Hurley Costs Us Another Game. Will the reporters ask some tough questions?

[UConnSwag11]

That's a much lower ratio than usual, typically it's 6 of the first 6

lol I try to not post and let others sound insane so I just stick to the stocks thread but the first half was so bad I couldn't help it

 

[navery12]

It's not even so much Adams as Hurley gets us down by so much and does nothing to fix it. Not even taking timeouts. e

I'm not gonna argue Hurley is perfect, there's plenty he needs to work on. But it's just the selective memory, we got off to a great start against St. John's and then they crept it. I just think with no Bouknight the team is way too streaky

 

[CallMeBruce]

Imagine thinking that the horde even has the awareness necessary to ask difficult questions. These guys are mostly checked out.

 

[UConnSwag11]

I'm not gonna argue Hurley is perfect, there's plenty he needs to work on. But it's just the selective memory, we got off to a great start against St. John's and then they crept it. I just think with no Bouknight the team is way too streaky

I agree but if you pay attention Hurley always either lets our lead slip away or lets the other teams lead balloon to double digits

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

That's a much lower ratio than usual, typically it's 6 of the first 6

16-65, and counting.

 

[Improviser]

I think today shows Hurley we need Gaffney/Jackson over Adams. He did realize after the beginning of the 2nd half. Jackson played much better than I would have expected.

Jackson defensively kept his man in front of him. He threw crisp passes. He got some rebounds. Seems to have a decent handle. Made a 3 and of course, the awesome dunk. He should improve with more play. Gaffney showed good body control on his reverses under the basket and a decent shot from the outside. Really impressive play from him in the second half.

So then, there were positives despite the mostly horrible most of the first half.

But, Polley was basically useless. Whaley did not do much. Sanogo showed some good post moves. Not much from Cole. Would have won with Bouk.

Mamu is a tough one to guard with his ability to shoot 3's and his post-ups.

On the failure to call the timeout to stop Seton Hall's run or to change momentum, game stoppages from a quirky play clock or wiping a wet spot, or anything that stops a game is never good for the team with momentum. So then, a quicker timeout would at least have maybe stopped or delayed the bleeding.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

Mods really need to add a “Dislike” button...

 

[back2BE4us]

I seem to recall Hurley talking how Gaff hasn’t taken the leap in year 2 as expected. Gaffney hasn’t given him any reason, up until this game, to warrant getting significant minutes.

If this happens next game where Gaffney doesn’t get more PT than Adams then I’ll understand the complaints here but Gaffney has been a wet blanket up until this game. At least Hurley made the adjustment in the second half when it was obvious who deserved those minutes.

Oh...and UConn won’t win another game this season giving up 80. This team isn’t built for that. This game was an outlier. Chill everyone.

Be happy Jackson looked promising and Bouk is back...

 

[QDOG5]

I read these posts and all I can think is hold on, hold on, time out. Oops, I mean no time out.

 

[UCfor3]

I agree but if you pay attention Hurley always either lets our lead slip away or lets the other teams lead balloon to double digits

The players have something to do with that as well. Yeah, he can call a timeout and should but that doesn't guarantee an immediate turnaround. He's far from perfect but the blame game is strong here. Missing our all american, Ajax, Akok, 3 covid layoffs, mssed foul shots and bad defense have played a role in losses as well. Never just one thing. He needs to improve in some areas, but this is a day at the beach compared to a few years ago, especially considering all the obstacles this year and step up in competition. Expectations and people being cooped up have people extra salty this year. I get it. Silver linings are getting old but AJax, Gaff and Sanogo were all encouraging. Bottom line is our season hinges on how soon Bouk comes back and staying away from Covid stops once he does.

 

[superjohn]

I would bet any amount of money that Adams isn't starting the next game, because Bouknight will be our starting 2 guard

Yep, Bouknight is playing next game.

 

[GotNets?]

Gaffney played over Adams almost the entire 2nd half

True enough - and I’m pretty sure the 2nd half stats show that was a good decision that should have happened 20 minutes earlier.

 

[Lefty2one]

I think today it finally sunk into Hurley's head that Adams is not a rotational piece on this team. Spot minutes when there's foul trouble, sure, but he was worse defensively today than he was on offense, which certainly says something. With Jackson back, and hopefully Bouk in a few days, there's no time to pussyfoot around this when we're not a lock for the tournament. Hurley has to make the adjustment immediately.

 

[freshler40]

Surely a muddy start for us against a hot shooting team from NJ. We didn't play up, very soft for 10-14 minutes. Jackson/Gaffney look like a good combo with our freshman big if he can stay on the court. A time out 6 minutes in might have helped settle us down, not called so late in the first half and down 15. The size of SH really hurt us a lot, we had no answers. In fairness, SH has played 7 more games this season than ourselves, that is missed quality time for newcomers.

A big problem with our current line-up is the wasted dribble/holding time of our guards, no sense of time but repeatedly running the clock down to under 10 seconds before driving to the hoop. We are almost playing the clock like were ahead! This is poor time management. The SH coach pressed most of the game taking at least 10+ seconds off our shot clock. He knew we take too many passes after being in the half court prior to taking a shot. Our coaches/players never seemed to adjust to this aspect. This is maddening to see with 4-5 minutes left and down 5 points!

We also lack a good midrange shooter in the current set-up. We need a Rip Hamilton type pullup shooter. Why can't Polly do more of this rather than only look for his 3 pointer? We were not successful getting the ball inside the top of the key at all except on drives to hoop.

 

[Huskymagic]

He took his first timeout at what?, under 4 when we were already down 18 and playing like garbage? He continued with the same lineup that got us down 18.

He never ever stops an opposing team's run and continues to play Adams over Gaffney.

Jackson, Gaffney, and Polley should play in front of him.

How many days have we missed due to our ridiculous protocols? Almost a month's worth. There is no way that also has an affect on the team.

In-Game coaching definitely needs work. It's like the little engine that almost could with Hurley and the team against good teams. BAdams playing so much and Cole as our main point guard is killing the team. Polley not being put in positions to get shots open is making us easy to scout and beat.

Teams don't even worry about our inside game or penetration from guards. Teams know stay tight on Polley and the whole team is discombobulated.

Not utilizing timeouts well, the right players not playing nearly enough or put in positions to succeed is a big problem.

PS: AJacks needs to run point at least half of the game moving forward to change the dynamic. He needs to alternate with Gaff.

 

[dalydosehoops]

He took his first timeout at what?, under 4 when we were already down 18 and playing like garbage? He continued with the same lineup that got us down 18.

He never ever stops an opposing team's run and continues to play Adams over Gaffney.

Jackson, Gaffney, and Polley should play in front of him.

How many days have we missed due to our ridiculous protocols? Almost a month's worth. There is no way that also has an affect on the team.

Willard on having UConn back at the end of this transcript:

Kevin Willard quote book: UConn

On Seton Hall’s defense against Providence and UConn: “I just think the overall bounce back is really important. I thought we played good — ...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

 

[August_West]

I dont know about rest of thread but hurleys T was dumb. Can’t call it anything but dumb. 2nd time he’s done that recently.

either learn the right game situations and times for T ( and honestly that’s reserved for a select few game coach masters, most are terrible at it) or don’t get them at all.

 

[Jbirdp5]

Hurleys biggest mistake today was the tech in the second half. That was bad.

 

[Watchdog]

Yes, I agree he needs to stop playing Adams and I wish he realized 10 games ago. My point is he did finally realize in the 2nd half today so the question seems pointless

Right.
Adams only played 16 minutes and the Seniors may have been the bigger problem. Looking on the bright side, maybe JG had his breakout game.
Perspective:
Seniors in 51 minutes: 3 for 9 for 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Gaffney in 25 minutes: 5 for 11 (8 for 9 FT's) for 20 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists.
Adams in 16 minutes: 2 for 6 for 5 points, 0 rebounds and 1 assist.

 

[GotNets?]

The players have something to do with that as well. Yeah, he can call a timeout and should but that doesn't guarantee an immediate turnaround. He's far from perfect but the blame game is strong here. Missing our all american, Ajax, Akok, 3 covid layoffs, mssed foul shots and bad defense have played a role in losses as well. Never just one thing. He needs to improve in some areas, but this is a day at the beach compared to a few years ago, especially considering all the obstacles this year and step up in competition. Expectations and people being cooped up have people extra salty this year. I get it. Silver linings are getting old but AJax, Gaff and Sanogo were all encouraging. Bottom line is our season hinges on how soon Bouk comes back and staying away from Covid stops once he does.

Obviously Bouk can change the situation and many factors are at play, but speaking tactically, Hurley has to take some ownership and accountability for letting things get out of hand. He tells the team not to wait for Bouk to come and save the day - the same principals apply to him. There’s no moral victories or acceptable losses. Players miss shots - they’re kids - but you put them in a position to succeed and his failure to adapt over the first 10 minutes of the game was patently poor.

Make them run fixed sets every time down like JC would have if they couldn’t get anything going. Perhaps a time out wouldn’t have changed anything but nothing changes if nothing changes - they were running into a wall again and again (probably the COVID rust) and I didn’t see any attempt to triage that fairly predictable problem.

Maybe he was thinking, I need to let them play through this rust to get into rhythm but it’s hard to dig out from that kind of whole.

its very frustrating...

 

[KingAG]

The T wasn’t on Hurley, it was on the bench

 

[Tenspro2002]

I think today it finally sunk into Hurley's head that Adams is not a rotational piece on this team. Spot minutes when there's foul trouble, sure, but he was worse defensively today than he was on offense, which certainly says something. With Jackson back, and hopefully Bouk in a few days, there's no time to pussyfoot around this when we're not a lock for the tournament. Hurley has to make the adjustment immediately.

Adams is a rotational piece in a game you're winning and you want steady play, no turnovers, and solid D.

He's not a guy who's going to turn a bad game around or, frankly, the kind of guy you run out there to start a game when you're looking to punch your opponent in the mouth.

We need to do more of that.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I dont know about rest of thread but hurleys T was dumb. Can’t call it anything but.m dumb. 2nd time he’s done that recently.

either learn the right game situations and times for T ( and honestly that’s reserved for a select few game coach masters, most are terrible at it) or don’t get them at all.

@Palatine started a thread on this too.

And yes, refs watch film and see what plays led up to a coach getting a T. While I don't necessarily expect refs to admit screwing up in game, when refs notice a coach lost his mind over a blown call, they will be more likely to give leeway in the future if a coach goes off. When a coach goes off because he's just lost control, they're more likely to T up again in the future.

I will add, the T last game was a BS call because Hurley was having a conversation right next to one ref and the other ref 30' away T'ed him up. Today's T was just dumb. And, I don't expect anyone to hold him accountable for it.

 

[August_West]

The T wasn’t on Hurley, it was on the bench

Didn’t know, that. Equally dumb

 

[Lefty2one]

Yes, I agree he needs to stop playing Adams and I wish he realized 10 games ago. My point is he did finally realize in the 2nd half today so the question seems pointless

In his defense, who else was going to play? Without Bouk or Jackson he didn't have much of a choice. Today he finally had the luxury to yank Adams thanks to Jackson's return.

 

[auror]

I think today it finally sunk into Hurley's head that Adams is not a rotational piece on this team. Spot minutes when there's foul trouble, sure, but he was worse defensively today than he was on offense, which certainly says something. With Jackson back, and hopefully Bouk in a few days, there's no time to pussyfoot around this when we're not a lock for the tournament. Hurley has to make the adjustment immediately.

Well he finally got another option to play to replace him that can guard 2s: Jackson. We didn't really have another good option (Gaff had been tentative, Martin was needed to guard others down the line, Polley can't guard 2s.)

 

[superjohn]

Adams is a rotational piece in a game you're winning and you want steady play, no turnovers, and solid D.

He's not a guy who's going to turn a bad game around or, frankly, the kind of guy you run out there to start a game when you're looking to punch your opponent in the mouth.

We need to do more of that.

His minutes will go way down with Jackson back and Bouknight coming back next game. We've been undermanned the majority of this season but he was still getting too much time. That will change, if it doesn't than we will really have to worry about whether coach has lost his mind.

 

[Lefty2one]

Adams is a rotational piece in a game you're winning and you want steady play, no turnovers, and solid D.

I don't see him as a solid defender. I know a lot of folks around here believe that he is but I don't see it. Today he was especially terrible.

 

[BlueDogs]

Stop! This loss is not on Hurley, or anybody else on the coaching staff. We had not played in 10 days, and we still don't have Bouknight. That's why we lost.

Let’s put it differently. He didn’t put us in the best position to win. The last 2 minutes were so mismanaged and frittered away I don’t know what he was looking at. The guy suffers from serious tunnel vision.

 

[UCfor3]

Obviously Bouk can change the situation and many factors are at play, but speaking tactically, Hurley has to take some ownership and accountability for letting things get out of hand. He tells the team not to wait for Bouk to come and save the day - the same principals apply to him. There’s no moral victories or acceptable losses. Players miss shots - they’re kids - but you put them in a position to succeed and his failure to adapt over the first 10 minutes of the game was patently poor.

Make them run fixed sets every time down like JC would have if they couldn’t get anything going. Perhaps a time out wouldn’t have changed anything but nothing changes if nothing changes - they were running into a wall again and again (probably the COVID rust) and I didn’t see any attempt to triage that fairly predictable problem.

Maybe he was thinking, I need to let them play through this rust to get into rhythm but it’s hard to dig out from that kind of whole.

its very frustrating...

There are no acceptable losses? We havent earned that kind of entitlement. We are not the Lakers. We are a fringe top 25 team playing without one of the best players in the country coming off our 3rd layoff. We played a solid team that has played 18 games to date. Seton Hall played really well offensively and made some tough shots. I agnowledged Hurley needs to be better but spazzing out saying it's the coaches fault everytime we lose is ridiculous and lacks perspective.