Nice bunch of kids but this is a tough team to watch

[buckley503]

no fire in the belly this season.

 

[UCweCONN]

Is Bradley going to play this season? I'd like to see what kind of a competitor he is and where is Roscoe Smith?

 

[traitor71]

They make it impossible to stand up for them right now. To this point, every naysayer or Mr. "I'll see you in April" type are the ones that are right and the rest of us are the ones that are wrong. These guys don't even look like a team that should be ranked or expected to do anything at all.

 

[UCweCONN]

I just noticed that Napier's rat tail is gone. Maybe he's like Sampson losing his strength. Grow it back!

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Napier over penetrates, hesitates on shots, doesnt get the ball inside enough, especcially when they are posting up and battling for position. Boatright is out of control, Giffey does all the little things but doesnt shoot, Daniels in non exisistant on the court, Lamb doesn't involve himself enough. The whole team stands around on the court. They're embarrassing to watch at times. They don't know how to run an offense, and they cant guard the three either. Without kemba there to bail them out the team just looks lost.

 

[UConn77]

I'd like to say that this team is a work in progress, but I really don't see that. I see Napier trying to be Kemba but not coming close. He needs to be his own man and step out from that shadow. Boatright is a freshman. I see a lot of interchangeable parts in the front court but no cohesion as of yet. Daniels is a freshman, Giffey hardly played last year, Roscoe is MIA, Olander is a slow white kid, Alex has no confidence and no low post moves and I get the sneaking suspicion that Andre and Jeremy are kind of going through the motions with the knowledge that they will be Top 5 picks next year.

This team can get it together and it is still very early. I am nowhere near giving up on them as of yet, as I know a certain coach will get the most out of them as he can and that alone, will result in improvement.

 

[HuskyFan32]

Napier over penetrates, hesitates on shots, doesnt get the ball inside enough, especcially when they are posting up and battling for position. Boatright is out of control, Giffey does all the little things but doesnt shoot, Daniels in non exisistant on the court, Lamb doesn't involve himself enough. The whole team stands around on the court. They're embarrassing to watch at times. They don't know how to run an offense, and they cant guard the three either. Without kemba there to bail them out the team just looks lost.

Spot on. Bazz puts up great numbers but isnt a very good point guard at this point. He over dribbles, makes so many dumb passes, and takes a lot of bad shots. Every guys hes guarded has lit us up this year too which is disappointing since he was such a hawk on D last year. He makes a ton of great plays but a ton of bad ones too that its close to a wash every game. Add in that Drummond is a physical beast who makes a lot of good plays but is inconsistent and kills us on offense sometimes (and hes my favorite player btw). Absolutely nothing from Roscoe or Oriakhi this year which is hard to watch since they were such gritty, active beasts last year. Daniels doesnt do much. Giff shows flashes but misses two HUGE wide open threes down the stretch that cemented the loss. So much talent, but even more flaws on this team. I was predicting an undefeated season, but boy was I wrong. We are awful right now.

 

[HuskyFan32]

I'd like to say that this team is a work in progress, but I really don't see that. I see Napier trying to be Kemba but not coming close. He needs to be his own man and step out from that shadow. Boatright is a freshman. I see a lot of interchangeable parts in the front court but no cohesion as of yet. Daniels is a freshman, Giffey hardly played last year, Roscoe is MIA, Olander is a slow white kid, Alex has no confidence and no low post moves and I get the sneaking suspicion that Andre and Jeremy are kind of going through the motions with the knowledge that they will be Top 5 picks next year.

This team can get it together and it is still very early. I am nowhere near giving up on them as of yet, as I know a certain coach will get the most out of them as he can and that alone, will result in improvement.

Spot on as well. This is exactly what Ive been saying all year long, yet everyone here chooses to ignore it. All hope is not lost. We still have boatloads of talent, pun intented. Buttt we need to play with some emotion and energy, and we need to establish a rotation/roles. No leadership and nobody looks like they give a crap this year. Pretty disappointing.

 

[SaeHusky]

AO and Smith need to be more involved - Roscoes defense is missed. Olander and Daniels are getting too many minutes

 

[SJ]

I just noticed that Napier's rat tail is gone. Maybe he's like Sampson losing his strength. Grow it back!

I noticed this tonight too! Love the analogy.

 

[SJ]

Just want to point out that UConn77 called TO a slow white kid and nobody freaked out! But, DaddyChoc, I did notice because, ya, it doesn't seem to be relevant, or because that whole thing made it relevant...?

 

[businesslawyer]

Spot on as well. This is exactly what Ive been saying all year long.

If you can't tell the difference between that kind of critical analysis and the insults you hurled, you need to learn to read.

 

[mauconnfan]

AO and Smith need to be more involved - Roscoes defense is missed. Olander and Daniels are getting too many minutes

Yeah because they are both playing so well?? lol

Tyler has played very well - oh yeah once in a while he doesn't move his feet on D but neither does alex, ever!!! And Deandre tome needs MORE time not less. He plays with some fire, more than most for sure and has been left out of second half PT as of late for whatever reason. He's long and plays decent D, plays it harder than most too.

Miss Roscoe's D and rebounding but that's his problem. He's not playing well and this team doesn't need a psychiatrist to coach them they have JC who lights them up at practice and at games. If they can't find minutes there's a reason and a damn good one! Neither have stepped up after a NC season and neother showed any improvement from summer activities. Shame on them and let's see of they earn the minutes soon because for nwo they're getting what they deserve. Do we need them - hell yeah - but they way they are playing is a detriment to the team so earn it in practice as JC always has said!!

 

[HuskyFan32]

If you can't tell the difference between that kind of critical analysis and the insults you hurled, you need to learn to read.

Not sure what kind of law school you went to, but you are an idiot

 

[wpq4elamin]

no fire in the belly this season.

don't watch them then... see you in march when they're at the FF

edit *****(see below for a more than "see you in march" explanation

 

[wpq4elamin]

They make it impossible to stand up for them right now. To this point, every naysayer or Mr. "I'll see you in April" type are the ones that are right and the rest of us are the ones that are wrong. These guys don't even look like a team that should be ranked or expected to do anything at all.

it's not that anyone is right or anyone is wrong.. it's a matter of perspective- those of us who thought we were talented and could make a run last year are the same people who are still optimistic right now.... those who were in the toilet last year are in the toilet this year...

it's not about who is right and who is wrong... it's about basketball

look, basketball teams go through ups and downs and no one goes undefeated. here is what we have from an unbiased perspective:

-A sophomore All-American shooting guard who can take over a game at any point (when he's not in foul trouble haha)
-A pretty decent sophomore point guard who can hit the 3 and score when he has to- much better when he doesn't force shots and when he looks to pass first and get everyone involved
-A future lottery pick freshman big man who is raw but extremely capable of getting 10 rebounds and a few dunk put backs and fastbreak buckets... he is also capable of disappearing and making freshman mistakes
-A brooding once pretty good but always inconsistent junior big guy who needs some motivation and a friend
-A 3/4 sophomore hybrid who can't dribble or shoot well enough to play the 3, and is behind a couple decent bigger big guys at the 4 and lacking some confidence and PT
-A blue collar worker sophomore 4 who isn't as explosive or as athletic as the other big guys but can hit the elbow jumper (but hasn't as consistently since the Fairfield game) and get you 8/8 and play decent d
-A talented freshman pg who is explosive and could go off for 20 any game, or turn the ball over 10 times and shoot poorly any game
-A talented freshman 3 who is long and can sometimes hit 3's but who hasn't lately... he doesn't handle and isn't explosive enough to get by most wings and sometimes has trouble defensively playing the 3... if he isn't shooting well, he isn't playing
-A solid sophomore 3 who finally got a chance to start and didn't do much with it.. he can play decent minutes and be solid, but he isn't going to be spectacular this year and possibly never for a coach like JC...

any coach in the nation would take those 9 guys... 6 of whom have NC experience.... any coach in the country would realize that there are going to be ups and downs with a group that young... so, the point then becomes whether your perspective leads you to believe that a talented and young group who is struggling will (with the help of a pretty good HOF motivator) improve and turn the last week around, or if it leads you to believe the ship is sinking....

no one knows who is wrong or right, but a NC last year after an inconsistent regular should allow people to have a little more confidence and optimism this year

 

[wpq4elamin]

I'd like to say that this team is a work in progress, but I really don't see that. I see Napier trying to be Kemba but not coming close. He needs to be his own man and step out from that shadow. Boatright is a freshman. I see a lot of interchangeable parts in the front court but no cohesion as of yet. Daniels is a freshman, Giffey hardly played last year, Roscoe is MIA, Olander is a slow white kid, Alex has no confidence and no low post moves and I get the sneaking suspicion that Andre and Jeremy are kind of going through the motions with the knowledge that they will be Top 5 picks next year.

This team can get it together and it is still very early. I am nowhere near giving up on them as of yet, as I know a certain coach will get the most out of them as he can and that alone, will result in improvement.

that "slow white kid" has been our best frontcourt player this year... ahead of a lottery pick and a guy who almost averaged a double double last year...

 

[Scot-e]

WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!!!
No hope. No talent.

I have to say that some of our fans are spoiled rotten little babies. We just won a NC- this season is all gravy. There is always the possiblity that JC can pull this team together. AO could start playing better so could DD, AD and Bazz. Part of the fun of college basketball is watching your young team get it together. Our future is bright - we could could be Pitt (scum).

 

[cordeodato]

This team is loaded with talent. Best I can remember in a while.
If they don't gel in time , se la vie. Calhoun will have to retire
with only 3 National Championships.
I like watching them even when they lose. I think they have a chance to be
scary good

 

[buckley503]

don't watch them then... see you in march when they're at the FF

edit *****(see below for a more than "see you in march" explanation

Putting aside your dismissive and juvenile response, I take from your "expert" analysis that followed that you are a basketball fan. That being said, and take the name off the jersey, are you telling me that this team plays the game of basketball in an exciting, fundamentally sound way that makes it fun to sit in front of a TV set for 2 hours??

 

[DogMania]

I just noticed that Napier's rat tail is gone. Maybe he's like Sampson losing his strength. Grow it back!

UCweCONN, you might have a point there. Maybe Bazz saved it and can weave it back into his head like one of those hair extensions that women sometimes wear.

 

[DogMania]

They make it impossible to stand up for them right now. To this point, every naysayer or Mr. "I'll see you in April" type are the ones that are right and the rest of us are the ones that are wrong. These guys don't even look like a team that should be ranked or expected to do anything at all.

First off way too much drama in this thread.

Let's put a few things into perspective. Take away the last two games and there is a lot of positives to see with this team, especially with Bazz. He's had a rough stretch. We don't know all that might be contributing to it. It could be injuries, the way teams are now playing him, or whatever factors. He's very important to this team and there's no doubt he had a back to back games that I'm sure he'd like to forget about. I don't think anyone or at least many were killing him when he was putting up 20 pts, solid assists, hitting 3s and not turning it over.

I'm not saying there aren't some lingering concerns with this team that have been pointed out in this thread. Alex and Scoe have not returned to their post season form. Not even close, but I've not lost hope that they won't get back there. Their not fighting over high screens has been a problem all season long and needs to get fixed soon. Lack of boxing out has been my pet peeve. Our front court should dominate both backboards, but they're not. Their half-court execution has been lacking most of the season, something that the PGs, especially Bazz needs to take by the b*lls and get the team running their sets with conviction. IMO, way too much 3 to 4 players standing around watching one player after the other try only dribble penetration. If I see another play were both bigs run to the foul line to set a high screen (why 2? Don't recall seeing that play run before) I'm going to scream like a crazyman. I just don't get that play. Let's bring 2 players along with their 2 defenders and clog up the middle. That makes a lot of sense. I think it's time that the coaching staff realize that there are a lot of other effective plays to run other than the high pick-and-roll. You do it over and over enough teams will figure out how to stop it. I'm not saying give up on it, but come on! How about setting some back screens for our wings and bigs. How about a big to big screen and flash one across the paint. It's not like teams are zoning us for 40 minutes. It just seems they're often running the wrong offense against the D their facing. And when they're running the right ones, they're not running them very effectively.

Not that they were all that great last season, but I thought they ran their stuff with a little snap for such a young team. This group looks like they're playing in quicksand when they run through their progressions. I could go on and on, but yes, this team needs a swift slap aside the head and start playing smarter and harder.

They clearly have top 25 talent, so let's give them a chance and cheer them on to top 25 performance. To not be willing to stand up for them now because they're not playing well reeks of being spoiled. I can understand each fan has to decide when their team deserves and doesn't deserve their best fandom, but 2-2 and only 4 games into conference play doesn't seem the right time to stop rooting your brains out for this young talented team that is struggling to figure things out.

 

[Rico444]

WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!!!
No hope. No talent.

I have to say that some of our fans are spoiled rotten little babies. We just won a NC- this season is all gravy. There is always the possiblity that JC can pull this team together. AO could start playing better so could DD, AD and Bazz. Part of the fun of college basketball is watching your young team get it together. Our future is bright - we could could be Pitt (scum).

I'll be even stronger. Screw "possibility" of getting better. JC has cemented his legacy taking teams that have loads of talent and work ethic and making them champions. I would be surprised if we're not playing our best ball in March and, at worst, an Elite Eight team.

 

[Krugs17]

IMO Bazz isn't a proven leader yet.. In comparison to our past PGS: Kemba, AJ Price, Marcus Williams, even Taliek.. Shabazz has not done enough to show to warrant a true floor general role like our past PG's have had.. It's not all his fault either, he's still a young PG trying to get better each day, but when your teammates aren't giving up the ball to you because they don't believe in you, it is going to show, and that reflects his comments for when hes calling for the ball to reset but they are going up with shots instead.

Hopefully, in time, this changes- but he has to grow up on the court- too much dribbling sometimes and he gets out of control on his drives. Still love his game and potential upside though. He shows a lot of ability

 

[Scot-e]

It's his second year bro. How about cutting him some slack. Try and remember what Kemba looked like in Jan of his soph year- and he had more upper classmen helping him along.