Chief Briefs - Villanova Edition

[Chief00]

We actually got more foul shots tonight than our league opponent. Maybe Chief is finally being heard?

Newton, Spencer and Karaban carried us offensively and Clingan closed down the paint when he was in the game.

We were 18-24 while they were 14-17 from FT and that was basically the different in the game and now you know why Chief has made an issue of it in our wins without the FT advantage.

Johnson makes a lot of bad decisions on defense. We are a much better defensive team with Clingan. Johnson needs to learn his primary responsibility is protecting the rim and rebounding. You can’t do that 20 feet from the basket.

We made a lot of mental mistakes tonight that kept them in the game. The counter was we know how to win games.

29% three point shooting symbolized all the bad shots we took late, many from 5 feet behind the line.

The boxscore was amazingly even in rebounds, assists, shooting % and turnovers. It was about executing winning at the very end.

Key foul shots by Cam and Tristen win the game for us. Thank you Cam and Tristen.
Another Big East road win.

 

[TheHorde]

Hurley is getting really good at winning close games.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

YES!

 

[Fan1978]

We actually got as many foul shots tonight than our league opponent. Maybe Chief is finally being heard?
Newton, Spencer and Karaban carried us offensively and Clingan closed down the paint when he was in the game.
We were 14-20 while they were 14-17 from FT and that was basically the different in the game and now you know why Chief has made an issue of it in our wins without the FT advantage.
Johnson makes a lot of bad decisions on defense. We are a much better defensive team with Clingan. Johnson needs to learn his primary responsibility is protecting the rim and rebounding. You can’t do that 20 feet from the basket.
We made a lot of mental mistakes tonight that kept them in the game. The counter was we know how to win games.

29% three point shooting symbolized all the bad shots we took late, many from 5 feet behind the line.
The boxscore was amazingly even in rebounds, assists, shooting % and turnovers. It was about executing winning at the very end.

Key foul shots by Cam and Tristen win the game for us. Thank you Cam and Tristen.
Another Big East road win.

Chief i agree about the bad shots. Tristan played a hell of a game but a few very low percentage 3’s down stretch unacceptable. They were on the bonus and need to get to the rim. Low percentage long range 3 are not winning plays

 

[Chief00]

Chief i agree about the bad shots. Tristan played a hell of a game but a few very low percentage 3’s down stretch unacceptable. They were on the bonus and need to get to the rim. Low percentage long range 3 are not winning plays

I love Tristen but agree, however he hit those final 2 foul shots when we needed it.

 

[HHusky]

Nova played tight tough D on us. Maybe the best all year

 

[Kenny11]

So many possessions in some recent games that Karaban doesn’t touch the ball.

 

[GHSWolverines]

I did not realize that TN's stats were that much better playing on the road vs. Home.
3 pt percentage was low but I thought Villanove guarded the 3 point line well and SC shot too many from beyond the arc

 

[uconntoatl]

Clean up some of the unforced turnovers and this is a minimum 10 point win

 

[HHusky]

Agreed on Karaban, he was shut down for most of the game.

 

[UCOnions]

When we went up 9 in the 2nd half and Newton shot that ill advised 3 (heat check, some would call it), when he missed you just kind of felt like that might let Nova get back into it, and it did. I would have rather him slow it down there and set something inside for Clingan, or just a better look in general.

 

[Fan1978]

I love Tristen but agree, however he hit those final 2 foul shots when we needed it.

He did but missed one earlier. He is a very good ft shooter and have great confidence in him. Game may have been over without 2 poor 3 point shots

 

[Fan1978]

So many possessions in some recent games that Karaban doesn’t touch the ball.

He is money, made biggest shot of game

 

[nomar]

Somebody tell Newton he’s not Steph Curry!

These close games are helpful. Love that the sole remaining knock on Hurley is now in the trash bin.

 

[CL82]

Somebody tell Newton he’s not Steph Curry!

These close games are helpful. Love that the sole remaining knock on Hurley is now in the trash bin.

True, but now people are complaining that we didn't win by more.

 

[GHSWolverines]

These close games are helpful. Love that the sole remaining knock on Hurley is now in the trash bin.

I doubt it. There are still doubters here.

 

[Sky ball]

Hurley is getting really good at winning close games.

Hurley won this close game by only 1 point...Fire Hurley

 

[GHSWolverines]

TN had fire in his eyes. Player of the game indeed.

 

[Kitaman]

This victory proves we are a very good road team.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I agree about SJ. He also needs to let mistakes go. I can't read minds, but it seems like times he has trouble moving on and it snowballs for him. Also, he tends to let his athleticism carry him on the court and he doesn't work the entire clock. I think that is what is impressive about Dixon for Villanova. He doesn't just let Clingan have his way. He works early to establish position and did pretty well for a guy giving up size. He's one of the opposing players over the past few years that I have earned the greatest respect for.
Nova did a great job limiting Cam's open looks. They defended the arc pretty well.
Nice to see a ref willing to blow a whistle with the game on the line when an obvious offensive foul was committed. There were a few missed calls, but the refs were pretty good overall.
Didn't get why the Diarra and the rest were still doubling when Clingan came in.
Finally, the out of bounds plays on the defensive end needs to improve. These plays were almost always and advantage under Calhoun, and even last year, the edge went to the Huskies in most games.
Still, it is a road win against a good team and it will give Hurley several things to work on in practice.

 

[Glenn]

We got more foul shots because they were fouling at the end of the game. Before that it was about even. I thought the refs were very balanced and consistent.

 

[Candyman]

Doubling TJ Bamba down low was wild, lead to an open three.

 

[Bomber36]

One word to describe UConn. Composed. That why they won tonight.

 

[JesusAllen11]

This team is really good. But trend of going on big runs followed by blowing that lead is not ideal.
They consistently go on runs that should close the door , but they always leave it open. This tendency is going to rip our heart out one game.

 

[formerlurker]

Good ol' skip the Creighton Briefs and get back to work like no one noticed.

 

[housekeys]

We beat a Villanova team that played its best basketball.

"Here’s the thing, though, and this is probably not music to the ears of Neptune, his players or Villanova’s Nova Nation faithful: Saturday’s game against UConn was the best the Wildcats have looked all season.

Better than the Bahamas, when they beat Texas Tech, North Carolina and Memphis.

Better than their Big East-opening win at Creighton.

For me, and I’ve seen just about every minute either in person or on TV this season, this was the closest to “Villanova basketball” I’ve seen the Wildcats play not only this season but since Neptune took over for Jay Wright after Wright’s surprise retirement in April 2022."

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I’m sure someone else pointed this out but we only had more FTs because of them clock stopping FTs

 

[TheChamps990411]

We made a lot of mental mistakes tonight that kept them in the game.

29% three point shooting symbolized all the bad shots we took late, many from 5 feet behind the line.

This. Very frustrating and not something this team usually does. Id also like to add DC really needs to stop trying to lay the ball in when hes under the basket. Bruh! You are 7`2 260lbs! Go up and dunk that stuff!! It drives me nuts when he does that. He needs to take a page from the book of Samson.

 

[Chief00]

So many possessions in some recent games that Karaban doesn’t touch the ball.

Why is that? Is it defensive focus, our offensive scheme or something Alex or his teammates aren’t doing?

 

[Chief00]

I’m sure someone else pointed this out but we only had more FTs because of them clock stopping FTs

I kept changing the FT’s throughout the games, my point was it was pretty even or to our advantage the whole game and on the road in a tough game - the fact it wasn’t a Villanova plus was huge.