joober jones
Finally Non-Fat Guy
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2011
- Messages
- 4,737
- Reaction Score
- 9,654
This is my 25th year living in CT and of closely following UConn basketball. We've definitely had worse losses than this one. We've lost heartbreakers at the buzzer and we've sometimes been beaten by teams we should've pulverized.
The loss isn't what made this game so horrible. The energy level of the team was flatter than a pancake run over by a tank. In the few moments where we did show spirit, it was at bizarre, and considering the situation, inappropriate times. Onourah celebrated one rebound and one out-of-bounds call against Arkansas long past the point where they were meaningful. Some of that fire would've been much more appreciated earlier on.
We still haven't established a primary ball handler. While it's been split up among Gilbert, Adams, and Anderson so far, Jalen is playing off the ball a lot and it isn't working. A Napier/Boatright type of dynamic in terms of running the point is what we really need between Adams and Gilbert.
Carlton is like an inverse Phil Nolan. Nolan had great footwork and instinctively knew where to be and when. Beyond that, he couldn't do much. Carlton pretty much has the whole package minus the footwork. Granted he's a freshman and I'm putting faith in the staff to help him improve those skills and be the star he has the potential to be.
Polley has been engaging in a disappearing act the past few games. 1 rebound in 15 minutes is flat-out unacceptable. He's not so much doing anything wrong as he's just not doing anything.
Whaley and Williams should've seen more court time. We weren't getting anything out of Onourah and Carlton was lost.
The uncertainty of Gilbert's status probably didn't do much to help focus or morale either.
Bill Walton didn't help matters. His schtick is funny for about 3 minutes, annoying after 5, and after 7 minutes, he makes you envy the deaf. His comments grew to be like water torture as the game dragged on.
On the plus side, we have 3 days to prepare for our next game, it's at home, and against an opponent who won't be quite as much of a challenge. Plus Bill Walton won't be there.
The loss isn't what made this game so horrible. The energy level of the team was flatter than a pancake run over by a tank. In the few moments where we did show spirit, it was at bizarre, and considering the situation, inappropriate times. Onourah celebrated one rebound and one out-of-bounds call against Arkansas long past the point where they were meaningful. Some of that fire would've been much more appreciated earlier on.
We still haven't established a primary ball handler. While it's been split up among Gilbert, Adams, and Anderson so far, Jalen is playing off the ball a lot and it isn't working. A Napier/Boatright type of dynamic in terms of running the point is what we really need between Adams and Gilbert.
Carlton is like an inverse Phil Nolan. Nolan had great footwork and instinctively knew where to be and when. Beyond that, he couldn't do much. Carlton pretty much has the whole package minus the footwork. Granted he's a freshman and I'm putting faith in the staff to help him improve those skills and be the star he has the potential to be.
Polley has been engaging in a disappearing act the past few games. 1 rebound in 15 minutes is flat-out unacceptable. He's not so much doing anything wrong as he's just not doing anything.
Whaley and Williams should've seen more court time. We weren't getting anything out of Onourah and Carlton was lost.
The uncertainty of Gilbert's status probably didn't do much to help focus or morale either.
Bill Walton didn't help matters. His schtick is funny for about 3 minutes, annoying after 5, and after 7 minutes, he makes you envy the deaf. His comments grew to be like water torture as the game dragged on.
On the plus side, we have 3 days to prepare for our next game, it's at home, and against an opponent who won't be quite as much of a challenge. Plus Bill Walton won't be there.
