Chief’s Briefs - UCLA Edition

[Donyell 360]

Solo doesn't even look upset when he's relegated to the bench due to horrific play.

He needs to drive from the arc to a more comfortable 12-foot range to shake loose some rust.

Disagree. He looked visibly discouraged. It if wasn't more obvious it is because he is doing his best to contain his frustration and be a good teammate.

 

[ucp990411]

You are being intentionally deceptive/untruthful or just plain slow. I mentioned the 36-24 rebound advantage in the 5th paragraph of my opening post. When I discussed the hedge, I said our rebound advantage “ would be EVEN better” without the hedge. Of course, that means the advantage is good now but would be EVEN better without the hedge that hurts our positioning. I also gave Ross and Smith credit for good individual defense.

How could the rebounding be better than 36-24? That is dominating. And the high hedge helps take away dribble penetration which is our biggest weakness. You refuse to admit there are many advantages to it. Slow? Stubbornness shows ignorance

 

[Donyell 360]

We had a lot of turnovers. Alex, Ball, Braylon, Smith all had issues with ball security. Of course in Alex's case it was the only blemish in an otherwise fabulous game, perhaps the best of his UConn career?

 

[HooperScooper]

We had a lot of turnovers. Alex, Ball, Braylon, Smith all had issues with ball security. Of course in Alex's case it was the only blemish in an otherwise fabulous game, perhaps the best of his UConn career?

Add Reed to the list. He had 3 turnovers, the 2nd most to Mullins's 5.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

You know why that’s not in my memory — because the loss was entirely my fault. Only Final Four game out of our 13 that I didn’t watch from home (was in Pinehurst on a golf trip).

Never again. In ‘24, my son made me fly home early from a work convention so I was home to watch.

I appreciate the effort BL, but in all candor, nothing was going to prevent the 2024 team from winning it all.

 

[Fishy]

Solo doesn't even look upset when he's relegated to the bench due to horrific play.

He needs to drive from the arc to a more comfortable 12-foot range to shake loose some rust.

Honestly, I think he’s just so lost in space right now that he really just needs a rest and a good offseason. He’s a much better player than we’ve seen this year, but it’s too late in the game for a course correction.

We have the fewest kill shots of any of the major contenders this year. A significant part of that is our most prolific shooter is also one of our least effective shooters. He derails runs.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Honestly, I think he’s just so lost in space right now that he really just needs a rest and a good offseason. He’s a much better player than we’ve seen this year, but it’s too late in the game for a course correction.

We have the fewest kill shots of any of the major contenders this year. A significant part of that is our most prolific shooter is also one of our least effective shooters. He derails runs.

We also have a tendency to get too amped during runs and pick up unnecessary fouls, which kills our momentum. Braylon’s been guilty of this more than a few times, including once last night.

 

[Chin Diesel]

1. I have thought for two seasons that Alex could be more than a complimentary scorer, and his limits have been more personality than ability. Would love to see him continue to drive more as he did last night.

2. Both Smith and Ross were outstanding defensively last night. Smith may not start against MSU, but with Stewart out and Solo in his funk you’re going to see a lot more of Silas and Malachi on the floor together next week.

3. Obviously UCLA was without its best player, but we had plenty to overcome last night as well, and for the second straight game at the end of the day we did what we had to do and finished strong. Hopefully in DC we have two “A” games left.

4. Solo needs to not shoot a 3 Friday night until he’s made a 2.

5. As we discussed last week, we haven’t lost in the 2d weekend since ‘06, and in the same building to boot. This will be an extremely difficult weekend to get through, but there are also some demons waiting to be exorcised.

6. Don’t lose sight of the fact that in what pretty clearly the Big East’s worst year ever we still have more teams left in the Sweet Sixteen than the ACC does.

Malachi and Silas together has been a low key good adjustment by the staff.
Partnerin those two with Mullins or Ross has been good.

 

[Fishy]

I appreciate the effort BL, but in all candor, nothing was going to prevent the 2024 team from winning it all.

War. Maybe a pandemic.

We also have a tendency to get too amped during runs and pick up unnecessary fouls, which kills our momentum. Braylon’s been guilty of this more than a few times, including once last night.

Fouls and turnovers are just part of the cost of admission with this team. It is what it is.

 

[businesslawyer]

I appreciate the effort BL, but in all candor, nothing was going to prevent the 2024 team from winning it all.

You mean other than gas station sushi? I agree, but no reason to take risks.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Ross is the difference maker. We need to play him more and often. It does not matter if he is starting or coming off the bench, but he should play more on the court.

 

[gars44]

Agree, individual production and helping teammates be more preductive are two factors that must be part of someone’s playing minutes calculation. Alex now is shooting threes + 4.7% above last season and FG + 4.4% above last season. Ball is -11.8% 3pt% and -4.8% FG% below last year.
With Ball, It may seem like we are stating the obvious, at some point rotations can’t be about what you did last season. If your 3pt shot isn’t falling, identify what’s working and get it to hotter guys in a given game or drive like Mullins did to start his engine. Ball can help us but he needs more self awareness if he is in a given game. Maybe taking pressure off himself by sharing the ball more might enable him to relax more and get his rhythm back.

I think the coaches are telling Ball to shoot. Don’t blame him for following orders . . .

 

[gars44]

Honestly, even with Silas being limited, the offense and the defense just worked better without Ball tonight. Reed’s not an offensive dynamo, but he’s also not stopping the ball the way Solo has been.

I don’t expect that we’ll see Stewart back this year, but I’d like to see Dan Hurley keep Reed’s minutes up for as long as we go. If Solo’s somehow cracks out of his year long slump, great, but otherwise, having a big, active wing who is not soaking shots from AK, BM and TR is preferable.

You mean Ross?

 

[inWV]

I like how we had Smith and Demary on the floor at the same time with Smith bringing the ball up the court most of the game. Reminds me of the traditional UConn two ball handler approach we've seen over the years.

Not for nothing when we won all those ooc games earlier in the year, Smith was playing a good minutes. Once Mullins and Ball started playing in the starting lineup those minutes went away.

Reed, Karaban, Mullins, Demary, Smith..with a lot of Ross I think is our best bet forward.

They've played in the backcourt together in games this season and it was perfectly fine. Given Ball's woes, Smith and Silas together offers a workable set of guards. Demary and Mullins have played together. Add Ross to the mix and that's a guard/SF trio with a lot of length.

 

[giddyup]

The value Ross is bringing is huge. Adds speed, athleticism and high motor to the floor. He’s literally blossomed before our eyes.

 

[Chief00]

How could the rebounding be better than 36-24? That is dominating. And the high hedge helps take away dribble penetration which is our biggest weakness. You refuse to admit there are many advantages to it. Slow? Stubbornness shows ignorance

You realize UCLA was missing one of their top 2 rebounders.

 

[djct1999]

Dove cmon. He looked shaken, frustrated he wasn’t helping or playing well. He cares, that’s unfair to say he’s wasn’t upset.

When he had that awful sequence of consecutive missed wide open 3s then the callled block on the other end was hard to watch. He was lying on the floor completely devastated and I think had a teammate help him up. To suggest he doesn’t care is asinine.

 

[Dove]

When did MSU beat us in the tourney? I’m not remembering.

I'm reading that we lost to MSU at the 2009 FF.

 

[Palatine]

Players earn or lose minutes every game according to their play. Danny really believes that and we saw it in action with Solo. But I highly doubt that Dan has lost confidence in Solo. I expect he will continue to start through the tourney.

 

[Chief00]

How could the rebounding be better than 36-24? That is dominating. And the high hedge helps take away dribble penetration which is our biggest weakness. You refuse to admit there are many advantages to it. Slow? Stubbornness shows ignorance

For the case you are trying to make, you are including offensive rebounds, which have nothing to do with the high hedge impact this season. For example, we have 395 offensive and 848 defensive rebounds included in our total rebounds this season. Again we are a good rebounding team but like anything you do well, you should strive to do even better. One theme of this years Briefs is how we beat teams in rebounds and assists, so pretending this is news to me is silly.

 

[uconn1999]

Not a fan of the HH with this personnel.
Reed switches too easily, resulting in 2 bad mismatches. Seems to rarely consider switching back.
Reibe is just awful at it, confused, switches far less than Reed but recovers to his man much slower. Lack of foot speed? Constantly trailing his man and now is on the offensive players backside or hip. Usually leads to a shooting foul or an over the back rebounding foul.

Mullins, don’t know what to say about his poor handle. Very surprising
Let’s beat MSU!

 

[Palatine]

Not a fan of the HH with this personnel.
Reed switches too easily, resulting in 2 bad mismatches. Seems to rarely consider switching back.
Reibe is just awful at it, confused, switches far less than Reed but recovers to his man much slower. Lack of foot speed? Constantly trailing his man and now is on the offensive players backside or hip. Usually leads to a shooting foul or an over the back rebounding foul.

Mullins, don’t know what to say about his poor handle. Very surprising
Let’s beat MSU!

We just held UCLA to 57 points.

 

[Excalibur]

Not a fan of the HH with this personnel.
Reed switches too easily, resulting in 2 bad mismatches. Seems to rarely consider switching back.
Reibe is just awful at it, confused, switches far less than Reed but recovers to his man much slower. Lack of foot speed? Constantly trailing his man and now is on the offensive players backside or hip. Usually leads to a shooting foul or an over the back rebounding foul.

Mullins, don’t know what to say about his poor handle. Very surprising
Let’s beat MSU!

Peak boneyard. A post on hedging confuses ball screen defensive concepts.

 

[QDOG5]

Waited to the last line to infer about the high hedge! That’s progress Chief.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Waited to the last line to infer about the high hedge! That’s progress Chief.

What’s the duck tape for?

 

[mussels]

Waited to the last line to infer about the high hedge! That’s progress Chief.

Belongs in one of those “why women live longer than men” compilations.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

They've played in the backcourt together in games this season and it was perfectly fine. Given Ball's woes, Smith and Silas together offers a workable set of guards. Demary and Mullins have played together. Add Ross to the mix and that's a guard/SF trio with a lot of length.

Who Demary and Smith? If so, that's exactly the point I'm making. Go back to that backcourt more and reduce Ball's minutes.

 

[HooperScooper]

What’s the duck tape for?

To hold the handle to the lawnmower. That looks like a major limb injury waiting to happen.

 

[husky429]

The high hedge debate is so fascinating to me. Y'all only notice when it doesn't work. I think it's me and @JustbrewitMan that have gone through and actually look at what % of the time the high hedge is successful.

At the end of the day our staff has access to an insane level of advanced statistics. At its core, the high hedge produces more points than it costs us or we wouldn't be running it. When it doesn't work, we don't run it (like for Clingan).

 

[AllHusky]

Solo doesn't even look upset when he's relegated to the bench due to horrific play.

He needs to drive from the arc to a more comfortable 12-foot range to shake loose some rust.

Good point, as you say that I pictured him, and feel like he is almost relieved to not be in and relegated to cheerleader. A little rough, but not a look you want from a guy who you pictured as one of if not the big scorer on this years team.