Hassan Diarra Commits to UConn

[ThabeetDown]

It certainly seemed like Gaff was tentative and was easily rattled by a mistake. There were very occasional flashes of his athleticism where you’d nod your head like “why doesn’t he do that more often?” I imagine the lack of playing time also did not help for someone where confidence is not a strength.

It's a chicken or the egg type thing because what if the lack of playing time was due to his inconsistency, rather than vice versa as you imply?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Haha we do? ok that is good to know. DHAM was more of a PG than AJ is due to his ability to break down defenders. Right now AJ doesn't have that ability at all. There is a reason why many people are mentioning AJ as the 4 and why we have now gotten a guy who can backup TN at the point in Diarra.

I'll make my last comment on this subject. I presume Hurley disagrees with you because of how often he played Andre at the point last year and as the primary facilitator. That all being said, this is such a stupid topic because a modern offense requires multiple facilitators on the floor, so trying to split hairs on whether a player is THE point guard or not is a waste of time. We struggled last year because when RJ or Andre was out,we really only had one on the court. If Diarra and/or Alleyne can bring more to the table there than we had off the bench last year, that will be a huge help to the team in allowing multiple facilitators to stay on the court at all times.

 

[tykurez]

It's a chicken or the egg type thing because what if the lack of playing time was due to his inconsistency, rather than vice versa as you imply?

Sure, I get that - but based on the very unscientific eye test, Jalen seemed to have the tools. He’s not undersized, he was very athletic and he had a good looking shot. Now imagine for a second he had the confidence of Christian Vital - I think maybe his career at UConn would have been much different.

 

[CL82]

Hurley used the word "facilitator". That's the current reality. You are either a guy who is good at creating shots for others or you aren't. He is. Newton is. Alleyne might be.

Although I agree with your point generally, I’m not confident Alleyne will be a facilitator for us. I think of him more as a better version of Tyler Polley.

 

[tcf15]

All 3 of them did, I checked before I listed them. But don't let facts get in the way of your argument

You'd have to go all the way back to the 2022 season, in Jordan Hawkins. And before him you'd have to go all the way back to Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson in the 2021 season

Just curious who you’re replying/quoting to in these, if anyone at all. Can’t see who it is and I think I’ve finally been blocked/ignored.

 

[navery12]

I changed math? lol

We're talking about guys playing 15 minutes per game and then you changed it to 20 minutes. So it took Sanogo 9 games to get there instead of 1 game since he played 17 minutes game 1.

Then you started adding all these caveats that when the freshman I mentioned did get enough minutes it didn't really count since there were injuries

 

[navery12]

Just curious who you’re replying/quoting to in these, if anyone at all. Can’t see who it is and I think I’ve finally been blocked/ignored.

fatlucy

 

[CL82]

Just curious who you’re replying/quoting to in these, if anyone at all. Can’t see who it is and I think I’ve finally been blocked/ignored.

LOL, seriously? You are probably the least offensive poster on the board by a wide margin.

 

[Hungryhusky99]

We're talking about guys playing 15 minutes per game and then you changed it to 20 minutes. So it took Sanogo 9 games to get there instead of 1 game since he played 17 minutes game 1.

Then you started adding all these caveats that when the freshman I mentioned did get enough minutes it didn't really count since there were injuries

I averaged the first 9 games of the season and he was at 12mpg, but just counting one game against CCSU seems much more logical.

 

[auror]

Yeah, I don't get this. For all the "the game has changed" stuff directed at me about liking forwards on the team, this shows a complete misunderstanding of the fact that the traditional "point guard" is also a dinosaur position. Hurley used the word "facilitator". That's the current reality. You are either a guy who is good at creating shots for others or you aren't. He is. Newton is. Alleyne might be.

The focus on a "break them down" PG is a throwback to ISO basketball. Most shots are now supposed to be created by ball movement and spacing. Only if that fails does somebody need to beat their man off the dribble. And yes, Andre can certainly do that. The motion and passing should causes switches, and the offense should attack any mismatches. Andre is very much a mismatch against both small guards and many bigs.

Facilitators, connectors, and finishers.

Facilitators pass guys open or create openings for a pass. Often generate advantages. Point guard, point forward, point center, some combo guards.

Connectors are good passers that keep the ball moving and get hockey assists or assists in the flow of the offense. Essentially plus passers without the ability to create advantages, only exploit them with passes. Often good passing wings are this type, but can be guards or bigs as well.

Finishers rarely pass, but take a good amount of shots. Capitalize on advantages generated by others or themselves. Not just bigs, but also guards and wings that are run off screens for shots or specialist spot up shooters.

 

[bendm]

I averaged the first 9 games of the season and he was at 12mpg, but just counting one game against CCSU seems much more logical.

fatlucy said "to start the season" he never said average and he never specified how many games constitute the start of the season you made all that up. sanogo playing 17 in game 1 is case closed.

i cant even remember what the point of this was. whether karaban might average 15 versus 12 mpg "to start the season"?

 

[navery12]

I averaged the first 9 games of the season and he was at 12mpg, but just counting one game against CCSU seems much more logical.

It is when the discussion is did player X play 15 minutes early in the season. The question isn't over the course of the season, or over the OOC schedule, or over 9 games. In Sanogo's and Jackson's case they met the criteria game 1, in Hawkins case it was game 3

 

[drayenob]

Diarra is the example of where stats don't matter. He takes tough shots with the game on the line. This has been a problem over the last few years, guys taking big shots at the end of game with conviction. Cole was the closest we had to it, he's gone. Closers are important - we just got one.

 

[UCLJ0211]

This is a UConn guard ya’ll. Alpha tendencies, lots of moxie. I trust him to grow into a lead role over time. As a clearly nervous squad over the past few years, I think this does more intangibly than some might realize.

I just can’t believe they needed 2 OTs and a game winner to beat Abilene Christian!

 

[Hungryhusky99]

fatlucy said "to start the season" he never said average and he never specified how many games constitute the start of the season you made all that up. sanogo playing 17 in game 1 is case closed.

i cant even remember what the point of this was. whether karaban might average 15 versus 12 mpg "to start the season"?

My interpretation of to start the season was more than a cupcake game against CCSU. I think the point is with this roster Karaban is going to have be ready for a bigger role in the non conference than most other freshman under Hurley.

 

[Hungryhusky99]

It is when the discussion is did player X play 15 minutes early in the season. The question isn't over the course of the season, or over the OOC schedule, or over 9 games. In Sanogo's and Jackson's case they met the criteria game 1, in Hawkins case it was game 3

Meaningless discussion if you guys are looking at minutes in singular buy games. Stop taking everything so literally and look big picture here.

 

[HuskyHawk]

It certainly seemed like Gaff was tentative and was easily rattled by a mistake. There were very occasional flashes of his athleticism where you’d nod your head like “why doesn’t he do that more often?” I imagine the lack of playing time also did not help for someone where confidence is not a strength.

The question is why. What did Hurley do to inspire confidence or perhaps the opposite? I don't know the answer, but it sure seems like Hurley applies different standards to players, letting some stay on the floor despite mistakes or poor play and pulling others.

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

The question is why. What did Hurley do to inspire confidence or perhaps the opposite? I don't know the answer, but it sure seems like Hurley applies different standards to players, letting some stay on the floor despite mistakes or poor play and pulling others.

Defense
Players (everywhere, not just at UConn) rarely get pulled for what goes on on offense.

 

[bendm]

My interpretation of to start the season was more than a cupcake game against CCSU. I think the point is with this roster Karaban is going to have be ready for a bigger role in the non conference than most other freshman under Hurley.

Meaningless discussion if you guys are looking at minutes in singular buy games. Stop taking everything so literally and look big picture here.

are you arguing he won't be? idk what your point is. we've said we think karaban will be able to contribute right away, similar to sanogo, and jackson, and hawkins.

i personally dont think he will or should be counted on to start right away, but i think he will average 10-15 mpg "to start the season" against all competition. who cares if it's exactly 15.

 

[Hungryhusky99]

are you arguing he won't be? idk what your point is. we've said karaban will be able to contribute right away, similar to sanogo, and jackson, and hawkins.

i personally dont think he will or should be counted on to start right away, but i think he will average 10-15 mpg "to start the season" against all competition. who cares if it's exactly 15.

I think Hurley is going to have to trust him more than those other 3 to start the year is my point. Hurley has brought freshman along much slower in the past than you guys are admitting. Bouknight was the best talent we had in 10 years and it took half the season to start him.

 

[bendm]

I think Hurley is going to have to trust him more than those other 3 to start the year is my point. Hurley has brought freshman along much slower in the past than you guys are admitting. Bouknight was the best talent we had in 10 years and it took half the season to start him.

i still dont see why karaban playing 10-15 mpg to start the year is that hard to imagine. and if it's closer to 10 mpg then it's not more than was expected of aj or sanogo.

i dont see a scenario where hurley is forced to rely on karaban to start or play significant minutes if he's not ready since we've got a strong 8-9 man rotation.

 

[fatlucy]

Meaningless discussion if you guys are looking at minutes in singular buy games. Stop taking everything so literally and look big picture here.

I wasn’t playing literal statistics games, just pointing out that our expectations of an unproven frosh are unjustified and ripe for a let down. He may be great but not many freshman are. I’d rather have a proven wing come in than risk relying on a freshman.

 

[Hungryhusky99]

And Sanogo started his first game. You're zigzagging around the facts to pretend they support your position, but they absolutely do not. He didn't play freshmen much last year because Diggins wasn't good and Samson wasn't ready. Get over it.

Sanogo didn't start his first game. I guess zigzagging is better than just making things up.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Although I agree with your point generally, I’m not confident Alleyne will be a facilitator for us. I think of him more as a better version of Tyler Polley.

He's nothing like Polley. He's a guard, good ball handler, and a good defender. He's a worse version of Martin, but probably a better passer.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Defense
Players (everywhere, not just at UConn) rarely get pulled for what goes on on offense.

Explain Polley then. Our worst defender (possibly aside from Diggins) and played a lot of minutes anyway. In general, I think you're right, but Hurley seems to have certain favorites and trusts veteran players despite their shortcomings (including Whaley's on offense).