Single Most Important Factor to a Deep Run

[tzznandrew]

Yes, which is why Hawkins playing like a lottery pick is key to making a run. If he played even slightly better against Marquette we win

It's also one game. I think we'd all say he's been pretty darn good this year, even if two of the last three games he's shot poorly.

 

[gsmooth]

Serious question. Is there a team shrink? I think this teams biggest problem is all in their head.

oddly enough I think it is, too. Which is why this team is so good as front runners, but lose their composure when things go wrong and the pressure rises.

 

[Ha Who]

1/8 form 3 and 2/11 overall on Friday against Marquette?

You just proved my point

 

[Chief00]

My first thought is that we have to be able to get off our schneid of not being able to win a close game, but that's more of an effect than a cause.

While a lot of other things come to mind, the most obvious answer is the simple one. Donovan Clingan played the first 40% of the season as if he was the next Zach Eddy, but way ahead of where Eddy was as a frosh. When a ball came within his wingspan in the paint, he caught it and did something positive with it. He was unbelievably dominant. Which, rightfully, led to the debate as to whether him being on the floor was more valuable than having Sanogo on the floor, and if that didn't mean they had to have minutes on the floor together. Then DC disappeared in conference play. Many on here have attributed that to Big East refs not being willing to call fouls. I don't doubt that that has happened, or that it's relevant, but I don't think that's the primary cause. To me, he no longer is a vacuum cleaner catching every catchable ball in his area. I don't understand why -- whether it was hitting a freshman big wall, confidence shattered, being told he wasn't going to keep taking Sanogo's minutes or something else -- but my eyes tell me that, refs aside, he is not the same player.

When DC was the dominant DC, we were literally as good as anyone in the country. While we've been a very good team since having hit bottom in late January, we're not at that level. The 4 seed line is roughly how we've played the last month and a half -- maybe a little generous. We should get to the Sweet 16, and we certainly could get to Houston, without DC reverting to who he was in November and December. But if there is one key to a deep run, it's the early season DC coming back to us. Because that's the difference between a really good team that could do something special, and a great team that should do something special.

I agree with you Donovan is the key. However, Donovan was dominant as recently as last game. He was +8 or +10 in a 2 point contest. He brought us back from an 8 point dificit, totally changed the momentum. After the comeback, he was taken out and spent the remainder of the game on the bench. So your question needs to be asked in that context. He played just 10 minutes.

I think he is fine, but needs to be given some runway minutes and we need to stop thinking of Adama and Donovan as mutually exclusive. The last time I checked Donovan was shooting about 65% from the field. 2 of every 3 shots go in. Needs to work on his FT.

 

[Chief00]

The answer is actually turnovers, with fouls a close second.

I’m hoping for fewer passes to the opponent and a fair whistle now that we’re away from the Big East rat bag officials.

As a team I agree those are the two metrics holding us back and if they call fouls on our opponents outside the Big East, will someone other than Hawkins and Karaban consistently make foul shots?

 

[Candyman]

No, I meant what I said. Our best road win during that period was Nova. Our best neutral win was a reeling Providence. We beat good teams at home, and won games impressively, but if you want to be a 1 or 2 seed you've got to beat good teams on the road.

Well then you're wrong, the last month and a half we played like one of the best teams in the country. This is since February 1

View attachment 85075

This was my point in my reply. We been playing like a 1 seed since Feb 1st.

 

[JB75]

The last month and a half you think we played like a 4 seed? Hilarious. We went 9-2 with the 2 losses - at Creighton by 3 (foot online game) and at MSG to a top 6 Marquette team by 2. We pounded Marquette and Providence twice. Blew our Nova at Nova. We def played more like a 2 seed the last month a a half. I think you meant January.

Add in the fact in that creighton game Jackson was brutal down stretch and against Marquette (who shot thier brains out first 25 mins) we lost by 2 with hawk having his worst game of career and Ajax barely playing. I think we played like a 1/2

 

[80shusky]

Luck. It seems like every championship team has at least one thing they don't deserve go right for it somewhere along the way. And it's better early. Like something inexplicably bouncing your way in a 2nd round game against a pesky mid major or mediocre P6 team that is hanging in there and making you miserable.

 

[homunculus]

No, I meant what I said. Our best road win during that period was Nova. Our best neutral win was a reeling Providence. We beat good teams at home, and won games impressively, but if you want to be a 1 or 2 seed you've got to beat good teams on the road.

Not that I completely disagree with you but… since 2/1 in road games:

Alabama went 3-2 on the road, including an OT win over 11-21 South Carolina. Lost to both tournament-bound teams they played.

Kansas went 3-2 (1-2 against tourney teams)

Purdue went 1-3 (0-3 vs tourney)

Houston went 5-0 (1-0 to tourney teams) but… AAC

 

[SubbaBub]

It's defense. We've been giving up too many 40 point halves. Keep opponents under 70 and we'll win most games.

 

[CTBasketball]

I hope Donovan picks up Slick Rick and dunks him thru the hoop.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Make. Open. Shots.

 

[Rewster]

Dominating the offensive boards and getting easy offensive put backs. Demoralizes the defense and empowers the scoring team. We are great on the offensive boards. We will win handily if we do so against Iona

 

[gtcam]

Not that I completely disagree with you but… since 2/1 in road games:

Alabama went 3-2 on the road, including an OT win over 11-21 South Carolina. Lost to both tournament-bound teams they played.

Kansas went 3-2 (1-2 against tourney teams)

Purdue went 1-3 (0-3 vs tourney)

Houston went 5-0 (1-0 to tourney teams) but… AAC

I understand these stats but as of 2/1 everybody has played everybody in the conference at least once not counting the league tournaments. Second chances are different than initial meetings.

 

[Kenny11]

make threes and foul shots.

For this team, do not let the opponent get in the bonus early....we do that so much, especially in the second half

 

[jibsey]

Luck. It seems like every championship team has at least one thing they don't deserve go right for it somewhere along the way. And it's better early. Like something inexplicably bouncing your way in a 2nd round game against a pesky mid major or mediocre P6 team that is hanging in there and making you miserable.

I agree, at some point you need this.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

My first thought is that we have to be able to get off our schneid of not being able to win a close game, but that's more of an effect than a cause.

While a lot of other things come to mind, the most obvious answer is the simple one. Donovan Clingan played the first 40% of the season as if he was the next Zach Eddy, but way ahead of where Eddy was as a frosh. When a ball came within his wingspan in the paint, he caught it and did something positive with it. He was unbelievably dominant. Which, rightfully, led to the debate as to whether him being on the floor was more valuable than having Sanogo on the floor, and if that didn't mean they had to have minutes on the floor together. Then DC disappeared in conference play. Many on here have attributed that to Big East refs not being willing to call fouls. I don't doubt that that has happened, or that it's relevant, but I don't think that's the primary cause. To me, he no longer is a vacuum cleaner catching every catchable ball in his area. I don't understand why -- whether it was hitting a freshman big wall, confidence shattered, being told he wasn't going to keep taking Sanogo's minutes or something else -- but my eyes tell me that, refs aside, he is not the same player.

When DC was the dominant DC, we were literally as good as anyone in the country. While we've been a very good team since having hit bottom in late January, we're not at that level. The 4 seed line is roughly how we've played the last month and a half -- maybe a little generous. We should get to the Sweet 16, and we certainly could get to Houston, without DC reverting to who he was in November and December. But if there is one key to a deep run, it's the early season DC coming back to us. Because that's the difference between a really good team that could do something special, and a great team that should do something special.

Very insightful post, but I think he’s the same Donavan Clingan. I mean will Aaron Judge still be Aaron Judge the next time he goes 0-30? Call it the freshman wall if you want, my only worry is Hurley giving him less minutes. We definitely needed him on the floor for a lot more than 10 minutes against Marquette. Maybe an early round in the NCAA is a good time for Hurley to try Sanogo and Clingan on the floor together and see how it effects UConn’s ability to get shooters open and how UConn might dominate the boards.

 

[Umami Zen]

Avoid turnovers on offense --Create turnovers on defense and convert to made baskets

 

[MuchoDogYears]

NCAA tournament teams that have a uniqueness to them make deep runs.

It can be a special player (a Patrick Ewing swatting everything) or a unique style of play (Arkansas full court press under Richardson).

Either way, the opposing team has never seen or experienced playing against that talent, or style, or height, or speed, or whatever. In a pressure packed one and done game that uniqueness becomes a huge advantage.

Sanogo, Hawkins, Karaban , Newton, the bench…good players all, but none unique.

But DC and AJax are both unique. Most teams in the tourney won’t have experienced playing against a 7’2” skilled center like DC or an athletic freak like AJax.

So I agree with BusinessLawyer. DC, along with AJax, are what UConn brings to the table that no other team we play will have experienced dealing with before.

The rest of the team must do their part for UConn to win. But DC and AJ are the “secret sauce”.