Chief’s Briefs - Xavier Edition

[JesusAllen11]

Moving Diarra into the starting lineup saved the season but he really needs some backup

Its gonna be Ahmaad. Injury was truly a setback

 

[Chief00]

They have 2 great shooters but they don’t shoot 54%, 40%. Tonight their team did.

Nothing like BIG EAST basketball! I usually never complsin about thre refs nut they were terrible down the stretch. The foul they cslled on JR at the end of regulation was terrible.
Anyway grest way to start league play

The times this young season when we get called for a critical fouls with seconds left when on the other end it’s let them play.

 

[JonnyRI]

Translation: Chief had to wait in line to take a whizz.

Translation: this is hurting Chiefs ability to effectively chat up recruits.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Translation: Chief had to wait in line to take a whizz.

He missed the opportunity to take a casual leak.

 

[Improviser]

Solution - blow out the urinals and put in a trough.

Reminds me of Yale Bowl's setup when I attended games as a kid.

Don't know if that is still the case because it's been ages since I was there.

 

[NJHusky]

I just watched the replay of the game, and I paid extra attention when Mahaney was on the floor.
Score was 18-10 at 11:10 when Singare fouled Xaviers guard beyond the 3pt line. Mahaney was subbed in after the timeout. Play resumes after commercials, and Mahaney plays some good switch defense and is part of the shot clock violation we forced Xavier into. He then gets the ball inbounded to him and he dribbles his man up the floor with some pace and urgency (seems like he learned his lesson with the 10 sec call), and he makes a nice bounce pass to McNeeley that frees him up into a running floater that rims out, Singare grabs the O board and puts it in to make it 20-10. Singare shows again too much on the hedge and fails to get back to his man who sinks a easy mid-range fg, 20-12. Mahaney then dribbles up the floor again, with urgency and runs the offense, gets the ball back and passes the ball to McNeeley who gets hacked hard and a foul is called against Xavier. We inbound the ball, and McNeeley bricks a terrible looking 3pt shot, Mahaney never touched the ball on this possession. Stewart scraps for a loose ball after the rebound attempt, and off the inbounds, Ross misses a corner 3, and McNeeley gets his 2nd foul on a terrible undisciplined reach in. Score still 20-12 UConn, its Xavier ball, again we play some great defense and Xavier sinks a very tough 2 over Reed on the baseline. Mahaney quickly boxes out his man, just in case its off. Our next possession, Stewart drives in and misses a point blank layup that was defended well by Maddox. Maddox draws a foul from a drive on a 5v4 because Stewart was late getting back on D after the miss. Diarra is subbed in for Mahaney here at 8:17. At this point the score is 20-14. not 20-20.

I will say that Mahaney was the LEAST of UConn's problem in this segment of the game......

I think the point of several posters is that Dan Hurley doesn’t trust AM to play the point in a close game and we are concerned about Hass playing 40 min a game. He wasn’t the problem….but he didn’t play, so maybe that is a bit of a problem

 

[dogpause]

Reed played great, and Singare played the best he has since he started playing meaningful minutes. A 3rd decent player at the 5 is a luxury and will pay many dividends as the season progresses.

What I love is that Singare is playing well enough to earn development minutes, which should help him for next year and also means we can turn to him now when needed.

 

[sdglast]

One thing on Xavier's 3 point shooting--they shot 13-24 for the game but 1-5 in OT. They were 12-19 in regulation for nearly 64%. Yes they are good shooters but they made a lot of tough shots (fadeaways, 3s moving to the side as they shot it, etc.). I would hasten to say UConn actually got the better 3 looks and made a far worse percentage of them (33%). Credit Xavier for playing hard and shooting great from 3, but shooting 3s at nearly 64% in a game is unsustainable in the long run. They played just about an A game for them in their situation, with UConn probably play a C to C-plus game, and UConn still found a way to win. Openers are never easy (Creighton can tell you that) in league play, so glad to have that one under our belt. On to Butler which won't be easy.

 

[Excalibur]

Stop with the Mahaney isn't a point guard stuff. He's not playing the two at 6'2 165 lbs. He was a 1 at St. Mary's. He could maybe play off the ball if we had a Castle or Newton on the roster with size at the point, but we don't. It's either point guard or nothing, and the answer appears to be nothing.

 

[gtcam]

.
Going into the game, it was known that X depended a lot on their 3 pt shooting. Not saying that anyone would think that Maddox would have a career game (but that bug is definitely a UConn DNA that has been impossible to shake) but perimeter D is horrible.
The one thing that will kill this UConn team is the lack of consistent defensive effort.
Will it improve? I certainly hope so.
It was a gutsy win but should not have been that close.
The refs were again, abysmal at best.

 

[Excalibur]

.
Going into the game, it was known that X depended a lot on their 3 pt shooting. Not saying that anyone would think that Maddox would have a career game (but that bug is definitely a UConn DNA that has been impossible to shake) but perimeter D is horrible.
The one thing that will kill this UConn team is the lack of consistent defensive effort.
Will it improve? I certainly hope so.
It was a gutsy win but should not have been that close.
The refs were again, abysmal at best.

We let teams get way too comfortable, either by not stopping penetration or not running them off spots. We gave up too many open shots early. Once you let someone get hot, you run the risk that they start making tougher shots. By the time we started clamping down, it was too late.

 

[cohenzone]

Undeniable truth about hoops. A team really looks great when the ball goes through the hoop. Xavier kids hit a bunch of contested 3s regardless of what might have been defensive issues sometimes. Obviously if they shoot a normal very good percent the game isn’t close. They were unconscious. It happens. We won.

 

[Chief00]

He missed the opportunity to take a casual leak.

Actually, I time it just before halftime, so it wasn’t too bad for me but just a couple minutes after I got in line, long lines formed 3 or 4 people wide formed. They block the concourse flow of traffic and just create a terrible customer experience in stark contrast to the great game.
There’s no excuse for this level of decision making incompetence and it indicates a disconnect from understanding the average customer’s experience. Never a good thing in any business.

 

[Chief00]

Undeniable truth about hoops. A team really looks great when the ball goes through the hoop. Xavier kids hit a bunch of contested 3s regardless of what might have been defensive issues sometimes. Obviously if they shoot a normal very good percent the game isn’t close. They were unconscious. It happens. We won.

3 point shooting is like rebounding, so much of the necessary work is done before the ball is touched. Especially when a team is not denying the ball, move your man off the line by crowding or taking the right angle and pressure on the ball full court (which we did some) to take them out if their offense.

 

[Chief00]

.
Going into the game, it was known that X depended a lot on their 3 pt shooting. Not saying that anyone would think that Maddox would have a career game (but that bug is definitely a UConn DNA that has been impossible to shake) but perimeter D is horrible.
The one thing that will kill this UConn team is the lack of consistent defensive effort.
Will it improve? I certainly hope so.
It was a gutsy win but should not have been that close.
The refs were again, abysmal at best.

Agree with many of your main points, but not so sure it was a lack of effort but rather misdirected effort. Guys getting caught in between, guys trying to help defense when they should just stay on their man and make him uncomfortable in his sweet spots. Again, much of defense is before your man touches the ball. Sometimes though guys will also make tough shots. Please don’t get me started on one ref in particular (dark hair). His professionalism was lacking - put so much into Xavier calls emotionally with his motions /gestures. Hurley apparently lives. In his head, in a bad way.

 

[AllHusky]

Agree with many of your main points, but not so sure it was a lack of effort but rather misdirected effort. Guys getting caught in between, guys trying to help defense when they should just stay on their man and make him uncomfortable in his sweet spots. Again, much of defense is before your man touches the ball. Sometimes though guys will also make tough shots. Please don’t get me started on one ref in particular (dark hair). His professionalism was lacking - put so much into Xavier calls emotionally with his motions /gestures. Hurley apparently lives. In his head, in a bad way.

Watching Solo intently on D. His on ball D seems to be improving, still a bit inconsistent, but better by 2x. To Chiefs point, watched Solo a number of times drift towards the ball when his man was on the opposite side. When they swung it quickly to the opposite side, Solo was too far away to either deny the ball or impact the shot, so Balls man got a relatively clean look at a 3pointer, and sunk it a couple of times.

 

[Chief00]

Stop with the Mahaney isn't a point guard stuff. He's not playing the two at 6'2 165 lbs. He was a 1 at St. Mary's. He could maybe play off the ball if we had a Castle or Newton on the roster with size at the point, but we don't. It's either point guard or nothing, and the answer appears to be nothing.

I know that’s Danny’s Arguments but the +/- of that theory displays on the court and it has been largely a disaster. I rather have Mahaney play the two where he’s guarding a more long distance shooter than getting beaten to the basket, which also got guys open 3’s due to help defense.
Comparing elite national and Big East competition to mid major conference is a huge contrast.

 

[Excalibur]

I know that’s Danny’s Arguments but the +/- of that theory displays on the court and it has been largely a disaster. I rather have Mahaney play the two where he’s guarding a more long distance shooter than getting beaten to the basket, which also got guys open 3’s due to help defense.
Comparing elite national and Big East competition to mid major conference is a huge contrast.

These guys aren't stand still shooters. Asking Mahaney to play the 2 just exacerbates our defensive issues and lack of size in the backcourt.

If he can't play the 1 here, he can't play.

 

[Chief00]

These guys aren't stand still shooters. Asking Mahaney to play the 2 just exacerbates our defensive issues and lack of size in the backcourt.

If he can't play the 1 here, he can't play.

I think he has good value as a 3 point shooter, if we play him in his natural role. He is one of the top 3 shooters on the team if you look at his shooting stroke and touch. He just needs to be in a role that fits him at this level. I agree you don’t want two guys under 6-2 in the backcourt all game but there’s no reason why it can’t work well in certain rotations and given who your opponent is playing.

 

[Waquoit]

the most important update to the XL Center should be 250 urinals and 100 toilets (women)...There’s no excuse for this level of decision making incompetence and it indicates a disconnect from understanding the average customer’s experience. Never a good thing in any business.

Not positve but I'm pretty sure there's a state law that urinals and women's toilets need to be equal or close to equal. I remember when some guys were irked that The Rent has a couple of extra women's rooms scattered about. But it sounds like you need to take action for your own good. I suggest you start by calling the XL Center and sharing your concern. After they hang-up on you, send them a strongly worded letter, cc the Governor's office and the CDRA. If the reply is unsatisfactory, you'll need to start a petition. I'm sure the Yard will supply you with several signatures.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I think he has good value as a 3 point shooter, if we play him in his natural role. I agree you don’t want two guys under 6-2 in the backcourt all games but there’s no reason why it can’t work well in certain rotations and given who your opponent is playing.

It would be really nice if the staff (and Aidan) could find a way to make Mahaney's time on the court work.

Somehow, at Creighton, McDermott has made Ashworth a net plus (even against strong comp) and that guy is an undersized/understrengthed shrimp of a guard.

 

[Zonepress]

I just watched the replay of the game, and I paid extra attention when Mahaney was on the floor.
Score was 18-10 at 11:10 when Singare fouled Xaviers guard beyond the 3pt line. Mahaney was subbed in after the timeout. Play resumes after commercials, and Mahaney plays some good switch defense and is part of the shot clock violation we forced Xavier into. He then gets the ball inbounded to him and he dribbles his man up the floor with some pace and urgency (seems like he learned his lesson with the 10 sec call), and he makes a nice bounce pass to McNeeley that frees him up into a running floater that rims out, Singare grabs the O board and puts it in to make it 20-10. Singare shows again too much on the hedge and fails to get back to his man who sinks a easy mid-range fg, 20-12. Mahaney then dribbles up the floor again, with urgency and runs the offense, gets the ball back and passes the ball to McNeeley who gets hacked hard and a foul is called against Xavier. We inbound the ball, and McNeeley bricks a terrible looking 3pt shot, Mahaney never touched the ball on this possession. Stewart scraps for a loose ball after the rebound attempt, and off the inbounds, Ross misses a corner 3, and McNeeley gets his 2nd foul on a terrible undisciplined reach in. Score still 20-12 UConn, its Xavier ball, again we play some great defense and Xavier sinks a very tough 2 over Reed on the baseline. Mahaney quickly boxes out his man, just in case its off. Our next possession, Stewart drives in and misses a point blank layup that was defended well by Maddox. Maddox draws a foul from a drive on a 5v4 because Stewart was late getting back on D after the miss. Diarra is subbed in for Mahaney here at 8:17. At this point the score is 20-14. not 20-20.

I will say that Mahaney was the LEAST of UConn's problem in this segment of the game......

Great post!!

 

[Chief00]

While, I thought Gaffbey and Potter were fair, Driscoll almost seemed energized further to escalate his feud with Hurley due to the criticism Hurley took reacting to Driscoll’s unprofessional officiating during the Memphis game. It must be great reffing to settle a personal feud and to have the victim get all of the blame?

There was zero communication between Driscoll and Hurley or his assistants before or during the Xavier game. In contrast with the other two refs.

Syracuse native Driscoll made bizarre calls throughout the game, which all favored Xavier.

Late in the regulation he enthusiastically made an out of bounds call against UConn that the other two refs had going the other way as did the reply review. Yet, Driscoll made the bad call as the ref closet to the play. He also called the last foul against UConn with seconds left in regulation, which put the game into overtime. Keeping the tradition alive from his two late Maui calls.

Yet, we were bombard with articles criticizing Hurley’s reaction in Maui but zero media coverage either local or national of Driscoll’s unprofessional feud against Hurley that continued Wednesday night while Hurley made an effort to improve his sideline demeanor.

Does this means there is zero accountability for a veteran ref unlike a veteran coach?

 

[mauconnfan]

I just watched the replay of the game, and I paid extra attention when Mahaney was on the floor.
Score was 18-10 at 11:10 when Singare fouled Xaviers guard beyond the 3pt line. Mahaney was subbed in after the timeout. Play resumes after commercials, and Mahaney plays some good switch defense and is part of the shot clock violation we forced Xavier into. He then gets the ball inbounded to him and he dribbles his man up the floor with some pace and urgency (seems like he learned his lesson with the 10 sec call), and he makes a nice bounce pass to McNeeley that frees him up into a running floater that rims out, Singare grabs the O board and puts it in to make it 20-10. Singare shows again too much on the hedge and fails to get back to his man who sinks a easy mid-range fg, 20-12. Mahaney then dribbles up the floor again, with urgency and runs the offense, gets the ball back and passes the ball to McNeeley who gets hacked hard and a foul is called against Xavier. We inbound the ball, and McNeeley bricks a terrible looking 3pt shot, Mahaney never touched the ball on this possession. Stewart scraps for a loose ball after the rebound attempt, and off the inbounds, Ross misses a corner 3, and McNeeley gets his 2nd foul on a terrible undisciplined reach in. Score still 20-12 UConn, its Xavier ball, again we play some great defense and Xavier sinks a very tough 2 over Reed on the baseline. Mahaney quickly boxes out his man, just in case its off. Our next possession, Stewart drives in and misses a point blank layup that was defended well by Maddox. Maddox draws a foul from a drive on a 5v4 because Stewart was late getting back on D after the miss. Diarra is subbed in for Mahaney here at 8:17. At this point the score is 20-14. not 20-20.

I will say that Mahaney was the LEAST of UConn's problem in this segment of the game......

You will find many fans will lean towards blaming Mahaney for anything and everything these days. It is really pitiful so thank you for your observation proving the naysayers all incompetent.

He’s also being force fed a position he basically never played at St Marys and doesn’t look completely comfortable in. Might want to try using his strengths at some point.

 

[freshler40]

Actually, I time it just before halftime, so it wasn’t too bad for me but just a couple minutes after I got in line, long lines formed 3 or 4 people wide formed. They block the concourse flow of traffic and just create a terrible customer experience in stark contrast to the great game.
There’s no excuse for this level of decision making incompetence and it indicates a disconnect from understanding the average customer’s experience. Never a good thing in any business.

and this issue is even there even after a rebuild of the Civic Center.