Memphis Post Game Thread

[uconnfan68]

Sampson with the lost composure in OT and Hurley’s T

Who ripped his jersey?

 

[TheHorde]

Both are true. Our defense was soft. No resistance

Our perimeter D at the three point line is not close to the caliber it was with Castle, Newton, and Andre. Hopefully that will change.

 

[uh-no]

There’s absolutely no reason to start Samson over Reed. Reed has looked like one of the best bigs in the country. Play him.

I’m not out on Mahaney yet. YET.

should we pull up the thread where everyone was promising Samson Johnson as the next coming of patrick ewing?

 

[UConnJim]

According to EvanMiya stats, the two lowest rated defenders are Ball and Mahaney and they are the starting backcourt. Today, it showed as they could not stop their guards.

Spencer was rated as a very poor defender at Rutgers, but he improved considerably at UConn so there is still hope for Mahaney. Ball is a sophomore who didn't play a lot last year, so I would expect improvement as well.

 

[cp176]

Physically man handled in the backcourt for the most part. Mahaney just looks small out there. He can shoot it. I'm amazed that Ball doesn't seem to be able to penetrate and get to the rim. Johnson was a frustrated big boy today. Reed really does look like the real deal. Have to have guys like him on the floor. Good too see McNeeley come to life. He's going to be just fine. I'd play Stewart way before Ross and Nowell does need to get a look. Got to have a guard on the floor who can keep the ball in front of him. Hey - they hung in there and battled back when the game really did look like it was over in regulation.

 

[AntG168]

 

[Candyman]

But he wasn't wrong.

Of course he’s not wrong to complain but he is wrong to give up 2 points. Can’t give up 2 free points with 40 seconds left. Basically was the difference at that point.

 

[UCFan1513]

I really remembered Mahaney being bigger and more athletic at St. Mary’s. Worried he will get exposed in the big east - got abused by Hunter

 

[SaeHusky]

I really hope to see a different starting lineup tomorrow. It's clear the starters don't have great chemistry.

It's also tough to start a game hot when Samson picks up a foul 19 seconds in.

You will see both Diarra and Reed start. Dan is very superstitious as you know and he only kept Mahaney and Samson in starting lineup because they hadn't lost

 

[UCFan1513]

Sounds like sour grapes. Don’t love the quote. Focus accountability on the poor play outside of the refs

 

[TheHorde]

He’s not wrong. And he’s also hopefully setting the stage for a more fair whistle going forward rather than a referee vendetta against him and his team. UConn is good for the sport and hopefully the sport understands that. Which crews get assigned which games matters.

 

[AntG168]

Sounds like sour grapes. Don’t love the quote. Take accountability for the poor play

That’s not all he said. It’s one excerpt from a whole press conference. The refs were atrocious. He also gave Memphis a lot of credut

 

[temery]

Really? One game is all it took?
Please consider retirement immediately

I think he was saying he had hoped "bad Hurley" had retired.

 

[DennieEddy]

Hurley should’ve taken the Lakers job #firehurley

Maybe even disband the team and forfeit the remaining season?

 

[housekeys]

None of our great guards were no where near ready to run a show as freshman, hell even sophomores.

To your point, one thing about the Memphis team today, was they had a number of 4-5 year transfers. Think of the value a 5th year Cam Spencer brought. Of course there are freshmen who can compete, but as you say it is rare.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Another example of what @superjohn referred to earlier. Hurley has said this so much about being defending/back2back champs and getting calls. First of all, slightly delusional, second of all, we likely don’t get calls sometimes because refs don’t like Hurley. There have been reports of it. I expected him to own up a bit, I am disappointed.

 

[connVA]

As others have pointed out, the Samson Johnson double technical was Xmas in November. Refs were mediocre but if they had it out for us, that was a tailor-made nail-in-the-coffin moment. Instead they looked for a reason NOT to have that decide the game. Stop blaming the refs.

 

[aceboon]

Hurley just brought a team that should have lost by damn near 20 in regulation to a situation where we win the game if not for consecutive pathetic calls from the officials. Not worried about Hurley

saying UConn should have lost to that Memphis team by 20 is just a spin job

 

[HuskyHawk]

They're all feeling themselves too much. I guess that's what two of the four most dominant runs in tournament history does to you.

Hurley has done a million interviews and he hasn't been at all shy about talking about three-peating. He's getting all the recruits he wants. It's just been win after win for them on and off the court. I like the confidence but they've sort of been walking around like they're invincible and their s^^^ doesn't stink. I would've loved the improbable comeback win but it felt right we lost this way today.

I think that was exacerbated by blowing out four truly awful teams to start the season. They hadn't faced actual defense or a team that could really shoot yet. It showed. Hate to see Dan talking about back to back. No Dan, this team hasn't done anything yet. It's a new season. Earn it.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I re-watched overtime and loved McNeeley's reaction following the Johnson technical foul.

1) Was one of the first players to help direct Hurley away from the refs after the foul.

2) Was one of the most vocal guys in the huddle following the foul.

3) Kept talking/directing with teammates while the huddle continued.

I forgot who said it before in a different thread, but McNeeley is part of a very mature freshman class in the nation. Savvy group joining the college ranks this year.

 

[UCann]

Obviously, everyone was going to overreact whenever we had our first loss. Look at the length of this post-game thread! Where is everyone when we win? Not an Aaron Rodgers fan but R E L A X. It's early, we will learn from this (you could argue it was needed), we got hosed on the calls, they shot lights out, and most importantly, let's not forget every game this season we will get every team's best shot+. They want to slay the dragon and will go all out. No other team in the country faces that level of push from their competition. They were harassing us all game and got away with it. We will be stronger for it and more prepared for March than any other team because of this dynamic no matter our seed.

 

[Brochacho]

According to EvanMiya stats, the two lowest rated defenders are Ball and Mahaney and they are the starting backcourt. Today, it showed as they could not stop their guards.

Spencer was rated as a very poor defender at Rutgers, but he improved considerably at UConn so there is still hope for Mahaney. Ball is a sophomore who didn't play a lot last year, so I would expect improvement as well.

I have all the confidence in Ball. He has all the tools - no clue why he struggles. Mahaney? no chance he jumps like Spencer. Spencer had Clingan behind him and got to take the lesser defensive assignment due to Castle and Newton. Diarra coming in helped as well.

There won't be a single game this year where Mahaney is not guarding a player who is one or more of the following attributes: bigger, stronger, quicker, or more athletic. Sometimes all 4 like today. Doesn't have the team defense behind him to make up for his shortcomings.

 

[UConnStats]

Love Hurley, but just move on man. Thats a soft thing to say to the media even if it’s how he really feels.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Love Hurley, but just move on man. Thats a soft thing to say to the media even if it’s how he really feels.

Very bad look.

 

[TheHorde]

Another example of what @superjohn referred to earlier. Hurley has said this so much about being defending/back2back champs and getting calls. First of all, slightly delusional, second of all, we likely don’t get calls sometimes because refs don’t like Hurley. There have been reports of it. I expected him to own up a bit, I am disappointed.

They’re supposed to be professionals. And they’re supposed to be being graded on their officiating which in theory should affect postseason assignments. Honestly they liked like a high school crew in OT. The sport deserves better than petty vendettas. Step up, Commissioner Val. And don’t be useless for a change, NCAA.