Dayton Post Game Thread

[yungdowork]

McNeeley going 0-9 was rough because he got a lot of good looks, including at the basket, but I don't think he will have a ton of games like that.

Last year's team was able to go on so many huge runs because they got stops, this week we gave up a big bucket every time we got some momentum. When we finally forced a missed shot, we either gave up an offensive board or took a bad shot down at the other end almost every time.

I'm still holding out hope that we just got punched in the mouth vs Memphis and didn't do a good job bouncing back, but we've just gotta be harder to play against than we were in this tournament.

 

[Icehawk]

McNeeley is a freshman. It happens.

Probably tired/sore too but damn.

So many missed closeouts it was painful to watch for a third straight game. I can hit threes too if I am just totally undefended.

Where are the guys crashing the glass, so many times tonight I saw two or three Dayton players under the basket and not a single Husky. Those are fouls I can live with, especially under the current circumstances.

I haven’t given up and I sure as hell hope they haven’t either but there is serious work to be done practically everywhere. I knew this was going to be a rougher season but didn’t expect this level tbh.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

Looks like we can start dumping the Providence NCAA Tournament tickets.

 

[3rdbass]

This.

I think things can be fixed. Starts at the point with Nowell, his time is now.... earlier than anyone planned but Mahaney is a 2 Hass is a 6th man game changer. This season can be corrected but A LOT depends on the freshman.

I like to see Isaiah Abrahams get a chance to show what he can do as Jaylen Ross and Jaylin Steward aren't giving me confidence. Especially Ross who is getting more playing time than Steawart for some reason. I guess they think Ross can play D but guess what he can't.

 

[Mike Honcho]

If I hear one more UConn fan complain about the foul disparity, I am going to tap their heads to a television monitor and force them to watch our defense on a loop.

We do not have one player, save Diarra, who even approaches competence defensively.

Also, I really love when teams have point guards because when they don’t, they lose to Dayton by 500 points and finish last in Hawaiian tournaments.

To be fair, you said the same thing about not having a point guard two years ago with Tristen Newton and we went on to win consecutive titles.

 

[ec33]

The combination of not only not playing defense, but not playing defense while fouling is something to see. The defense will come around (maybe not to Hurley standards, but enough).

The fact that there is no one capable of leading this team through the offense outside of Ball is more troubling. And Ball cannot be that guy because he is the best at running off ball screens.

The team needs one of Mahaney or Nowell to figure it out.

 

[444JR]

Stewart is not inexplicably in the doghouse. He’s the worst defender on a team already struggling to play defense.

You’ve got to be kidding. He was bad defensively vs Dayton, but the whole team was bad. For whatever reason he’s got the shortest leash on the team. Getting the hook for any missed shot or mistake will give any player the jumpy yips. Coaching malpractice. Go back and watch the first half of the Memphis game. Stewart dropped an unconscious 14 and was totally in flow. Hurley then benches him for most of the 2nd half and gives him a quick hook after a missed three. Every UConn player that’s shot a 3 over the last three games has air balled at least one, Jaylin’s the only one getting hooked. In one case where Jaylin had to guard the Colorado center that torched Samson and Reed, Stewart stood him up in the post and forced a pass out. Something we hardly saw all game! It is inexplicable why he’s getting benched when the others are awful. Hurley should be pouring confidence into these guys, he’s going to need all of them.

 

[jesterman]

The sophomore class in general is just incredibly mid, the whole "Fab Five" thing was cringey from the jump. They literally look surprised when they do anything good. It's a talent deficit, that can/will be resolved by recruiting higher-ranked players and being cutthroat with roster management, if you catch my drift. We were sold this myth of being 8-10 deep and we're really like 2 or 3 deep on any given night against real competition.

 

[UCFan1513]

Anyone else a bit worried that Castle may end up being the only hit on talent evaluation from the 2023 class? It has been a pattern with Hurley that the kids he recruits are either above and beyond hits (Clingan, Jackson, Hawkins, Sanogo, Castle) or mid-major type misses (Diggins, Floyd, Gaffney)

 

[uconn_jack]

So glad I subscribed to Peacock so I can watch the game on Saturday. At least it was only $20.

 

[AdamaNation]

I don’t know how you just leave Reed Jr sitting on the bench while you’re getting absolutely demolished on the boards.

Uncontested layups
Constant fouling
Open 3s
No offense
No defense

No boards!!!!

 

[AntG168]

Anyone else a bit worried that Castle may end up being the only hit on talent evaluation from the 2023 class? It has been a pattern with Hurley that the kids he recruits are either above and beyond hits (Clingan, Jackson, Hawkins, Sanogo, Castle) or mid-major type misses (Diggins, Floyd, Gaffney)

Let’s not go over the top. He’s recruited 2 NC level teams

 

[Icehawk]

This reminds me of the 21-22 team, which was one of the most fouled teams in the nation and could not defend the perimeter to safe its life.

This is my fear too, it feels like a regression on every level to this. I hope they can overcome and reverse course and make for another positive season overall.

 

[UCFan1513]

Let’s not go over the top. He’s recruited 2 NC level teams

Totally agree there, just feel like his recruiting history has been low floor high ceiling. Fortunately more high ceilings than low floors, just worried we might have ended up with more of those low floors on this roster

 

[HuskyFich]

Enjoy Thanksgiving everyone.

Be thankful for Dan Hurley and all he has given us.

Remember it’s November.

Remember it’s a brand new team.

Remember you love Hurley as a psycho.

Remember the success Hurley’s had with lesser talent.

Eat some good food.

Watch some crap football matchups tomorrow.

Drink, and then drink some more.

 

[AntG168]

Totally agree there, just feel like his recruiting history has been low floor high ceiling. Fortunately more high ceilings than low floors, just worried we might have ended up with more of those low floors on this roster

The “talent” is fine. It’s just at the wrong positions. We have too much redundancy. We needed a versatile high level defender(castle, Jackson, Martin, Whaley) and even more glaring a point guard. The accumulation of talent on this roster doesn’t fit into a winning formula right now

 

[That Guy]

Dropped to #28 in KenPom, lowest we've been in 3 years. #7 offense, #84 defense. Ouch.

 

[3rdbass]

First goal for Johnson... do literally anything on defense without looking like you've been electrocuted at the same time.

For someone so athletic he is also very uncoordinated while catching and rebounding the ball.

 

[Mike Honcho]

The “talent” is fine. It’s just at the wrong positions. We have too much redundancy. We needed a versatile high level defender(castle, Jackson, Martin, Whaley) and even more glaring a point guard. The accumulation of talent on this roster doesn’t fit into a winning formula right now

Agree and disagree. We need to invest in Nowell and Reed. No more time for games. And the wings really need to step up their game, particularly on the defensive end.

 

[AntG168]

Agree and disagree. We need to invest in Nowell and Reed. No more time for games. And the wings really need to step up their game, particularly on the defensive end.

Definitely. It’s just not ideal to rely on a freshman pg. That couldn’t have been the plan going into the season. Were forced into it now

 

[3rdbass]

The “talent” is fine. It’s just at the wrong positions. We have too much redundancy. We needed a versatile high level defender(castle, Jackson, Martin, Whaley) and even more glaring a point guard. The accumulation of talent on this roster doesn’t fit into a winning formula right now

I'm still hoping to see Abraham as why not. LOL! I think like others that Nowell will be our PG eventually. Hurley was grooming Mahaney for that and Nowell was going to be 3rd string PG. I think it is evident that Mahaney is a SG and Diarra neeeds to be a backup PG. Hopefully Nowell can develop fast.

 

[Stagnant]

The big east in general looks like it stinks this year. UConn swept in Maui. Xavier crushed by Michigan tonight. Creighton on a losing streak.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Definitely. It’s just not ideal to rely on a freshman pg. That couldn’t have been the plan going into the season. Were forced into it now

I'm also selling Ross stock. He gambles far too much on defense and is not fundamentally sound.

 

[SwingDog]

Yes, the next two weeks will be very interesting. Things could get very ugly if they don't turn this around.

Things are already very ugly.

 

[superjohn]

Well more guys may have looked like turnstiles last year if it wasn’t for Clingan cleaning up the mess behind them.

Clingan is the best defensive player we've ever had and our most impactful player since Bazz.

He looked like the best defensive big man already in the NBA when he was starting before the injury.