Chiefs Briefs - Villanova Edition

[pj]

He was a killer in 2 title runs. He had like 3-4 buzzer beaters at the half if I recall. Backbreakers. He’s icy. He just looked out of sorts from the start tonight. Nova has played defense like this against us for the last 7-8 years. Lots if poking and reaching. Slapping. Etc. it’s to be expected.

He hit a big clutch 3 tonight to cut it to 3 lol

But that was with 2:07 left to play. Sure, he won a few national championships, but what has he done for us in the last 2 minutes?

 

[coachn]

Karaban choke.. Nothing fr Macalany ,Ross. Make up for it rest of season!

 

[giddyup]

AK is struggling as the leading man. He’s at his best as supporting cast. Hassan is stepping up and Ball is kind of emerging as Alpha but doesn’t have the full range of tools to be a number 1 threat. Need Liam on the floor to creat enough offensive threats to take pressure off AK. Bottom line is we have no leader yet and it shows. No swagger.

 

[Scrutineer]

I must have watched a different game. Comments here about JS having a great second half and how Samson Johnson was guarding Dixon?

JS kept us in the game in the first half with both his offense (10 points) and his defense (closely guarded Dixon). Kept right up on him and Dixon couldn't breathe. And he couldn't drive to the basket. Went 1 for 8 in the half. Villanova later started switching a lot and that's when Dixon ended up with a guard on him and started driving for the and 1's.

 

[NEforceUConn]

If my memory is correct, I recall in prior years AK had an underwhelming January/early February and then late Feb/March/April played like his hair was on fire. He's a champion!

 

[REB1094]

We knew we needed Stewart, Mahaney, and Ross to step up with Liam gone. But now we know we need at least 2 of them each game

vs PC it was Mahaney while Ross gave nothing and Stewart gave little. A W, but needed a 14pt comeback

vs Nova it was Stewart while Mahaney gave nothing and Ross gave little. 12pt deficit and came up just short

Development curves will need to be accelerated

 

[gtcam]

I am not bothered by this loss.
I was upset when Karaban missed the 1st shot but as I told my son at the time, I bet he misses the 2nd- why? his body language was horrible. AK has hit some huge shots during his UConn career, but I think this added responsibility of being the player leader has perhaps weighed on him, and to be honest, he has been perhaps the weakest of the starting players the last 2 years. This season, so far, UConn does not have that established go to guy and that hurts a lot.
Nova was looking for a signature win and desperately needed one vs, UConn. Nova had solid contributions by most all their players while UConn did not. Winning on the road in the NBE will be tougher this season.
UConn's man to man defense is not good at all. Guards drive on UConn like there is no tomorrow,
DH has to admit that he swung and missed big time with AM. I'm beginning to think the same can be said about Ross.
Trying to have Samson guard Dixon 20-30 feet from the basket is pure BS. Samson is a natural reach in guy so what do you expect him to do when Dixon gets a step on him?
IMHO, Dixon does not deserve the favors that the refs give him, yet AK and HD can get held and pushed and there's no calls.
I fully agree with Mau - the laid back approach DH is taking is not working, First, it looks fake, and it is hurting the team more than helping.
Nowell has to play If DH and staff wants him back next season. The kid has way too much upside to be sitting. HD can't play the full game and AM or SB at the PG position has proven to be a bad look.
Ball's shot is sweet, he needs to take more midrange attempts. Someone of his build, he needs to mix it up underneath grab some rebounds.
The basketball IQ overall of the entire team is much lower than in the past few years
Georgetown is MUCH improved- they are physical, and they are pesky on D, I think UConn will have a tough time with them. Anyone who feels Cooley can't coach is nuts.
I would rather UConn lose to Nova because Nova needed the game to regain some respectability which only helps the NBE (hopefully). That is why I'm not bothered with the loss, but I am concerned a bit more about the make-up and direction of this UConn team.
Time will tell but time flies.......................

 

[uchuskies2009]

I am not bothered by this loss.
I was upset when Karaban missed the 1st shot but as I told my son at the time, I bet he misses the 2nd- why? his body language was horrible. AK has hit some huge shots during his UConn career, but I think this added responsibility of being the player leader has perhaps weighed on him, and to be honest, he has been perhaps the weakest of the starting players the last 2 years. This season, so far, UConn does not have that established go to guy and that hurts a lot.
Nova was looking for a signature win and desperately needed one vs, UConn. Nova had solid contributions by most all their players while UConn did not. Winning on the road in the NBE will be tougher this season.
UConn's man to man defense is not good at all. Guards drive on UConn like there is no tomorrow,
DH has to admit that he swung and missed big time with AM. I'm beginning to think the same can be said about Ross.
Trying to have Samson guard Dixon 20-30 feet from the basket is pure BS. Samson is a natural reach in guy so what do you expect him to do when Dixon gets a step on him?
IMHO, Dixon does not deserve the favors that the refs give him, yet AK and HD can get held and pushed and there's no calls.
I fully agree with Mau - the laid back approach DH is taking is not working, First, it looks fake, and it is hurting the team more than helping.
Nowell has to play If DH and staff wants him back next season. The kid has way too much upside to be sitting. HD can't play the full game and AM or SB at the PG position has proven to be a bad look.
Ball's shot is sweet, he needs to take more midrange attempts. Someone of his build, he needs to mix it up underneath grab some rebounds.
The basketball IQ overall of the entire team is much lower than in the past few years
Georgetown is MUCH improved- they are physical, and they are pesky on D, I think UConn will have a tough time with them. Anyone who feels Cooley can't coach is nuts.
I would rather UConn lose to Nova because Nova needed the game to regain some respectability which only helps the NBE (hopefully). That is why I'm not bothered with the loss, but I am concerned a bit more about the make-up and direction of this UConn team.
Time will tell but time flies.......................

Yes! The body language! I wasn't so mad about the two missed free throws, it happens, and honestly the way we played that game, we should be thankful it was only a 1 point game at the end and we had a chance to tie/win. What I was mad about was the fact that he just stood there and stared blankly after the second clanked off the back of the rim. If he took one or two steps in, he had a very legitimate shot at getting the offensive rebound and a potential bunny put back. He's such a great offensive rebounder that I was completely shocked by what I watched at the end of the game there.

 

[uconnfan68]

IMHO, Dixon does not deserve the favors that the refs give him, yet AK and HD can get held and pushed and there's no calls.

Mine too.

 

[Edward Sargent]

He made one tough pass to Reed just out of reach but let’s pick on Nowell lol. Played for the first time in a month.

Diarra 2 games I a row nothing in the first half suddenly a fire the last 20? That has to end as a PG leader. AK invisible and can’t suddenly take anyone off the dribble, or rebound. (Or make a FT) Ball great shooting clutch but there’s 2 sides to the court. Stewie thanks for showing up best player tonight. Mahaney, Johnson and others trying to guard Dixon bad plan. The 4 lay in Takes of which 3 were on the left, he’s a lefty were all because of guarding too close. Think of his night, 6-20 of which 2 made shots were 3s but he was 2-8 from there. Besides the 3 blow bys of which 3 were and 1s, he was 2-14 so why not leave space to cut the drives off??? Make him make jumpers I know he’s a 50% 3 pt shooter but that wasn’t happening tonight. Terrible defense.

I mean to actually have a worse half than PC I would’ve never guessed, that alone needs to end.

Oh and Villanova had 5 fouls from the 10 minute mark or so until AKs I believe. Bauyke himself had 10 or so but was only called for 1 I believe? He’s an absolute hack. Danny might need to go back a bit on his calmness because it hasn’t worked all that well. I mean I like it but please the holding through the picks and bodying has been out of control the last 2 games. Not making it the reason just pointing it out!

Not a good loss at all Nova with Dixon at 6-20 should never beat us.

We had a few guys not show up for halves Ball did everything in the second half and Stewie didn't do much in the second half. As for Dixon he only played the offense side of the ball as I don't think he was ever made to play a lick of defense all night

 

[mauconnfan]

We had a few guys not show up for halves Ball did everything in the second half and Stewie didn't do much in the second half. As for Dixon he only played the offense side of the ball as I don't think he was ever made to play a lick of defense all night

We never ran anything for Reed not sure why