Providence Post Game Thread

[WeAreUCONN]

A win is a win.

Player grades:

Solo - C, too many forced shots and turnovers.

Silas - B, good all around game.

Smith - A, best game in a while.

Karaban - B-, average game.

Reed - B+, very good game.

Reibe - B, solid game.

Stewart - C

Ross - C+

Overall too many missed free throws, turnovers, and forced shots ,but the defense was good enough to get the win.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

We did hit our last 6 FTs.

But I think we were 1-5 prior to those

 

[HW611]

This doesn’t just pertain to Ross either. As aceboogie (can’t remember his username) pointed out, Hurley said he’d start calling plays for Stewart after Texas. That has not been happening.

Nobody responded to that very good question he had though about Stewart’s situation.

 

[KingAG]

40th ranked offense at Kenpom now. This is a good team, not sure they have the firepower to win the whole thing.

We have a system built on creating high efficiency looks for highly efficient players. It’s built on quality not quantity. The problem is we have guys on this team who are volume/streaky shooters. The system isn’t maximizing their play styles. For this group we need a system that generates a higher quantity of good looks instead of a smaller quantity of great looks. I’m not sure we have the time or bandwidth to change that right now.

 

[Smp7598]

Didn’t realize Alex was relatively close to a triple double tonight

Maybe you were distracted by his lousy defense!

 

[RuffRuff]

Reed has regressed.

I find Reed to be to be at the top of the list of most disappointing players this year. I had high hopes there. He just looks lethargic. It looks like he may have put weight on. He plays with so little intention. Then you have Eric come in and he doesn't have the presence, but he plays hard and very active.

Efff you see kay Ken Pomeroy

Whoof - 41 in OKP. You can bet the analysts will be auto ruling us out as having any chance come the dance. Maybe that's a good thing. Our metrics for our record are awful.

This is a weird season.

 

[RuffRuff]

Reed is hurt and still had 19 points on 8/9 fg's, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks and made huge plays down the stretch.

Who told you he's hurt?

 

[MuchoDogYears]

Reibe with 14 points on 6-6 shooting, and 2-3 from the free throw line, along with 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal- in 21 minutes.

And right now, offering better rim protection than Reed. I know that Reid is better at rim protection then he’s showing,

I think he’s being overly cautious about not picking up fouls after getting hammered by Hurley earlier in the season when doing so.

 

[Kemba15]

So we are such a well oiled machine that we can just slow play the season? This team was an 8 seed last year. Toying around with the BE then going up against real teams is not what I would call a good way to set up for the real season. Hurley runs intense practices and expects kids to take that to the floor. I guess we'll find out soon enough @Creigton (who's getting pumped by Marquette right now) and @StJ.

We’re not bored. There’s just a bunch of things we don’t do well enough right now to extend leads and put teams away, yet at the same time aren’t big enough issues where it’s cost us a game (yet):

• Free throws
• Not scoring in transition
• Missing bunnies
• Turnovers
• Not getting stops after a mini run (would love to see a stat on this)

 

[KingAG]

We’re not bored. There’s just a bunch of things we don’t do well enough right now to extend leads and put teams away, yet at the same time aren’t big enough issues where it’s cost us a game (yet):

• Free throws
• Not scoring in transition
• Missing bunnies
• Turnovers
• Not getting stops after a mini run (would love to see a stat on this)

Those are all focus and execution issues. They’re bored and not executing

 

[FreeDogs]

Updated
View attachment 116489

AI summary:

For a UConn fan, this was a gritty, uneven win that showed both depth and resilience. The Huskies didn’t shoot particularly well overall (45% from the field), and several starters struggled to find rhythm, but they won the possession battle and eventually wore Providence down. UConn finished with 87 points, out-rebounded the Friars 37–35, and generated 23 assists, a big number that reflects ball movement even when shots weren’t falling cleanly.

The story of the night was the frontcourt and bench impact. Tarris Reed Jr. was a force inside, going 8-for-9 from the floor with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks, completely changing the game when he was on the court. Eric Reibe was flawless offensively (6-for-6, 14 points, 8 boards), giving UConn interior efficiency Providence couldn’t match. UConn also dominated the offensive glass (15 offensive rebounds), creating extra chances that steadily broke Providence’s resistance.

The guards had a mixed night shooting, but they made winning plays. Silas Demary Jr. and Malachi Smith combined for 13 assists and hit timely threes, while Alex Karaban filled the stat sheet with 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks despite a rough shooting night. Providence got strong efforts from Jamiir Jones and Jaylin Sellers, but UConn’s depth, rim protection, and extra possessions ultimately decided it. Not a masterpiece — but the kind of physical, grown-up win that good teams stack as the season moves on.

Reed-Reibe duo won this game.

FTs could have sealed it much earlier.

 

[uconn_jack]

Still was never concerned. Frustrated, but not concerned.

 

[jpeakin]

Reibe and Malachi were huge tonight. Malachi looks so much better when he isn’t the only ball handler on the floor.

Totally agree. Really frustrating when he's just dribbling the ball all over the court and wasting the shot clock. Tonight was great when he was getting dishes from Silas and lighting it up from three

 

[Smp7598]

This is why I watch the game with no sound. 25% less stress.

The announcers were fine! UConn has the worse fan base when it comes to announcers and referees. Who cares who is calling the games.

 

[RuffRuff]

Still was never concerned. Frustrated, but not concerned.

I'd say I'm concerned but hopeful in the staff.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Those are all focus and execution issues. They’re bored and not executing

Gotta be honest man, this is a brutal take. These guys are paid very handsomely to care about every game, part of our coaches job is to motivate and hold accountable everyone who needs it. This isn’t an acceptable excuse for any team that has the aspirations we have.

Lack of execution (making shots) is one thing, but any lack of effort or looking down on your opponent shouldn’t be tolerated by the staff.

 

[DogMania]

What a strange game! I was just looking at the box score and other than all the missed free throws, you'd think they played really well. I'm happy they came away with the win but it was a horrible game to watch.

Ball had a stretch that was one of the ugliest I've ever seen consisting of a combination of three horrible turnovers in a span of a couple minutes and a bunch of terribly missed shots. He missed a lot of shots. At one point he and Karaban were a combined 4 for 23.

I hate that I'm sounding negative here but it was just a tough game to watch. How many out there had the same thought near the end of the game just wishing it would end. And as I mentioned in my other post, listening to those announcers talking about it being a huge win for Providence if they were to pull it out was just so insufferable. I hope I never hear those two again. If those two are paired together, I'm not going to watch the game with the sound on, something I've never done.

It was great to see Smith have a really good game. 4-4 from 3 and 7 assists. Granted he missed one of the easiest layups I've ever seen and missed the front end of a one-and-one. Free throw shooting as a whole was painful to watch. He and Demary played really well. For those who have kept on saying that Smith is unplayable, I hope this shuts them up for good. I know he's had a rough time of late and tends to pound the ball too much and miss open teammates, but tonight it seemed to click for him. He was delivering the ball on time and knocking down his shots. I'm so happy for him.

Man I'm trying to be positive here but I keep on dwelling on the negative. Demary had some good moments. It's clear he needs to look for his offense more and take more shots.

Reed was a beast down low going 8 for 9. But with that said, he plays more like a wildebeest. How can a big who can run the floor and dunk with ease not be able to throw it down when directly under the basket. I don't get it. I just want him to go up there and tear the rim down. I know he has enough vertical to do that. I think they should have him do a dunking drill until it gets into his head. I realize that two points is two points but a thunderous dunk can be demoralizing for the other team and get the crowd going. College basketball is an entertainment thing after all.

And the world is turned upside down. I'm watching the Marquette game in the background and they are completely pummeling Creighton at the moment. Makes you wonder if Marquette is going to finish strong after what's been a dreadful season. But having to face Creighton after getting pummeled might make this weekend's UConn game at Creighton a really tough one to win if Mullins isn't available. Please be available! Please!

 

[Huskyforlife]

If sitting Solo for 2-3 games would completely heal his wrist, we should really do it with Mullins coming back.

 

[Kemba15]

I find Reed to be to be at the top of the list of most disappointing players this year. I had high hopes there. He just looks lethargic. It looks like he may have put weight on. He plays with so little intention. Then you have Eric come in and he doesn't have the presence, but he plays hard and very active.

Whoof - 41 in OKP. You can bet the analysts will be auto ruling us out as having any chance come the dance. Maybe that's a good thing. Our metrics for our record are awful.

This is a weird season.

Yeah the 20-1 team with the best non conference resume in the country is going to be laughed at and given no chance by analysts in a tournament where we’re going to play all teams out of conference.

Nailed it, as usual

 

[KingAG]

Gotta be honest man, this is a brutal take. These guys are paid very handsomely to care about every game, part of our coaches job is to motivate and hold accountable everyone who needs it. This isn’t an acceptable excuse for any team that has the aspirations we have.

Lack of execution (making shots) is one thing, but any lack of effort or looking down on your opponent shouldn’t be tolerated by the staff.

You can call it a brutal take . It’s my opinion. I’m also not leveraging it as an excuse, or saying it’s acceptable. Some of it imo is human nature. If my take means Hurley isn’t doing a good job, then Hurley isn’t doing a good job lol. Idk what to tell you. You can see the lapses in focus in real time. You can see them flip the switch offensively every game at the under 4 or in overtime. When they decide to be they are a completely different team. We’ve seen all season when the are handed prosperity they get comfortable and let their guard down. This entire BE schedule is them being handed prosperity, because every one else sucks. See all of our big OOC wins. We arguably could’ve won them all by more. It’s been a feature of this team since day one.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yeah the 20-1 team with the best non conference resume in the country is going to be laughed at and given no chance by analysts in a tournament where we’re going to play all teams out of conference.

Nailed it, as usual

There are some pretty defined indexes on KenPom as it comes to National Champions and we are closing in on being like 20 spots out on the offensive side.

Interestingly and I mentioned this in a chat, our metrics looks a lot like Mich St. They're 43 OKP and 1 DKP. We are 40 and 5. It's kind of our style this year. Maybe Hurley hung with Izzo this off season.

 

[TUCBTUD]

 

[Drame]

We have a system built on creating high efficiency looks for highly efficient players. It’s built on quality not quantity. The problem is we have guys on this team who are volume/streaky shooters. The system isn’t maximizing their play styles. For this group we need a system that generates a higher quantity of good looks instead of a smaller quantity of great looks. I’m not sure we have the time or bandwidth to change that right now.

I agree with this. Been saying we need a faster pace.

 

[FreeDogs]

This is why I watch the game with no sound. 25% less stress.

The announcers suffered "technical difficulties" in the women's game at Seton Hall and it was the best at home game experience I've had in a while (even in that insane blowout). I heard all the game noise, turned up the surround sound and felt I was at the game...until the "difficulties" were fixed.

I would LOVE an "announcer free" option to watch the men's and women's games.

 

[Chin Diesel]

A win is a win.

Player grades:

Solo - C, too many forced shots and turnovers.

Silas - B, good all around game.

Smith - A, best game in a while.

Karaban - B-, average game.

Reed - B+, very good game.

Reibe - B, solid game.

Stewart - C

Ross - C+

Overall too many missed free throws, turnovers, and forced shots ,but the defense was good enough to get the win.

Karaban was a C- at best. He was 3-14 from the field and 0 FT attempts. Rebounding was fine and seven assists from a forward os always very good. But he has got to start shooting better. He missed a bunch of open shots tonight which were good looks. He 2-11, 4-10, and 3-14 his past three games. And Jamier Jones abused Karaban all night. On D, Karaban couldn't stop a freshman.