Solo Ball the one-man escape hatch

[Inyatkin]

Not saying I like going down by 12 or 14 points every game. It takes a lot out of you to come back, usually.

But the way Solo can shoot we can erase a deficit in no time flat. He looked so good in the second half.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

He had a drive through traffic in the 2nd half that was the best take I’ve seen from him all year.

Would love for him to keep developing that, along with his find to Stewart, and the pull up mid range to really get his overall game going.

He has the tools to be the best guard in the country if he can do all of that consistently.

 

[Waquoit]

His ill-advised heat check brick late might have been the key to the game.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

He had a drive through traffic in the 2nd half that was the best take I’ve seen from him all year.

Would love for him to keep developing that, along with his find to Stewart, and the pull up mid range to really get his overall game going.

He has the tools to be the best guard in the country if he can do all of that consistently.

7:40, 8:20, 8:45

 

[shizzle787]

There are six players on the team I feel confidence about when they are on the floor: McNeeley, Karaban, Diarra, Ball, Reed, and Stewart. Really need Johnson and Mahaney to step up.

Ball is starting to remind me of Hawkins a little.

 

[superjohn]

He's been our best player the past 3 games and he's stepped it up more than anyone in Liam's absence.

 

[Jaydumo20]

There are six players on the team I feel confidence about when they are on the floor: McNeeley, Karaban, Diarra, Ball, Reed, and Stewart. Really need Johnson and Mahaney to step up.

Ball is starting to remind me of Hawkins a little.

100% just like hawk I'd like him to work on his midrange more, but that can wait till the pros if he can keep hitting 3s at this rate. Hass and Liam get to the rack nicely.

 

[Fan1978]

Not saying I like going down by 12 or 14 points every game. It takes a lot out of you to come back, usually.

But the way Solo can shoot we can erase a deficit in no time flat. He looked so good in the second half.

His defense was atrocious last night. Needs to improve quickly or team upside is limited

 

[Chin Diesel]

He is starting to have some Cristian Vital vibes. And I don't know if that's good or bad. He's can go long periods of not scoring and then goes on a streak of 10-12 points in 5 or 6 minutes.

 

[storrsroars]

He is starting to have some Cristian Vital vibes. And I don't know if that's good or bad. He's can go long periods of not scoring and then goes on a streak of 10-12 points in 5 or 6 minutes.

If you're talking 2020 CV (skipping the '19 part of that season), that would be a good thing. Especially February/March 2020.

 

[RuffRuff]

Really encouraging to see him working on those things we need him to be rather than settling for being a 3 point specialist. You can sense he’s doing it with intention which is great. Now we need more consistency.

He has one of the softest, prettier shots I’ve seen in a Husky uniform. The ball comes off his fingertips like a feather. Has to be in part because of those big hands. He still gets eaten up going to the rim, need him to go up strong and draw fouls. He hasn’t figured that out yet. Also needs to keep calibrating to depths within 3 point territory - has seemed so locked into the 3 that it almost feels like he occasionally lacks feel for anything not a 3. It should come.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

He had a drive through traffic in the 2nd half that was the best take I’ve seen from him all year.

Would love for him to keep developing that, along with his find to Stewart, and the pull up mid range to really get his overall game going.

He has the tools to be the best guard in the country if he can do all of that consistently.

Completely agree. Once he realizes he’s the dog, it’s going to be fun to watch.

 

[Fishy]

His defense was atrocious last night. Needs to improve quickly or team upside is limited

His defense is mind-bogglingly bad. He has no idea what he’s doing.

But jesus, that kid can shoot.

 

[husky429]

He's been our best player the past 3 games and he's stepped it up more than anyone in Liam's absence.

Jaylin was our best player last game. TBH I don't think it was close. But I agree with the general point.

Solo is the kind of guy you HAVE to stick with. He'll give you absolutely nothing 20 minutes a game, and then explode for 15 in 5 minutes. If he defends well enough to be a neutral for those 20 minutes, you gotta trust that the scoring spurt is going to happen. Problem is he ISN'T defending well enough to be a neutral a lot of the time.

 

[superjohn]

Jaylin was our best player last game. TBH I don't think it was close. But I agree with the general point.

Solo is the kind of guy you HAVE to stick with. He'll give you absolutely nothing 20 minutes a game, and then explode for 15 in 5 minutes. If he defends well enough to be a neutral for those 20 minutes, you gotta trust that the scoring spurt is going to happen. Problem is he ISN'T defending well enough to be a neutral a lot of the time.

Is anyone besides Hass really defending? We're awesome at shotblocking but I don't really see Solo, AK, Ross, Jaylin, Mahaney staying with anyone.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Completely agree. Once he realizes he’s the dog, it’s going to be fun to watch.

Part of that is the staff telling him he’s that and having him work towards that. I think it’s that’s starting to happen.

 

[mauconnfan]

There are six players on the team I feel confidence about when they are on the floor: McNeeley, Karaban, Diarra, Ball, Reed, and Stewart. Really need Johnson and Mahaney to step up.

Ball is starting to remind me of Hawkins a little.

Actually a better shooter than Hawk but not close as a defender. Bad new on that front is Hawkins wasn’t all that great as a defender either but he did improve.

 

[aceboon]

7:40, 8:20, 8:45

that ball fake and then take into the lane is the quick twitch and explosiveness I've been waiting to see, his game is starting to look more layered now. As teams start to try to run him off the line getting into the lane for a middy pull-up or all the way to the rim should be there for him now like it was for Hawkins.

 

[auror]

Is anyone besides Hass really defending? We're awesome at shotblocking but I don't really see Solo, AK, Ross, Jaylin, Mahaney staying with anyone.

Jaylin has been inconsistent, but he was excellent on D last night. I think getting the start and challenging him helped in that way.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Jaylin has been inconsistent, but he was excellent on D last night. I think getting the start and challenging him helped in that way.

Yeah sometimes a little trust and rope goes a long way towards a guys confidence.

 

[auror]

Yeah sometimes a little trust and rope goes a long way towards a guys confidence.

And it's just easier to be "in the game" and attentive when you're starting and playing 30+ minutes vs. coming in off the bench and having to get your bearings each time.

 

[HuskyAlum012]

His defense is mind-bogglingly bad. He has no idea what he’s doing.

But jesus, that kid can shoot.

I am honestly surprised Hurley recruited a player with his lack of effort on the defensive end. It is extremely hard to watch him defend with his hands at his ankles every single game. I am not even sure his offensive explosiveness (which is really really good) makes up for being a complete liability on the defensive end

 

[Stinger92860]

Not saying I like going down by 12 or 14 points every game. It takes a lot out of you to come back, usually.

But the way Solo can shoot we can erase a deficit in no time flat. He looked so good in the second half.

This game of basketball requires playing defense too. Yes he scored 16 but he lost at least 2 players resulting in easy put backs and how many times have you seen a player drive around him and hit a reverse layup. I think it’s on tape and opposing players are told to clear and let the man with the ball take Ball to the hoop. I have to stay its a good strategy and one I would use if I was on the other team.

He needs to play with intensity every second on defense. He is not ever going to be a shutdown defender but hopefully he can defend better.

 

[Stinger92860]

Is anyone besides Hass really defending? We're awesome at shotblocking but I don't really see Solo, AK, Ross, Jaylin, Mahaney staying with anyone.

I thought Jaylin provided excellent defense more often than not, certainly much better than Ross last night at least. I wish he shot more when open and not hesitate.

 

[gtcam]

CV would drive to the hoop with intensity and purpose - Ball doesn't have a hint of that on a consistent basis.
CV could be a shutdown defender - Ball is a matador right now.
CV shot both the 3 ball and the midrange - he took what the D gave him. Ball doesn't see the court the same way
K Sampson said CV should have been POY in the AAC - I hardly think he would consider Ball to be the same.
Ball has one of the most beautiful left-handed shots I have seen in years, but he needs to add a lot more to his arsenal asap.