Perhaps it's time to ride the Boat

[dogpause]

I love Shabazz, but we're just not getting any penetration on offense, and except when Ryan is in the game, we seem to lack energy. Every loose ball and long rebound seems to go to the other team, game after game.

Boatright give us more of a Kemba-like offense, which provides a comfort level for Alex and Jeremy. Without him, it's as if we are a completely new team, and it's just not working.

We also need to start running, and make it a priority. Ryan is the key there also. He gets penetration, draws defenders and creates open players, who he then dishes to. This is the only UConn team I can recall that doesn't seem to be trying to fastbreak as the first option.

 

[Rico444]

I'm starting to come around. I think he's just the better player at this point.

Let him run the point for 25-30 minutes, and I think we see an improved offense.

 

[4UConn]

You can't fastbreak if you can't rebound, and this appears to be one of out glaring weaknesses the last few games.

 

[freescooter]

You can't fastbreak if you can't rebound, and this appears to be one of out glaring weaknesses the last few games.

Drummond and Oriahki are out of position so often and get manhandled by smaller slower players inside so often it is just painful to watch. Drummond just isn't ready to play at this level. He has the individual skills, but doesn't know how to put them all together to make a good basketball player. Oriahki remains in some kind of funk. This team is reminding me of 2010. It has NIT written all over it at this point.

 

[zls44]

Drummond had 15-11-4. He only had 2 turnovers, but they both directly led to fast break baskets.

But he isn't the problem.

 

[dogpause]

Drummond does look lost at times. This is what happens with freshman, they have to think, rather than reacting reflexively. As for Alex, he plays etter with Boat on the floor. The whole team needs to get its energy level up. Ryan keeps everyone on their toes, Shabazz and Jeremy tend to put them to sleep with a repetitive and predictable Groundhog Day offense. Not trying to knock them, but the offense just develops too slowly and predictably, or not at all when they are running the point. Also, teams always seem to have prepped well to stop Lamb and Napier. Boatright forces defenses to react and creates choas.

 

[rariggidy]

Boatright has the explosive energy we need to get this team going. I say let him start and bench shabazz until he can pull himself together fully.

 

[Marat]

Its worth trying. Energy & hustle is what Boatright would provide at point. I think SN would be better at the shooting guard position than he's been at point guard.

 

[Prezidint]

3 losses in a row.

I'll vote Ryan at point, because, really, we can't do worse than losing.

 

[dogpause]

Good point, Marat. Shabazz is actually pretty good at the 2. And having Boat handle the ball let's Shbazz play more like he did last year.

 

[James]

LOL @ blaming drummond for being a "bad player" who "can't put his skills togethers". the dude is a stud were you even watching the game? but AO is in a 'funk'?

 

[James]

drummond was out defending guys on the perimeter, he wasn't the only person NOT boxing out. the whole g** dammm team wasn't tagging a man.

 

[mauconnfan]

drummond was out defending guys on the perimeter, he wasn't the only person NOT boxing out. the whole g** dammm team wasn't tagging a man.

That's a good call James as he had Martin most of the time and he was stepping out.......still a little more work can lead to a few more boards on both ends. No reson to watch our guys jump shoot and not be moving people underneath!!

 

[dogpause]

Drummond was probably placed in the middle of a zone defense most of his life. This is probably his first real man defense, and it's not easy to learn. As long as we see consistent progress from Andre -- and we have -- I think we should be pleased.

 

[James]

exactly he has already made huge improvements on his man to man defense principles, with time i'm hoping he learns how to carve people out early, and just out jump them for the ball. He is such a talent, I think he can learn this by the end of the year.

 

[mauconnfan]

Drummond was probably placed in the middle of a zone defense most of his life. This is probably his first real man defense, and it's not easy to learn. As long as we see consistent progress from Andre -- and we have -- I think we should be pleased.

I love Andre and he is supposed to be a very good listener/learner but watch him on D......nothing has improved. When he hedges he either stays too long and doesn't get back fast enough or else he leaves just in time for the guy to have a wide open jumper. He's a wanderer and when the ball goes up he never looks for anyone he just tries to read the rebound from wherever he is.......he should get 20 boards a game and he may someday. He has a real long way to go but I'm still glad he's ours!

 

[James]

slowww improvements, he didn't play a lick of defense before he came here.

 

[RuffRuff]

Andre Drummond is not the issue - a center is a reactive position in the college game and he can only go with what comes to him. The problem with this team starts with the quarterback of the offense, the PG - they are discombobulated and just poorly ran. The kid is immensely talented.

 

[BUHusky]

I was at the game today and some of the best offense the team ran was during the mid to late 1st half when Shabazz was on the bench and Boat was running the show. I'd like to see a lot more of those two things going forward.

 

[champs99and04]

As I watch Drummond this season, the one thought that pops into my mind is, "Wow, his high school coach sucked". Drummond isn't Charles Okwandu raw, but more often than not, he looks lost out there. His footwork around the basket is poor, he has no idea how to play man defense, he doesn't box out, and most of all, he does not have one low post move. What I see with Drummond, is a guy who hasn't quite figured out how to use his talents. The fact that he puts up the occasional 15-11-4 game speaks to his incredible God-given gifts more than anything eles. This is a guy that could be a top 5 player in the NBA ten years in a row if he develops.

Next year I'm guessing he'll be something special if he sticks around.

 

[husky711]

I am not the type to say "I've been saying this all along" and I am not going to say that here. However, after the WVU game I made a post saying that I wanted to see Boatright at the PG a lot more as he really knows how to distribute the ball and find the open man. He has the energy, toughness, ice in the veins attitude, and most of all he reminds me a lot of Kemba. I 110% think he should be running the point on this team for 25-30 minutes a game at least. Shabazz should be off the ball and should switch to the point to give Boat a break. Other than that, I feel that Boat has shown (in the small windows of opportunity that he has had to do so) that he is the superior leader and distributor.

Every time he came on the court today from the bench the camera showed him barking out orders, calling plays, etc. After Boat came down and made one of his few buckets you could see him get down low in the full-court defense, clapping his hands ready to punch ND back in the mouth. It's just hard to will your team to victory as a natural point guard when you aren't playing point guard! Shabazz took a couple very poor shots in crunch time, and honestly... I don't know if Boat would've hit those shots but I would've rather seen him take them.

I have NOTHING against Bazz, I've liked him since the day he came to UConn. He just isn't getting it done at the point for us and Boat has shown that he is a very, very good option for us as a leader, distributor, and pretty much everything you could want him to be at this point.

EDIT: I don't know how I could forget this point, but Boat is also clearly a significantly better on the ball/perimeter defender than Shabazz. I don't know how.. because Bazz was a FIERCE defender last year. Maybe he's just getting fatigued running the point and is making up for that by slacking on defense... but Boat is constantly harassing his man on the defensive end. All around, I am so happy he is back on this team! I just hope we utilize him the way he deserves to be, and in a way that will benefit the team the most.

 

[James]

he has a low post move and he has touch around the rim. What footwork are you talking about? I swear people on this board want hakeem olajuwan

 

[Hoophound]

Shabazz should play the two alongside Boat. The bigs aren't producing anyway and UConn is always better with two pg's on the floor. I would hand the keys to Boat and tell Shabazz that he needs to hit 3's and create where he can. I would also tell him he needs to be disruptive on D like he was last year.

Shabazz has time to develop his pg skills but right now he is needed in a different role and Boat is needed at point. JC can sell Bazz on the idea that it isn't a demotion because it truly isnt. We need Shabazz to play the 2 and give us more scoring punch while allowing Boat to get more minutes. I love Bazz, but he needs a new role right now, pg on a team with limited scoring options is tough. With Shabazz at the 2 Boat will have an easier time getting acclimated and we'll add scoring and ball handling where we need it. This will open up the floor for the front court as well. I hope JC just pulls the trigger on this and lives with the result.

 

[Kitaman]

I noticed that when RB was at the point he did not hold the ball that long and other people were getting passes within the first 15-20 secs or sooner.
A little more ball movement when he's at the point.

 

[huskymagic]

3 losses in a row.

I'll vote Ryan at point, because, really, we can't do worse than losing.

Im glad you guys are coming around to the fact that Boatright is the better option. I have been saying that Napier lack of quickness and athleticism makes him better suited to play off the ball. Boatright needs to be the starting point guard immediately next game with Napier coming off the bench as the 6th man. Napier is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body, and now its become apparent to everyone. This team will be in the NITs if we dont make the change. The best players should play and those are Boatright, Lamb, Roscoe/Giffey, Oriakhi, and Drummond. Napier and Olander off the bench.