Reed needs to start

[mauconnfan]

Whaley was great at it and recovered quickly. Adama got much better at it by his junior year. Johnson isn't nearly as bad at it as you suggest. I think what we see is what we saw in that bad stretch in 2023, the guys behind aren't doing the job of covering the rim. Alex is good at that now (note his improved block rate) but Liam doesn't really have it down and is often late. Stewart is better at it. Playing defense at the 3-4 in our system is really hard. It doesn't help that the poor perimeter defense means even more guys are free to attack the rim.

As it was then, it is now. It's a collective team defensive issue. It's not on Johnson or Reed. Reed doesn't hedge as high because he isn't quick enough to get back.

In any event, this is the team we have. Looking forward to adjustments and better play.

Oh agree fully with you on the overall no doubt. But in turn, maybe blame it on Dan Hurley for asking him to but he can’t be late getting back because the others aren’t as god as last year and are smaller as well. Less aggressive and staying home is more important then because they aren’t as good in guarding and helping. They aren’t a fast team let’s admit that so he can’t be 25-30 feet out all that often. And he doesn’t rebound that’s not a false statement that needs to get better and amazingly it hasn’t.

 

[mauconnfan]

Do you watch the games? Johnson gets back to the opposing center virtually every time he high hedges. I'm not saying I'm right. Read my post I am clearly guessing and gave numerous examples of my speculation.

I am not saying I'm right. I saying Hurley is right and you're wrong.

Disagree he doesn’t get back often and yes I watch the games. He creates the scramble which leaves wide open shots with this team. He’s not the only reason mind you, they have very few answers besides Alex due to defensive inefficiencies but getting stuck too far is not good for this years squad they’re just not good yet on that end. Stay home and if it is Dan asking him to then he may want to rethink his aggressiveness because it’s not working. And get a rebound please!

 

[ctchamps]

Oh agree fully with you on the overall no doubt. But in turn, maybe blame it on Dan Hurley for asking him to but he can’t be late getting back because the others aren’t as god as last year and are smaller as well. Less aggressive and staying home is more important then because they aren’t as good in guarding and helping. They aren’t a fast team let’s admit that so he can’t be 25-30 feet out all that often. And he doesn’t rebound that’s not a false statement that needs to get better and amazingly is hasn’t.

I know from the chat you didn’t watch the UMES game. In the second half with a lineup of Diarra, Ross, McNeeley, Stewart and Johnson the amount of disruption, deflection, steals with Johnson’s hedging was a thing of beauty and was the first time this season the energy on defense was exciting.

Nowell subbed in for Diarra when he picked up a third foul and missed an assignment of coverage on the hedge for an easy two by Johnson’s player but he’ll get there.

You are correct. If the guards can’t figure things out we’re going to have to “dumb” down the defense. I’m just not in the mindset that we should give up on team development.

Whichever way this goes Johnson is doing what the coaching staff wants (except for stupid fouls). The staff must believe they can come up with a lineup that will work around Johnson.

The big dilemma is that they have to reconfigure the starting lineup. They’ve already moved Diarra in the starting lineup over Mahaney.

Now they have to make the more difficult decision of whether they should put in someone else to start over Ball. Ball is showing signs he can be as great an offensive weapon as Hawkins. But the rest of his game is still not developed. He’s minimized Johnson’s strengths on both ends of the court. His lobs are as ugly as they come.

 

[REB1094]

The hedge only works when the other guys are rotating properly behind it. Any combination of Bouk/Tyrese/Andre/Polley/Hawkins/Karaban/Castle/Cam/Newton ranged from acceptable to excellent

Solo/Liam have not been good at it, which is why even though Samson always recovers, there always seems to be an open shooter that we’re scrambling to reach. Not Samson’s direct fault, but I’d bet a good chunk of teams ripping the nets from three against us is because we can’t rotate properly against the most common action in basketball (pick and roll)

One has to assume that we get better at this as the season goes on, but for now it’s hurting us bad. I think Tarris hedges pretty well. Tarris just tries to stop the ball handler (like Adama) where Samson seems to want to run them 35 feet from the hoop (like Whaley)

 

[CardiacAndre7]

They just really need to work on off ball defense, obviously on ball as well. We have too many perimeter players that are heavy footed it seems. That only works when you have an eraser like Clingan back there. Solo, Liam, Stewie, Ross and Mahaney need to be doing a ton of lateral quickness drills.

I feel like Abraham could be a stopper. He came in with that sort of reputation. Dan Hurley seems a bit stuck in his ways with the guys he thought would have the biggest impact coming into the season. Shifted somewhat with Nowell getting more run, but if IA can defend, he should get time, because not many of our perimeter guys appear to be able to right now.

 

[Shamon30]

Johnson might be a starter in the mold of Phil Nolan or freshman year Hilton Armstrong. Perhaps he sees some sort of value in having Reed be a 6th man. However, the number of minutes Johnson is getting would contradict that argument. Maybe Hurley feels Reed needs to work up to playing 30 mpg against top-level competition? I don't know.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Not everyone agrees. Do you have a theory why Hurley disagrees?

Does not matter if Hurley agrees if Johnson fouls means he sits. Reed will get time by default.

So its only a matter of time before Reed starts, has more pts and rebounds and is decent blocker of shots. Reed is almost averaging a double double off the bench while Johnson is not.

And our offense is much better if teams have to respect a cebter playing down low. All they care about is Johnson give and go and that’s his only real value offensively.

This also has a lot to do with Ball as a terrible defender. I like Stewart more here and he has the size and athleticism to be a better defender than Ball and he shoots at least as well. I like Stewart as lil’ Andre.

 

[CT2SC]

Hurley is loyal to a fault with players. He’s been like that since he’s gotten here. He takes forever to play the better players

He started the five best guys last season including Castle as a freshman. He’s starting McNeeley now as a freshman. What better players (except Reed) haven’t started?

 

[husky429]

I am not as opposed to the high hedge from Johnson as some. I think it's effective... and if it wasn't being shows to be effective on the tape, Hurley would have moved away from it 2 years ago. He's certainly not as good at the hedge as Whaley was...but it's an effective and exceptionally disruptive defense. And I believe it is the BEST defense for Samson, because he's horrible at defending the post 1v1 like other coverages will often require.

IMO the high hedge just not a BASE defense like the drop coverage we saw from Clingan last year. The high hedge and double is better served as an energy-off-the-bench change of pace defense that throws a confusing wrinkle at the opponents.

This is all to say... Samson in a 15mpg bench role as a disruptor is where he needs to be. His play style makes it obvious.

 

[yungdowork]

He started the five best guys last season including Castle as a freshman. He’s starting McNeeley now as a freshman. What better players (except Reed) haven’t started?

Sanogo not starting during his freshman year raised some eyebrows. However, you might remember him getting cooked by Kalkbrenner (who had 5 dunks in the second half alone) on the defensive end while shooting 6-16. (Whoops, I just realized this game was his sophomore year. My fault I misremembered)

A ton of people thought Hurley should have been playing Diggins, or Javonte Brown-Ferguson, or whoever else, and Hurley has been vindicated just about every time. Obviously Reed is better than those guys, but Hurley would know that better than anyone.

I do think that what Samson brings to the court is probably unsustainable for more than about 20-25 minutes a night, but I also think the fact that he always plays with maximum effort goes a loooong way in keeping Hurley's favor. You can say a lot about Samson's game, you can never say he isn't putting in the effort.

 

[bmayuc]

Serious Question - Do the PPP efficiency stats include possessions that are extended by an offensive rebound, or are those calculated as a 2nd possession/shot?

The fact that Samson is so allergic to rebounding must demoralize the rest of the team watching him get mauled in there. And as teams are now having him in the scouting report as primary instead of backup really puts a further spotlight on his weaknesses.

End of story - he's a quality backup and a bad starter. Seems an easy fix as long as egos are not what is stopping this move. Samson will be much more effective in his former role and provide the team much needed structure/stability

 

[JerseyAlum]

Disagree he doesn’t get back often and yes I watch the games. He creates the scramble which leaves wide open shots with this team. He’s not the only reason mind you, they have very few answers besides Alex due to defensive inefficiencies but getting stuck too far is not good for this years squad they’re just not good yet on that end. Stay home and if it is Dan asking him to then he may want to rethink his aggressiveness because it’s not working. And get a rebound please!

Main question is did Johnson "improve" from last year to this year like say Ball or Stewart or Ross has done? I say no, and he is what he is and has always been: an energetic rim rocker/protector who gets more dunks than anything else but that makes him very one dimensional. Best for him was coming off the bench after Clingan erased so much that he has energy and the opposing teams were worn down.

Reed, Jr is a two year starter, has managed almost a double-double from the bench, and has to be respected as an offensive piece while Johnson is often too predictable on offense and not respected as a player (to wit, most teams think Karaban is our only true scorer and defender).

If Hurley can swap in Diarra for Mahaney he can certainly swap in Reed for Johnson.

 

[Hunt for 7]

May I recommend watching the 30-0 run against IL in last years Regional Final. Because that has to be heaven for a UConn men’s BB fan and as such should be visited on a as needed basis.

Kind of like break the glass and watch in case of emergency.

Maybe I did it a little early but it cheered me up. Living in the not so distant past is not so bad!

 

[444JR]

Does not matter if Hurley agrees if Johnson fouls means he sits. Reed will get time by default.

So its only a matter of time before Reed starts, has more pts and rebounds and is decent blocker of shots. Reed is almost averaging a double double off the bench while Johnson is not.

And our offense is much better if teams have to respect a cebter playing down low. All they care about is Johnson give and go and that’s his only real value offensively.

This also has a lot to do with Ball as a terrible defender. I like Stewart more here and he has the size and athleticism to be a better defender than Ball and he shoots at least as well. I like Stewart as lil’ Andre.

Stewart definitely has the same playmaking/ball movement bug that Andre had, albeit less athletic and less flashy. Clearly a much better shooter/scorer than Andre Jackson was.

 

[CT2SC]

There’s been plenty of times in the past that we didn’t start the 5 best guys. Olander, Austrie, Pikiell etc. something about Samson’s game though (and Hass to some extent too) it just seems better suited to coming off the bench and bringing that burst of energy.

 

[Pmurph678]

With Johnson at the 5 we are an NIT team at best.

It’s absolutely loyalty as to why he is starting. It will end eventually, just hoping not too late.

 

[mauconnfan]

I know from the chat you didn’t watch the UMES game. In the second half with a lineup of Diarra, Ross, McNeeley, Stewart and Johnson the amount of disruption, deflection, steals with Johnson’s hedging was a thing of beauty and was the first time this season the energy on defense was exciting.

Nowell subbed in for Diarra when he picked up a third foul and missed an assignment of coverage on the hedge for an easy two by Johnson’s player but he’ll get there.

You are correct. If the guards can’t figure things out we’re going to have to “dumb” down the defense. I’m just not in the mindset that we should give up on team development.

Whichever way this goes Johnson is doing what the coaching staff wants (except for stupid fouls). The staff must believe they can come up with a lineup that will work around Johnson.

The big dilemma is that they have to reconfigure the starting lineup. They’ve already moved Diarra in the starting lineup over Mahaney.

Now they have to make the more difficult decision of whether they should put in someone else to start over Ball. Ball is showing signs he can be as great an offensive weapon as Hawkins. But the rest of his game is still not developed. He’s minimized Johnson’s strengths on both ends of the court. His lobs are as ugly as they come.

I get it he’s athletic. But it was a thing of beauty against the 350th ranked team I didn’t see them but they were dreadful. Ok I get it you guys like SJ I do too. But he’s limited and should be off the bench. Watch Baylor rebound tonight he needs to rebound and from 30 ft he never does.

 

[ctchamps]

I get it he’s athletic. But it was a thing of beauty against the 350th ranked team I didn’t see them but they were dreadful. Ok I get it you guys like Samson Johnson I do too. But he’s limited and should be off the bench. Watch Baylor rebound tonight he needs to rebound and from 30 ft he never does.

Love Reed just as much as Samson and I'm ambivalent who starts. If one of them isn't playing well or gets into foul trouble the other needs to get more minutes. That's all I care about.

The only thing I'm expanding on the debate is Samson is being coached to hedge and block shots. He can only do that if the other four players react to the player he defends if that player cuts to the basket. And the other four players have to help with rebounding. I don't think many people in this forum examine the failure of the other team players on the court as well as Samson. They are just as responsible for opposing teams getting second and third chances. If Hurley can't find a supporting group that can do their part in how Samson is being coached then Samson role will have to be changed.

I believe Hass, Ross and Stewart playing with Samson can be an effective lineup. Mahaney, Ball and McNeeley on the other hand have been a problem.

 

[mauconnfan]

Love Reed just as much as Samson and I'm ambivalent who starts. If one of them isn't playing well or gets into foul trouble the other needs to get more minutes. That's all I care about.

The only thing I'm expanding on the debate is Samson is being coached to hedge and block shots. He can only do that if the other four players react to the player he defends if that player cuts to the basket. And the other four players have to help with rebounding. I don't think many people in this forum examine the failure of the other team players on the court as well as Samson. They are just as responsible for opposing teams getting second and third chances. If Hurley can't find a supporting group that can do their part in how Samson is being coached then Samson role will have to be changed.

I believe Hass, Ross and Stewart playing with Samson can be an effective lineup. Mahaney, Ball and McNeeley on the other hand have been a problem.

I agree to a point especially on who starts don’t care just know Reed needs more minutes. Funny thing is Spencer got beat a ton too and even Newton but Johnson isn’t Clingan who negated all of that. So for me, he needs to stay home for all the reasons we are speaking about.

 

[imno1]

Does not matter if Hurley agrees if Johnson fouls means he sits. Reed will get time by default.

So its only a matter of time before Reed starts, has more pts and rebounds and is decent blocker of shots. Reed is almost averaging a double double off the bench while Johnson is not.

And our offense is much better if teams have to respect a cebter playing down low. All they care about is Johnson give and go and that’s his only real value offensively.

This also has a lot to do with Ball as a terrible defender. I like Stewart more here and he has the size and athleticism to be a better defender than Ball and he shoots at least as well. I like Stewart as lil’ Andre.

You really think Stewart is as good a shooter as Ball? I do however think Jaylin needs to see more court time.

 

[mauconnfan]

You really think Stewart is as good a shooter as Ball? I do however think Jaylin needs to see more court time.

Overall maybe a better player but not as good of a shooter. But he’s better defensively and rebounding without a doubt needs more minutes.

 

[millertime7774]

Hurley- "Tarris will be in there early, could see two bigs tonight"

 

[Palatine]

Hurley- "Tarris will be in there early, could see two bigs tonight"

He wasn't lying.