Oriakhi just may be....

[caw]

I maintain Alex did not seem to be getting off the floor as well as last year. No clue if he has a tweak, but something looks off physically.

I also don't get why people are ripping because he had one rebound tied up. It's not like it was due to bad hands or bad positioning. He just swung the ball the wrong way. Heck he didn't even get the ball pulled out of his hands. Dude tight him up and had to fall to the ground to loosen the ball from AO's grip on that play.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Wow, I just looked at the box score. Like I said, I missed the first half of the game. I'm not sure what happened but I was glad to see UConn up and playing well (thanks to Boatright.) But after looking at the box score, someone is really going to have to explain this to me...

23 offensive rebounds for Arkansas

Really????! 23 rebounds by itself is a lot.

 

[UCHuskies08]

Wow, I just looked at the box score. Like I said, I missed the first half of the game. I'm not sure what happened but I was glad to see UConn up and playing well (thanks to Boatright.) But after looking at the box score, someone is really going to have to explain this to me...

23 offensive rebounds for Arkansas

Really????! 23 rebounds by itself is a lot.

And yet they had 12 second chance points.

 

[NHUConnfan]

And yet they had 12 second chance points.

Yes, and we won the game. I'm just saying - that number will be on the bulletin board tomorrow during their practice. That number is unacceptable when we actually play teams with talent.

 

[UCHuskies08]

This same shit happens every year, and people freak out about it, every year.

 

[NHUConnfan]

This same **** happens every year, and people freak out about it, every year.

If you mean last year by every year, then yes. But I seem to recall that UConn had some excellent rebounding teams prior to 2009.

I also guarantee that you would not be saying this if UConn didn't win the championship last year.

I'm not sure what's up with you UCHuskies08 - but your posts have been a bit more polemic than usual.

 

[UCHuskies08]

I feel like we've had games here and there throughout the years where we get killed on the boards, yet still win. Has a lot to do with how many shots we try to block, I'd think.

 

[NHUConnfan]

I feel like we've had games here and there throughout the years where we get killed on the boards, yet still win. Has a lot to do with how many shots we try to block, I'd think.

Surely it factors in the equation somewhat, but I do think that for the bits and pieces I saw that UConn had trouble getting in position. That's all.

Anyway, I need to call it a night.

 

[Northbound]

Good god, I hope to hell other teams fans to actually start looking at the board outside of the threads that concern their teams or this fan base would be outed as the dumbest around. Between that idiotic Drummond is a bust thread and this thread....to name just two recent examples of blatant stupidity, I'm wondering if these numb nuts have any historical perspective on the game, UCONN hoops, the trajectory of player development and the ebbs and flows in that equation, the difference between HS and top tier college basketball.

It's is actually possible to take a step forward and then take a step back, it's also possible that the dudes on the other team which also happen to be on scholarship (so it's likely they're a little bit better than your run of the mill HS player) have a skill set that negates AO, AD, TO, RS, etc. skill set. It's also possible for any player to be out of position resulting in results that are less than ideal, that's not softness, it may be a result of lack of quickness, forethought, game feel, and just thinking too much, etc., but not softness.

There should be a warning on here for all our sakes, take a breath before you post, have a point and be able to articulate how you arrived at the your point of view that doesn't include "when I'm playing my college basketball video game I can always get the rebound", or be doomed to the idiot pile forever.

The internet is proving UConn fans to be idiots in general. People are shit talking Drummond on twitter as soon as the game is over.

I bet Sammydabiz is one of them.

 

[Waquoit]

I maintain Alex did not seem to be getting off the floor as well as last year. No clue if he has a tweak, but something looks off physically.

Before the start of the 2nd half I noticed a player laying on the floor face down with a trainer doing a stretch I hadn't seen before. The knees were bent and out on an angle, kind of like a breaststroke kick. The trainer was gently pulling the legs by the ankles back toward the body. Turned out to be AO. So he might have something going on with his back or hammy's or something.

 

[Tenspro2002]

There are a few traits, physical and mental, working to Alex's detriment:

- Stone hands; his hands aren't good enough to snatch the ball out of the air at its highest point, which leads to him having to catch/cradle it against his body on rebounds -- this contributed to him getting tied up on that one play, also hurts his offense, getting stripped or unable to secure passes in traffic

- His documented relatively weak lower body; he doesn't get great power into his jump, which prevents him from going as strongly to the rim as we'd like to see out of a big man, and may also hinder his rebounding

- Modest BB IQ; he ends up out of position (e.g. rebounds falling to guys right behind or beside him, getting turned around/sideways on defense) which leads to easy and-1's, still makes some boneheaded shot-block attempts which result either in goaltending or in vacating the weak side for an offensive rebound

- Tendency to get frustrated and down on himself due to the above factors

I wouldn't characterize any of these things as being "soft" or unwilling to mix it up. He's a great kid and the sort of person you want to root for, but can be frustrating as a fan or teammate (we've all played with guys like this).

 

[Scot-e]

He is averaging almost a DD a game with limited minutes. I mean we are really getting knit picky here.

 

[jleves]

He is averaging almost a DD a game with limited minutes. I mean we are really getting knit picky here.

While I agree that the original post is over the top, he isn't close to a double double. He's not really close to a single double yet.

 

[HistoryMajor]

sammydabiz said: ↑

the softest Big Man . . . blah blah blah​

Sammy - I was tempted to give you the same response as Prez but decided to be more civil. Suggest you go troll somewhere else.

 

[ctchamps]

Good god, I hope to hell other teams fans to actually start looking at the board outside of the threads that concern their teams or this fan base would be outed as the dumbest around. Between that idiotic Drummond is a bust thread and this thread....to name just two recent examples of blatant stupidity, I'm wondering if these numb nuts have any historical perspective on the game, UCONN hoops, the trajectory of player development and the ebbs and flows in that equation, the difference between HS and top tier college basketball.

It's is actually possible to take a step forward and then take a step back, it's also possible that the dudes on the other team which also happen to be on scholarship (so it's likely they're a little bit better than your run of the mill HS player) have a skill set that negates AO, AD, TO, RS, etc. skill set. It's also possible for any player to be out of position resulting in results that are less than ideal, that's not softness, it may be a result of lack of quickness, forethought, game feel, and just thinking too much, etc., but not softness.

There should be a warning on here for all our sakes, take a breath before you post, have a point and be able to articulate how you arrived at the your point of view that doesn't include "when I'm playing my college basketball video game I can always get the rebound", or be doomed to the idiot pile forever.

I like this post. The only thing I would add is that UConn does not have a monopoly on over the top, off the wall comments about teams and players. I bet it exists everywhere and goes back before the Greeks started the Olympics.

 

[ctchamps]

There are a few traits, physical and mental, working to Alex's detriment:

- Stone hands; his hands aren't good enough to snatch the ball out of the air at its highest point, which leads to him having to catch/cradle it against his body on rebounds -- this contributed to him getting tied up on that one play, also hurts his offense, getting stripped or unable to secure passes in traffic

- His documented relatively weak lower body; he doesn't get great power into his jump, which prevents him from going as strongly to the rim as we'd like to see out of a big man, and may also hinder his rebounding

- Modest BB IQ; he ends up out of position (e.g. rebounds falling to guys right behind or beside him, getting turned around/sideways on defense) which leads to easy and-1's, still makes some boneheaded shot-block attempts which result either in goaltending or in vacating the weak side for an offensive rebound

- Tendency to get frustrated and down on himself due to the above factors

I wouldn't characterize any of these things as being "soft" or unwilling to mix it up. He's a great kid and the sort of person you want to root for, but can be frustrating as a fan or teammate (we've all played with guys like this).

I think this is a pretty accurate list. Nice job.

 

[huskyrob1]

the softest Big Man i've seen in awhile. Don't get me wrong I hate bagging on college kids, let alone one of my beloved huskies, but enough is enough Alex! Grow a pair, and start taking names and kicking ass, i know he can do it (Texas last year) but he seriously got b!tched by that Abrams guy on Arkansas all day today. thank god he doesnt play football cause the only posistion i could see him play is punter.

PS- Boatright is just siiiiiick, already my favorite player on the squad

AO doesn't do his talking on the court but at least he tweets after the game.

 

[willie99]

AO is as soft as AD is overrated

As in not at all. Just silly to suggest such

he was our inside force when we won the BET & National Championship. Believe it or not, it was not just Kemba and it was not just the guards

 

[babysheep]

I mean I wouldn't be too surprised if Plumlee could muscle him around at this point.

The main thing he needs to work on is his ball security.

 

[sammydabiz]

I'm bumping this b*tch b/c it needs to be reiterated Plain & Simple

I said it a couple months back and it holds true today, only this time I'll add Mr Drummond to the list as well.

Difference between our bigs and Emeka (heck, Josh Boone)= Toughness!!!
Add that embarrassment with our other problems (Lamb avg about 25 minutes of daydreaming a game) untimely shots by Bazz (my favorite player however) and a host of others.. rather not list'em

Mix it all up, and you get a fat shiny 1st round boot........ Damn

In closing, I'll leave you with some great quotes because I stated the obvious back in December: enjoy!

I made a commitment when I reupped here that I wouldn't blast people. I make an exception for you.

Go duck yourself.

Sammydabiz your posts are pretty non-fact based and then you cry when someone calls u out? you can't expect to make an idiotic post and not get slammed. Prezident is right

Right! He is definitely not soft...he is a bull of a kid and not afraid to mix it up and he shows a lot of,good,things out there

sammydabiz said: ↑

the softest Big Man . . . blah blah blah​

Sammy - I was tempted to give you the same response as Prez but decided to be more civil. Suggest you go troll somewhere else.

AO is as soft as AD is overrated

As in not at all. Just silly to suggest such

he was our inside force when we won the BET & National C

sammydabiz said: ↑

the softest Big Man . . . blah blah blah​

Sammy - I was tempted to give you the same response as Prez but decided to be more civil. Suggest you go troll somewhere else.

hampionship. Believe it or not, it was not just Kemba and it was not just the guards

 

[Dove]

That's it Sammy, get it off your chest. But man, why would you want to re-expose your douchieness?

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I'm bumping this b*tch b/c it needs to be reiterated Plain & Simple

I said it a couple months back and it holds true today, only this time I'll add Mr Drummond to the list as well.

Difference between our bigs and Emeka (heck, Josh Boone)= Toughness!!!
Add that embarrassment with our other problems (Lamb avg about 25 minutes of daydreaming a game) untimely shots by Bazz (my favorite player however) and a host of others.. rather not list'em

Mix it all up, and you get a fat shiny 1st round boot........ Damn

In closing, I'll leave you with some great quotes because I stated the obvious back in December: enjoy!

Wow! You should really try to get a job in Coaching if your career at bashing 18-21 year kids on the internet doesn't work out!

 

[tzznandrew]

Oriakhi didn't get much run. He had a poor year--I have high hopes for him next year. I think the ISU game just didn't allow for 2 bigs on the court (at least two bigs who weren't going to post up) and JC decided to go with AD.

I think he and AD got better at sharing court time. I think that trend will continue if AD comes back.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Did you pre-write this "I told you so" before the game? Did you make a list of the people who criticized you back in December that you couldn't wait to come after when your negativity around AO was, in your eyes, confirmed with the outcome of this game and season?

I'm picturing Steve Buchemi in Billy Madison crossing the name off his people to kill list and putting on lipstick.

 

[61cygni]

Is this serious. Any and every UConn National Champion gets a pass.

Soft =/= inconsistent. And calling him a "bitch" is just ridiculous.

And this needed to be said again.

 

[willie99]

get a life loser, Alex won a national championship and was an integral part of that team

some people need to sniff a clue someday

 

[The Funster]

I'm bumping this b*tch b/c it needs to be reiterated Plain & Simple

I said it a couple months back and it holds true today, only this time I'll add Mr Drummond to the list as well.

Difference between our bigs and Emeka (heck, Josh Boone)= Toughness!!!
Add that embarrassment with our other problems (Lamb avg about 25 minutes of daydreaming a game) untimely shots by Bazz (my favorite player however) and a host of others.. rather not list'em

Mix it all up, and you get a fat shiny 1st round boot........ Damn

In closing, I'll leave you with some great quotes because I stated the obvious back in December: enjoy!

Hey look: a ducking genius. Better to be right than win, I guess.