Coach Hurley, you have a good team

[uconnfan68]

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.

If he was trying to draw contact, he should not look as though he wasn’t. The shots were already blocked by the time he’s on the floor.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I don't think AG or CV are cancerous players. They probably think they are helping their team playing like that, and Hurley has to rein them in. Sometimes a coach has to give a yellow light to players, and I think it is time for the long pullup jumpers to be removed from AG and CV's arsenal.

 

[Mr. French]

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.

Never comes under control and slows down in the lane, maybe even a hop step or a 2 foot jump stop wouldn't kill him, so he can maneuver a bit and still be on balance to dish.

He seems to fly in, gets there, then has no options left and just tosses something up.

 

[intlzncster]

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.

Yeah his size is completely irrelevant rn.

 

[Storrs South]

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.

We actually have, and it coincided with Jalen going down last year.

Alterique played 5 games as the lead guard when Jalen went down and did the following shooting wise:

• 3/10 @ SMU (lost)
• 5/18 v. Cincinnati (lost)
• 6/16 @ Wichita State (lost)
• 6/15 v. South Florida (won)
• 2/10 v. Temple (lost)

That's a FG% of 31% and he shot 16% from 3 point range. That's basically the same thing he has done in the first 4 games this year. And he only averaged 3 assists over that stretch per game along with 2.6 turnovers a game.

4 games is a small sample size, but his last 9 times out have been mostly forgettable.

 

[Vancat]

What would Calhoun do with Gilbert and Vital?

WWCD

 

[Fishy]

What would Calhoun do with Gilbert and Vital?

Taken a medical leave.

 

[intlzncster]

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.

Vital is averaging 10 boards a game as a 6' guard. That's patently absurd.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

We actually have, and it coincided with Jalen going down last year.

Alterique played 5 games as the lead guard when Jalen went down and did the following shooting wise:

• 3/10 @ SMU (lost)
• 5/18 v. Cincinnati (lost)
• 6/16 @ Wichita State (lost)
• 6/15 v. South Florida (won)
• 2/10 v. Temple (lost)

That's a FG% of 31% and he shot 16% from 3 point range. That's basically the same thing he has done in the first 4 games this year. And he only averaged 3 assists over that stretch per game along with 2.6 turnovers a game.

4 games is a small sample size, but his last 9 times out have been mostly forgettable.

hey, I see what u did there. pretty nifty. and speaking of sample size, in the reasonable sample size of EOD (era of dan), we've learned that cv can't handle, prolly ('stop touching me') can't board, and ag can't shoot. not a hater and immensely enjoying the EOD (tho starting to get annoyed at the 'stop touching me' thing, and obvious need for a lobotomy for mighty mouse), well, er, ah, umm, … still immensely enjoying the EOD. big fun.

 

[Jaydumo20]

There's got to be a reason why Hurley sticks with Gilbert. It sounds obvious to say but when fans think they see something so obvious and they honestly believe that a top notch d1 coach doesnt see it, i dont buy it. Ive heard people say "teach these kids how to box out" and im thinking, do we really think a head coach hasnt thought of what a rec league coach teaches his ten year olds? I wish the boneyard would stick to the chief-esque "inside knowledge stuff" as opposed to the "id be able to coach this team to a victory" nonsense.

 

[Hoophound]

Truthfully, what’s wrong with AG is that he has no mid range game. With his ability to create space he should be making a living on 5-10 foot jumpers in and around the lane. When Marcus Williams learned how to do that he went from frustrating to the best PG in the country almost over night.

AG is too small to finish at the rim consistently but he has game and a great stroke. The jumper deserting him is a fluke or a physical problem. Maybe its a range of motion issue, but most likely just an epic shooting slump. Punish him for driving and not dishing, encourage pull up jumpers and encourage him to keep shooting unless he is missing in practice too. I suspect he is good in practice and that’s why Danny keeps going to him, he too views it as a slump. I’m not ready to bench him because it is so obvious that we don’t have a true backup pg available. RJ Cole is our other pg.

 

[intlzncster]

Truthfully, what’s wrong with AG is that he has no mid range game. With his ability to create space he should be making a living on 5-10 foot jumpers in and around the lane. When Marcus Williams learned how to do that he went from frustrating to the best PG the country almost over night.

Marcus was a 40% 3pt shooter tho. That makes a huge difference. Not to mention the best passer we've seen at UConn.

 

[Dove]

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.

I think I'm ready to return him and elevate Brendan BAdass Adams as my fave Husky now.

 

[Hoophound]

Yes, but Marcus’ game came together when he went midrange. The midrange game is a lost art. For some guys it can open up their whole game. I believe AG is one of those guys. He can’t play in the trees but he’s fast and can create his own shot, that leaves him with pull up jumpers as his bread and butter. A fast guy with a strong handle and a solid pull-up is unguardable.

I keep saying it, but AG has a fundamentally sound jumper. I don’t know what the issue is, he shot it much better last year.

 

[intlzncster]

There's got to be a reason why Hurley sticks with Gilbert. It sounds obvious to say but when fans think they see something so obvious and they honestly believe that a top notch d1 coach doesnt see it, i dont buy it. Ive heard people say "teach these kids how to box out" and im thinking, do we really think a head coach hasnt thought of what a rec league coach teaches his ten year olds? I wish the boneyard would stick to the chief-esque "inside knowledge stuff" as opposed to the "id be able to coach this team to a victory" nonsense.

We just don't have enough ball handlers. It's really that simple. Bouk can, but I sure as hell wouldn't want him playing the point.

BA is competent, but he isn't breaking the other team down regularly.

 

[tower1]

No, you sit them when they play out of control. You tell AG if he keeps driving and throwing up ridiculous shots near the rim instead of finding his teammates, he'll ride pine. You tell Vital if he takes contested hero low percentage threes he sits (it's called coaching.) We have other guys who can ball now.

GREAT POST !! Your right. It's called coaching stop being afraid to bench them.

 

[Excalibur]

Sorry guys need to hold Dan Hurley accountable as much as anyone. The end of regulation play call was horrendous. Not to get the ball in Bouknights hands was awful. Then the staff didn’t have Sid ready for offense defense that’s in them too.

AG was good in regulation until the last play which was awful and in OT he became his out of control self. Frustrating as fn hell we lost this one.

They were prevented from subbing Sid. It was a clock review.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Disclaimer, I didn’t get to see the game

but do we know that just because the ball was in his hands at some point, he was the one asked to take the shot? How do we know he didn’t just buck the plan and do what he thought would work? Obviously he’s been terribly inefficient, but he’s supposed to be our distributor...

 

[mauconnfan]

Disclaimer, I didn’t get to see the game

but do we know that just because the ball was in his hands at some point, he was the one asked to take the shot? How do we know he didn’t just buck the plan and do what he thought would work? Obviously he’s been terribly inefficient, but he’s supposed to be our distributor...

If you’re asking about the last play of regulation he brought the ball down the court and the other 4 spread out and didn’t move or attempt to pick for anyone. It was a bad choice by Dan Hurley.

 

[Rocktheworld]

If you’re asking about the last play of regulation he brought the ball down the court and the other 4 spread out and didn’t move or attempt to pick for anyone. It was a bad choice by Dan Hurley.

I was reacting to the “EVERY critical moment”

But yeah that’s concerning that that was what was put on the floor for the final shot

 

[superjohn]

Disclaimer, I didn’t get to see the game

but do we know that just because the ball was in his hands at some point, he was the one asked to take the shot? How do we know he didn’t just buck the plan and do what he thought would work? Obviously he’s been terribly inefficient, but he’s supposed to be our distributor...

Hurley said as much.

 

[80shusky]

If you’re asking about the last play of regulation he brought the ball down the court and the other 4 spread out and didn’t move or attempt to pick for anyone. It was a bad choice by Dan Hurley.

Other than Bouknight putting on his cape the offense in general was putrid.

 

[Captbluefin]

Upperclassman loyalty may work at Wagner or RI. But Hurley needs to seriously tune AG and CV up or park them.

I really like Hurley and have faith in him leading us BUT he has to nip AG and CV in the bud.

Last night was lost by poor decisions on who to have on the floor as much as the hero ball.

I care less about being loyal or what not or teaching lessons. WIN THE GAME

 

[Waquoit]

I don't think AG or CV are cancerous players. They probably think they are helping their team playing like that, and Hurley has to rein them in. Sometimes a coach has to give a yellow light to players, and I think it is time for the long pullup jumpers to be removed from AG and CV's arsenal.

It might be easier if they were cancers. But we have 2 losses because they can't shoot yet continued to jack 'em up. After awhile, the effect is the same.

 

[browndog319]

Disclaimer, I didn’t get to see the game

but do we know that just because the ball was in his hands at some point, he was the one asked to take the shot? How do we know he didn’t just buck the plan and do what he thought would work? Obviously he’s been terribly inefficient, but he’s supposed to be our distributor...

We know because Dan Hurley in a press conference said that’s who you want to have the ball in that situation

 

[Kitaman]

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

Bouk is a freshman and is forgiven. I actually expect many more mistakes to be made, but for him its allowed or better yet tolerated. Its the upperclassmen that are driving us crazy.