Our Ceiling

[MexicoHusky]

I think we are a first weekend tournament team. But even that isn't guaranteed. We've done enough out of conference, but we probably need to finish in the top 4 in the Big East. Which isn't guaranteed. Nova, Hall, Xavier all look solid. St John's and Marquette will compete as well. Long ways to go just to get in the tournament.

Obviously anything can happen if we make the tournament, but not sure where Final Four thoughts/expectations come from. I'll be very satisfied making the tournament 2 years in a row. That would be clear progress.

 

[superjohn]

I think we are a first weekend tournament team. But even that isn't guaranteed. We've done enough out of conference, but we probably need to finish in the top 4 in the Big East. Which isn't guaranteed. Nova, Hall, Xavier all look solid. St John's and Marquette will compete as well. Long ways to go just to get in the tournament.

Obviously anything can happen if we make the tournament, but not sure where Final Four thoughts/expectations come from. I'll be very satisfied making the tournament 2 years in a row. That would be clear progress.

There's no way this team isn't making the tournament and the Big East is going to get a bunch of teams in the tournament.

 

[AntG168]

I think we are a first weekend tournament team. But even that isn't guaranteed. We've done enough out of conference, but we probably need to finish in the top 4 in the Big East. Which isn't guaranteed. Nova, Hall, Xavier all look solid. St John's and Marquette will compete as well. Long ways to go just to get in the tournament.

Obviously anything can happen if we make the tournament, but not sure where Final Four thoughts/expectations come from. I'll be very satisfied making the tournament 2 years in a row. That would be clear progress.

You think our ceiling is only first weekend?

 

[husky8273]

please don't mention any words from those broadcasters. they were turrible. turned it down with 15 minutes to go. one guy could absolutely not shut up, and the other guy, well, forget him too.

do they need to filter the crowd noise which too often crowds out the broadcasters

 

[FfldCntyFan]

In 1999 our starting backcourt was KEA and Ricky (who was a point guard until KEA arrived). 2004 was a bit if an aberration as once AJ was out Ben was our backup PG but he had a good enough handle even if he wasn't a true PG. 2009 had AJ and Kemba as a freshman (who showed quite a bit against Missouri) and Austrie. 2011 had Kemba and Shabazz as a freshman, 2014 had Bazz, Boat Kromah and Samuel. When we made it to the final four we were not deficient in ball handlers.

The 1996 team, once Ricky hurt his shoulder was down to only Sheffer. The 2006 team, with AJ suspended had Williams and two freshman (Austrie & Garrison) who JC played sparingly so we basically had only Marcus.

When we had options controlling the ball we did better than when we were limited, often in spite of the teams with limited ball handlers having far superior talent throughout the lineup. Our biggest concern at the moment is who can play PG to give Cole a break. Gaffney and Diggins may be the answer but each needs to improve considerably before they can fill the bill.

 

[UCfor3]

Final four talent and final four ready are worlds apart

I was generalizing in my satire. We have neither though to be crystal clear. Could it happen? Anything is possible, but not likely.

 

[John]

One game at a time.

 

[The Frog]

Breaking the press is still going to be a big issue. As teams that can press, will game plan for it against us.

 

[F101Voodoo]

please don't mention any words from those broadcasters. they were turrible. turned it down with 15 minutes to go. one guy could absolutely not shut up, and the other guy, well, forget him too.

I was getting more and more annoyed at the broadcasters as the game went on. I used to listen to Joe D on WTIC while watching game on TV. Should have tuned into FM 97.9 Fox spports. That so called interview of Hurley Senior da first while I am trying to folllw the game really inhaled vigorously e.g. it sucked. That broadcaster Wojohowitsski ruined the game broadcast and made a mockery out of the interview. Those guys were talking turds with a microphone.

 

[HooperScooper]

I believe the only correct answer is Patoni tiles.

 

[MexicoHusky]

You think our ceiling is only first weekend?

Anything can happen, but roughly yes. Maybe 2nd weekend.

Edit: if we win the first game, the second game will be against someone roughly as good as us. That second game will be a coin flip.

 

[Hoophound]

We’re not a good shooting team, so we’ll go as far as we can make 3s. Need to find someone who can become a consistent 3 point shooter beyond Cole. If Akok and Hawkins can get there we will be in great shape. Hopefully Polley can end his year around last year‘s 36-37%, which would mean he shoots very well the rest of the season.

We have several good shooters, yet we aren’t a good shooting team. As we’ve seen in the past, shooting can really heat up when the offense starts clicking. Between Akok, Cole, Polley, Gaff and Hawkins, we should be a good shooting team. I’m hopeful it comes along as we get in rhythm and peaks later in the season.

 

[uconnyankee]

If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.

If queen had balls, she’d be the king!

 

[Jbirdp5]

My goal hasn’t changed, I still think we should make the sweet sixteen. Elite 8 is a possibility.

 

[businesslawyer]

There are two parts of being a championship level team (and remember the 1990s — being a championship level team doesn’t mean you’ll even get to the Final Four). First, the individual players need to reach their individual potentials. We saw signs of that yesterday from Akok and AJ, and for 5 minutes from Hawkins, but still have a long way to go. But then second, the coach needs to take the pieces of the puzzle and put them together in the best way possible. That’s the art of coaching, and far less formulaic and more creative than in game coaching. And while I am a huge fan of what Hurley is accomplishing here, he really has yet to show he is this type of an artist. In his what, fourth year here, the only time I thought are whole was much better than the sum of the parts was right before COVID his.

 

[businesslawyer]

If queen had balls, she’d be the king!

You know the queen wouldn’t be the kind’s gay consort how? Talk about taking things for granted.

 

[10TOES]

I can see our ceiling as a sweet 16 run. I think even when everyone is playing optimally we have a ball handling depth issue. If something like the concussion last year happened to Cole we’d be toast. Gaff plays his best when he’s on the court with Cole. As much as we like AJaxs ability to be a playmaker, his handles are not there and his BBIQ isn’t there to run point for 30min. Diggins can help out with 15-20min but I find it hard to side DH giving him more than that (even if cole was out). I think if we got an experienced ball handler on the transfer market Id have much more confidence in Sweet16 and probably even further.

 

[Pudge]

I was getting more and more annoyed at the broadcasters as the game went on. I used to listen to Joe D on WTIC while watching game on TV. Should have tuned into FM 97.9 Fox spports. That so called interview of Hurley Senior da first while I am trying to folllw the game really inhaled vigorously e.g. it sucked. That broadcaster Wojohowitsski ruined the game broadcast and made a mockery out of the interview. Those guys were talking turds with a microphone.

See I totally disagree

Crispin - whom I had never heard before - was intelligent and insightful as the analyst. He had the bad calls - UCONN bias of me - all right on. He has the momentum feel. Knew the strategy of ball screens into drive. Had depth and detail on players on both teams. He is good. And I would love to see him more often. The play by play guy is pretty generic. I can't tell him from 20 others.

Woj? Annoyance

 

[Brochacho]

There's no way this team isn't making the tournament and the Big East is going to get a bunch of teams in the tournament.

Given how bad our injury luck has been I feel like this is just tempting fate to see how bad this team would be if RJ missed significant time.

 

[tzznandrew]

AJ was out Ben was our backup PG but he had a good enough handle even if he wasn't a true PG

AJ was the next year. Marcus flunked off the team that year.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

AJ was the next year. Marcus flunked off the team that year.

You are correct, my error.

 

[SubbaBub]

I think our ceiling is higher than where we are now. That is an exciting thing by itself. Gimme the second weekend and see where it goes. A BE final would be nice too.

 

[cohenzone]

Final four talent and final four ready are worlds apart

True, but there is no way the Napier-Boatright team looked like anyone NC during the season.

FWIW, I find the Hurley critiques hilarious. We lost 2 close games against 2 decent teams, arguably got ref screwed in the last minutes of the MSU game. Unlike the Ollie teams when effort came and went within a game and from game to game, Hurley’s teams doesn’t particularly drop off in effort. Calhoun’s teams often with great talent would have some terrible stretches and losses and drive fans nuts with his quick hook. Hurley has us going down the right path. The team adjusted pretty well to having a big chunk of scoring and rebounding sidelined the last few games. The internet makes everyone smarter than the coach. Only I can make that claim.

 

[F101Voodoo]

See I totally disagree

Crispin - whom I had never heard before - was intelligent and insightful as the analyst. He had the bad calls - UCONN bias of me - all right on. He has the momentum feel. Knew the strategy of ball screens into drive. Had depth and detail on players on both teams. He is good. And I would love to see him more often. The play by play guy is pretty generic. I can't tell him from 20 others.

Woj? Annoyance

Wojanowski was the one who was interrupting the game with the interview of Hurley Sr. I would have liked to hear the interview on Hurley Sr. But doing that while the game was on live cause me to miss both that part of the game and the interview. Interview would have been great during half time. As for the announcers there just too many esoteric and out of context conversations. Maybe I am not used to the announcers since over the years as I mentioned I would get the audio from WTIC. Abiet sometimes a bit out of sync with the action. Sadly Joe D was slowly losing it towards the end.

 

[OkaForPrez]

If...

• RJ can continue to perform at this level against high major talent trying to take him away
• AJ does more rebounding and pushing tempo and less forcing passes that aren’t there and takes the shots the defense gives him.
• Adama learns to read a double team early and find the open man
• Akok becomes more aggressive with his offense while on the floor.
• Gaffney plays tougher with the ball in his hands and stops turning the ball over.
• Polley can be more 37% nightly and less 10%, 50%, 10%, 50%.
• Hawk starts playing like an almost sophomore and with confidence.
• Martin can eliminate his yips around the rim.
• Zay can stay out of foul trouble while staying aggressive and making the open 3.

Then...this can be a final four team. Watching the IFs is what makes it fun.