Quick thoughts from a bad win..

[cohenzone]

Because defensive rebounding is part of "defense" and we're a miserable defensive rebounding group (which was always going to be the case when DHam left). Last year we had the 12th best defense in the country as per KenPom, and this year we're around 60th. Almost all of that can be attributed to second-chance points, with the rest falling under fast-break points after missed bunnies and/or bad turnovers.

We have very flawed players, and that's led to a very flawed team.

You're missing my point. There has not been a year under KO when the D has not often been totally erratic withing games and from game to game. BY erratic I mean looking like world beaters for 15 minutes, ok for 10 and like they never played D in their lives for 15. And it happens at different points in the games. You can pick any stat you want to compare one year to the next, but it does not change the genera; flow of games. To their credit, once Brimah got the NC team past St. Joe's, they probably played the best 5 games stretch on D they've played under KO. Brimah is no better making shots than last year. Facey obviously is a lot better than last year. It doesn't matter the quality of opponent either in those lulls on D. I just think that lapses on D are harder to explain than inadequacies on O, which a whole other thing. Believe me, I loved KO as a player, and he seems to be a class guy and I root for him all the way. But I root for UConn most of all.

I hope he's playing with a full team next year. I hope they're in the conversation for an NC and finally hit the top of the AAC. I'm not sold on him as a big time coach and I hope I'm proved wrong. But some patterns need to change and next wear we look to have stronger bodies under the basket. I'd trade four blocks a game for the big guys on the the other team being forced to pass the ball back out much more often than has been the case recently. I think they have a potential stud in Enoch, but it would be a shame for him to never develop or even have to wait for a Facey sort of senior year. But I watch them through good and bad even though it's harder for me to make games in person than I used to. I lived through Burr Carlson, another alumni hire. If that didn't make me quit on the team, nothing will.

 

[uconnfan68]

" Problem is you can't count on any of these guys to be consistent. "

" If I ever grabbed a pad and wrote down the stupid stuff they do throughout the game on both ends of the court, things a basketball player shouldn't do no matter who their coach is, I would make a DogMania post look like a one liner for crying out loud."

Could not agree more Mau. Many posters are questioning Ollie. However,those stupid plays you are talking about are not on the coach. Using the word stupid is being kind. Many turnovers were beyond head scratching. I watched last nights game in my recliner, chin resting in hand leaning. The whole game.

To be fair, they weren't stupid plays. Just incredibly poor hands and reaction times. Never ready.

 

[Matrim55]

You're missing my point. There has not been a year under KO when the D has not often been totally erratic withing games and from game to game. BY erratic I mean looking like world beaters for 15 minutes, ok for 10 and like they never played D in their lives for 15.

Not gonna bother reading the rest, since I strongly disagree with this premise.

Thank you for your interest in UConn basketball.

 

[cohenzone]

Not gonna bother reading the rest, since I strongly disagree with this premise.

Thank you for your interest in UConn basketball.

And thank you for your interest. I've been a UConn fan since 1957. I read all of yours I read it all. I can deal with disagreements. Some minds are open. Grow up son..

 

[blackbird]

Fair enough, may be too hard on him. But seriously, a couple of those stupid passes can't happen and if the pain is that bad that it makes you throw them, then sit down please can't win with those plays. And he's a chair on defense, not his fault but it hurts everyone. He's playing hurt and I commend him for that but no matter, understand your limitations and only make the plays yo can make or Houston rips us up.

If we had a shot and hell without him, he probably wouldn't be playing. but we don't. Half Jalen is better than no Jalen.

As said, shame on anyone who is being hard on him right now. Post season is on the line, he's doing what he can.

 

[mauconnfan]

Chauvinist ;-) A good coach is a good coach. Let's put it this way. She couldn't do any worse than any of the men who've coached these guys. There's a problem when a senior with athletic ability hasn't been coached out of freshman mistakes and taught how to use the gifts they do have in order to make the other guy have to contend with their skills. And in Enoch's case, there is a lot of great raw material to work with.

Sorry you're way off here. Lost it!!

And Enoch is getting better. Also was a lot of great raw material with AB and Kelis Fisher but even raw material needs a brain!

 

[mauconnfan]

If we had a shot and hell without him, he probably wouldn't be playing. but we don't. Half Jalen is better than no Jalen.

As said, shame on anyone who is being hard on him right now. Post season is on the line, he's doing what he can.

Sorry don't play then. I will give him his out for some, but those ridiculous passes don't get a pass from me. They had nothing to do with pain. And I agree, one leg is still better than the other option but need him with full brain!

 

[cohenzone]

Sorry don't play then. I will give him his out for some, but those ridiculous passes don't get a pass from me. They had nothing to do with pain. And I agree, one leg is still better than the other option but need him with full brain!

Ah, betcha if you were in KOs shoes you'd be playing him too. End of season. No reasonable chance of a special ending this year v