Practice Tonight

[AntG168]

Yeah but we’re projecting with the information we have. And that information suggests 9 guys have separated themselves so far.

Like I said, I’m with you on Stew, he looks really talented. Won’t be surprised at all if he plays his way onto the court. But my personal opinion of his talent level isn’t swaying my projection.

Exactly. Meaning calling anything a “lock” in the rotation outside of a couple of guys right now is dumb because you don’t have enough “information”

 

[Huskyforlife]

In either that or a similar quote he said of Ross "unless he plays himself out of it."

I would not ascribe that to a "lock".

But as of this point and by all comments, he's ahead of Stewart.

I don’t think that caveat change’s anything, the important part is he’s “in the roatation.” Don’t think Hurley would say that if he expected him to play his way out before the season starts.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Exactly. Meaning calling anything a “lock” in the rotation outside of a couple of guys right now is dumb because you don’t have enough “information”

Well when the coach literally says he’s in the rotation, that’s how I interpreted it.

 

[AntG168]

Well when the coach literally says he’s in the rotation, that’s how I interpreted it.

As of now. Hurley would never say the rotation is “locked” in October. It’s a long season

 

[HailUConn]

Solo looks impressive.

 

[HailUConn]

Another one, he is good off the ball, lots of rim attacking offense.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Favorite stat of the night for me… Diarra going a perfect 5-5 from the line. Here’s to hoping he and DC improve their free throw shooting this season.

 

[superjohn]

@Huskyforlife.
I think we all get that Diarra is in the rotation for the first game but of course it doesn't mean the rotation is set for the whole season. Diarra is the veteran and Stewart was stuck in Seattle and got here later than everyone...

Diarra was averaging over 19 minutes per game through the first 8 games last season and his two highest minute games were the first two games of the season.

Cream rises to the top and his minutes all but disappeared late in the year.

We have so many good players that practices and game performance will determine who remains in the rotation. Hurley loves Diarra's energy and attitude but if it's a battle between them for minutes as the season progresses I expect Stewart to win, he's a more talented basketball player than Diarra.

If ballhandling becomes a real problem for us Diarra will really be needed for extended minutes but I don't really envision that happening with our roster if healthy.

 

[Captbluefin]

A few take always.

Castle does not look like a freshman. Also is very natural with the ball.

Solo Ball is going to be a legit player.

Newton is that seasoned Veteran that we have had to deal with on other teams. Ya know the ones that seem like they are 30 years old.

Spencer is a great pick up. He is smaller than I imagined for some reason like when he was standing next to Karaban.
We need DC to get healthy.

 

[HooperScooper]

Articles from tonight are out already.

"I think the team looked pretty good today, especially the Blue Team," senior guard Hassan Diarra said. "They started off really good early. The Gray Team got going, too. We got a lot of talent on this team."

UConn men's basketball team looks sharp on Blue/White Night at Gampel Pavilion

Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton and Hassan Diarra were most impressive for UConn men on Blue/White Night.

www.nhregister.com

Alternate access:

UConn men's basketball team looks sharp on Blue/White Night at Gampel Pavilion​

 

[dannyHAM]

I thought Stewart looked good. Add me in for the I think he gets minutes club. I just think he’s too talented to not get time. Idk what it was but just a gut Instinct after watching tonight

 

[HooperScooper]

“We got out of it what we hoped to,” Hurley said. “You see a team that knows each other really, really well, knows a lot of what we’re doing on offense, so obviously a little clunky to start but I think they got over some of the jitters of just having bodies in here and then played a little cleaner… I think we’re close to needing to start playing other schools, I think we’re tired of playing against each other.”

UConn men’s basketball graduate guards Newton, Spencer lead way on Blue-White Night

Graduate guards Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer lead the scoring during UConn men’s basketball’s Blue/White Night open practice and scrimmage Wednesday night.

www.courant.com

Alternate access:
UConn men’s basketball graduate guards Newton, Spencer lead way on Blue/White Night

 

[Savos]

My take-aways from going to scrimmage game tonight are:

1. Very good intensity on defense.
2. A bit sloppy on offense but give defense credit for much of that.
3. Spencer looked very good in many aspects of the game besides shooting, like passing rebounding and not bad on D.
4. Newton looked good.
5. Castle showed moments of excellence in passing, defending and driving. But body language was a concern.
6. No clear leader(s) on floor.
7. Sampson was so so.
8. Current team seems less polished compared to last year's team at the the same stage.

 

[HooperScooper]

Quiet night for Alex, but he’s automatic when open too. Probably awkward playing right after your wisdom teeth get pulled.

He's getting them pulled tomorrow. He's out for the scrimmage against Harvard this weekend and probably a few practices too.

 

[Chin Diesel]

@Huskyforlife.
I think we all get that Diarra is in the rotation for the first game but of course it doesn't mean the rotation is set for the whole season. Diarra is the veteran and Stewart was stuck in Seattle and got here later than everyone...

Diarra was averaging over 19 minutes per game through the first 8 games last season and his two highest minute games were the first two games of the season.

Cream rises to the top and his minutes all but disappeared late in the year.

We have so many good players that practices and game performance will determine who remains in the rotation. Hurley loves Diarra's energy and attitude but if it's a battle between them for minutes as the season progresses I expect Stewart to win, he's a more talented basketball player than Diarra.

If ballhandling becomes a real problem for us Diarra will really be needed for extended minutes but I don't really envision that happening with our roster if healthy.

Diarra's decline in minutes last season lined up with his poor FT shooting and poor 3pt FG shooting. I suspect it will be the same if another backcourt player starts shooting well.

Love Diarra's doggedness on defense and how he keeps pressure on the opponent constantly. But those skills are good for 6-8 mpg. One stint in each half.

 

[auror]

Freshman Stephon Castle also got off to a slow start but heated up at the end and finished with 13 points. "He just can't afford to start the way he did," Hurley noted. "At the level we're trying to play at, we would dig quite a hole. Or, I'd have to get him off the court. But, he showed his talent."

Hurley with Dauster and again tonight has been harping on Castle starting slow. He's really pushing him hard.

 

[HuskyHoosier]

I think Stewart’s time will also depend on game flow. There will be games there the 3 isn’t falling, or opponents are challenging the line and forcing us to go inside a lot. He has a bigger arsenal of offensive moves that can help in those grind it out games where nothing outside is falling.

 

[HooperScooper]

Hurley with Dauster and again tonight has been harping on Castle starting slow. He's really pushing him hard.

Freshman Stephon Castle also got off to a slow start but heated up at the end and finished with 13 points.

"He just can't afford to start the way he did," Hurley noted. "At the level we're trying to play at, we would dig quite a hole. Or, I'd have to get him off the court. But, he showed his talent."

 

[Ricker]

Thirsty to hear extended comments by those that were there.

Until the box score, based on the small clips and postings, the impression I was getting was Johnson effective on the pick and roll, Roumoglou shooting the lights out, Cam quiet, Ross with poor ball security, and now Ball showing his ups against a zone defense that I wouldn't have expected to have played in this setting. Then the box score which undermines those impressions.

How was our ball handling and ball security?
Did Johnson & Singare look like they had any chance to defend a power player like Soriano, Dixon, etc ?
Did Ross/Stewart give the impression they could defend against Carter/Hopkins forwards?
Did our frontcourt look like they can rebound?
Was our shooting from deep an adequate percent?
Did Johnson try a 3?
Did we play much zone like that last clip of Ball's dunk?

Only box score concern was Castle 1-4 from the line which is disappointing because he will be there a ton.
Box score positive was Singare hitting a foul shot where he was something like 0-13 when I watched him online

 

[Chin Diesel]

Freshman Stephon Castle also got off to a slow start but heated up at the end and finished with 13 points.

"He just can't afford to start the way he did," Hurley noted. "At the level we're trying to play at, we would dig quite a hole. Or, I'd have to get him off the court. But, he showed his talent."

We know it's not Hurley's style, but just once go full JC and pull Castle after the first possession of one of the early games if he comes out slow.

 

[JakeTheDog]

Some jackhole sitting next to me called DC soft, in reference to his play last year. Then kept saying “it’s gonna be a long year” every time a shot rimmed out. I switched seats.

 

[superjohn]

Some jackhole sitting next to me called DC soft, in reference to his play last year. Then kept saying “it’s gonna be a long year” every time a shot rimmed out. I switched seats.

@freescooter?

 

[my2cents]

I thought we looked better than last year at the Blue/White game.
Best player that I saw, that I never heard of before was Stewart.
Castle driving to the hoop reminded me of Rip Hamilton.
Spencer was impressive.
Team is going to be great.

 

[Mike Honcho]

@freescooter?

I loved @freescooter's disappearing act after we won the 'ship.

 

[HooperScooper]

Some jackhole sitting next to me called DC soft, in reference to his play last year. Then kept saying “it’s gonna be a long year” every time a shot rimmed out. I switched seats.

Hmmm, any guesses on which Yarder that was?