Colorado Post Game Thread

[deedougie]

UConn sucks right now. Colorado is a poor team we had no reason to lose to. Hopefully they can become a good team. But right now its not a good team. Too many fouls. Soft defense. No leadership. And an inefficient offense. Hurley has his work cut out to even make this a tournament worthy team.

 

[Jmark212]

How about be better than freaking Colorado, and then the game isn't in the refs hands. Michigan State didn't have an issue there

Oh this is not a good team by any measure. But to suggest the refs did not cost us 1 or both of these games is shortsighted by awful over the back / no over the back calls.

 

[Scoe]

This is a rebuilding year.

 

[NCHuskie919]

Simply put, it's time to manage expectations.

 

[Chuck]

Hurley is never going to get the benefit of calls. He's made sure that 50/50 calls will go against us every time. He needs to change that.

That said, this team is in trouble defensively. They are so slow. Coach is going to have to change his tactics to adapt. We're too slow to hedge and run around screens. It leaves open shots or easy cuts to the basket (which results in fouls).

These won't be bad losses, but they aren't great losses either. Memphis usually collapses at the end of the year, and Colorado will probably be a bottom third Big 12 team.

 

[444JR]

The best game of Solo Ball’s career. He’s scored double digits in every game this season.

I’m still not confident about our backcourt, but the picture is clearer. Solo Ball gets 25-30 minutes and then figure out the rest of the rotation. Nowell's five assists and zero turnovers opened my eyes too...ready to move forward with Ball, Diarra and Nowell as the top-three guards.

Unfortunately Solo Ball get so lost on defense. Simply does not have a great feel for defensive rotations. It’s an issue with the entire team though. Hopefully improves with more reps and game time.

 

[Candyman]

Just not a good team. Seen this coming a mile away. Poor constructed roster. No one can create their own shots. When Diarra takes your last two shots of the game you know your team is in trouble. As good as he was he should be driving with game on line into traffic. Then we have no good play set up at end.

Defense is the worst it’s been in years. Like years. A mediocre Colorado team scored at will.

 

[REB1094]

We’re lucky that Colorado missed 10 of their 28 free throws, otherwise that could have been even uglier

The good -

• What a first half from McNeeley, 16 points and 4-5 from three. Need to calm down with those passes down the stretch though
• Solo Ball is a bucket. Him slashing needs to be a key feature of our offense
• I thought Nowell gave amazing first half minutes

The bad (limiting myself to 3) -

• Aidan Mahaney does not understand the offense yet, and it kills us
• Our defensive rotations are HORRIBLE. I can see the wide open shot we are going to give up 3-5 seconds before it happens
• Alex Karaban was 1-9 and 1-7 from three. The on-court leadership is great but we need 15+ from him every night

It can’t get worse, right? I need a 20 point destruction of Dayton tomorrow. As always, let’s go Huskies!

 

[Palatine]

I'm ready to watch this lineup shrink to 8 players.

Samson gets very few minutes, and Ross gets basically none.

Starters: Reed, Karaban, McNeeley, Ball and Nowell.

Main bench players: Diarra and Stewart.

Sports minutes: Samson and Mahaney (Calcaterra minutes).

Ross and Singare for garbage time, if there ever is any garbage time.

Live or die with Nowell at this point.

Did you watch the game. We were much more effective with Johnson in the game. Reed was basically a no-show.

 

[blkknight1]

Over reliance on 3s and general softness.

Was yelling stop taking the 3s and drive the damn ball out pressure on the other team to foul you for a change.

 

[DawgEnjoyer]

A clingan sized hole at Center

Remember when Sampson was a guy who we could “see his name on the wall” one day

 

[jibsey]

We did not go inside to Reed today, why?

 

[freshler40]

Bad defense does us in again

We got beat off the dribble repeatedly and failed to double team inside except in the final minute.

 

[deedougie]

Half glass full take - Emerged from this game is Nowell.
He played with confidence, the poise, the assists and the drive thru the lane with scoring ability and more importantly stout defense. Hurley needs to roll the dice and use Nowell ahead of Mahaney going foward.

Nowell should play more minutes. Mahaney should warm the bench.

 

[IndyLives]

Perimeter defense a HUGE problem. The guards are not big, fast, athletic enough. Giving up 50%+ 3-point & FG% is unacceptable. Not going to win tough games like that. We were spoiled the last 2 years with our dominant guard play.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

McNeeley 1 rebound, Solo 2 rebounds, Samson 1 rebound. What a joke. Nowell is 6’ and outrebounded them in a fraction of the time.

 

[BugsyCT]

Welp,........

Looks like Hurley's got his work cut out for him with this group if we're gonna get that three-peat.

 

[JMick]

The games this tournament have basically been unwatchable between the poor defense and poor officiating. It's tough when you're not playing your best and you also can't catch a break.

I think Nowell has a lot of potential and overall the team will get better, but I think expectations need to be tempered a bit for this season. We have a lot of talent but not in all the places it needs to be.

 

[Scoe]

UConn football has more quality wins.

 

[Zionn]

We should have had a few more cupcakes to open the season.

 

[Staven]

Woulda coulda shoulda, they aren’t last years team or the year before. They clearly need to play better meaning less fouls, better defense defending the perimeter, etc. This team needs to find their identity and I’m confident at some point they will. Keep the faith

 

[Mike Honcho]

The best game of Solo Ball’s career. He’s scored double digits in every game this season.

I’m still not confident about our backcourt, but the picture is clearer. Solo Ball gets 25-30 minutes and then figure out the rest of the rotation. Nowell's five assists and zero turnovers opened my eyes too...ready to move forward with Ball, Diarra and Nowell as the top-three guards.

I still think he settles far too much for the three ball. He had a couple strong drives to the hoop -- he needs to continue to utilize his athleticism to put pressure on the defense. And yea, it's clear that Nowell has a bright future as a Husky.

 

[HuskyFich]

There’s a lot to be concerned about, mainly at Center. god Samson is just not playing well, a bird who doesn’t know how to fly rn.

Other than that, the sophomore growing pains of solo/stew/ross watching the ball on D instead of staying in arms length of their man is KILLING us on these open 3s. It’s totally unacceptable and glaringly apparent if you’re looking for it.

We don’t have an on the ball playmaker, and it shows. Very raw, very physical, out of control, and rushing.

Expected, but the talent should have swept the floor today on talent alone.

Just gross

 

[Dooch]

Is it time we accept that we simply lost way too much talent from last year's team to be able to challenge for a three peat? I don't know what to think right now...

Bingo - 4 guys off to the NBA, and outside of Karaban, young and inexperienced. I suspect we will look much better in Jan/Feb....

 

[SwingDog]

We say it all the time: teams are going to give us their best shot. We have big targets on our backs.