Haven’t seen this mentioned about Hurley last night

[Skiblets]

He looked Jim Calhoun level pissed off at his team in the second half with their piss poor man defense in the second half. One timeout he did no Xs and Os and just lit into them. Y’all catch that?

 

[Hey Adrien!]

About sums it up:

 

[Waquoit]

He looked Jim Calhoun level pissed off at his team in the second half with their piss poor man defense in the second half. One timeout he did no Xs and Os and just lit into them. Y’all catch that?

My SO did. She asked me what was up with that? He's pissed, I said.

 

[CL82]

My favorite was when Jimmy would call a time out and then just glare at everybody.

 

[8893]

My favorite was when Jimmy would call a time out and then just glare at everybody.

From a distance, with arms folded.

 

[bazzdog]

From a distance, with arms folded.

Classic. Someone have a pic?

 

[AZHuskiePop]

From a distance, with arms folded.

Nothing angers a coach more than lazy D.
Despite the Naysayers we lost the heart of our D with Graduations, and Akok’s injury. That’s something Hurley is stressing and the reason why Jackson will be in the lineup.

 

[8893]

Nothing angers a coach more than lazy D.
Despite the Naysayers we lost the heart of our D with Graduations, and Akok’s injury. That’s something Hurley is stressing and the reason why Jackson will be in the lineup.

And Calhoun’s emphasis on it permanently warped me:

IMO the best solution is to start with defense again. Whoever is playing the best defense stays on the floor, and those players will work out an offense.

 

[Skiblets]

Then Bouk won’t see the floor.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Then Bouk won’t see the floor.

Bouknight is trying to stay in front of his man and for the most part he does. He just doesn’t recover well enough to contest shots well. Bouknight doesn’t look like he’s having fun while playing. He’s always talking to himself and looking down at the court. He needs to just play hard and have fun.

 

[Pudge]

Then Bouk won’t see the floor.

AS LONG AS WE ARE ON THE CALHOUN STANDARD ...

Did Jim bench Rip for Defense ... Ray ...
There is a different conversation for some kids; some players HAVE to play D to just get minutes.

 

[Watchdog]

Bouknight is trying to stay in front of his man and for the most part he does. He just doesn’t recover well enough to contest shots well. Bouknight doesn’t look like he’s having fun while playing. He’s always talking to himself and looking down at the court. He needs to just play hard and have fun.

I thought the same thing both games about Bouknight's demeanor. He almost looks like someone who doesn't like their job. No smiles, looking very serious, no joy.
Nothing like when RIP and Kelis Fisher would interact after a breakaway dunk and do their bows to each other. Come to think of it, there's been little to no apparent happiness or fun displayed by anyone.
Too many capable guys maybe worried about too few minutes to go around?

 

[87Xfer]

I thought the same thing both games about Bouknight's demeanor. He almost looks like someone who doesn't like their job. No smiles, looking very serious, no joy.
Nothing like when RIP and Kelis Fisher would interact after a breakaway dunk and do their bows to each other. Come to think of it, there's been little to no apparent happiness or fun displayed by anyone.
Too many capable guys maybe worried about too few minutes to go around?

Not sure I'd read too much into that yet. He looked completely apathetic all of last season. I think it's just his demeanor. Did you see him celebrating after AJ's pass to Javonte for the dunk?

 

[uchusky32]

My favorite was when Jimmy would call a time out and then just glare at everybody.

Cussing/undressing a player while the crowd was silent. Golden. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving 82.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Cussing/undressing a player while the crowd was silent. Golden. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving 82.

I loved the floor stomp and then the dressing down while the crowd was quiet. Once you heard the stomp, you knew what was coming. I remember him doing that with Hilton Armstrong a few times. Also, the timeout immediately after a lazy play. Loved it

 

[CL82]

Cussing/undressing a player while the crowd was silent. Golden. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving 82.

I did thanks for asking. Small but nice. I hope yours was good as well.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I thought the same thing both games about Bouknight's demeanor. He almost looks like someone who doesn't like their job. No smiles, looking very serious, no joy.
Nothing like when RIP and Kelis Fisher would interact after a breakaway dunk and do their bows to each other. Come to think of it, there's been little to no apparent happiness or fun displayed by anyone.
Too many capable guys maybe worried about too few minutes to go around?

I totally agree. There’s a ton of pressure on Bouknight. I hope he can just play like he is capable of and enjoy himself.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I thought the same thing both games about Bouknight's demeanor. He almost looks like someone who doesn't like their job. No smiles, looking very serious, no joy.
Nothing like when RIP and Kelis Fisher would interact after a breakaway dunk and do their bows to each other.

they called him “Effortless James” for a reason in high school, he is just not a very demonstrative guy on the court. Just his personality. Not everyone is gonna dance and go nuts when they make a play.

 

[Chief00]

AS LONG AS WE ARE ON THE CALHOUN STANDARD ...

Did Jim bench Rip for Defense ... Ray ...
There is a different conversation for some kids; some players HAVE to play D to just get minutes.

Of course the answer is no, but Rip actually played pretty good defense for an offensive star.

 

[uchusky32]

I did thanks for asking. Small but nice. I hope yours was good as well.

It was thanks.

 

[Ewekon]

Bouknight is trying to stay in front of his man and for the most part he does. He just doesn’t recover well enough to contest shots well. Bouknight doesn’t look like he’s having fun while playing. He’s always talking to himself and looking down at the court. He needs to just play hard and have fun.

I really think this is simply the case of a very young man feeling the pressure of expectations, both internal and external. The "smooth" in his physical game will emerge in the mental game.

Think J. Lamb.

 

[LIuconn]

Some players play better when they play angry. Whatever it takes to lock-in

 

[8893]

AS LONG AS WE ARE ON THE CALHOUN STANDARD ...

Did Jim bench Rip for Defense ... Ray ...
There is a different conversation for some kids; some players HAVE to play D to just get minutes.

He gave Ray a very long leash. Khalid may have had the longest leash of any Calhoun player.

I do remember Rip getting flack for defensive lapses and Calhoun riding him hard about it in the press for a few weeks, during which Rip redoubled his defensive efforts and nicknamed himself “Clamps,” at least partly sarcastically.

Anyone else remember that?

 

[inWV]

I remember one game where Johnny Selvie did something really stupid, Calhoun immediately called time, then ran about half the court to get in his ear before Johnny got to the bench.

 

[Umami Zen]

Nothing angers a coach more than lazy D.
Despite the Naysayers we lost the heart of our D with Graduations, and Akok’s injury. That’s something Hurley is stressing and the reason why Jackson will be in the lineup.

D is about focus and effort.. Moving your feet.. Dan Hurley is looking for two way players to show up/emerge.. PT will not be given just because you can make buckets.. Big Boy BB next week.. Dan Hurley is trying to raise their defensive intensity since they currently aren't displaying their own ability to do it themselves (immaturity)

 

[Kitaman]

Bouknight doesn’t look like he’s having fun while playing. He’s always talking to himself and looking down at the court. He needs to just play hard and have fun.

To me he's too hard on himself. Its like he wants to play like Khawi after only one year of D1, and gets frustrated too easily. Almost self critical.

But watch him when he is on the bench, he is the biggest cheerleader clapping, laughing and enjoying his teammates success. Its when he seems to be judging himself where the seriousness seems to switch on.

 

[Huskybass]

Then Bouk won’t see the floor.

NEVER happen. Has to play as many minutes as possible, unless a game is well in hand.

 

[olehead]

Bouknight is trying to stay in front of his man and for the most part he does. He just doesn’t recover well enough to contest shots well. Bouknight doesn’t look like he’s having fun while playing. He’s always talking to himself and looking down at the court. He needs to just play hard and have fun.

What is that? Please say he's not pressing already. Way too early for him to be in his head. He just needs to forget about the NBA and 3's and all the other ish and just play. Go have fun. Get some dunks, some reverses, and 1's. He just needs to play.

Edward's went #1 this year and shot 29% from 3. He went 1st because he played loose with nothing to lose. We get a Bouk playing for his teammates removes that pressure. This in turn could move us up a notch in the Big East, place us easily in the 2nd with a strong likelihood of 3rd round tourney advancement. Bouk would have to be in the league player of the year conversation and within top 15 of the first round. Bouk will figure it out quickly that things works themselves out, particularly un light of his immense gifts, when you consider others more than yourself.

 

[BlueDogs]

Team lacks leadership and an identity. Chemistry will come when Dan Hurley hones in on the right players to command the floor and players settle into their roles. Bouk is an awesome talent but has a lot of work to do still. Not disappearing for chunks of time is job 1.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Hurley is going to have to do something this season, and hopefully soon, that he hasn't had to do yet while at UConn.

He is going to have to tell players he recruited, and at the time of recruitment, players Hurley believed could be key players, that they are going to the bench. He has already done it with with Josh, but Josh wasn't his recruit.

I don't think mid-January Gaff, Cole and Bouk are all starting. And I'm highly confident Bouk is going to start. That leaves either putting Gaff or Cole on bench at the start of the game. And that's a tough conversation for a coach to have with one of his recruits. Even harder when each player has pros and cons and their biggest weakness (perimeter defense) is the same for both. Team needs a floor general and so far it's been awkward with Gaff and Cole on court together.

Same thing is going to happen with Martin now eligible and Akok soon returning. Minutes aren't there for everyone. Through two games looks like Whaley is good for 25 MPG and Sanogo has shown good offense and is going to get 15 mpg. That is 40 mpg at the 5 spot. Unlike others I don't see Whaley playing much 4.

At the 3 and 4 there is now Adams (who can also at some 2G), Martin and Jackson and at the 4 there is Polley and Akok.

Next week seems like first semester finals for the players- three games against different opponents. Time to see who has a versatile game and who is a match up type player.