New Haven Post Game Thread

[JustbrewitMan]

I agree, but also disagree. Not totally different teams. Same PG, same 4, a lottery pick 5 with overlap. He then landed a perfect portal kid inadvertently and the best HS player in that class.

I'm the first one glaze those two seasons as the best two years in Uconn hoops history, so I'm not taking anything away from the amazement of what was accomplished. I'm just saying it's not entirely without the possibility of being lightning in a bottle. Last year he tried making wine out of water, and made a good run at FL. I see it as a full pass reset year. This year, I think we get to really see what his coaching chops are all about. Doesn't make or break his status as best coach in the sport, but I do think it gives us a little more realistic understanding that lofty perch.

Recruiting the right players is like 80% of success anyway, so you can't take that part away from him.

“landing a perfect portal kid inadvertently” sure is one heck of a take.

Did Hurley recruit some other schmo in the portal, Spencer showed up, and Hurley said “yea, I guess we’ll keep him because it’s too complicated to return him for a refund”

Sheesh you just try too hard sometimes to come up with your blazing hot takes

 

[temery]

He doesn't know what he means either, except that he hates Dan Hurley with the heat of a thousand suns for some reason, likely because he's not Jim Calhoun, but who really knows why

I didn't like Jim Calhoun either, but he was a great coach. Hurley's got Calhoun potential.

My point in this thread is pretty simple even for the simple minded - it was the first game of the season, down a couple starters, and they still won by 24 pts.

 

[BGesus4]

This is pretty much the reason why. And that Hurley doesn't develop players over the long haul to be successful NBA players like JC did, at any cost of negative impact on the program, back when players/coaches knew they had each other for 3-4 years.

If you're going to look at Clingan as being a key factor over the first season, his net+ is probably the one thing to look at. He'd come in an extend leads signficantly in those 13 minutes (sometimes against their backup), often putting knife in coffin. When you have an NBA lottery pick coming off the bench at the 5, even for 13 minutes, it's meaningful.

Any who - this is a good year to a get a feel for Dan Hurley. This team is going to need to be coached up, synced up, roles defined. He's got the pieces to be very good, coaching will determine if they're great.

This guy knows how to be a fan in the internet age

 

[mauconnfan]

Alex Karaban would start on every other team in Div 1. I think not having to be seen as the one to lead the team this season will help him have a great season. As for the game it looked like we did not know how to play them defensively and they took it to the hoop at will. Thankfully New Haven was off at the 3 point and foul lines. Dan Hurleys short postgame interview with Wayne Norman showed he was not pleased with what went on. Reibe with one rebound is the stat that stood out. At least the rest of the team picked up the slack there. On to UMass-Lowell.

I am glad we have Alex but that’s not true. I saw teams last night that he wouldn’t but that’s neither here or there. He still has trouble finishing going to the hole from then permiter as well as passing from the drive. He does almost everything else very well so again, glad he’s ours. He’s going to have to guard some real good athletes in a couple weeks as is everyone else, we will see.

Of course Dan wasn’t pleased, no one was very good. I thought Stewart may have been the best but there were concerning things. We didn’t need to have Solo being as good as last year we needed him better on each end. Silas and Malachi need time, but they both need to be better. Reibe needs to get stronger and rebound, time will tell.

I’m nervous as to how badly we will need Reed to stay out of foul trouble, he wasn’t good at it so we can only hope he understands. Lots of up fakes guys were falling for so please stay on your feet not many of you are shotblockers.

We have a couple more games to warm up although I’m not positive they will be. Dying to see improvement on Friday!

 

[mauconnfan]

No. Spot minutes when there is foul trouble.

I think he plays a little more than that. Solid D for an undersized guy but also a knack for the ball. Not a ton but more than spot, he’s part of the bench flow.

 

[RuffRuff]

He’s talking about temery not me bruh lol

Oh sorry - you two should then create a Hurley hate club and move to Omaha.

 

[HW611]

Oh sorry - you two should then create a Hurley hate club and move to Omaha.

Absolutely not.

If we’re staying in the Big East I’m going to Queens, Philly, or DC.

That club would be the only club amongst all those cornfields.

 

[temery]

Don’t stop there, why not wait until the fourth or fifth?

I taught elementary school kids for 30 years who understood hyperbole a hell of a lot better than any of the morons here.

With that said, if UConn doesn't get past the second round in the next couple of years, his greatest fans here will be starting threads asking who will replace him.

In each of the championship years there were stretches where many were digging his grave after a couple losses.

 

[Slick]

Have a feeling Koroma may surpass Reibe in the rotation before long. 1 rebound is pretty insane, and his offensive game which is supposed to be a strong suit was rather nonexistent.

I think Reibe more than held his own against Michigan State and BC. He’s a freshman and we need to give him some time.

 

[husky429]

“landing a perfect portal kid inadvertently” sure is one heck of a take.

Did Hurley recruit some other schmo in the portal, Spencer showed up, and Hurley said “yea, I guess we’ll keep him because it’s too complicated to return him for a refund”

Sheesh you just try too hard sometimes to come up with your blazing hot takes

Inadvertantly recruiting a kid who put up 13/4/3 in the best league in the country is a hell of a take. Must've accidentally shot 43% from deep, as one does.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

He got lucky two years in a row. I'll reserve my praise for when he wins a third 'ship.

I want to see him win a title with a roster that isn't capable of winning a title.

Then I'll be impressed.

 

[superjohn]

I want to see him win a title with a roster that isn't capable of winning a title.

Then I'll be impressed.

If he would just learn from the New Haven coach Hurley could maybe win a championship outside of his lightning in a bottle back to back titles which didn't have 100% different rosters. Unfortunately I think he's too stubborn to admit that and change his ways.

 

[HW611]

Inadvertantly recruiting a kid who put up 13/4/3 in the best league in the country is a hell of a take. Must've accidentally shot 43% from deep, as one does.

I think his point was that wasn’t our first option. If we got our first option we would not have had Cam.

Our first option was the Kentucky guy who name slips my mind.

 

[dog bone]

Geez guys, I know it was our season opener, but we previously just finished exhibition games with BC and Michigan St., and our team performed much better against that better competition. I actually watched those two games with more enthusiasm than I did the game against New Haven. Its possible the team players did the same. Hurley and the players know they did not perform well in the game. Lets see what they bring on Friday.

 

[AllHusky]

I taught elementary school kids for 30 years who understood hyperbole a hell of a lot better than any of the morons here.

With that said, if UConn doesn't get past the second round in the next couple of years, his greatest fans here will be starting threads asking who will replace him.

In each of the championship years there were stretches where many were digging his grave after a couple losses.

Remember January of 2023 before they moved AJax to the dunkers spot? We didn't have alot of fun that month. Started the year 2-5, then lost 2 more BE games in Feb, didn't win the BE Tourney(not even in the final), and then destoryed everybody!! It sucked until it didn't!!

 

[AllHusky]

I think his point was that wasn’t our first option. If we got our first option we would not have had Cam.

Our first option was the Kentucky guy who name slips my mind.

He went to Kansas, the kid from Towson. Can't remember his name either.

 

[John]

I think his point was that wasn’t our first option. If we got our first option we would not have had Cam.

Our first option was the Kentucky guy who name slips my mind.

Kansas guy, Timberlake

 

[RuffRuff]

Inadvertantly recruiting a kid who put up 13/4/3 in the best league in the country is a hell of a take. Must've accidentally shot 43% from deep, as one does.

Nick, don't call me Justin, Timberlake

 

[Gurleyman]

I taught elementary school kids for 30 years who understood hyperbole a hell of a lot better than any of the morons here.

With that said, if UConn doesn't get past the second round in the next couple of years, his greatest fans here will be starting threads asking who will replace him.

In each of the championship years there were stretches where many were digging his grave after a couple losses.

True in 2023 when we hit the skids a bit midseason. But not in 2024. We were defending national champions and only had a couple one-off losses on the road.

 

[Excalibur]

I think his point was that wasn’t our first option. If we got our first option we would not have had Cam.

Our first option was the Kentucky guy who name slips my mind.

Timberlake (Kansas), who everyone wanted and was wrong about. But we had a ready backup plan that ended up working out.

 

[Gurleyman]

I think his point was that wasn’t our first option. If we got our first option we would not have had Cam.

Our first option was the Kentucky guy who name slips my mind.

That has happened so many times in our history, though. Emeka, Kemba and Bazz were all fallbacks after we didn’t get our first options.

 

[HW611]

That has happened so many times in our history, though. Emeka, Kemba and Bazz were all fallbacks after we didn’t get our first options.

Man I remember those Knight and Corey Joseph recruitments. Bazz was like plan D.

 

[husky429]

Nick, don't call me Justin, Timberlake

I'm not sure you understand what the word "Inadvertantly" means

 

[Jaydumo20]

I taught elementary school kids for 30 years who understood hyperbole a hell of a lot better than any of the morons here.

With that said, if UConn doesn't get past the second round in the next couple of years, his greatest fans here will be starting threads asking who will replace him.

In each of the championship years there were stretches where many were digging his grave after a couple losses.

Yep. I think some would rather have had one title in 23 and then the 2nd one 5 years later.... Then he'd be a hall of famer. But back to back is somehow a knock???

 

[RuffRuff]

If the lightning in a bottle theory were to hold any water we'd see teams like ole miss, Boise state, Colorado etc winning nattys. The most random team to have won a natty in the past 25 years has been the Baylor team or our Ollie team. Not very improbable. Especially catching lightning 2xs back to back with different rosters.

Really powerful lightning. The argument is then, if it wasn't lightning in a bottle and it was amazing recruiting/coaching it should be repeatable. Right now Hurley can pretty much get who he wants. I honestly don't think anyone is holding the guy to another NC to validate his greatness, but I would expect a S16 this year. The really great programs, even in down or slightly disappointing years, often make the S16. Then it does become a crapshoot of matchups, ball bounces, etc.

 

[Inyatkin]

If the lightning in a bottle theory were to hold any water we'd see teams like ole miss, Boise state, Colorado etc winning nattys. The most random team to have won a natty in the past 25 years has been the Baylor team or our Ollie team. Not very improbable. Especially catching lightning 2xs back to back with different rosters.

This sums it up. The single-elimination factor means there's an inherent randomness, but the necessity to win six straight against top competition means it only works one way.

In other words, it's common for a great team to lose in the NCAA tournament, and even to lose early. It's exceedingly uncommon for a non-great team to win the whole thing. Just look at the list of title winners.

 

[RuffRuff]

I'm not sure you understand what the word "Inadvertantly" means

Meaning he wasn't our first choice. He got to go stink up the joint in Lawrence. Had we landed that person, we would have had a total clunker of a recruitment. Cam was a vital piece to that team's greatness.

 

[RedStickHusky]

This season is gonna boil down to Tarris staying healthy it seems. Neither big was good against a very small team playing their first D1 game ever. Guessing that’s why we’re practicing insane levels of caution by not playing him today.

On the bright side, this is probably a 40+ point win with Reed and Mullins healthy. Gotta remember we’re down two starters.

Healthy and not fouling. Looking like we're gonna need 30+ minutes from him.

 

[superjohn]

That has happened so many times in our history, though. Emeka, Kemba and Bazz were all fallbacks after we didn’t get our first options.

Calhoun needs to be dinged for those championships those players won for UConn.

 

[Gurleyman]

I agree, but also disagree. Not totally different teams. Same PG, same 4, a lottery pick 5 with overlap. He then landed a perfect portal kid inadvertently and the best HS player in that class.

I'm the first one glaze those two seasons as the best two years in Uconn hoops history, so I'm not taking anything away from the amazement of what was accomplished. I'm just saying it's not entirely without the possibility of being lightning in a bottle. Last year he tried making wine out of water, and made a good run at FL. I see it as a full pass reset year. This year, I think we get to really see what his coaching chops are all about. Doesn't make or break his status as best coach in the sport, but I do think it gives us a little more realistic understanding that lofty perch.

Recruiting the right players is like 80% of success anyway, so you can't take that part away from him.

I mean, I’m splitting hairs a bit with this nuance, but I’d argue Newton in 2023 and Newton in 2024 wasn’t really the same player. He was sort of an erratic weak link the first one on a Sanogo-Jackson-Hawkins team where we ran a lot of stuff through AJ, and then he was a first team All American leader in the second one. He averaged 9 ppg and had 31 assists and 17 turnovers in the first tourney run, and then averaged 15 ppg with 43 and 10 the second one (even with an 0-6 day against Illinois). I mean, ok, he’s the same person, but he wasn’t doing the same things. Duke and Florida graduated nobody both times. Just ran it back with the same guys in the same roles.

Sanogo and Clingan had almost nothing in common with how they played. We also didn’t have Joey C and Alleyne scoring off the bench.

Karaban was Karaban both times, but that was about the only holdover from title one to title two that didn’t change much.