Our veteran backcourt

[uconnever]

They weren't pretty. It's definitely time to go with the kids the rest of the way, even if the results are the same. At least they will develop.

Exactly at least it’s an investment in the future. We’re losing anyways.

 

[ucawn]

I liked the combo of Vital with Gaff, Bouk, and Adams in the backcourt bc Vital is an experienced player who has good effort all the time which you want your younger players to adapt. So since of giving AG more minutes than Bouk or Gaff and that just about seals it that AG is likely not coming back

 

[80shusky]

There was this big, giant hole in the zone right up near the foul line. It was a big, giant hole because no Huskies were standing in it.

 

[Ctedgeman]

Vital is still crucial to win games imo and still is and should be the leader of the team. He's given and continues to give his heart and soul to this program. His shot was just way off today. It happens.

I liked the play time given to Bouk, Gaffney, and Sid in this game. Agreed about playing Vital with the young guards. I hate saying it, but I was glad when Hurley took Al out. Al has just completely lost any semblance of a jump shot at this point and is completely ineffective at his size without that and with his inability to finish at the rim either. I'm just not sure anything can be salvaged there anymore. Too many injuries. Too much missed development.

Josh is just not very good against any real talent. He had one good assist to Vital. That's about it. Igbanu had no problems with him.

Akok was a swatting machine out there and I loved seeing him get double digits points. We need him to be more involved like that offensively.

 

[UCfor3]

Not getting hammered any more. That’s what UConn basketball has become?

For now...yes. You don't go from 3 losing seasons getting drubbed every game to all of a sudden being a top program again. There are painful steps in between and progress isn't always linear. The sooner our fragile, instant gratification fanbase understands that, the better off everyone will be.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

IMO, DH is now giving Gaffney minutes in crunch time because he wants to know whether he needs to recruit a PG (or center) with the spring scholarship.

I don’t think Gaffney has shown enuf yet for DH to feel good about next years starting PG position.

 

[Palatine]

IMO, DH is now giving Gaffney minutes in crunch time because he wants to know whether he needs to recruit a PG (or center) with the spring scholarship.

I don’t think Gaffney has shown enuf yet for DH to feel good about next years starting PG position.

Our starting PG is on the team but ineligible.

It is strange how both Vital and Gilbert have gone in the tank. I think the reigns on Vital might be too tight. Hurley might have to let CV play a little looser if he wants to win.

 

[UCfor3]

Our starting PG is on the team but ineligible.

It is strange how both Vital and Gilbert have gone in the tank. I think the reigns on Vital might be too tight. Hurley might have to let CV play a little looser if he wants to win.

He went 0 for 8 from 3. If it gets any looser, CV might start throwing hook shots from the parking lot.

 

[McLovin]

IMO, DH is now giving Gaffney minutes in crunch time because he wants to know whether he needs to recruit a PG (or center) with the spring scholarship.

I don’t think Gaffney has shown enuf yet for DH to feel good about next years starting PG position.

Still a dozen games yet and from what I’ve picked up here, Gaffney finally getting his ankle healthy and the confidence that comes with being 100% physically right.

yes, he is makes his share of mistakes but he is a freshman. His confidence on the court now vs the start of the season is night and day.

I think he is going to be a fantastic backup to Cole next year and is fully capable of running our offense off the bench. Shown flashing of being able to drive / pull up and hit the 3. His handle and passing need work, but he has the rest of this season and the summer to work on that. We will be alright as long as him and Cole stay healthy.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

Our starting PG is on the team but ineligible.

It is strange how both Vital and Gilbert have gone in the tank. I think the reigns on Vital might be too tight. Hurley might have to let CV play a little looser if he wants to win.

I keep forgetting about Cole. He can shoot, but what are his passing abilities? We don’t need another short point guard who can’t see open players or get the ball to them.

 

[Palatine]

He went 0 for 8 from 3. If it gets any looser, CV might start throwing hook shots from the parking lot.

So only one game counts? Using that as a criteria Vital should never see the court again.

 

[Chin Diesel]

And this is why hiring managers want resumes and CV's to list accomplishments and not list experience.

 

[Jay-Bone]

They had 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and only 1 to. Which was better and AG had a real nice floater finally. But they're just not hitting shots this year. Its sad, but you can't win that way. I hate it, but I concede this is the turning point. Really, really wish it went better for them.

 

[UCfor3]

So only one game counts? Using that as a criteria Vital should never see the court again.

I think you know that's not what I'm saying but seeing we just watched a game, my comment was specific to that. My point is that everyone knew for the past 2 years that Vital needed to be reigned in a bit as far as having green light carte blanche. His shot selction in the past has been a little questionable. Pretty common knowledge.

 

[Rico444]

I keep forgetting about Cole. He can shoot, but what are his passing abilities? We don’t need another short point guard who can’t see open players or get the ball to them.

Cole averaged 6+ assists per game in each of his first 2 seasons.

 

[Shine33]

So only one game counts? Using that as a criteria Vital should never see the court again.

He has literally shot a terrible percentage in just about every loss this season. I mean what more do you need to see. He doesn’t need the leash to be looser. Don’t force me to look up the stats of all of our losses but i will if you are going to be a hard head. Multiple games he has shot the ball atrociously which has contributed to us losing

 

[Jay-Bone]

If Gaffney gets the keys now, which looks to be the case, it'll be interesting to see if he doesn't implode on the road anymore.

 

[AJP12]

He has literally shot a terrible percentage in just about every loss this season. I mean what more do you need to see. He doesn’t need the leash to be looser. Don’t force me to look up the stats of all of our losses but i will if you are going to be a hard head. Multiple games he has shot the ball atrociously which has contributed to us losing

In our 7 close losses this year (STJ, X, Ind, WSU, Nova, Houston, Tulsa), Vital is 29-95 (30.5%) and Gibert is 24-85 (28.2%). Combined: 53-180. Insanity.

Vital also has 19 Assts. to 22 Turnovers in those games and Gilbert is 30 Asst to 26 TO's. Combined: 49 Assts to 48 Turnovers.

Shooting 30% with a 1:1 A/TO is not a winning formula. Brighter days ahead.

 

[Shine33]

In our 7 close losses this year (STJ, X, Ind, WSU, Nova, Houston, Tulsa), Vital is 29-95 (30.5%) and Gibert is 24-85 (28.2%). Combined: 53-180. Insanity.

Vital also has 19 Assts. to 22 Turnovers in those games and Gilbert is 30 Asst to 26 TO's. Combined: 49 Assts to 48 Turnovers.

Shooting 30% with a 1:1 A/TO is not a winning formula. Brighter days ahead.

Thank you for doing the work I was too lazy to do. I knew the numbers were going to be about what you just provided but it helps to see it.

 

[bmayuc]

In our 7 close losses this year (STJ, X, Ind, WSU, Nova, Houston, Tulsa), Vital is 29-95 (30.5%) and Gibert is 24-85 (28.2%). Combined: 53-180. Insanity.

Vital also has 19 Assts. to 22 Turnovers in those games and Gilbert is 30 Asst to 26 TO's. Combined: 49 Assts to 48 Turnovers.

Shooting 30% with a 1:1 A/TO is not a winning formula. Brighter days ahead.

I am going to attend Vital's Senior Day and applaud his effort, his grit, and his commitment to the program. I am going to cheer my lungs out for him because he's a husky and will be for life. I feel devastated for him that he entered the program at the very moment that we did not have the talent, the coaching, or the continuity to put his supersub skillset to use.

I imagine in a different set of circumstances, Vital would have been the ideal 6th/7th man off the bench for a really good NCAA tournament team. He could have joined the legion of subs that we have all come to remember brilliantly through the rose colored glasses of successful tournament teams of the past. In a different world he could have been craig austrie, shamon tooles, albert mouring, or others. In successful teams, we remember the bright spots of those players and not the deficiencies. In many ways, it is our fault as fans for asking too much of a limited player.

But the kid is a warrior and a beast, and it hasn't worked out.

With that said, its time to move on and play the young kids starter minutes. These numbers are just impossibly bad.

 

[metsfan2323]

In our 7 close losses this year (STJ, X, Ind, WSU, Nova, Houston, Tulsa), Vital is 29-95 (30.5%) and Gibert is 24-85 (28.2%). Combined: 53-180. Insanity.

Vital also has 19 Assts. to 22 Turnovers in those games and Gilbert is 30 Asst to 26 TO's. Combined: 49 Assts to 48 Turnovers.

Shooting 30% with a 1:1 A/TO is not a winning formula. Brighter days ahead.

Yup, the people blaming the coach need to digest these telling stats. It takes time to rebuild the program. Patience will be rewarded. I predict in two years we will be far more worried about losing Hurley to the NBA.

 

[Kenny11]

Our starting PG is on the team but ineligible.

It is strange how both Vital and Gilbert have gone in the tank. I think the reigns on Vital might be too tight. Hurley might have to let CV play a little looser if he wants to win.

Vital has definitely been reigned in. This should be a great thing but it’s not because of our lack of pg production and lack of overall playmaking. Vital deserves a lot of respect for hitting those free throws at the end of regulation though. Nobody else on the team could’ve done that under that much pressure.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I liked what I saw from Gaffney and Adams today. They have to play more. Bouknight needs to learn not to foul, on both ends of the floor. But he has to play. Wilson had his moments, still made some bad decisions. If Vital isn't hitting 3's he really hurts you on the offensive end of the floor, his rebounding and intensity notwithstanding. Gilbert? I don't know what to say. Whaley and Carlton did nothing, particularly defensively. Akok is thin, but so long and athletic that he bothers the opposing 5 like the others can't.

I really liked what Adams gave today, but the first few defensive plays in OT.
I liked Sid's passing today. I know he's not the strongest player, but with his height and ability, I'd like to see him develop a little back to the basket game. DeAndre Daniels was a better shooter, but I think would be a good player to try to to model his game after.
I still think if Vital can find his shot, they will be dangerous in the AAC tourney. I don't think any coach will want to play them unless they give up, which I don't think they'll ever do under Hurley.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

CV and AG are role players and should be treated as so. That three when we were up 3 with 2:15 left is why I am not a Vital fan. Led to. Three for them and rest is history.

My tendency is to be defensive of CV because of his hustle, nose for the ball, and free throw reliability.

Hurley flinched at 58-55, and CV didn't have the Senior leadership maturity to say, "No, coach, Badams is 3-6 from 3 today. Don't put me in. Wait until the lead is more secure and the clock is lower, and then maybe put me in only for rebounds or steals when they get desperate, and free throws thereafter to hold the lead or ice the game. I promise not to shoot."

Okay, maybe Moore, Hunter, and Young could have said that.

 

[UConnSwag11]

So only one game counts? Using that as a criteria Vital should never see the court again.

Have you watched any other games this season or just today’s?