Expectations for the next two games? | The Boneyard

Expectations for the next two games?

Travelman6

Travelman6

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What do you expect to see for the Oklahoma St and Florida games?

Recent results aside, I hope Dan Hurley has the boys ready to go hard for 40 minutes and prepared for two battles!

(BTW I kind of don't mind that Long Island game, nice tune-up after that 5 game P5 gauntlet and just before the BE season starts.)
 
Travelman32 said:
What do you expect to see for the Oklahoma St and Florida games?

Recent results aside, I hope Dan Hurley has the boys ready to go hard for 40 minutes and prepared for two battles!

(BTW I kind of don't mind that Long Island game, nice tune-up after that 5 game P5 gauntlet and just before the BE season starts.)
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Oklahoma State is 5-2 with 2 bad losses (Southern Illinois and UCF)

UConn gave us no reason during the PKI to think this should be a particularly close one at Gampel… we just beat on a likely better Big 12 team with a total of 6 pts from Sanogo and Hawkins…

Florida is 4-3 with a bad loss (FAU), a respectable loss to Xavier and now a 29 point beat down at the hands of WVU

Again, first true road game aside, would we expect anything other than a resounding win? We have brought max effort and suffocating defense to every game thus far played against good competition so no reason to think that changes and we have so much depth we can absorb bad nights from several players in a given night. Suffocating defense travels.

My bigger concern (although it won’t matter if we keep just steamrolling everyone) is are these games even going to be Quad 1 wins given how they’re playing? As much as I would have hoped so the answer may be no.

Sportsbooks have also been slow to adjust for just how good we are so I also expect folks who like betting on UConn to keep raking in profits for these 2 games!
 
Yawin4Heisman said:
Oklahoma State is 5-2 with 2 bad losses (Southern Illinois and UCF)

UConn gave us no reason during the PKI to think this should be a particularly close one at Gampel… we just beat on a likely better Big 12 team with a total of 6 pts from Sanogo and Hawkins…

Florida is 4-3 with a bad loss (FAU), a respectable loss to Xavier and now a 29 point beat down at the hands of WVU
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I get what you are saying, even agree. But that is also why I said 'recent results aside" because in college ball you just never know and when it is a P5 team, especially two back-to-back, even if they are both struggling, the hope is there is no letdown from UConn because stranger things have happened. I hope they don't take either team for granted even with the S. Illinois, UCF, FAU and beat down vs WVU games put into consideration. I don't think they will, but maybe one or both teams come out hungry against what is likely a soon-to-be top-10 team.

So my hope is simply that UConn maintains the same intensity they have shown over the past 3 games, and continues to make those natural improvements in execution and if that is done, they should be 10-0 very soon.
 
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Yawin4Heisman said:
My bigger concern (although it won’t matter if we keep just steamrolling everyone) is are these games even going to be Quad 1 wins given how they’re playing? As much as I would have hoped so the answer may be no.
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Florida will absolutely be Q1, even if they're struggling this year they should be in the top 75 for it to be Q1. Oklahoma State seems very unlikely, even a really good Oklahoma State team would barely crack the top 30 to be Q1
 
KenPom currently has us as the overwhelming favorite in every game with over a 60% chance of winning for the rest of the season except for Feb. 11 against Creighton. If the algorithm is remotely right it also projects us to be a 27-4 team which is likely a 1 or 2 seed. I realize this is "cart before the horse" thinking but if the computers are right we are legitimate title contenders when I was hoping for the second weekend.
 
Expectations (hopes?) for next two games:
  • Simplify and slow things down for Alleyne. You can tell that he is losing confidence from his poor play. I’d like to see him come off solid screens for some catch-and-shoot opportunities. Eliminate the tricky dribble + step back or drives. Let him focus on defense and shooting. He needs some positive results. Badly.
  • Set high screens or screen high + pin down from Sanogo that allows Newton to more easily drive to the basket. He had some challenges getting downhill vs ISU and his ability to finish at the basket and/or get to the line take pressure off this team.
  • Better/crisper passing. It’s not good. One area where we are average at best. Last year and the prior year our passes weren’t always on target, but they weren’t nonchalant tosses and lobs. For every amazing pass this season - and there have been many with all of the sharing and assists - there have been tons of head scratcher passes. Must clean that up.
  • More floor time for Clingan. The big guy needs to feast!!!
 
friends sleep GIF
 
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BuffaloHusky said:
KenPom currently has us as the overwhelming favorite in every game with over a 60% chance of winning for the rest of the season except for Feb. 11 against Creighton. If the algorithm is remotely right it also projects us to be a 27-4 team which is likely a 1 or 2 seed. I realize this is "cart before the horse" thinking but if the computers are right we are legitimate title contenders when I was hoping for the second weekend.
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I'm expecting that Creighton game to be the best home game of the year. Got my tickets early on, and they are going quick. I paid $38 for mine, and they are up to $80 already. Should be north of $100 come game day. Should be a mad house.
 
My expectation is for Hurley to do whatever he’s been doing for the last 3 weeks, and for the players to continue playing as hard as they have. If that’s the case, we win both easily.

Florida will be our first true away game. I expect Newton to be the calming force of our offense when we inevitably get sped up and out of control from the energy in the building. We’ve seen him do it already, this would just be at a higher scale

The only thing I would want to do differently is see if Hurley can run some sets for Alleyne spot ups. He needs to see the ball go into the hoop. Once he does, I think a lot of his jittery play will be solved
 
Both should be wins, but we haven't had a true road game, and I fully expect our freshman to have a tough time with that to start. Karaban in particular has basically only ever played in empty gyms (NEPSAC and EYBL). That should be a test at Florida.
 
Yawin4Heisman said:
Oklahoma State is 5-2 with 2 bad losses (Southern Illinois and UCF)
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I get what you're saying, but I think you might be underestimating Oklahoma State and the opponents that beat them.

Right now OSU is ranked 34 in KenPom, which is higher than Iowa State by over ten spots. Also, Southern Illinois is ranked 99 (OSU lost by one point) and UCF is ranked 72 (OSU lost in overtime), so no slouches and better than anyone we've played except for the teams we played at the PK tournament.

UConn should still win, but OSU is no slouch and their losses aren't "bad" necessarily.
 
For Dre to get back in the starting line-up and for Nahiem to come in off the bench. They didn’t want to mess with anything in Portland, but it is time.

The schedule is coming together perfectly. They have some nice stretches of no games (between Oklahoma State and Florida, then from LIU to Butler) to get in some good practice time to fine tune some things instead of just preparing for the next team. Fans and players hate the breaks, coaches love it.
 
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I expect more insane athleticism from Jackson. He had several eye-popping moments vs Iowa State and was more aggressive about attacking the basket, probably as he trusts the finger more. There will be a wild highlight reel for him before this year is over. An alley oop or putback for the ages is coming.
 
WrenchFan69 said:
I expect the students to completely pack Gampel on a Thursday night primetime game against a P5 opponent
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There are a lot of seats for sale for the game. Looking at the map without counting, there are easily several hundred seats available from lower bowl, chsirbacks, and a plethora of bleacher seats. I hope we get a bit closer to a packed house by tip off. I grabbed 2 as after this weekend the wait for a game at xl is too long!
 
Travelman32 said:
So my hope is simply that UConn maintains the same intensity they have shown over the past 3 games, and continues to make those natural improvements in execution and if that is done, they should be 10-0 very soon.
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I think you mean all 7 games :)

Other than the two slow starts the guys have put it all out there every minute of the game - even when we were up 15pts with 1.5m left they were still diving on the ball against Iowa and we saw the same behavior against cupcakes. These guys are 100% hustle with no quit and I LOVE IT.
 
karstenkibbe said:
Expectations (hopes?) for next two games:
  • Simplify and slow things down for Alleyne. You can tell that he is losing confidence from his poor play. I’d like to see him come off solid screens for some catch-and-shoot opportunities. Eliminate the tricky dribble + step back or drives. Let him focus on defense and shooting. He needs some positive results. Badly.
  • Set high screens or screen high + pin down from Sanogo that allows Newton to more easily drive to the basket. He had some challenges getting downhill vs ISU and his ability to finish at the basket and/or get to the line take pressure off this team.
  • Better/crisper passing. It’s not good. One area where we are average at best. Last year and the prior year our passes weren’t always on target, but they weren’t nonchalant tosses and lobs. For every amazing pass this season - and there have been many with all of the sharing and assists - there have been tons of head scratcher passes. Must clean that up.
  • More floor time for Clingan. The big guy needs to feast!!!
Expand ...
Cut down on the number of opponents' guards getting by their man and arround AS and DC for layups?
I know it's a reach but has happened more against the better teams and I know some here were concerned about our on ball defense at the start of the season.
 
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WrenchFan69 said:
I expect the students to completely pack Gampel on a Thursday night primetime game against a P5 opponent
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I agree. Even in the worst years, the student section is usually ready for Prime Time.
 
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Delaware State actually played the best half (2H) against us to date only being outscored by 2
 
Neither OKST or UF are having their best year. It won't help our computer ranking much, but the voters who are familiar with the names might give us a bump if we win both.
 
jibsey said:
Suffocating defense. That’s Hurley’s trademark and it’s what ground Iowa State down last night to blow open the lead at the end.
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Absolutely. And love the depth which provides any one person or two with having an off night. Relentless pressure, smart ball handling and keep throwing fresh bodies off the bench. We want to be everyone's nightmare. Both Gino and Dan Hurley are talking about toughness. That must have been some flight back and forth across the country. College Basketball Capital of the World.
 
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