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What has AJax shown so far? He is still a deer in headlights. A broken wrist has set him back more.
No complaints- Creighton game
- Thread starter superjohn
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He missed preaseason due to injury and only took 7 shots all season before breaking his wrist. We haven't seen him yet but he's one of our most talented players.
XLCenterFan
CT, NE
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Polley should be starting at this point - he's better to have in there than Adams. Took way too long to get him in during the 1st half, but he was quick to get subbed in for the 2nd.
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It seems like we have blamed recruiting for many years. I don't see any Top 10 recruits walking through the door anytime soon. Only when that happens will people stop blaming recruiting.
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Agreed. The problem wasn't today. The problem was handing away the St. John's game.
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I fully believe Jennifer Lawrence would be my girlfriend if she only knew me. That being said, she doesn’t and she isn’t.
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Sanogo just looked like he was too roarin' to go a the beginning of game. I wonder if he was told he was going to be 'leaned on' at the beginning and was just excited knowing the ball was coming his way.
Cole was solid today. That said, I think Hurley should tell him, Gaffney and Adams, unless it's a a singe dribble after a pump fake to and fly by of the defender, to rest your feet, they aren't allowed to shoot a 3 unless it's just off the catch.
Finally, I love Polley's shot and understand having him out there, but there has to be a few times when he watches the game instead of playing defense he needs a quick hook to send a message. Being asked to guard a smaller guy and getting beat off the dribble is one thing, but standing and not moving is totally different.
Cole was solid today. That said, I think Hurley should tell him, Gaffney and Adams, unless it's a a singe dribble after a pump fake to and fly by of the defender, to rest your feet, they aren't allowed to shoot a 3 unless it's just off the catch.
Finally, I love Polley's shot and understand having him out there, but there has to be a few times when he watches the game instead of playing defense he needs a quick hook to send a message. Being asked to guard a smaller guy and getting beat off the dribble is one thing, but standing and not moving is totally different.
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Springs will have to play a lot next year. He will be our backup center to Sanogo. And if Johnson isn’t ready next year, Springs will also need to backup Akok.
How’s that look? Huge unknown.
We’re losing Bouk, Whaley, Carlton, and Polley. That’s a lot to ask three incoming freshmen to replace.
I’m not sure we’ll be better next year. Maybe the year after.
StllH8L8ner
You’ll get nothing and like it!
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I don't disagree on the talent but it seems like some folks are partially pinning their hopes on A-Jax returning for the stretch run and making a huge impact which I think is a little ambitious. He was a bit lost early in the year vs the cupcakes so I don't know that I'd feel great about throwing him out there for significant minutes in what are probably going to be must win games after sitting for months.
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Don't sell yourself short. Make it happen.
Sure but I’ve heard this for 6 years now about “next years recruits”.
.-.
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I fully agree about how good he is likely to be. But in addition to fouling out in 20 minutes, he had at least 6 turnovers I recall in those 20 minutes. That’s an almost impossible rate for a big. All the talent in the world, but he is a long, long way from utilizing it well enough to be a large net positive.
I don't think he's that far away. The turnovers were virtually all when he tried to do something too far away from the basket. That's an issue that's easily fixed.
His footwork and touch around the rim are amazing. I see him having a major positive impact very soon.
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I agree with premise of the OP. Knew going in we would lose, and even though we made runs during the game never had a real chance. I was just more focused on individual players making strides in their game for when we are healthy. Much different feel from the St. John's game. One issue though - what's good with our bigs in transition? Sanogo went coast to coast and turned it over. Carlton threw one about ten feet off the backboard. I think in the St. John's game Whaley ran into whoever was dribbling and suddenly had the ball. Against Marquette Whaley threw a pass off Carlton's face. @tcf15 Any chance you can make a "highlight" of our bigs leading the fast break, lol?
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Ray Allen would certainly be useful. Rip Hamilton would be too. I'd even take Emeka Okafor although he doesn't play a similar position. Donyell Marshall? Ben Gordon? Imagine having Kemba on this team? There are a lot of past UConn players who exhausted their eligibility or went pro who would take this team to another level.
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Well, we've had very good "next year's recruits" for two seasons now. It takes 4 years of recruits to have a program firing top to bottom on all cylinders. If we're in year 4 and still have gaping skills gaps on our team, then we can be concerned.
Bouk, Akok, Jackson, Sanogo, Reese are all clearly talented kids that elevate our program in one way or another. Obviously, injury has put a damper on that somewhat. But the talent is obvious.
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It would certainly be nice to have CV out there. But you know what we really need? Our 3 most talented players... (JB, AA, AJ)
Isn't there some value in playing Springs for a few minutes in a game like yesterday to waste a few fouls on him vs AS/JC/IW and letting them get into foul trouble?
Does Hurley restrict guys from dunking? Just once before JC leaves Storrs I would like to see him dunk on a smaller defender. Let alone one his size.
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Unfortunately he is not going to be a savior unless he learned how to shoot. Hoping I am wrong on this
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Good guards with scoring talent. Outside of Bouk and a bit of Cole, our guards are terrible. We should recruit over them immediately.
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They’re both terrible most of the time. At least Polly can get hot.
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Yes their defense needs to get better but you don't win basketball one-way. This team with Bouk can win games that they don't defend well. Without Bouk they can't do it very well. Not all games can be shutdown games. Being able to win different ways separates many good teams from mediocre or bad.
Secondly, the better UCONN's offense scores the better they can possibly defend (i.e. less fast breaks/ or open floor for other team.). To further the struggling of offense leads to desperation and as a result can put the defense in worse position such as forcing bad shots and committing turnovers because of desperation. Get bakc Bouk you don't struggle/ become desperate as much.
Third- other teams have god coaches and scholarship players too. It's not all about UCONN. Sometimes how they plan against you is going to work. It's not a knock on Hurley. Other coaches and players aren't all incompetent.
Until Bouk comes back-- it's just some undo noise. Same with the women with Bueckers.
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If he didn't get played yesterday Hurley must think he isn't close to ready to compete. Gotta trust him on that one.
Chin Diesel
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away
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This team is what you see is what you get predictable now.
Characteristics:
Below average to average athleticism at every position.
Inconsistent outside shooting team.
No rim protection outside of Whaley
Average to poor ball handling.
Inconsistent FT shooting team
Very good to excellent offensive rebounding
Average to below average defensive pressure in a one on one situation.
Characteristics:
Below average to average athleticism at every position.
Inconsistent outside shooting team.
No rim protection outside of Whaley
Average to poor ball handling.
Inconsistent FT shooting team
Very good to excellent offensive rebounding
Average to below average defensive pressure in a one on one situation.
Totally agree with one minor addition/comment. Where is the help defense?
Maybe all of your points add up to their inability to provide consistent help defense. Can't tell you how many times over the last few games that the help defense has had their back(s) to the ball as the ball handler is beating their defender on the way to the hoop for yet another layup.
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Chin Diesel
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away
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Help defense falls under coaching and coaching them not to help. That was the strategy against St. John's. Each player needed to be "tougher" and "gut it out" guarding his man. Helping on those drives would have left the help defender's player open for a 3.
As far as coaching this team??
Generally speaking, good starts to games. UConn is competitive from the opening tap.
Horrible substitutions in first half to kill momentum and have several good leads chopped down.
A bit of favoritism with quick hooks vice letting them play through. Adams and Martin can be atrocious and still play whereas Sanogo had the hook up until Creighton where he go to play through mistakes.
To your first point re: help defense..At what point in the game where your opposition is consistently beating you off the dribble and making layups/or getting to the FT line.Do you make an in game adjustment??
Or do you just let it keep happening to protect the 3 point line? An old-fashioned three point play is just as detrimental as a 30 ft jump shot. And is usually the higher percentage shot
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I would be all for him starting as well if he could rebound, play defense or be a reliable ball handler.
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