Chief’s Briefs - Texas Edition

[Chief00]

I don’t think we need to find a way to call Karaban the best ever at something which seems to be a thing on the board. Think it’s much more respectful to the greats that played here to say he’s following a tradition of something instead.

Great and clutch players and plays run in our history. It’s premature to even put him on that list without him hitting a game winner.

If Karaban is looking like he’d be the best ever anything, it’s probably the best white player to play here. (But he has to get two rings minimum to pass Tyler ).

Karaban spends hours working with Luke Murray reviewing video to get better and to find weaknesses in his opponents. Offensively, he is getting close to being very efficient and so skilled - he makes it look easy. When you are a deadly shooter the defense overreacts to any small fake, which frees up space. His height also gives Alex an advantage on getting good looks.
Other shooters also like to play with Alex because he is unselfish.
I think his rebounding has gotten better and his drives, as he has gotten stronger. Alex still must work on defending a strong guy, who tries to his back him down. One area of potential growth would be to deny the ball more in certain spots.

 

[uconnfan68]

Karaban spends hours working with Luke Murray reviewing video to get better and to find weaknesses in his opponents. Offensively, he is getting close to being very efficient and so skilled - he makes it look easy. When you are a deadly shooter the defense overreacts to any small fake, which frees up space. His height also gives Alex an advantage on getting good looks.
Other shooters also like to play with Alex because he is unselfish.
I think his rebounding has gotten better and his drives, as he has gotten stronger. Alex still must work on defending a strong guy, who tries to his back him down. One area of potential growth would be to deny the ball more in certain spots.

Yeah, the guy from Indiana, and Mitchell from Texas definitely over-matched Alex individually, but he made up for it on the other end. We need Clingan or Johnson to help out a little more from the weak side on those guys.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I don’t think we need to find a way to call Karaban the best ever at something which seems to be a thing on the board. Think it’s much more respectful to the greats that played here to say he’s following a tradition of something instead.

Great and clutch players and plays run in our history. It’s premature to even put him on that list without him hitting a game winner.

If Karaban is looking like he’d be the best ever anything, it’s probably the best white player to play here. (But he has to get two rings minimum to pass Tyler

Karaban may not have hit a buzzer beater, but he has hit a number of clutch shots already. He's no slouch, but he is NOT the most athletic person on the team, but he has an ability to get a shot off and nail it when the team needs him to.

Karaban probably isn't even in the top 30 UConn players of all time, yet. But as much as any player I've seen in a UConn jersey, I already have enough trust in him, that if there is a shot at the end to win or ice a game, I have no problems with Alex taking it.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Karaban may not have hit a buzzer beater, but he has hit a number of clutch shots already. He's no slouch, but he is NOT the most athletic person on the team, but he has an ability to get a shot off and nail it when the team needs him to.

Karaban probably isn't even in the top 30 UConn players of all time, yet. But as much as any player I've seen in a UConn jersey, I already have enough trust in him, that if there is a shot at the end to win or ice a game, I have no problems with Alex taking it.

I agree Alex is great there and I would trust him taking those shots. Just think it’s premature to say we’d take him over a Kemba (at minimum) who has hit multiple buzzer beaters/game clinchers in all kinds of moments. Love Alex, but Kemba is Kemba.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I agree Alex is great there and I would trust him taking those shots. Just think it’s premature to say we’d take him over a Kemba (at minimum) who has hit multiple buzzer beaters/game clinchers in all kinds of moments. Love Alex, but Kemba is Kemba.

I love Kemba. Loved when he was on the Celtics, too. I wasn't disrespecting him. It's not a knock on Kemba, but Kemba had that ultra quickness where he could get an open shot almost at will.
If I have a choice between Kemba taking a open 18 footer and some of the shots Karaban had to hit against Texas, I'm with you. I'm taking Kemba all day long. I just love Alex's ability and knowledge of the game to be able to use his body enough to get a hard shot off.

I didn't include Kemba in my initial statement because he doesn't/didn't play the 4 at all. It's just apples to oranges in my eye, but I will deny him being clutch. Kemba could even seal a game with his defense or hit the big shot.

I just wish his knees had held out for a few more years.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Chief - Great write up/review. Spot on.

I was at the game (first time in XL in ages) and unfortunately it was boring.

Warmups were better than the game. Oh btw - Samson Johnson is very talented, maybe a year away from possibly lights out lottery pick. AK doesn’t miss from 3 and Spencer is a JOY to watch (just not sure his game is NBA, but hope he makes bank overseas).

Hoping Monday that Gampel has more energy.

Now I know why BY posters have commented on with the amount of “fans” milling around the XL concourse ALL game long……Jeez. Maybe it’s a different vibe during BE play.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Whoops wrong game, meant to post in Manhattan thread.

Wine……

 

[uconnfan68]

I agree Alex is great there and I would trust him taking those shots. Just think it’s premature to say we’d take him over a Kemba (at minimum) who has hit multiple buzzer beaters/game clinchers in all kinds of moments. Love Alex, but Kemba is Kemba.

Yup, another world.

 

[Waquoit]

Karaban may not have hit a buzzer beater,

Yeah, he has. The 1st half buzzer, still...