Our bigs - a two headed monster | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Our bigs - a two headed monster

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Samson is shooting 83% from the field and Tarris is shooting 74% from the field.

They're obviously fouling way too much but they've been pretty damn good when they're on the court and it's once again a two headed monster for UConn at center. Samson can't rebound but he remains probably the best lob threat in the country. When he's screening and slipping towards the basket with guys finding him we become really difficult to stop and guys are finally starting to find him at the rim. When the pogo stick goes out teams have to deal with the bear. I really think Tarris is just scratching the surface. He isn't Adama yet but the things are there for him to become Adama. He isn't a total ballerina like Sanogo and hasn't shown the jumper Sanogo developed but he has a good amount of that footwork already and he's bigger and a better athlete than Sanogo. Once you add in his hands on the catch and his ability to gobble up rebounds you're looking at a future NBA player IMO and someone who can be a force here.

We also lead the nation in blocked shots again with these two and Karaban getting 2 blocks per game.
The lob dunk is such an effective high percentage shot. Especially for this team. I think that if Samson were getting those buckets back to the basket, people would give him more credit. Me? I'd rather my big man catch 5 lobs than putting the ball on the floor and hoping their drop doesn't fall short.
 
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Johnson playing behind any center with size and strength looks like a recipe for disaster. He gets constantly caught in a game of push and shove which he is going to lose most of the time. I would love to see him front these stronger centers and challenge their opponent to go over the top of him.
 
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They’re never going to stop, because our staff has the metrics to show what good defense entails. A big part of it is taking risks for steals when situations present.

The majority of Samson’s & Tarris’ fouls have been for things like bad positioning body fouls, contesting shots, and over the backs.
It’s great if it’s effective. The problem is it has pretty much never been effective this season and contributes to our bigs leaving the court more often than not. There’s really two options in that situation. Either get better at it or stop doing it. Right now, as it is deployed, it is a big net negative. We don’t generate steals, we give out a good number of fouls, and our bigs are forced off the court.
 

HuskyHawk

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I would say this tandem is not as good as 2022-23 or 2023-24. I would also say this tandem would be the envy of most teams in 2024-25. The recent bar was so high that I think we may not judge fairly. Our overall production from the 5 spot is pretty impressive.
 
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Point guard play makes a big difference. Diarra is starting to play much better. Karaban, McNeeley and Stewart also have good passing and vision. The other guards and wings don't seem to have natural passing ability but just improving within the offensive system should continue to help.
 
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The lob dunk is such an effective high percentage shot. Especially for this team. I think that if Samson were getting those buckets back to the basket, people would give him more credit. Me? I'd rather my big man catch 5 lobs than putting the ball on the floor and hoping their drop doesn't fall short.
100%. Samson is who he is, play to the strengths. He’s gotten better this year at having a couple go to back to the basket moves for when he ends up with the ball down low, but the way he spreads the floor, the way he opens up opportunities for teammates, and the way that he is most effective is in the lob game and rolling to the basket. He’s never going to be Tarris Reed and that’s fine.
 
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Samson fouls wayyyyyy too much as we all know. Reed fouls too much too. But some of the offensive fouls on screens are BS and the refs seem to make up their mind on calling it before the screen even takes place.
 
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Point guard play makes a big difference. Diarra is starting to play much better. Karaban, McNeeley and Stewart also have good passing and vision. The other guards and wings don't seem to have natural passing ability but just improving within the offensive system should continue to help.
Thought McNeeley did a great job as an occasional secondary ball-handler and helping to get the ball over half court in the Texas game. Deferring less and initiating more. Even though his point total was modest for him- His D and rebounding -when combined with his floor game (including some nice assists) were excellent.
 

Hunt for 7

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I think our center rotation is fine. Especially since it looked like Singare can come in and not lose the game for us if he has to play a few minutes it is five more fouls. Also he did wall up and impact a few shots at the rim and he boxed out well enough a few times and that kept his man away from getting the rebound and another Huskie grabbed the rebound.

He was out there for what 8 minutes to end the first half and I am not going as far to say he held his own but he was close to doing that and he did get called for a phantom screen foul. A guy trips over his own feet near a UConn player and the officials can’t blow the whistle quickly enough.

Who is the ref with the mole on his left temple, honestly whenever I see him I know we are in for a long day.
 
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Samson fouls wayyyyyy too much as we all know. Reed fouls too much too. But some of the offensive fouls on screens are BS and the refs seem to make up their mind on calling it before the screen even takes place.
I think Bilas said (somewhat sarcastically) well I guess now if u fall down it’s a foul on a screen when a Texas player tripped trying to get through a screen that didn’t look like much
 

pj

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If Singare can play too so we have 15 fouls, and if the opposing centers are < 60% free throw shooters, then a high foul rate is not a big deal.

If the opposing center shoots 100% on free throws, it's a problem.
 
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Honorable mention to Singare who did a decent job filling in for the the twice foul committed Samson and Taris on the bench in the 1st half. I was very encouraged, aside from his added penchant for fouling in the few minutes he was in the game. I hope Coach Dan continues to give him some meaningful minutes beyond garbage time at the end of a big win.
 
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Let's not wait for Samson Johnson to get 2, and then Reed to get 2 and then ask Singare to play 6-8 consecutive minutes. Take Samson Johnson out immediately after 1 and then Reed. Then ask YS to play 2 or 3 minutes while the other 2 calm down while getting a lecture on how not to foul from Danny.
 
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Johnson playing behind any center with size and strength looks like a recipe for disaster. He gets constantly caught in a game of push and shove which he is going to lose most of the time. I would love to see him front these stronger centers and challenge their opponent to go over the top of him.
Bilas seemed to say the same thing about the wisdom of fronting the center, and mentioning that Samson's wrestling with stronger bigs just caused him to foul.
 

Huskyforlife

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Samson is fine as a backup, but Reed is holding this thing together. I really appreciate Reed for not holding it against the staff for keeping him on the bench, as the clearly superior player.
 
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Bilas seemed to say the same thing about the wisdom of fronting the center, and mentioning that Samson's wrestling with stronger bigs just caused him to foul.
With his ability to get up, I don't understand why fronting or at least3/4 ing from time to time wouldn't be a good thing. I realize they love him in a help and recover situation but if he can't stay on the floor he isn't helping anybody.
 
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IMO the Zag's center, Ike, is going to pose some real problems for both Reed and Samson Johnson.

That being said re our Bigs, who is gonna guard Nembhard, Hass?
 
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Samson is fine as a backup, but Reed is holding this thing together. I really appreciate Reed for not holding it against the staff for keeping him on the bench, as the clearly superior player.
It’s a constant source of laughs for me how people just either don’t watch the games or don’t bother to pay attention to how players perform…especially if it doesn’t fit their pre_conceived narrative.

Samson has played his two best games of the year in two “nearly must win” games to help right the ship.

No, Reed is not “holding this thing together. They both are contributing to an above-average 5-position for the team.
 
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It’s a constant source of laughs for me how people just either don’t watch the games or don’t bother to pay attention to how players perform…especially if it doesn’t fit their pre_conceived narrative.

Samson has played his two best games of the year in two “nearly must win” games to help right the ship.

No, Reed is not “holding this thing together. They both are contributing to an above-average 5-position for the team.
Samson matching Texas' buckets to start the 2nd half when they came out on fire held things together pretty well
 

Huskyforlife

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It’s a constant source of laughs for me how people just either don’t watch the games or don’t bother to pay attention to how players perform…especially if it doesn’t fit their pre_conceived narrative.

Samson has played his two best games of the year in two “nearly must win” games to help right the ship.

No, Reed is not “holding this thing together. They both are contributing to an above-average 5-position for the team.
If you can't see we're keeping the superior player on the bench, you're the one who needs to watch the games again.
 
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Samson fouls wayyyyyy too much as we all know. Reed fouls too much too. But some of the offensive fouls on screens are BS and the refs seem to make up their mind on calling it before the screen even takes place.
Yes. Samson commits at least one unnecessary, silly foul every game. He is also called for at least one phantom foul every game. He can’t control the latter, but if he cut out the brain farts, he’d be okay. Maybe even earn a little benefit of the doubt in the process.
 
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If you can't see we're keeping the superior player on the bench, you're the one who needs to watch the games again.
Isn’t Tarris averaging more minutes per game than Samson? so how is that keeping him on the bench?
 

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