Our Defense

[HooperScooper]

I think we recruited a few too many guys we thought Hurley could coach up on defense and also just had some bad luck with recruiting misses.

I doubt that anyone thought with Solo's athleticism and length he would be a bottom 1% defender in all of high-major ball that can't rebound. He just isn't learning to process fast enough.

I don't think anyone realized Mahaney we were recruiting Joey California 2.0 when we signed Mahaney.

No one thought Samson would be a generationally bad rebounder for a 6'11 athletic freak.

And then, of course, Stewart and Ross are improving, but just not fast enough to make up for these other failures. Both are probably behind where we thought they'd be.

We play a defense that requires an extremely high IQ. We don't have the personnel.

It is interesting that Hurley said recently, after the 4 recruits signed, that he recruits offense and teaches them to play defense and rebound. I worry about that for next year's class. Can everyone be taught to play good defense? Or do some players have physical limitations that limit their ability to play very good to great defense? Should Hurley recruit a less talented offensive player who is a great defender? Look at the 1999 team with Ricky Moore. Great defender but wasn't a great offensive player. He played his role well because the team had others around him who were gifted offensive players.

Interesting comments on Solo from yesterday's media availability.

"Jordan Hawkins his sophomore year, as we got to this point in the year, he really became sturdy defensively," coach Dan Hurley noted after practice on Monday evening. "I just think Solo's got great intentions. It's not like one of those guys that's like, 'Hey, I'm a bucket, and I'm one of the best shooters in the country, screw you guys.' That's not it with him. He feels distressed, pressure, to become a better defensive player for our team. It bothers him as much as it does any of the coaches when he has defensive struggles."

"I tell him he has to use his athletic ability," the grad point guard (Diarra) said. "He has a 40-inch vertical, the man can jump out of the gym. He's super-athletic, he has to use that to his advantage."

 

[UCONNFAN179]

It is interesting that Hurley said recently, after the 4 recruits signed, that he recruits offense and teaches them to play defense and rebound. I worry about that for next year's class. Can anyone be taught to play good defense? Or do some players have physical limitations that limit their ability to play very good to great defense? Should Hurley recruit a less talented offensive player who is a great defender? Look at the 1999 team with Ricky Moore. Great defender but wasn't a great offensive player. He played his role well because the team had others around him who were gifted offensive players.

Interesting comments on Solo from yesterday's media availability.

"Jordan Hawkins his sophomore year, as we got to this point in the year, he really became sturdy defensively," coach Dan Hurley noted after practice on Monday evening. "I just think Solo's got great intentions. It's not like one of those guys that's like, 'Hey, I'm a bucket, and I'm one of the best shooters in the country, screw you guys.' That's not it with him. He feels distressed, pressure, to become a better defensive player for our team. It bothers him as much as it does any of the coaches when he has defensive struggles."

"I tell him he has to use his athletic ability," the grad point guard (Diarra) said. "He has a 40-inch vertical, the man can jump out of the gym. He's super-athletic, he has to use that to his advantage."

I feel the same way about next year's class

 

[FreeKlaiber]

I think we recruited a few too many guys we thought Hurley could coach up on defense and also just had some bad luck with recruiting misses.

I doubt that anyone thought with Solo's athleticism and length he would be a bottom 1% defender in all of high-major ball that can't rebound. He just isn't learning to process fast enough.

I don't think anyone realized Mahaney we were recruiting Joey California 2.0 when we signed Mahaney.

No one thought Samson would be a generationally bad rebounder for a 6'11 athletic freak.

And then, of course, Stewart and Ross are improving, but just not fast enough to make up for these other failures. Both are probably behind where we thought they'd be.

We play a defense that requires an extremely high IQ. We don't have the personnel.

I think the guys we are bringing in have high bbiq. I just agree with many that I am concerned that Hurley is gonna have a hard time coaching them up on D, because of lack of athleticism/strength (other than Mullins hopefully). Watched Adams and Reibe and they both need the weight room. I Love Furphy. He's sturdy and strong so hoping his slow footedness will make him Cam-lite on D. But we really need better athletes if we want to play stifling D (or have a big to clean up at rim when we turnstile)

 

[husky429]

Can anyone be taught to play good defense?

Yes, for sure.

Steph Castle was as lazy as it gets on defense in high school and Hurley turned him into a beast. One example of many.

I think what you need to find is guys who still PROCESS the game quickly, but aren't putting in the effort because they don't need to in high school. You can teach that guy to play defense. Or guys that are successful at another program and want to transfer, and still demonstrate that processing speed and not just success in a certain system.

Easier said than done. It's not as if our staff doesn't know this.

 

[jibsey]

Calhoun: Ray Allen couldn’t guard a chair when he came go UConn.

 

[ucp990411]

Based on the past few years and comments directly from Hurley? I do think we sometimes see things they don’t, or because we aren’t in the locker room are more willing to try some different things. Of course some of our ideas are bad or wouldn’t work but Hurley has come around to the Yard way of thinking more than once, to our success.

I feel like Dan Hurley tends to get stuck with a plan and can be slow to pivot when it’s not working, especially when it comes to players not fitting. Reed should not hedge, IMO, for example.

I have faith in our coaching but it doesn’t mean I always think they are foolproof either.

You really think we see things they don’t? Are you joking?They watch and dissect film non stop.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Defensively we obviously are at a deficit vs last year. We just don't have the defensive talent man-for-man we did.

This is why Hurley is harping on intensity and ferociousness not specifically defensive this or that. Sure we can get better on cutter coverage or slip screens, etc...a lot of that is what we implement offensively so sure, they are practicing how to defend that, but you cannot coach quickness, lateral movement speed into players. They have it or do not have it.

But miss Clingan? Sure...next year just spray a little Reibe on it! (for fans of PKD).

 

[mauconnfan]

Calhoun: Ray Allen couldn’t guard a chair when he came go UConn.

It think it was Rip but could’ve been both?

 

[HuskyHawk]

It think it was Rip but could’ve been both?

It's no secret that brilliant offensive players aren't really asked to do a lot on D in high school. I think the new prep super-teams may have changed that a bit. Flagg being so off the charts is probably mostly because in addition to his offense, he played incredible defense in HS.