St. John's Post Game Thread

[SeattleHoop]

Team started feeling themselves after PKI. We had complained in the past about being “tough” but not the most skilled. I’d kill for some of those “tough” guys now. We’ve been punked in too many games since PKI, they lost the chip on their shoulders

I was thinking about how I would kill to see Isiah Whaley and Tyrese Martin out there. They were out toughed today

 

[Kitaman]

It's mid January and the big question is; 'are we improving, or worse, are opponents improving more than us?'

 

[husky429]

I see lots blaming Hurley’s coaching. I blame Hurley’s recruiting right now. This bench is not good. Besides Hawkins and Karaban they don’t have anyone who can make a shot.

It's hard for me to blame the recruiting. Based on the tape, it was fair to assume Newton would be a lot better than he is right now. He was supposed to be the guy who could drive at will. Most of us thought he would be based on his #s from last year.

We are going to need to hit the portal for a couple more shooters for sure. Hawkins is likely leaving. Ross is probably going to be deep on the bench next year as he develops. Solo, Stewart, and Castle are all awesome players, but more likely 30-32% shooters from deep than the 40% we need.

 

[shizzle787]

You're calling for Clingan to start after he posts a stat line of 0 points, 5 boards, 3 turnovers and 4 fouls in limited minutes? Sanogo was not even remotely the problem today.

Sanogo was a disaster today. He was constantly waiting for a double team to come instead of being aggressive, and he waited until it was too late to pass, and Soriano ate his lunch.

 

[uconntoatl]

Newton can at least drive, and Calcaterra is a solid passer.

Newton doesn’t drive though lol…he did it ONCE this game. He also initiated the offense from like a foot inside half court line which is infuriating

 

[Drfla]

Our guards can’t score, can’t distribute and can’t defend. Even Diarra didn’t defend and got beaten regularly

 

[Beachampion]

The obvious!!! Teams are driving on us relentlessly, locking down double teaming the ball handler. Each offensive possession sitting up on top of the perimeter running the shot clock. Not moving the ball like we did early on in the season. No transition game to speak of. Embarrassing to say…The Georgetown game exposed us (teams do watch film) there has been no adjustments. Let’s Go Guys!!! Go Huskies!!

 

[HuskyBaggins]

Strangely, our season is looking more and more like Kentucky's. The Wildcats were beaten at home by South Carolina the other day but did bounce back to beat Tennessee on the road.

Our season is looking more and more like UConn 2020 and UConn 2021

 

[3rdbass]

There were some bad calls on screens but that is not why we lost. Our team is flawed -1) NO PG and one isn't coming through the door anytime soon. 2) Over rated outside shooters coming into the year, 3) Can't stop dribble penetration. What we have is length - need to change our defense to take advantage of that.. Also DC is a very good passer. You can play both Sanogo and him together if you go 2-3 zone. Let defenses have to adjust to us.

Yeah, time to play a more a traditional lineup or at least put Johnson at PF and Karaban at SG. We need more height on the front line as Sanogo isn't protecting the rim at all this year.

 

[10TOES]

I remember when everyone was saying IF we lost, we would lose in a close one because of our depth, defense and passing.

Marquette was the only single digit loss and it was Because a late long three by Karaban. This would have been 15 pt loss if not for the T and foul by curbelo. No fight, no defense, we try to get back into the game by giving up 2s and trying to hit 3s. Its sad.

 

[shizzle787]

We have to accept that we need changes
Again I think playing two bigs and playing a bit more methodical might be in our best interest
We simply don’t have the cogs to play 1/1 basketball. We need to get the games slower paced and force teams away from the basket on the D.

We don’t try to play 1/1 basketball. We do exactly the opposite. If we tried to have more dribble penetration that would open things up.

 

[Huskyforlife]

I see lots blaming Hurley’s coaching. I blame Hurley’s recruiting right now. This bench is not good. Besides Hawkins and Karaban they don’t have anyone who can make a shot.

This is going under the radar because guys like Joey over performed. The bench has been dreadful for awhile, besides Clingan, who should probably be starting.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

What about RJ Cole? He was pretty good for two years, no?

But I do agree, Newton is not the guy I thought he'd be and right now we are screwed at the PG position until someone steps up, if at all.

Great UConn teams have a dog at PG and Newton isn't a dog.

Cole was solid, but heavily flawed. We didn’t win any big games with him outside of Villanova (and that has caveats that has to do with Hurley). So I personally wouldn’t make him the standard of what we should look for at PG. We should be able to do better.

We have Castle coming in. I think it’d be a terrible idea to bring in Hurley’s 3rd transfer PG in 5 years to take playing time away from our top 10 recruit. Just coach and develop your guys instead of running to get ready made players.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Sanogo was a disaster today. He was constantly waiting for a double team to come instead of being aggressive, and he waited until it was too late to pass, and Soriano ate his lunch.

I'm sorry, any player who scores 14 points on 6-9 shooting and only 2 TOs is far from a disaster but you are the king of hyperbole here, so the post is on brand.

 

[husky429]

Our guards can’t score, can’t distribute and can’t defend. Even Diarra didn’t defend and got beaten regularly

The secret has been out for a while. We can't change the personnel on our team. It is what it is. Newton, Diarra, Alleyne and Joey are here to stay. We have more than enough talent to beat SJU at home 90% of the time if we're coached well.

So why aren't we changing the way we approach the game?

Nix the extended pressure and play a pack or even a 2-3 to protect guys from foul trouble. We're getting beat at the rim every game and doing nothing to change our Xs and Os to stop it.

 

[USNavyDog]

There were some bad calls on screens but that is not why we lost. Our team is flawed -1) NO PG and one isn't coming through the door anytime soon. 2) Over rated outside shooters coming into the year, 3) Can't stop dribble penetration. What we have is length - need to change our defense to take advantage of that.. Also DC is a very good passer. You can play both Sanogo and him together if you go 2-3 zone. Let defenses have to adjust to us.

We also be getting Sampson Johnson which adds even more length

 

[shizzle787]

Newton doesn’t drive though lol…he did it ONCE this game. He also initiated the offense from like a foot inside half court line which is infuriating

And it worked: he got to the line. That is my point. Hurley is holding him back on this.

 

[CheshireCat]

This team blows

Nah - it’s the refs - check the spreadsheets -logical explanation for our mediocrity. It can’t be DH or the players - it’s a conspiracy!

 

[jake14mw]

Wow. I really have no explanation for what I saw today. That team looked nothing like the team we saw earlier in the year. Many times after a loss you can point to one or two things. For the first time this season I'm questioning how good we really are. I thought our depth was our strength, and all it was was consistent depth of poor play/effort today.

No energy. No effort. No nothing.

 

[SaeHusky]

Not even sure what we are doing on offense. We just got blown out by a mediocre St. John’s team.


1. Time for Clingan to start. Sanogo has regressed significantly.

2. Alleyne has no purpose in the rotation. He can’t shoot.

3. Have to press a lot more.

This team can't press - they get blown by when guarding the ball and we don't have the foot speed.

 

[Hurleyman216]

I think Kimani has earned the chance to lead this team. Hurley can recruit but he’s a mid-Major coach. This is year 5 and no NCAA tourney wins and many shameful losses. This is the 2nd worst loss (NM State is the worst) of the Hurley Era.

You’re a mid major poster, get lost

 

[SeattleHoop]

Last years team wins that game by way of toughness, defense and grit

 

[giddyup]

So does Hurley start taking blame for his coaching or does he blame the players who he brought in because the ones last year weren’t good enough?

Can’t recruit enough talent to cover coaching malfeasance. Hurley is a disaster in-game. Losing 4 out of 5 games with this team is on a lack of coaching prep and in game management.

 

[3rdbass]

Cole was solid, but heavily flawed. We didn’t win any big games with him outside of Villanova (and that has caveats that has to do with Hurley). So I personally wouldn’t make him the standard of what we should look for at PG. We should be able to do better.

We have Castle coming in. I think it’d be a terrible idea to bring in Hurley’s 3rd transfer PG in 5 years to take playing time away from our top 10 recruit. Just coach and develop your guys instead of running to get ready made players.

He was also a first team BIg East player and would be better than anything we have there now. I'm not saying he was the best PG in UCONN history but he has been the only good in Hurley's time here. He definitely gives me more confidence than Newton or Diarra. Jackson isn't a PG which has become obvious. He is just a facilitator at times when the offense is clicking.

 

[Forte]

How does player turnover under Hurley compare to Calhoun? I know Calhoun use to have end of season heart to hearts with players who likely would not see time the following year so he had his fair share of transfer outs but over all with starters and numbers anyone know Hurleys compares to Calhoun?