If They Don't Care, Why Should You?

[boog204]

Why?

I really doubt JC is telling the team that this:
"Shabazz, I want you to dribble at the top of the key for the first 10-15 seconds of the shot clock and look for a semi-contested jump shot or Jeremy coming off a baseline curl/screen. If that's not there, the 4 and 5 should come up and set a double screen but don't really roll to the hoop or present yourself as an option so you are on your own. If you want, give the ball Jeremy and then we'll run a 1-4 set so Jeremy you are on your own to make something happen."

I feel like this was the offense for 30 of the 40 minutes. Every once in a while we'd run the set where the bigs come up, we pass to them and look for either the backdoor or a hand off to the 2 or 3. It's just so painfully obvious. I'd like to think that this was not the pregame strategy b/c that's all we've been seeing for the last few games. One guy dribbles around, one guy runs around, 3 people set ineffective screens or stand around watching.

 

[990411champs]

other than the abundance of upperclassmen, this team, this season, IMO feels strikingly similar in it's execution, to the '06 squad that just couldn't really piece it together, despite an obvious roster of talent, and it bit them hard in the end. Like '06, seems to be alot of disjointedness on offense, a dribble it around until the shot clock winds down and heave up a brick and hope for a miracle. The bigs getting outrebounded/manhandled in the low blocks. Guys who were supposed to be shooters not resembling shooters at all. Backcourt lack of depth catching up to them eventually. I can't shke the feeling of the similarities.......
I hope their youth can somehow become resilient enough to figure out how to play as a team together, but it seems to be getting late early
Hope I am wrong on all accounts and a turnaround occurs...........

 

[huskymagic]

It is just tough to watch a team with at least 4 future NBA players in Lamb, Drummond, Bazz, and Daniels playing so poorly together. Maybe I am being overly optimistic, but I really believe that the spark and added depth that Boat will provide will make a big difference.

LOL Daniels in the NBA is a good one read what champs99and 04 said. Oriakhi will make the NBA and Boatright has a good chance as well. Daniels is unathletic, slow, weak physically, and plays bad defense.

 

[mauconnfan]

Daniels has a chance to get better, he's a kid with little experience. What pray tell makes you believe the NBA has any interest in a PF who can't catch, can't rebound, can't finish, doesn't elevate and has no post moves? That's much funnier and more clueless than someone's thoughts on Daniels.

 

[Dribbles]

I understand the negative, but this is a team with bullseye on it's back, Hang in and they will reward you.

I dunno Dog, they sure aren't playing like a team with a bullseye on their backs. I see where Bazz said "the offense isn't working" and I'm not certain he was talking of the execution and not the game plan.

 

[UC990411]

I really doubt JC is telling the team that this:
"Shabazz, I want you to dribble at the top of the key for the first 10-15 seconds of the shot clock and look for a semi-contested jump shot or Jeremy coming off a baseline curl/screen. If that's not there, the 4 and 5 should come up and set a double screen but don't really roll to the hoop or present yourself as an option so you are on your own. If you want, give the ball Jeremy and then we'll run a 1-4 set so Jeremy you are on your own to make something happen."

I feel like this was the offense for 30 of the 40 minutes. Every once in a while we'd run the set where the bigs come up, we pass to them and look for either the backdoor or a hand off to the 2 or 3. It's just so painfully obvious. I'd like to think that this was not the pregame strategy b/c that's all we've been seeing for the last few games. One guy dribbles around, one guy runs around, 3 people set ineffective screens or stand around watching.

Why do you think that's so unlikely? We have two guards and no inside game. TWO GUARDS ON THE ENTIRE ROSTER. Isn't this kinda classic Notre Dame burn offense that we always see? We're not used to watching it day in and day out because we usually have a ton of talent.

 

[Huskybass]

LOL Daniels in the NBA is a good one read what champs99and 04 said. Oriakhi will make the NBA and Boatright has a good chance as well. Daniels is unathletic, slow, weak physically, and plays bad defense.

Daniels will be in the NBA one day. Once he gets some strength and confidence, he will prform at a much higher level.

 

[Chief00]

If we get Showbaot back this week - we make that run. If we don't it will be tough.

 

[zls44]

If we get Showbaot back this week - we make that run.

Solid prediction.

 

[Husky Dogma]

Is it a general lack of caring individually, or not caring to play like a team? IMO there's a lot of individual talent on this team that just can't seem to put it together and play like a team. Very frustrating team to watch, given their potential...

 

[BlueMAB]

Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi are not NBA material. I know we're homers, but they're not that good. Oriahki's hands might be worse than Thabeet, which is nearly unbelievable. His offense is marginal, he can't make a layup, and gets outhustled on the boards too often for someone his size. Napier takes bad shots, can't get the offense going, doesn't make the passes he should make, can't get the offense going, can't get his own shot well enough to be considered NBA material, and is really, really small. Did I mention he can't get the offense going, and takes bad shots?

It's not just the loss, they are decent college players with the potential to be very good college players, but they are not NBA material. There are two draft picks on this team. Lamb and Drummond. Why do we have fans that still think there are 4 draft picks on this team? AO and Napier can make a decent living playing foreign ball, they aren't playing in the NBA.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

This whole thing is so stupid.

We have 18-22 year old kids, trying their best to represent themselves and UConn.

So, we're going through some tough times. It happens. Not for a second do I think the kids aren't trying. Sometimes things just don't go your way.

These are the same kids (minus Charles, Donnell and Kemba) that won us a National Championship less than a year ago.

Question the execution, the strategy and even decision making if you have to.

To question our kid's hearts? Ignorant and disrespectful to these kids that have won so much for UConn.

 

[BlueMAB]

Not for a second do I think the kids aren't trying. Sometimes things just don't go your way.

I agree the OP went overboard with the hyperbole, but I saw more than a few seconds when the kids weren't trying. Often they just went through the motions on offense, and they rarely, if ever, bothered to find a man to box out when the 3 point shot went up on defense. All of us in the building had a lot in common with our offense the first 10 minutes of the second half. Just standing around watching a game go by.

They played pretty good defense, I thought that effort was fine. ND only shot 32% from three and 37% from the field. We forced some late shots and clock violations. The guys care on defense. On offense they are either a) indifferent, b) tired, c) confused, or d) all of the above.

It's not stupid to be frustrated at the play and the results. The last few games were not a case of unfortunate bounces, or being on the wrong end of a few close calls. The team looked like it had no purpose on offense and I'm shocked we were only outrebounded by 3, it felt like 30.

 

[ruskin]

The problem now, as it was two years ago, is a leadership vacuum. . . .four of these players started on a national champion last year. One, likely two, have NBA talent. Those two (JL, AO) don't have the leadership gene Kemba waited to put on display last season. Doesn't seem like AD is the leader type either, so maybe this falls on Boatright. Maybe Kemba can offer him advice on how to take the mantle from older players.
A leader would find a way to get AO out of whatever funk he is in and get AD involved more.
And finally, speaking of "bulls-eye on the back" someone should burn those warmups. Way too-Globetrotter-ish. Don't see Kentucky, Duke or UNC having the need to put that info on their warmups. Banners to me are good enough.

 

[zls44]

And finally, speaking of "bulls-eye on the back" someone should burn those warmups. Way too-Globetrotter-ish. Don't see Kentucky, Duke or UNC having the need to put that info on their warmups. Banners to me are good enough.

Every single one of them has those warmups. Literally every one of them. It's part of the Nike deal for KY, UNC and Duke.

 

[Waquoit]

After today's game, I'm ready to buy the OP. No player today played like he gave a crap.

 

[iam76]

they certainly looked like they didn't care too much. The most fun they were having was in warm up lines when coach calhoun and company weren't out there.. Not sure why todays game was the perfect storm of lazy performances but it was.. between nd, lambs back, those unis, the pajama warmups, or the team never knowing who was sposed to come out of the game on subs it was the saddest thing I have seen in a longtime.

 

[ruskin]

Every single one of them has those warmups. Literally every one of them. It's part of the Nike deal for KY, UNC and Duke.

Then Nike made a bad decision for more than just UConn. Those schools should opt out ASAP. Screw Nike. They put the student section in red (orange looking on TV). Furthers the Nike brand, not the UConn brand. You'll never see a Duke, KY, UNC section in anything other than blue or white, unless there's a charity/fundraiser deal going on (like the Pat Summitt t-shirts).

 

[BlueMAB]

Christ, you'd think the orange t-shirts and one time uniforms have more of a negative impact than yet another home loss to a big east team.

 

[zls44]

Then Nike made a bad decision for more than just UConn. Those schools should opt out ASAP. Screw Nike. They put the student section in red (orange looking on TV). Furthers the Nike brand, not the UConn brand. You'll never see a Duke, KY, UNC section in anything other than blue or white, unless there's a charity/fundraiser deal going on (like the Pat Summitt t-shirts).

Yeah! That's what they should do! Leave millions on the table! Over shirt colors!

 

[ruskin]

OK, you guys win. Let's look as goofy as Oregon does from day to day and let Phil Knight and his addled "creative team" go nuts because no other company with tons of sponsorship money makes shirts, shoes, jocks, etc.
Agreed this subject is very tangential to the point of poor/uninspired play. Today probably would have sucked with the "traditional' look. But there is something to be said for karma and maintaining some sense of an identity and avoiding the crazy all-at-once makeover. Thinking Bill Belichick wearing a red hoodie or Florida changing their helmet for a SEC championship game.

 

[UconnDon]

Well, whatever the underlying cause, any fan must admit that first 10 minutes of the second half today was virtually unwatchable basketball. I've seen better ball in the school yard.