Our bigs - a two headed monster

[uchusky32]

Harris does his work with the ball. Sampson does his work without the ball.

 

[REB1094]

Harris dies his work with the ball. Sampson does his work without the ball.

All timer

 

[AllHusky]

If he didn’t bring that out against the cupcakes, I would be quite surprised if we see it at all this season.

Seemed like Sanogo shooting threes happened more in the second half of the season than against cupcakes. Am I misremembering?

 

[HooperScooper]

Seemed like Sanogo shooting threes happened more in the second half of the season than against cupcakes. Am I misremembering?

Misremembering. He was shooting them early and at a very high make rate early. Check out his game-by-game log below. There was one poster (many may remember who) who before the season said Sanogo should never take a 3. That poster has had a lot of very poorly aged posts the last few years.

2022-23 Men's Basketball Cumulative Statistics - University of Connecticut Athletics

The official 2022-23 Men's Basketball cumulative statistics for the University of Connecticut Huskies

uconnhuskies.com

 

[JerseyAlum]

Johnson and Reed have the opposite problems on defense.

Johnson is simply not strong enough. He's way too skinny, which affects both his weight (easy to displace, high center of gravity) and opponents' ability to get around him.

For Reed it's mental, just bad defensive instincts that will not easily be coached out of him.

But on offense, I agree the coaches have figured out how to use both pretty effectively.

Main issue for me:

1. Samson's offense is predicated on a facilitator where he slips a screen for a lob dunk. It's a quick hitter, not one where Samson has the ball for long. Teams have to be aware of this when he is in, and can lead to them over rotating to stop this (fronting Samson) but would likely lead to AK being open (or Liam). It's just not something that we can keep going to the well on though so we get 3-4 maybe a game if all goes well. We do not throw the ball to him down low unless the D has horribly switched a much shorter player on him.

2. Tarris has some game when he's got the ball down low. Teams have to respect him as an offensive threat unlike Samson. For this reason, if he is on the floor with other shot creators (AK, Liam, Haas) it leads to less double-teams and more 1:1 because who are you going to leave open?

Wednesday, we should see Tarris starting with Singare backing up...I think the offense will run much smoother wit Tarris in with 3 other shot creators.

 

[Captbluefin]

Looks to me like we have a third head starting to grow on our monster.

 

[ctbro1999]

Just wanted to give Samson some more love. He may still have foul issues and we all wish he was better at grabbing rebounds, but nothing you can criticize about his FG%:

• Sacred Heart: 4-6 from the field
• UNH: 1-1
• LeMoyne: 2-3
• ETAM: 4-5
• Memphis: 0-0 (???)
• Colorado: 4-5
• Dayton: 6-7
• UMES: 3-3
• Baylor: 4-4
• Texas: 6-7
• Gonzaga: 2-2
• Xavier: DNP, concussion
• Butler: 3-3

Shooting 84.5% from the field so far this year.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

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.

I agree.....aside from the fact that they are constantly in foul trouble and the fact that one half of the "2 headed monster" cannot rebound....yes it is just like last two years.

 

[UCan3]

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.

I think Sigare should be utilized more (12 min per game.)

I think he is better offense rebounder than either Tarris or Samson. He can be a bit more intimidating on defense against other teams with talent at that position.

He is a utility player - not stating he should start.

But let’s take Saturday as a example, IMO we could have used him as we got eaten up on offensive boards and had trouble defending the Butler Center who was having literally a CAREER BEST against our self described ”two-headed“ monster. They didn’t appear to be a “monster” on Saturday…

We have 3 that can play that position - each w/ their own strengths.

 

[ctbro1999]

I agree.....aside from the fact that they are constantly in foul trouble and the fact that one half of the "2 headed monster" cannot rebound....yes it is just like last two years.

If only every year we could start a potential NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate at the 5.

 

[jibsey]

We know how quickly Samson can score when the guards do what they need to do. The game he was injured he scored 6 points in a few seconds and Hurley described it as electric. Let’s get him back to that.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Just wanted to give Samson some more love. He may still have foul issues and we all wish he was better at grabbing rebounds, but nothing you can criticize about his FG%:

• Sacred Heart: 4-6 from the field
• UNH: 1-1
• LeMoyne: 2-3
• ETAM: 4-5
• Memphis: 0-0 (???)
• Colorado: 4-5
• Dayton: 6-7
• UMES: 3-3
• Baylor: 4-4
• Texas: 6-7
• Gonzaga: 2-2
• Xavier: DNP, concussion
• Butler: 3-3

Shooting 84.5% from the field so far this year.

Since you brought it up..............

For the season:
Fouls- 38
Rebounds- 31

For his career:
Fouls- 177
Rebounds- 164

 

[dennismenace]

We know how quickly Samson can score when the guards do what they need to do. The game he was injured he scored 6 points in a few seconds and Hurley described it as electric. Let’s get him back to that.

Right. Let's get another pg (Nowell) along with McNeeley and Hass to feed him.

 

[jibsey]

Right. Let's get another pg (Nowell) along with McNeeley and Hass to feed him.

I have a short memory on Nowell’s skills since we never see him out there but garbage time. I’m going back to watch his tapes. OK, he averaged 5 HS assists per game, he steals the ball, is lightning quick and if he can defend bigger players which he would have to and get Samson some dunks why not? The biggest reason as I see it is Hurley’s loyalty to Mahaney to get him to come to UConn.

 

[dennismenace]

I don't so much as see it as an "either/or" situation as getting looks at skill sets and trying things out. We know Mahaney is a shooter. But there are going to be times when we need tougher defenders and speed.
So just saying get him in there and get his feet wet.

 

[uconnfan68]

I don't so much as see it as an "either/or" situation as getting looks at skill sets and trying things out. We know Mahaney is a shooter. But there are going to be times when we need tougher defenders and speed.
So just saying get him in there and get his feet wet.

The biggest issue I see is the hesitation on the part of Danny and the coaches to play more guys. They’ll always can all contribute to speeding us up.

 

[AllHusky]

The Nowell situation(if healthy) reminds me a bit of the Evers Fagnano one. Many on the Yard couldn't understand the reluctance to play Fagnano over Evers, and similarly a portion of the Yard doesn't see why Nowell shouldn't play ahead of Mahaney at PG. Tomorrow we see the final chapter of the Evers Fagnano saga, while the Mahaney Nowell saga hasn't really begun in earnest.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Since you brought it up..............

For the season:
Fouls- 38
Rebounds- 31

For his career:
Fouls- 177
Rebounds- 164

Yup that might be a foul issue.

He is one of ours so we love him but I would have to wonder if there has ever been a center starter or big minute back up center who played for a team at this level or any major MBB team who had more fouls than rebounds in his career.

Just can’t be many with that stat line.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I think Sigare should be utilized more (12 min per game.)

I think he is better offense rebounder than either Tarris or Samson. He can be a bit more intimidating on defense against other teams with talent at that position.

He is a utility player - not stating he should start.

But let’s take Saturday as a example, IMO we could have used him as we got eaten up on offensive boards and had trouble defending the Butler Center who was having literally a CAREER BEST against our self described ”two-headed“ monster. They didn’t appear to be a “monster” on Saturday…

We have 3 that can play that position - each w/ their own strengths.

12 minutes a game would leave 28 total between Tarris and Samson. That is almost an even split of PT with Singare. I think Singare has performed admirably in the role he’s been asked to fill, but he is still a big drop off as a whole from Samson and Tarris. Until he develops an offensive game or becomes a dominant defender, he should be used exactly as he has been. To manage foul trouble or in case of injury.

 

[UCan3]

12 minutes a game would leave 28 total between Tarris and Samson. That is almost an even split of PT with Singare. I think Singare has performed admirably in the role he’s been asked to fill, but he is still a big drop off as a whole from Samson and Tarris. Until he develops an offensive game or becomes a dominant defenswr, he should be used exactly as he has been. To manage foul trouble or in case of injury.

I like when they play Tarris with Samson. But to your point, the Butler game, neither Samson nor Tarris could defend that Butler center. In addition to playing Sigare only when there is foul trouble for our other 2 bigs, if Tarris/Sampson show they can’t grab an offensive rebound or play D, I think Sigare needs to come in to see what he can do.

I like him a lot - while not a scorer - he can be dominate underneath on both ends of the floor rebounding/playing D.

 

[aceboon]

I like when they play Tarris with Samson. But to your point, the Butler game, neither Samson nor Tarris could defend that Butler center. In addition to playing Sigare only when there is foul trouble for our other 2 bigs, if Tarris/Sampson show they can’t grab an offensive rebound or play D, I think Sigare needs to come in to see what he can do.

I like him a lot - while not a scorer - he can be dominate underneath on both ends of the floor rebounding/playing D.

very loose definition of dominant, we've seen dominant centers at UConn, I like Singare's potential in year 3/4, he hasn't shown anything that says he can dominate a game right now.

 

[jibsey]

Since you brought it up..............

For the season:
Fouls- 38
Rebounds- 31

For his career:
Fouls- 177
Rebounds- 164

That is unbelievable.

 

[Improviser]

Since you brought it up..............

For the season:
Fouls- 38
Rebounds- 31

For his career:
Fouls- 177
Rebounds- 164

Since you brought it up..............

For the season:
Fouls- 38
Rebounds- 31

For his career:
Fouls- 177
Rebounds- 164

Statistics don't lie, but if anybody knows, what is his plus/minus when he is on the court? Doesn't that have a lot to say about his overall impact?

 

[AllHusky]

Samson and Tarris together is exciting, we did it once already this season, correct? Alex 3,Liam 2 Hass 1. It’s probably gettin too late to fool around, but I d like to see 10-15 min with that lineup

 

[dennismenace]

The Nowell situation(if healthy) reminds me a bit of the Evers Fagnano one. Many on the Yard couldn't understand the reluctance to play Fagnano over Evers, and similarly a portion of the Yard doesn't see why Nowell shouldn't play ahead of Mahaney at PG. Tomorrow we see the final chapter of the Evers Fagnano saga, while the Mahaney Nowell saga hasn't really begun in earnest.

Thanks for this reply. I didn't have any idea that Uconn was in the "Fenway Bowl" and hadn't followed football. I had no idea what the Evers Fagano comparison was. My son is home so we can watch can watch the game together at 11:00 today!