Columbia Post Game Thread

[caw]

Stewart has to do more, especially with key players out. He is being handed so many opportunities but he's not contributing.

Stewart left the game averaging 8 PPG and Ross 6.7. If they can basically combine for 15 a game while Mullins is out, I'm good with that. Not sure you can expect much more with Karaban/Solo/Reed being bigger options and Demary probably being fourth.

 

[dennismenace]

He’s struggling with the physicality that low major and Ivy League teams can offer. It’s only getting tougher from here. Gotta hope these games are just what he needs to adjust by conference play.

He should be getting all the physicality he can handle from Tarris in practice, no?

 

[OLD MAN UCO]

Time for the real season. Got out hustled in parts of the second half. Good play from both new guards, like Smith for his spark potential coming off the bench. Demarys JR. will only get better the longer the season progresses. Reide and Ross are going to be valuable off the bench. The big fella should only smooth out with as the season progress, hop on his shoulders and things will go far.
Concerns with perimeter shooting until Mullins returns. Stewart is always concern as to what you get. Need a 5th stater.
THEY FOUL to much or officials seem to like blowing whistles. NO game flow.

 

[freshler40]

I go back and forth with Reed or Mullins being our most talented player. There was a top 25 that had Mullins at #12 and no Reed. I thought that was ridiculous not for where Mullins was rated but due to Reed’s abscence. In today’s game it’s tough for a 6-10 center to project without an established outside shot.

Even more true for an NBA prospect but at the college level Reed brings stability that is hard to match. He changes our posture on both ends providing options few bigs in college process. His court time is the key.

 

[Drame]

This is not exactly a hot take but they're so much better when Reed is on the floor. He's going to have to play at least 30-32 minutes in the close games against better competition. I hope he's ready for that and can stay out of foul trouble.

We dont want Reed to get run down towards the end of the year. The post season is what matters.

 

[Deepster]

Other than the big 3, I thought Silas played great. Have to admit, I'm a little worried about Malachi dribbling too much and fruitless jumping into the trees. Did that a couple times in the final minutes.

Completely agree. He needs to run our offense not dribble all over the arc. Hopefully he gets there quickly.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Only two things concerned me… the lack of focus/intensity for long stretches of the second half, and the fact that UConn (34) and Columbia (32) were essentially even on the boards. Hurley needs to address both prior to BYU.

 

[Ricker]

I'm stunned at the comments regarding Reibe. I thought a couple of his rebounds were really strong statement boards. All the centers he has played so far have been forced to take fade away 12ft jump shots rather than try and score at the rim. They have hit a bunch but nobody is going to stop those shots. He has helped and mixed it up just fine, and he has stayed out of foul trouble. Offensively he has missed a couple 5ft shots on low volume but looks good taking them and a percentage will fall. What in the world were guys expecting in the early part of the kid's freshman year? Count me in the camp that is thrilled with him.

 

[RedStickHusky]

We dont want Reed to get run down towards the end of the year. The post season is what matters.

Until you draw Florida in the second round for your early season struggles.

 

[uchusky32]

Some good things came out of this game. Ross confident shooting in the perimeter. Ball got if offensively. Reed dominated the paint. Still some things to work on. D. Ball let his guy get around him pretty easy a lot of times. Rebounding when Reed isn’t on the floor. Staying focused the whole game on D as a whole. When our guards get beat we have to rotate faster. Would love to see Salis be a little more assertive on offense. Take it to the rim looking to score.

 

[Waquoit]

The chat room was full of fans slicing their wrists. And wanting Eric Reibe slingshotted toward the sun.

You'd think they'd learn from calling Newton "a whiff in the portal". Ah, who am I kidding?

 

[Ricker]

Our issue with BYU will be Dybantsa fouling out our whole front line and the game never getting into a flow because of it. If the refs forget their whistles we are in good shape.

Watching a number of games, there are a bevy of guards out there that are driving to the rim with speed. I have been unimpressed with Demary defending drives and that will become important. I thought that was a key attribute he would bringing us.

 

[boog204]

This is not exactly a hot take but they're so much better when Reed is on the floor. He's going to have to play at least 30-32 minutes in the close games against better competition. I hope he's ready for that and can stay out of foul trouble.

But it's sooooo true. Just having his presence on the floor changes the defensive strategy and opens everything up. Reibe could well become an excellent player, but teams know they don't really need to worry about him just yet. Regarding the minutes, this should not be the "split" 5 scenario we've sorta had the last few years. We need Tarris for 30 minutes a game and have Reibe/Koroma/AK pick up the others. Tarris has more skill, athleticism, and potential than Adama (not saying that he's better than him...), and he should get the same amount of touches and attention.

Stewart has to do more, especially with key players out. He is being handed so many opportunities but he's not contributing.

I think we just have to accept who he is at this point. He's got lots of talent, and he will have games where he gives you 8-15. But despite the fact that he didn't score much, he still brings value to the table. He's a very good and willing passer, connects things offensively, and can handle enough to initiate the sets. The defensive side is still the bigger issue. For those saying Dan Hurley doesn't "run" stuff for him, he hasn't proven that he should have stuff run for him. He's the fifth option in that starting lineup as he should be. I want "stuff" run for Solo, AK, Tarris, and Silas creating first and foremost.

 

[RedStickHusky]

People talk ish in the chat room. It's a dingy basement with a pony keg and a bong where the hot takes flow like wine. Please don't ruin it by bringing those hot takes upstairs into the light. Let the chat stay where it belongs in the chat room.

 

[Deepster]

Hurley has to do more, too. Like, designing plays for him. I think the book tour was not good.

😮 😯 😲

You really think Dan Hurley, along with Luke Murray and Kimani, aren't designing plays and are out spending too much time on a book tour? Really?

 

[lateralous]

So admittedly, I was one of the ones who was concerned after watching the New Haven game. I think you have to be able to dominate buy games before you can even think of being dominant in the power 4 and the NH game just looked like more of the same from last year. Even with the sloppy second half last night, I've seen all I need to these last two games to believe these guys can be exactly what we thought they could be and I'm ready to see them against much stiffer competition.

A couple people have mentioned it already but I also think a lot of the takes on Stewart and Riebe are way too harsh. I know he only put up 3 points but Stewart is much more engaged this year. He's hitting the boards, makes nice passes, etc. Basically everything I want out of him when we have so many other scoring options. Riebe's second half wasn't great but in the first half I thought he went up really strong for several rebounds. The staff needs to work with him on when to go straight up instead of putting the ball on the floor but I have no concerns that he'll be exactly where we need him to be in short order.

Can't wait for Saturday...

 

[Vancat]

I know dan cares but it doesnt bother me having blah halves in these type of games. Ive seen how good they can be.

A crappy half matters when you are at the game and can't get into it because it's so freakin choppy.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I tuned it out after the first half for the most part. They were good, not great, but Ivy Teams aren't going to beat themselves. I'm encouraged by Silas' assist and rebound numbers. Ross hitting 3 threes was cool and then he vanished. Stewart didn't do much against a team where he probably should have advantages. The big three scorers were as expected, major bright spot that Solo is getting to the line. Smith not at his best. Reibe was ok, it seems the staff has him focusing on boards.

 

[navery12]

People talk ish in the chat room. It's a dingy basement with a pony keg and a bong where the hot takes flow like wine. Please don't ruin it by bringing those hot takes upstairs into the light. Let the chat stay where it belongs in the chat room.

I couldn't disagree more, every one of those losers deserves to be shamed endlessly

 

[jdb50]

We upped our 3 point makes vs Columbia which was good to see. Still getting driven by guards and Ross picking up 3 fouls in about 2 minutes was concerning. Ross can really run the court and was looking to do so. We had a couple fast breaks which is also good to see. Our rebounding concerns me especially on the defensive glass. When Reed is out we really struggle with this. A physical frontline may be a tough matchup for us unless Reibe can improve and be a good sub for when Reed needs a rest or has foul issues.

 

[ctchamps]

This is why we ease into the schedule. There isn’t going to be end to end perfection. Not concerned about the O and the D will get better. There is good speed on the floor. I am concerned about battling on the glass. My impression is we might struggle against a long athletic team. Could be wrong but that’s my worry.

I don’t believe Tarris is playing at his full potential. He’s either not fully recovered, needs more time to get into game shape, or is being somewhat cautious in a blowout.

Let’s see what he does in the BYU game before we get concerned.

Reibe is another matter. He’s still learning the speed of the college level game, learning to integrate with more experienced players, and learning UConn’s system. He has the tools. Hurley is using the easier games to help him develop. I expect Koroma to get more playing time in the BYU game before at his expense.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Our issue with BYU will be Dybantsa fouling out our whole front line and the game never getting into a flow because of it. If the refs forget their whistles we are in good shape.

Watching a number of games, there are a bevy of guards out there that are driving to the rim with speed. I have been unimpressed with Demary defending drives and that will become important. I thought that was a key attribute he would bringing us.

Maybe focus on Rob Wright and preventing Dybantsa from getting the ball?

 

[ctchamps]

With the way Ross is playing, I almost wonder if he should start over Stewart. I’ll be very interested to see if he can keep this up against better competition; tonight, he looked very confident while Stewart had one of his invisible nights

Ross is more adaptable imo. And can cover 2-4. Better to let Stewart start and bring in Ross as defense requires. In the Columbia game Ball was struggling defensively and Ross came in for him.

The first three fouls on Ross were legitimate. The final two were ridiculous. Did Refs get ticked off by Hurley? Or did they feel sorry for Columbia and decide to take out our best perimeter player?

 

[husky429]

This is not exactly a hot take but they're so much better when Reed is on the floor. He's going to have to play at least 30-32 minutes in the close games against better competition. I hope he's ready for that and can stay out of foul trouble.

Crossing my fingers. Only 3 fouls in 42 mins of play so far. I hope that means something

 

[husky429]

If a player blocks a shot and comes down with the ball, does it also count as a steal?

I call that "the drummond"