joober jones
Finally Non-Fat Guy
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2011
- Messages
- 4,736
- Reaction Score
- 9,654
These last few games are the first I've ever seen in which CV has lacked confidence. His trash talking, chip-on-the-shoulder, swagger filled personality used to irk me. A lot. This is no longer the case. Why? Because from jump ball to the final buzzer, he's been the one guy who has never at any point stopped caring and who has never just laid back and taken the pummeling in these past 3 seasons. My opinion used to be that he played for the name on the front of his jersey and not on the back, but I've been swayed; he cares about UConn basketball in a way that clearly shows through and is impossible to deny.
He's not been quite up to snuff lately, but I think the whole benching tactic is the worst possible approach to take. As I said, he cares about UConn, but he also wants to leave a legacy and establish a future career. He came in as probably the least heralded member of the "top 5", but has gone on to give us the most. From the beginning, there's always been that voice in his ear about being a bit guy, role player, and so forth. He's had to fight constantly to prove that to be wrong to himself, fans, the team, and anyone who might consider him at the next level.
This creates an urgency in his play which has led to bad decisions, but markedly fewer of them this season. Now that he's seeing fewer minutes and getting a quicker hook, he's beginning to panic. For the first time, I can see him doubting himself and playing with fear rather than ferocity. I'm not a coach and never will be; I'm sure there's a method to what Hurley is doing here, even if for the moment, it seems to not be working. I hope CV gets that swagger back soon and leaves the self-doubting behind.
Also, because I say it every time I post here or in the chat, Whaley needs more court time. Plus the call on his offense rebound was utter BS.
He's not been quite up to snuff lately, but I think the whole benching tactic is the worst possible approach to take. As I said, he cares about UConn, but he also wants to leave a legacy and establish a future career. He came in as probably the least heralded member of the "top 5", but has gone on to give us the most. From the beginning, there's always been that voice in his ear about being a bit guy, role player, and so forth. He's had to fight constantly to prove that to be wrong to himself, fans, the team, and anyone who might consider him at the next level.
This creates an urgency in his play which has led to bad decisions, but markedly fewer of them this season. Now that he's seeing fewer minutes and getting a quicker hook, he's beginning to panic. For the first time, I can see him doubting himself and playing with fear rather than ferocity. I'm not a coach and never will be; I'm sure there's a method to what Hurley is doing here, even if for the moment, it seems to not be working. I hope CV gets that swagger back soon and leaves the self-doubting behind.
Also, because I say it every time I post here or in the chat, Whaley needs more court time. Plus the call on his offense rebound was utter BS.