Memphis Post Game Thread

[AntG168]

We do, but I also expect that to happen if we get there. Result was bad but I thought there was a lot to like today and some encouraging signs for going forward

It really comes down to guarding better at the point of attack. I liked the spot zone defense to hide mahaney too

 

[AllHusky]

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

I was worried about Hurley when he was doing yoga with Bilas!

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Some positives from this game, in no particular order:

-I think we have 3 guys who are ready and willing to take & make big shots, maybe even 4: Alex, Solo, Liam, and Hass

-All of Hass's 3s looked pure...even the crunch time ones. His 9/10 FTs and perfect during crunch time can't be discounted. We don't even have a chance to tie or win that game without his performance in crunch time

-We saw some of the past 2 years' beautiful offense here-n-there. It was mostly with Alex finding cutters or drive/kicking, but its there. Even Samson had a great high/low dish to a cutter.

-Reed needs to be our starter. Guy is just a force on offense and had some ridiculous post moves against a quality 5. What a felonious coaching job Howard did at Michigan

-Stewart looked absolutely fabulous in the 1st half in a long run forced by most of the starters getting into foul trouble. I need to rewatch the 2nd to really try and figure it out but he should have gotten more minutes.

-Our press was very very effective and disruptive. Hopefully we throw it at a team every now and then as a different look and not just when we are behind and desperate.


Some general observations:

-Memphis definitely played like a team of dudes with dozens (for some, hundreds) of CBB games of experience. Even though they don't have a lot of team experience, their gameplan/offense (lots of iso-driving, iso-creating 3's) didn't demand a lot of cohesiveness

-I thought Bilas did a real nice job announcing and commenting on players and refs. He thought the Tarris offensive foul was lame and should've been a play-on, the Liam OTB was a trash call, didn't like the foul calls on Solo (when his face got in the way of a Memphis elbow), and Liam's strip-steal at the end of the game (but understood why the called it). He likes us and gives us a pretty fair shake. Rightly pointed out how Memphis was just absolutely abusing Mahaney as the weak link on the defense whenever he was on the floor.

-The Memphis Centers (Cisse in particular, I think) were really chippy & chirpy. They were constantly slapping away Reeds/Samson's hands, trying to instigate sheisse, talking tons of trash. On more than one occasion, it drew the refs over, who every time seemed to let them continue their antics and gave warnings to our dudes. It's gamesmanship, I know, but still kinda lame, and it finally culminated in Samson's T. Thankfully, it got bailed out by the dumb Memphis dude running over and bumping Samson after he pushed Cisse (?), who, although he couldn't be budged by Samson Johnson all game in the paint, reacted as if Samson hit him with a classic Street Fighter Hadouken blast...

 

[superjohn]

We do, but I also expect that to happen if we get there. Result was bad but I thought there was a lot to like today and some encouraging signs for going forward

I didn't like how we didn't seem able to stay in front of anyone, it seemed like Memphis was always getting in the lane but credit goes to Memphis for shooting out of their minds. In overtime it kept looking like we would pull away and Memphis kept drilling contested deep shots. Sometimes a team is just in the zone.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I didn't like how we didn't seem able to stay in front of anyone, it seemed like Memphis was always getting in the lane but credit goes to Memphis for shooting out of their minds. In overtime it kept looking like we would pull away and Memphis kept drilling contested deep shots. Sometimes a team is just in the zone.

It didn’t just seem like that, it was that. Aidan, Hass, Solo and Ross could not stay in front of either guard. It was really hard to watch. Solo has all the tools to be a good defender, but he simply is a bad defender.

 

[Jumpman62114]

Until we get some stability from the PG position, the ceiling of this team is quite limited. Against higher level teams with quicker/physical guards, Mahaney becomes unplayable on both ends. I think we’ll need to mix in more zone this year strategically. The overall lack of 1 on 1 shot creation/ penetration is a bit unnerving. I think we need to expedite Nowell’s development and give him some min.

Loved Reed’s game today. Offense should run through him more like what we did with Adama at times.

 

[JohnFSilver]

if Samson didnt lose his starting spot after this idk what it will take.

Why do we care about starters? I want Reed for 25 minutes, Samson for 15. I think that’s fair. Johnson can be good, but he has to defend better.

 

[superjohn]

I didn't think Ross looked like Dr. J today or last game. He had 2 assists and then a full line of zeros today in 15 minutes and got smoked on defense.

 

[ctbro1999]

I want to see more Nowell, less Mahaney. Maybe Mahaney can take on more of a Joey C role off the bench.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Don’t like quote Danny. Sounds like you feel entitled

 

[87Xfer]

Don’t like quote Danny. Sounds like you feel entitled

Not a great look to be sure.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

FWIW I fully expect Memphis to shoot 3/22 from 3 tomorrow vs. MSU.

 

[cullaville]

But he wasn't wrong.

he wasn't wrong but he has to realize what he is doing. It seems the ref gave him time to complain and the assistant coach tried to hold him back Make your point and shut up.

graet what he has done for the program

 

[RuffRuff]

It didn’t just seem like that, it was that. Aidan, Hass, Solo and Ross could not stay in front of either guard. It was really hard to watch. Solo has all the tools to be a good defender, but he simply is a bad defender.

Solo dumbounds me. His line today in 23 minutes was 5 fouls, three 3s and 1 assist. 0 rebounds. He is one dimensional on a roster where we need far more from our 2G than just a jump shooter. I mean to watch him off ball but I honestly forget he’s on the floor at times. For a kid with such elite physical tools I don’t know what goes on upstairs. He is dawgless.

 

[bendm]

Why do we care about starters? I want Reed for 25 minutes, Samson for 15. I think that’s fair. Johnson can be good, but he has to defend better.

You don’t think it would make a difference if Ross and stew started instead of Alex and Liam?

 

[RuffRuff]

I didn't think Ross looked like Dr. J today or last game. He had 2 assists and then a full line of zeros today in 15 minutes and got smoked on defense.

The sophomore leap NBA talent hype was 100% bonafide hot air.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I just don’t know why people think Mahaney off ball would make his shots go in? He also played plenty of minutes with Diarra today. Mahaney at the 2 just makes our defense worse.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Don’t like quote Danny. Sounds like you feel entitled

No, he's right.

We're back to back champs and deserve more respect than we've been getting. He rightfully pointed this out last year too.

 

[uconngb]

Stewart was feeling it. Ride the hot hand.

Why?? Let’s leave him on the bench. Much smarter move.

 

[jibsey]

Solo dumbounds me. His line today in 23 minutes was 5 fouls, three 3s and 1 assist. 0 rebounds. He is one dimensional on a roster where we need far more from our 2G than just a jump shooter. I mean to watch him off ball but I honestly forget he’s on the floor at times. For a kid with such elite physical tools I don’t know what goes on upstairs. He is dawgless.

You may have missed that they drove on him to get the 5 fouls and those were great guards playing well. I mean the other team and players get no credit? It’s always our players doing something wrong? Bilas said a number of times that shots were being made when well guarded. It happens.

 

[uconngb]

Could be but I don't see Hurley doing it, he loves Hass off the bench. It's just a weird situation because the best roles are Hass being Mister energy off the bench and Aidan's best role is coming in at shooting guard and filling it up.

We're probably just going to have to deal with the point guard position not being ideal this season.

Answer: Nowell

 

[uconngb]

They didn’t do much of that after the first half. Not sure why Stewie didn’t play more 2nd half and OT, puzzling.

Because he was playing so well ??

 

[444JR]

The sophomore leap NBA talent hype was 100% bonafide hot air.

Dumbfounds me that Jaylin Stewart does not receive the same level of love and benefit of the doubt as Solo Ball and Jayden Ross. Makes no sense.

 

[bendm]

I just don’t know why people think Mahaney off ball would make his shots go in? He also played plenty of minutes with Diarra today. Mahaney at the 2 just makes our defense worse.

Agreed. He’d be an even bigger liability on D against bigger guards. I think he should be playing 15mpg behind Diarra as a score first PG. shoot every time he’s open and don’t turn it over. If he’s hitting his shots he plays more if not than he plays less.

 

[RuffRuff]

Until we get some stability from the PG position, the ceiling of this team is quite limited. Against higher level teams with quicker/physical guards, Mahaney becomes unplayable on both ends. I think we’ll need to mix in more zone this year strategically. The overall lack of 1 on 1 shot creation/ penetration is a bit unnerving. I think we need to expedite Nowell’s development and give him some min.

Loved Reed’s game today. Offense should run through him more like what we did with Adama at times.

I’m starting to wonder if the staff over indexed on elite “processing” with Mahaney at the sake of physical tools. You can’t teach size, speed and physicality, all of which he’s showing a severe shortage in competing with better athletes. People keep talking about TNewt needing a year to figure it out, yet fail to recognize he had plus physical traits for his position. The only way Mahaney becomes a net positive and not a liability is if he demonstrates intangibles that overcome the physical shortages. I honestly don’t know how they make it work.