Gonzaga Post Game Thread

[yungdowork]

Lots of deserving praise for Singare in here. I was really impressed with how hard he ran, kid had his arms and legs pumping every time down the floor. That was his reputation going back to EYBL, but you still just love to see it. I will be cheering every time he steps on the court

 

[TheHorde]

It was just an observation since I was 15 rows back to the left of the bench. Who knows what he was thinking, but I'm sure he knows he is not playing well. But to say he sucks, hmmm? People are saying Ross sucks and he played well last night for the minutes he got. Mahaney just needs to step back and learn a new system where he is not the main focus. He came from being a starter and averaging about 13 points a game for St Mary's, so I don't think he sucks. 1st year with UConn and a tougher conference, though we did not play a conference game yet, but a tough starting schedule leading up to conference play. Many said the same about Newton in his 1st year and look how that turned out.

It’s about putting guys in situations that give them the best chance to succeed. I wouldn’t count this staff or AM out. Remember back to two years ago when Andre Jackson started being used differently off the ball on the baseline. His game and the team’s play took off. I think they’ll figure out some improvements.

 

[UConnJim]

This was an impressive win. This year, Gonzaga is not that soft west coast team that you can bully and they played UConn tough. Battle was a great portal addition for Gonzaga and I had forgotten that he started his career at Butler.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Hoping Samson is okay. That was scary. Probably out for a few weeks.

I was in a car driving from the airport. Can someone provide details. I saw the last 12 minutes or so of the game once I got to my parents house. Heard that Samson was out but not for fouls. My parents said something about Hurley having to go out to help him as they didn’t stop the game.

 

[husky429]

I was in a car driving from the airport. Can someone provide details. I saw the last 12 minutes or so of the game once I got to my parents house. Heard that Samson was out but not for fouls. My parents said something about Hurley having to go out to help him as they didn’t stop the game.

He fell. Looked like a concussion because he was face down not moving. Trainer went out once play stopped, and Hurley followed him.

 

[navery12]

I thought the original report on Nowell was 2-3 weeks. I was surprised to hear he was a game time decision. Unless they are going to keep game time decisioning him until 2-3 weeks pass.

The injury happened 11 days ago now, so him being a game time decision doesn't seem crazy for yesterday's game based on that timeline. That's only a few days ahead of schedule

 

[blkknight1]

Watching the highlights this morning people focused on the fall but if you watch the the whole sequence it looks like on the play in question Samson went up for a board so did Ross, in going for the same ball looks like Samson caught an elbow from Ross(inadvertently) square to the face. Samson was flying in hard so I would image the force of the elbow was pretty good.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Pretty much a copy of the Colorado game, when the shot isn't falling he's gotta put it on the floor and get into the lane, he's more than capable

Have you watched him try to put the ball on the floor and get into the lane. It’s not pretty. That’s really not his game, due to his athletic limitations.

Others have said it best, he’s more of a “system guy”. And when there are other playmakers on the floor to attack the defense and he can play off that within the flow of our offense, he’s in the perfect system for his abilities.

When our offense gets bogged down or he gets asked to be the one to attack the defense, you can see his limitations. He just gets pushed further and further back off the 3pt line in an attempt to get a clean look.

 

[REB1094]

Just watched some highlights of the 2nd half 10-0 run. Didn’t realize this real time, but it was:

1. Stewart 3 from Liam assist
2. Stewart layup from Liam assist
3. Tarris dunk from Liam assist
4. Liam 3 from Diarra assist

Liam has star potential for us. If he can improve his consistency, I don’t see why he can’t be our best player by March

 

[RuffRuff]

This was an impressive win. This year, Gonzaga is not that soft west coast team that you can bully and they played UConn tough. Battle was a great portal addition for Gonzaga and I had forgotten that he started his career at Butler.

Keeping their 3 man big rotation limited to 16 points total may have been the most impressive part of this game. We were the tougher team, lead in rebounding and took more free throws. Have come a long way from the dainty 3 point hoisting team in Maui.

44 of our 77 points were off twos, 18 off free throws. If AK could hit the broad side of a barn we might have run away with this one. He had a very strange game, almost looked like he could have had a bug.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Liam has star potential for us. If he can improve his consistency, I don’t see why he can’t be our best player by March

IMO our “best player” at the end of the year has to be him or Stewart for this team to reach its ceiling.

The other guys on the roster can flourish in more complementary roles.

I think McNeeley is obviously most likely based on what we have seen so far. Stewart seems to be on trajectory for next year, but he seems capable if given the time to grow into it.

 

[Husky Alien]

 

[REB1094]

This was an impressive win. This year, Gonzaga is not that soft west coast team that you can bully and they played UConn tough. Battle was a great portal addition for Gonzaga and I had forgotten that he started his career at Butler.

This Gonzaga team seems legit. Khalif Battle is a straight up hooper, Nembhard seems more confident than ever, and they have a really good frontcourt in Huff/Ike

I don’t know how I feel about their long term chances with their star C being 6’9 (and not named Adama Sanogo), but this team is solid

They play UCLA soon, but other than that the only top 50 kenpom games for the rest of the year are the 2 SMC games. Unless they majorly choke, they should be looking at a really good record by the end of the season

 

[87Xfer]

The ball was in the front court, awful call

Just watched it again twice, and no it wasn't

 

[Waquoit]

What exactly is wrong with Karaban? He missed all of his 3’s. Didn’t box out on several occasions. Threw the ball away a few times and seemed reluctant to shoot for most of the game.

What's wrong with you? It was a great win.

 

[Waquoit]

We're back...

As @Tenspro2002 said earlier in the week, this win could be the difference of being a 2/3 seed versus a 5/6 seed. Huge!

Ehhh. We're UConn. We don't care about no stinkin' seeds.

 

[lateralous]

Last year was obviously the exception but I generally believe teams are better off going through a certain amount of adversity during a given season. Coming off two straight natties and an offseason filled with adulation, I think the reset that getting embarrassed in Maui provided will prove to be an invaluable part of this teams development.

It was hard to watch at the time but IMO the Huskies will be that much better off having gone through it, even if it means we’re ultimately a seed or two below what we might otherwise have been without 3 straight losses.

 

[TheHorde]

Last year was obviously the exception but I generally believe teams are better off going through a certain amount of adversity during a given season. Coming off two straight natties and an offseason filled with adulation, I think the reset that getting embarrassed in Maui provided will prove to be an invaluable part of this teams development.

It was hard to watch at the time but IMO the Huskies will be that much better off having gone through it, even if it means we’re ultimately a seed or two below what we might otherwise have been without 3 straight loses.

It certainly didn’t hurt two years ago.

 

[Marat]

That is true and Ball, no matter what people say about his defensive deficiencies or deficiencies in other areas of the game, the guy can flat out shoot. He is UConn's best 3 point shooter and playing off the ball is what he does best and like you said there are other players on the team that do that well.

Every time he releases that 3 ball, I believe it's going to be good.

 

[Waquoit]

Just observing that his play has been (to date) poor.

You've posted said observation several times. What I want to know is, do you feel better now?

 

[Edward Sargent]

This Gonzaga team seems legit. Khalif Battle is a straight up hooper, Nembhard seems more confident than ever, and they have a really good frontcourt in Huff/Ike

I don’t know how I feel about their long term chances with their star C being 6’9 (and not named Adama Sanogo), but this team is solid

They play UCLA soon, but other than that the only top 50 kenpom games for the rest of the year are the 2 SMC games. Unless they majorly choke, they should be looking at a really good record by the end of the season

I was at a wedding so didn’t see the game. Looking at the boxscore what was up with Ike. I was worried about him going in. Was it good D or poor O?

 

[DogMania]

So now looking back on it, 2 of our 3 losses were against top 25 teams. Maui makes a little more sense

Two of those 3 they gave up late leads and lost by a combined total of 3 points. UConn would still be a top 10, probably top 5, if they made it to the Maui championship game and the narrative would be completely different. With that said, seems it took that experience for Hurley to realize he was out of control and needed to mature. He's not only kinder to the officials, but more positive with his players.

Seems lessons learned and the team is getting better.

 

[bendm]

Hot take - this team NEEDED Maui lol

 

[REB1094]

I was at a wedding so didn’t see the game. Looking at the boxscore what was up with Ike. I was worried about him going in. Was it good D or poor O?

Honestly not sure. There were times that we flashed double teams at him when he got the ball, but overall he just wasn't that aggressive. Spent a good chunk of the second half in foul trouble. They were definitely playing through their guards

 

[TerryBoyz]

Great win. Love owning MSG. The defense still needs work but it is definitely coming along.

It's fair to ask. What the hell is going on with Karaban? His confidence looks shot.

They thought they had a chance to win by slowing AK down, they did not.