I'm assuming everyone is content with our play

[uconnfan68]

Is that really the first 5 out UConn has seen? That can't be right. Didn't Auburn play some 5 out?

I don't like the way Hurley plays 5 out offenses, but if he is going to pick a path, then he has to make it work. Most middle schools coaches will switch to a loose 2-3 zone against a 5 out, but Hurley is stubborn so he wants to make man-to-man work. He has to play the help side closer to the basket against a 5 out. Make them make the cross court pass. They would only get 2 or 3 of those before the shot clock expires.

What's the point of having great off-ball shotblockers if you don't use them?

 

[yungdowork]

Is that really the first 5 out UConn has seen? That can't be right. Didn't Auburn play some 5 out?

I don't like the way Hurley plays 5 out offenses, but if he is going to pick a path, then he has to make it work. Most middle schools coaches will switch to a loose 2-3 zone against a 5 out, but Hurley is stubborn so he wants to make man-to-man work. He has to play the help side closer to the basket against a 5 out. Make them make the cross court pass. They would only get 2 or 3 of those before the shot clock expires.

Seems to me that the biggest problem with running man to defend a 5 out is that Cole and Martin are our only guards who are decent on-ball defenders, and considering Cole's size and athleticism, that is not a good thing. Gaffney and seemingly Hawkins are both liable to get cooked off the dribble at any moment, and we can't afford to give them help every possession if the other team is moving our bigs further and further from the paint.

Auburn did go 5 out at times and that's right about when KD Johnson started taking over. When they were 5 out and Jabari was trying to control the ball more, our bigs (Whaley in particular) did a very good job being the on-ball defender. Unfortunately, I just don't think that's a primary strength for our guards.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Bump

 

[BlueMAB]

I, for one, am shocked we struggled considering we are down 2 starters and playing our first real road game in 2 years against the 4th winningest coach in the history of college basketball whose teams almost always play great defense.

 

[Waquoit]

Bump

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