Could double bigs help UConn defense?

[Scottobot]

I know historically Hurley hasn’t played a 2 big lineup but I think it’s worth a shot. Reed and Johnson are 2 of our top 5 players wnile McNeeley is out. Reed really helps with the rebounding which is a big problem for UConn, and Samson is a great shot blocker. We have absolutely been cooked by players driving to rim, and having 2 shot blockers or 3 with Karaban in too could shut that down.

I will probably get laughed at with this next comment, but I think Samson can probably guard perimeter players better than everyone else on the team other than Diarra. I think the UConn coaches could figure out some sets to run with 2 bigs.

If this leads to foul trouble Singare has shown he is a solid backup. I think it would be interesting to run that lineup for 5 minutes a night and collect data and see what the metrics say about that lineup.

 

[jibsey]

I know historically Hurley hasn’t played a 2 big lineup but I think it’s worth a shot. Reed and Johnson are 2 of our top 5 players wnile McNeeley is out. Reed really helps with the rebounding which is a big problem for UConn, and Samson is a great shot blocker. We have absolutely been cooked by players driving to rim, and having 2 shot blockers or 3 with Karaban in too could shut that down.

I will probably get laughed at with this next comment, but I think Samson can probably guard perimeter players better than everyone else on the team other than Diarra. I think the UConn coaches could figure out some sets to run with 2 bigs.

If this leads to foul trouble Singare has shown he is a solid backup. I think it would be interesting to run that lineup for 5 minutes a night and collect data and see what the metrics say about that lineup.

I would like to see it because we need rebounding help and I know Samson hasn’t been great in the past but he’s coming on. Yes let’s try it but fouls?

 

[ColchVEGAS]

The offense is struggling enough right now. I see that being a 5 minute test that does not give our offense the spacing it requires to perform at its best.

 

[QDOG5]

Not with the two bigs we currently have playing now. Defensively it might be okay but offensively it wouldn’t work. Neither score outside of 8 feet so teams would just play off the big that is on the perimeter. We are missing a power forward. We need a 6’9”, 6’10” guy who can play inside outside. Can someone get to work cloning Donyell Marshall.

 

[ucp990411]

Not with the two bigs we currently have playing now. Defensively it might be okay but offensively it wouldn’t work. Neither score outside of 8 feet so teams would just play off the big that is on the perimeter. We are missing a power forward. We need a 6’9”, 6’10” who can play inside outside. Can someone get to work cloning Donyell Marshall.

Johnnie time!!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

We should definitely play some 2 bigs lineups.

 

[mauconnfan]

I would like to see it because we need rebounding help and I know Samson hasn’t been great in the past but he’s coming on. Yes let’s try it but fouls?

Well if we need rebounding help then no because Samson Johnson is still awful there. And foul trouble? Yikes one would have to go out on the perimeter a lot more and we’d be worst on D. And they won’t guard either outside of 10ft so NO, let’s not play them together, ever!

 

[AllHusky]

Double bigs??! Did I hear double bigs?? Sign me up for 2 helpings a game.

I think the kids would respond well.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

They foul too much. We would be down to zero big INSIDE the first time out.

 

[AllHusky]

They foul too much. We would be down to zero big INSIDE the first time out.

Singare to the rescue??

 

[JohnFSilver]

Man. Internet loves 1980s basketball. The double bigs kills offensive spacing, and who does the PF guard? It might work in limited situations, but why would you make Samson Johnson chase after a perimeter player? You eliminate a shooter, passer and scorer for what again?

 

[auror]

Entirely matchup dependent. It works against teams that play 2 bigs themselves and who focus on driving the basketball and rebounding (like Baylor).

If Xavier plays Hunter and Freemantle together as they did at some points vs. St. John's, I could see it, sure.

The problem is often who does Karaban guard if you're sliding him to the 3. He doesn't come out of games very much. But Xavier does play some Swain/Hunter/Freemantle lineups, so that would be fine.

 

[dogpause]

I think it needs to be a wweapon in our arsenal. If there's one glaring weakness I see being exploited by other teams, it's our lack of muscle under the basket. Players are driving on the ball to the hoop on so many occasions. It seems like the universal strategy for playing against UConn.

I think the fouling has gotten better, enough that we can play Sampson and Reed together at some point in the second hald of most games.

 

[ucp990411]

We should definitely play some 2 bigs lineups.

So we would have 2 players on the court who don’t have to be guarded more than 5 feet from the basket. That would really create lots of scoring opportunities for Solo and Alex! Geez, we do have some brilliant basketball minds here.

 

[CTBasketball]

I know it’s probably too late in the season to get him minutes, but I’d love to see Singare get some run. He held his own each time he’s been inserted this year. Especially vs. Gonzaga.

Can’t do double bigs with an unseasoned center as the only big on your bench.

 

[JesusAllen11]

With our centers foul habits. Danny would have to use the full roster to make it work. Meaning Some Abraham mins. Im not sure itll work , but im not against trying it.

 

[tennmike]

I would rather see Sampson or Reed with Abraham, Karaban, Ball, Diarra.

Abraham is athletic enough to rebound and perhaps he becomes the defensive stopper that was envisioned for Ross. I sense he has better instincts than Ross [less gambling and getting burned].

 

[Chin Diesel]

A double big puts one of Johnson or Reed away from the rim even more and they've both shown to be poor perimeter defenders. And then who do you backfill their minutes when one, or both, get in foul trouble??

 

[uchusky32]

They just have gotten to the point where both aren't in foul trouble before the half. And now we want to play them together in the time when the game is played by talking 3s and layups? Samson Johnson in the corner on offense?

 

[StllH8L8ner]

I’d go triple bigs with Singare just to be safe.

 

[jibsey]

They just have gotten to the point where both aren't in foul trouble before the half. And now we want to play them together in the time when the game is played by talking 3s and layups? Samson Johnson in the corner on offense?

We are losing games on the glass. The very minimum is having Reed make up for some of that.

 

[mauconnfan]

Entirely matchup dependent. It works against teams that play 2 bigs themselves and who focus on driving the basketball and rebounding (like Baylor).

If Xavier plays Hunter and Freemantle together as they did at some points vs. St. John's, I could see it, sure.

The problem is often who does Karaban guard if you're sliding him to the 3. He doesn't come out of games very much. But Xavier does play some Swain/Hunter/Freemantle lineups, so that would be fine.

Hunter and Freemantle are both 4s and bad match ups no matter. Hunter shoots 46% from 3 and although Freemantle is 29% he can put it on the floor a little. No shot of our 2 bigs on the court with these guys from what I can see. Neither of those guys are even a big per se do if anything we may see more Karaban as our big with a small lineup on occasion.

 

[Scottobot]

A double big puts one of Johnson or Reed away from the rim even more and they've both shown to be poor perimeter defenders. And then who do you backfill their minutes when one, or both, get in foul trouble??

Samson seems to be able to cover a lot of ground. On that high hedge he gets all the way from 3 point line back to bucket really fast with his long strides. If someone drives past him I think he can block the shot from behind. I think he could guard the 4 or the 3 pretty well.