Season almost over and no A game yet

[Kitaman]

This team is the final product, no more fixing just tweaking. We have not seen our best full game performance this season where everything is in synch and our full potential shines. I'm not sure we really know how good this team can be and it's March.

So then, what does our A game look like or what do you want to see differently (realistically) that would help our 3peat?

-Maheney and Alex getting hot
-Beast mode Reed, without fouling
-Samson embracing bench role
-McNeeley taking over games

Any thoughts?

 

[BGesus4]

It’s tough to have a truly stellar game when you struggle to stop teams defensively

 

[REB1094]

We have played a few A games, it's just that our A game isn't as good as last year. This team's A game means 3+ starters play very well and no major minute player is a negative net impact. I'd say our A games this year were -

• Texas - several guys played great and our defense was strong (Tre Johnson went nuts but against mostly solid defense)
• Baylor - fell behind early but played strong, imposed our will, and had balanced production from pretty much everyone that played
• Marquette - blitzed them early and we had amazing efficiency from multiple players while locking down Marquette

The last 2 years' A games meant crush-everyone-to-a-ring level performances. This year's A game means you can pick off top teams

 

[YearoftheHusky]

I would argue perhaps we have played our a game. It just doesn’t look the same as what you expected after the last two years.

 

[Agent0]

Texas was definitely an A game this year

 

[giddyup]

There is no A game, dude. They can’t defend at an elite level and have no sustainable guard play. Enjoy them for what they are. If they can get Reed consistently involved it does wonders because we are so 3 reliant and the low post threat creates inside out pressure which loosens thei 3 line.

 

[InKembaITrust]

Samson, Reed, Stew, and Liam playing elite 1v1 defense without fouling.

 

[HuskyFich]

We play as well as our backcourt guards.

If teams can penetrate and kick, we death spiral.
If teams struggle shooting, we will win by 10+

Our kryptonite all year has been ball penetration and 3-pt defense.

Our A game this year seems to be graded on a curve. It depends how well the other team plays to determine whether or not we get an “A.”

Not valedictorian level grades this year unfortunately.

 

[UC0NN]

It's kind of mind boggling that a Hurley coached team can't play mediocre defense. A lot of that is coaching, effort, reps. A lot of it is athleticism and size to be great. We don't have that, I get that.

But any Hurley coached team should be able to play at least mediocre presentable defense.

The last 2 games were wide open 3s by the opponent all game long. Yesterday's horrific defense was masked by our strong offense.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

If we can hit a run in March with Diarra healthy (on-ball defending and offensive facilitator), Reed a physical rebounder and an inside threat, Ball/McNeeley/Karaban all hitting from deep, McNeeley being super aggressive Thor, and JStew and Sampson being great off-the bench change of pace energy guys--we will be a very tough team to stop offensively.

Even with the above, our defense is probably not enough to outscore the truly elite teams this year (Auburn, Alabama, etc)....but if the above happens at all once we will be a team that no one would want to see and would have the ability to challenge for a Final Four berth.

Now is it realistic for all of that to hit at once....not likely. But if it does, we can certainly make a run for the FF.

But with this team...we could just as easily see a 2022 New Mexico or 2008 San Diego first round flame out. That is the joy/pain of this years team.

 

[my2cents]

The question I have had all year is , why if our half court defense is so bad, why don't we full court press the other team. We have the depth for it, use it.

 

[jibsey]

With defense this bad what can we reasonably expect? Teams shoot 3’s well against us that are usually bad and they drive to the hoop and score basically at will. We have rebounded decently.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

If you doubt my huge man crush on Dan Hurley, just read my previous posts. HOWEVER, being objective here, Dan has been obtuse with his inability to change mid stream in the face of obvious decisions. I know that I am not his equal in terms of basketball acumen. And I know that he has better intelligence because I do not get to see practice, and he does. Having said those things:

• Insisting to play man on man D with those high hedges with this personnel is insanely bad. Even the Georgetown's of this world abuse us. It has been obvious for months now that this team is not a good defensive team. Why not sprinkle a zone every so often? How about trapping? or a full court press? You have bodies on the bench that are athletic and long. I get it if we try and it does not work either. But to not have tried it at all???? Does not make sense to me.
• Starting Samson. Listen, Samson has won me over. He improved this year, and I respect that. But we are better with Tarris at center. He is a better offensive player. Tarris is more prototypical than Samson, and our offensive sets run better when he is there. PLUS, maybe he is not getting in constant foul trouble if he gets in the flow of the game from the first whistle. But overall, Tarris is just better. Play your best players darn it. Again, to not have tried this at all is baffling.
• Alternative lineups: For whatever reason, injury, bad practices, or a combo of both, Nowell has played barely any minutes this year. He is raw and a step behind. This kid has been riding the pine for months. Now we expect him to start playing at the same game speed as the rest of the team? At that position??? That is absurd. And since we know that Aidan is not the option (and have known that for some time), why not play Liam at the point, or Solo, or Ross, or freaking Alex for that matter. Doing so will make our lineup much taller, and more difficult to guard. Maybe that can't be done against the St. John's, 'Bama's of this world. But dang it, again, I would love to see if that would work against everybody else. And while on this topic, I know that I was not dreaming when I saw Singare play at a high level earlier in the year, getting contested offensive boards and blocking shots in competitive games. Geez, every once in a while play Tarris and Samson together. You know Alex can play the 5 and you have Singare collecting dust on the bench. Just different options; different looks to show the opponents. Listen, this is not last year. Aside from Liam and Solo, nobody is so indispensable that can't be benched.

I will make this point again: one more win and we are at 20 wins for the year. Not too shabby for a transition year. This program is in great shape with Dan Hurley. We are elite. And I think we can scare people this year. But we can be better, I believe, than we have shown. And I do think it starts with Dan.

 

[jibsey]

If you doubt my huge man crush on Dan Hurley, just read my previous posts. HOWEVER, being objective here, Dan has been obtuse with his inability to change mid stream in the face of obvious decisions. I know that I am not his equal in terms of basketball acumen. And I know that he has better intelligence because I do not get to see practice, and he does. Having said those things:

• Insisting to play man on man D with those high hedges with this personnel is insanely bad. Even the Georgetown's of this world abuse us. It has been obvious for months now that this team is not a good defensive team. Why not sprinkle a zone every so often? How about trapping? or a full court press? You have bodies on the bench that are athletic and long. I get it if we try and it does not work either. But to not have tried it at all???? Does not make sense to me.
• Starting Samson. Listen, Samson has won me over. He improved this year, and I respect that. But we are better with Tarris at center. He is a better offensive player. Tarris is more prototypical than Samson, and our offensive sets run better when he is there. PLUS, maybe he is not getting in constant foul trouble if he gets in the flow of the game from the first whistle. But overall, Tarris is just better. Play your best players darn it. Again, to not have tried this at all is baffling.
• Alternative lineups: For whatever reason, injury, bad practices, or a combo of both, Nowell has played barely any minutes this year. He is raw and a step behind. This kid has been riding the pine for months. Now we expect him to start playing at the same game speed as the rest of the team? At that position??? That is absurd. And since we know that Aidan is not the option (and have known that for some time), why not play Liam at the point, or Solo, or Ross, or freaking Alex for that matter. Doing so will make our lineup much taller, and more difficult to guard. Maybe that can't be done against the St. John's, 'Bama's of this world. But dang it, again, I would love to see if that would work against everybody else. And while on this topic, I know that I was not dreaming when I saw Singare play at a high level earlier in the year, getting contested offensive boards and blocking shots in competitive games. Geez, every once in a while play Tarris and Samson together. You know Alex can play the 5 and you have Singare collecting dust on the bench. Just different options; different looks to show the opponents. Listen, this is not last year. Aside from Liam and Solo, nobody is so indispensable that can't be benched.

I will make this point again: one more win and we are at 20 wins for the year. Not too shabby for a transition year. This program is in great shape with Dan Hurley. We are elite. And I think we can scare people this year. But we can be better, I believe, than we have shown. And I do think it starts with Dan.

You missed something. It wasn’t a transition year. According to Danny it was a 3 peat year. As fans what the hell do we know, we believed him.
We have been trying to figure the team out all season with the ups and downs expecting a switch to go off to become the title contender expected and we were nationally ranked at 3.
Season goes on and we slowly realize we have serious deficiencies with no point guard or injured one and terrible defense.
Still happy with the last 2 titles and the players here who are trying pretty hard for us.

 

[Gurleyman]

The question I have had all year is , why if our half court defense is so bad, why don't we full court press the other team. We have the depth for it, use it.

We don’t have the personnel to do it well. Hassan is the only ball hawk we have. Full court presses tend to involve players who are quick and/or can read and react and anticipate. Alex has 14 steals all year (none in the last 5 games). Ross has 8. Mahaney has 5. Stewart has 4.

Who‘s the one jumping the passing lane after we trap?

 

[UC0NN]

It's hard to imagine a run in the tournament if we can't win 2 games in a row since January. That being said everything is possible. Favorable match-ups? Who knows.

Ball/Karaban/LM - if 2 out of 3 show up, we beat most teams. All 3 show up we beat anyone. Cold night, we lose to anyone.