Creighton Post Game Thoughts

[Huskymagic]

We all knew this game would be very difficult for us to win particularly after Creighton lost their last game.

This was a subpar game from mostly everyone on the team. Cole and Sanogo had a few good moments but no one had a great game on this team. Our talent level is not where it needs to be without Bouk and AJacks. That makes a big difference. RJ Cole is not a point guard. He can be useful as an off ball shooter. You won't win at this level with him leading the team.

Martin needs to be able to do what Mahoney and Jefferson do for Creighton and he doesn't. That hurts us big time.

Polley should be starting every game, and BAdams should be 6th man off the bench right now. Adams is a bench player. You can't win with him playing 30 minutes a game. I would start the game feeding Polley in the post. He needs to start the game by getting an easy bucket from the paint to open things up for himself and make the defense sag off him a bit. They are guarding him tightly knowing that we don't have many good offensive options right now.

They need to work on point guard penetrating and either creating a shot for themselves or dishing to the post or the perimeter. Guys have to also be ready to shoot.
We play a 5 man weave on offense most times and it is so easy to defend and so predictable. Team speed is average at best and gets exposed against teams like the Johnnies and Creighton.

PS: The paternalistic way that Hurley is treated by guys like McDermott is not a good look. No respect there. That needs to change.

 

[husky429]

PS: The paternalistic way that Hurley is treated by guys like McDermott is not a good look. No respect there. That needs to change.

In what way did McDermott act paternalistically towards Hurley? Did they even speak?

 

[bendm]

I would start the game feeding Polley in the post. He needs to start the game by getting an easy bucket from the paint.

easier said than done

 

[Rewster]

PS: The paternalistic way that Hurley is treated by guys like McDermott is not a good look. No respect there. That needs to change


McDermott is taller than him.
Its not his fault when he puts his arms around him that Hurley looks like his son.

 

[coachn]

Polley dribbling with his head down in the outside weave near mid-court is the stupedist thing . He also is getting beat on the drive on D.
He's a good spot up shooter at best.
Mc D intimidated the refs big time today.
What was that T on Hurley? Mask?

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Is Polley’s vision ok? Certainly seems like his depth perception is off since the eye injury

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Polley dribbling with his head down in the outside weave near mid-court is the stupedist thing . He also is getting beat on the drive on D.
He's a good spot up shooter at best.
Mc D intimidated the refs big time today.
What was that T on Hurley? Mask?

The ref told him to get off the court, Hurley yelled “what about him!?” And gestured to McDermott. Ref yelled back “I’m just talking about you!” Hurley steps back and has a cordial exchange with other nearby ref. Initial ref Ts him up. I’m guessing Hurley said some thing to the effect of “what the kcuf is his problem?” To the nearby ref. Creighton got away with travels and pushes and all the stuff they usually do

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

This is unacceptable... wtf?

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

We all knew this game would be very difficult for us to win particularly after Creighton lost their last game.

This was a subpar game from mostly everyone on the team. Cole and Sanogo had a few good moments but no one had a great game on this team. Our talent level is not where it needs to be without Bouk and AJacks. That makes a big difference. RJ Cole is not a point guard. He can be useful as an off ball shooter. You won't win at this level with him leading the team.

Martin needs to be able to do what Mahoney and Jefferson do for Creighton and he doesn't. That hurts us big time.

Polley should be starting every game, and BAdams should be 6th man off the bench right now. Adams is a bench player. You can't win with him playing 30 minutes a game. I would start the game feeding Polley in the post. He needs to start the game by getting an easy bucket from the paint to open things up for himself and make the defense sag off him a bit. They are guarding him tightly knowing that we don't have many good offensive options right now.

They need to work on point guard penetrating and either creating a shot for themselves or dishing to the post or the perimeter. Guys have to also be ready to shoot.
We play a 5 man weave on offense most times and it is so easy to defend and so predictable. Team speed is average at best and gets exposed against teams like the Johnnies and Creighton.

PS: The paternalistic way that Hurley is treated by guys like McDermott is not a good look. No respect there. That needs to change.

I agree on the Martin/Mahoney comp. No reason Tyrese can’t be doing the stuff Mahoney does

 

[Huskymagic]

PS: The paternalistic way that Hurley is treated by guys like McDermott is not a good look. No respect there. That needs to change


McDermott is taller than him.
Its not his fault when he puts his arms around him that Hurley looks like his son.

You think McDermott would do that to Jim Calhoun. No, he wouldn't. Hurley is getting dissed by him without even knowing it. He's got a long way to go if we want to reach the pinnacle again.

Polley needs to be played like DeAndre Daniels. He needs to be starting and play him in the post early to open to get an easy bucket and make teams adjust to how they guard him and the team. The whole bring him in with 14 minutes to go in the half is getting old and played out. Teams have already scouted that and we don't have that luxury to do that without Bouk. We are way too predictable right now.

 

[Tampahusky]

All of Huskies 3 losses they had lost themselves and had a chance to win. They played hard and missed about 10 makeable layups. Love the effort and it’s just growing pains. They were a better team even with Bouknight out.

 

[jdb50]

Agree that starting Adams over Polley has to change. Having a better plan on offense is also a priority. Who are we fooling by starting Adams?

 

[coachn]

The ref told him to get off the court, Hurley yelled “what about him!?” And gestured to McDermott. Ref yelled back “I’m just talking about you!” Hurley steps back and has a cordial exchange with other nearby ref. Initial ref Ts him up. I’m guessing Hurley said some thing to the effect of “what the kcuf is his problem?” To the nearby ref. Creighton got away with travels and pushes and all the stuff they usually do

Thanks Dream Agree with you about the officiating.

 

[Umami Zen]

Where is our consistent senior leadership?? And BA.?? This is a young team without senior leadership..Time to "man" up.

 

[Palatine]

We all knew this game would be very difficult for us to win particularly after Creighton lost their last game.

This was a subpar game from mostly everyone on the team. Cole and Sanogo had a few good moments but no one had a great game on this team. Our talent level is not where it needs to be without Bouk and AJacks. That makes a big difference. RJ Cole is not a point guard. He can be useful as an off ball shooter. You won't win at this level with him leading the team.

Martin needs to be able to do what Mahoney and Jefferson do for Creighton and he doesn't. That hurts us big time.

Polley should be starting every game, and BAdams should be 6th man off the bench right now. Adams is a bench player. You can't win with him playing 30 minutes a game. I would start the game feeding Polley in the post. He needs to start the game by getting an easy bucket from the paint to open things up for himself and make the defense sag off him a bit. They are guarding him tightly knowing that we don't have many good offensive options right now.

They need to work on point guard penetrating and either creating a shot for themselves or dishing to the post or the perimeter. Guys have to also be ready to shoot.
We play a 5 man weave on offense most times and it is so easy to defend and so predictable. Team speed is average at best and gets exposed against teams like the Johnnies and Creighton.

PS: The paternalistic way that Hurley is treated by guys like McDermott is not a good look. No respect there. That needs to change.

This is a pretty good review. There were way too many passengers on offense today. Whaley was 4-13, Adams 2-9, Polley 0-4, Gaffney 2-6. These players have to figure out how to get on the scoreboard.

I agree on Polley. I don't know what we ran for him today because none of resulted in a clean look. But the kid has way to much offensive talent to have him taken totally away so easily. We need to get looks for him in the mid-range as well as inside.

Of course when you allow the opponent to shot 50%. Your odds of winning are pretty slim.

 

[HuskyFich]

This is unacceptable... ?

View attachment 63865

That’s alarming.
Zero complimentary stats 2 games in a row.

also, an aside, really thought Hurley coached a good game today. Good TOs, subs, and PT. We didn’t have many good set plays today...yet no one made shots. Hung around much closer than I anticipated.

 

[Improviser]

You think McDermott would do that to Jim Calhoun. No, he wouldn't. Hurley is getting dissed by him without even knowing it. He's got a long way to go if we want to reach the pinnacle again.

Polley needs to be played like DeAndre Daniels. He needs to be starting and play him in the post early to open to get an easy bucket and make teams adjust to how they guard him and the team. The whole bring him in with 14 minutes to go in the half is getting old and played out. Teams have already scouted that and we don't have that luxury to do that without Bouk. We are way too predictable right now.

Not sure Polley has any post moves. I have not seen any. Olander actually did have post moves when Calhoun would start him and feed him the ball. Of course, there was a better supporting cast.

If Polley would move better without the ball, and try to cut towards the basket to catch a pass for a 2 quick pointer, that might be interesting to change up and vary his game. Not sure if he could do it.

Any new looks might work. Just haven't ever seen Polley in a post up situation. Not sure if he has the footwork. Sanogo certainly does, but even there, he had a few travels that experience may reduce.

 

[tcf15]

That’s alarming.
Zero complimentary stats 2 games in a row.

That’s really what Polley has been for his entire career at UConn. Great shooter, but doesn’t do anything else really well. To put it in perspective, he has 180 career rebounds. Christian Vital had 185 in his junior year and 195 in his senior year.

 

[Improviser]

This is unacceptable... ?

View attachment 63865

I don't remember the rebound. Was it on offense?

 

[2Infinity]

Does anyone know why we aren't using the pick 'n' roll? There were several opportunities today where the screener became wide open and could have rolled to the basket virtually uncontested. Why aren't we exploiting this?

 

[UKemba15]

That’s really what Polley has been for his entire career at UConn. Great shooter, but doesn’t do anything else really well. To put it in perspective, he has 180 career rebounds. Christian Vital had 185 in his junior year and 195 in his senior year.

Man I miss the swagger that CV brought to every game. He should come to a practice and get in these guys’ ears, amp em up a bit and get em to act like winners on the court.

 

[Huskymagic]

Not sure Polley has any post moves. I have not seen any. Olander actually did have post moves when Calhoun would start him and feed him the ball. Of course, there was a better supporting cast.

If Polley would move better without the ball, and try to cut towards the basket to catch a pass for a 2 quick pointer, that might be interesting to change up and vary his game. Not sure if he could do it.

Any new looks might work. Just haven't ever seen Polley in a post up situation. Not sure if he has the footwork. Sanogo certainly does, but even there, he had a few travels that experience may reduce.

Polley can definitely post up it’s a mindset and a decision. He needs to play like he did against Tulane, Marquette etc.

Right now we are trying to play him like Kyle Korver but that doesn’t work when he is the main scoring threat and the opposing team is glued in on him because they don’t worry about any other UCONN player.

Have him start games and start his work in the post and the midrange. Once Bouk return then he can play Dagger Trey Ty again.

 

[cohenzone]

Polley is probably affected more than any other player by Bouknight’s absence. The openings are fewer for him, more focus on him and none of the others draws attention the way JB does.

 

[Improviser]

Polley is probably affected more than any other player by Bouknight’s absence. The openings are fewer for him, more focus on him and none of the others draws attention the way JB does.

True, but since Carlton stands outside for ball handoffs to the guards, why doesn't he try to set some screens for Polley?

 

[RichZ]

Does anyone know why we aren't using the pick 'n' roll? There were several opportunities today where the screener became wide open and could have rolled to the basket virtually uncontested. Why aren't we exploiting this?

Jalen remembers how.