New Hampshire post game thread

[pj]

With 16.5 mins to go UConn only up 10 and hadn’t played well. Diarra comes off bench and in the next 7 mins he blocks a shot, forces two turnovers, scores 2 buckets on drives and gets credit for 3 assists (by my count he had 4). The whole offense is now flowing and popping and it’s a blowout. I don’t understand how he is not starting and how people don’t see him as the best PG and essential part of team.

As the most experienced guy at UConn, you'd expect him to be the best point guard early in the season. That doesn't mean he'll still be the best in March. It sounds like Mahaney, Ross, and Nowell are all in the mix at PG along with Diarra. Nowell may have trouble surpassing Diarra given his similar physical profile and inexperience, but Ross and Mahaney bring different looks to Diarra and will play a lot.

 

[MrJoe]

Observation after two games vs scrimmage level opponents…Last year we really didn’t run an offense that required a traditional point guard role and we are doing the same this year . Not sure how a lineup of solo, Ross, liam , Alex and whichever center is not in foul trouble would handle a pair of good pressing guards but it could be fun . Aiden looks overwhelmed ; offense looks better with diarra and still think he will close games that matter . The freshman seem talented but will not get minutes cause of talent ahead of them. There will be growing pain with the early December schedule but it’s going to be a fun year .

 

[djct1999]

Karaban, McNeeley, Ross, Ball looked great, so my focus was on Mahaney and Reed. The defensive effort is there--they're definitely trying hard, but it's a work in progress. I think they'll improve and hold their own. Offensively, they are getting more comfortable, and that too shows improvement.I think Danny gave Aidan 27 min so he'll get more used to a new system; it doesn't look like he really intends to run an offense with a backcourt of Ross and Ball--I think Aidan and Hass will continue to share the point. Hass is the best ball handler, and an outstanding defender, but it seems Danny wants Aidan on the floor as an additional sharpshooter. So it'll be a 9 man rotation

Danny knows he needs Mahaney in the long run maybe more than anyone. He will give him a very long leash to find his footing. And he will. He is far better than he is showing.

 

[alphasigko]

Not a good point. That's why this board exists! A national championship team seems like a good measuring stick to see how good the current team is. No doubt Dan Hurley and staff are thinking about the previous team all the time.

Another good point!

 

[alphasigko]

SJ's Stats:

11 mins
2 pts
1 Reb
3 Assts
4 PF

Not the Stats needed from a starting 5

 

[controlfade]

SJ's Stats:

11 mins
2 pts
1 Reb
3 Assts
4 PF

Not the Stats needed from a starting 5

But he did stay at a Holiday Inn once

 

[Jumpman62114]

We were spoiled with last year's guards. Diarra and Aiden have been okay with each having their moments, but the general ability to create off the dribble is not as big of a strength this year from the guard spot.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Newton is a good parallel.

He did have a triple double his third game -- similar to Mahaney playing well v URI -- but was extremely inconsistent really for the entire season but knew how to adapt his game better after the Seton Hall and SJU debacles, in the latter case he airballed a free throw.

What's weird is after those games he went on a tear for 5 games including a triple double v Marquette but then basically took a backseat to the Big 3 for the remainder of the season until the championship.

Mahaney will get it, he's too talented and the staff and system are too good but it's going to take time and there will be games like URI and games like Sacred Heart.

The goal is he chips in where needed and asked this year to support Solo, McNeeley, Ross, and Karaban and then next year he can elevate to that level of All Big East guard.

The wings lead the way this year and Aidan just needs to pick and choose his spots.

Man imagine saying Mahaney would’ve had to support Solo and Ross at the beginning of the summer.

 

[caw]

SJ's Stats:

11 mins
2 pts
1 Reb
3 Assts
4 PF

Not the Stats needed from a starting 5

He also had 3 blocks and 0 TOs, though I know that doesn't fit your narrative.

 

[Samoo]

Haaaa! Dan Hurley just compared this team to last years's team because we played UNH LAST YEAR game 7 versus game 2.

Didn't we win by almost twice as much this year in the 2nd game of the season as we did last year in our 7th game? We must be almost twice as good...

 

[knicksin7]

Funny, if the kid could get his head out of his @ss with the dumb fouls, I kind of like what I see. He needs to kill the reach ins, specifically. A 5 should not have reach in fouls at all, and especially away from the rim.

His offensive game has improved, showed some nice moves down low game one and a beautiful pass last night. He’s a rocket ship off the floor and he appears stronger.

The problem right now is he can’t stay on the floor long enough to get any rhythm or play free because of the foul issues, which is one of the crazier I’ve ever seen.

The issue is our sample size is massive. Obviously his athleticism is absurd, but some people never become basketball players.

 

[Palatine]

SJ's Stats:

11 mins
2 pts
1 Reb
3 Assts
4 PF

Not the Stats needed from a starting 5

But the team looked great when he was in there. He had a major defensive impact. After the UNH game Hurley said of Johnson. "We need him on the court, he’s a game-changer for us at both ends.” So apparent Hurley thinks he is what is "needed" at center.

So we can look at his stat line and your opinion or we can take Hurley at his word. Not a tough choice.

 

[Lambeau]

Samson looked great blocking shots, but he's like a Great Dane puppy swiping at balls--irrepressible. Trainable?
I encourage patience with Mahaney; he says he's gaining confidence, and remember that he beat Gonzaga twice as high scorer.

 

[Waquoit]

But he did stay at a Holiday Inn once

And we won by 40

 

[mauconnfan]

Second bad game for Aiden. One more and it’s a real worry. He’s getting outclassed by mediocre mid major guards. Garbage time points aren’t gonna cut it. I’m rooting for him to figure it out.

Bad? I didn’t see that at all. He’s not trying to do too much I will agree but by no means was he bad. Remember Tristen Newton his first few games as a Husky, he was trying to fit in the team, the culture it took time before he became that guy. Same here he will be fine he’s a really good player it’s been proven already.

 

[Waquoit]

Bad? I didn’t see that at all. He’s not trying to do too much I will agree but by no means was he bad.

I had critical guys in my section. It's almost like the Rhody game didn't happen.

 

[alphasigko]

But the team looked great when he was in there. He had a major defensive impact. After the UNH game Hurley said of Johnson. "We need him on the court, he’s a game-changer for us at both ends.” So apparent Hurley thinks he is what is "needed" at center.

So we can look at his stat line and your opinion or we can take Hurley at his word. Not a tough choice.

I understand....sadly the fact is, he seems to be unable to understand how not to commit stupid fouls that wind up putting him on the bench, or, out of the game. I am sure that they are working with him to corrent this and eliminate his penchant for fouling. THE question is: Can SJ learn how to accomplish this? The sooner he does the better.

 

[sledog]

But the team looked great when he was in there. He had a major defensive impact. After the UNH game Hurley said of Johnson. "We need him on the court, he’s a game-changer for us at both ends.” So apparent Hurley thinks he is what is "needed" at center.

So we can look at his stat line and your opinion or we can take Hurley at his word. Not a tough choice.

Fouled out vs BU! 4 (3 in 1H) this time. Well on his way to last years 118!

 

[mauconnfan]

I had critical guys in my section. It's almost like the Rhody game didn't happen.

Exactly and his games last year against the Zags and others.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I had critical guys in my section. It's almost like the Rhody game didn't happen.

It was mainly his defense...I lost track of how many times he either lost his man on inbounds plays and/or let them blow by into the lane. His defense was overall really, really bad. It was a contributor to why both Samson and Tarris got into 1st half foul trouble...too many situations where they had to come over and help to prevent an easy layup.

I'm not as concerned about his offense...based on SMU body of work and how he looked 2nd half of URI. But his D was porous in that URI game too.

With all that said, I'll remain optimistic that he'll figure it out and get better. Cam looked like a major defensive liability in his first few games, but got progressively better as the season went on. But, Cam also was taller/bigger than Aiden.

 

[Umami Zen]

Bad? I didn’t see that at all. He’s not trying to do too much I will agree but by no means was he bad. Remember Tristen Newton his first few games as a Husky, he was trying to fit in the team, the culture it took time before he became that guy. Same here he will be fine he’s a really good player it’s been proven already.

A-I-D-A-N will be fine. Making some adjustments to our style of play.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Said it during the offseason that Mahaney playing a position he hasn’t played yet in college would probably be a struggle. Especially in this kind of offense.

He went from being asked to be in attack mode to learn how to facilitate and pick his spots. That takes a lot of time to learn how to do. Our great PGs here took 3 years to master that position.

I will be pleasantly surprised if Mahaney figures it out in a few games.

 

[Lambeau]

Mahaney was the point guard for St. Mary's his freshman year 22-23. Switched last year to the 2. A true combo guard.

 

[HooperScooper]

10. UConn's Alex Karaban having a block party​

Karaban has registered 11 (!) blocks in UConn's first two dominant wins over Sacred Heart and New Hampshire.

The 6-8 wing seems to have this innate ability to know what his defensive assignment is going to do before they do it. His anticipation, feel and competitive spirit on the defensive end is absurd.

Most of Karaban's blocks have not been of the secondary rim protection variety. He's not coming out of nowhere to catch someone napping. It's way more impressive. It's one-on-one, mano-a-mano. My best versus your best.

Karaban is winning those jousts.

Karaban looks like an NBA player who stuck around to play one last year of college basketball. What a brilliant player.

Ten nitty-gritty observations from opening week: Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson starts fast

UConn star Alex Karaban leveling up, Jahmai Mashack's gem against Louisville and Auburn's unsung hero made heads turn last week

www.cbssports.com

 

[cp176]

Just had a chance to watch a replay. This is an incredible group top to bottom wherever the bottom might be. Absolute elite talent with a blue collar intensity factor. They are kids, they will make mistakes but man do they keep coming at you. Yup they don't have a 7'2" center but teams will get sick of seeing the two centers we do have coming at them. I cannot believe how deep they are at every position. They play hard on every possession. Just no let up. This is going to be fun.