Our Center Tandem Is Good

[imno1]

The magnitude of our personnel losses when contemplating threepeat are breathtaking. Trying to discipline myself to just enjoy watching this years team take shape through the ups and inevitable downs. It’s not easy.

definitely not easy being “spoiled and arrogant“. I may have a hard time dealing with it if we don’t win

 

[Horatio]

We’ve won with less than these two. Tandem is more than capable, plus situational minutes from Stewart, Etc.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Better get us now

it's coming

 

[uconnfan68]

I think McNeeley could be the lob connector for Samson Johnson. He's got great size and I think is an underrated passer.

Definitely need someone to take over. I don’t think I’ve seen more than 2-3 lobs this new season.

 

[JesusAllen11]

3 years in a row we argue about our center rotation. This is good luck lol. The Reibe vs Reed debates will be the best yet lol

 

[jostar1]

it's coming

Foot on gas.

 

[HuskyFich]

No one is giving up on Maheney. He can be a star here but I’d like to see him more assertive, penetrating and dishing off of that. Maui is the place to show himself!

Mahaney had a great second half, until the rails kinda fell off the whole team. He clearly had someone tell him to be more assertive in the locker room and he came out blazing.

Hope that was the switch…but we’ll see, tough to quickly flip the switch when the field is so crowded

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Foot on gas.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Reed is so skilled at the art of rebounding- reading the shot, pre-positioning himself before it hits the rim, the right amount of contact to seal the opponent, and great hands.
He had one last game where I don't think he even jumped, but he saw the ball tipped it up, repositioned and then grabbed it. It was subtle in its skill and beauty.

 

[caw]

Reed is so skilled at the art of rebounding- reading the shot, pre-positioning himself before it hits the rim, the right amount of contact to seal the opponent, and great hands.
He had one last game where I don't think he even jumped, but he saw the ball tipped it up, repositioned and then grabbed it. It was subtle in its skill and beauty.

As long as Reed keeps it pretty simple on offense, he's good. As long as Samson keeps from reaching in on defense, he's good.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

definitely not easy being “spoiled and arrogant“. I may have a hard time dealing with it if we don’t win

I have a take on this season that I imagine is a bit different than most here and likely will not be popular, and it is due to the growing pains that this team will need to endure.

While in the moment I will want to see a win in every game and have us collect as much hardware as possible, until the big dance, anything that we accomplish beyond landing a bid will be nice, but not overly important. if we were to somehow end up with a season that basically mirrors 2013-2014, where we seldom look like a team capable of winning it all, disappoint in the regular season and conference tournament yet cut down the nets in San Antonio, the season will be a success.

Last year, we had everything, size, athleticism, talent, experience, individual and team defense, an offense that was often too difficult to defend. Anything shy of dominating everything along the way would have been a disappointment. Not every title season needs to look like that one (or 1998-1999). This year, if we win the title, we will have accomplished everything we needed to, anything else that we win along the way (Maui, BE regular season, BE tournament) will just be gravy.

 

[3rdbass]

Mahaney had a great second half, until the rails kinda fell off the whole team. He clearly had someone tell him to be more assertive in the locker room and he came out blazing.

Hope that was the switch…but we’ll see, tough to quickly flip the switch when the field is so crowded

For him to stay on the floor he needs to learn to at least play an ounce of defense. I know these small schools has some real quick small guards but he looks like he is stuck in quicksand when guarding. Maybe if he has a great offensive game he can at leas offset his bad D.

 

[ARIDE]

OK I know it was a cupcake Texas Whatever but Reed played 16 minutes and had 10 rebounds and 9 points. Johnson played 22 minutes with 8 points and 5 rebounds. I’ve seen Reed twice now in person and I like what I see. First off he is a human mountain of muscle. He has very strong and sure hands and will not be pushed around. When he’s in the paint it’s almost like having a screening wall down there.
Samson looks like he’s rebounding better, he’s stronger. Anyway, it’s not Clingan and Sanogo and until we see them against good teams we won’t be sure but these guys can get the job done IMO, and on nights where their numbers aren’t good our big forwards will step up to fill the stat sheet…..I hope.

Say what you want now but the jury still out. The physicality of the schedule will begin and we will find out if we can rebound and score when needed in difficult highly competitive games!!!

 

[microfich]

Yes, we the jury are still deliberating. Witnessing Hawaii will help confirm our judgments.

There is already enough evidence to assert Reed's smarts. He reads the ball and the floor very well and is an underrated passer.

Mahaney has been grilled here in front of our own congress. He may not be ultra-quick but has enough to be our starting PG. The shot will fall, especially once we start rolling out more sets, defenses start doubling around McNeeley and Ball takes it strong more often (that's a hope, not a guarantee.) I do question his ability to facilitate as I do Diarra's but if Nowell keeps it up, there aren't many who can stay with a cannonball. PG-wise, it's natural to compare to Newton. Unfair of course but not illegal. None of our PGs are 6'5".
It will be a different show this year and we have only seen Act 1.

 

[REB1094]

It will be a different show this year and we have only seen Act 1.

^ this is the best summary of the season so far

 

[ARIDE]

Yes, we the jury are still deliberating. Witnessing Hawaii will help confirm our judgments.

There is already enough evidence to assert Reed's smarts. He reads the ball and the floor very well and is an underrated passer.

Mahaney has been grilled here in front of our own congress. He may not be ultra-quick but has enough to be our starting PG. The shot will fall, especially once we start rolling out more sets, defenses start doubling around McNeeley and Ball takes it strong more often (that's a hope, not a guarantee.) I do question his ability to facilitate as I do Diarra's but if Nowell keeps it up, there aren't many who can stay with a cannonball. PG-wise, it's natural to compare to Newton. Unfair of course but not illegal. None of our PGs are 6'5".
It will be a different show this year and we have only seen Act 1.

I'm more concerned with who is gonna get that basket as the shot clock expires....off the dribble/ISO...WE HAD 3 LAST YEAR Castle,Newton and Spencer..

 

[AllHusky]

3 years in a row we argue about our center rotation. This is good luck lol. The Reibe vs Reed debates will be the best yet lol

We need to stop all the caterwauling. The solution is and always has been...."DOUBLE BIGS"

 

[AllHusky]

I have a take on this season that I imagine is a bit different than most here and likely will not be popular, and it is due to the growing pains that this team will need to endure.

While in the moment I will want to see a win in every game and have us collect as much hardware as possible, until the big dance, anything that we accomplish beyond landing a bid will be nice, but not overly important. if we were to somehow end up with a season that basically mirrors 2013-2014, where we seldom look like a team capable of winning it all, disappoint in the regular season and conference tournament yet cut down the nets in San Antonio, the season will be a success.

Last year, we had everything, size, athleticism, talent, experience, individual and team defense, an offense that was often too difficult to defend. Anything shy of dominating everything along the way would have been a disappointment. Not every title season needs to look like that one (or 1998-1999). This year, if we win the title, we will have accomplished everything we needed to, anything else that we win along the way (Maui, BE regular season, BE tournament) will just be gravy.

Don't see that as unpopular, maybe just a bit more realistic in terms of what the season might look like. I've watched some of the games, but more importantly read all the impassioned evals on the 'Yard. We will have some rough patches while our identity is being forged. Not going to hazard a guess as to what it'll look like exactly, but the results of the rough '13-14 season and the horrific January of '23 season will certainly be acceptable to all!

 

[Apollo]

let's see how they do against a real team.

Post/ handle?

 

[Huskyforlife]

Reed being ahead of schedule is making me feel better about the position. Really wanna see him perform against the talented centers on Memphis.