Mahaney experiment

[uconn_jack]

I think everyone agrees that the Mahaney PG experiment needs to end, but I think it's unfair to say that he is a bust or a recruiting mistake by the staff. If anything I think it's been a coaching mistake trying to make him into a point guard when that's obviously not his skill set. I understand why they have tried it, and maybe they saw something in practice that they thought justified it, but the result has been destroying the kid's confidence. That's on the coaching staff, not him, and I hope they are able to adjust and find him the role that he can thrive in. They need to find his place within the offense, not as the facilitator of it.

 

[bendm]

We all know the role, it’s backup SG, but there’s only ~15mpg available there and he’s going to be competing with Ross for them:

Diarra 30 / Nowell 10
Ball 25 / ???
Liam 30 / Stew 10
Alex 30 / Stew 10
Samson 20 / Reed 20

Nowell assuming backup PG duties is the integral piece of the puzzle

 

[TheHorde]

We all know the role, it’s backup SG, but there’s only ~15mpg available there and he’s going to be competing with Ross for them:

Diarra 30 / Nowell 10
Ball 25 / ???
Liam 30 / Stew 10
Alex 30 / Stew 10
Samson 20 / Reed 20

Nowell assuming backup PG duties is the missing piece of the puzzle

Compare Stewart’s production to Ball’s last night when they both played 19 minutes. I love Ball’s potential, and think he should obviously be playing more than Ross at this point. But Stewart should be playing as many minutes as Ball. Stewart not only scores, but rebounds, gets some assists, blocks a shot or two, can get a steal or two, and plays better defense than I think he’s given credit for.

 

[uconn_jack]

We all know the role, it’s backup SG, but there’s only ~15mpg available there and he’s going to be competing with Ross for them:

Diarra 30 / Nowell 10
Ball 25 / ???
Liam 30 / Stew 10
Alex 30 / Stew 10
Samson 20 / Reed 20

Nowell assuming backup PG duties is the missing piece of the puzzle

True, although I think 25 minutes for Ball is a little high, unless he can become an improved defender himself and becomes more than just a three-point shooter in the offense

 

[dingaling]

It seems he is a little out of his league in terms of athleticism. I feel like he struggles with the size and quickness of who is guarding him and who he is guarding. I dont think that is a coaching issue or a position issue.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

He was fine against Baylor. Bit of boom or bust though. If he can hit shots, he can get minutes.

 

[bendm]

Compare Stewart’s production to Ball’s last night when they both played 19 minutes. I love Ball’s potential, and think he should obviously be playing more than Ross at this point. But Stewart should be playing as many minutes as Ball. Stewart not only scores, but rebounds, gets some assists, blocks a shot or two, can get a steal or two, and plays better defense than I think he’s given credit for. Liam will have to play a lot more at SG to free up more PT for stew

Sure we just have way fewer minutes to go around at F than at G.

 

[bendm]

True, although I think 25 minutes for Ball is a little high, unless he can become an improved defender himself and becomes more than just a three-point shooter in the offense

He’s averaging 27mpg right now

 

[TheHorde]

Sure we just have way fewer minutes to go around at F than at G.

I’d argue we should or could play Liam or Stewart some effectively at 2 guard. I’d argue that what they’d give up in foot speed compared to Mahaney or Ball they’d make up for in length to bother shooters on the perimeter and in additional rebounding to take pressure off Samson and Alex. We’ve had outstanding rebounders at the 2 and the 3 the past couple of years, and I feel like that’s a spot where we could add some, even if it’s for 5 minutes a game. I just really think Stewart needs 20 minutes a game for us to get where we want to be.

 

[upstater]

I think everyone agrees that the Mahaney PG experiment needs to end, but I think it's unfair to say that he is a bust or a recruiting mistake by the staff. If anything I think it's been a coaching mistake trying to make him into a point guard when that's obviously not his skill set. I understand why they have tried it, and maybe they saw something in practice that they thought justified it, but the result has been destroying the kid's confidence. That's on the coaching staff, not him, and I hope they are able to adjust and find him the role that he can thrive in. They need to find his place within the offense, not as the facilitator of it.

People give up on players too easily.

Same thing happened with Tristen Newton.

Also Joey Calcaterra.

Heck, people wanted to permanently bench Andre Jackson Jr. during January of his junior year.

I don't know if the PG experiment is over, it would not surprise me if he played PG better as the weeks go on, but I do think at the very least he could be the sharpshooter they need at off guard.

Too early to give up though

 

[bendm]

I’d argue we should or could play Liam or Stewart some effectively at 2 guard. I’d argue that what they’d give up in foot speed compared to Mahaney or Ball they’d make up for in length to bother shooters on the perimeter and in additional rebounding to take pressure off Samson and Alex. We’ve had outstanding rebounders at the 2 and the 3 the past couple of years, and I feel like that’s a spot where we could add some, even if it’s for 5 minutes a game. I just really think Stewart needs 20 minutes a game for us to get where we want to be.

I’m giving him 20mpg haha. I agree Liam could play more at SG to free up more PT for Stew But I think Nowell getting those backup PG minutes will enable everyone to play their natural positions.

 

[Viet Vet]

Patience. I believe the PG answer is temporarily sidelined.......Nowell.

 

[TheHorde]

I’m giving him 20mpg haha. I agree Liam will have to start playing more at SG to free up more PT for Stew But I think Nowell getting those backup PG minutes will enable everyone to play their natural positions.

I’d like to see Ball closer to 22-23 minutes a game rather than 27. Stewart averages around 15 minutes a game now. We just have to find ways to get more rebounds and better run guys off the three point line, and I feel like Stewart improves the team in both areas.

 

[TheHorde]

I’m giving him 20mpg haha. I agree Liam could play more at SG to free up more PT for Stew But I think Nowell getting those backup PG minutes will enable everyone to play their natural positions.

I’d like to see Nowell get 10-12 maybe even 15 minutes a game if he earns it and proves he can handle it. That keeps Diarra fresh and able to be tenacious on the defensive end.

 

[bendm]

I’d like to see Nowell get 10-12 maybe even 15 minutes a game if he earns it and proves he can handle it. That keeps Diarra fresh and able to be tenacious on the defensive end.

Yes That would be ideal. It’s crucial that we can eventually depend on Nowell as our backup PG for at least 10mpg, everything else is gravy and raises our ceiling even higher!

 

[Umami Zen]

We need Mahaney to be productive to be successful in March. The coaches know it and he knows it. As talented as our coaches are-they will figure it out. They have before. Will leave the minutes allocation discussion to others.

Just be a plus performer when you're on the court. He'll get there.

 

[TheHorde]

We need Mahaney to be productive to be successful in March. The coaches know it and he knows it. As talented as our coaches are-they will figure it out. They have before. Will leave the minutes allocation discussion to others.

Just be a plus performer when you on the court. He'll get there.

It’s critical because you never know when the injury bug will strike or when a whistle happy ref calls a couple of early ticky tack fouls on one of your key players in March. We need as deep, productive, and confident a roster as possible.

 

[Gurleyman]

Different situation because he was a UConn guy all four years, but yarders of a certain age will remember Rashamel Jones. Began his career looking like a future All-Big East player and then went off the rails. Suddenly couldn’t shoot. Lost his minutes and his confidence. But he never gave up and found ways to contribute. He was a 2 guard who played the 4 in a BE Championship game win as a junior when we had some injuries, and then as a senior the ball ended up in his hands as the clock hit zero for our first title (he was the primary defender on Langdon before he tripped and UConn did it).

Mahaney has had good moments at St. Mary’s and is sputtering here so far, but there’s time for him to find his way and his role.

 

[husky429]

The comparison to Tristen Newton's start at UConn is not a good one. Tristen had a 20-point triple-double in his first 11 games here. He averaged 4.4 APG. Shot 35% from deep on volume and was rebounding the hell out of the ball. Tristen had a funky start. He also got to the line during that time--literally--9x as much as Aiden has. The writing on the wall said that Tristen was a starting-caliber player. All-American and national champion? No, but who would predict that seriously? He was a good player making some boneheaded mistakes in a new system.

What Aiden has shown is he could be successful in a Joey-California-esque role. That is a HUGE change in expectations for him and our coaches, no doubt. Right now, in this new role, he's struggling to even do that basics you'd expect from a scholarship basketball player.

I do believe Mahanay can become a valuable player for us, but it's becoming apparent he needs to be in a different role than he was recruited for, and the coaches have already started adjusting accordingly until Nowell got hut. He will play off-ball where he belongs once Nowell is back to spell Hass for 10-15 a game. Let him run off screens, drain 3s, and move in transition. He'll be an efficient complimentary piece when we get him there.

 

[TroyHall98]

True, although I think 25 minutes for Ball is a little high, unless he can become an improved defender himself and becomes more than just a three-point shooter in the offense

I

We all know the role, it’s backup SG, but there’s only ~15mpg available there and he’s going to be competing with Ross for them:

Diarra 30 / Nowell 10
Ball 25 / ???
Liam 30 / Stew 10
Alex 30 / Stew 10
Samson 20 / Reed 20

Nowell assuming backup PG duties is the integral piece of the puzzle

15 minutes per from Nowell is plausible. I also think we could be singing a different tune with a Ball/Mahaney 2 guard combo given those minutes from Nowell.

 

[NJHusky]

We need Mahaney to be productive to be successful in March. The coaches know it and he knows it. As talented as our coaches are-they will figure it out. They have before. Will leave the minutes allocation discussion to others.

Just be a plus performer when you're on the court. He'll get there.

Disagree. We need a competent backup PG..and that’s Nowell. We have other guys that can play the 2 with much more athleticism

And I don’t understand all the TN comparisons. It may have taken TN a bit to learn the offense, but he had the physical tools. AM isn’t getting any faster or taller by March. His St Marys work is irrelevant imo. They play a very diff schedule than Uconn

I think getting Ross more run will pay bigger dividends in March

 

[Umami Zen]

Disagree. We need a competent backup PG..and that’s Nowell. We have other guys that can play the 2 with much more athleticism

And I don’t understand all the TN comparisons. It may have taken TN a bit to learn the offense, but he had the physical tools. AM isn’t getting any faster or taller by March.

I think getting Ross more run will pay bigger dividends in March

Pretty sure I didn't mention a position for Mahaney in my above post (on purpose) But if asked . I would say his natural position is off-guard with secondary ball handling when needed. Currently behind Solo for that role in the lineup/rotation.

 

[shizzle787]

It's not a confidence thing, it's a strength and size thing. He's like the Purdue guards when playing Newton last year.

 

[NJHusky]

Pretty sure I didn't mention a position for Mahaney in my above post (on purpose) But if asked . I would say his natural position is off-guard with secondary ball handling when needed.

I tried to address both spots. I think Nowell is a better backup at PG and Ross gives us better long term backup at SG

 

[Umami Zen]

I tried to address both spots. I think Nowell is a better backup at PG and Ross gives us better long term backup at SG

Nowell is clearly a strong back up to Hass . He's an alpha. Ross and Mahaney can earn PT in practice. The 3 forward lineup(Liam/AK/JS) when or if Ball is out of the game is appearing to be a viable one that gives us offensive and defensive advantages.