Coach Hurley, you have a good team

[auggie22]

My wife watches very little basketball. She came in early in the first half, within seconds she says that “he” is really good. Totally unprompted. She was referring to Bouknight. Even people who know nothing about basketball can see it.

I saw Ray for the first time at the Blue / White scrimmage his freshmen year. The way he just seemed to float around the floor in that scrimmage was extremely memorable, I had never seen a player move like that. Bouknight moves like that.

 

[Blaneylover]

I don’t know what the hell is wrong with Alterique. Alterique likely doesn’t know what the hell is wrong with Alterique because he‘s playing like it’s a mystery to him, too.

Vital is what he is. He believes he’s a lot better than he is and he’s determined to prove it even if it kills us. He can’t do what a senior guard should be able to do, but he does some other things that a six-foot guard should never be able to do.

He’s in a class of one in a lot of ways.

Agreed. The shot selection is beyond frustrating, yet he had 12 rebounds and key steals. His inability to close out 3 point shooters is killing us, as well.

 

[djct1999]

Hold Alterique accountable for the out of control hero ball, same with Vital it's what lost us this game. We completely outplayed them the second half and then Vital and Gilbert went into hero ball mode. We have the talent where they need to sit when they pull this cr@p. We outplayed the #18 team full of hardened juniors and seniors but this is why we lost. The season will ride on how Hurley handles them, they simply can't be allowed to keep making losing plays over and over. Hero ball has to be beaten out of them.

James Bouknight is special, best freshman we've had since I can't remember. The future is bright.

Then this bodes well for the season. In fact, the one thing I trust most is how Hurley will handle this team, both our seniors and freshmen. Its one of his strengths.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Wrong. UConn lost the game in the first half, was lucky to even be in the game late due to Xavier's inability to close it out and shouldn't have even been able to keep it that close. Only some heroics by a few individual players kept it close. We were better than this team and blew it. They played their game against UConn and the coach let them do it, the entire game.

This is a bad take. We erased the lead and had a solid lead. It was only ten points. They hit a very deep 3 to force OT. We then went at the basket instead of taking a jump shot, over and over and those two white big guys erased almost every one of those shots. And if people think some of that was hero ball from AG and Vital, it was what Hurley was calling for.

As for the first half, the officials changed their approach. Xavier pushed off on offense over and over, especially #3 with no calls. Jones hammered people with no calls. In the second half it changed and our comeback came at line.

 

[freescooter]

I don’t get the “Hurley is still learning” crowd. He has been a head coach for 7-8 years at progressively higher levels. He needs to deliver.

There are some guys who can recruit like crazy. Some guys who can coach and a Rare few who can do both.We have seen a troubling patten with Hurley teams so far of falling behind early, playing like mad to get close then making dumb plays down the stretch to lose. I kind of wonder if he isn’t in the first group.

 

[don356]

What would Calhoun do with Gilbert and Vital?

 

[Sphinx]

I remember right after the St. Joe's game thinking, "This is a team that can beat #15 at home, beat the best mid-major in the country on a neutral floor, and take #18 to double overtime on a neutral floor." In two weeks, this team has delivered wildly beyond expectations. And it is exactly the same team it would be if Marshall had missed the 3-point heave and we were playing Sunday for the championship.

 

[Kitaman]

James Bouknight is shooting 70% from the field on the season he needs to start next game and take every meaningful shot for us moving forward.

You want to create a one and done??? Be careful what you ask for. I want slow/steady growth and exposure (i.e. national recognition). But I'm greedy.

 

[browndog319]

The problem is Dan Hurley is kind of like AG here; he can’t get out of his own way with AG. He’s committed to AG being the soul and leader of the team and can’t move beyond it. AG can’t move beyond the fact that he isn’t the most talented guy on the team. It’s not because he isn’t a good guy and it’s not because he didn’t get a raw deal because of all of the injuries. It sucks that his college career was derailed; he likely will never reach his full potential due to that. Or maybe he peaked in HS. Who knows?

What we do know is that we have a 3-2 record. We have those wins in spite of AG and he was a significant contributor to the losses. Him walking down the court and not passing at the end of regulation was infuriating. There was zero urgency. There was zero awareness. Kemba wouldn’t have done that; Kemba who was king of the buzzer beater. He would know he would have a great chance of hitting the shot but he would attack it as if he needed every second of that clock. You always play so you have a chance at the rebound if you need it. You always try to pass it.
We had plenty of time. He acted as if we had 2 minutes on the clock and he had a 50% FG.
And Dan Hurley seems to think he’s the right guy in this situation and feeds it. He sees nothing wrong with any of this. This is the guy you want in this situation.
ummm, really? No, how bout the guy who was scoring????
Dan Hurley is as delusional as AG.

Mike Anthony: UConn needs to examine what is being asked of struggling Alterique Gilbert

With the final seconds ticking off the clock in regulation and the score tied, UConn guard Alterique Gilbert got the ball, kept the ball and took the ball to a place where nothing positive had been…

www.courant.com

 

[browndog319]

I'm only upset because we have a chance to be very good, it's not gonna happen this year if he doesn't get Gilbert and Vital fixed. The future is really bright. Two games in and you can already see Bouknight has "it" and when I say "it" I'm throwing him in with Caron, Rip, Ray, etc. He is supremely talented and really knows the game.

At least CV is a good rebounder with some decent 3 point shooting on occasion.

 

[browndog319]

You want to create a one and done??? Be careful what you ask for. I want slow growth and exposure (i.e. national recognition). But I'm greedy.

But you want to create frustration where he doesn’t feel developed because the program has a guy who hogs the ball? Like a moron? He should have passed at the end of regulation. He had all the time in the world and he walked around like he was thinking about what donuts to order (think the Brian Regan donut bit).

 

[Dove]

I wrote this days ago...the farther in Gilbert drives to the basket the smaller he gets. It's mindnumbing. He doesn't see it and no one tells him. Hurley has to stop this now.

Last night I told Huskybass that AG probably is my fave Husky on this team. It must be because I see him as a puppy recued from a shelter.

 

[imno1]

At the very least AG and CV should barely be on the court at the same time. They are shooting a combined 28% and averaging 6 turnovers. They dominate the ball leaving others to stand around. AG started the game by attacking the paint and dishing. He’s effective when doing that but I have never seem a starting point guard as inept as Al when going to the basket and trying to score.

 

[Pudge]

Hold Alterique accountable for the out of control hero ball, same with Vital it's what lost us this game. We completely outplayed them the second half and then Vital and Gilbert went into hero ball mode. We have the talent where they need to sit when they pull this cr@p. We outplayed the #18 team full of hardened juniors and seniors but this is why we lost. The season will ride on how Hurley handles them, they simply can't be allowed to keep making losing plays over and over. Hero ball has to be beaten out of them.

James Bouknight is special, best freshman we've had since I can't remember. The future is bright.

i simply don’t agree with this. It’s like you haven’t watched CBB & never played the sport. A Gilbert getting regularly by his man by the dribble is an extraordinarily useful component on offense. Yes. He too often isn’t finishing. But there are passes that should be made as he exposes the defenders.

Gilbert kept UConn in that game with clutch FT after FT when needed

As for ... you don’t remember Caron? Then you surely don’t remember Ray or Rip. And many of us do. Bouknight is special & you do see that kind of talent instantly

we are going to leave Charleston with a different mindset. Both Brendan Adams & Bouknight are now Integral to all things going forward. Gilbert, Vital: roles & minutes change.

 

[CL82]

How does this work. Do we just kick Vital and Gilbert off the team?

Is there a ceremony? Maybe a Survivor-esque vote? A 'Rose Ceremony'?

Do we just leave them behind in Charleston?

Maybe, but I’m thinking going over the tape and showing them the plays that cost us this game, and letting them know if you do this stuff again you will sit.

But that’s just me.

 

[CL82]

James Bouknight is shooting 70% from the field on the season he needs to start next game and take every meaningful shot for us moving forward.

His defense is atrocious. He can’t stay on the floor. I love the kid too but his suspension setback is development.

 

[Mr. French]

Hold Alterique accountable for the out of control hero ball, same with Vital it's what lost us this game. We completely outplayed them the second half and then Vital and Gilbert went into hero ball mode. We have the talent where they need to sit when they pull this cr@p. We outplayed the #18 team full of hardened juniors and seniors but this is why we lost. The season will ride on how Hurley handles them, they simply can't be allowed to keep making losing plays over and over. Hero ball has to be beaten out of them.

James Bouknight is special, best freshman we've had since I can't remember. The future is bright.

I agree with this ... but I also believe that Hurley needs to let them play through SOME of this stuff. It's not as simple as "never play them again" like some people act like on Twitter and here (not you).

I agree though, I ended my GFs night b/c she was sick of me screaming obscenities at Vital for pulling up off 1 pass and 1 dribble against 3 guys. There was a segment of the end of the 1st half where those 2 guys made poor decision after poor decision. They NEED to continue (I assume they do) to emphasize good shot selection on O. That's a huge reason why our shooting % sucks. In addition to poor finishing.

Also, I've been excited by Bouk since the start of us recruiting him. And that doesn't always work out, but it appears he is as I expected.

 

[Mr. French]

I don’t know what the hell is wrong with Alterique. Alterique likely doesn’t know what the hell is wrong with Alterique because he‘s playing like it’s a mystery to him, too.

Vital is what he is. He believes he’s a lot better than he is and he’s determined to prove it even if it kills us. He can’t do what a senior guard should be able to do, but he does some other things that a six-foot guard should never be able to do.

He’s in a class of one in a lot of ways.

This is very important to note. We have seen flashes of Al doing too much and getting too deep, but he's NEVER consistently been this bad. To me, he's pressing a lot, and that's making him force stuff.

He and Vital are different guys. Vital has balls but he needs to know when to shoot those shots. I can't imagine Gilbert continuing to play this poor all season, he's just not this bad.

 

[CTBasketball]

This feels a lot like the first half of 2007-2008 where we lose a bunch of close games due to “not knowing how to win.”

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

The problem is Vital is top 275 in defensive rebounding, top 25 in steals, top 400 in getting to the line, top 30 in FT%

Where are you replacing that?

He was a good shooter last year (both 2% and 3%). My hope is that bouknight being on the ball more opens up vital for open 3s. But bouknight doesn’t have assist vision right now, so not sure if that Will happen.

 

[dennismenace]

We don't have a go to scorer. It is most likely Bouk but he's 150 lbs soaking wet

He's 6-4 175. But he looks pretty fearless at the rim. I hope some of that toughness will show others it can be done. Wait until Sal packs some more muscle on him.

 

[UConn2SF]

i respect and appreciate Hurley's instinct to be unwaveringly loyal to AG and Vital, but he has an obligation to fairly evaluate and maximize the potential of the whole team.

 

[UCSouth]

It was a joke guys. I get that you're all fired up, but I figured a couple reality TV references including to the Bachelor would make that clear.

That wasn't even sarcasm above. I think they such and we'd be better off if they played supporting roles at the least, if not benched in crunch time.

They don't understand jokes on here. The question marks were the giveaway.

 

[browndog319]

My wife watches very little basketball. She came in early in the first half, within seconds she says that “he” is really good. Totally unprompted. She was referring to Bouknight. Even people who know nothing about basketball can see it.

I saw Ray for the first time at the Blue / White scrimmage his freshmen year. The way he just seemed to float around the floor in that scrimmage was extremely memorable, I had never seen a player move like that. Bouknight moves like that.

Exactly. It’s moronic. You choose the guy who gets you in the best situation for winning. You don’t choose Rudy until you’re up 50 points and you have 30 seconds left...

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Last night I told Huskybass that AG probably is my fave Husky on this team. It must be because I see him as a puppy recued from a shelter.

he’s the puppy you rescued from the shelter that keeps pissing on the carpet, but instead of house training him you just wait and assume the problem will eventually solve itself.

 

[mauconnfan]

The problem is Vital is top 275 in defensive rebounding, top 25 in steals, top 400 in getting to the line, top 30 in FT%

Where are you replacing that?

He was a good shooter last year (both 2% and 3%). My hope is that bouknight being on the ball more opens up vital for open 3s. But bouknight doesn’t have assist vision right now, so not sure if that Will happen.

Bouk has very good vision I have no doubt he will find open people. Agree on Vital even though I haven't always. But he was dreadful overall last night though his worst in a while. His 3 attempt was maddening at best just can't happen period, he and AG are so frustrating when they are both like that. Amazing they both played their worst against 2 teams St Joes and X yet we couldve won those games. They need to be seniors and make th veteran decisions to help this team win games when they can.

 

[BlueDogs]

Put them on the bench if they don’t do what they’re told. Then tell them to play within themselves, and show them what that means.

The biggest difference between JC vs other non-HOF coaches - JC had the quickest hook in the business . Used to drive me insane, but it’s brilliance becomes more obvious with time. AG would have been up and down with wood slivers in his until he learned the only way he would have stayed in the game is drive and dish or back it out.

 

[Waquoit]

What would Calhoun do with Gilbert and Vital?

Keep playing them. When Scott Burrell was a senior he decided he was the go-to leader and threw up so many bricks he made Vital look judicious. JC never made him stop.

 

[BPT2Storrs]

AG was frustrating to watch but his FT shooting kept us in the game. With all the foul trouble towards the end and as fatigue is setting in, I have got to assume Hurley wanted AG to draw some contact. Obviously AG had forced a lot of bad shots but I believe some of those could have sent him to the line. The refs did not help in that regard.

As for Bouk he’s a freshman and we know freshman make some mistakes, look at the reach in foul for example. As frustrating as CV and AG can be, they also make up for it in other ways. They were not in foul trouble, AG proved himself and the line and CV had some great defense plays down the stretch.

Its got to be tough coaching your new recruits and existing players and trying to make it mesh. I think AG and CV are highly capable and I can see them getting better as the season progresses due to Dan Hurley’s coaching. Those guys have grown accustom to losing and it’s going to take some time to get over that. Remember the past few years we would have gotten blown out of the gym by Xavier and Florida. You can definitely see progress and it’s just the start of the season. I’m optimistic about this season.

 

[browndog319]

AG was frustrating to watch but his FT shooting kept us in the game. With all the foul trouble towards the end and as fatigue is setting in, I have got to assume Hurley wanted AG to draw some contact. Obviously AG had forced a lot of bad shots but I believe some of those could have sent him to the line. The refs did not help in that regard.

As for Bouk he’s a freshman and we know freshman make some mistakes, look at the reach in foul for example. As frustrating as CV and AG can be, they also make up for it in other ways. They were not in foul trouble, AG proved himself and the line and CV had some great defense plays down the stretch.

Its got to be tough coaching your new recruits and existing players and trying to make it mesh. I think AG and CV are highly capable and I can see them getting better as the season progresses due to Dan Hurley’s coaching. Those guys have grown accustom to losing and it’s going to take some time to get over that. Remember the past few years we would have gotten blown out of the gym by Xavier and Florida. You can definitely see progress and it’s just the start of the season. I’m optimistic about this season.

But Bouk knew it and clearly knew it... I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again.