AK wasn't awful on D. He actually moved his feet well except for the spin move the Creighton big guy did on him at the end of the game when we needed a stop. He was actually pretty good guarding Neal after being switched on him. I do agree McNeeley was awful on D.
Ok if we can't get that then definitely a Mark Sears PG or at least one that has ability to drive and create offense. I have no faith in the current PGs we have on the roster.
I wrote a long response to this post. Then deleted it. Of course I understand stereo typing is not a great way to think as it is just not something as a society we accept.
yeah sadly, and UConn might get outbid for that type of PG. I think UConn will have to use a MoneyBall approach like they have been using in the past few years.
My concern is we applied the Moneyball approach this past portal round. You just can’t miss in the portal. This portal season may be very telling as to the direction of the program, who we can retain and who we can attract. If we have high end leavers and are picking from the discount aisle, someone needs to call Yormark and cut a deal.
Which is why I initially said a real 6’ point guard in the Spears category. There are more of those players around. The trick is to find one that not only can get to the basket but also has the ability to get his shot off once he gets there because if you are always going to look to pass when you get into the teeth of the defense teams will adjust.
Those kids are there to find. Heck Neptune found Poplar last year. One think UConn can use, is a dedicated portal GM. Tom Moore cannot be wearing 2 hats.
You seem to have a lot of concern about kids leaving and UConn perhaps not being able to compete for high end transfers. Or are you just giving a glass have empty possibility? Curious if you are hearing something through the grapevine.
Enough light smoke to raise an eyebrow.
Large PGs are not ample. Plenty of 6’5” wings. We could have used Poplar. And agree on Moore.
I hope they can find a bigger PG, but a 6'4 kid would do. Adams is thin but tall, so gotta hope his height will at least help but needs to hit the weight room. I really feel like Moore should either move into the full time GM role or they need to find someone to do so. The portal is too important to not have someone totally dedicated to it (doesn't mean they can't sit on the bench during game). It's gotta be a full-time job and UConn needs to find a guy to do it. Look, this was not a great year, but it wasn't an awful one. I have said it before, and I will say it again, Hurley is introspective and will change to make the team better. I suspect he will dive head-first into the portal, and you gotta hope he will find the "right" guys. Who those are I couldn't tell you, but I trust him to figure it out.
Fair enough. Concerning to say the least. I think the 4 freshman, so long as they aren't counted on to start and contribute right away, will be good players next year and will help, and I certainly hope Solo, Stewart, and Reed are back. Obviously, there is enough smoke about Hurley making roster changes. Finding the right guys is the key. We have to trust he will do so.
Ashworth and Kalk were minimized. Didn't stop other guys on Creighton from stepping up and far exceeding their career averages. Where were our guys doing that outside Hass (whom I think actually should've shot more often until he went cold)?
Kind of how the ebbs and flows of sports works, and why it’s so hard to win year to year. Hard come down getting back into the details just after reaching the mountain top. He was lucky to have had such a set roster going into last year while also getting very lucky with Spencer who fell into his lap.
Kalk was minimized? In the 1st half, absolutely. He was a wrecking ball in the 2nd.
Was a planned strategy and McDermott chessing out there. We have two slow footed defenders at the 3 and 4, and the 2 for that matter.
Ouch. Sad but true.
Slow footed is the way to describe our main problem on both sides of the ball - yes. We look like were playing in slow motion and when it gets to a “one on one” play, we are getting smoked way to many times.
I think a few things:
It looks like two different sports. They do what we do better AND are better at everything else, with dynamic athletes all over the floor. The BE has one team at that caliber of athletes and it’s StJ and we saw what they did to us and the BE. Look at guards like Martin and Lanier - these guys are chiseled men. We talk about Solo Ball being a foundational piece next year, well hit the weight room so you aren’t pushed around like a rag doll. I really don’t care if he can sling some 3s, we need dudes that are not specialists that are 2 way that don’t get molested on the defensive end. The Solo Ball this year is not a NC caliber player. Maybe he comes back that next year after an off season in the weight room and another year of maturing.