I’m going to enjoy this season no matter what

[Scrappy3]

We lost 4 nba players. The5 th best player last year is the best player on the team
Two championship teams — we just ate the cupboard dry. It happened with jc too
This is a developmental team that will improve and I will enjoy it.
My guess is we won’t be going after anymore 6-1 guys from saint marys again

The only thing I ask is no more zones

 

[uconntoatl]

 

[willie99]

My defense of Mahaney at this point, as my confidence weakens, is that Joey C wasn't Joey C until his breakout game vs Georgetown Dec 20, 2022

He needs to find his confidence

PS: And Joey C became a good defender too

 

[shizzle787]

Mahaney was the best player on a top 25 team last year. He will figure it out. The 5 spot is much more concerning.

 

[Brochacho]

Mahaney was the best player on a top 25 team last year. He will figure it out. The 5 spot is much more concerning.

There’s nothing to figure out on Mahaney. He is an absolutely negative defensive player that benefited from ultra slow pace and pack defense in a weak conference. Even if he starts going 50/40/90 it doesn’t offset his defense.

 

[UCan3]

I am utterly disappointed. This is an epic meltdown - one I would never have predicted.

But I agree 100% with the title post.

Many of the players on this team looked great last year, but in fairness, they weren’t the focus of the Defense as they were more worried about our players that are now lighting it up in the NBA.

There needs to be a massive shakeup to figure out how and who will carry out the UConn Standard. How they will need to play at a team and elevate to the next level.

They have nowhere to go but up now. The media will have a field day with this one.

But the soul searching for the players and the coaching staff begins this weekend.

I trust in Dan. I trust in this team. No more talk about 3-peating. They need to find their identity.

As a fan, again I agree with this title post, let’s give it time and hope for the best!

 

[FfldCntyFan]

MaHaney's skill set was a very good fit for what they did at St Mary's.

To date it doesn't appear to fit here as he doesn't have Spencer's size, ability to play through contact or ability to use hesitation to get small openings to score from. He also doesn't have Newton's handle, on court demeanor or ability to get into the lane to pass or score. This is currently compounded by a severe lack of confidence.

It also would be easier to use comparisons to Joey C if they had similar roles here. If Mahaney were being used to come in for a few minutes at a pop, a couple times each half to give a rest to the one, two or three and provide a slightly different scoring weapon, it would be far easier to overlook his flaws and there would be quite a bit less pressure on him.

We need to diminish his role for the time being and he needs to rebuild his confidence and learn to fill that role.

 

[Scrappy3]

We’re going to find a path
I think we could use JCs 3/4 Press with our depth and take some pressure off the halfcourt
We have the goods to score but d and r has to be focus

 

[UCTitleTown]

I'm going to enjoy the season as well with no remaining expectations and look forward to next year's recruiting class that hopefully fits the Hurley game plan better than the current roster. Hurley won back to back titles and clearly knows how to coach. I think he had his first portal miss, but no one is perfect.

 

[UCFan1513]

Genuinely appreciate your optimism @Scrappy3 - could use more of that to get through the down years

 

[Husky68]

MaHaney's skill set was a very good fit for what they did at St Mary's.

To date it doesn't appear to fit here as he doesn't have Spencer's size, ability to play through contact or ability to use hesitation to get small openings to score from. He also doesn't have Newton's handle, on court demeanor or ability to get into the lane to pass or score. This is currently compounded by a severe lack of confidence.

It also would be easier to use comparisons to Joey C if they had similar roles here. If Mahaney were being used to come in for a few minutes at a pop, a couple times each half to give a rest to the one, two or three and provide a slightly different scoring weapon, it would be far easier to overlook his flaws and there would be quite a bit less pressure on him.

We need to diminish his role for the time being and he needs to rebuild his confidence and learn to fill that role.

Change his role, Spencer was not the point guard, he had Newton and Castle so he could work against "non guard quickness" and also give ball up to a ball handler and run off screens. Mahaney is not a PG based on how he has looked to date. Think basically saying same thing, maybe Ball and Liam on ball more if want Mahaney to start.

 

[UofCT]

Mahaney was the best player on a top 25 team last year. He will figure it out. The 5 spot is much more concerning.

Not if we just play Reed.

 

[controlfade]

I will enjoy it as well , will be good to watch them grow.

 

[UCTitleTown]

Only way to go from here is up....or horizontal.

 

[jibsey]

Change his role, Spencer was not the point guard, he had Newton and Castle so he could work against "non guard quickness" and also give ball up to a ball handler and run off screens. Mahaney is not a PG based on how he has looked to date. Think basically saying same thing, maybe Ball and Liam on ball more if want Mahaney to start.

Spencer was a tall guard who turned into a rebounding machine for us as did Newton. If you check their stats in many games they were getting crazy numbers of boards.

 

[Scrappy3]

We have a team here. I’m not sure what this season will bring but we are set up to be a monster again next year. It’s a developmental while trying to win this year

I think we have a potential star 4 man in Stewart. Ross Ball Abraham will be seasoned. All is good

 

[polycom]

It’s wild that everyone is focused on the guards. When the center position is the problem. You can’t overstate how much Clingan cleaned up last year. Sampson is still a negative on defense and until that changes (it won’t) there’s not a real way for this team to play defense at an elite elite level.