DePaul Post Game Thread

[RuffRuff]

Stew is a vastly superior offensive player. But it’s worth noting that we came back, took the lead, and extended it when Ross came in for him. Ross gives us nothing offensively but he’s a better defender and this is not the first time we’ve played better as a team with Stew on the bench. I can’t explain it. But Stew is far and away our lowest plus/minus. Its nkr an anomaly anymore.

I’ve been trying to figure it out myself - I can’t, other than he causes a level of team defense confusion that you just can’t see.

 

[RuffRuff]

He’s all ours!

 

[dalydosehoops]

UConn closes January on positive note, prepares for February gauntlet

By Connor Wilson ( @Conman_815 ) HARTFORD, Conn. — The month of January has fared in completely different directions for Dan Hurley and his ...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

 

[El Obrero]

No worries folks. In the box score this looks like we had a thirty point lead most of the way, but they just let up a little down the stretch!

 

[Waquoit]

Stewart took a knee to the lower abdomen or nuts when the Depaul player was driving, don't think it was serious

The woman in front of me was irked when I said "I think he got hit in the nuts". Hey lady, it's basketball!

 

[Waquoit]

He’s all ours!

It was an engaged fanbase. The booing was a burp, then followed by encouraging cheering. I don't boo but I think it was a wake-up call. It was a bad, sloppy stretch by the guys.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

That was just ugly in every facet. That’s 3 dreadful games in his last 4 for AK. 1/14 from the field. We’re not going anywhere with him playing like this. We lose this game against almost any other halfway decent team. That’s how bad DePaul is.

Karaban needs to start shooting more from 3 and less from the paint.

 

[3rdbass]

Well, Stew with all his numbers was still net -4. Ross was +11. It’s been very common even in Stews big box score games to be -net.

Yeah but he was giving us more on the court than Ross.

 

[storrsroars]

A moment I was impressed with that probably won't jump out at you in a highlight: Samson Johnson caught the ball outside the arc and quickly noticed his entire side of the court was empty so he dribbled at his man, spun back to his strong hand, stepped across the lane, and laid it in nicely. Can't think of another time I saw that from Samson. Great composure and low risk, high reward play

Yeah, that was surprising. In the chat I simply commented, "Well, that's new". It looked like it was repeatable.

 

[nycscooby]

A win is a win and DePaul is not helpless and exploited us being spread out on D in the first half. Great bounce back even with AK 1-14. But, I don’t think any of us can feel great about our chances against Marq and SJU.

 

[CL82]

I said 12, it was 11. View attachment 106628

 

[CTBasketball]

 

[HCCForever]

It was an engaged fanbase. The booing was a burp, then followed by encouraging cheering. I don't boo but I think it was a wake-up call. It was a bad, sloppy stretch by the guys.

I was surprised hearing the boo birds on the telecast. Fanta commented on it. At least it was short lived and nothing I would do directed at this team.

 

[AntG168]

Yeah, that was surprising. In the chat I simply commented, "Well, that's new". It looked like it was repeatable.

I can’t wait for the Reed/Reibe combo.

 

[DogMania]

A moment I was impressed with that probably won't jump out at you in a highlight: Samson Johnson caught the ball outside the arc and quickly noticed his entire side of the court was empty so he dribbled at his man, spun back to his strong hand, stepped across the lane, and laid it in nicely. Can't think of another time I saw that from Samson. Great composure and low risk, high reward play

I can't remember in which thread it was, but I commented about how our bigs are often receiving the ball around the foul line with a whole bunch of real estate between them and the basket and weren't even turning around looking to score. Seems the staff recognized that with Johnson on that play and I think Reed even looked for some offense in that soft area of the D. Still would like to see a little more of that where our bigs take one or two power dribbles towards the basket and either knock down a close mid-range shot or take it right to the basket to draw some fouls along with some And-1s. They're both capable of scoring at a solid clip inside the foul line. Just a small wrinkle to their motion offense since I think teams are defending it a little better now that they've seen it a number of times, though this year's roster doesn't seem to execute it particularly well creating good scoring opportunities like they did last year.

 

[uconnfan68]

I was surprised hearing the boo birds on the telecast. Fanta commented on it. At least it was short lived and nothing I would do directed at this team.

Maybe that woke them up. They ended up playing almost as well as they have this year on defense especially.

 

[jostar1]

 

[Edward Sargent]

Honestly I was surprised when I opened the box score this morning and saw Stew's numbers. Very quiet 15. I was also surprised by Alex's assists - very quiet.

 

[dennismenace]

That was just ugly in every facet. That’s 3 dreadful games in his last 4 for AK. 1/14 from the field. We’re not going anywhere with him playing like this. We lose this game against almost any other halfway decent team. That’s how bad DePaul is.

AK. Played 40 minutes. How about just a couple of 2-3 minutes rest? He's not a robot.

 

[RuffRuff]

I know a lot has been said about Hurley’s staff and how we have 3 head coach worthy assistants, but can someone explain to me why we don’t approach games vs opponents without a good defensive big men as “Tarris Games” and start the game with the intention of getting him 12-15 shots?

DePaul has no one on their roster that can contain him on the block.

You’d think. Was watching him yesterday and he can do a much better job making himself available as he buries himself behind defenders a lot, hasn’t seemed to have mastered the art of being available for the entry.

 

[dennismenace]

One positive is that Solo and Alex seem to be recognizing when they have a path to the hoop, not just spotting up for 3. That recognition means the D can’t close so aggressively, which helps with just a hair more room to shoot.

When we run our motion there are a lot of off ball screens that get a cutter open underneath, and we don’t see it. Get it in there, it can lead to a bucket, a foul or a kickout 3. Instead the ball stays on the perimeter and we get overplayed.

Much better D in the second half from some guys who don’t play such good D usually. I think I started to see the kind of defensive rotations that were taken for granted last year.

On to Milwaukee.

That is great to see. It proves (at least against Depaul) that they CAN do it. That said,
what they need most is motivation and that is the job of DH. Seems like there is a need to keep Reed in the game as pointed out by another above.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

In 10 years, when people look back at the early analytics era of basketball, they will laugh at how coaches thought they could only play one forward at a time.

 

[Hunt for 7]

I think Ball had his best defensive game of the year. The top take always from this game for me:

Ball is improving on defense. Actually helped and blocked a shot using that ridiculous length for his size.

Mahaney is getting better on offense which could be helpful when we are at full strength later this year.

Ross continues to have plus/minus numbers that are far superior to Stewart. The run we made in the second half Ross was on the court the whole time. I have been a Ross fan but slowly that has eroded as Stewart has become a better offensive player but numbers like plus/minus are critical. If Ross would just stop leaving his feet he could be a special defender. But I agree with most he is difficult to watch at times because he makes the most basic of mistakes.

AK, I just hope he settles in when Liam returns, because this has now gotten to the point where even a player with AK’s intellect is going to have confidence issues. At least he drew some fouls going to the hoop tonight. And his passing was a key to the win.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I don't think anyone on Earth will be happier to have Liam McNeeley back than Alex Karaban.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

It was an engaged fanbase. The booing was a burp, then followed by encouraging cheering. I don't boo but I think it was a wake-up call. It was a bad, sloppy stretch by the guys.

I don’t condone it and thought it was awkward but I completely understand it.

Booing is going to happen more and more as these young adults make more and more money through NIL & other avenues.

They are professional athletes in disguise at this point, and most are making more money than most of the people in attendance watching the game.