Marquette Post Game Thread

[HooperScooper]

I’m not so sure his shot selection is worthy of criticism. Going into today he was at 48% from the field and 38% from 3 FWIW

He's now at 45.5% from the field and 34% from 3. I asked after this game so need to include this game. He will be better than that.

 

[Donyell 360]

Maybe fewer shots from the bottom of the Husky logo

I hear you, but there is something about Mullins that makes you believe he is going to make that shot. I was just saying to myself, "when is Mullins going to put his stamp on this game?" As he lined up that shot I thought for a second, "here we go!" Oh well. He is still a work in progress with a high ceiling.

 

[Donyell 360]

Maybe as sharp as a butter knife, but enough to get the W on the road vs. St. John's. They deserve some credit. The real point is you can't take any team lightly.

Providence always plays us tough. Throw out the records and rankings for this rivalry.

 

[Kemba15]

He's now at 45.5% from the field and 34% from 3. I asked after this game so need to include this game. He will be better than that.

Even with today’s bad shooting performance, these updated percentages are really not bad for a freshman who missed the beginning part of the year, but I hear you

 

[Gurleyman]

This makes me uncomfortable. We don't feel like a championship level offense right now.

The season stats are a large sample size - but I feel like today was mostly just a question of making shots. AK, Mullins and Solo were 2-17 from 3 - most of which were pretty clean looks. If we go a more normal 6-17, we’re at 85 points. Demary’s foul trouble probably cost us a few points too - he played/shot well. But obviously we also need to make the shots. Can’t let “if we had just shot a normal percentage…” be a recurring theme.

I’m also a little disappointed in Mullins only drawing 1 free throw in 9 games played (technically 3 - but KU fouled him on purpose after a late defensive rebound). He reportedly almost never misses in practice - but I would like to see it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Bleh. Alex was off. Too many others were off. The PGs need to look for Stewart more. They are too focused on Reed, Solo and Alex. FT shooting is a problem. Fortunately Marquette sucks but this effort wasn’t good enough to result in a win against a good team.

 

[gwhuskyfan]

I was thinking the same thing. Love AK, but BE POY tends to be someone who scores more consistently. Who was the last BE POY to score less than 5 points in a BE game?

RJ Luis last year

 

[Donyell 360]

I thought Solo had a great game but I'm starting to think he is just never going to be an efficient 3 point shooter this year. I love his ability to drive the ball, midrange and floater and usually make free throws. His defense has improved as well. He looks like our best player most nights. If he was shooting 40% from 3 he would be an All-American and in discussion for POY. But I won't be greedy. Take what I can get with Solo. Glad he's a Husky!

 

[Scoe]

We correct the little things we'll be great so let's do that, lessen the turnovers and make our fts.

 

[Donyell 360]

RJ Luis last year

I checked. Don't think so. But Tyler Kolek had back to back 4 point games in 2022. But he also had 8 assists in those two games.

 

[KingAG]

Bleh. Alex was off. Too many others were off. The PGs need to look for Stewart more. They are too focused on Reed, Solo and Alex. FT shooting is a problem. Fortunately Marquette sucks but this effort wasn’t good enough to result in a win against a good team.

Teams tend to play wing different levels of effort based on the competition. It’s human nature

 

[TUCBTUD]

Shaka Smart:

 

[TUCBTUD]

Dan Hurley:

 

[thekollieman]

Knew the AK stinker was coming after Hurley was politicking for a BE POY award on NYE. Let the conference season at least get to the halfway point before starting that. Biggest takeaway was how bad Marquette is that UConn was able to play a D game and still sleepwalk to a 20+pt lead, Donny applauding Shaka for not going portal dipping and using this as a "development" year was comedy.

His shots didn’t fall, but despite that I would not describe his overall play as anything close to a stinker. He did everything else he does that fortifies our capacity to win. And the great news is, he can score 4 points sometimes (only sometimes) with all the other tools we have and still come out on top.

 

[TUCBTUD]

Tarris Reed Jr., Solo Ball, Silas Demary Jr.:

 

[thekollieman]

A win is a win but I don't feel so good about that one. Hope they play better on Wednesday. And shoot better from three. 5-24, 21% from three.

The offense still looks a little rough. Defense seems to be their calling card since that's been more consistent.

Question on Mullins. His shot selection is not the best. Freshman being a freshman. Do you just live with it knowing that he needs to go through this at this level to get better or do you ask him to rein it in a little?

I live with it if it’s offset by 5/10 or better games like he just had. It feels like he’s still settling in and is bound to come around to better selection and more consistent makes.

 

[RuffRuff]

One of many whatever games we'll probably have - not as important we are peaking now as in late Feb. That's not too far away. Key will be staying sharp coming out of the BE, since the grade of play isn't very high this year.

 

[spudzj6]

Biggest difference on offense this year from
23 & 24 teams: decision making with the ball. Granted having passers like AJ, castle, DC and Spencer help, our guys often get caught in a no win spot with the ball. Don't love tarris getting the ball on the baseline 3 ft inside the arc either.

Hopefully as the guys continue to leave the offense they're more predictable with each other, but to have a subpar day and keep it 15-20 cushion, scoring over 70, we can't complain too much.

 

[thekollieman]

Streaky shooting team.

Definitely. Clearly we can win on poor 3pt shooting days. If I recall, in the 2024 tournament our team 3pt percentage was far from great.

 

[upstater]

Do I have to say it… Michigan would’ve hit those free throws and threes

Michigan had a very bad shooting night the other night and still won by a lot (not sure if you were being serious, I take it no?)

 

[AllHusky]

According to the announcers, Hurley ran a brutal practice the day before the game. It looks like it did not pay dividends.

Dividends later, they were physically trashed today, probably not excited to play hard. Practice for Tournament play, more Conference than NCAA.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Really nice to see UConn win by 15 despite a cold afternoon of shooting between Karaban and Mullins (combined 1-for-12 from 3).

I loved what we saw from Jaylin today. With Ross out, Stewart really stepped up as a glue guy and his energy/assertive/confidence today was really exciting to see.

Outside of the BYU game, it was also Demary's best game as a Husky. His first multi-three point game of the season, good defense and the most confident we've seen him in a while. His comfort level/development is huge for the team's championship goal.

 

[Scottzer]

This makes me uncomfortable. We don't feel like a championship level offense right now.

Eh, we are fine. Not 1 or 2 right now, but plenty good. In the 24 season, the D got as low as something like #45 early in the season.

I think this team might have a max of 125 and change for an offensive rating. If we finish around125 O / 90 D - we will be viable contenders.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Mullins takes a lot of bad shots.

 

[Deepster]

I remember when this place was upset we didn't get Shaka Smart. He should be embarrassed for the team he put on the court and the offense they ran. Those offensive sets were low mid-major caliber - drive to the hole and flail up a shot, one on one individual takes and ill advised threes. Pathetic.