Hurley takes responsibility for poor second half start

[Palatine]

Hurley is definitely a stand up guy. He said that sometimes coming out in the second half he is too focused on getting the ball to a specific spot. He thinks that happened today.

He thinks he may have to change his approach. It's something he will look at. Love it when the coach doesn't blame the players and looks at himself first. Players love to play for a guy like that. And as fans we should give him props.

 

[husky429]

I don't recall him admitting fault like that before. Sounds like a moment of growth.

 

[Huskybass]

He probably realizes now that he's got to have at least one of Cole and/or Jackson in the game against a Big East press. At one point I looked around at the lineup on the floor and I literally asked "who is the ball handler?" Cole is supremely important to this team's success in terms of being not only a scorer but a leader. If Cole isn't in the game, Jackson has to be in the game because he's the only other fairly confident ball handler. That was a dreadful stretch after such a fantastic first half.

Speaking of the first half, it was a joy to watch Sanogo, Cole and Martin all play well at the same time. That's a really strong trio.

 

[auror]

I don't recall him admitting fault like that before. Sounds like a moment of growth.

He's definitely said "I need to do better" before, but I don't recall something this specific. And usually he does do better. That's why he's a good coach.

 

[uconngb]

Learning to call a TO a little quicker should also be on his self help agenda

 

[uchusky32]

Hope he knows what the solution is. Love taking ownership.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Hurley is definitely a stand up guy. He said that sometimes coming out in the second half he is too focused on getting the ball to a specific spot. He thinks that happened today.

He thinks he may have to change his approach. It's something he will look at. Love it when the coach doesn't blame the players and looks at himself first. Players love to play for a guy like that. And as fans we should give him props.

Pal doing his best Rip Wan Winkle impression…

Hurley’s been like this since day #1 at UConn?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Hurley needs to chill. Xavier didn't roll over. That doesn't mean anyone screwed up.

The Head Coach needs to give the impression that he is cool, calm and collected. That way, everyone doesn't cake their pants when the other team goes on a run.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I’d love to get an explanation from Hurley why he didn’t insert Polley for most of the second half. He basically iced his hottest first half shooter. Inexplicable.

 

[uconngb]

I’d love to get an explanation from Hurley why he didn’t insert Polley for most of the second half. He basically iced his hottest first half shooter. Inexplicable.

He loses track of a lot of things that’s for sure

 

[NJHusky]

He can’t have Gaff out there without Ajax. Together they have enough to function when Cole is getting a break

Hawkins shouldn’t walk anywhere without dribbling a basketball to accelerate his handle

 

[HeGotGame]

I don't recall him admitting fault like that before. Sounds like a moment of growth.

I take it you have never heard him do an interview before?

 

[jdb50]

In the stretch in the second half when Cole was on the bench due to foul trouble Gaffney could not dump the ball off to Martin fast enough. Who then struggled against backcourt pressure and our lead went down the drain. It was infuriating to watch in person and it really put a damper on the crowd. We looked like rubes with the way we came out of halftime. It was worse than the way we have trouble scoring at the start of almost every game. Xavier really turned up the defense and why were we surprised?

 

[Palatine]

Hurley needs to chill. Xavier didn't roll over. That doesn't mean anyone screwed up.

The Head Coach needs to give the impression that he is cool, calm and collected. That way, everyone doesn't cake their pants when the other team goes on a run.

Hurley also spoke about this exact issue in the post game presser. He said when Xavier was on its run, the players were very calm in the huddle. That at this point in the year, with all they have been through together, his team was cool, clam and collected to use you vernacular.

 

[F101Voodoo]

Some of the takes on this Board are mystifying. We had a double digit win, we are 19-7 overall, 10-5 in BE, a lock for the tourney with a good seed, recruiting and bringing in top talent, and we should fire the coach who saved us from the abyss? Yeah this makes a lot of sense.

Well stated!

 

[GHSWolverines]

He loses track of a lot of things that’s for sure

That's why he has assistants

 

[dennismenace]

I’d love to get an explanation from Hurley why he didn’t insert Polley for most of the second half. He basically iced his hottest first half shooter. Inexplicable.

It seems to be because his minutes are saved for the end of the game as a 91% free throw shooter. He is one of the guys Hurley wants on the floor with a lead at around the 4:00 or 5:00 minute mark. That's fine but I agree on the hot hand. When your hot your hot...............keep shooting. That builds momentum and confidence for everyone like its contagious.

 

[uconngb]

Hurley also spoke about this exact issue in the post game presser. He said when Xavier was on its run, the players were very calm in the huddle. That at this point in the year, with all they have been through together, his team was cool, clam and collected to use you vernacular.

That’s bogus. They were in full panic mode on the court and the coach didn’t do a damn thing about it.

 

[Mike1984]

Hate to pile on the guy, but I still think Gaffney was the main problem there, not necessarily Hurley's plan, though I'm fine with him taking responsibility for not doing something about what was happening sooner.

It was not a super tight press. Gaffney should be blowing by his defender to break the press early the same way he explodes to the rim on those drives (that he rarely finishes). We often still see that athleticism on those drives to the hoop. If Martin's defender commits to Gaff for a double team/trap before he can get to the front court, then pass it to Martin at that time. Lazily dribbling up the court slow Azzi Fudd and staying in the back court against a press and passing to Martin way too soon when Martin's defender is still right there on him is what put Martin in those crappy situations that led to him throwing the ball away.

That said, it was a good win. Without that bad stretch, which only happened because of Cole foul trouble, it's prob a 20+ point win against a top 30-40 team.

Edit- so apparently typing the letters A and F together changes to Azzi Fudd

Gaffney had 1 turnover. He was not the problem trying to break that press. Tyrese tried taking the ball up and committed 2 quick turnovers.

 

[August_West]

Isn’t Corey Floyd a power forward in a guards body? I know we project skills onto guys that aren’t playing that they don’t have but is it reasonable to expect him to play the point in the big east next year?

Yes.

He’s going to be a fun player, kid has a motor, but a pg he is not.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hurley is definitely a stand up guy. He said that sometimes coming out in the second half he is too focused on getting the ball to a specific spot. He thinks that happened today.

He thinks he may have to change his approach. It's something he will look at. Love it when the coach doesn't blame the players and looks at himself first. Players love to play for a guy like that. And as fans we should give him props.

Actually good to hear. One of my major qualms with the turnovers were the many horrible passes to Sanogo as well as Sanogo trying to do too much when receiving the ball too far from the hoop. I mean it was obvious Steele felt butt hurt from Sanogos dominance in the first half and that wasn’t going to be allowed in the 2nd half. Would’ve liked to utilize their focus on sanogo by getting some looks for a hot handed Polley but ended a W nonetheless. He’s still learning as well as the players.

 

[freshler40]

It seems to be because his minutes are saved for the end of the game as a 91% free throw shooter. He is one of the guys Hurley wants on the floor with a lead at around the 4:00 or 5:00 minute mark. That's fine but I agree on the hot hand. When your hot your hot...............keep shooting. That builds momentum and confidence for everyone like its contagious.

Agreed.
Most teams play the hot hand, especially at the pro level. Hurley seems to play the number of minutes played. Is this due to many past games where we didn't have enough hot hand runs as our offense isn't built around that type of opportunity???
Polly has stepped up his defense, side steps his defender and is generally playing with a higher motor. He is a solid piece of the current puzzle. He is working hard as is Hawkins to get to their spots. Love Polly and his experience on the floor late in recent games, he has delivered!

 

[F101Voodoo]

He probably realizes now that he's got to have at least one of Cole and/or Jackson in the game against a Big East press. At one point I looked around at the lineup on the floor and I literally asked "who is the ball handler?" Cole is supremely important to this team's success in terms of being not only a scorer but a leader. If Cole isn't in the game, Jackson has to be in the game because he's the only other fairly confident ball handler. That was a dreadful stretch after such a fantastic first half.

Speaking of the first half, it was a joy to watch Sanogo, Cole and Martin all play well at the same time. That's a really strong trio.

Of course that is why we had a lead of 17-18 for a while.

 

[Hi-Low]

It was still a 16 point lead (49-33) at 15:30 in 2nd half and then RJ got 3rd foul and sat down. In a 3 minute stretch the lead was cut to 6 (49-43) before RJ had to come back in....RJ hit a 3 and lead was back to 9. X cut the lead to 4 at one point but never got closer.

So the only problem yesterday was just that 3 minute stretch with RJ on bech when X went on a 10-0 run. Cole will need to sit 3 minute stretches in games coming up so just have to have Ajax on the floor when Cole sits, Gaff & Martin can't be left alone.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Hurley is definitely a stand up guy. He said that sometimes coming out in the second half he is too focused on getting the ball to a specific spot. He thinks that happened today.

He thinks he may have to change his approach. It's something he will look at. Love it when the coach doesn't blame the players and looks at himself first. Players love to play for a guy like that. And as fans we should give him props.

It’s the same comment some us made recently here. He is over scripting it. If the D is keyed in on his script the players feel like they have to force it to a particular guy and that leads to turnovers. Whether that is Sanogo, or Polley or Martin or Hawk we see the same results -> turnovers and shot clock issues. He needs to just let them play and move the ball to whoever is open. First open guy shoots or drives.

 

[Ricker]

Yes.

He’s going to be a fun player, kid has a motor, but a pg he is not.

Floyd won't be our point guard, and it isn't his primary position, but he was the starting point guard for Team Final in the championship game of the Peach Jam tournament, (ie at the biggest moment of the best high school tournament in the country when pg Justice Williams was DNP). He also had a standout game playing that game at that position. He could contribute at point guard if we are in a pinch due to injury or foul trouble. His game reminds me a bit of the power guard from Cincinati - (Cumberland?).

 

[August_West]

Floyd won't be our point guard, and it isn't his primary position, but he was the starting point guard for Team Final in the championship game of the Peach Jam tournament, (ie at the biggest moment of the best high school tournament in the country when pg Justice Williams was DNP). He also had a standout game playing that game at that position. He could contribute at point guard if we are in a pinch due to injury or foul trouble. His game reminds me a bit of the power guard from Cincinati - (Cumberland?).

Cumberland to me is a really apt comparison. Let’s hope he’s as effective. But yeah that’s a great parallel. And Floyd was only 17 when he stepped on campus. Full season practicing against kids a lot older who will make tourney. I hope he is the glue guy Cumberland was.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

He’s still learning as well as the players.

It's as nice to read this as it is to read that he acknowledged his responsibility, has been making some noticeable in-game adjustments, and isn't retaining timeouts like they are rollover cell phone minutes.

 

[the Q]

He probably realizes now that he's got to have at least one of Cole and/or Jackson in the game against a Big East press. At one point I looked around at the lineup on the floor and I literally asked "who is the ball handler?" Cole is supremely important to this team's success in terms of being not only a scorer but a leader. If Cole isn't in the game, Jackson has to be in the game because he's the only other fairly confident ball handler. That was a dreadful stretch after such a fantastic first half.

Speaking of the first half, it was a joy to watch Sanogo, Cole and Martin all play well at the same time. That's a really strong trio.

Yup. Jackson is now our backup pg.

He has to be.