Learning to Win

[Chin Diesel]

Have to learn how to make each possession count in these games.

1. At 48-47 UConn had three straight possessions that came up empty. A couple of good looks at 3's but they didn't drop.
2. @Chief00 correctly points out players hanging at FT line waiting for refs to figure things out leads to poor first FT attempts (JA with less than a minute to go).
3. Carlton played much better interior D the second half. He is overwhelmed offensively against better opponents but that was legit D he was playing.
4. Great to see ball movement towards the end and twice finding Polley for spot up 3's. Much more for opponents to defend than the high pick and roll only.
5. After an active first half was hoping to see more of Sid in second half.
6. AI had a bad game. Not the end of the world but he needs to learn his limits and to trust his teammates.
7. Need to work on lobs for alley oops on the dribble, drop plays to the bigs. Arizona just kept their hands below their shoulders and easily deflected or stole several drop off attempts by UConn guards. Have to be able to put the ball up towards the rim. No, Carlton and Cobb aren't high risers but they can catch and shoot passes that go up high.

Not the worst loss in the world, but this game was definitely winnable.

 

[smoothcriminal]

Need to find a way to come out on top in games like these if we wanna be back

 

[husky429]

Basically it came down to a 4 point deficit we couldnt overcome. I'm not complaining.

Our lack or talent showed sometimes. It happens. Limited versatility.

We're a couple sketchy calls and a bad 1 minute stretch from beating a very talented team handily. Free throws wouldve done it too. I'm not complaining.

Did anyone expect this to be competitive in year 1 with a new coach when the schedule came out?

But damn, we'll miss Jalen.

 

[JMick]

We played pretty bad for most of the game and still managed to keep it close. No moral victories, but if we even play our "B+" game, we win that one.

 

[Travelman6]

I mean, I guess the only thing to take away from this after what you said is last year Uconn gets crushed vs this Zona team in similar situations. (When it got to 9 they would have folded). This year they had an outside shot at a win until the closing seconds. This was perhaps the most likely win out of the Zona/Nova/FSU trio so a little nervous now...well, a lot.

I thought zona threw it away on one position but they got to inbound, did not get that. I also thought that shot clock violation AFTER the tie up was bogus and should have been fixed. One or two other odd calls, I think there was a charge call that should not have been.

Uconn played quite poorly to be honest, AG had some out of control plays, a few bad three being chucked up, offense should not go through cobb but he is great on the boards just the same...Overall Uconn played a very average game so good to see they were in it to the end.

 

[kelde1wd]

It is good to not see the team fold. Hey got punched and then punched back. Liked the fight until the end. No such things as moral victories, but I like the direction of things. Keep working guys!

 

[BigEastCT]

Momentum killer, fouling a 3 point shot while shot clock is expiring

 

[uchusky32]

Team needs to learn how to win these games. AG needs to let the game come to him.

 

[Hi-Low]

We just lost a must win game, hard to take many positives.

If maybe they would learn that every possession matters for the entire game not just the last 5 minutes.

Turnovers lead to easy points and they still haven't learned that & some of them may never.

 

[Ajs120102]

Listen it’s a rebuilding year. It’s a new system with new coaches. Give it TIME. Yes an NIT is probably the most realistic path of this team but that doesn’t mean it isn’t successful. We were OUT last year of everything. This team is sloppy but once Hurley gets his players in and they have more and more experience this team will be a juggernaut and I think everyone outside the program agrees. They are sloppy but they were sloppy last year too. It’s a process. Doesn’t it feel nice to not be numb to a loss anymore? This is a good lesson for them

 

[Tenspro2002]

Not a discouraging loss in terms of how we looked, but one that could have a big impact on our March chances.

For a team likely to end up on the bubble, you just have to take advantage of a winnable game against a marquee opponent.

 

[Storrs South]

Momentum killer, fouling a 3 point shot while shot clock is expiring

Not really, Polley nailed a 3 right after. Missing that foul shot at the end really blew it.

 

[ASweet3781]

You will never get an at large bid out of this league learning how to win.

 

[TitleTown]

We just lost a must win game, hard to take many positives.

If maybe they would learn that every possession matters for the entire game not just the last 5 minutes.

Turnovers lead to easy points and they still haven't learned that & some of them may never.

First off, the notion that this was a "must win" game is utterly absurd! Secondly, this is team that has NEVER been coached before Hurley got here. These kids are young and are going to take time, it's barely December for Christ sake.

 

[UconnU]

Our team likes to play fast instead of playing quick. Leadig to a lot of turnovers..

Disappointing loss as Arizona was seemingly trying to give us this game.

 

[gtcam]

Polley and Smith with some really poor D in final few minutes.
If Cobb can learn to play D he could have stayed in and that would have helped the team
Basically a really bad offensive game from AG and JA struggled in second half
Got to give Zona credit -they hit free throws after shooting around 76% for the year
This should have been a W for UConn yet they did enough stupid things to ensure a loss
Dan Hurley did not do a good job in adjustments and TO (time out) management
I think UConn will beat Nova but FSU may be a nightmare
NEXT..........................

 

[Hi-Low]

First off, the notion that this was a "must win" game is utterly absurd! Secondly, this is team that has NEVER been coached before Hurley got here. These kids are young and are going to take time, it's barely December for Christ sake.

Dude it's a home game against a non-conf power team we should have won, we don't have anymore of those.

If we beat FSU or Nova then it takes the sting out of this but 1 signature non-conf win against Cuse isn't enough.

Was it a "must-win"....time will tell but it complicates things immensely.

 

[UConnSwag11]

They made free throws and beat us backdoor. Offensively we had too many travels. That’s the game

 

[LIuconn]

So many sloppy out of control charges. Gotta know when to hit brakes, jump stop and hit a 8-10 footer or drop it to a big

 

[LIuconn]

Cuse won't be a signature win by anyone outside of this website come the end of the year

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

Yeah, I kind of fall into the tired of the moral victory talk. This was a home game vs an unranked team from the pac12. I'm just tired of losing these types of games. I'm confident in Hurley, but these loses suck as a fan.

 

[D$]

Not really, Polley nailed a 3 right after. Missing that foul shot at the end really blew it.

Huh??? That foul on the three was what ended the come back. Just because Polley made a three the next possession doesn’t erase how critical of a mistake that was. What if we made a stop there and then Polley made that three?!?!

 

[huskeynut]

Basically this is the same team that had a losing record last year. Today they were competetive the whole game.

This program is not going to turn around in one season.

 

[ASweet3781]

Yeah, I kind of fall into the tired of the moral victory talk. This was a home game vs an unranked team from the pac12. I'm just tired of losing these types of games. I'm confident in Hurley, but these loses suck as a fan.

A team that flew to Maui last week and flew to CT this week.

We should have been able to take advantage of that with the way we play.

 

[Storrs South]

Huh??? That foul on the three was what ended the come back. Just because Polley made a three the next possession doesn’t erase how critical of a mistake that was. What if we made a stop there and then Polley made that three?!?!

It didn't end momentum is my point. They kept playing and playing well with the exception of the missed free throw and need the D to be better at the end. As great as Polley was hitting back to back 3s that foul he had at the end was also unnecessary.

 

[Matt1010]

Cuse won't be a signature win by anyone outside of this website come the end of the year

Cuse just beat a good OSU team in Columbus and will likely be a tournament team. That's a good win on a neutral court.

 

[August_West]

The overplay defense is killing us too.

He’s going to stick with it , and he should. But it’s going to take a while.

When you pressure hard up top but don’t keep guys from turning corners you give up 3s and under basket hoops where there isn’t a defender within 12 feet of a guy. Happened multiple times today . Both for 3’s and layups.

 

[StepbackCity]

It didn't end momentum is my point. They kept playing and playing well with the exception of the missed free throw and need the D to be better at the end. As great as Polley was hitting back to back 3s that foul he had at the end was also unnecessary.

Yeah polleys foul, talk about a karate kick

 

[Horatio]

Our team likes to play fast instead of playing quick. Leadig to a lot of turnovers..

Disappointing loss as Arizona was seemingly trying to give us this game.

So true. Our guards try to force impossible things and that leads to Brick 3 pt attempts , bad shots and turnovers. Every play can’t be 100 mph hour. Every play can’t be a dagger.

 

[UconnU]

Turnovers are a major major issue. This is why Coach Hurley plays Smith over Vital in critical moments. We have to lead the NCAA in turnovers at this point.