Solo Ball is a great player and key part of this team

[Marat]

They will not be able to win a championship without Solo. He is that important.

As others have said he has been a valuable contributor in other ways, a big improvement from last year where he was more one dimensional.

If he can rediscover his shooting form to be a 35% shooter, it will elevate this offense back into the elite ranks.

His defense has been improved, his passing and finishing around the hoop have been significantly better.

Saturday is a really good spot for a get right game versus a team that is really bad at defending the perimeter

We will need his outside shot in the NCAAs. He has some time to recalibrate it if needed.

 

[RuffRuff]

The EM data supports as much. Mullins is climbing here and should jump him, but he's still one of the 5 best players on the team. He needs to find his way with Mullins out there.

 

[Nameless]

View attachment 115963

The EM data supports as much. Mullins is climbing here and should jump him, but he's still one of the 5 best players on the team. He needs to find his way with Mullins out there.

How does Smith barely have a better DBPR than Ball? That seems crazy to me at first glance but there has to be a reason

 

[TheShot1990]

This place cracks me up sometimes. Anybody remember this thread? Now the term "unplayable" gets thrown around.

Thread 'How is Ball not getting more shots!?!?'

Jan 22, 2025

I realized this has been mentioned in the number of threads, but looking at his stats and how well he's been shooting the ball most of the season, I don't know why they're not running more plays and featuring his capabilities.

He's shooting 45% from 3 and 47% overall. I can understand the coaching staff telling him to lower his volume if he's bricking a bunch of shots, but that's not the case. When he gets going and is dialed in, he's deadly. I'm not saying that other players shouldn't be looking for their shot, but when they get into these funks where they find themselves throwing up a...

• DogMania
• Replies: 45
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 

Other teams wondered the same last year. "Why don't you guys pass it to Ball even more? We couldn't contain him." (paraphrase)

 

[Inyatkin]

You mean there's variance in shooting and even good shooters go into long slumps? No way

 

[RuffRuff]

You mean there's variance in shooting and even good shooters go into long slumps? No way

Those were not kind rims - SHU tightened them.

 

[Inyatkin]

Those were not kind rims - SHU tightened them.

I think we could have won easily if things had gone differently, but we should also acknowledge they shot 1-16 from three. That's hard to do

 

[NJHusky]

This place cracks me up sometimes. Anybody remember this thread? Now the term "unplayable" gets thrown around.

Thread 'How is Ball not getting more shots!?!?'

Jan 22, 2025

I realized this has been mentioned in the number of threads, but looking at his stats and how well he's been shooting the ball most of the season, I don't know why they're not running more plays and featuring his capabilities.

He's shooting 45% from 3 and 47% overall. I can understand the coaching staff telling him to lower his volume if he's bricking a bunch of shots, but that's not the case. When he gets going and is dialed in, he's deadly. I'm not saying that other players shouldn't be looking for their shot, but when they get into these funks where they find themselves throwing up a...

• DogMania
• Replies: 45
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 

Other teams wondered the same last year. "Why don't you guys pass it to Ball even more? We couldn't contain him." (paraphrase)

Just so I’m clear. You think we should make decisions on Ball’s usage now based off his stats LAST YEAR? Not his current play?

I’m not suggesting we glue Solo to the bench and I hope he can find his stroke, but there is no guarantee he will.

Dauster made a point in his podcast that maybe Solo is trying too hard to impress NBA folks? And since his 3 shooting has been so poor he’s pressing even more to get the number up.

Guys have off years…Ak 3 ball last year for ex.

Hoping Solo figures it out before March

 

[RuffRuff]

Just so I’m clear. You think we should make decisions on Ball’s usage now based off his stats LAST YEAR? Not his current play?

I’m not suggesting we glue Solo to the bench and I hope he can find his stroke, but there is no guarantee he will.

Dauster made a point in his podcast that maybe Solo is trying too hard to impress NBA folks? And since his 3 shooting has been so poor he’s pressing even more to get the number up.

Guys have off years…Ak 3 ball last year for ex.

Hoping Solo figures it out before March

He's definitely pressing. It's like when you shank a couple in a row golfing. Issue it diving into all other areas of his game. It's like his driver not being straight is impacting his short game.

 

[hasheemthedream]

He is certainly one of our best players on the season...I would like to see those stats on the last 5 games....He'll bounce back!!

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Donovan Dent is shooting 9% from three against UCLA's D1 opponents this season. Weird stuff happens.

 

[Waquoit]

I don't feel like piling on but let's not pretend he's playing well right now. Unlike Mullins, where they pointed out last night his consistant stroke, Ball's stroke is all over the place. Here's from inspiration from a classic about the need to tighten up one's stroke.

 

[RuffRuff]

Donovan Dent is shooting 9% from three against UCLA's D1 opponents this season. Weird stuff happens.

Not sure what Mick is doing over there at UCLA - doesn't seem to be working. Mara leaves and he becomes a centerpiece, Dent goes over there and he regresses. The leprachaun doesn't have the midas touch.

 

[boog204]

Kemba took a bit of a beating too his sophomore year when we went off the rails - Dyson took more, but Kemba’s limitations as a point guard were viewed as a part of the problem. Nobody saw that 2011 run coming that offseason.

Ben frustrated the board in the middle of his career - when he had the “Gentle Ben” tag. Similar to Kemba, we loved him as a freshman sparkplug off the bench - but the next step to featured player and stardom was bumpy.

Good call on Kemba. I do remember him getting criticized quite a bit his soph year, and nobody expected the level of improvement he displayed JR year where he carried us as much if not more than any player in our history, imo. Dyson definitely was criticized quite a bit, too, until his injury, and we realized just how important and good of a player he was.

We could add first-year AJ to the list, too. He was not treated fondly for the combo of his play/rust, and the stupid laptop thing.

I personally don't remember Ben being ripped as others mentioned here and above. It was more in the Rudy Gay vein of "he could be doing more." And if people were ripping him for averaging 19.5/4/5 shooting 40+ from 3, then it's further proof that portions of this fanbase just do not get it.

 

[UConn77]

Kemba took a bit of a beating too his sophomore year when we went off the rails - Dyson took more, but Kemba’s limitations as a point guard were viewed as a part of the problem. Nobody saw that 2011 run coming that offseason.

Ben frustrated the board in the middle of his career - when he had the “Gentle Ben” tag. Similar to Kemba, we loved him as a freshman sparkplug off the bench - but the next step to featured player and stardom was bumpy.

My first year in Storrs, there was a transfer guard named Jimmy Foster. For a time he was booed by the fans for what was perceived as poor play, given the weighty expectations. Jimmy came around and had a great 1973-74 season and was instrumental in leading the Huskies to the NIT, which was a big deal at the time. The point is that this happens all the time. Solo will figure it out and will be fine.

 

[Waquoit]

I personally don't remember Ben being ripped as others mentioned here and above. It was more in the Rudy Gay vein of "he could be doing more." And if people were ripping him for averaging 19.5/4/5 shooting 40+ from 3, then it's further proof that portions of this fanbase just do not get it.

Calhoun is the one who ripped Ben a new one that year, so your "further proof" point is literally pointless. I believe the quote JC delivered right about this time of the season was, "If you don't get your head out of your ass, you're gonna have to come back next year!" IIRC, that did the trick.

 

[UCan3]

Solo’s going through a rough patch but will be fine.

“People boo because they want to cheer”
- Derek Jeter

One aspect of Solo's game- who had one of his best games ever last week - is that he very much struggles at the end of games.

For example, last might he gets an inbound pass - he get's double teamed once again - and rather than step through defenders and maybe a bounce pass he tried to jump up and throw ball over the two defenders - over and over again - as it happened last night - turnovers at critical junctures of the game.

Another example, last night again w/2 minutes left his feet from ~8 ft from SH player shooting he was supposed to be defending with no chance of blocking or altering shot, he leaps up w/ arms in the air. Well Solo that needless jump to make it look like you were playing good D left you 10 ft from basket and let SH player grab and put back in that shot to make it a 3 pt game I believe.

At times, he looks like he isn't recognizing that this is crunch time - that everything he does matters.

Listen, we sometimes categorize any criticism of Solo as "well now your "anti-Solo" I am most definitely not. But there is a level of maturity that we need to see from him if we are going to go all the way.

Without Solo making these efforts to adjust game in close games, our chances of winning it all goes way down.

I am rooting for him - he's the right guy - just hope coaches working with him on how to adjust as the game calls for it. Dunks when you're up by 13 pts are great. But if it's a 3 pt game you got to rise to the occasion with you how play D and how you protect the ball.

 

[Ubobconn22]

Ball’s dunk at the beginning of the game is one of the best dunk’s of the year. I’d like to see more of those.
Like others have said, Mullins success may have gotten in Ball’s head but there will be game soon that where his head clears and they are both hitting their three’s. I don’t gamble and I’m not sure you can make this bet but I guarantee Ball and Mullins will both hit over 4 three’s at Villanova game in Hartford.

 

[Inyatkin]

Ball’s dunk at the beginning of the game is one of the best dunk’s of the year. I’d like to see more of those.
Like others have said, Mullins success may have gotten in Ball’s head but there will be game soon that where his head clears and they are both hitting their three’s. I don’t gamble and I’m not sure you can make this bet but I guarantee Ball and Mullins will both hit over 4 three’s at Villanova game in Hartford.

Can we nip this in the bud please?

Ball knew how good Mullins is all along. There's no reason to think this is anything other than a slump, or maybe he does have a wrist injury, who knows. But this drama so many are referencing is made up out of whole cloth

 

[superjohn]

Can we nip this in the bud please?

Ball knew how good Mullins is all along. There's no reason to think this is anything other than a slump, or maybe he does have a wrist injury, who knows. But this drama so many are referencing is made up out of whole cloth

RuffRuff put it out there and people ran with it.

 

[Inyatkin]

RuffRuff put it out there and people ran with it.

Yeah, not real helpful

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Solo Ball has been the best UConn player on the floor several times this year and many times last year. It really upsets me when fans on this forums go super negative when a player has a stretch off a couple subpar games. We have seen Tristen Newton haters, Andre Jackson haters, Sanogo haters, etc. A constant stream of negative jerks who just want to bury players when they have a bad stretch. Please Stop. I don’t want to hear negativity about Solo. He is a great player. He has proven himself and deserves patience and the benefit of the doubt.

I guess you are a better fan than me. Congratulations. I am not a fan boy. We are not talking about a couple of games. He is a shooting guard who is shooting at a 28.8% from 3. That stat alone, along with my eyeballs, tell me the kid is struggling this year. Solo is awesome dude. But at the halfway point of the season, he is objectively struggling.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Can we nip this in the bud please?

Ball knew how good Mullins is all along. There's no reason to think this is anything other than a slump, or maybe he does have a wrist injury, who knows. But this drama so many are referencing is made up out of whole cloth

It's funny, obviously we only know what we see and we're not privy to the locker room dynamic but it's been a noticeable hallmark of Hurley's teams that there is an across-the-board level of selflessness and team first mentality that's pretty noticeable. I find the idea that Ball is spooked by Mullins to be completely antithetical to what we know about Ball's makeup and the culture of the program generally.

 

[noelle]

why would solo be worried about mullins lmao. if you want to go there, he is concerned about his own performance and his draft projection.