Imperative for Daniels to show up and execute/play darn well rest of way

[scrappy2.0]

We will lose to someone quick if this does not happen. You need 2-3 scorers. Shabazz is 1 and for this team to be successful in the tourney DD gas to be 2 with Boatright 3. He finished the season off last year with several 20-10's Deandre--you got to bring it.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Can't tell with Daniels if its a Confidence issue like Stanley Robinson or what is going on?

 

[Fairfield_1st]

He is an enigma this year. He went from being almost assuredly leaving early to "no way in H E double hockey sticks" is he ready. That's a crazy swing.

 

[businesslawyer]

That is the key. With the DD that finished last year, we absolutely can go to the Final Four and take our chances. With the DD of the last few weeks, maybe our guards can carry us through two rounds but it will end there.

Physical? Mental? Nothing but a failure to get it done? I can't tell. I'm still hoping (but that's how I felt going into the 2012 tourney and that didn't work out at all.)

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

He is an enigma this year. He went from being almost assuredly leaving early to "no way in H E double hockey sticks" is he ready. That's a crazy swing.

What was crazy was the lottery talk at the beginning of the season.

 

[UChusky916]

DD hurt his ankle and his back within a few days so I've given him a pass... up until now. We need him and we are a much tougher team to beat when he produces for us.

I can't put all of DD's struggles on him though. Deandre has only been utilized on back-to-the-basket clear-out isolation plays or on pick-and-roll plays from 3-pt land with our guards. He's got a good stroke from 3, but if he misses one or two he gets hesitant to shoot and disappears.

We can't expect DD to be a traditional PF and dominate the boards or get put-backs because he is undersized/skinny at the 4, but that's what we've asked him to do with our weak front court. I don't particularly like setting isolation plays for him with his back to the basket either because, again, he's too weak/skinny to back down the opposing team's PF. Anything that he can do inside for us should be considered a bonus because that's not really his game.

We need to find ways to utilize Deandre's mid-range game a little more. He is money from the elbow and really good at using his length in the lane to shoot over people. I'd like to see less of Deandre in back-to-the basket situations and more of him receiving the ball at mid-range and facing the hoop. When Deandre is matched up vs the other team's 4 from mid-range, he should have no problem shooting over him or using his speed to get to the hoop (as he did on the pretty drive and reverse finish vs Cinci early on). Why didn't we see more of him receiving the ball at the elbow and facing the basket after that?

Also, DD can't get hesitant from 3 if he misses the first one or two because he is too good of a shooter to pass up good looks within the offense. He has the ability to shoot over almost anyone, even with his slow release, so why hesitate?

Here's to hoping KO can find ways to better utilize Deandre. He's a junior now and its time to be consistent. If he can get on track start putting up double-doubles in the post-season like how AO did in 2011, I have no doubt this team can make a final4/championship run.

 

[James]

Did you guys not see him up his ankle vs rutgers? ankle injuries are tough to deal with, especially if you've never had one. It was seven games ago, but it could very well be lingering. His game was coming together,really think if he didn't get into foul trouble vs ville we would win.

 

[Lefty2one]

Something is up, he hasn't been looking for his shot at all lately. I really hope it's not a back problem, those will kill a basketball player.

 

[jfuchs91]

We need Daniels to be 2011 Lamb if we're going to make a serious run. He's got the talent, he's shown he can do it before, but he needs to harness it all and play at a high level consistently.

Before the season I said Brimah added an element to this team we did not have; a rim protector. And with that added facet to the team, we were much more dangerous. Well, I'll say the same about Daniels now; we need him to be a consistent scorer. When our shooting is off like it has been the last few games, we need to rely on higher percentage shots around the rim. Though he may not have the bulk to bang down low, he's shown a nice touch and creativity around the hoop.

I really think against Rutgers the #1 goal should be feeding Daniels early and often. Get his confidence going. He misses a few? Doesn't matter, keep feeding him. Give him the in-game practice to build the confidence we need from him.

We really do have all the pieces to make a run. Great defense, great guard play, and a superstar in Shabazz. Rebounding and interior defense was the concern coming into the year, but we've made huge strides rebounding the ball, and while we may not be dominant on the glass, it's far from the glaring weakness it was earlier in the year. Brimah has made teams think twice about going into the paint, and the platoon of Brimah/Nolan/Olander has done a serviceable job of guarding the paint.

What we're missing now is what we've seen Daniels give us before. Down the stretch last year, he played like one of the best players in the country. If he steps up and we get that DeAndre for the rest of the season, we can absolutely compete with, and beat, every team in the country.

 

[Kitaman]

To me all he needs to do is get involved and do something.

-Perhaps concentrate on rebounding mixed with the outlet pass to start our fast break.

-Set picks for teammates to get space.

-Focus on penetration and dish (create assists)

-Be an offensive decoy looking to the open man (he sure draws attention)

-Lock down your opponent defensively

-Block shots

If he does any one or two of these like a 'man possessed' we can go far in the Tourneys even without double digit scoring production. That's all I want to see him do even with a nagging injury. I just feel if he can't score there are other ways to contribute to our victory, but he has to be involved to do it.

 

[g_smith]

I agree on the importance of deandre, especially with getting him more jumpers. But I think Terrence Samuel is going to play an important role too. I am predicting a few more big contributions from him in the next few games.

 

[David 76]

He is an enigma this year. He went from being almost assuredly leaving early to "no way in H E double hockey sticks" is he ready. That's a crazy swing.

He was an enigma last year.

 

[Stinger92860]

Can't tell with Daniels if its a Confidence issue like Stanley Robinson or what is going on?

I always felt that Stanley was a great, great athlete but he just was not a great basketball player.

 

[scrappy2.0]

DD has to play free flow. He's got to play hard--but like its a game at the Y. You have to be comfortable and confident. If youre tight you tend to shy away from action and go short on the plays you make. Just free flow--play loose yet hard.

 

[chapwilvaug72]

It looks like DD has no fun when he plays. Even when he makes a big shot very little emotion is displayed. Also, has anyone seen him angry on the court?

 

[mauconnfan]

DD just needs to take good shots, make shots and be a force on the boards. More than anything take care of the ball and don't drive to the basket without a plan...…too many times going to the hole either charging or losing the ball with his weak hands……..grab on to the ball tight and let no one have it. If you are open on the perimeter no ball fakes, let's just shoot it. This for everyone actually, done with ball fakes on open jumpers - they're good shooters - SHOOT!

 

[CTBasketball]

The problem with DD is he doesn't really do anything else but shoot the ball.

 

[mauconnfan]

The problem with DD is he doesn't really do anything else but shoot the ball.

And that's fine as long as he rebounds too and doesn't turn it over……..They should also set him up in the low post on occasional mismatches as his little jump hook can be pretty nice….the biggest problem is normally he's backing a defender in from the perimeter and something goes wrong handling the ball - just set him down there on occasion against a smaller guy and let him catch and one owed dribble, jump hook!

 

[Waquoit]

We need to find ways to utilize Deandre's mid-range game a little more. He is money from the elbow and really good at using his length in the lane to shoot over people.

Those are the shots he was making when he broke out last year. I don't think he's looking for that shot enough these days.