Some Positive take-aways from the SU game.

[DogMania]

I realize that all of us wanted a W, which would have a lot more positives, such as locking up an at large bid, a likely BE and NCAA seeding bump, etc. But here are some positives to hang their hats on:

1. Outplayed the #2 team in the nation in the 2nd half, which should be a big confidence booster proving to themselves they can play with just about anyone in the nation if they work hard, execute and continue to build on what they did.

2. Roscoe, who IMO is a very important piece of the puzzle finally had a very good game form which he can build on.

3. Boatright & Bazz did a much better job running the half-court, granted it was against the zone. Hopefully they can build on this effort and get their teammates running their sets more precisely and with more energy which we saw during some stretches of the geam. I'd just like to see them do this for as close to a full 40 as possible.

4. Boatright's 3 pt shooting came back around on Saturday. Let's hope he can continue to stroke his J with confidence. I'd like to see him return to the good finisher in traffic that he showed when he first began playing earlier in the season. He's really struggled lately to finish his drives.

5. AD put up some impressive numbers as long as he focuses no making plays close to the basket. The next time he takes one of those turn-around Js, I'd like to see one of his teammates slap him aside the head. If he just learn to spend more time close to the basket on both ends of the floor, we are clearly a better team. He and the other bigs need to learn when and when not to go out with the Big their covering who wanders beyond the foul line. SU exploited this tendency pulling our bigs out of the paint and then driving into the lane with little to no resistance. I hope they noticed this on tape and work more at teaching AD and Alex to recognize what the opposition is doing and play accordingly.

6. After a slow start, Lamb shot the ball well, but 15 shots in a game like that is not nearly enough. Granted it was better than some of the more recent games where he got off less shots. He should be taking close to 20 a game, depending on how his teammates are shooting the ball. Seems he's not getting many shots off during those scoring droughts when teams make a run on them. Last year, Kemba was a big time scoring drought buster. We don't seem to have anyone who is capable of demanding the ball and telling everyone to get the h*ll out of their way.

If this team can find a way to maintain this level of play against PC and Pitt, they'll finish at .500 in the conference and pretty much punch their NCAA ticket. I'm surprised that it is such, but the bubble is filled with a ton of teams that are in much worse shape than UConn and simply can't seem to make a strong case for themselves...i.e. they keep on losing.

 

[Kitaman]

Good post, also defense was excellent in the 2nd half. Could be better, but nonetheless it was fantastic. Melo was a non factor, offensively, in the 2nd half.

 

[businesslawyer]

I would add that I thought AO was outstanding in the 2d half. We didn't see him down the stretch because you had to leave Roscoe in at the 4 and Drummond was putting up numbers at the 5, but that might have been the best combined effort by Drummond and AO in a very long time.

Now, can they sustain it when they're on the floor together more?

 

[caw]

A Cuse player had an interesting quote on how in the second half they didn't run because they were "running their stuff". I didn't see that. They didn't run because they didn't force turnovers. So unless "running their stuff" means playing worse defense, I'm not sure how you construe that one.

 

[sparky]

We played a VG second half. Boat and Bazz did well and RS was a beast as was AD Giffey sucked and DD doesn't look like he could throw the ball into the ocean from the beach.

The last play was awful, but it did define who we are. We are" without" Kemba who had the onions to take the last shot. The guards deferred and I would have liked to see either of the 2 shoot it.

 

[Husky Dynasty]

We played a VG second half. Boat and Bazz did well and RS was a beast as was AD Giffey sucked and DD doesn't look like he could throw the ball into the ocean from the beach.

The last play was awful, but it did define who we are. We are" without" Kemba who had the onions to take the last shot. The guards deferred and I would have liked to see either of the 2 shoot it.

If by "sucked," you mean played pretty damn well, then yes, Giffey "sucked." I hope Giffey keeps bringing that "sucky" energy to the team, keeps "suckily"/confidently slashing into the middle of a zone, and putting "sucky" hits on guys who are waltzing unhindered to the basket.

Hopefully Giff builds off of that game and is allowed by Blaney to play a few more productive minutes against PC.

 

[SubbaBub]

A Cuse player had an interesting quote on how in the second half they didn't run because they were "running their stuff". I didn't see that. They didn't run because they didn't force turnovers. So unless "running their stuff" means playing worse defense, I'm not sure how you construe that one.

Uconn took fewer dumb shots and had fewer turnovers because they actually moved the ball in and out and didn't burn 20 seconds off the shot clock before freelancing. This stopped Cuse's transition game.

The notable exceptions being AD's 18 jumpshot and Bazz's 28' three pt attempt with about 4 min left.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[Kitaman]

We played a VG second half. Boat and Bazz did well and RS was a beast as was AD Giffey sucked and DD doesn't look like he could throw the ball into the ocean from the beach.

The last play was awful, but it did define who we are. We are" without" Kemba who had the onions to take the last shot. The guards deferred and I would have liked to see either of the 2 shoot it.

This is a positive topic and thread and these words/phrases don't belong here.

Don't know about you but personally I appreciate and need more positive talk about this team, irrespective of our tournament future.