Hurley ponders his options to go double big

[PAHusky]

Chief suggested double bigs last summer and now the coach is saying it. Why not have a zone package in away/neautral court games when Calhoun isn’t in attendance. LOL
He has pretty good skills but sure in HS, why not have your Big do dunks, layups and baby hooks.

Double bigs is a godawful idea. This is a team that couldn’t shoot from three at all last year to the point where defenses packed the lane and practically dared us to shoot. Playing two bigs - one a freshman - is a recipe for disaster offensively and on defense neither has the foot speed to stay with athletic fours who can shoot.

Glad to see Hurley has as much fun speculating about wacky lineups as the BY does in the offseason though.

 

[Deleted at users request]

So let me get this straight. We spent most of last year complaining about the Whaley/Sanogo lineup when Whaley was the DPOY and a 30% 3 point shooter, but we’re going to talk ourselves into the idea of a DC/As lineup?

 

[Deleted at users request]

We agree on something for once lol

 

[MTBingNinja]

Many of you aren't going to like this article. I can't see Hurley doing this much anyway.

“Coach talked about me and Donovan playing at the same time. I think it can be good,” Sanogo said. “I am definitely shooting this year. If my defender doesn’t come out, I’m shooting it because my shot is getting better.

“Donovan has stuff he still has to work on. He is a good player. He is going to be fine. He has potential. He has to work on defense. In the Big East, there are teams you have to be able to switch everything. Villanova and St. John’s don’t play with a big man, so you have to switch. I think he will be fine.”

“Donovan is such a skilled passer, even in the high post and key area, whether it is versus a zone or man-to-man that we are tinkering, especially with Andre’s injury, at playing more zone and trying to find a way to get them on the court together a little bit,” Hurley said. “Obviously, we really want to play Donovan.”

Hurley ponders his options to go double big

STORRS - The makeup of the UConn men's basketball team is such this season that coach Dan Hurley has some big decisions to make. By big, we're talking about the 6-foot-9 and 7-foot-2 type of big. Hurley has been saying since the middle of the summer that he's unsure what the starting lineup will

www.rep-am.com

I can't get any of the free article websites to work with the Waterbury Republican-American. But you can register with them for free and get 5 articles a week. I did that and it took 10 seconds.

I can’t read or listen to this coach talk anymore. Let’s see what happens when the games mean something

 

[Chief00]

Depends on the plus/minus of the combo versus what Sanogo does alone. I’m a little skeptical about pulling Adama away from the basket consistently. He’s been too big a force there. Plus, either of our centers are going to struggle to guard at the perimeter. Having both of them out there at the same time would seem to be risky.

I would do high / low. Foul line entry pass to guy on box. I agree neither is a 3 point threat. On this team we have Hawkins, Karaban and Joey California for the 3’s. Newton may be a threat also.

 

[Chief00]

Double bigs is a godawful idea. This is a team that couldn’t shoot from three at all last year to the point where defenses packed the lane and practically dared us to shoot. Playing two bigs - one a freshman - is a recipe for disaster offensively and on defense neither has the foot speed to stay with athletic fours who can shoot.

Glad to see Hurley has as much fun speculating about wacky lineups as the BY does in the offseason though.

This is a totally different 3 team than last season.

 

[Chief00]

Can Sanogo play on the perimeter and let DC be the big man in the paint? Maybe!

But that doesn't mean he should. Sanogo was BE 1st team and BE preseason POY by bullying his way through all of America from 10ft and within. Really not sure why you would pull him out to the perimeter so that a freshman can have the paint.

I can see it in some early season schemes for fun, but I really don't think we'll see this in the PKI or conference play (unless we're rocking Depaul by 20+)

To me double bigs is not playing one on the permitter, that would defeat the purpose.

 

[CL82]

To me double bigs is not playing one on the permitter, that would defeat the purpose.

If you’ve got two clogging the paint you were going to be vulnerable on the perimeter against good teams

 

[Improviser]

When we played Clemson in 1990, during the Tate George end of game miracle shot with Dale Ellis as their coach, they played 2 bigs , Dale Davis and Elden Campbell, aka the "Duo of Doom."

As I recall, they both played near the basket with one a center and the other a power forward, and they complemented each other well, but neither played on the perimeter.

Not saying Sanogo and Clingan can complement each other playing near the basket. Time will tell if this ever occurs.

 

[superjohn]

When we played Clemson in 1990, during the Tate George end of game miracle shot with Dale Ellis as their coach, they played 2 bigs , Dale Davis and Elden Campbell, aka the "Duo of Doom."

As I recall, they both played near the basket with one a center and the other a power forward, and they complemented each other well, but neither played on the perimeter.

Not saying Sanogo and Clingan can complement each other playing near the basket. Time will tell if this ever occurs.

The game has changed significantly in the past 30+ years.

 

[Sole]

I think Hurley is just trying to find more minutes for DC..because he’s good player

 

[coachn]

You all know that I think the world of DC for a variety of reasons. Biggest is he has been a winner and proven team player.
When he is in the game he will raise the level of play for EVERYBODY. Think of the confidence this will instil in our 3 pt shooters with a big like that rebounding. He's a big stud not a dud. If you want a difference maker DC is it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The game has changed significantly in the past 30+ years.

And both of those guys were more mobile and athletic than either Sanogo or Clingan. I don’t expect this except very situationally where it would help us defensively.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

I love it, especially against some of the mid majors. No one’s gonna be able to match up size wise with Sanogo down low, and especially not Sanogo and clingan. There’s nothing better than size to guarantee we don’t lose some of these lower level gimme games we have on the OOC schedule.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Clingan at PG.

I like the idea of making teams adjust to us rather than the opposite.

We need to get DC to start training with Wembanyama.

 

[August_West]

Double-big ain't gonna happen except in very specific matchups.

Very true.

This is one of those proclamations we hear every preseason like : "We are going to be a running team this year and push tempo" , ;-) That never happens.

This won't either except like you mentioned "specific matchups" and I can't imagine many that will lend itself to it.

From what I'm hearing though, it may the only way Donovan sees much floor early on. He's still absorbing, and Sanogo simply won't allow it with his own play. Adama is playing that well right now, and never wants out.

 

[Chin Diesel]

It has to be against a team whose 4 and 5 are not great shooters and not overly athletic for Sanogo and Clingan to be on the floor together defensively.

This offense works with a high/low but not a double down on the blocks. I know it's against low level high school but I think I trust Clingan more at the high post and feeding entry passes to Sanogo in the low post than the other way around.

I also think Clingan can quickly become enough of a threat with foul line and elbow jumpers to make it work. And yes, I realize a 15' jump shot by a 7'2" players is one of the least valuable shots in today's game.

But eventually you need to figure out what works best for your best talent and there will be some games where this can work for 3-5 minutes a half.

 

[navery12]

I think we could (and probably should) realistically see this in some of the low major OOC games. Once we get to BE play I would be surprised if it ever sees the light of day. There's only 1 or 2 teams it could even have a small chance of working against (Xavier and maybe Georgetown), and even then I'm not sure what advantage it gives us

 

[CL82]

But eventually you need to figure out what works best for your best talent and there will be some games where this can work for 3-5 minutes a half.

Exactly. This isn’t Hurley saying he’s going to start them both and have our version of the twin towers. It is a way to selectively grab a couple of extra minutes for Donovan without taking them from Sanogo.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Exactly. This isn’t Hurley saying he’s going to start them both and have our version of the twin towers. It is a way to selectively grab a couple of extra minutes for Donovan without taking them from Sanogo.

I'm not sure Donovan is even going to get all the backup 5 minutes. It will be interesting to see, but I'm concerned about the defense.

 

[Rico444]

Put me in the camp that thinks this would be a complete disaster against good teams. It would mean either our two bigs are clogging the paint, which will lead to terrible spacing and poor offense, or we'll be relying on our two centers to take threes, which is not a good idea. I hope this is just coach talk and isn't a realistic option outside of rare situations where we face a team that plays two immobile bigs.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Double bigs won’t work in Big East. Also, I imagine Donovan is a better shooter than Adama. Both need to be able to shoot 3s if they want a long pro careers, though maybe Donovan can be a rim protector and rebounder. I gotta see him at the college level first.

Adama won’t play in the nba if he doesn’t extend his range.

 

[CL82]

I'm not sure Donovan is even going to get all the backup 5 minutes. It will be interesting to see, but I'm concerned about the defense.

It’s going to depend on the matchup. And if he has to guard someone added the perimeter or if they expect him to switch on defense, you are probably right. I guess that we will play a lot of zone while he is in, but he has lost a ton of weight, so maybe he’ll surprise us a bit.

 

[Scrutineer]

Lots of Boneyardin' in this discussion.
The facts are it's two weeks to the opener and the exciting additions to the roster have everybody speculating:
-Lots of experts on high/low, inside/outside, yada yada;
-Many believe Dan Hurley is fixated on playing a certain way and can never change, even if he has a roster like he's never had;
-Nobody knows how much or little AS has improved his shot;
-Nobody knows if SJ and RS aren't shaping up as the guys capable of giving AS a breather;
-Nobody knows how the rest of the team looks;
-Nobody knows how good or bad DC looks so far;
-Nobody knows if Dan Hurley is overwhelmed with how good DC actually is or is just trying to pump DC up to work harder; but
we'll find out some answers in two weeks and lots more in late November.
I'm ready. Is everybody else ready? Go Huskies...........

 

[August_West]

Double bigs won’t work in Big East. Also, I imagine Donovan is a better shooter than Adama. Both need to be able to shoot 3s if they want a long pro careers, though maybe Donovan can be a rim protector and rebounder. I gotta see him at the college level first.

Adama won’t play in the nba if he doesn’t extend his range.

There have been lineups in practice where Adama is camping out in the corner, think of what Whaley's positions were in our sets last year. Dear lord I don't want him in the corner hoisting threes though. He may be an improved outside shooter, but I don't think he is THAT improved.........yet.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

It would be coaching malpractice to not tinker with and try out some unique lineups in preseason and/or in early-season creampuff games based on the unique skillsets that players on your deep talented team possess.

Good on Coach Hurley.

Plus it makes for a fun BY thread!

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Lots of Boneyardin' in this discussion.
The facts are it's two weeks to the opener and the exciting additions to the roster have everybody speculating:
-Lots of experts on high/low, inside/outside, yada yada;
-Many believe Dan Hurley is fixated on playing a certain way and can never change, even if he has a roster like he's never had;
-Nobody knows how much or little AS has improved his shot;
-Nobody knows if SJ and RS aren't shaping up as the guys capable of giving AS a breather;
-Nobody knows how the rest of the team looks;
-Nobody knows how good or bad DC looks so far;
-Nobody knows if Dan Hurley is overwhelmed with how good DC actually is or is just trying to pump DC up to work harder; but
we'll find out some answers in two weeks and lots more in late November.
I'm ready. Is everybody else ready? Go Huskies...........

But or IF
To paraphrase an old baseball saying.
In the ( Spring) Autumn Hope Springs Eternal

 

[Vancat]

 

[methodology]

Hasheem and Adrien never worked. Or Hilton and Boone, etc

I think there are situations and instances where it can create mismatches and turn the other team into one dimensional, outside shooting teams that avoid the paint. Never say never it can be an added weapon

 

[uconnfan68]

Lots of Boneyardin' in this discussion.
The facts are it's two weeks to the opener and the exciting additions to the roster have everybody speculating:
-Lots of experts on high/low, inside/outside, yada yada;
-Many believe Dan Hurley is fixated on playing a certain way and can never change, even if he has a roster like he's never had;
-Nobody knows how much or little AS has improved his shot;
-Nobody knows if SJ and RS aren't shaping up as the guys capable of giving AS a breather;
-Nobody knows how the rest of the team looks;
-Nobody knows how good or bad DC looks so far;
-Nobody knows if Dan Hurley is overwhelmed with how good DC actually is or is just trying to pump DC up to work harder; but
we'll find out some answers in two weeks and lots more in late November.
I'm ready. Is everybody else ready? Go Huskies...........

-Many believe Dan Hurley is fixated on playing a certain way and can never change, even if he has a roster like he's never had;

My worst fear.