Gilbert is a 4th year PG

[BFieldHusky]

Gonna have to play Gaffney a ton and Bouknight should be our go to guy on offense. Sounds a bit crazy to have a freshman as your go to guy but he's our most talented offensive player.

He may be the only guy on the roster who can get his own shot. I've heard he has been the best player in practice the last couple of weeks.

 

[SouthBayHusky]

I expected so much more from AG. Undersized, but good enough to be a McDonald’s all American in high school. Rehab rust only goes so far. Should not be missing easy layups, forcing shots, forcing himself into traffic where nowhere to go. And, his BB IQ seems low. I’m just frustrated. We looked terrible tonight. Feels like nothing had changed and I wonder if this year will be any different. Can’t wait till its a roster of just DH recruits.

 

[superjohn]

well then you must not have any money. it's pretty clear he hasn't been able to develop at all. He's the same kid that came in from high school. He'll leave UCONN the same player. Too much time in the tub.

It's not like anyone's waiting around for him to turn the corner at this point.

Certainly can't blame it all on injuries, I think that's the point people are making. He's been here 4 years and looks like he's trying to run an offense for the first day.

 

[Shine33]

the lack of motion off the ball is the biggest issue. There is nobody to pass to, because everyone is standing still. That leads to too much hero ball one on three attempts. And yes, CV and AG take those # 2’s because who will?

I don’t think Gilbert stinks. I think the team offense stinks. It looks like it did 3 years ago. Honestly, I have a new appreciation for Jalen. He had nobody to pass to either but was damned good at going it alone.

Jalen was the only NBA level guard we had. Now he’s gone and hopefully Bouknight and Gaffney can play to that level eventually

 

[intlzncster]

I don’t think Gilbert stinks. I think the team offense stinks. It looks like it did 3 years ago. Honestly, I have a new appreciation for Jalen. He had nobody to pass to either but was damned good at going it alone.

Which is why I was banging the drum about posters giving Jalen the old "don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out".

You don't lose your (by far and away) best player--a guy who can create something from nothing--and become magically better.

Hopefully Bouknight can create because we'll need him to.

 

[intlzncster]

Certainly can't blame it all on injuries, I think that's the point people are making. He's been here 4 years and looks like he's trying to run an offense for the first day.

He's been here 4 years sitting in the training room. You don't get better at basketball there. He's had ONE real offseason at UCONN. One. That's insane to think about.

People act like him simply being on campus counts as experience smh

And I'm not blaming it ALL on injuries. But they did torpedo his career. If he was never injured, he'd be a totally different player rn

 

[Huskymagic]

I’ve been saying this about Alterique since the beginning. He doesn’t have it. He plays scared and plays small in the biggest moments.

Tyler Polley is the most capable big shot maker which he did again tonight when they mattered. I’ve been saying that Polley is one of our most talented players, but the team doesn’t run enough sets for him.

Vital is a warrior and has an overall positive impact on the game. He made 2 bad plays at the end that iced the game for St Joes.

PS: Hurley is a hard worker and recruiting very well. He needs to command more respect from his team. Guys looking way too undisciplined. Players need to fear their coach a little. Too much buddy buddy is not a good thing.

 

[superjohn]

He's been here 4 years sitting in the training room. You don't get better at basketball there. He's had ONE real offseason at UCONN. One. That's insane to think about.

People act like him simply being on campus counts as experience smh

And I'm not blaming it ALL on injuries. But they did torpedo his career. If he was never injured, he'd be a totally different player rn

You blame it all on injuries and then the next sentence say you're not blaming it all on injuries. Yes, he's had tons of injuries, he's also been in the program for 4 years and has played in plenty of games. I would hope a freshman McDonald's all-American point guard would look a lot better and play with more IQ than Alterique is exhibiting in his final year.

Hurley expects him to play way better and I'm sure AG expects to play way better but he just looks lost. We can stop talking about him being the star we though he would he coming in but he has to play so much better than this.

 

[superjohn]

I’ve been saying this about Alterique since the beginning. He doesn’t have it. He plays scared and plays small in the biggest moments.

Tyler Polley is the most capable big shot maker which he did again tonight when they mattered. I’ve been saying that Polley is one of our most talented players, but the team doesn’t run enough sets for him.

Vital is a warrior and has an overall positive impact on the game. He made 2 bad plays at the end that iced the game for St Joes.

PS: Hurley is a hard worker and recruiting very well. He needs to command more respect from his team. Guys looking way too undisciplined. Players need to fear their coach a little. Too much buddy buddy is not a good thing.

Polley is a one trick pony who isn't all tbat good at his one trick.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

He's the worst defensive player I remember at UConn.

 

[intlzncster]

You blame it all on injuries and then the next sentence say you're not blaming it all on injuries. Yes, he's had tons of injuries, he's also been in the program for 4 years and has played in plenty of games. I would hope a freshman McDonald's all-American point guard would look a lot better and play with more IQ than Alterique is exhibiting in his final year.

Hurley expects him to play way better and I'm sure AG expects to play way better but he just looks lost. We can stop talking about him being the star we though he would he coming in but he has to play so much better than this.

SJ, he's played in 38 total games in 4 years. Thirty eight. That's not plenty, it's one season's worth. He's been sitting on the shelf for most of that time. You don't get better doing that. In fact, you don't even stay the same. You get worse. Rust and rehab. It's not as if you're plugging in a high school senior AA and having him reboot like it's nothing.

If you asked, what's the main reason AG become a great player? The answer is injuries.

 

[intlzncster]

He's the worst defensive player I remember at UConn.

No that's Cobb.

He is the worst rebounding player I've ever seen tho

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

No that's Cobb.

He is the worst rebounding player I've ever seen tho

He's 5'9 in wool socks

 

[Horatio]

SJ, he's played in 38 total games in 4 years. Thirty eight. That's not plenty, it's one season's worth. He's been sitting on the shelf for most of that time. You don't get better doing that. In fact, you don't even stay the same. You get worse. Rust and rehab. It's not as if you're plugging in a high school senior AA and having him reboot like it's nothing.

If you asked, what's the main reason AG become a great player? The answer is injuries.

Once the two freshman can play, you can sit AG and Vital down and coach them during games. We couldn’t sit AG down at all tonight. It is what it is. Kinda hard to knock a kid that had a couple of shoulder injuries while here and 3 all together. Play the freshmen

 

[superjohn]

SJ, he's played in 38 total games in 4 years. Thirty eight. That's not plenty, it's one season's worth. He's been sitting on the shelf for most of that time. You don't get better doing that. In fact, you don't even stay the same. You get worse. Rust and rehab. It's not as if you're plugging in a high school senior AA and having him reboot like it's nothing.

If you asked, what's the main reason AG become a great player? The answer is injuries.

The point is it's an overplayed excuse for him not playing with any IQ, not knowing when to pull up or get swallowed in the lane, not taking momentum killing bad shots, playing no D etc..

Hurley was hyping him up as first team all conference, he's a mess out there.

 

[intlzncster]

The point is it's an overplayed excuse for him not playing with any IQ, not knowing when to pull up or get swallowed in the lane, not taking momentum killing bad shots, playing no D etc..

Hurley was hyping him up as first team all conference, he's a mess out there.

He's a mess no doubt. He never picked up the college game. And as Horatio mentioned, he never had anybody good to study under. All our great PGs did. Only guy who didn't was Taliek and it nearly killed him.

What's Hurley supposed to do, bash the kid in the offseason?

 

[AntG168]

The point is it's an overplayed excuse for him not playing with any IQ, not knowing when to pull up or get swallowed in the lane, not taking momentum killing bad shots, playing no D etc..

Hurley was hyping him up as first team all conference, he's a mess out there.

He’s been incredibly bad. I still do hold out hope that he figures something out sooner than later. The kid is talented. We don’t need him to be great in order for us to take a step foward this yr. We just need him to be a steady leader. I believe he can figure it out

 

[intlzncster]

Once the two freshman can play, you can sit AG and Vital down and coach them during games. We couldn’t sit AG down at all tonight. It is what it is. Kinda hard to knock a kid that had a couple of shoulder injuries while here and 3 all together. Play the freshmen

You're not wrong Horatio, I just think it's too late for that. jmo tho

It would absolutely help with Vital. He got us out of the game in the 1st half. Got us back into the game in the second. And then got us right out of the game at the end. (not all him mind you)

 

[Giddyup5]

I unfortunately don’t. I can’t recall him ever being a great floor general. He’s a streaky shooter and from reports great guy in the locker room.

When has he consistently made others around him better? Throw lobs to anyone? Consistently drive and dish. Thread a pass from a pick and roll? Hit a long outlet pass for a transition lay up?

He was a great scoring combo guard in high school who we hoped could be a good point guard for us.

We were wrong.

 

[Horatio]

You're not wrong Horatio, I just think it's too late for that. jmo tho

It would absolutely help with Vital. He got us out of the game in the 1st half. Got us back into the game in the second. And then got us right out of the game at the end. (not all him mind you)

Exactly. So you yank both of them as soon as you see bad play and put in a freshman. It’s necessary.

 

[Deepster]

To back intlzncster's take here, I'd point to Ricky Moore's freshman year. People here called him Rickety Moore. What Ricky Moore was recruited to do on the court and what he eventually did on the court are 2 different things. He missed time, his opportunity changed and he morphed into a defensive specialist letting the offense flow through everyone else.

Antrique is just really the same player he was when he got here. You just watch and hold your breath that he's not hurt when there's contact.

 

[jdb50]

Make a layup Gilbert for God's sake or learn to dish back out. His lack of height is hurting his passing, defense and shooting. St Joe's could easily reach in and knock the ball loose when he went inside. I hope Bouk can add some range to our guard position. We really seem to have no point guard.

 

[Viet Vet]

UConn vs St. Joe's:

Offense: Kevin Ollie 2.0. Perimeter........perimeter.......perimeter......perimeter........shoot.

Defense: Play with my hands (I want to steal the ball, slam the dunk, impress the scouts/crowd), not with my feet for the benefit of the team.

Defensive Rebounding: Turn around and reach. Box out, what is that?

Offensive Rebounding: Climb over the guy who is (correctly) boxing me out (risking a foul)? No, spin, and go to where the ball is likely to be (75% of missed shots deflect off the rim to the opposite side of the shooter)? Offensive rebounding takes anticipation, discipline and a rudimentary knowledge of geometry/physics. Too difficult for our coaches/players to embrace?

Big Guys: UConn coaching staff has for innumerable years been woeful in improving big guys throughout their four year careers; Corny Thompson being the unfortunate poster boy, but Thabeet and Brimah belong on the same poster. Don't counter with Drummond. He was here for only one year. Or Okafor, who was a stud the day he arrived.

Hurley has to walk the walk, not talk the talk. This is an undisciplined, fundamentally unsound, selfish team.

 

[Buffett10]

Alterique is garbage. Can’t wait for him to be gone. I’ve never seen someone airball 2 layups before

 

[MuchoDogYears]

CV is fine. I’d start him at 2nd guard any day of the week. If he had even a mediocre PG to play alongside he’d be that much more effective. AG is the problem. He really can’t shoot, pass or doesn’t even play solid D. 38 games over 4 years is more than enough time to improve your game if capable of doing so. Unfortunately there’s little to no evidence from those 38 games that AG will ever be a passable PG. Hopefully Gaffney will show PG skills but taking a wait and see approach on him. If he doesn’t pan out this season is on the brink.