One Stat Says it All

[Fishy]

Brendan Adams was awful. Martin was less awful. Gaffney was even a little less awful. Cole redefined awful.

Jackson get an incomplete. He did not get enough playing time to really be awful.

The goal for the next game is to realize that there is an NBA lottery pick on the roster and a front court full of capable individuals and to concentrate on getting those players the ball.

We do not need hero ball from the backcourt.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Brendan Adams was awful. Martin was less awful. Gaffney was even a little less awful. Cole redefined awful.

Jackson get an incomplete. He did not get enough playing time to really be awful.

The goal for the next game is to realize that there is an NBA lottery pick on the roster and a front court full of capable individuals and to concentrate on getting those players the ball.

We do not need hero ball from the backcourt.

It’s really this simple.

 

[tjhusky]

No one was awful. We played a team ranked (as of today) #9.
Shooting overall was awful. Defense was really good. Zeg held to 11 pts in 42 min. His avg is 14.

I don’t disagree that we need more scoring options.
Whaley 3rd highest with 7 pts in 19 foul plagued minutes.
As much as this game was winnable we have a few guys that can shoot but could not get going today against a good team.
We need a consistent game and practice schedule to get everyone back into game shape and on target. Not something DH can control but this is where we are.

 

[Jimdish255]

Bouk went 13 for 24 while carrying the offense. The three bigs, not asked to do much, combined for a competent 6 for 10.

The other 5 perimeter players (Cole, Gaffney, Adams, Martin, Jackson) shot a combined 5 for 33 from the floor. Five for friggin 33. Fifteen per cent.

The remarkable thing is we should have won the game in regulation. I give Cole credit for his D, and Martin for his rebouding, but if no one but Bouk can throw the ball into the Connecticut River from the dock this is going to be a tough season.

When you can't shoot for a decent percentage you can't expect to win. Those were dreadful numbers. I'm not sure if the focus is wrong in practice or what the problem is. The announcers talked about some kind of a slogan that applied to what coach Hurley has been focusing on during the off time. Nowhere in that description did the word shooting come up. We'd better figure out some kind of shooting drills that can get these guys ready to be productive in game situations. It's not impossible to improve your shooting and we need to make it a priority on this team. Figure it out.

 

[HooperScooper]

I thought the group of 2 at a time was during quarantine but since they got back to practice last Sunday, they could have full practice with masks.

Correct.

 

[TheChamps990411]

It's Polley's fault!?!?!?! What? Is this a joke?

Where did i say its Polleys fault?

 

[TheChamps990411]

Actually I think this game was Christian Vital's fault. Too much heroball down the stretch.

Where did i blame anyone for todays game?

 

[TheChamps990411]

Yeah I know! It's like Polley didn't even put on a uniform today.

"No show" was terrible wording. But my point still stands on him playing terribly his last two outings.

 

[CTBasketball]

He played 27 minutes. You just couldn’t tell he was out there

Wow that’s eye opening. Really shows how unsettling the offense was...

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Where did i blame anyone for todays game?

Polley was horrible in the last two games and was a no show in todays game. He has to be one of the biggest disappointments thus far along with Ajax who looks absolutely lost out there.

Interesting that a player still in Covid protocol is a "no show."

 

[Waquoit]

Shooting is going to be an issue all year. That's what happened in the USC game, they shot great early then reverted to the mean the rest of the game.

 

[Husky25]

Glad this was reasonable and not another lets blame Cole thread.

To put the blame largely on Cole is lazy. Both Carlton and Sanogo missed shots from zero feet, with little defense.

Tough loss to be sure, but from 2015 to mid 2018, UConn gives up when the deficit reaches double digits. If that game is played in either February 2020 or upcoming in Feb. 2021, UConn wins. If Polley and/or Akok are playing, UConn wins. If COVID wasn't a thing, UConn wins.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Brendan Adams was awful. Martin was less awful. Gaffney was even a little less awful. Cole redefined awful.

Jackson get an incomplete. He did not get enough playing time to really be awful.

The goal for the next game is to realize that there is an NBA lottery pick on the roster and a front court full of capable individuals and to concentrate on getting those players the ball.

We do not need hero ball from the backcourt.

I don't disagree. I might say it a little more niceley though.

When I played for UConn-Hartford hoops branch back in the day, our coach at the time had a saying -- KNOW YOUR LIMITS! Which means, when I came in and attacked the basket and got blocked, he really wanted me to stay there to shoot 3s. LOL. I wasn't going to elevate over anyone. We used to play games at the Seminary near cigna. It was awesome.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I don't disagree. I might say it a little more niceley though.

When I played for UConn-Hartford hoops branch back in the day, our coach at the time had a saying -- KNOW YOUR LIMITS! Which means, when I came in and attacked the basket and got blocked, he really wanted me to stay there to shoot 3s. LOL. I wasn't going to elevate over anyone. We used to play games at the Seminary near cigna. It was awesome.

Just another example of @Chief00 being prescient with his observations. Before the game yesterday, he acknowledged @Hans Sprungfeld and brought up everyone knowing their role.

Confirmed - Creighton Edition Briefs | The Boneyard (the-boneyard.com)

 

[Get a Job]

When you can't shoot for a decent percentage you can't expect to win. Those were dreadful numbers. I'm not sure if the focus is wrong in practice or what the problem is. The announcers talked about some kind of a slogan that applied to what coach Hurley has been focusing on during the off time. Nowhere in that description did the word shooting come up. We'd better figure out some kind of shooting drills that can get these guys ready to be productive in game situations. It's not impossible to improve your shooting and we need to make it a priority on this team. Figure it out.

The slogan you are thinking of is "cauldron of intensity!™“

 

[LIuconn]

We were up with under 1 minute remaining. Can't blame covid or anything at that juncture

 

[glastonbury50]

Brendan Adams needs to start playing line an upper class men. He's a really smart kid. Even though he isn't the most skilled player he needs to set an example for the younger kids by bringing intensity and just overall making good decisions.

 

[olehead]

We need to get the rock to Whaley. He’s not the “yeah it’s cool if we can score off a putback or two” guy anymore. He is serious “dump the ball into him when you need a bucket” guy. At least IMO.

I'm with you. Whaley has got to flash and demand it, like Adrien. He has got to be willing to consistently hit that free throw line jumper.

 

[olehead]

To put the blame largely on Cole is lazy. Both Carlton and Sanogo missed shots from zero feet, with little defense.

Tough loss to be sure, but from 2015 to mid 2018, UConn gives up when the deficit reaches double digits. If that game is played in either February 2020 or upcoming in Feb. 2021, UConn wins. If Polley and/or Akok are playing, UConn wins. If COVID wasn't a thing, UConn wins.

I agree with the lack of big-man productivity. When for the love of... will we get really productive big men. Not just a specialist, but a guy you can go to, occasionally. I know, it's coming.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I agree with the lack of big-man productivity. When for the love of... will we get really productive big men. Not just a specialist, but a guy you can go to, occasionally. I know, it's coming.

Okafor could be on the team and wouldn’t be productive with the way we play. We don’t run any offense for the big men. Almost none. They are just ball screeners. Hurley is running a 4 guard offense no matter who is on the floor.

Go back to 2019 and Josh was putting up 16 points on 7-9 shooting against USF. Then 21 against Temple, again 7-9. Then 20 against ECU on 8-9. Even against a 30-2 Houston team he had 13 in a blowout loss.

Feed the paint. There is no other way to get production on the offensive end. Creighton, for all their outside shooting, fed Bishop inside repeatedly. He was 8-11 for 19 points. He’s the reason we lost.

 

[mauconnfan]

I agree with the lack of big-man productivity. When for the love of... will we get really productive big men. Not just a specialist, but a guy you can go to, occasionally. I know, it's coming.

What can big men do if you don’t throw them the ball? If you only play one at a time? If you force 3’s all game? I know Sanogo and Josh missed bunnies but let’s try again.

I mean Whaley killed us by getting in foul trouble but even when in there I believe there was only 1 or 2 at the most plays where there was penetration and kick off for a play. We don’t have playmaking guards minus Bouk that’s why our big guys don’t do anything offensively. We run nothing for them. Creighton wasn’t big down low we could’ve gone after them early on rather than hoisting up bricks. I mean thank God for Bouk or this would’ve been worst than discussing how we lost this game, really ugly.

 

[BlueDogs]

I'm with you. Whaley has got to flash and demand it, like Adrien. He has got to be willing to consistently hit that free throw line jumper.

Amen. Hit some 12 footers and take the pressure off the arc and make the D defend 100% of the floor. That said, the game was essentially won and Hurley is responsible for some terrible decisions (or lack thereof).

 

[Husky25]

We were up with under 1 minute remaining. Can't blame covid or anything at that juncture

I wasn't blaming COVID when up with under a minute left. If COVID wasn't a thing, UConn would be playing more than once in 17 days, the stands are packed, the crowd is going nuts for the better part of the game, and UConn wins going away.

 

[Waquoit]

Whaley didn't deserve to foul out. So much for senior respect. I knew Whaley was going to be big for us this year, not sure I had him beating a Top 10 team big.