Illinois Post Game Thread

[Husky Alien]

Did you not watch Tarris last year? He was a beacon for inconsistency. He tends to be a bit moody out there at times, often when things are going his way. When he's on, he's an alpha.

The tribe that comes after you when you say one critical item.

Not ten, but multiple. Reibe, Malachi, AK, Ross........




Mullins looked great - he can get up. He's active, and aware. Doesn't look nearly as slight out on the floor. Can't wait to see him in longer stretches.

Tarris's injuries tend to set him back when he's been out for some time. As you can see against Illinois, he was not moving like he normally does and seemed a bit out of place. However we were not really looking for him from the start of the game. He needs to be engaged at the beginning of the game or else he seems to get a bit down on himself. Tarris is a monster when he is engaged and we need him healthy for us to contend for a ship.

 

[RuffRuff]

Tarris's injuries tend to set him back when he's been out for some time. As you can see against Illinois, he was not moving like he normally does and seemed a bit out of place. However we were not really looking for him from the start of the game. He needs to be engaged at the beginning of the game or else he seems to get a bit down on himself. Tarris is a monster when he is engaged and we need him healthy for us to contend for a ship.

Well said - his knock has been consistency as he tends to lose focus or play disengaged if he’s not feeling it. It’s why many of us lobbied to start him last year. Glad someone doesn’t have their head in the sand.

He clearly wasn't 100% yesterday, it's just that his body language expressed it in a way where you felt better having Reibe out there. He turned it over trying to take his man off the dribble on deep baseline one possession that almost felt like a frustration move.

 

[RJScootin]

I loved hearing the crowd go nuts when Mullins checked in. Shout out to everyone who attended!

Crowd was great today. Must have been some moment for Mullins having Garden erupt when he entered game. Also great job with highlight reels of Ray and Emeka before showing them in the stands. All around everything you hope for with UConn at Storrs South.

 

[microfich]

Fich bits:

"I"-opener for a lunch in November. Never tasted so good.

Demary will have to learn how to play with foul trouble. With his talent level he's gotta be aggressive to make an impact.

Reibe: I thought he needed more muscle to contribute at this rate this early. Glad to be wrong. Great skillset.

AK in NYC played like we were in Houston or Glendale. Likes the biggest stages.

So much chatter about a shot clock violation. Can we get a context ignore button? Maybe a 'tweezer' button to send them to a separate thread? lol!

 

[KingAG]

Your notion that we need to wring our hands over 20 point leads turning into 10 point leads, in a game of runs and high variability, played by 18-22 year olds, while invoking a team beating others by 40, while suggesting our “standard” is high; whatever exactly you meant by that. Do you have difficulty keeping up with your own posts like another person I dealt with in last post-game thread?

Who’s wringing their hands? You’re much more stressed about this then I am lmfao.

1. It went from 21 to 7.

2. Bringing up the 40 point win to point to the idea that it’s a realistic expectation to want your team to play a full 40 minutes of focused basketball. It’s not the giving up of the big leads alone. It’s how we do it. We lose focus, start fouling and turning the ball over.

Illinois didn’t go on an 11-0 run because they were just so good. We contributed to that. They cut the lead from 21-7 while shooting 2-16 from three. Everyone not named Boswell shot 11-44 from the field. Illinois didn’t “get back” in the game. We “let them” back in the game by playing a lousy 2nd half. It’s okay to admit that. They threw the half court trap at us and we started making bad decisions.

On top of that, our starting 5 is too good to go 15 minutes without a fg. From the 10:00 mark to the 5:18 mark UConn committed 5 shooting fouls and did not make a FG. That’s when you put the game away. That’s not variance. Before the miracle 4 point play Illinois was getting uncomfortably close. I’m sure Hurley and the team would prefer that not to continue to happen when we have control of a game. We want NC around here, not just regular season wins. To beat the best of the best when it matters will need to be able to put a full 40 minutes together. I have no worry or doubt we’ll get there. You on the other hand think there is nothing for the team to improve on. That’s your prerogative.

But to be clear, my standard is very reasonable. You keep invoking “18-22” year olds like we have seen “18-22” be great. At UConn we’ve seen it.

It’s funny. Some call me a homer. And here you are trying to spin me as negative. This place is hilarious.

On to Kansas

 

[Excalibur]

Did you not watch Tarris last year? He was a beacon for inconsistency. He tends to be a bit moody out there at times, often when things are going his way. When he's on, he's an alpha.

Oh my god! The goalposts — they moved!!

Stop pretending that your original comment was about inconsistency.

 

[Waquoit]

I actually didn’t remember anything about Stojakovic. Went back to the box score to see if he was injured or something

Nope. Played 24 minutes and scored 3 points on 1-7. UConn locked him up

He got two fouls pretty early.

 

[superjohn]

He got two fouls pretty early.

No he didn't, he had 1 foul for the entire game and it came in the second half.

 

[Excalibur]

He got two fouls pretty early.

I made the same mistake. It was Petrovic that got in foul trouble.

 

[RuffRuff]

Oh my god! The goalposts — they moved!!

Stop pretending that your original comment was about inconsistency.

My point was and remains, he’s a kid that is impacted quite easily. I’m dropping this. Good to see someone can read without getting defensive.

 

[Excalibur]

Malachi looks like 6thMOY nationally

That may be a stretch, but he’s the ideal second point guard for us, and still learning how to operate in our sets. He’s been very good all season, despite the criticisms of some who don’t know the difference between shooting well and playing well. He was getting killed here after the AZ game where he had 8 assists vs. a single turnover.

 

[RuffRuff]

That may be a stretch, but he’s the ideal second point guard for us, and still learning how to operate in our sets. He’s been very good all season, despite the criticisms of some who don’t know the difference between shooting well and playing well. He was getting killed here after the AZ game where he had 8 assists vs. a single turnover.

His assists per 40mpg is 8.

 

[DRBackup]

Agreed. My “evidence” turned out to be me pausing it when Reibe definitely did have possession. I thought this coincided with when the timekeeper reset the clock due to it reading 30, but it actually changed to 30 as soon as the ball hit the rim. Then a second or so after Reibe secured the rebound, the timekeeper reset the clock to 20. That’s an arbitrary judgment, but it was done officially at a time that would’ve allowed Malachi to get the shot off regardless of the erroneous reset that came later. Then the announcer mistakenly called it the original 30, but obviously meant the second 20. I think it’s all tied up with a bow in my mind now, and I appreciate all the good faith discussion on the matter.

I'm glad we were able to settle this conundrum

 

[Excalibur]

He seems to be taking solid looks to me - usually in the flow of the offense. Here and there rushed, but I would qualify most as good looks. They just aren't going down. Form is there.

His mechanics look a little off to me this year. Body turned more to the side, feet closer together when he jumps, hands higher on the release.