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

[Scottobot]

Now the term "unplayable"

Someone saying Solo “has become unplayable” on that Seton Hall thread was what made me feel the need to start this thread. That comment was just ridiculous and over the top.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I think all five of our starters are extremely important. Is Solo as important as Reed, Karaban, Mullins, or Silas? I’m not sure about that, but we do need them all healthy and starting, if we are going to win the title.

 

[Woof]

Sometimes people figure it out, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the optimists are right, sometimes the pessimists are right. But make no mistake, the optimists are wrong about the same percentage of the time as the pessimists.

 

[Scottobot]

Sometimes people figure it out, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the optimists are right, sometimes the pessimists are right. But make no mistake, the optimists are wrong about the same percentage of the time as the pessimists.

I disagree with that strongly. UConn has won 6 …. that’s right 6 titles since 1999. That success has been well beyond the even the most wildly optimistic fans could have imagine. The pessimists doubted every one of UConn’s great players and given the success the program has had its time to give up that negative attitude.

 

[Woof]

I disagree with that strongly. UConn has won 6 …. that’s right 6 titles since 1999. That success has been well beyond the even the most wildly optimistic fans could have imagine. The pessimists doubted every one of UConn’s great players and given the success the program has had its time to give up that negative attitude.

That's the story in your head. You assume every pessimist is a cynic versus just a simple skeptic. Plenty of pessimistic people thought that there was a good chance that Donyell Marshall and Ray Allen were going to carry us to Final Fours. Same for the Rip/Khalid combo. Same for Caron. Same for Emeka. And the 2023/2024 team as well. When I say, "good chance", I mean >50% probability. Optimists might have thought the probability was higher but both thought >50%. So, we never got to the final four with Donyell or Ray but we did get those crazy runs with Kemba and Shabazz. Both pessimists and optimists are wrong sometimes. Neither is a crime to anything but someone's ego.

 

[Stasher599]

This board is so crazy!! We are ranked top 3 in the country while having the best start ever under Hurley and people still find something negative to complain about.

 

[Arod18]

He's been an excellent player here, and he's going through a rough patch. I guess I look at it like this...

"Rickety" Moore --> was destroyed on the early versions of these boards. National Champion and all-time Husky

Taliek --> From that game freshman year, where he missed those free throws to almost his final game here, he was ripped apart. National champion, our all-time assist king, and Husky legend.

Bazz --> Called "UConn's worst point guard under Calhoun" and crushed here for being selfish blah blah blah... absolute legend, two-time champ, and finals MVP, and immortalized in the Huskies of Honor

Newton --> "Weak link" and "not a point guard" --> Two years, two natty's, could have easily been a two-time finals MVP, and immortalized in the Huskies of Honor

Andre --> Couldn't shoot, a liability, no basketball IQ, too passive.... an absolute dominant force by the end of his career.

Castle --> was crushed here and labeled as overrated. I remember someone saying he was a worse shooter than Andre and wasn't able to guard 1's and 2's. 'nuff said.

Point is that this is a stupidly critical group of often-stupid people who frequently make stupid statements (I've had a million of them) about our players. It's not going to stop. But history tells me that when this board goes on their witchhunts, it often leaves behind delicious reciepts that look totally asinine. I'm looking forward to Solo shutting a lot of people up as he figures this all out.

And I'll add... A couple of years ago, there was an article about "toxic" fanbases, and we were high on the list. Portions of the board went nuts into world's of denial. The constant attack on players, coaches, and everything else reeks of this toxicity. We've literally won six titles in 25ish years, and 1/2 the fanbase is miserable after a road win against a top 25 team. It's not going to stop. Just let people look foolish in hindsight.

Who the hell was saying any of that other that Andre can’t shoot which is true by the way? That was a dumb post. Sorry

 

[RuffRuff]

This board is so crazy!! We are ranked top 3 in the country while having the best start ever under Hurley and people still find something negative to complain about.

There is nothing to complain about. We are blessed fans. Breaking down things to a understand how this team can finish the job is where the fun is!

 

[boog204]

Who the hell was saying any of that other that Andre can’t shoot which is true by the way? That was a dumb post. Sorry

All of the people who were? You new here? People complained a lot that our offense was a mess because we had a non-shooter, who was passive, destroying all of our spacing. People here were constantly pissed that he never used his athleticism to go to the hoop with authority and instead would go up soft.

Here's an article about it... How UConn turned Andre Jackson Jr. into a cheat code — and the Huskies’ MVP

EDIT: And for funsies... Here's an entire thread of people saying that they don't "see it" with Jackson.

G

Thread 'AJ - I don't see it'

Dec 2, 2021

No doubt a spectacularly tremendous athlete. I don't see sufficient inner toughness or bball IQ to project he will consistently excel at this level.

• gimber
• Replies: 105
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 
• 

 

[Mr. French]

Who the hell was saying any of that other that Andre can’t shoot which is true by the way? That was a dumb post. Sorry

Every one of those things absolutely happened

 

[boog204]

Who the hell was saying any of that other that Andre can’t shoot which is true by the way? That was a dumb post. Sorry

And I read your post as just referring to Andre. Every single one of those things happened here or on the previous BY incarnations. Ricky was absolutely slaughtered here for his sophomore year. The Bazz post saying he is terrible has been posted here many, many times. There's an old thread about how dumb it is that our coach, a D1 PG, couldn't recruit a useful PG (Newton) when he knew we desperately needed one. Heading into the 23 tourney, there was a big question if our weak link (Newton) would hold us back.

 

[BGesus4]

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.

Somewhat of a homecoming for him too on Saturday

 

[HuskyHawk]

Solo is a good player. I wouldn't say great. He's been a great shooter and will bust out of this slump. His defense is better, he's rebounding better and taking it to the rim more effectively. He's not a good passer, if we're honest. In our offense that's not ideal. We need him, absolutely. But there are times when our best lineup doesn't have him in it, depending on game situation or matchup. He's due to put up 20 again soon. I don't think his shooting slump has anything to do with Mullins. Alex has had long slumps too. It happens.

 

[Gutter King]

There is nothing to complain about. We are blessed fans. Breaking down things to a understand how this team can finish the job is where the fun is!

These Solo hardliners are hopeless. They see any criticism and start frothing at the mouth. It's pretty delusional to think we are winning the championship with how our offense has been slipping gears (SH game obviously was played on a different planet), how we play defense in lengthy stretches, and how we don't put the nail in the coffin.

Just an FYI to all the non-critical thinkers: Solo gets the most heat because he is the most critical piece on this team. I'm a believer, I would imagine @RuffRuff is a believer, and any other fans are believers.

Solo HAS gotten better on D, he HAS rebounded his position better, he HAS created more offense in various ways this year, he IS a GREAT teammate and a good man. We are all rooting for him to find consistency in all those facets, limit the unforced errors, and move better on offense (especially when Braylon is in).

Here are other things that make us better: Tarris, Malachi, and Eric make their FTs. Braylon shoring up his defensive lapses (blown by at least 3x in the SH game) and the stepping out of bounds. JStew finding offensive consistency and attacking the FT line paint that seems to work everytime he is there.

It's not a "hot take", it's not "hate", it's just a discussion based around observations that a legendary coach and a good player get to try to figure out.

If it makes you feel better at the end of the season to get to say "I told you so" when Solo goes off and we win a NC, we'll all be here for it.

 

[Gurleyman]

The list of people who didn't have their detractors along the way is pretty tiny. It might really just be Rip, El-Amin and Okafor. And El-Amin caught a break when we won the Gonzaga game when he shot 0-12. But all were transformative as freshmen and kept getting better. Even KEA might have had a little as a junior for not being as good of an alpha without Rip (we had some bad days that year, getting our doors blown off at Michigan State, etc.), but that all got washed out in the end by his role in the title (he also sprained his ankle badly in the NCAA Tournament so he didn't get a final chapter).

I think Emeka truly reached rarified air of being bullet-proof, since he came in and was just way better than anyone expected at first, and then kept improving - and his lulls his final year were more a result of injury. I doubt anyone had much to say bad about him (other than FT shooting).

Henefeld was before the messageboard days, but he would have certainly been another, although playing only one year helps since people don't get the chance to have a vision of how much better you'll be in year two and be disappointed by not reaching that level. Ray was also pre-messageboard, but he might have taken a little heat for being a little soft at times if there was a public outlet (ie the Georgetown games, and Mississippi State).

Caron had lots of detractors his freshman (NIT) year. Rudy had plenty. CV had plenty. Rashad was popular in his gunslinger role, but took some heat for defense.

 

[RuffRuff]

These Solo hardliners are hopeless. They see any criticism and start frothing at the mouth. It's pretty delusional to think we are winning the championship with how our offense has been slipping gears (SH game obviously was played on a different planet), how we play defense in lengthy stretches, and how we don't put the nail in the coffin.

Just an FYI to all the non-critical thinkers: Solo gets the most heat because he is the most critical piece on this team. I'm a believer, I would imagine @RuffRuff is a believer, and any other fans are believers.

Solo HAS gotten better on D, he HAS rebounded his position better, he HAS created more offense in various ways this year, he IS a GREAT teammate and a good man. We are all rooting for him to find consistency in all those facets, limit the unforced errors, and move better on offense (especially when Braylon is in).

Here are other things that make us better: Tarris, Malachi, and Eric make their FTs. Braylon shoring up his defensive lapses (blown by at least 3x in the SH game) and the stepping out of bounds. JStew finding offensive consistency and attacking the FT line paint that seems to work everytime he is there.

It's not a "hot take", it's not "hate", it's just a discussion based around observations that a legendary coach and a good player get to try to figure out.

If it makes you feel better at the end of the season to get to say "I told you so" when Solo goes off and we win a NC, we'll all be here for it.

Team is still not a finished product. You can tell by watching Hurley that he knows they have more to work on, while winning. Not a bad place to be. I also think Hurley knows it's not in best interest to peak too early. 23 team didn't peak until the tourney. 24 the team didn't peak until mid Feb.

 

[noelle]

I'm not that hugely invested in the solo 'debate' mostly because he's not the most critical piece right now. their closing lineup with mullins and stewart is looking like a death star level lineup. It's seriously good enough to win it all. So the team doesn't need solo to recover form but it would sure be nice. Even in the worst case scenario Solo can be an effective decoy and take up minutes, and he's not bad just not the most winning impacting player right now and that's fine.

 

[Gutter King]

Team is still not a finished product. You can tell by watching Hurley that he knows they have more to work on, while winning. Not a bad place to be. I also think Hurley knows it's not in best interest to peak too early. 23 team didn't peak until the tourney. 24 the team didn't peak until mid Feb.

100%. This offense is capable of routinely hitting 80. With our pace of play and if we clean up our lapses on defense, it's hard to imagine losing any game when that happens.

The best part of this, and any season, is seeing players improve and have breakthroughs. We have MONTHS to see that, we aren't even close to seeing our final form.

 

[Arod18]

And I read your post as just referring to Andre. Every single one of those things happened here or on the previous BY incarnations. Ricky was absolutely slaughtered here for his sophomore year. The Bazz post saying he is terrible has been posted here many, many times. There's an old thread about how dumb it is that our coach, a D1 PG, couldn't recruit a useful PG (Newton) when he knew we desperately needed one. Heading into the 23 tourney, there was a big question if our weak link (Newton) would hold us back.

By over two people maybe but that’s not what was being said about those guys. You can’t take what one poster said and say that what we were saying here. It’s stupid

 

[RuffRuff]

100%. This offense is capable of routinely hitting 80. With our pace of play and if we clean up our lapses on defense, it's hard to imagine losing any game when that happens.

The best part of this, and any season, is seeing players improve and have breakthroughs. We have MONTHS to see that, we aren't even close to seeing our final form.

I get this feeling Hurley is intentionally staging the season to peak at the right time.

 

[noelle]

I get this feeling Hurley is intentionally staging the season to peak at the right time.

this is true. they are mostly just trying to run the offense so that guys get comfortable. in the providence game when they needed to make a comeback they played differently.

he's also getting the best lineup stabilized and have them play more together. the mullins/stewart/ak/tarris/silas lineup is almost +100 on evanmiya and that's just death star level. this lineup is the best in the country.

 

[boog204]

By over two people maybe but that’s not what was being said about those guys. You can’t take what one poster said and say that what we were saying here. It’s stupid

The point is, just as there are a small handful of people saying Solo should be benched, it is being said. That's the nature of this idiotic message board. Just because you think it's "stupid" does not negate the fact that it has happened and will continue to happen with posters on this board making idiotic assertions about our players.

And I don't know if you were a regular poster/lurker or not, but that list of players received a great deal of ridiculous sentiment here. And wayyyyyyyyyyy more than two people in most of those situations.

 

[Woof]

There is nothing to complain about. We are blessed fans. Breaking down things to a understand how this team can finish the job is where the fun is!

It is crazy to me that people still don't get that.

 

[RuffRuff]

this is true. they are mostly just trying to run the offense so that guys get comfortable. in the providence game when they needed to make a comeback they played differently.

he's also getting the best lineup stabilized and have them play more together. the mullins/stewart/ak/tarris/silas lineup is almost +100 on evanmiya and that's just death star level. this lineup is the best in the country.

Mullins arrival has been a game changer and he's barely broken ice. Silas coming into his own has been a bar raiser, and that should continue. Tarris seems to be finding more of a groove.

Solo has not been great of late - but he has perhaps the hardest new position on the floor having to give up a chunk of his role to a player that is taking a lot of those reps. My biggest issue with him last game was the ridiculous turnovers. I'm fine with missed shots.

 

[RuffRuff]

It is crazy to me that people still don't get that.

It's funny, we are 17-1 with a clear path to a 1 seed in the East. We are winning our league, should be 10-0 going into a real road test. There isn't much to complain about.