St. John’s Pregame Thoughts

[Icehawk]

St. John's is a very deep team. If this game becomes an even worse whistle fest than last night, we could struggle.

That would be tough although perhaps the combined might of StJ and UConn's record setting games yesterday will propel the number of fouls called to even greater heights.

 

[AllHusky]

St. John's had a bad loss to Xavier last night. Looking ahead to UConn? Except that they
don't the talent to overlook anybody. I think the NCAA would love to have the Johnnies in
The Dance but they seem to be headed in the wrong direction. They will be juiced on
Saturday...a [tough] win for us.

Don't underestimate our motivation coming off a disappointing WIN

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I think it’s funny that teams try to ugly up games vs us. We can out-tough yall too!

 

[dogpause]

Any word on Alex?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Need to have a plan to address over-aggressive guards on the high weave and pick-and-role.

A whole lot of this.

 

[husky8273]

Featuring one of the best fast breaks you’ll ever see capped by a KFree dunk.

Video?

 

[Deepster]

Video?

I think he’s talking about a fast break dunk where the ball didn’t touch the floor. It was like rebound-outlet-pass-dunk. Perfect fast break execution. I couldn’t find the game video but it was later first half, if I recall.

@Gurleyman would know for sure. He’s our encyclopedia.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I think he’s talking about a fast break dunk where the ball didn’t touch the floor. It was like rebound-outlet-pass-dunk. Perfect fast break execution. I couldn’t find the game video but it was later first half, if I recall.

@Gurleyman would know for sure. He’s our encyclopedia.

It was right before Jarvis's first timeout. I think it made the game 12-0. Hamilton rebound to Moore up to El Amin to Freeman. Not a single dribble and it took about 1.5 seconds.

Its on that archive of games that's available online. uconnhuskygames.com or something.

Holy , I thought that was sarcasm about honoring the '99 Elite Eight team. They're actually doing it.

 

[Deepster]

It was right before Jarvis's first timeout. I think it made the game 12-0. Hamilton rebound to Moore up to El Amin to Freeman. Not a single dribble and it took about 1.5 seconds.

Its on that archive of games that's available online. uconnhuskygames.com or something.

Holy , I thought that was sarcasm about honoring the '99 Elite Eight team. They're actually doing it.

I was there that night. Were you, BigErn? Good memory.

“So, Ron Artest….what was your favorite memory about hearing a 75% UConn crowd cheer the blowout win that night?”

 

[uconngb]

St John’s is honoring their 98-99 elite eight team at halftime.

You know, the team we ran off their home floor in the Big East tourney finals on our way to a national title that year. LOL

Every time is entitled to celebrate their programs ceiling

 

[FearThePups]

It's going to be tough to beat us no matter what, but the game plan IS to play uber-physical and muck things up like Providence did. SHU did the same thing when they had our number.

Away from home? This is going to be a tough, tough game if it's played like yesterday. Our guys know this and will be prepared, I'm sure.

So be it. I would prefer the refs swallow their whistles than calling every ticky tack foul.

 

[NJHusky]

DC gets called for fouls because he brings his arms down way too often. He needs to work on it. And also, don't go for head fakes. He is taller and longer than everyone he defends. Stay on the ground until they leave the ground. At worst, they have to make a difficult shot.

Thx... What's the issue with his arms? Is he hitting someone on the way down? The second and 4th fouls looked like minor body contact to me. The bad thing about Hulu is you can't slow down the replay speed...

 

[FearThePups]

We thought that the hacking fouls were bad last night? Wait until this game.

Anyone want to venture a guess what the over/under will be for Danny’s technical count?

 

[auror]

It was right before Jarvis's first timeout. I think it made the game 12-0. Hamilton rebound to Moore up to El Amin to Freeman. Not a single dribble and it took about 1.5 seconds.

Its on that archive of games that's available online. uconnhuskygames.com or something.

Holy , I thought that was sarcasm about honoring the '99 Elite Eight team. They're actually doing it.

Edit: It's not putting the time right, but it's when the score is 9-0 17:30 or so on the clock.

 

[AdamaNation]

I have a weird feeling this will be the game the zebras are on Pitino’s side and St John’s will be gifted a resuming boosting win.

Better sooner than later. Much like last year no bad losses.

 

[AdamaNation]

Anyone want to venture a guess what the over/under will be for Danny’s technical count?

Can’t be more than 2 so 1 I guess.

 

[AdamaNation]

This is closer to a vintage Pitino team than I think people might realize given that it's his first season. That doesn't mean they're great, but the portal can work wonders for a guy who's probably better at recruiting to a system than developing. Hurley's teams should be better equipped to handle the rugged style and frantic pace than the later-years Calhoun/Ollie teams (which infamously stumbled to a 1-9 mark against the Cards from 2010-14), but Karaban's potential absence could complicate things.

I know they've already played once this season, so nothing should come as a shock. But this is not the team of stereotypical overachieving mid-major players I thought they'd be when Pitino assembled this group. They might have one or two players like that (notably Ledlum), but for the most part it's a stable of impressive-looking athletes that can bully you if you don't come ready.

I think solo starts and castle deals with the 4. It may be a defensive upgrade. Maybe a little zone to spare our two bigs and test the Johnnie’s range.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I was there that night. Were you, BigErn? Good memory.

“So, Ron Artest….what was your favorite memory about hearing a 75% UConn crowd cheer the blowout win that night?”

Yup, I was a junior in college. I remember it like it was yesterday. I've probably watched that opening segment 20 times since then, mostly for the look on Jarvis's face when he calls the timeout.

 

[Marat]

Edit: It's not putting the time right, but it's when the score is 9-0 17:30 or so on the clock.

That game is a must warch !

 

[Deepster]

That first four minutes is just insane.

 

[BGesus4]

Even though we were obviously way better that was a bad ass St. John’s team, with those awesome Jordan jerseys. What a time

 

[gars44]

Rock fight is ok if called the same both ways. Since we don’t play that way normally will the refs let us play the same way if needed?

I don’t care if they allow it to turn into a scrum or call every touch foul. My issue is when they allow some stuff first half and not second…or if they call touch fouls one way and allow a mugging the other

A question about fouls…r u allowed to stand there with your hands up? It seems like often DC get called for a body foul when the offensive player moves into him

No. But Donovan is not just standing there. He moves forward and his arms are not vertical. They are forward. So he gets called.

 

[Scrutineer]

St John’s is honoring their 98-99 elite eight team at halftime.

You know, the team we ran off their home floor in the Big East tourney finals on our way to a national title that year. LOL

And, maybe best of all, Kevin Freeman was named the most outstanding player of the BE tournament after not being named to that season's Big East First Team, Second Team or Third Team.

 

[willie99]

Have we played more this year at MSG? Has to be close

Just checked
5-3

They played Fordham there

 

[Bboy Lace]

I would argue that we need this game more than St John's does. We're only 2 games ahead of Marquette and Creighton for the regular season title. And we still need to face both of them on the road as well as Marquette at home. Don't forget the road game against Providence either. They'll want revenge after yesterday's game.

 

[jibsey]

I would argue that we need this game more than St John's does. We're only 2 games ahead of Marquette and Creighton for the regular season title. And we still need to face both of them on the road as well as Marquette at home. Don't forget the road game against Providence either. They'll want revenge after yesterday's game.

We don’t ”need” this game, but I’d like us to be up for it with great effort. Not even about the BE title or even the BE Tourney title. Why? Ask Marquette about the importance of that vs what we did in the tournament.

 

[Gurleyman]

I think he’s talking about a fast break dunk where the ball didn’t touch the floor. It was like rebound-outlet-pass-dunk. Perfect fast break execution. I couldn’t find the game video but it was later first half, if I recall.

@Gurleyman would know for sure. He’s our encyclopedia.

Haha. You guys are on it.

That game resulted in one of my favorite all time quotes. Ron Artest postgame to someone on his cell: “nah, they pimped us, yo.”

That quote has been lost to the either … or else “we pimped you“ would make a really great halftime chant on Saturday, especially if Metta Artest Ron World Peace was there. But nobody would know what we were chanting.

 

[Gurleyman]

I was there that night. Were you, BigErn? Good memory.

“So, Ron Artest….what was your favorite memory about hearing a 75% UConn crowd cheer the blowout win that night?”

The regular season win at MSG that year was a great one too. We got off to a big lead, then got outscored 50-25 in the middle part of the game and went down big … then said “f this” and turned it back around and won it. I could be mixing my games up (I’m less encyclopediac than I used to be) but I’m pretty sure that was the one when Calhoun called a timeout and then just turned his back on the team and didn’t say a word to them during the whole timeout. And it worked like a charm.

i do remember that was a Saturday matinee, moved us to 19-0 and secured our 10th straight week at No. 1. And then we went home for a Big Monday game and suddenly were missing 2/3 of our starting frontcourt. But, of course, that game was canceled and Miami was the only team to beat us that season. Props to Miami. Just have to tip your cap to them. (Old chatroom joke maybe a few people will get. Certainly @Fishy)

 

[Bboy Lace]

We don’t ”need” this game, but I’d like us to be up for it with great effort. Not even about the BE title or even the BE Tourney title. Why? Ask Marquette about the importance of that vs what we did in the tournament.

We lose this game and now they're only 1 game back with the aforementioned games I noted earlier. 5 of our last 6 conference games will not be a walk in the park.

I don't need to ask Marquette. These are goals that UConn wants to attain this year along with going back to back. If these are goals, they're needs in my book.

Finally, last year was last year. Has nothing to do with this year and this year's goals to return to the top of the Big East.

 

[Fishy]

The regular season win at MSG that year was a great one too. We got off to a big lead, then got outscored 50-25 in the middle part of the game and went down big … then said “f this” and turned it back around and won it. I could be mixing my games up (I’m less encyclopediac than I used to be) but I’m pretty sure that was the one when Calhoun called a timeout and then just turned his back on the team and didn’t say a word to them during the whole timeout. And it worked like a charm.

i do remember that was a Saturday matinee, moved us to 19-0 and secured our 10th straight week at No. 1. And then we went home for a Big Monday game and suddenly were missing 2/3 of our starting frontcourt. But, of course, that game was canceled and Miami was the only team to beat us that season. Props to Miami. Just have to tip your cap to them. (Old chatroom joke maybe a few people will get. Certainly @Fishy)

I actually thought about that old bit the other day.