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That was a no-win situation for us, so I'm glad that game is over and done with. This is a team that has, obviously, struggled to get much separation on the scoreboard this year, even in the exhibitions. All in all that was about the way I expected the game to go. Brief observations/concerns/hopes:
- These last two games have not been Brimah games. Never have been. Teams that are able to spread the floor with five shooters and remove him from the rim tend to chase him off the floor in a hurry. Last night, he was mostly good, but he still blew a couple close-outs and was beat for a couple rebounds (it's worth noting that teams that force him to hedge high exacerbate his rebounding limitations because he does not have inside position).
You'll notice that when Chaminade brought in that stiff, Pollard, KO countered with Brimah and he played well. Down the stretch he did not see the floor which was probably something he would have adjusted to earlier if he gave a damn about this game. That first foul though, was like a car crash. I don't think he's ever going to learn.
- The perimeter defense is bad. The rotations are in shambles, but they usually are at this point in the season. What's inexcusable is the horrific close-outs from basically everybody - put a hand up.
- Enoch is beaming with potential but he's probably the fourth best big on the team right now.
- We ran a lot of traditional UConn stuff in the second half to free Rodney. Kid is clearly at his best operating off the ball.
- Jalen has been special for the last three halves. His statline undersells how dominant he was. Could have gotten 40, easily, if he wanted to. He's still probably going to struggle against good defenses, but what I've loved about Jalen, from day one, is his body control. Spectacular body control, plus plus finishing ability. Watching him finish at the rim compared to Purvis is night and day. He's got some Kyrie to him.
- Biggest positive I take out of these last two games is the play of Durham. Kid can move his feet very well, he has good shot blocking instincts, and he's actually guarding ball screens better than any of our other bigs. More on him in a second.
- Facey is a good situational player. He can be a disaster in the two-big alignments, but in a game like that he brings value, moreso than Brimah. Should only be used at the five, IMO.
- I don't think the Larrier injury impacts the team as much as people think. Very promising player, and I feel for him if he can't return, but there's a difference between a guy who puts up stats and guys who are winning players. He wasn't a winning player yet, which brings me to my last point:
- This season has been an unadulterated disaster for the most part, there is no way around it. But there are still lineups that have had some success, and the coaching staff isn't blind to that. The Gilbert-Adam-Purvis/Vital-Larrier-Brimah lineup posted good +/- numbers early on, and since we've experienced some success playing Durham at the four alongside Brimah.
It's going to be about match-ups with this group. If it becomes a compact type game, with a traditional two in, three out alignment, I like the way we stack up in certain lineups. Then it becomes a game of shot blockers, guards, and who can churn out enough open looks on stagger screens. That fits the mold of UConn basketball much more than the s*** against Wagner, Northeastern, OSU, and Chaminade, so although it has been ugly, I will caution that this isn't a transitive property thing. The fact that we lose to Wagner and some other team beats them by 40 doesn't mean we're completely doomed.
Tomorrow, Oregon. They like to get up and down, but they won't stretch you with Kevin Pittsnogle clones at the four and five. If Ollie can not with the rotations too much (which is not a given), it's a game we can win.
- These last two games have not been Brimah games. Never have been. Teams that are able to spread the floor with five shooters and remove him from the rim tend to chase him off the floor in a hurry. Last night, he was mostly good, but he still blew a couple close-outs and was beat for a couple rebounds (it's worth noting that teams that force him to hedge high exacerbate his rebounding limitations because he does not have inside position).
You'll notice that when Chaminade brought in that stiff, Pollard, KO countered with Brimah and he played well. Down the stretch he did not see the floor which was probably something he would have adjusted to earlier if he gave a damn about this game. That first foul though, was like a car crash. I don't think he's ever going to learn.
- The perimeter defense is bad. The rotations are in shambles, but they usually are at this point in the season. What's inexcusable is the horrific close-outs from basically everybody - put a hand up.
- Enoch is beaming with potential but he's probably the fourth best big on the team right now.
- We ran a lot of traditional UConn stuff in the second half to free Rodney. Kid is clearly at his best operating off the ball.
- Jalen has been special for the last three halves. His statline undersells how dominant he was. Could have gotten 40, easily, if he wanted to. He's still probably going to struggle against good defenses, but what I've loved about Jalen, from day one, is his body control. Spectacular body control, plus plus finishing ability. Watching him finish at the rim compared to Purvis is night and day. He's got some Kyrie to him.
- Biggest positive I take out of these last two games is the play of Durham. Kid can move his feet very well, he has good shot blocking instincts, and he's actually guarding ball screens better than any of our other bigs. More on him in a second.
- Facey is a good situational player. He can be a disaster in the two-big alignments, but in a game like that he brings value, moreso than Brimah. Should only be used at the five, IMO.
- I don't think the Larrier injury impacts the team as much as people think. Very promising player, and I feel for him if he can't return, but there's a difference between a guy who puts up stats and guys who are winning players. He wasn't a winning player yet, which brings me to my last point:
- This season has been an unadulterated disaster for the most part, there is no way around it. But there are still lineups that have had some success, and the coaching staff isn't blind to that. The Gilbert-Adam-Purvis/Vital-Larrier-Brimah lineup posted good +/- numbers early on, and since we've experienced some success playing Durham at the four alongside Brimah.
It's going to be about match-ups with this group. If it becomes a compact type game, with a traditional two in, three out alignment, I like the way we stack up in certain lineups. Then it becomes a game of shot blockers, guards, and who can churn out enough open looks on stagger screens. That fits the mold of UConn basketball much more than the s*** against Wagner, Northeastern, OSU, and Chaminade, so although it has been ugly, I will caution that this isn't a transitive property thing. The fact that we lose to Wagner and some other team beats them by 40 doesn't mean we're completely doomed.
Tomorrow, Oregon. They like to get up and down, but they won't stretch you with Kevin Pittsnogle clones at the four and five. If Ollie can not with the rotations too much (which is not a given), it's a game we can win.
