Creighton post game thread

[freescooter]

Huge win. It’s possible it saved the season, too. They were looking at possibly losing 3 of 5 and 2 straight. Then if there is a wtf loss to Villanova or Providence and the season might have really gone south. Now I think there is confidence going into St John’s.

 

[Scottobot]

so Karaban is like actually washed huh

I don’t get the negativity towards Karaban. He always plays hard, plays almost the entire game, and plays smart. He knows where he is supposed to be on defense rotations and helps run the offense. He is just struggling with his shot. Despite not being able to make any shots from outside found a way to score 11 points.

 

[Gutter King]

I don’t get the negativity towards Karaban. He always plays hard, plays almost the entire game, and plays smart. He knows where he is supposed to be on defense rotations and helps run the offense. He is just struggling with his shot. Despite not being able to make any shots from outside found a way to score 11 points.

For as much as he's given to this program, it's downright disrespectful. He is a ride or die in my mind, he deserves our loyalty and support. There's going to be a reckoning of this season where toxic UConn twitter is going to look real stupid. I'll enjoy that immensely. AK will get right, and prove the doubters wrong.

 

[superjohn]

I don’t get the negativity towards Karaban. He always plays hard, plays almost the entire game, and plays smart. He knows where he is supposed to be on defense rotations and helps run the offense. He is just struggling with his shot. Despite not being able to make any shots from outside found a way to score 11 points.

I think it stems from him being a preseason all-American, always talked about as one of the best players in the country and he hasn't been very good this season. In Big East play he's shooting 40% overall, 28% from three, and averaging 13 ppg.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[Magic32]

Even when game was close early on, they did not look good. Liam just took control, love the way he bullies the guards when he is aware of the switch. Other players weren't hitting but the team was all over the floor and hustling after going down big in first half.

 

[F101Voodoo]

Must be hard to stomach being so wrong.

Ha ha good one .Lucky on top of it…

 

[EricLA]

A couple thoughts...

Liam of course was awesome, but his 'tude was just as great. Not only feeding off the crowd's hostility, but shoving it right back in their face. I'm sure the Creighton fans hate him at this point.

Need to get Diarra healthy. Having him come off the bench and play 8 minutes won't cut it. We know Mahaney isn't the answer and I think Nowell is still out with the ankle injury?

Bottom line a great win. Liam showing that he will make a terrific pro and helping his draft status. On the flip side, I love Karaban and he basically can do whatever he wants and will still get a pass from me (not that he cares), but IMHO he continues to hurt his draft prospects. A slow 6'8" wing who can't seem to find the bottom of the basket - makes you wonder if he should have gone pro last season. Still plenty of time for him to fix whatever is going on with him, but time is running out...

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Liam is the best freshman we've had in our program since last season.

From a pure talent and NBA prospective that might be true however Liam is the first offensive option not the 5 th and much more critical to this teams success .

 

[Tmac4468]

A couple thoughts...

Liam of course was awesome, but his 'tude was just as great. Not only feeding off the crowd's hostility, but shoving it right back in their face. I'm sure the Creighton fans hate him at this point.

Need to get Diarra healthy. Having him come off the bench and play 8 minutes won't cut it. We know Mahaney isn't the answer and I think Nowell is still out with the ankle injury?

Bottom line a great win. Liam showing that he will make a terrific pro and helping his draft status. On the flip side, I love Karaban and he basically can do whatever he wants and will still get a pass from me (not that he cares), but IMHO he continues to hurt his draft prospects. A slow 6'8" wing who can't seem to find the bottom of the basket - makes you wonder if he should have gone pro last season. Still plenty of time for him to fix whatever is going on with him, but time is running out...

Which is it?

 

[WlfdHusky]

Sports psychologist. I am not trying to be mean or funny-I am being serious. He is clearly is in his own head. It makes me sad to see it in real time.

My thought is his vision is messed up from the concussion he had a while ago. Like his depth of field perception is off. He is missing free throws. Not just 3's.

 

[Scottobot]

A couple thoughts...

Liam of course was awesome, but his 'tude was just as great. Not only feeding off the crowd's hostility, but shoving it right back in their face. I'm sure the Creighton fans hate him at this point.

Need to get Diarra healthy. Having him come off the bench and play 8 minutes won't cut it. We know Mahaney isn't the answer and I think Nowell is still out with the ankle injury?

Bottom line a great win. Liam showing that he will make a terrific pro and helping his draft status. On the flip side, I love Karaban and he basically can do whatever he wants and will still get a pass from me (not that he cares), but IMHO he continues to hurt his draft prospects. A slow 6'8" wing who can't seem to find the bottom of the basket - makes you wonder if he should have gone pro last season. Still plenty of time for him to fix whatever is going on with him, but time is running out...

Regarding the PG, Diarra looks like he needs a while off, and Nowell is always hurt, so I think we are going to have to rely on Mahaney to play some minutes for better or worse. Hopefully he can improve.

 

[Gutter King]

Regarding the PG, Diarra looks like he needs a while off, and Nowell is always hurt, so I think we are going to have to rely on Mahaney to play some minutes for better or worse. Hopefully he can improve.

It's now or never. He'll be getting a lot of practice time. He simply needs the confidence to pass with anticipation within our offense and be competent handling the ball. Fortunately, Liam makes everyone better and his mismatch should open things up.

I doubt Liam will be a great PG options vs a team like St. Johns, but vs teams that don't pressure a ton he'll get decent run in those games to alleviate Diarra.

 

[AllHusky]

It's now or never. He'll be getting a lot of practice time. He simply needs the confidence to pass with anticipation within our offense and be competent handling the ball. Fortunately, Liam makes everyone better and his mismatch should open things up.

I doubt Liam will be a great PG options vs a team like St. Johns, but vs teams that don't pressure a ton he'll get decent run in those games to alleviate Diarra.

I bet if Liam is the point against St Johns they foul the heck out of him. He's not going to allow himself to be pickpocketed.

Also the point made about a 6'7 PG is well taken. Pressure McNeeley and he can probably see over the D for help.

 

[Gutter King]

I bet if Liam is the point against St Johns they foul the heck out of him. He's not going to allow himself to be pickpocketed.

Also the point made about a 6'7 PG is well taken. Pressure McNeeley and he can probably see over the D for help.

I think if you gave McNeeley weeks to prepare, I think what you say could be correct. He is capable and has immense IQ, so I wouldn't bet against him. I just fear we don't have enough time to develop it. I am sure we'll try it early every game, so I am ready to be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Palatine]

Plus Ashworth was not the usual Ashworth - thank you for that.

McNeekey put the clamps on him.

 

[HooperScooper]

Karaban has not been right since the concussion.

I believe that’s a big part of it.

Could be why he is struggling but that's not true that he hasn't been right since the Dayton game. He had big games against Texas (first game back after the concussion), Xavier, Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, and Butler again. How do you explain that?

People keep looking for reasons why he is struggling. Sometimes it just happens and then you need to get yourself out of it. The best players, especially hitting in baseball, go through slumps. I'm confident Karaban will work himself out of his funk.

 

[Captbluefin]

Ashworth could not handle the size defending him

 

[AllHusky]

The more I think about last night, the clearer it becomes that our D was great. Not flulike Kalk or bad game Ashworth

Husky flu and on him like white on rice.

Ashworth is a jitterbug out there. Tough to hang onto him, great job.

 

[El Obrero]

If UConn can just grab the 2 seed in the BE Tournament, we’d have a decent shot at seeing a Husky/Red Storm final at the Garden. Dominate that game, and this season is a big success. They’d be playing with house money in the big dance as far as I’m concerned.

 

[cp176]

Right now I think we all have a pretty good idea of what we have. A statement maker for McNeeley last night. After watching last night’s game should be hard for anyone to be very critical of Karaban. Although it’s close, he’s not making his threes. Shooters have to keep shooting. He’ll work his way out of it. His toughness last night throughout the course of the game was a big reason we won. One thing that does drive me crazy, is that neither of our centers make any sort of basketball move toward the hoop when they receive the ball at the high post. Maybe they can’t. Maybe it just isn’t part of the offensive package. No one guards them up there anymore. Makes it extra tough for anyone to get to the rim.

 

[HooperScooper]

He was 3 for 9 at one point with a couple of contested missed pull up 3's. Just because the best player has a good game doesn't mean it can't be better. UConn spent the last two years not wasting possessions. Efficiency is how teams win in March.

This is a really strange post about McNeeley last night. I can't tell if you're trolling us or not.

 

[Hunt for 7]

It's Hurley being Hurley. The fans gave it to him all night with the "F-D-H" chants, he gave it back to them. He knows how to be a lightning rod for fan & media hate, but I don't think he cares one bit. The guy wins and runs a clean program. He's earned the right to talk if he wants, even if it's not everyone's style.

Complete Jersey a bald guy calling another guy baldy. You have to love it. It is authentic if nothing else. And I agree I want a coach that other fan bases hate because he wins and is not afraid to tell people what he thinks. He is our national treasure. I don’t always agree with him but just like my wife who I rarely agree with (thank goodness she does not read my posts) but I love him as our coach.

I expected all this when he was hired especially if he got us back to relevance. The JC post game interviews were must watch. McDermott is a great coach and the sign of the cross he made when Zugic made that free throw fit him perfectly. But you are not going to get anything even mildly controversial in a post game interview.

But we have four great coaches in our league the bad (Hurley), the good ( McDermitt and Smart) and the ugly (Pitino and his surgically altered face).

Good stuff. I like the big lineup. Liam is special and we are about to go on a run. One loss maybe rest of the conference year is my prediction. 15-5 a three or four seed in BE tourney and a run to the BE final maybe even a BE tourney win and a four seed.

 

[RuffRuff]