There are parts of this team that I admire and parts that have been extremely frustrating.
First, I hope the team stays healthy next year and we can see a healthy Jalen Adams the entire year. He's been pretty amazing with what's been going on.
I also admire the Jackson and Vital for having to learn on the fly. They at times have been frustrating, but we have to remember they're freshmen who
have been thrown into the fire at a program like UConn. I love seeing it finally click with a guy like Facey. I'm encourage by the potential of Enoch and Durham,
but Enoch needs to make the leap forward next year. Then there is Purvis who is on both lists for me. I admire his heart, both the emotional aspect and how
physically tough he is as well.
I know next year I'll miss him, but I can't wait to see Brimah go. He has been the most frustrating player to watch for me. His results are inexcusable for a
man that physically talented. He has size. He can run. He can jump. But for some reason he has not really improved much since his freshmen year. He never
learned to block with his left hand, and even more basic, he always is underneath the basket or backboard on a rebound. Also, I don't know if it's fatigue or lack
of instinct, I've seen him watching balls, some even hitting the floor. Also, as many physical gifts as he has, catching the ball is not one of them. Okafor, Armstrong
and Thabeet blocked shots, but they learned they don't have to try and block everything to be the most effective.
At times, the entire team on defense. They make the same mistake over and over that let's people get open. Know where your man is, especially if he's a
shooter camped out on the three point line.
Rodney Purvis-He is a quality player but he like all the guards loses his man way to often on the defensive end. Also, he's good at shooting 3's and shoots out onto
the fast break like a bullet, but never really developed the rest of his game. He is awful from medium range and way to often relies on refs to blow the whistle when
he drives to the hoop. There have been some games when you realize fairly early the refs are just not going to call it, but he continues to do it anyways. Which leads
to:
Making adjustments. This team (I don't know if it's coaching; I don't think so) is slow to make the adjustment. The don't make some players drive off hand when
you can tell quickly it's not their best thing. The 3 point coverage again.
Still, to me they are still not as frustrating as the last year Dyson and Robinson were in the program and it looked like everyone was playing for themselves.
And finally, I still have hope with Adams, Jackson, Vital, Larrier, Gilbert, and Enoch next year. Diarra and a few of the freshmen will need to step up quickly though.
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