Mahaney

[RuffRuff]

He is one of a couple players who has been afraid to take a shot (I imagine some will be able to figure out who the other is, but many on here are a bit too obtuse to realize). If Mahaney does get some confidence back we may have a chance to win some tournament games, both BE and NCAA. If not, we'll need to lean on HD until his knee gives out.

The thing with Aidan is he needs to find the balance in his headspace between playing overly controlled and free, right now so heavily side to controlled. Roll out with a little more reckless abandon, like Liam has lately. He just looks so darn deliberate - go out there with some hair on fire, let it fly. Joey C never met a shot he didn’t like - and the team played around it. His confidence was infectious out there. Go out with some of that.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

So you think there is some sort of magical transmission from our posts to how the team plays?

You write as though you have drawn that conclusion, doubt it, and question others.
Bless your heart.

 

[Connecticut13]

I mean, let's be honest. We've reduced the expectations on Mahaney from "the next Joey C/Spencer" to can he give us 10 minutes to rest Diarra without screwing things up. I would hope that, at this point, he can at least give us that.

There’s a big difference between Spencer and Joey C. In any event, he’s been neither - but I still think he can provide valuable minutes. Hopefully, the last couple of games have boosted his confidence. I still maintain that he’s talented enough to give us Joey C like minutes in the post season.

 

[KemBuckets21]

33.9% from beyond the arc is dismal????

rate isn't "dismal" but less than 2 attempts/game so doesn't matter too much. Pretty clear at this point, he's in over his head.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

My “take” (and I wonder about the intelligence of people who use that word) is that Mahaney might very well improve dramatically as a Husky the more he plays. Wouldn’t be the first time a talented transfer sat on the bench and never panned out.

I’ll ignore the nonsensical beginning to that sentence and just focus on the rest, which I don’t disagree with. I was a fan of Mahaney when he came here. I was probably more hopeful than most for longer than most that he would turn it around, and I continue to think he’s better than what we’ve seen. None of that is contrary to the view you’re taking such personal exception to that he’s not a PG and was miscast as that by the coaching staff. Not sure why this is all so personally offensive to you.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I’ll ignore the nonsensical beginning to that sentence and just focus on the rest, which I don’t disagree with. I was a fan of Mahaney when he came here. I was probably more hopeful than most for longer than most that he would turn it around, and I continue to think he’s better than what we’ve seen. None of that is contrary to the view you’re taking such personal exception to that he’s not a PG and was miscast as that by the coaching staff. Not sure why this is all so personally offensive to you.

While Aidan may not be a "classic" PG, watch this portal mixtape:



All you see are things that we'd expect him to do in our offense...executing high pick-n-rolls, driving the lane and making good decisionmaking, shooting 3s off nice motion offense.

The only difference is he was doing it mostly vs. KP 200+ defenses at St. Mary's. The hope was that he could translate it all to Big East KP 50 or better defenses. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten comfortable (yet?)

The "square peg into a round hole" narrative is BS.

 

[AllHusky]

So you think there is some sort of magical transmission from our posts to how the team plays?

Are you some kind of Heretic. We must summon the Boneyard Inquisitors! You probably doubt the MOJO as well.

 

[AllHusky]

While Aidan may not be a "classic" PG, watch this portal mixtape:



All you see are things that we'd expect him to do in our offense...executing high pick-n-rolls, driving the lane and making good decisionmaking, shooting 3s off nice motion offense.

The only difference is he was doing it mostly vs. KP 200+ defenses at St. Mary's. The hope was that he could translate it all to Big East KP 50 or better defenses. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten comfortable (yet?)

The "square peg into a round hole" narrative is BS.

Does seem to keep the ball in his hands alot. Probably biggest transition is not to dribble so much

 

[GHSWolverines]

33.9% from beyond the arc is dismal????

I am referring to the overall stats.

 

[inWV]

There’s a big difference between Spencer and Joey C. In any event, he’s been neither - but I still think he can provide valuable minutes. Hopefully, the last couple of games have boosted his confidence. I still maintain that he’s talented enough to give us Joey C like minutes in the post season.

Oddly enough, Mahaney has 4 BE games in double figures. Joey C had 2.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

He is one of a couple players who has been afraid to take a shot (I imagine some will be able to figure out who the other is, but many on here are a bit too obtuse to realize). If Mahaney does get some confidence back we may have a chance to win some tournament games, both BE and NCAA. If not, we'll need to lean on HD until his knee gives out.

Mahaney needs to play more, if he does the confidence will come and HD can rest his knee.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I will be very happy to be wrong, but I think the water is too deep and fast for him at this level. If he was a freshman or sophomore, that would be different. He will be 22 in August. If it hasn't clicked by now, I doubt there will be enough time for large improvement. But, stranger things have happened.

 

[NJHusky]

While Aidan may not be a "classic" PG, watch this portal mixtape:


The "square peg into a round hole" narrative is BS.

wasnt' that Hurley's comment in an interview?

 

[Chin Diesel]

When Mcneeley runs the point for short periods, he pushes downcourt before the defense can be set. This has worked well, perhaps an option for other smaller guards. I also like the fact that our centers became more involved in breaking presses after a rebound or sideline inbounding. When we play to a 20 second clock or less we find many more offensive opportunities.

McNeeley, like Newton, knows how to read the defense and dribble and moves away from the second defender and traps. It's a Captain Obvious obervation, but so many times Mahaney and Nowell dribble right in to the pressure. And neither Mahaney or Nowell is big enough to pass over the trap. It's the initial decision when they get the ball of which way to start moving by reading the defense and seeing where pressure is coming from.
Secondly, UConn needs to have some one run to the spot where pressure is coming from so the ball handler has a known target area to pass. Pretty rare for a defense to have two defenders in the same spot on the floor. Similar to an NFL team running or passing to the spot where the blitz is coming from.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I am cheering for continuous improvement in performance from the coaches & related staff; from every player on the roster; and from every sector of our large, loyal, powerful, and empowering fan base.

I invite and exhort others to join me, because it is the best and most valuable thing we can do.

Go Aidan!
Go Huskies!

 

[RuffRuff]

I am cheering for continuous improvement in performance from the coaches & related staff; from every player on the roster; and from every sector of our large, loyal, powerful, and empowering fan base.

I invite and exhort others to join me, because it is the best and most valuable thing we can do.

Go Aidan!
Go Huskies!

I cheer for your posts given they sound like a Charles Dicken's novel. When I sit back to read one, it prompts me to fetch my pipe & monocle, and to sit back in my lazy boy for a good smoke and scotch, and read. Go Hans!

 

[UconnU]

His "good" game was mediocre. We've gotten enough sample size: doesn't have enough size, doesn't have enough strength, doesn't run the offense. SH cleared out and 1v1 when he was in.
I hope he makes some big shots somehow, but you can't play him if you want to defend or run the offense with anything close to the efficiency we have come to expect. It's just not there and that's ok!

Play strength is his biggest issue, and this is vs Big East competition not Big 10.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I cheer for your posts given they sound like a Charles Dicken's novel. When I sit back to read one, it prompts me to fetch my pipe & monocle, and to sit back in my lazy boy for a good smoke and scotch, and read. Go Hans!

LOVE the apostrophe in "Dicken's!"

As Stanley Kowalski would bellow...


I've just finished off a Caesar salad and segued from a Firesign Theater Spotify playlist into some Captain Beefheart, with Todd Rundgren's "Onomatopoeia," providing the bridge, and following up with Ken Nordine asking "What Time Is It?"

And yes, I am swaddled in La-Z-Boy leather.

 

[Scottobot]

As a backup for Diarra, Mahaney has earned his 10 minutes more than Nowell has.

As a backup for Solo same.

Cavalry is a year late with Mullins as our 2 backup.

I agree. I think Mahaney won the backup job guard position over Nowell. I wanted Nowell to get some playing time so he could be evaluated for next year, but I think that ship has sailed.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

I agree. I think Mahaney won the backup job guard position over Nowell. I wanted Nowell to get some playing time so he could be evaluated for next year, but I think that ship has sailed.

Yeah, especially if tournament experience is valued, Mahaney has it over Nowell for dayz!