Either Stewart or Ross needs to start

[Hogoff]

Who are you excited about when shooting an open 3 pointer?

Smith

 

[mauconnfan]

Just give it a chance and see what happens mau. Haha

I like the kid, happy he’s coming off our bench. But it ends there. He and Stew are inconsistent but so is Solo. But the only real chance of us being really good is to still see last years version of Ball, it gives us our best chance.

 

[Edward Sargent]

In some bizarro world, as this season has progressed, Smith has become a lights out 3 point shooter but can't make a layup.

Or a foul shot. I do like Smith and Demary together when both are hunting 3s

 

[Umami Zen]

Coach Nardi/Hurley knows today will be a game heavily influenced by perimeter play. Can our guards/wings defend the perimeter on D -get out in transition for some easy buckets-And make their own shots?

 

[UCan3]

Is Furphy not good? I don't get why he can’t get any playing time with Solo and Stewart having a terrible year. He looked great in world games last summer

I agree. And putting some one in cold for 2-4 minutes is not a good yardstick on how good/bad he is as a Freshman.

 

[UCan3]

I said Ball needs to be benched for Ross in the postgame thread and got half a dozen ?s

But it has to be Ross. He would directly help our D by guarding the opposing teams best perimeter player and he would indirectly help the O. We don’t need the fifth option taking anything but wide open 3s and dunks so those extra shots will go to the other starters, mullins and Reed in particular.

Agreed, either have a full on press or fall back. I usually see one guy from our team kind of busting their hump to play full court defense, but then the other team passes to someone close by who’s got no one on them. Seriously what’s the point in that?

 

[PAHusky]

Since Creighton, Ross has shot 84(!!!)% from the floor and 70% from 3.

Last night was the first time he started off a game or half and the team came out guns blazing.

Over these last few games Ross has finally been playing with the aggressiveness I’ve talked about where he is actively wanting the ball and looking to make a play. Not just hover around on offense. He has also not been getting down on himself after making a mistake.

I would be super excited at what putting him in the starting lineup would do for this team and his growing confidence. He's ready.

You’re the resident Ross truther so it’s expected but the whole “he’s shot 80%+!” when you cite a stretch that includes three consecutive games where he took four shots…..total, is sort of funny.

If Ross starting gets Solo back into a groove and gives the team a needed jolt, fine. But the Ross hype to me is crazy - limited offense, overrated defense, some boneheaded plays. I do think he gives 110% at all times, so if the core issue is lack of hustle - which I’m not sure it is, but maybe - then start him.

 

[Lafayette]

Cmon peeps this is Nova and their front court is Brennan so need Tarris to stay under get fed and get fouls on Brennan.

If they are trying to dribble drive and get fouls on Tarris we need Ross and Mullins not Solo. AK has to step up as well so it’s not all Tarris.

 

[Umami Zen]

Cmon peeps this is Nova and their front court is Brennan so need Tarris to stay under get fed and get fouls on Brennan.

If they are trying to dribble drive and get fouls on Tarris we need Ross and Mullins not Solo. AK has to step up as well so it’s not all Tarris.

Mildly concerned about AK's health. Hurley will keep his condition quiet until the tip. Will need both Ross and Stewart to contribute tonite esp. if AK is compromised health-wise. Tarris needs to play smart D and stay on the floor. Reibe's impact off the bench could be huge .

 

[Lafayette]

Mildly concerned about AK's health. Hurley will keep his condition quiet until the tip. Will need both Ross and Stewart to contribute tonite esp. if AK is compromised health-wise.

If AK is hurt (was not aware, thanks for the heads up), Koroma is 85% offense, 15% defense, so expendable and can get fouls on Nova when he works the baseline. Not saying he should crack the starting 5, but him with Tarris in spots can be helpful.

 

[Umami Zen]

If AK is hurt (was not aware, thanks for the heads up), Koroma is 85% offense, 15% defense, so expendable and can get fouls on Nova when he works the baseline. Not saying he should crack the starting 5, but him with Tarris in spots can be helpful.

To be clear- To my eye- Last game AK was playing hurt. Foot speed and leg strength seemed compromised.Hurley alluded to the same in his post-game presser. Even affected his shooting stroke. Front-rimmed most of his three pt attempts. And was getting beat on D. Nevertheless-Will never question his energy/effort/impact when 100%. The amount of minutes he's been playing/game this year has been substantial.

Have always been curious about Koroma getting spot minutes over the course of the season. My only conclusion is that Danny sees things in practice(which we don't) that influence his reluctance to use him-even if sparingly. He does have a few fouls to use and/ or get the opponent's Big in some foul trouble.

 

[RuffRuff]

Cmon peeps this is Nova and their front court is Brennan so need Tarris to stay under get fed and get fouls on Brennan.

If they are trying to dribble drive and get fouls on Tarris we need Ross and Mullins not Solo. AK has to step up as well so it’s not all Tarris.

Brennan leads the league in rebounding.

Nova is gonna be up for this one. Lot at stake, BE seeding, revenge game for Nova after the OT loss.

We’ll know what the Huskies are made of after this one. They have no reason not to bring their A game, coming off an embarrassing loss. My sense is this game may be the most telling left in terms of understanding the pure stones of this team. Nova is very beatable. Pups lay an egg here, not holding tourney hopes high.

If AK is hurt (was not aware, thanks for the heads up), Koroma is 85% offense, 15% defense, so expendable and can get fouls on Nova when he works the baseline. Not saying he should crack the starting 5, but him with Tarris in spots can be helpful.

When is the last time he got real minutes?

 

[superjohn]

Is AK going to play today? Hurley said he looked like a cargo ship last game and shouldn't have even been out there. I'm a little thrown off as to why he played if he shouldn't have been out there and what is wrong with him. Is three days going to be enough time for him to not look like a cargo ship today?

 

[Son of Robert]

If Hurley could figure out how to get Karoma 10-12 minutes in these rotations, playing as a strong 4 with Reibe at the 5, that might be something. Defensively tough and on offense a very good screen setter, he can score in the lane and around the post as well as being a strong and active rebounder on both ends of the floor. Find a way to use Karoma, he may prove to be a game changer with both interior defense and offense. He brings a toughness to the court that we don't always have out there.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Agreed, either have a full on press or fall back. I usually see one guy from our team kind of busting their hump to play full court defense, but then the other team passes to someone close by who’s got no one on them. Seriously what’s the point in that?

Slick Rick, the greatest CBB coach ever, said token full court press is the key to winning!

 

[Drfla]

I like the kid, happy he’s coming off our bench. But it ends there. He and Stew are inconsistent but so is Solo. But the only real chance of us being really good is to still see last years version of Ball, it gives us our best chance.

Don’t think you are going to see last year’s Solo Ball. We are 27 games into the season.

 

[RuffRuff]

Don’t think you are going to see last year’s Solo Ball. We are 27 games into the season.

He’s the same defender as last year, this is who he is. A massive liability you have to run constant workarounds for. Over it.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

He’s the same defender as last year, this is who he is. A massive liability you have to run constant workarounds for. Over it.

Thing is, he wasn’t a massive defensive liability earlier in the season against tough non-con teams loaded with 4* and 5* athletes. He looked noticeably better than last year.

I don’t buy that there’s some scout that teams have found. It’s just committing to basic man to man D and keeping guys in front of you and recovering if they do start to get in front of you.

What’s changed against inferior BE competition over the last few games?

 

[TheShot1990]

Is it legal to run around and launch your FTs from the 3 point line? If so, maybe Smith can do that.

 

[jfreeds]

I keep asking this question and not getting any answers except he has 'no lateral quickness'

I keep asking this question and not getting any answers except he has 'no lateral quickness'.

He is bad at one on defending meaning he gets beat off the dribble often which either leads to an easy 2 or if the big down low steps up to defend the guy with the ball it will lead to a kick out and an open shot.

The other thing he does is get out of position a lot in zone. Often creeping over to far on the strong side (side where the ball is) and then when the other team sees that opening he cant get back in time and it leads to the zone breaking down

The other reason why people say he is bad at defense is because his def bpr rating on sites like EvanMiya and Bart Torvik are low. He is sub 500 in the country. There are 70 Power 4 + big east teams so 350 starters...and he is sub 500.

Hope this helps.

 

[Vancat]

He is bad at one on defending meaning he gets beat off the dribble often which either leads to an easy 2 or if the big down low steps up to defend the guy with the ball it will lead to a kick out and an open shot.

The other thing he does is get out of position a lot in zone. Often creeping over to far on the strong side (side where the ball is) and then when the other team sees that opening he cant get back in time and it leads to the zone breaking down

The other reason why people say he is bad at defense is because his def bpr rating on sites like EvanMiya and Bart Torvik are low. He is sub 500 in the country. There are 70 Power 4 + big east teams so 350 starters...and he is sub 500.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

 

[navery12]

Is AK going to play today? Hurley said he looked like a cargo ship last game and shouldn't have even been out there. I'm a little thrown off as to why he played if he shouldn't have been out there and what is wrong with him. Is three days going to be enough time for him to not look like a cargo ship today?

 

[Lafayette]

Brennan leads the league in rebounding.

Nova is gonna be up for this one. Lot at stake, BE seeding, revenge game for Nova after the OT loss.

We’ll know what the Huskies are made of after this one. They have no reason not to bring their A game, coming off an embarrassing loss. My sense is this game may be the most telling left in terms of understanding the pure stones of this team. Nova is very beatable. Pups lay an egg here, not holding tourney hopes high.

When is the last time he got real minutes?

Koroma doesn't get minutes because AK rarely comes out and even if he does for anytime the position has been serviceable by Stewart.

Also, Koroma is way too stiff on D and clearly not a good defender. Thing is he generates offense, has a good touch, good hands and can rebound. So in controlled minutes he could spell AK and be more offensive, hopefully getting fouls on the other team. Maybe rotate Koroma on O, Ross on D

Agreed this game - will see who has the minerals and how resilient are we.

 

[navery12]

Koroma doesn't get minutes because AK rarely comes out and even if he does for anytime the position has been serviceable by Stewart.

Also, Koroma is way too stiff on D and clearly not a good defender. Thing is he generates offense, has a good touch, good hands and can rebound. So in controlled minutes he could spell AK and be more offensive, hopefully getting fouls on the other team. Maybe rotate Koroma on O, Ross on D

Agreed this game - will see who has the minerals and how resilient are we.

Are we talking about the same Dwayne Koroma? He is awful offensively. Granted it's a small sample size but he is by far our worst offensive player, and of guys with over 100 possessions he's 1950th in the country in OBPR

 

[DMIL]

Thing is, he wasn’t a massive defensive liability earlier in the season against tough non-con teams loaded with 4* and 5* athletes. He looked noticeably better than last year.

I don’t buy that there’s some scout that teams have found. It’s just committing to basic man to man D and keeping guys in front of you and recovering if they do start to get in front of you.

What’s changed against inferior BE competition over the last few games?

There is a blueprint that is out and has been distributed. Until our Huskies and Staff do something about it we are going to be vulnerable here.

It reminds me a bit of the 2022 squad when teams figured out how to focus on Andre Jackson and the team lost 5 out 7 or 8 games during a stretch. It took a while for the staff to figure out the fix and how to better utilize Andre in those situations leading to us an eventual national title.

With that said, the issues with this team is much different and it's exposing the roster construction again if the standard is winning national titles through elite defense and offense worthy of a top 10 Kenpom rating. There is a formula. Substituting Ross into the starting line up for Ball has the high potential of adding balance to the offense and stabilizing the defense. Ball coming off of the bench in a 6 man role has the high potential of solidifying offensive production of the bench securing gains made by the starting 5. A perfect example of addition by subtraction or recalibration.

There is a formula for the fix and the staff hasn't found it yet. What we lack in athleticism you have to make up for in mental acumen and skill particularly as it pertains to executing what the coaches are asking of them consistently. It's not just effort or desire.

It fair to question until we see something that looks and feels distinctly different that can be truly characterized as a championship response. In order for this team to achieve it's goals, it has to have consistent good to great play from Silas, Reed, Ball and Alex, both sides of the ball. The rest of the team will follow.

Go Huskies!