March Bench Rotation
- Thread starter jibsey
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Honestly, not the best situation, but if Diarra steps off the floor I like McNeeley bringing the ball up the court with Ball Stew AK and pickem at center (agree Samson has been outplayed but from a bringing the ball up the floor perspective it's not particularly relevant) on the floor as much as possible. I know he's not a natural PG or really even close but he fakes it better than our other options at this point.
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Reality is that we need to get our best 5 as many minutes as possible. Talking about our bench rotation is pointless as no one on the bench is going to be a difference maker in the post season, just there to give our starting 5 a breather and not to be a train wreck. Mahaney, Nowell & Ross need not to be a guaranteed net negative, Samson & Stew effective placeholders. This isn't the last two years where we could bring in the bench for an extra throttle or boost, this is just hoping we get enough through the middle of the game to get our starters rest.
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Stew can be a significant factor. It’s possible.
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It’s hard to count on it it’s so intermittent and inconsistent. He’s the same kid that can lose his defensive assignment 4 straight possessions and the turn the ball over 5x.
bingo. He used the PnR a lot and that is something I wish this staff would set up offensive plays for when Mahaney is in the game. This is not to say UConn can't run their usual motion offense when Mahaney is in the game, but tweak the offense to his strengths.
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Stewart(15-20)has to step up, put him in next 2 games + BET and leave him in. Let him flop around on the floor if that’s what he is. Call a time out, scream at him and put him back in. Make him or break him now. Maybe you’ll have something for the tourney.
Nowell PG for 5 or 10, Mahaney at the 2 with Solo PG 5 min per half. Gives quite a bit of rest for Hass.
Don’t see a need for Ross.
Nowell PG for 5 or 10, Mahaney at the 2 with Solo PG 5 min per half. Gives quite a bit of rest for Hass.
Don’t see a need for Ross.
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I had that done. It worked really well. I remember it being really painful. But, I limped in the clinic and walked out normally. After about the third session I was back to running again.
Doctor Hoop
Prescribing Hardwood Excellence
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This is largely it for our weaker defenders, being quick to respond to the moves with lateral footspeed. I've noticed that Ball is much better sliding laterally to cut off the dribbler than he was at the beginning of the season. And Ross does a pretty good job one on one, but doesn't anticipate picks and work to get over them. Stewart needs to work on that lateral footwork to cut off the drive. For the most part we've handled high picks better lately, just a few breakdowns.
Agree totally. It's about getting the best players on the floor for as long as you can. I agree with Mahaney, Ross, Nowell thoughts--just come in and don't screw up (Ross can't be getting 5 second calls and should NEVER be bringing the ball up the floor like he did against Georgetown). Both Mahaney and Nowell will be pressured extensively the second they bring the ball up the floor, so anyone else who can help should. Obviously, whoever they are guarding will also take it right at them the second they touch it, so I am not expecting much from either. Like you said RuffRuff, don't be a net negative.
His other problem is that he is out physicaled by most Big East guards. He comes in the game and whoever he is guarding takes it right at him, backs him in, and either scores easily or gets fouled. Nowell looks like a terrified freshman and, while stronger than Mahaney, still doesn't play good defense especially as a short guard. Will be curious how Hurley uses these 2 in the next 2 games.
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bendm
Utterly Impossible
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Mahaney scored 0 pts in 2 mins against PC 2 days ago unless you’re referring to the game against PC from 2 months ago for some reason
He's one of those guys who is either feast or famine. Mainly he is famine, but he has the occasional game where he scores a quick 10-12. I think teams are catching on to him really looking to shoot 3s and have any inability to drive the lane, so they are playing him for the 3 ball. Stewart has so much athleticism but just doesn't move well off the ball and doesn't have the handle to drive. He can be a tenacious rebounder when he wants to but is a bad defensive player. He can have an explosion, but for the most part you can't trust him.
I’d give Stew another 5 min for Ball or Diarra, especially Diarra if his tendinitis flares up. Stew’s great around the basket and can shoot the three.
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We dribble to much rather than passing up court. Why do we try to dribble out of trouble? Too much waisted time to setting up our offense. Runing our offense on a 20 second clock or less will result in more and better shots up during the game.
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To those saying Samson should only be getting 10 minutes per game, he actually has the top offensive rating % in the big east and one of the best in the country. His defense is notably worse than Reed’s (Reed is actually one of the top defensive centers in the country according to kenpom), but the two definitely compliment each other well. The ideal distribution to me is 20 minutes apiece.
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He was our starter for 8 games and averaged 25mpg. He has had the chance to play through things. Why do people act like he has not been given minutes/opportunities? It's baffling.
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Stewart(15-20)has to step up, put him in next 2 games + BET and leave him in. Let him flop around on the floor if that’s what he is. Call a time out, scream at him and put him back in. Make him or break him now. Maybe you’ll have something for the tourney.
BTW... AllHusky, are you Bob Hurley? LOL
BTW... AllHusky, are you Bob Hurley? LOL
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Niether of those are recent and the PC game was beginning of the Big East Season. He hasn't show anything recently besides having issues handling pressure and scoring.
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I guess it is due to strength since Samson is better shot blocker and moves his feet better. Samson's problem has been he isn't a strong guy and it makes it hard for him to play against players who are physical there.
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How does an equal distribution of 20 minutes apiece make sense when you say Samson's defense is notably worse than Reed's and Reed averages 8 more rebounds and 5 more points per 40 than Samson?
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If facing a team that doesn't pressure the ball, I can see Mahaney spelling Diarra, otherwise I don't know if he can handle it. He's more suited to give Ball a breather or provide some create off the dribble offense, though lately he's struggled to produce getting so little PT.
I'd rather see them give Nowell some run to spell Diarra to see if he can gain some confidence.
If either of them show more production (D, dimes, points) vs liabilities (bad D, bad misses, TOs, failure to box out & rebound), then let them earn PT in that game.
Unfortunately, backup PG minutes continues to be the team's biggest liability in addition to team D without fouling.
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There is a massive flaw in metrics if Samson is seen as a well rated offensive player. His single offensive move is a lob dunk, and yeah he does that at a high efficiency. That is something that you can't rely on, is not self created in any way and you cannot build an offensive around. Somehow, someway the metrics must weight that in some form that equals efficiency.
There is not a neutral spectator on the planet that looks at Samson thinking oh wow, look at that high caliber Uconn centers offensive game. We have to be real about the guy. How many times do we see him foul 30 feet from the rim, reach in, not react to a man behind him, fumble a ball, not box out. The thing about Samson is that he exponentiates the flaws on this team as being a soft, one dimensional, finesse team. Tarris counters all that and brings in an entirely new dimension and makes this team a much more complicated to defend.
Except ball can’t dribble under pressure
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I think we need to stick with Stew as 6man. He has shown the ability to be a difference maker. Could he go on a DeAndre Daniels esqe run in March?
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AM has only had a few good games all year and he's on a trend to little to no time on the court as we reach the post season.
10 total minutes and 0 total points in the last 4 games.
Many have asked what the staff saw in him. It may be the staff felt they could help him become a better player or turn around the trend his career was on.
From his freshman year to his junior year his minutes went from 30 or slightly over in his first two years to 12.3 this year.
His 2 Pt % went down each year, from 42.8 as a Freshman to 38.6 as a Sophomore to this year's 36.2.
His 3 Pt% went down each year from 40.0 as a Freshman to 35.5 as a Sophomore to this year's 32.1.
Playing in a lesser league his first two years he averaged 13.9 years. This year 4.3.
As for big games this year, he's had double digit games against:
East Texas A&M--10 points in 19 minutes
UM Eastern Shore--11 points in 16 minutes
Providence--15 points in 20 minutes
Xavier--14 points in 23 minutes
DePaul--10 points in 17 minutes
Since his last double digit scoring game (1/29 DePaul) he's played a total of 43 minutes in 7 games, scoring a total of 6 points. 4 of those 6 points and 17 of those 43 minutes came against Creighton.
When I see the staff has played him a total of 10 minutes in the last 4 games I feel badly for him, but the staff is handsomely paid to evaluate, develop and play the players they recruited. They apparently don't see him being the answer for relief minutes for HD.
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As a touted upperclass transfer he should have come in as an alpha not a beta. And certainly not stayed a beta through March.
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Boy I disagree on Nowell getting better. He struggles to get the ball up against pressure. He picks up his dribble way to soon once he gets over the time line if he is pressured. Not a great handle. Can’t take his man off the dribble. Not a great defender and bigger guards are just a problem for him. He did the same things against Providence at the end of February that he did against Georgetown back in early January.
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