hard hedge

[ucp990411]

Contrary to popular belief I do think this is a solid defensive philosophy. Whaley is very good at it but Sanogo is not and gets dumb, soft fouls as a result. After doing this for almost 2 seasons and as a result Sanogo often getting into foul trouble the time to give it up is here. We can't not afford having Sanogo sitting out 10-15 minutes in the first half which happens way to often.
That being said our two 5th year seniors are really letting us down. How about we utilize Whaley as the back up at the 4 and 5 and give Hawkins the majority of Polley minutes and hope he develops.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Contrary to popular belief I do think this is a solid defensive philosophy. Whaley is very good at it but Sanogo is not and gets dumb, soft fouls as a result. After doing this for almost 2 seasons and as a result Sanogo often getting into foul trouble the time to give it up is here. We can't not afford having Sanogo sitting out 10-15 minutes in the first half which happens way to often.
That being said our two 5th year seniors are really letting us down. How about we utilize Whaley as the back up at the 4 and 5 and give Hawkins the majority of Polley minutes and hope he develops.

Which Sanogo foul last night as a result of a hard hedge?

 

[Rico444]

Contrary to popular belief I do think this is a solid defensive philosophy. Whaley is very good at it but Sanogo is not and gets dumb, soft fouls as a result. After doing this for almost 2 seasons and as a result Sanogo often getting into foul trouble the time to give it up is here. We can't not afford having Sanogo sitting out 10-15 minutes in the first half which happens way to often.
That being said our two 5th year seniors are really letting us down. How about we utilize Whaley as the back up at the 4 and 5 and give Hawkins the majority of Polley minutes and hope he develops.

We can't abandon the hard hedge right now; our guards can't defend off the dribble, especially if a screen is set.

 

[navery12]

None of Sanogo's fouls last night were a result of the hard hedge. There's no reason to abandon the defensive system that has us 2nd in the country in blocked shots and 7th in 2 point FG%

 

[HooperScooper]

I'd like the coach to focus on the offense instead of the defense. The defense is fine. The offense and poor shooting is the reason they've lost most of these games.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

It's clearly a good defensive approach given our results. That being said (and I'd have to go back and watch yesterday to confirm), it felt like Xavier had a strong counter in their game plan and took advantage of our bigs coming out that far to get great inside position. That's just a difficult matchup with a mobile 7 footer that can roll to the basket.

 

[ucp990411]

Which Sanogo foul last night as a result of a hard hedge?

Not my point just have seen him and Whaley get silly fouls doing it.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Not my point just have seen him and Whaley get silly fouls doing it.

It is my point. The system is effective and Sanogo has shown the ability to play effectively in it. He’s prone to mental lapses that are mutually exclusive to the scheme and also experience appropriate for a sophomore.

 

[Siv]

I thought Xavier was more effective yesterday of running offense against it last night than just about anyone we’ve played all year.

 

[ucp990411]

It is my point. The system is effective and Sanogo has shown the ability to play effectively in it. He’s prone to mental lapses that are mutually exclusive to the scheme and also experience appropriate for a sophomore.

We can’t afford for him to play 25 minutes

 

[Huskyforlife]

Whaley and Sanogo aren’t great post defenders, but there’s much more important things you have to do on defense in 2022. They’re both fine at the hedge.

 

[zls44]

I'd like the coach to focus on the offense instead of the defense. The defense is fine. The offense and poor shooting is the reason they've lost most of these games.

UConn is having their best offensive year since 2011. The defense is the problem.

 

[gtcam]

Just don't let Sanogo hedge because he just doesn't get the concept - it's not rocket science but he doesn't get it, he is slow to recover if he doesn't foul which allows inlet passes to free opponent bigs under the basket. Both Whaley and Sanogo cannot be dual hedgers on the same defensive set - it's a coaching issue
Whaley needs to be on the court
I agree with Hawkins getting Polley's minutes

 

[Chief00]

I will take your word that Adama’s fouls last night have not been due to the hard hedge but that’s only because they were going to Nunge and not doing that type of action on the top of the key very much.
But, this season it’s impacted both offense and defense, since Adama picking up 2 quick ones puts Adama on the bench enroute to a UConn loss.
Without him on offense our shooters, such as we have, don’t have space and with the exception of Cole and Gaffney can’t create it on their own.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think guards should just go under screens above the 3 point line. Let the other team's guards pull up from deep off the screen. That is a 20% shot for most players, at best.

 

[OkaForPrez]

We can’t afford for him to play 25 minutes

Agree with you there. Disagree that this is a consequence of the hedge strategy.

 

[coachn]

Silly hand checking, reaching in and breaking the vehicle plane are things the refs look for. DONT DO THEM.

 

[NJHusky]

Is the issue we play only one way and it makes it too easy for a smart coach to game plan against us (Wright/ McDermott)? Seems smart coaches have more than one arrow and can adjust based on their opponent. Belichek throwing only 3 passes against Buffalo this season comes to mind

 

[Giddyup5]

Is the issue we play only one way and it makes it too easy for a smart coach to game plan against us (Wright/ McDermott)? Seems smart coaches have more than one arrow and can adjust based on their opponent. Belichek throwing only 3 passes against Buffalo this season comes to mind

Agreed. We are an easy scout on offense and especially defense. In 3 of our last 4 losses the opposing team has shot >50%.

His defensive scheme requires perfect communication and execution to work. We are just not executing. In those games I wish we had a plan b to rely on to add another wrinkle. We have seen some zone lately so maybe coach recognizes this.

 

[uconn1999]

One reason I’m not a fan of the HH, is how much it appears to wear down Sanogo. When you’re tired, you commit lazy fouls and how many times has AS committed silly touch fouls? He’s seems exhausted by the 1st TO, if he’s still in the game.
Also, teams with better ball handlers exploit it and find open 3pt shooters as we scramble and chase the ball and go for every ball fake.
Coach Hurley, how about a little defensive diversity

 

[freshler40]

Is the issue we play only one way and it makes it too easy for a smart coach to game plan against us (Wright/ McDermott)? Seems smart coaches have more than one arrow and can adjust based on their opponent. Belichek throwing only 3 passes against Buffalo this season comes to mind

We seem like an easy read, some of that may be because of the chop-up season. Opposing coaches have a lot of game film at this point in the season. Why isn't being unpredictable an advantage???

 

[Chief00]

Agree with you there. Disagree that this is a consequence of the hedge strategy.

That Hedge Fund has a very low return on investment at this point.

 

[OkaForPrez]

That Hedge Fund has a very low return on investment at this point.

Chief we don't see eye to eye on this. That's fine.

 

[Chief00]

Chief we don't see eye to eye on this. That's fine.

We need to put our energies into fixing a very broken offense. Our go to defense should be straight up man to man. But, give them different looks to surprise them and make them prepare for.
Best Regards, Chief

 

[HooperScooper]

UConn is having their best offensive year since 2011. The defense is the problem.

I'm not sure how any UConn fan can watch their games and not see that offense is an issue. What do your eyes tell you? Although a lot of it is just physical abilities. Hurley can't make the layups or the wide open threes they miss. Just look at today's game, which outside of 2-3 games (Seton Hall and Villanova come to mind), has been a typical UConn game in the last 6 weeks. SJU is shooting 32% from the field right now and UConn is only up 1. Hit most of those layups and a couple of the wide open threes and they're up at least a dozen.

Edit: As I write this Hawkins misses a WIDE OPEN layup.