March Bench Rotation

[Connecticut13]

If Mahaney is playing 10 mpg, then we're in trouble. I still like Nowell better as our backup pg -- he's a better ball handler, which isn't saying much right now. In my opinion, Nowell needs to see about 7-8 mpg to spell Diarra. Mahaney has gotten chance after chance - but he's constantly turning over the ball, gets burned on defense and seems afraid to shoot. Of course, I'd love for Mahaney to catch fire and prove me wrong.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

On paper we have some decent bench players but not one is consistent or reliable. If Reed starts, we have no bench. Its problematic that we can't call on a defensive stopper, or a scoring spark or even a high energetic game impactor (think AJ).

Our starting 5 can beat any 5 starters in the Nation. I just hope they all are capable of playing 35-40 minutes each this month.

Just saying going into the Tourney, we can't rely on our bench for production.

If by our starters you include Johnson, then I disagree...and hoping he is capable of playing 35-40 minutes is a bridge too far.

Then again, it's March so that is when Hurley teams tend to dial it up on Defense.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Unfortunately we do not have much depth.
1. Samson Johnson, even though he starts, IMO is our best
2. JS can be so much better at both ends but he disappears a ton. On offense he acts like he is the 6th option with only 5 players out on the court
3. AM & AN to me is a toss-up. While he has more experience at the college level, this league is too physical for AM while AN can handle the physicallity but has less experience. I think he would have been a different player by now if he saw more playing time during the season. I know he was hurt on a few occassions but he still did not see much time.

 

[Giddyup5]

Neither guy is bringing anything to the table right now, but at least with Mahaney you know if he knocks down a couple shots and suddenly starts feeling good, he’s capable of a 20-point night. Certainly not expecting it. Mental struggles are a beast to overcome and he’s never played well with us or in the tournament (he did put 25 on Gonzaga in a conference title game), so he’s facing massive headwinds. But he has had lots of big scoring games in his archives, and he could have a throwback night. Get him free for a couple wide open looks, they go down, and suddenly he‘s feeling good again and maybe a game changes. Would be a pleasant surprise. But that version of him does exist.

Nowell has never had an impact game at this level. Expecting him to suddenly be a difference maker is believing in a mythical version of him that nobody has seen.

This!

We need more game changers than someone to steady the ship. Roll the dice at this point.

 

[Palatine]

What has Mahaney shown us recently to think he can give us much of anything? I just don't see it besides maybe spelling Diarra for 5 minutes a game. Personally I rather see us go big with Stewart. Mahaney makes him look like an All-Start defender. LOL!

He scored 15 against PC. He was a spark versus Xavier. So there is some evidence he could help a bit. Considering we get nothing from Nowell, it depends on Hurley's priority, does he want to develop AN for next year, or hope AM can help a little bit now.

 

[jibsey]

Mahaney can go to the rim and score or get fouled. Nowell I’m waiting to see.
Neither player has a handle to brag about.

 

[cap10dingus]

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.

 

[RuffRuff]

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.

 

[jibsey]

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.

Stew can be a significant factor. It’s possible.

 

[RuffRuff]

Stew can be a significant factor. It’s possible.

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.

 

[gsmooth]

He doesn’t play that way unfortunately - he doesn’t come off screens looking to shoot. It’s one of my frustrations with him that I feel like the staff should have flagged. The ball kinda sticks to him for a while. It did with Cam sometimes too but he would always cut like he wanted the shot, and would force the defense to react. If it was taken away, he’d go to the next plan and was always probing and it felt like he was thinking two chess moves ahead. Mahaney tends to get an advantage and then not use it. He had the ball a lot at St. Mary’s - seems like he was more of a screen and roll guy and not a “get open off the ball”guy.

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.

 

[AllHusky]

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.

 

[Hogoff]

I've had IT Band tendonitis before and the only cure is dry needling. Couple sessions and I was right as rain. I think that is what Diarra has, but it's tough to find licensed practitioners in dry needling...but man that helped more than weeks of PT.

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.

 

[Conndog]

On defense, Mahaney gets in trouble (not moving feet quickly enough?) and often fouls by grabbing his opponent. If he could work on that, his defense would improve

 

[Doctor Hoop]

On defense, Mahaney gets in trouble (not moving feet quickly enough?) and often fouls by grabbing his opponent. If he could work on that, his defense would improve

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.

 

[sdglast]

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.

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.

 

[sdglast]

On defense, Mahaney gets in trouble (not moving feet quickly enough?) and often fouls by grabbing his opponent. If he could work on that, his defense would improve

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.

 

[bendm]

He scored 15 against PC. He was a spark versus Xavier. So there is some evidence he could help a bit. Considering we get nothing from Nowell, it depends on Hurley's priority, does he want to develop AN for next year, or hope AM can help a little bit now.

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

 

[sdglast]

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.

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.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Yup. We just can’t get by with 7 if one of the two bench players isn’t a ball handler. We’re gonna have to play Mahaney at this point like it or not. At least he’s played in March before.

Diarra 30 / Mahaney 10
Ball 35 / McNeeley 5
McNeeley 30 / Stew 10
Karaban 35 / Stew 5
Reed 30 / Samson 10

35: Ball / McNeeley / Karaban
30: Diarra / Reed
15: Stew
10: Mahaney / Samson

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.