players boxing out. we got a few rebounds where Uconn boxed out and ball bounced a couple times before UConn calmly scooped up the ball. In particular Reibe boxes out alot.
#5 UConn did not attempt to block shots that they have no or low chance at getting to. Last year we had players consistently going for blocks they can’t get to, missing and then being way out of position to rebound or defend

I noticed over the summer on the German national team, Reibe had very pedestrian rebounding numbers. But watching the games I saw him boxing out consistently and letting the German center (his name eludes me right now) get a ton of rebounds. The center had big rebounding numbers, but I saw Eric doing the dirty work as PF. I think he is very fundamentally sound. He needs to add strength and conditioning but I think he has the heart and work ethic to be bigtime player.

 

[Ewekon]

I am maybe just a bit less than confident of Solo's 3 shooting and IDK why. His improvement YOY from past 2 seasons was pretty incredible. He will have every team's #1 D guard on him all year. Will surprise no one. His form still just a bit odd ... or maybe just a leftie thing.

Still, no complaints other than tedious fouling.

 

[Hurleyman216]

If the officiating is calling it tight this year I’m fine with that, but they need to call EVERYTHING tight if that’s the case. Last year we would get called for hand check fouls 35 feet from the basket and on the other end our opponents were literally close lining, holding, checking our players running through our offensive sets and that stuff rarely got called. The funny thing is the hand checks happen almost all the time on both sides and most college point guards aren’t going to be impacted by it (some will take advantage of it to get by their defender). With the offensive sets we have, we need freedom of movement, so a tighter whistle in theory should help our offense.

 

[Chief00]

And on top of that does anyone believe that Ball is going to be a 14% three point shooter for the season?

Plus there's going to be a lot more room on the perimeter when Reed comes back.

I'd put money on the team being a very good three point shooting team for the season. Last year the best 3 point shooting team was Bradley at 39.8%. UConn was #124 (about top third) at 34.85%. I'm going with top 50 or so this season at 36.5%.

Mullins is our best shooter and Ball is a very good shooter when he gets on a roll. Karaban was 8 for 8 from foul line. He shoots well when his momentum is not taking him forward or backwards. When Reed returns hopefully we can develop a inside out game in which Alex gets stationary unrushed shots.

 

[Chief00]

Silas at point will be huge for us this year, he's in control, doesn't turn it over, good defender, and can shoot. Big upgrade
Ross is a bench guy with good energy that will help but he's not a starter.
Alex is much more effective when he's a role player and not the focal point of the offense, just like he was on the championship teams.
With Silas, Solo, and Reed the offense should be fine, add Karaban they'll be really good. Defense looks much better then last year but MS doesn't shoot a lot of 3's and that's one areas that hurt UCONN defensively the last year. They look good against a solid MS team sitting 2 starters and Silas in foul trouble. Excited!

Good analysis but no mention of Mullins, if he returns healthy - he’s a very special player.

 

[Chief00]

Then why did they both bitch so much? I don’t think so but who knows.

Yeah, I don’t see the two love birds (lol) Gaffney and Hurley cutting a deal like that.

 

[Chief00]

I noticed over the summer on the German national team, Reibe had very pedestrian rebounding numbers. But watching the games I saw him boxing out consistently and letting the German center (his name eludes me right now) get a ton of rebounds. The center had big rebounding numbers, but I saw Eric doing the dirty work as PF. I think he is very fundamentally sound. He needs to add strength and conditioning but I think he has the heart and work ethic to be bigtime player.

I agree with Reibe his skills and basketball IQ are ahead of his muscle development. If he becomes bigger/stronger, he will be impressive.

 

[Chief00]

Yes the refs were ridiculous, BUT, UConn has been a fouling machine the past few years. Dan Hurley may let his players beat the crap out of each other in practice but there has to be some discipline instilled so the other team isn't always in the bonus for a good portion of each half. UConn was fortunate that MSU was as inept in their free throw shooting as they were in the field goal. percentage. Yeah, I know it's an exhibition game, but bad habits start here.
Thought that Silas was reaching in too much as was Smith (he was much more disciplined vs BCSU).
Pleasantly surprised with Karoma last night and Furphy looks like he is fitting in. Loved that Ball has decided to become active in getting to the hoop when his 3 pt attempts are not dropping. People in the chat were getting on Alex for his shooting etc. but I felt he was the rock that was holding the squad together and his stats were rather impressive. Riebe had some nice minutes, but he gets sloppy when he is tired - I am sure as the season goes forward, he will get in better game shape. He has a huge upside.
Tough game to watch and unless the coaches wanted the refs to call it so close (doubt it) these refs were horrible at best.

It is no secret Gaffney doesn’t like Hurley. If we had a strong league commissioner who is making her Peacock money off of Pitino and Hurley’s team (8 games vs 2 games for some other Big East Teams). She should sit down with Gaffney and tell him to clean up his act.

 

[Ricker]

Chief was in the Fort Lauderdale boat show

 

[OLD MAN UCO]

Tough games to officiate this early in the year. Sometime in watching i notice some small fouls calls to set precedent.? We do foul very often, we are physical but so is Mich. State. 6 fouls allows officials to blow their whistle and i watch and go to games to watch sytripes blow their whistles
Liked what i saw out of Ross and Reibe, from the first game. He will be very effective in his 15 minutes he get when Reed comes back. They did better job of rebounding and they may be by latter in the year a better passing team.

 

[Captbluefin]

Chief was in the Fort Lauderdale boat show
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60 Hatteras great boat