Did anybody notice the long leash Drummond has

[SaeHusky]

Love Drummond but if that was AO turning over the ball like crazy in the 1st half he would of been on the bench right away. That must be frustrating for AO

 

[TopDog18]

Completely agree. Has to be very frustrating for AO. He knows if he had made one of those passes he would have been sent directly to the bench

 

[mauconnfan]

He has a lot to learn but he did turn it over with some ugly passes. But the fact is he had 12 or 13 boards too.....does ao have that many yet this year? By the way he was yanked a couple of times too....nice that he has the ability to pass also.

 

[SaeHusky]

It took alot for him to get yanked. AO breathes on a guy and he gets pulled

 

[HuskyFan32]

Would it make any sense to play Alex at the 5 and Andre at the 4? Alex clearly cant play the 4, but he is effective playing the 5 and he does have some low post back to the basket moves that Andre doesnt have yet, and since Andre's entire offense is basically alley oops and dunks, would that translate to the 4? I think hed have a tough time defending there, but he could catch and pass out of the high post and still run the break at the 4. Weve gotten nothing from the 4 spot basically other than sporadic play from Olander. Cant hurt to try right??

 

[mauconnfan]

AO is getting yanked because he's not boxing out, rebounding and playing good defense not because he's breathing on anyone. Does AD deserve a longer leash - maybe not but he does command a lot more respect from the other teams defense that's for sure.

 

[jibsey]

We have Drummond for one season supposedly, and he needs as much floor time as we can give him. Rather see him make mistakes early in the season. It's a painful process for these freshman and sophomores but I think we will be OK. As far as who plays 4 or 5, to me that's not the issue because we don't value the rock. how many turnovers in the last 2 games?

 

[champs99and04]

Alex 2 for 2 on field goals tonight. Maybe he needs more touches?

 

[mauconnfan]

Alex 2 for 2 on field goals tonight. Maybe he needs more touches?

Get a rebound and you'll get touches. Catch the ball when they throw it to you and you'll get touches.

 

[champs99and04]

Get a rebound and you'll get touches. Catch the ball when they throw it to you and you'll get touches.

Rebounding is hardly the problem with this team. We need low post offense more than anything, and Oriakhi is the only big man currently suited to provide that.

 

[babysheep]

The better you perform, the longer the leash gets. AD has played (for the most part) better and better as the season has gone on. In the first few games, if my knowledge of UConn basketball does not betray me, JC would pull AD just as often as he continues to do for AO. AD would never have gotten away with some of the first half stuff he did today during the Columbia game.

 

[babysheep]

Rebounding is hardly the problem with this team.

34 rebounds in loss to Rutgers
29 rebounds in loss to Seton Hall
31 rebounds in scare against USF
34 rebounds in close win over Fairfield

Rebounding average before Big East play began: roughly 42 if I recall correctly

 

[Gurleyman]

Total rebounds is often more of a reflection of the game's tempo than anything else. Rebounding margin is the key to analyze from game to game how good or bad its been.

 

[champs99and04]

34 rebounds in loss to Rutgers
29 rebounds in loss to Seton Hall
31 rebounds in scare against USF
34 rebounds in close win over Fairfield

Rebounding average before Big East play began: roughly 42 if I recall correctly

UConn outrebounded Rutgers by nine tonight. At least for this game, it wasn't a problem. The lack of a low post offense clearly was though.

 

[Prezidint]

If AO is pissed by AD's long leash, he needs to do two things:

1. Look at the box scores. On a per minute basis, AO has not been good, and definitely not compared to AD. He should man up and start with that. If you're only getting 15 minutes a game, you oughtta be killing yourself for those 15 minutes, not lamenting that you're not getting more.

2. Look at the learning curves. Simple fact is, AOs learning curve is flat and may have a slope of zero. Some might argue he's regressing. Then look at AD - learning curve is steep, and he's getting noticeably better every game. Drummond started out by having foul issues. Now, it's much less of an issue. Just one example.

Problem with AO right now is that he has a sense of entitlement. I was the starting 4/5 on a NC team, I'm entitled to X, Y, and Z.

It's really that simple, IMO. He needs to dump that, and fight for what he wants.

 

[mauconnfan]

If AO is pissed by AD's long leash, he needs to do two things:

1. Look at the box scores. On a per minute basis, AO has not been good, and definitely not compared to AD. He should man up and start with that. If you're only getting 15 minutes a game, you oughtta be killing yourself for those 15 minutes, not lamenting that you're not getting more.

2. Look at the learning curves. Simple fact is, AOs learning curve is flat and may have a slope of zero. Some might argue he's regressing. Then look at AD - learning curve is steep, and he's getting noticeably better every game. Drummond started out by having foul issues. Now, it's much less of an issue. Just one example.

Problem with AO right now is that he has a sense of entitlement. I was the starting 4/5 on a NC team, I'm entitled to X, Y, and Z.

It's really that simple, IMO. He needs to dump that, and fight for what he wants.

BINGO....well-stated

 

[high-post]

I wish Alex had as much confidence finishing around the rim as he does when he steps up to the line. Because every damn game he gets a wide open look at the rim that he just completely blows, either going up soft, rushing the shot or bobbling the ball. But somehow he steps up to the free throw line and does a pretty solid job. I know they're two different things, but making a layup from 1 foot when you have the size and talent that Alex does seems like a strictly mental thing, something that (luckily) hasn't affected his FTs.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Andre plays hard all the time even with the turnovers. He is always fighting for boards, running the floor, and trying on defense.. Thats why he gets the minutes he does and has such a long leash. AO doesn't play as hard as he does so he has a shorter leash.

 

[Giddyup5]

AD needs to learn to box out though... I'm really worried about Jones dominating the offensive glass...

 

[UConn3432]

with the lack of offensive execution and poor outside shooting on the road they need drummond on the court to catch lobs. you saw what oriakhi did with his lob.

 

[wpq4elamin]

i agree he did have a long leash, but he also rebounds when he's in there and goes and gets the ball 12 feet up, something alex does not do at all..... AO doesn't rebound the same way he did last year, so I can totally see JC keeping drummond in there just to keep the backside of the rutgers d honest and to rebound...

we took way too many 3's last night and lamb not playing for stretches sorta killed us.... but keeping drummond out there for some bad passes didn't really kill us the way rutgers 3's or our lack of 3's did...

 

[Excalibur]

It took alot for him to get yanked. AO breathes on a guy and he gets pulled

AO has been breathing this year?

 

[Waquoit]

2. Look at the learning curves. Simple fact is, AOs learning curve is flat and may have a slope of zero. Some might argue he's regressing. Then look at AD - learning curve is steep, and he's getting noticeably better every game. Drummond started out by having foul issues. Now, it's much less of an issue. Just one example.

I like this point. For instance, he played great D that time when he jumped out the shooter and stopped him dead. I yelled "great D". Then he retreated just a beat before the guard made it back to the spot. The shooter took advantage and drained the 3. I felt stupid but I bet AD doesn't make that mistake again.

 

[freescooter]

We have Drummond for one season supposedly, and he needs as much floor time as we can give him. Rather see him make mistakes early in the season. It's a painful process for these freshman and sophomores but I think we will be OK. As far as who plays 4 or 5, to me that's not the issue because we don't value the rock. how many turnovers in the last 2 games?

If that is the appraoch Calhoun is taking, and if it is it would be a first, he might as well retire now. Calhoun has never been about giving a player as much floor time as possible, unless it has been EARNED. I think Drummond is going to be a very good player but he isn't one yet. He is a freshman and plays like a freshman on a pretty regular basis.

 

[Waquoit]

Calhoun has never been about giving a player as much floor time as possible, unless it has been EARNED.

Never say never. He has given extra rope to exceptional newcomers before. I don't remember KEA sitting all that much. Caron either.