Pulling Adama

[Verne]

Best thing about today was that the offense still seemed to work when Adama went out

I'd argue it worked better with him not on the floor.

Clingan is a very active screener and much better passer. He may not be nearly as polished in the post when he gets it but Clingan is plus player on offense, something Sanogo has never been.

The luxury of having DC to back up a player like Adama is massive. His shot blocking, passing and rebounding bring an element off the bench that quite possibly no other team in the country has. We'll be deep just by the nature of the entire roster but Clingan will likely be the most important bench piece this year if he can continue to impact the games and be this efficient going forward.

 

[CTBasketball]

How hasn’t Adama learned to pass out of a double team yet?

 

[phillionaire]

That blown dunk/transition three that followed is the reason we didn't cover -21

 

[freshler40]

This "Affair" was a great teaching moment. My initial concern was for a possible injury to our center, it just wasn't worth the outcome and was against general steal options of passing ahead.
This high post doubling does expose our bigs at times. Perhaps there was frustration doing this on the part of Santago.
Overall a solid game beyond the second quarter. The guards grew and took over the game with great driving moves to settle us down. Why we opened with five guys on the perimeter perhaps was drawn up by the coaches. When we couldn't make threes the guards and posts went inside, and the game changed a lot.

 

[Kenny11]

No big deal. Adama had a rough game and that was definitely a mistake. He will follow it up with a monster game.

 

[ucp990411]

So, I’m trying to understand the complaint here. A guy has the ball, past mid court, with no defenders between him and the basket, and one teammate maybe 4 feet ahead of him, and…he should pass? Why? That’s a higher risk play. We aren’t talking about a guy under the basket looking back for the pass. Nor a 2 on 1 where you pass to ensure a clean look.

He blew the dunk, but dunking wasn’t a bad decision. His lazy execution was the problem.

Great call by Dan Hurley, love the Calhoun-esque hook. Expectations need to be set when it comes to selfish play.

He also took Diarra out after a drive into traffic toward the basket that resulted in a turnover. Nice have the depth to do that. The bench is the best teaching tool a coach has.

 

[hansonel-amin]

Agreed

Will need to see the replay but I believe Sanogo was behind half court at a full stop at newton near half court running forward

Watching it live it was very clear he should have dished it. Hence Hurleys speechless reaction and Andre motioning for Sanogo to pass it in the huddle

Liked that Hurley let Andre do the talking to Adama. Establishing leadership.

 

[Hogoff]

I might be the only one who thinks he tried to miss that on purpose to get Newton his 10th board. I think that’s why Hurley was pissed.

 

[husky429]

I might be the only one who thinks he tried to miss that on purpose to get Newton his 10th board. I think that’s why Hurley was pissed.

Thought the same. Newton said something to him once he got the ball but I couldn't hear it

 

[bigknight3]

How hasn’t Adama learned to pass out of a double team yet?

He did twice in the first game. I feel like it's a point of emphasis in practice that Hurley expects of him.

 

[temery]

Danny yanked him after he ignored his teammates and then blew the dunk. Very JC move. Don't think Adama saw the floor after that.

Not a game that suited him. Buffalo collapsed around him and missing 10 of out first 11 threes made it worse. Sometimes it's not your night. A learning experience to be sure.

There were some players with JC who walked straight to the bench after screwing up. Didn't even wait for the horn.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

There were some players with JC who walked straight to the bench after screwing up. Didn't even wait for the horn.

To this day, my favorite moment was a Jeff Adrien missed three. I can't remember who it was against, but it was a blowout in the fourth quarter. Adrien got it wide open at the 3 point line, looked over to the bench at Calhoun, and then decided to shoot.... and was immediately yanked.

 

[REB1094]

He got pulled and rightfully so from a coaching optics perspective.

That said, he’s probably going for 25/15 on Friday. Feel like Sanogo is not the guy to play poorly twice in a row

 

[ctchamps]

I'd argue it worked better with him not on the floor.

Clingan is a very active screener and much better passer. He may not be nearly as polished in the post when he gets it but Clingan is plus player on offense, something Sanogo has never been.

The luxury of having DC to back up a player like Adama is massive. His shot blocking, passing and rebounding bring an element off the bench that quite possibly no other team in the country has. We'll be deep just by the nature of the entire roster but Clingan will likely be the most important bench piece this year if he can continue to impact the games and be this efficient going forward.

I’d argue that it did not work the first time Clingan went in for Adama. He looked lost. But the second time was a 180 degree change and arguably played better than Sanogo. Incredible that a freshman could make that type of adjustment. Karaban also made adjustments as the game went on. That’s what players with high bb IQs do.

I prefer different players stepping up in different games over one or two stars and everyone else. Less chance of an off day like Adama had to negatively impact outcomes.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Not a great trend of selfishness we are seeing. From still being a black hole in the paint in year three, to this

Something has to wake him up and maybe this game and the hook will get the ball rolling

 

[husky429]

Not knowing how to pass =/= selfishness.

He would never have been recruited if he was a selfish kid. Passing vision is something you often have or don't have... it's a hard skill to learn, and often just comes with experience. It's usually the last skill folks develop. Adama picked up the game way later than most players on this team.

He probably will never be a great passer, but he can be decent. I would say he had two moments where he definitely should have passed it back out yesterday. He'll get in the film room and keep learning.

 

[Palatine]

So, I’m trying to understand the complaint here. A guy has the ball, past mid court, with no defenders between him and the basket, and one teammate maybe 4 feet ahead of him, and…he should pass? Why? That’s a higher risk play. We aren’t talking about a guy under the basket looking back for the pass. Nor a 2 on 1 where you pass to ensure a clean look.

He blew the dunk, but dunking wasn’t a bad decision. His lazy execution was the problem.

A big dribbling the length of the court is always high risk. He should have gotten the ball to Newton by half court.

 

[dennismenace]

How hasn’t Adama learned to pass out of a double team yet?

Perhaps because of his excellent footwork and brute strength he still believes he can do anything against anybody. Great self confidence ( a plus) but not realistic; especially with two or three defenders. Needs to work this out with the coaches. Adding this to his skillset would immensely raise his value at the next level wherever that may be. He needs to understand that along with the outside shot and drive.

 

[JT-55]

No idea why he tried to dunk it left handed.......but in Adama's defense Newton was close and directly in front of him right after the steal which would have made it an awkward pass so maybe it was better for him to take a few dribbles and once he reached the free throw line figured why not go for it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

A big dribbling the length of the court is always high risk. He should have gotten the ball to Newton by half court.

He was not far from half court when he got the ball. Didn't we applaud the practice clip where Johnson did exactly that, taking only a couple dribbles to go 3/4 court?

No idea why he tried to dunk it left handed.......but in Adama's defense Newton was close and directly in front of him right after the steal which would have made it an awkward pass so maybe it was better for him to take a few dribbles and once he reached the free throw line figured why not go for it.

That's what I saw, Newton one step ahead of him just to the left. Right next to him. I didn't see any clear opening to pass it. But as I said, I need to rewatch the clip.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Not knowing how to pass =/= selfishness.

He would never have been recruited if he was a selfish kid. Passing vision is something you often have or don't have... it's a hard skill to learn, and often just comes with experience. It's usually the last skill folks develop. Adama picked up the game way later than most players on this team.

He probably will never be a great passer, but he can be decent. I would say he had two moments where he definitely should have passed it back out yesterday. He'll get in the film room and keep learning.

It’s not one or the other; it’s both, and the failed dunk encapsulates things.

He can’t not know how to pass. He can’t not understand the importance of passing. He can’t not understand that he forces himself into very inefficient shots. He’s been here 3 years and there’s no way he’s being coached to do what we see on a nightly basis with no significant change over what is now around 60 college games. It seems like it’s an unwillingness rather than inability. Again, the failed dunk just sent it over the edge in my opinion; each on their own would be one thing, but now we have multiple distinct behaviors that point to someone who is more interested in doing themselves. These are obvious, wide-open, no-brainer looks he is passing up. Like passing Go in Monopoly without taking $200

 

[REB1094]

Friendly reminder that Adama Sanogo is still averaging 19/9 on 60% and will exceed that statline on Friday

 

[husky429]

He can’t not know how to pass. He can’t not understand the importance of passing. He can’t not understand that he forces himself into very inefficient shots. He’s been here 3 years and there’s no way he’s being coached to do what we see on a nightly basis with no significant change over what is now around 60 college games. It seems like it’s an unwillingness rather than inability.

I hear what you're saying, but I'm never going to believe that the kid is selfish until I see someone making plays to boost their stats instead of helping the team win. I haven't seen it on the court, off the court, in interviews, when he was playing in HS, anywhere. If he isn't making a passing reading, it's because he hasn't learned fast enough (or learned at all). Is that selfish, or is that a BBIQ limitation?

Akok couldn't pass well either, was he selfish? Neither could Facey, Carlton, Polley, Whaley... the list goes on. Shoot, Bouknight was a god-awful passer. I wouldn't call any of them selfish--they just lack passing as a skill.

Kid is trying to get buckets and has trouble seeing out of the post--it is what it is. He has tunnel vision and that's practically rarely something players improve in college.

 

[NotADime89]

He was not far from half court when he got the ball. Didn't we applaud the practice clip where Johnson did exactly that, taking only a couple dribbles to go 3/4 court?

That's what I saw, Newton one step ahead of him just to the left. Right next to him. I didn't see any clear opening to pass it. But as I said, I need to rewatch the clip.

Dude just go back and rewatch the clip, you've said the same thing 5 times already and keep commenting without rewatching. He wasn't right next to him and there was a clear opening to kick it ahead to Newton

 

[HuskyHawk]

Dude just go back and rewatch the clip, you've said the same thing 5 times already and keep commenting without rewatching. He wasn't right next to him and there was a clear opening to kick it ahead to Newton

Find me the clip and I will.

 

[NotADime89]

Find me the clip and I will.

Rewatch the game. Its around the 4 min mark

 

[Rocktheworld]

I hear what you're saying, but I'm never going to believe that the kid is selfish until I see someone making plays to boost their stats instead of helping the team win. I haven't seen it on the court, off the court, in interviews, when he was playing in HS, anywhere. If he isn't making a passing reading, it's because he hasn't learned fast enough (or learned at all). Is that selfish, or is that a BBIQ limitation?

Akok couldn't pass well either, was he selfish? Neither could Facey, Carlton, Polley, Whaley... the list goes on. Shoot, Bouknight was a god-awful passer. I wouldn't call any of them selfish--they just lack passing as a skill.

Kid is trying to get buckets and has trouble seeing out of the post--it is what it is. He has tunnel vision and that's practically rarely something players improve in college.

Those guys would at least try to make the right play and perhaps fail. Adama isn’t even trying to do that. He may think his contested shots are the right plays because he’s our best player; but again, there is no question he is passing up the most obvious, easy plays. Completely ignoring wide open cutters right in front of him.

I said in a prior post, before last night, I was wondering if he truly understood the offense based on his lack of passing. Then the dunk attempt, again, reinforces the idea that he’s running his own show. And, again, it’s year 3 with the same coach, same offense.

 

[husky429]

Those guys would at least try to make the right play and perhaps fail. Adama isn’t even trying to do that. He may think his contested shots are the right plays because he’s our best player; but again, there is no question he is passing up the most obvious, easy plays. Completely ignoring wide open cutters right in front of him.

I said in a prior post, before last night, I was wondering if he truly understood the offense based on his lack of passing. Then the dunk attempt, again, reinforces the idea that he’s running his own show. And, again, it’s year 3 with the same coach, same offense.

I mean if you want to call one of our players selfish, you do you. Seems pretty disrespectful to the kid and the coaching staff to me. But it doesn't matter one way or the other if we win games.

You call not making obvious reads selfish, I say it's a skill gap. Not sure we're going to reconcile that.

 

[superjohn]

I mean if you want to call one of our players selfish, you do you. Seems pretty disrespectful to the kid and the coaching staff to me. But it doesn't matter one way or the other if we win games.

You call not making obvious reads selfish, I say it's a skill gap. Not sure we're going to reconcile that.

Selfish doesn't at all seem to be who Adama is. I thought I remembered him making some good kick outs in the first 2 games but game 3 showed his fatal flaw again. He's usually too dominant to take off the court but if he goes into black hole mode where he's going 1 on 3 and shooting as he's falling over instead of kicking it out, he has to sit. As Hurley said after the game, with Adama and Donovan we have one of the few best big man duos in the country and are reminiscent of Purdue.

 

[Kenny11]

He did twice in the first game. I feel like it's a point of emphasis in practice that Hurley expects of him.

Yeah. I think he just felt like he could physically dominate 2 players and still score. His passing was much better the first two games. Off game last night