Something Good Came Out Of This Tonight

[jibsey]

So Hawkins looked like Ray Allen out there, perimeter and taking it to the rack 2nd half, getting to line. We missed a lot of foul shots, a key 1 and 1too. Hawkins becomes the clock winding down guy and as it should be because he can make free throws and his shots have a chance. If we're going anywhere he has to have the ball. Jackson's job is to make sure he gets it.

 

[shizzle787]

So Hawkins looked like Ray Allen out there, perimeter and taking it to the rack 2nd half, getting to line. We missed a lot of foul shots, a key 1 and 1too. Hawkins becomes the clock winding down guy and as it should be because he can make free throws and his shots have a chance. If we're going anywhere he has to have the ball. Jackson's job is to make sure he gets it.

We lost. Nothing good came out of tonight. We are 5-6 in the league and the #6 seed if the BE tournament started today. We are playing on Wednesday right now.

 

[ToolzieFan]

We lost. Nothing good came out of tonight. We are 5-6 in the league and the #6 seed if the BE tournament started today. We are playing on Wednesday right now.

Everyone knows we lost and where we stand. The fact that Hawkins and Newton made big shots and big plays tonight still could mean an awful lot going forward.

 

[Chin Diesel]

So Hawkins looked like Ray Allen out there, perimeter and taking it to the rack 2nd half, getting to line. We missed a lot of foul shots, a key 1 and 1too. Hawkins becomes the clock winding down guy and as it should be because he can make free throws and his shots have a chance. If we're going anywhere he has to have the ball. Jackson's job is to make sure he gets it.

I did have visions of Ray Allen against UCLA in NCAAT. UConn lost but a star was born.

Hopefully, Hurley, his staff, Hawk, and the team realize it's on Hawk's shoulders and shooting stroke this team goes far this season

 

[jibsey]

We lost. Nothing good came out of tonight. We are 5-6 in the league and the #6 seed if the BE tournament started today. We are playing on Wednesday right now.

Forget about that. This is Hawkins team and Hurley and the coaching staff better see it. They also need to put a stop to Jackson taking 3's, he's low percentage. And one other thing, Hawkins knows he can penetrate he wasn't tentative going in tonight. He'll get beat up a bit but he has to do it.

 

[storrsroars]

So Hawkins looked like Ray Allen out there, perimeter and taking it to the rack 2nd half, getting to line. We missed a lot of foul shots, a key 1 and 1too. Hawkins becomes the clock winding down guy and as it should be because he can make free throws and his shots have a chance. If we're going anywhere he has to have the ball. Jackson's job is to make sure he gets it.

The guys shot 76% from the FT line. And that's with Clingan missing his two. Foul shooting was fine.

The "good thing" is that they scored 55 in a half vs a top 15 team. Solid D and aggressive offense. We're finding that not only Hawk, but also Newton, will play bigger roles down the stretch.

And that would've won the game if they'd managed even 30 in the first half. Played right into Sean Miller's hands early on with AJax hoisting seven 3s. But even AJax can make two of those on a normal night. And that also would've been enough.

 

[Rewster]

Thought that OP was going to say zone defense because our m to m is horrendous

 

[uconnsouth]

I was thinking the exact same thing about Hawkins. We need this type of player to make a run in March.

I feel way better about this team now, they’re finding their identity

 

[tentoes4rings]

Forget about that. This is Hawkins team and Hurley and the coaching staff better see it. They also need to put a stop to Jackson taking 3's, he's low percentage. And one other thing, Hawkins knows he can penetrate he wasn't tentative going in tonight. He'll get beat up a bit but he has to do it.

Andre just shouldn’t take any more threes. He hits an occasional one but it’s simply not worth it. He and Alleyne took too many shots in the 1st half while Hawkins and Sanogo barely did. That can’t ever happen again.

 

[JMick]

aren't we past the point of moral victories?

 

[JonnyRI]

aren't we past the point of moral victories?

Not until we get actual victories.

 

[storrsroars]

aren't we past the point of moral victories?

For me it's less about a moral victory than it is seeing what the guys can actually do when they play like they're capable. It's hard to resolve how to feel about a team that plays one half like Georgetown and the other half like the 1990 Runnin' Rebels.

 

[MyDorona]

No one is happy about tonight's loss. But those here who are pointing to our current record or projected BET seeding to rebut the OP are missing the bigger point. Our biggest problem during this swoon has been our inability to create offense outside structure. Hawkins was sensational in the second half. He could be making The Leap, and just in time. He could very well become the explosive creator and scorer we need by March.

It is also good to see Newton assert himself against top-tier competition.

 

[MyDorona]

 

[MyDorona]

Last 4 games (since meeting his idol Ray):

23.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 52% FG, 14 3PM

 

[uconngb]

The guys shot 76% from the FT line. And that's with Clingan missing his two. Foul shooting was fine.

The "good thing" is that they scored 55 in a half vs a top 15 team. Solid D and aggressive offense. We're finding that not only Hawk, but also Newton, will play bigger roles down the stretch.

And that would've won the game if they'd managed even 30 in the first half. Played right into Sean Miller's hands early on with AJax hoisting seven 3s. But even AJax can make two of those on a normal night. And that also would've been enough.

Solid D?? We gave up 82 points and yet ANOTHER team shot over 50% against us. The defense was awful tonight. The zone provided a spark of energy, but X still scored 43 points in the 2nd half.

 

[Dutch Boyd]

We lost. Nothing good came out of tonight. We are 5-6 in the league and the #6 seed if the BE tournament started today. We are playing on Wednesday right now.

You’re not wrong, but he’s not wrong either. It is something to build on. Our offensive sets in the second half actually looked good running through him. Obviously it was too late, but I’d rather see this than force feeding the post or that stupid weave that does nothing.

 

[uconnfan68]

Andre just shouldn’t take any more threes. He hits an occasional one but it’s simply not worth it. He and Alleyne took too many shots in the 1st half while Hawkins and Sanogo barely did. That can’t ever happen again.

That happens because Hawk and Adama are doubleteamed. They dare AJ to shoot and don’t really care about Alleyne or the others.

 

[August_West]

Everyone knows we lost and where we stand. The fact that Hawkins and Newton made big shots and big plays tonight still could mean an awful lot going forward.

Mentioning Newton and Hawkins in the same breath is heresy.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

It’s insane how our bench went from a strength to literally nothing outside of Clingan.

I’m in the camp that AJax shouldn’t start. He adds ZILCH in the half court, and hasn’t even defended well for weeks, takes too many chances and fouls too much. Let him be an energy guy off the bench. We start out 4v5 because no one respects his offensive game. His passing hasn’t even been that great recently.

 

[uconnfan68]

It’s insane how our bench went from a strength to literally nothing outside of Clingan.

I’m in the camp that AJax shouldn’t start. He adds ZILCH in the half court, and hasn’t even defended well for weeks, takes too many chances and fouls too much. Let him be an energy guy off the bench. We start out 4v5 because no one respects his offensive game. His passing hasn’t even been that great recently.

Clingan didn’t distinguish himself either. He needs to learn to let good playing do his talking.

 

[UCann]

I honestly think we’re better off for having lost this game. Yeah it sucks to be where we are right now but we saw all the good that came out of it, including Hawk hopefully establishing himself, and what we can be especially in that second half. This team plays better with a chip on its shoulder - they’re not front runners. Possibly being unranked after this week, seeded lower in the BET and even NCAA tourney will motivate the guys just like it did earlier in the season. I’d bet anything that if we play X again, we beat them. We peaked too early, now we’re in a trough, and ready to start peaking again in March.

 

[giddyup]

Clingan didn’t distinguish himself either. He needs to learn to let good playing do his talking.

It’s the first team I saw really take it to him and challenge him. They put up some circus shots get over him but he was getting frustrated. I think we will see more guys take it down low and try and bully up through him to draw fouls. He didn’t handle it well. Also the 1-3-1 is a disaster. They were solid in a 3-2 and pressing.

 

[Scrutineer]

Clingan didn’t distinguish himself either. He needs to learn to let good playing do his talking.

DC had 2 points and 3 rebounds in 7 minutes. I didn't see the last 12 minutes due to a commitment so I don't know how effective he was, but are you saying he's the reason we lost?

The problems I saw were how much harder Xavier played, especially early, our loose defense and their two reserves totally outplayed our vaunted deep bench.

Hunter killed us again and Desmond Claude (who apparently will be Hurley's Gomes), from New Haven, who some say we didn't recruit, had 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 20 minutes without a turnover, while our three reserve guards had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 0 assists and 1 turnover in 28 minutes.

If we had the JC of Nov/Dec games, and the NA of last year at VaTech, we wouldn't have more than two losses.

 

[UConniki]

Everyone knows we lost and where we stand. The fact that Hawkins and Newton made big shots and big plays tonight still could mean an awful lot going forward.

I’m sure everyone taking the time to vent understandable frustration with the downward spiral this team and coach is in is hoping for that to happen and they can salvage a once promising season ( starting to look like last year’s team might accomplish more than this team). Who’d of thought that a month ago.

 

[jibsey]

That happens because Hawk and Adama are doubleteamed. They dare AJ to shoot and don’t really care about Alleyne or the others.

Well then AJ is going to have to attack the rim, as will Newton, Alleyne and Hawkins. We saw Hawkins going in tonight with success and Newton. When that happens you get the easy dump off also. It was a bad January. Feb will be better. I hope.

 

[Edward Sargent]

The guys shot 76% from the FT line. And that's with Clingan missing his two. Foul shooting was fine.

The "good thing" is that they scored 55 in a half vs a top 15 team. Solid D and aggressive offense. We're finding that not only Hawk, but also Newton, will play bigger roles down the stretch.

And that would've won the game if they'd managed even 30 in the first half. Played right into Sean Miller's hands early on with AJax hoisting seven 3s. But even AJax can make two of those on a normal night. And that also would've been enough.

AJax was 0 for 3 on 3 pointers. So was Joey, Naheim hit one. My problem with AJax was he took the second most shots on the team

 

[PAHusky]

Not to be too pessimistic but it’s almost more depressing. Hawk went off, we finally got production out of Newton….and we still lost.

The celebrations for putting up 55 in a half against that team are hilarious too. Xavier doesn’t play defense, that’s their M.O.

 

[dennismenace]

Fall behind early missing a ton of shots and allowing the other team uncontested shots. Then make a desperate comeback in the second half to have a chance to win only to fail to close out. This looks very familiar. Happy for Hawk. We have a lot to look forward to next year with the new cast of characters. Hopefully the head coach will continue to grow with the incoming new players.

 

[freshler40]

We need at least one more player per game to show up to win these close games. Seems like several guys shut down per game, just stop looking for their shot. This put too much pressure on the few who do. Karaban needs to shoot more, 8-10 per game. If he is unwilling, as he often is, perhaps more bench time for him would instill this need for the team.
Our coaches tend to play players by the clock, not by how they are doing our where the game actually is at that point. Too many times we bench who is hot! Why, let it run, enjoy it, don't respond to the clock. Good to see some serious X & O' changes in the second half. Basketball is much like several board games.