Seton Hall Post Game Thread

[Donyell 360]

I mean, very generously, I guess you could say we got 0 points on that possession when we had a chance for up to 2, even though he only missed 1 FT.

For his FT percentage, well, I won't state the obvious.

Exactly. We missed out on 2 points, not just one. I know the stat sheet doesn't record it that way but that's how I always think of it in my mind. But I'm getting a lot of push back on that so maybe I'm crazy.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Our offense is a slight issue right now, but a lot of it may be the way the Big East is played.

In our biggest 5 OOC games (Zona, BYU, Illinois, Florida, Kansas) we average 73 ppg. Now that may not be anything incredible, but those are all top-18 KenPom defenses. 73 ppg against elite defenses is not bad.

I agree with many posters and have pointed out that our offense gets bogged down for long stretches, and we definitely waste too much time really going nowhere, but I don’t think it is a massive problem for our tournament/postseason prospects.

 

[noelle]

The physical defense seton hall played is a good experience for this team and basically exactly what they need to face. you can't be a one dimensional off ball team that fold if the calls don't go your way and expect to win the big games. but they need to have actual answers in this situation and currently it seems to be dumping it to tarris and let him bail out the possession. need to come up with other options.

with that said the offense was pretty decent outside of the turnovers and 3 pt shooting. they were able to exploit SH on the inside going 22/32 on 2's and shooting a majority of their shots near the rim with their highest ftr for the season against decent opponents.

 

[Stew Crew]

Most of the negativity is not about UConn, it's about the bozo BE / Refs that allow constant grabbing & holding on D so there is zero chance to create offensive. SH does what they're allowed to do by the BE, UConn just plays great basketball when they're allowed to. Great road win our guys gutted out just not a great watch.

The issues you bring up are consistent across the Big East, even with the good officials. To me, that points to the Supervisor of Officials, or higher. Someone gives the referees their marching orders; focus on this, less emphasis on that. I think John Cahill is still the supervisor for Men's Big East basketball, which explains a lot.

 

[BugsyCT]

That was his reaction to Smith making a shot.

I know, but the pic still works for the 2nd half situation.

Plus, it's Bill Murray in UConn gear. Gotta acknowledge it.

 

[superjohn]

The complaints about the refs are getting exhausting.

UConn played pretty well on the road against a good team for 34 minutes or so, then UConn's offense got a little clumpy and Seton Hall cut the lead. Stuff happens. There is not some great conspiracy against UConn.

I would normally agree but if you don't think the refs let Seton Hall play that game like a 90's football game then you either didn't watch the game or you didn't know what you were watching.

 

[noelle]

29% from 3 for Solo is really rough jeez

he was looking better and better and then injured his wrist, it's a pretty rough year.

 

[GlastonTim]

I’ve had the privilege of seeing Tarris live in a few games so far and last night his demeanor, lack of dunking, walking to and from the bench he seemed 75% IMHO.

He was the biggest talented player out there and just kept getting hacked, double teamed and jumped on (yes early one SH player goes airborne, hits him, no call).

I suspect he might be GTD vs Georgetown but gets a week to rest after that.

Dan said he was fully healthy last night. I know his numbers were good except free throws but I felt he played “soft” last night. He had a chance to power dunk a few last night and didn’t. Don’t get that. Big dunks can lift a team! I totally understand Dan wanting him to “unleash the bear” but don’t think we’ll see that from him unfortunately. The lack of beast mode is what is holding him back from being all american caliber player. The question I don’t know the answer to is why?

 

[Iluvsuebird]

I'll never stop bringing it up- we were saying the exact same thing about andre Jackson at this time of year in '23.

plus, Solo was one of our best scorers beginning 1/4 of the year. I'm still with him

You need to stop saying that. The Andre-Solo comp is so bad, its all-time bad comp. Andre brought defensive, rebounds, assists, energy. He was our heart and soul. Never was an offense first guy. Solo is exclusively an offense guy. And he has not been elite this year. That said, Solo got better around the rim. And his defense is not awful, all the time, like it used to be. And the kid plays hard. I love him. But after 17 games, I think its time we wonder if last year's version of Solo will make an appearance this year.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I've been thinking about why people are still down on a 17-1 team and it always comes back to one thing: anxiety.
I think many absolutely hate the physical anguish/anxiety of these tight games. We loved the 23 and 24 ncaa tourneys because we just cruised thru every game. This year's team can clearly win it all but we may have to sweat. People dont like to sweat (see the women's board)

Don't discount the degenerate gambler fans who are losing money when UConn fails to cover the spread. UConn has been awful against the spread this year and it leads to the narrative they're playing as well as they should.

From a non-gambler perspective, the team's inability to close out games and finish the game with a large lead the team built in the first 30 minutes, lends itself to a team without a killer instinct. Throw in inconsistent 3 pt shooting games and inconsistent FT shooting games and it gives fans angst on how that can knock UConn out of the tourney when they run in to a team that doesn't beat itself.

 

[superjohn]

Dan said he was fully healthy last night. I know his numbers were good except free throws but I felt he played “soft” last night. He had a chance to power dunk a few last night and didn’t. Don’t get that. Big dunks can lift a team! I totally understand Dan wanting him to “unleash the bear” but don’t think we’ll see that from him unfortunately. The lack of beast mode is what is holding him back from being all american caliber player. The question I don’t know the answer to is why?

I don't know why he isn't dunking but don't confuse not dunking with playing soft. Tarris most certainly didn't play soft last night. He had guys hanging on him the entire game and he was scoring through contact and drawing fouls all night and he erased a few that looked like easy Seton Hall scores.

 

[thekollieman]

So if it bothers you more, than it is worse than just one miss. More than 1 is 2. Simple math. I'm not saying he missed 9 FT, I'm saying it was worse than just missing 8 FT's. Call it 8+ or whatever you like. The point is it is worse than just missing 8.

I agree it is akin to a TO, but the stat sheet doesn't list it as a TO either, so stats don't tell the whole story. I was trying to tell the rest of the story. But you weren't the only one to balk at my comment so maybe I'm the dumb one. But it makes sense in my warped mind.

I didn’t balk at anything. I just laughed when I read BigErn’s comment “you don’t,” in response to you saying, “…if you count that as two…”

I totally get where you’re coming from and find it more frustrating when a player misses the front end, but at the end of the day the free throws made and attempted are what they are. I’m sure certain outfits keep track of missed front ends nowadays so you could just follow that because that’s exactly what it is. It feels like two missed shots, it feels like a turnover, but objectively it is not those things.

Edit: to be clear, how you think of it does make sense to me and I think of it similarly, going back to when I played and my high school coach described it that way.

 

[JSB60]

It was as bad as a league win on the road against a ranked team could be, which is still OK with me.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I would normally agree but if you don't think the refs let Seton Hall play that game like a 90's football game then you either didn't watch the game or you didn't know what you were watching.

I was at the game. The refs were fine. We complain about the refs after every game. They are not out to get us.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

It still amazes me how we deliberately let teams set up their press.

Grab the fricken ball as soon as it goes through the hoop, inbound to an outlet and push it up the floor. It can’t be any worse than what we do now.

This! They let the ball just roll around on the floor. Was yelling the same thing at the tv.

 

[superjohn]

The great Jim Downey was at the game with Bill last night. Downey is one of the funniest people ever, if you know you know...

 

[Jaydumo20]

You need to stop saying that. The Andre-Solo comp is so bad, its all-time bad comp. Andre brought defensive, rebounds, assists, energy. He was our heart and soul. Never was an offense first guy. Solo is exclusively an offense guy. And he has not been elite this year. That said, Solo got better around the rim. And his defense is not awful, all the time, like it used to be. And the kid plays hard. I love him. But after 17 games, I think its time we wonder if last year's version of Solo will make an appearance this year.

Nah..I wasnt making a player comp, thatd be silly. I was making a fan base comp. We gave up on AJax and relegated him to the end of the bench. January-february 23 we were going through an awful time where Hurley was scared for his job and our #1 player target was AJax.

We are doing the same thing to solo... and this time during a winning streak

 

[CardiacAndre7]

The great Jim Downey was at the game with Bill last night. Downey is one of the funniest people ever, if you know you know...

View attachment 115962

Christmas Adventurer side quest

 

[Iluvsuebird]

winning is better than losing. I am glad that we won. But this game was a joke. Here's the many reasons why:

1. The holding and grabbing started from the whistle. You too can play good defense if you are literally grabbing your opponent's shirts all game long.
2. And what made point #1 worst of all is the refs calling ticky-tacky calls against us. So they can play WWE style and we have to play regular basketball???? That's weak a-- s---.
3. There is no NCAA game in March that will resemble this game. Because basketball is only referred like this on the BE. Even Houston plays cleaner than that, and they are perennially known to be a great defensive team.
4. Too many missed fouls. Too many turnovers. Its now 17 games kids. This is now a pattern for this team. And a pattern that can cost us when it matters.
5. Where is SOLO???? This is perplexing. He has the same mental condition AK had last year. No confidence in his shot. Love the kid. My favorite player on this team. But again, after 17 games, are we going to see the real Solo this year?
6. 18 point lead blown. And not for the first time, see BYU. We gotta be better than that. To have 5 minute scoring droughts with this amount of offensive arsenal? Just insane.
7. And with all that said, we won that darn game. Really, impressive. Just not pretty basketball.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Except I wasnt making a player comp. I was making a fan base comp. We gave up on AJax and relegated him to the end of the bench. Did you sleep through January '23?
We are doing the same thing to solo... and during a winning streak!

I see your point now. But I disagree that any sane person wanted Alex on the bench. We dont win in 23 without him.

 

[Inyatkin]

I see your point now. But I disagree that any sane person wanted Alex on the bench. We dont win in 23 without him.

You're both right and wrong. Many people here wanted him on the bench but few of them were sane

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Trust me. There’s nothing I want more than for Solo to return to form. And I believe he will. But right now … I actually thought he was good on the defensive glass tonight.

People down on Solo Ball are not real fans. There, I said it.

What a hot take by you. And how naive. The real story is that we are 16-1 and Solo has not been himself. Imagine if he gets his mojo back?!?!?!?

 

[superjohn]

Christmas Adventurer side quest

He still hasn't talked to Jeff Epstein the New York financier.

 

[Ewekon]

Is it this team can win close games, or this team blows too many leads? I suppose both can co exist; but the latter might just cost us. No team wins every close game.

As for Solo, he may have reverted back to his mean. I still trust him in crunch time and having Mullins makes all the difference when Solo struggles.

 

[aceboon]

Dan said he was fully healthy last night. I know his numbers were good except free throws but I felt he played “soft” last night. He had a chance to power dunk a few last night and didn’t. Don’t get that. Big dunks can lift a team! I totally understand Dan wanting him to “unleash the bear” but don’t think we’ll see that from him unfortunately. The lack of beast mode is what is holding him back from being all american caliber player. The question I don’t know the answer to is why?

21/9/3(with a bunch of points left at the line) vs a pretty good C tandem in Payne/Hines with them hanging all over his back during the game, he was anything but soft last night.

 

[Okafour rings]

Much more to come, but this is the first piece:

UConn casts a winning spell, breaks losing streak at Seton Hall

Dan Hurley and UConn exorcise demons Tuesday as Huskies won at Seton Hall for first time since 2021. (Photo by Frank Franklin II/Associated ...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

Nicely written story, including some unique quotes that I hadn't seen elsewhere.

 

[navery12]

So if it bothers you more, than it is worse than just one miss. More than 1 is 2. Simple math. I'm not saying he missed 9 FT, I'm saying it was worse than just missing 8 FT's. Call it 8+ or whatever you like. The point is it is worse than just missing 8.

I agree it is akin to a TO, but the stat sheet doesn't list it as a TO either, so stats don't tell the whole story. I was trying to tell the rest of the story. But you weren't the only one to balk at my comment so maybe I'm the dumb one. But it makes sense in my warped mind.

It also bothered me that the refs missed about 10 foul calls on Tarris, so on my personal stat sheet I'm marking him down for 29 missed FTs. Going to be tough to win if he keeps that up

 

[Lafayette]

I was at the game. The refs were fine. We complain about the refs after every game. They are not out to get us.

was there too:

1. When Braylon or more often Silas was dribbling north-south to drive they were routinely bumped enough to change their direction somewhat.
2. Early on a seton hall player got caught in the air coming down on Tarris - no call
3. lack of calls against SH include over the back, moving screens, hard bumps, hands pulling jerseys.
4. Calls on us included straight up defenses, barely a touch or on AK two phantom calls.

40+ whistles and at some point all of us in sec 6 were feeling the refs let this get out of hand.

Main culprit - John Gaffney

 

[Nameless]

I was so pissed I was like shut the hell up everytime the guy opened his mouth

Wow, I guess I'm in the minority here. I found that guy entertaining as hell, he was making me chuckle all night.

I have no idea how he didn't lose his voice by the end of the game, lol

 

[Jaydumo20]

I see your point now. But I disagree that any sane person wanted Alex on the bench. We dont win in 23 without him.

100% that's what's so troubling. The thing that I truly think matters (as much as college sports matter) is that judging from player comments in interviews they actually do read the boneyard. I know every fan base has people who are overly harsh to some players but given our level of success and the anamoly that UConn is compared to other schools who dont develop 3-4 year guys who bleed their colors, i think we owe Solo more than what we are giving.