Creighton Post Game Thread

[RuffRuff]

"Circumstantially Decorated"

We deserve nothing good we've gotten.

He was the 5th best player on two NC teams. AK was not bringing some special ingredient to those teams. He was a role player.

 

[Marat]

I thought I would never say this but I would rather have Ross on the floor than Ball.

You are probably not the only one.

 

[ArizonaHsky]

I think you meant Ross not Reed. Understandably brain fatigue from watching that mess. I thought we were done talking about Stewart starting for Ball? What the heck, why not start both Stew and Ross. Neither Solo or Karaban showed up tonight.

Stewart does nothing out there, Ross at least is active and plays hard

 

[HW611]

"Circumstantially decorated." Did he circumstantially start the most games, make all those threes, shoot nearly 40, 50, 90?

I mean. He kind of competed with no one to get his starting spot on those teams.

Adds to the whole circumstantial point.

 

[uconngb]

So, here’s the argument for either Stewart or Reed over Solo with the starting lineup.

Solo commits his third foul and goes out with just under four minutes left in the first half - we’re down 37-34. He’s out until about 16 minutes left in the second half. Stewie and Reed cover that span in his place.

UConn outscores Creighton 21-11 with Solo on the bench. We’re winning 55-48 when he returns. He comes back in and misses two threes as Creighton immediately goes on an 11-2 run to take the lead.

I don’t know if it’s a stat that’s kept, but I’d be willing to wager if it is that Solo’s +/- for the season is the worse on the team. Cuz he is just so bad on defense. I mean SO bad. And such a below average BBIQ guy. Hate to say it but would not really bother me if he decides to look for greener pastures.

 

[buddy]

Last 5 games the opponents offensive plan is drive to the hole. Expect that the rest of the way.

Donut team. I would like to ask why on offense, Silas penetrates deep, then stops and looks to pass to anyone. If he just keeps driving, he can attempt a layup and likely get a foul, or then dish to Reed who should be right next to the basket opposite him. Never happens.

 

[superjohn]

What hasn't been beneficial to him? He is 116-25 as a UConn Husky. He's still being mocked in 1st round drafts. He has 2 national championships in which he was credited by his coach and TEAMMATES as the coach on the floor. He has the most wins in UConn history. What is this praise he gets that you say he hasn't earned? This is a weird crusade by you. You're upset a the most decorated player in the country is getting praised as such. That's a you issue man.

He's not going to be a first round pick and he hasn't lived up to the expectations heaped on him the past two seasons. I think all that over the top talk, three-peat/three in four years talk has put far too much pressure on him and Hurley giving him so much rope has hurt his game, exposed his weaknesses and not been beneficial to the team.

He won two championships at UConn, one as the 6th best player on the team and one as the 5th best player on the team. All those other guys left early because they are much better players than him and the other guys had their eligibility run out. That doesn't make AK better than any of them, he just played more games than them.

 

[RuffRuff]

Reed is not the problem.

Reed had 15 points at the half on what was 7-9 shooting. The only problem is that we abandoned him the entire second half.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Not really. Hurley and AK need to be studied. Kid's clear peak draft status was 2024, and we've run him back twice for no good reason.

He was going nowhere after 2004. AK is a real good college player. Not great but good. As a pro he will not be quick enough, a good enough shooter and nowhere near as athletic as he would need to be.

 

[KingAG]

Is he? Has the draft happened? He's two years older - compare the two drafts. You couldn't be more wrong. You think an older guy that's shown a ton of warts is going to go as high in a loaded draft that he would have two years younger with some mystery around him going in a draft where Ron Holland went 5th? Look again my friend.

It.was.the.wrong.move.

How could you possibly know if it was the wrong move, if as you say "the draft hasnt happened yet". He's made more money here than he would have in the G League. Ask Tristen how great the G League pays. He's broken records and has an opportunity to achieve something only a handful of players have accomplished and would ever be able to accomplish. Older players have actually gained more value with the new CBA.

And to top that off you have no idea whats important to him. He seems happy with his decision.

 

[Hi-Low]

Hurley said it after the Georgetown game. Says he shoudln't have played and made a gibson dragging his leg joke

Hurley said the same just now in postgame...AK is hurt but he let him play. Hurley said AK IS moving like a cargo ship so he clearly shouldn't have started. Between Ball & AK we have (at least) 2 minus defenders starting...this must change.

 

[3rdbass]

Donut team. I would like to ask why on offense, Silas penetrates deep, then stops and looks to pass to anyone. If he just keeps driving, he can attempt a layup and likely get a foul, or then dish to Reed who should be right next to the basket opposite him. Never happens.

Yep it seems like using his probe dribbles is part of the slow paced offense that Hurley likes. LOL!

 

[KingAG]

Yea I won't sit here and explain AK's importance to UConn fans.

 

[housekeys]

Karaban is shooting 48% from the field and 42% from 3 this year. He’s had some bad games and some good ones and has made a million big shots for us, as always. He’s jokingly called Captain America by some because he’s the clutchest player on the best basketball program in the country—not that difficult to comprehend. He has obvious flaws but this is a weird post considering what he’s given this program.

Our fans half jokingly say, we are spoiled and arrogant, with regards to the team. Apparently this applies equally as well to AK. We expect way too much from him and he usually delivers way more than he is expected to deliver. His record, without Clingan, Spencer, Sanogo, Castle etc, is 24-3. This with all our fans questioning the abilities of his current teammates. Well it has not been done with mirrors. It is a team game. Others must step up. Others are failing. Tonight, along with Karaban.

 

[RuffRuff]

He's not going to be a first round pick and he hasn't lived up to the expectations heaped on him the past two seasons. I think the pressure of all that over the top talk, three-peat/three in four years talk has put far too much pressure on him and Hurley giving him so much rope has hurt his game, exposed his weaknesses and not been beneficial to the team.

He won two championships at UConn, one as the 6th best player on the team and one as the 5th best player on the team. All those other guys left early because they are much better players than him and the other guys had their eligibility run out. That doesn't make AK better than any of them, he just played more games than them.

Go look at any recent mock and tell me how he goes above most of the players going in the high to middle second round. The first round is stocked. Why in the world would anyone take his profile over those players? I honestly can't see him going higher than late second, at best. He may have been toying with fringe first in 2024. Baylor friggin Scheirman went 30th in that draft. The top of the second round this year is mocking kids like Meleek Thomas, Flory Bidunga, Josh Jefferson. Karaban is not going high second. My guess is he goes in the 50's.

 

[UCan3]

Tarris has just 3 more total blocks (43) than turnovers (40). For a big, who should barely be dribbling at all. So there's that.

He sometimes plays like it’s always like a clear out play for him when he should be looking to involve some other people around him.

There were times when Braelyn was open outside where we could’ve had some inside out action. But this isolation and let’s watch the tarris show has its limit limits as we saw tonight. and it manifest itself with turnovers which at times were cringeworthy.

 

[blkknight1]

The basic problem is our perimeter guys can’t stay in front of their guys or they are getting lost on defense. This puts stress on the rest of the defense.

On offense we have no finishers

 

[RuffRuff]

You can't reason with asinine.

I've seen your posts. I imagine a pint of Jack Daniels and ash tray near your keyboard.

 

[RashadRay11]

I've seen your posts. I imagine a pint of Jack Daniels and ash tray near your keyboard.

Brother, you are a running joke on this board. But imagine me all you want!

 

[uconngb]

Is he? Has the draft happened? He's two years older - compare the two drafts. You couldn't be more wrong. You think an older guy that's shown a ton of warts is going to go as high in a loaded draft that he would have two years younger with some mystery around him going in a draft where Ron Holland went 5th? Look again my friend.

It.was.the.wrong.move.

Karaban is NOT getting drafted in the 1st round this year. I’ll bet anyone on that.

 

[HW611]

How could you possibly know if it was the wrong move, if as you say "the draft hasnt happened yet". He's made more money here than he would have in the G League. Ask Tristen how great the G League pays. He's broken records and has an opportunity to achieve something only a handful of players have accomplished and would ever be able to accomplish. Older players have actually gained more value with the new CBA.

And to top that off you have no idea whats important to him. He seems happy with his decision.

All the legendary players in UConn history and the record for most wins will belong too… Alex Karaban and Samson Johnson. Lol

Just doesn’t feel right man.

 

[RashadRay11]

All that legendary players in UConn history and the record for most wins will belong too… Alex Karaban and Samson Johnson. Lol

Just doesn’t feel right man.

You're acting like it's just wins he is near the top of. There is a whole thread of other achievements (individual as well as team) he is already the record holder for or soon to be. I encourage you to look it up!

 

[AZHuskiePop]

You gave up 91 points to Creighton
One of the worst teams in the Big East at home seriously we scored in the 80 ‘s even on an off night they should barely break 60
Karaban made an interesting comment on a player from previous team
His choice was a little surprising , Jackson , but as I though about it he not only had the ability to play defense his presence changed the defensive intensity of the team
This . team is soft , that’s a problem , talented offensively but soft none the less
Someone had to step up to demonstrate you can play in another gear

 

[superjohn]

Is that all it takes to be a 2nd round pick? For some reason I thought you had to be good.

He is good, a great role player. He just happened to be playing with a bunch of guys who are significantly better than him.

 

[3rdbass]

Karaban is NOT getting drafted in the 1st round this year. I’ll bet anyone on that.

I don't think any objective, knowledgeable fan thinks Karaban is a first round pick. He is top of the 2nd round but probably mid 2nd round pick at best. Though to say he brings nothing special to the team is just trying to put him down. He does give us good length inside at the 4 and can make key outside shots. When he becomes to the go to guy is where the problem starts. Demary and Mullins need to be the go to guys on this side and Karaban the 4th or 5th option. If Karaban is really injured then I can totally understand why he looked so slow out there today.

 

[TUCBTUD]

Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary Jr.:

 

[RuffRuff]

Brother, you are a running joke on this board. But imagine me all you want!

I'd rather not.

 

[Fishy]

Where Alex is or isn't drafted has absolutely no bearing on what he's meant to UConn.

It doesn't matter.

 

[RuffRuff]

You're acting like it's just wins he is near the top of. There is a whole thread of other achievements (individual as well as team) he is already the record holder for or soon to be. I encourage you to look it up!

The Rafael Palmeiro of Uconn. And I'm a big fan of the kid, just not sure him as a prospect was managed appropriately.

 

[CTBasketball]

1. Start Ross (I can’t believe I’m saying this) or Stewart (hasn’t earned it). Bring Ball off the bench for a shooting lift. We can’t live with his defense and him/Mullins shooting 30 3’s a game kills any offensive flow. Having a bigger 3 thru 5 makes it harder to finish at the rim. We can’t live with Mullins and Ball’s poor on ball defense against the dribble drive.

2. Reed is gassed at the end of games. Calhoun was right, we need more Reibe not only to benefit Reibe, but to save Reed’s legs.

We played our best basketball with Mullins being out or on a minutes restriction. Make that make sense.