Does KO have a problem on this hands

[mcs333]

Went back and watch the game again, it's on espn3 replay. DD went out with about 14 minutes left in the second half when he blocked a shot that looked cleaned but was called for a foul. He took a hit on his chin that drew blood. He was Ok and did not return until there was 17 seconds left in OT, after NG fouled out. I noticed during a timeout late in the game DD was standing behind everyone really upset. Did not put his hand up with everyone else when the team broke the huddle. So he did not play the last 19 minutes of the game.

DD was having a good game. 17 minutes, 11 points, assist, steal, block and a rebound. He was 4-8 from the field and 3-3 from the line. He missed all 3, three points shots but two of them were in and out. His last 3 pointers was a long shot at the final buzzer.

Game film observations. Evans had a very poor game. He had 3 fouls that resulted in 8 points, a basket plus 1 twice and a third foul that the player made two ft. He also went for two steals that we're missed that resulted in a basket and Wolf foul. When Uconn went to the 2-3 zone Evans or OC played underneath. Neither can rebound. Evans was 0-2 and 0-2 on FT. He was 0-2 last game on FT.

First half. Best lineup. Wolf, NG, DD ,Boat and Napier. They played well and rebounded well. Problem Wolf picked up a couple of fouls and went to the bench. NG had a VG first half.

OC is not a very good defender. Also in the last three games he has played 90+ minutes with a total of three rebounds. This is not good enough for a small 3.

Boat had a tough time staying with Marq. guard, I forget his name. He always went right and got by Boat and into the lane for a bucket or an assist.

Napier carried the team in the second half. Wolf played well but couldn't stay on the floor, 17 min..

NG played just OK in the second half. Took one shot that Wolf rebounded and scored and made two FT. He dropped a perfect pass from Boat that should have been a basket.

I just don't understand why DD did not play the last 19 minutes. He was playing better than Evans and OC. I think once KO looks at the tape he will see he made a mistake.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Yes, I did not know why he was sitting, and thought maybe reinjured his mouth. He was playing well.

I thought Evans was a weak point but Giffey was steady.

 

[Gurleyman]

Might have just been precautionary with the injury, or KO might have liked how the unit on the floor was playing and decided to ride them out down the stretch rather than bring someone else in cold and injured. Or a combination where one led to the other (ie "we'll see how this unit plays and only bring DD back if it's clear we need him").

Either way, I don't think there's any fear of a long-term issue. DD has to play significant minutes when healthy - Giffey at the 4 is not a long-term solution. And his mannerisms on the bench could be just frustration/dejection with getting hurt again.

 

[SaeHusky]

I think our best lineup is clearly Wolf, DD, Giffey, Bazz and Boat. I have been happy with Ollies substitutions but last night I did think he played Evans too much and Daniels too little

 

[ctchamps]

Against the Marquette team Wolfe, Giffey, DD, Bazz and Boat were the best line.

Most likely the the coaches chose to keep DD out of the game for precautionary reasons. Agree with Gurly-DD upset with injury and not coaches.

 

[dogpause]

I agree with SaeHusky's lineup. The problem for Daniels is really the team's problem - we have no legitimate 4. DD and Giffey are doing their best, but both are barely qualified phyisically to play the 3. Funny, but losing Drummond and Lamb was predictable and survivable, however losing bother Alex and Roscoe was unexpected and we've been left with a big hole that other teams are aiming for.

 

[ctchamps]

I agree with SaeHusky's lineup. The problem for Daniels is really the team's problem - we have no legitimate 4. DD and Giffey are doing their best, but both are barely qualified phyisically to play the 3. Funny, but losing Drummond and Lamb was predictable and survivable, however losing bother Alex and Roscoe was unexpected and we've been left with a big hole that other teams are aiming for.

Exactly!

 

[caw]

Went back and watch the game again, it's on espn3 replay. DD went out with about 14 minutes left in the second half when he blocked a shot that looked cleaned but was called for a foul. He took a hit on his chin that drew blood. He was Ok and did not return until there was 17 seconds left in OT, after NG fouled out. I noticed during a timeout late in the game DD was standing behind everyone really upset. Did not put his hand up with everyone else when the team broke the huddle. So he did not play the last 19 minutes of the game.

DD was having a good game. 17 minutes, 11 points, assist, steal, block and a rebound. He was 4-8 from the field and 3-3 from the line. He missed all 3, three points shots but two of them were in and out. His last 3 pointers was a long shot at the final buzzer.

Game film observations. Evans had a very poor game. He had 3 fouls that resulted in 8 points, a basket plus 1 twice and a third foul that the player made two ft. He also went for two steals that we're missed that resulted in a basket and Wolf foul. When Uconn went to the 2-3 zone Evans or OC played underneath. Neither can rebound. Evans was 0-2 and 0-2 on FT. He was 0-2 last game on FT.

First half. Best lineup. Wolf, NG, DD ,Boat and Napier. They played well and rebounded well. Problem Wolf picked up a couple of fouls and went to the bench. NG had a VG first half.

OC is not a very good defender. Also in the last three games he has played 90+ minutes with a total of three rebounds. This is not good enough for a small 3.

Boat had a tough time staying with Marq. guard, I forget his name. He always went right and got by Boat and into the lane for a bucket or an assist.

Napier carried the team in the second half. Wolf played well but couldn't stay on the floor, 17 min..

NG played just OK in the second half. Took one shot that Wolf rebounded and scored and made two FT. He dropped a perfect pass from Boat that should have been a basket.

I just don't understand why DD did not play the last 19 minutes. He was playing better than Evans and OC. I think once KO looks at the tape he will see he made a mistake.

Pretty sure he popped a few stitches. Probably had some issues getting it cleaned up and Giffey was playing well, DD got back in the game at the end so I don't think it's a long term issue.

 

[Clockshop]

*DeAndre Daniels (11 points, one rebound) left with a chin injury at the 12:36 mark of the second half. He didn’t return until Niels Giffey fouled out with 17 seconds remaining in overtime.
“We went with Niels because he was playing well,” said UConn coach Kevin Ollie. “He was boxing out, playing hard. DeAndre got popped in the mouth pretty good, he started bleeding again, but with the flow of the game, I couldn’t get him back in….we can’t get outrebounded like we did in the first half, so I had to insert somebody.”

http://blog.ctnews.com/uconnbasketb...but-it-wasnt-the-deciding-factor-in-the-game/

 

[6NCsMORE2Go]

For what it's worth, when asked about the basket on OT, Ollie went on to say a few things about how the refs did not blow the game. However, he did make a very significant reference to the lack of rebounding and that's why Niels was in. He said I needed someone to get a rebound and Niels wanted to do it. Something to that effect. In an interview he had he clearly wasn't happy with Deandre's rebounding. I think it might be a message to Daniels to pick it up.

 

[6NCsMORE2Go]

Wow, we must have been thinking same thing at the same time...ABOVE

 

[Danzz]

I agree with SaeHusky's lineup. The problem for Daniels is really the team's problem - we have no legitimate 4. DD and Giffey are doing their best, but both are barely qualified phyisically to play the 3. Funny, but losing Drummond and Lamb was predictable and survivable, however losing bother Alex and Roscoe was unexpected and we've been left with a big hole that other teams are aiming for.

We have a four but not a very good one.

 

[dogpause]

When I saw DD shooting a three during a time of the game when we were getting killed on the boards, I started screaming at the TV. Last thing we need right now is another perimter shooter. That being said, he's really improved tremendously and he's very good at sccoring around the basket. Getting rebounds however, is not his forte, but it does give him the chance for playing time so he better no forget why he's in the game.

 

[ctchamps]

We have a four but not a very good one.

He actually plays decently at the 4 when paired with a decent 5 and when he plays with confidence. Both factors missing this season.

 

[ctchamps]

For what it's worth, when asked about the basket on OT, Ollie went on to say a few things about how the refs did not blow the game. However, he did make a very significant reference to the lack of rebounding and that's why Niels was in. He said I needed someone to get a rebound and Niels wanted to do it. Something to that effect. In an interview he had he clearly wasn't happy with Deandre's rebounding. I think it might be a message to Daniels to pick it up.

You may be correct. But look at that paragraph that clockshop has pasted. To me the ...... in the quote may be one of two things. He's paraphrasing one quote leaving out something that may or may not be substantive. Or the author is taking the liberty of putting two different quotes together leaving out parts of both quotes. Without the full quote we can come away with an intention the blogger wants which may not be the same as what KO stated. I went to the UConn site to clarify, but coaches and players comments are not posted. None of the news articles confirm this quote so I'm keeping an open mind on this.

 

[SaeHusky]

Giffey at the 3 with Daniels and Wolf would definately improve our rebounding. I like Omar but I dont think he deserves as many minutes as he is getting at this point. He doesnt take his guy off his dribble and isnt rebounding. I have just as much confidence with Giffey shooting an open 3 as I do with Calhoun.

 

[ctchamps]

Giffey at the 3 with Daniels and Wolf would definately improve our rebounding. I like Omar but I dont think he deserves as many minutes as he is getting at this point. He doesnt take his guy off his dribble and isnt rebounding. I have just as much confidence with Giffey shooting an open 3 as I do with Calhoun.

I really liked NG's play in the Marquette game. When he played with DD, EW UConn gained on defense but lost on little on offense. OC is less reluctant to take a shot or try and create than NG. I believe KO will make rotations situational. The problem for KO is he can't juggle too much because of the short bench and lack of a dominant front court player.

 

[Clockshop]

That quote was from the Duffy article I linked in my post. Click the blue link after the paragraph.

This one below is from Amore:

Daniels Scores, Sits
DeAndre Daniels, who needed four stitches to close a cut on his chin on Sunday, took another shot to that area and started bleeding during the game on Tuesday. He scored 11 points, but played only 17 minutes, and only seven in the second half and OT. Giffey played 32 minutes and got seven rebounds.
"I left Niels in there because he was playing well," Ollie said. "DeAndre's going to be OK, but with the flow of the game, I couldn't get him back in there."

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men/hc-uconn-men-notebook-0102-20130101,0,5441701.story

 

[OkaForPrez]

Giffey at the 3 with Daniels and Wolf would definately improve our rebounding. I like Omar but I dont think he deserves as many minutes as he is getting at this point. He doesnt take his guy off his dribble and isnt rebounding. I have just as much confidence with Giffey shooting an open 3 as I do with Calhoun.

Omar is the future in a year where there is no present. Let him cut his teeth.

 

[SaeHusky]

Dont see why Giffey and Daniels cant play at the same time. Ollie's quote was that giffey was playing well so he left him in. Why not Daniels in for Omar or Evans then? The 3 is his natural position. I like Daniels and he should be getting 25+ minutes a night on a team and in a year like this. He is a big part of our future. Not upset with Ollie - just dont want to see this trend continue

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Omar is the future in a year where there is no present. Let him cut his teeth.

I sort of agree with this, but I also don't see Neils as more of a threat off the bounce than other people seem to. I feel like I've seen Omar get more buckets in traffic so far this season than I have from Neils in three.

I don't know what it is about Giffey, but I feel like he should be more effective than he is. He's 6-7, can really run, handles the ball adequately well (although maybe not as well as he might get credit for), and his shot looks pure, but he always seems slightly scared to do anything when he's out there. Every once in a while he'll make an assertive move and you wonder why he doesn't do it more often (although it could be because every third time he commits a charge or gets his shot rubbed). I think he can be a lot more than the glue guy who's going to scrap for loose balls and hustle.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I sort of agree with this, but I also don't see Neils as more of a threat off the bounce than other people seem to. I feel like I've seen Omar get more buckets in traffic so far this season than I have from Neils in three.

I don't know what it is about Giffey, but I feel like he should be more effective than he is. He's 6-7, can really run, handles the ball adequately well (although maybe not as well as he might get credit for), and his shot looks pure, but he always seems slightly scared to do anything when he's out there. Every once in a while he'll make an assertive move and you wonder why he doesn't do it more often (although it could be because every third time he commits a charge or gets his shot rubbed). I think he can be a lot more than the glue guy who's going to scrap for loose balls and hustle.

I've felt the same way for a long time now with Niels....I had started to lose hope that he would begin to say "screw it" (or some similar thing) and go out and try to make plays. Against Marquette, he showed some signs of getting there. He was not being Mr. Nice Guy on the boards, he was showing some "inner Adrien" for a change and when he first came into the game, he tried to make some offensive plays right away. He didn't keep that up, but he did show some real fire out there on defense and rebounding. He was playing a little mad and man, it made a difference. This is also what I would like to see from Deandre on the boards....get a little mad, decide it's your ball and damn if anybody's going to take it from you.

I would like to see Ollie run plays to try to get Giffey going at the start of both halves, tell him that he is our "go to" guy now, so make it happen. Giffey can drive the ball with either hand and he's shown that on the rare occasion when he has had the ball as the clock is running down and he has to do something. I would like to see Giffey start at the 3 (or 4) with Deandre at the 4 (or 3) and for once, try to get Niels to stop being afraid to make a mistake. Right now, he is a much more effective player than Omar and he may continue to be so next year as well. Omar may be better off playing the 2 when Bazz or Boat is out and continue to get minutes at the 3.

 

[selles]

Right now, he is a much more effective player than Omar and he may continue to be so next year as well. Omar may be better off playing the 2 when Bazz or Boat is out and continue to get minutes at the 3.

I'm a big Giffey guy and I was with you...until you got here. He's not a much more effective player than Omar. Sometimes, yes. But overall, and with an eye to the future, no. Not at all. If I'm KO I tell Giffey to shoot the ball when he's open. But the guy I really try to get off the dime is Omar. I don't run plays for Giffey, I run plays for Omar looking for 10-12 footers. Long term, that's going to be much more important.

 

[ctchamps]

That quote was from the Duffy article I linked in my post. Click the blue link after the paragraph.

This one below is from Amore:

Daniels Scores, Sits
DeAndre Daniels, who needed four stitches to close a cut on his chin on Sunday, took another shot to that area and started bleeding during the game on Tuesday. He scored 11 points, but played only 17 minutes, and only seven in the second half and OT. Giffey played 32 minutes and got seven rebounds.
"I left Niels in there because he was playing well," Ollie said. "DeAndre's going to be OK, but with the flow of the game, I couldn't get him back in there."

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-men/hc-uconn-men-notebook-0102-20130101,0,5441701.story

Thanks for posting. This article emphasizes things differently. I didn't trust the first quote you pasted. I didn't sound like KO. Its just a blogger setting an agenda. Problem is people will use his alteration as proof of whatever agendas they want to bring to the table.

 

[ctchamps]

Kind of a nice change to be discussing something other than TO and EW.

I think NG, OC and DD have shown a lot since the beginning of the season. I'm not concerned who gets more minutes, what combinations of other players these three are playing with, what position they play or who starts. They each offer something that the others don't. I just want to see them continue developing at the rate they have developed.

At this stage none of them are at the level of SN who has to play most of the game for this team to have any chance in games. They will at various times of the game or various games have better and worse moments. The idea is to get them to have more consistent better moments. Not many UConn players who turned out great started great. They usually progressed and at different rates.

I prefer KO's method of bringing them along. Certainly he has to be concerned that players don't go into funks if they feel they are being slighted. That's always a problem for a coach. But he has to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the group, the needs of the present with the needs of the future.