Chief’s Briefs - Texas Edition

[giddyup]

I know what you mean about another muscle big but that would mostly be alleviated if Reed was healthy and played all season. He would be beasting, not giving us these 5 rebound nights.

Tarris is actually a bit short but can battle through the difference with longer centers, but is also dealing with longer athletic forwards hitting the boards. The problem is exactly as Chief notes. There is no other muscle on the floor taking pressure of Reed. Our rebounds generally come from fortunately being in the right place at the right time, not from moving people and getting up on the glass more physically.

 

[HailUConn]

I probably saw 50 screens set for Mullins tonight. Idk what you're on about.

Yes if you can call them screens... I missed Clingan for those "perfect" hard screens to get Cam and Alex open...
All these screens they set now, they slip away too earlier, and they are too soft...

 

[uh-no]

I think he is a decent defender

good 1v1, but gets lost in the team defense on switches and stuff

 

[Chief00]

We now have a consistent problem with Big East officials. Getting harder and harder to watch games in which the other team (non conference foe) shots more FT's than we do do home or away. Could this be a way to insure close games for ratings.
We will be a top seed in the NCAA Tournie with so many quad 1 wins. We will still improve once we are more used to playing with each other.
Chief is correct about the rebounding problems as our bigs are to far away to rebound with the hedging.
Boy to we we need work on free throw shooting.
The Butler game could be a tough one.

Thanks for your insights. Overextending a center’s hedging leads to a chain reaction of fouls and rebound issues when there’s not another big body in position to take care of the boards.

 

[Chief00]

Also noticed he grabbed his ankle after getting into a pileup on the floor towards the end of the game. He continued the game but hopefully no further damage

And we won’t know until the next game anything transparent about the possible injury. It is clear we were concerned last off season about a PG, fair enough; but more focus should have been on a power forward. Reibe was a very good pickup at backup center but we needed a muscle power forward.

 

[Lafayette]

Thanks for your insights. Overextending a center’s hedging leads to a change reaction of fouls and rebound issues when there’s not another big body in position to take care of the boards.

The foul issue is our own doing. We simply do not drive to the hoop and get the harm as our offense is predicated on motion and getting the best shot which may be a 3 or a mid-range.

Other teams drive with more regularity to try and get the bigs in foul trouble else their defender.

Add to the mix the occasional hand grab we get whistled for, or the moving screen and 2-3 more fouls.

Yes, you can take any one scene and say the refs should have called a foul, but if anything they have been more focused on on-ball fouls and less motion off ball fouls (e.g., grabbing, pushing).

 

[NewBlood]

We won’t have bigger leads in the elite 8

Really??? Bc we won our last two elite 8 games by

28


25

 

[Chief00]

Tarris is actually a bit short but can battle through the difference with longer centers, but is also dealing with longer athletic forwards hitting the boards. The problem is exactly as Chief notes. There is no other muscle on the floor taking pressure of Reed. Our rebounds generally come from fortunately being in the right place at the right time, not from moving people and getting up on the glass more physically.

True, and the over aggressive hedging magnifies the issue since he doesn’t have position. Offensive rebounds are often weak side rebounds and in the ideal World that’s a power forward zip code.

 

[Chief00]

Yep, plenty of screens were set for Mullins. After his 3 for 3 shooting start, the Texas defenders clamped down on him. They were all over him coming off of picks and off ball defenders were helping out if Braylon tried to drive or create something. He had no space to shoot and to his credit, didn’t force up bad shots. I think Texas called a timeout out after Braylons 3rd shot, a made 3, and I’m guessing Miller told his team to suffocate Braylon on D so he doesn’t go off.

It was interesting that Texas did not grab like some teams we played and who did not get called for the grabs. Instead Texas used open hand palms to push off against our dribbler or cutter without fully extending their arms. They got called for zero fouls doing that.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Just rewatched the game. Looked to me like Braylon camped out in the corner an awful lot in this game. hard to set screens for someone who isn't moving

 

[Fan1978]

Reed I fear is still not anywhere close to being fully over his injury.

He looked pretty agile blocking or nearly blocking shots

 

[Fan1978]

Yep, plenty of screens were set for Mullins. After his 3 for 3 shooting start, the Texas defenders clamped down on him. They were all over him coming off of picks and off ball defenders were helping out if Braylon tried to drive or create something. He had no space to shoot and to his credit, didn’t force up bad shots. I think Texas called a timeout out after Braylons 3rd shot, a made 3, and I’m guessing Miller told his team to suffocate Braylon on D so he doesn’t go off.

Braylon’s biggest problem is every shot is a good shot for him. Sometimes when he tries to share the ball bad things happen. For instance, he made a pass ahead to tarris on a fast break that resulted in a very awkward shot and almost a foul. Would have been better taking it himself. Another drive his wrap around pass resulted in a turnover. If he shoots it’s probably a layup. He needs to shoot first and the other opportunities will come. His range is ridiculous and a bad shot for almost anyone else.

 

[Mister P]

Braylon’s biggest problem is every shot is a good shot for him. Sometimes when he tries to share the ball bad things happen. For instance, he made a pass ahead to tarris on a fast break that resulted in a very awkward shot and almost a foul. Would have been better taking it himself. Another drive his wrap around pass resulted in a turnover. If he shoots it’s probably a layup. He needs to shoot first and the other opportunities will come. His range is ridiculous and a bad shot for almost anyone else.

Yeah, that was a bad decision to pass it to Reed during that break.
His range is ridiculous and he gets the shot off so quickly. One of my sons refers to him as ‘The Flamethrower’, because of the balls release, trajectory and path to the basket.

 

[HooperScooper]

‘The Flamethrower’, because of the balls release, trajectory and path to the basket.

Hurley recently also used that term to describe Mullins.

 

[Mister P]

Hurley recently also used that term to describe Mullins.

Ha. I thought he came up with that himself when he texted me that last night 😆
He gets one less present this year.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

. He also said that the reason he BM shoots so many contested shots is he hasn't assimilated the offense yet.

I heard that from Hurley too and it makes sense. I noticed Mullins run straight into white jerseys a handful of times last night.

Either way, at this point I’m shocked when he misses. I laughed out loud at one of his jumpers last night because this kid seems automatic.

 

[uconnfan68]

Hurley said he was gassed at the end. He also said that the reason he BM shoots so many contested shots is he hasn't assimilated the offense yet.

He did have one wide open three in the second half and missed.

He’s weeks behind in game conditioning.

 

[T-Squared]

Really??? Bc we won our last two elite 8 games by

28


25

Don’t get confused. This team is not near those two championship squads yet.

 

[husky429]

I honestly don’t know what some people are watching during a game. I watched one offensive possession last night where Mullins ran all over the court and must have ran around at least 5-6 various screens in the set.

And the thought that they haven’t been working on any sets for Mullins in practice is just as preposterous

He's developing the chemistry and conditioning he should have during a month of practices and cupcake games. IMO the kid is right where he should be for a breakout March.

 

[ucp990411]

I honestly don’t know what some people are watching during a game. I watched one offensive possession last night where Mullins ran all over the court and must have ran around at least 5-6 various screens in the set.

And the thought that they haven’t been working on any sets for Mullins in practice is just as preposterous

And how about the reason we don’t rebound well is because of the high hedge. How many shots are taken while our center is employs the high hedge? How about ZERO?

 

[Chief00]

Braylon’s biggest problem is every shot is a good shot for him. Sometimes when he tries to share the ball bad things happen. For instance, he made a pass ahead to tarris on a fast break that resulted in a very awkward shot and almost a foul. Would have been better taking it himself. Another drive his wrap around pass resulted in a turnover. If he shoots it’s probably a layup. He needs to shoot first and the other opportunities will come. His range is ridiculous and a bad shot for almost anyone else.

Some truth there but the flip side is he is a good team player and teammate. You don’t achieve that by shooting 100% of the time you touch the ball. So yes he needs to find that sweet spot after 2 months recovering from an injury.

 

[Chief00]

And how about the reason we don’t rebound well is because of the high hedge. How many shots are taken while our center is employs the high hedge? How about ZERO?

Honestly that’s not what I saw. And your response in a clever way did not cover the time the center is on his recovery journey from the high hedge, which almost by definition puts his opposing center closer to the basket than he is, often with a much shorter UConn player who switched off on him and creates the rebounding in mismatch. It is during this recovery process the shot often goes up.

 

[Chief00]

Yes if you can call them screens... I missed Clingan for those "perfect" hard screens to get Cam and Alex open...
All these screens they set now, they slip away too earlier, and they are too soft...

True it is the quality of the screen not the number. While other guys create some traffic congestion, a big strong well position body creates the best screen. Additionally, if defenders run into those guys blindsided they feel it - and that slows them down both mentally and physically going forward.

 

[uconn_jack]

What I will say about the high hedge is I trust the coaching staff more than anyone here about it's defensive benefit vs overall drawbacks. If it wasn't a net positive, they wouldn't do it.

 

[willie99]

Bottomline, the house was rocking and we have beaten 5 of 6 elite OOC opponents. A very good accomplishment given our injuries.

the refs gave Texas a 28 to 13 foul shot attempt advantage. More than 100% more. You have to be really good ( to overcome that) We are that good!

It is great being a UConn fan, we are all fortunate.

I shortened the OP to emphasize a few key points many Yarders are still missing

I would add that we held a very good team, especially a sensational team on offense that averages 90 points, to 63

One thing I learned about Texas, they can shoot