Nolan had a few nice minutes again

[jorge34]

4 points, 2 bounds, 1 block, some good defense.

He is showing improvement, and remarkably, Olander is getting worse (which I don't get, feel bad for the kid).

 

[aceboon]

maybe its just because he shed the tshirt, but does he look bigger to anyone else? he still has a ways to go physically, but his arms look like they have some definition to them now

 

[jorge34]

maybe its just because he shed the tshirt, but does he look bigger to anyone else? he still has a ways to go physically, but his arms look like they have some definition to them now

There is definitely a difference.

 

[Rico444]

He was awesome. They kept going in to Lubick and he absolutely shut him down.

 

[Huskies320]

Should start over Olander for the rest of the year. Tyler is terrible, as much as it may hurt some people to admit

 

[CL82]

What's the point of that for a couple games? Fine to give Nolan some more minutes though.

 

[BoatShow]

His stroke at the line looked surprisingly pure. I think we have a good one in this kid.

 

[Huskies320]

What's the point of that for a couple games? Fine to give Nolan some more minutes though.

So just because it would only be for a couple games, you don't do it? I don't honestly expect Ollie to make a change, but I don't think it's crazy to think that Nolan at this point could be a bigger part of the teams' success next year than Olander.

 

[Inyatkin]

How about when Mike Patrick and Ellis made such a big deal about Tyler picking up his fourth foul, like that was going to do us in? It's almost like they've never watched UConn play a game this season

 

[joober jones]

No need to argue Nolan vs Olander. Let's just be glad Nolan played well.

 

[aceboon]

How about when Mike Patrick and Ellis made such a big deal about Tyler picking up his fourth foul, like that was going to do us in? It's almost like they've never watched UConn play a game this season

Ellis called him a great rebounder....

 

[RichCTBB]

Joober wins the avatar contest in my book!!

 

[Danzz]

Should start over Olander for the rest of the year. Tyler is terrible, as much as it may hurt some people to admit

I don't know if he is ready to start over Olander but he definitely should get more of his minutes.

 

[Gurleyman]

There were two kinda frustrating plays from Tyler today. Once, he got an offensive rebound, and once he stepped into the passing lane for a steal. Those of course weren't the frustrating parts. Those were two good plays. It was the aftermath that was frustrating.

The first time, it looked like he had a good chance for a putback. Perhaps a Gtown guy would have contested and maybe blocked it - hard to tell. Instead, he threw it back out to someone in a non-shooting position, and we reset the offense. The second time, he had a chance for a hit ahead pass for a 2-on-1 break and instead pulled the ball in and passed it backwards.

In both cases, had he tried to make a play and it didn't go well, that's ok. You don't want to force a putback just because you got the rebound, that's true - but right under the rim and nobody in the way? Go for it. Guy makes a great play to recover and stuffs you, so be it. That's basketball. On his steal, had he tried to hit the ball ahead and his pass went out of bounds or the one guy back stole it, it was still an attempt to get a quality chance on a fast break off a turnover. Call it a wash and move on to the next play.

You can't be afraid to make plays when you have an advantage. It's hard enough to get the advantage in the first place.

 

[Ts5034]

Ive said this before. Im all for Nolan getting some more minutes. Its games like these that will toughen him up for next season. For somebody that raw, practice and weight room only go so far. We need him to be battle tested.

 

[dsturdy5]

I was really impressed with Nolan's footwork defensively in the post last night. There was a play in the first half where it looked like Lubick was going to go from the block to the middle and drop into his little hook shot. Nolan beat him to the spot, did not bump him, and Lubick was toast.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Ellis called him a great rebounder....

I didn't catch something they said clearly, but it sounded like they said that in practice, Tyler was the leading rebounder and scorer (or maybe one of leading scorers), but that it did not translate to games. Did I hear that correctly? It sounded like this was something that KO had said.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I didn't catch something they said clearly, but it sounded like they said that in practice, Tyler was the leading rebounder and scorer (or maybe one of leading scorers), but that it did not translate to games. Did I hear that correctly? It sounded like this was something that KO had said.

Yeah, they definitely said that.

 

[CL82]

So just because it would only be for a couple games, you don't do it? I don't honestly expect Ollie to make a change, but I don't think it's crazy to think that Nolan at this point could be a bigger part of the teams' success next year than Olander.

No you don't do it because it might have chemistry implications and it might negatively affect Phil's confidence. He's a freshman, with a fresman's body and experience. You bring Nolan along slowly. Right now any postive play and the kid's a hero. Make him a starter and expectations go up. Give him more minutes and see if he can keep it going.

 

[CL82]

I didn't catch something they said clearly, but it sounded like they said that in practice, Tyler was the leading rebounder and scorer (or maybe one of leading scorers), but that it did not translate to games. Did I hear that correctly? It sounded like this was something that KO had said.

I believe it because we don't have someone with the size (mass) and athleticism to make him look bad. Someone posted earlier in the year that TO's bulking up may have made him a step slower. That makes sense to me. Hopefully he can "right size" (balance bulk and agility) himself over the off season.

 

[aceboon]

I didn't catch something they said clearly, but it sounded like they said that in practice, Tyler was the leading rebounder and scorer (or maybe one of leading scorers), but that it did not translate to games. Did I hear that correctly? It sounded like this was something that KO had said.

Yes that is true, not surprising because when Bazz was having one of his moments last year when he talked to much to the media he said he didn't understand why Olander isn't one of the better scoring bigs in the league since he killed in practice. But when Tyler picked up his 4th foul Ellis was talking about how great a rebounder and post defender he is and we all know that isn't true.

 

[zls44]

Nolan apparently knows one of the six Kevin McHale moves. That drop-step blew my mind. Give him some more burn.