St. John's Post Game Thread

[Doctor Hoop]

I'd really like to know that we can get a little more out of the bench when we need it ...
But with these starters, when will we need it?

Great performance against a team who designed their game to make life difficult, and yet a double digit win.

Spencer was on today, so was Castle. Newton less so, but still controlled the game.
Clingan still has to find a way to stay on the floor. Many of the fouls are mind boggling.

 

[Bomber36]

I'd really like to know that we can get a little more out of the bench when we need it ...
But with these starters, when will we need it?

Great performance against a team who designed their game to make life difficult, and yet a double digit win.

Spencer was on today, so was Castle. Newton less so, but still controlled the game.
Clingan still has to find a way to stay on the floor. Many of the fouls are mind boggling.

We got enough today. Sometime, being a placeholder is enough.

 

[KingAG]

I'd really like to know that we can get a little more out of the bench when we need it ...
But with these starters, when will we need it?

Great performance against a team who designed their game to make life difficult, and yet a double digit win.

Spencer was on today, so was Castle. Newton less so, but still controlled the game.
Clingan still has to find a way to stay on the floor. Many of the fouls are mind boggling.

Look up Newtons numbers. He was quietly VERY good

 

[Huskyforlife]

Pitino is immensely comfortable cheating.

Pitino knows cheating when he sees it.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Umm... numbers don't look right.. Was Spencer the high scorer today?

No. Final score is wrong, was 77-64

 

[JRDBWK]

The real winner tonight is UConn's free throw shooting!

 

[Bomber36]

No. Final score is wrong, was 77-64

Spencer was the high scorer. He had 23, Castle had 21.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Killa Cam bro

Spectacular on both ends

 

[slepers]

• Spencer and Castle were total DOGS today.
• Castle got a horrible whistle in the first half. He went to the line a grand total of zero times the first half, which is wild with how much he was getting held and hit on drives.
• This is like the worst possible matchup for Samson. Just not strong enough for Soriano. I think it’s pretty clear this will be a position that gets some attention in the portal ahead of next year.
• Dominating the boards while missing Karaban and having Clingan plagued by foul trouble is a testament to the guards. Big hat tip to Newton there especially.
• Diarra was just off today. He’s always been pretty mercurial, thankfully this year these days are few and far between.
• Heck of a day at the stripe
• I don’t think I’ve ever watched a broadcast team get the names of the players mixed up more than this crew today. I lost count after a while. Diarra/Castle and Luis/ledlum seemed to be the most common mix-ups. And neither pair really looks that similar.

I disagree on Diarra,two very important layups and respectable defense.

 

[3rdbass]

Castle is developing into a great 4th option on offense. His game is really developing. I did notice too they had him running point in this game more than before especially in the first half. He is just money now and hitting his FTs too. Cam Spencer is our more clutch player. Holding Soriano to 6 pts was key. This team is so versatile. If we could ever get Clingan playing well we would be unstoppable. Clingan is my only worry he needs to learn to play better positional defense and stop reaching. Favorite moment of the game was Spencer doing that turnaround shot over Alleyne.

 

[Bomber36]

The stats at the top of the thread show a final score of 70-60. Might want to find a better place to get the stats after a game.

 

[jibsey]

Look up Newtons numbers. He was quietly VERY good

He usually is. As far as who our most valuable player is this year? We have like 5 choices.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

• Spencer and Castle were total DOGS today.
• Castle got a horrible whistle in the first half. He went to the line a grand total of zero times the first half, which is wild with how much he was getting held and hit on drives.
• This is like the worst possible matchup for Samson. Just not strong enough for Soriano. I think it’s pretty clear this will be a position that gets some attention in the portal ahead of next year.
• Dominating the boards while missing Karaban and having Clingan plagued by foul trouble is a testament to the guards. Big hat tip to Newton there especially.
• Diarra was just off today. He’s always been pretty mercurial, thankfully this year these days are few and far between.
• Heck of a day at the stripe
• I don’t think I’ve ever watched a broadcast team get the names of the players mixed up more than this crew today. I lost count after a while. Diarra/Castle and Luis/ledlum seemed to be the most common mix-ups. And neither pair really looks that similar.

Tough critic!

I’ll take Diarra being “off” like this any day. Dude was an absolute dawg on defense, finished off some important drives with nifty layups to keep SJU from mounting runs, 5reb, 2 steals.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Look up Newtons numbers. He was quietly VERY good

No disrespect. He did miss all 4 3's, and had some head-scratcher turnovers. So not quite at Spencer's and Castle's level. But he controlled the game, rebounded the heck out of the ball, and was the guy handling pressure. And hit the free throws down the stretch.

 

[superjohn]

I'm beyond impressed with this team. Everything was up against us in this game. At the Garden with the Johnnies desperate for a win, our rock AK didn't suit up, the refs were rough on us, and Clingan took himself out of the game (third foul was bogus though.)

Cam and Castle, what else is left to say about those guys. Two of the smartest players we've ever had. It's so much more than the shooting with Cam, what he lacks in foot speed on defense he makes up for with positioning, making the right reads, and quick hands. He was all over the court today making plays and even making one legged Dirk fadeaways. Castle is just a freshman but he shares those same smarts, he backs it out when it's not there and attacks and scores through contact when he sees any sort of opening. His lack of outside shot was also greatly exaggerated, he can shoot. He's a lock down defender, has the total package on that end.

The past two games and this one especially shows how truly great this team is. Clingan was a no show in both and he's one of the most impactful players in the country. Clingan needs to be much smarter and we need to get the bench going. I'm finding it difficult to see anyone matching up with us on a neutral floor and we still aren't firing on all cylinders yet.

 

[3rdbass]

I disagree on Diarra,two very important layups and respectable defense.

And you can't discount Diarra for his great D and he helps out with ball handling. He will get out of his mini-funk as I'm not worried.

 

[F101Voodoo]

This win was huge. No AK, no Center production and we still won by double digits away from Storrs.

This is certainly a Championship repeat caliber team.

We may repeat but right now I want to concentrate and enjoy the road to the Big Dance.

 

[Bomber36]

We may repeat but right now I want to concentrate and enjoy the road to the Big Dance.

That’s good advice for all of us.

 

[storrsroars]

35% fewer fouls than Tuesday. This was basketball.

 

[F101Voodoo]

I'm beyond impressed with this team. Everything was up against us in this game. At the Garden with the Johnnies desperate for a win, our rock AK didn't suit up, the refs were rough on us, and Clingan took himself out of the game (third foul was bogus though.)

Cam and Castle, what else is left to say about those guys. Two of the smartest players we've ever had. It's so much more than the shooting with Cam, what he lacks in foot speed on defense he makes up for with positioning, making the right reads, and quick hands. He was all over the court today making plays and even making one legged Dirk fadeaways. Castle is just a freshman but he shares those same smarts, he backs it out when it's not there and attacks and scores through contact when he sees any sort of opening. His lack of outside shot was also greatly exaggerated, he can shoot. He's a lock down defender, has the total package on that end.

The past two games and this one especially shows how truly great this team is. Clingan was a no show in both and he's one of the most impactful players in the country. Clingan needs to be much smarter and we need to get the bench going. I'm finding it difficult to see anyone matching up with us on a neutral floor and we still aren't firing on all cylinders yet.

Clingon is a bit immature basketball wise. He seems to realize when he makes a mistake. He my be learning in process.

 

[TheShot1990]

We've literally watched Steph Castle morph into an NBA lottery pick in a single season right before our very eyes. He went from early in the season, guys (including us yarders) questioning if he really has NBA potential and opposing coaches saying "lay off him, let him shoot" to one of our most dangerous weapons. Now you have to guard all 5 of us. Look out.

 

[KingAG]

Clingon is a bit immature basketball wise. He seems to realize when he makes a mistake. He my be learning in process.

His fourth foul was such a dumb foul for him to commit. He doesn’t know how big he is yet. Just stand there

 

[Rocktheworld]

Stewart was not great this game and hasn’t progressed much to my eye (seems less and less playable, doesn’t seem to fit into the offense well) but man the fact that we didn’t drop off with him as our small ball 5 was amazing

 

[Stinger92860]

View attachment 96003

LIVESTATS for UConn below

StatMonitr Stat Feed

 

[TheShot1990]

Stewart was not great this game and hasn’t progressed much to my eye (seems less and less playable, doesn’t seem to fit into the offense well) but man the fact that we didn’t drop off with him as our small ball 5 was amazing

I think Steph played the 5. Saw him guarding Soriano in the paint.

 

[Bomber36]

Stewart was not great this game and hasn’t progressed much to my eye (seems less and less playable, doesn’t seem to fit into the offense well) but man the fact that we didn’t drop off with him as our small ball 5 was amazing

Seems to want others to shoot and that’s not a bad thing. Definitely passed up a couple of shots I expected him to take.

 

[How Sway?!]

How was the husky representation at MSG?

 

[Bomber36]

How was the husky representation at MSG?

Sounded pretty good on TV.

 

[superjohn]

We've literally watched Steph Castle morph into an NBA lottery pick in a single season right before our very eyes. He went from early in the season, guys (including us yarders) questioning if he really has NBA potential and opposing coaches saying "lay off him, let him shoot" to one of our most dangerous weapons. Now you have to guard all 5 of us. Look out.

He's always been a one and done lottery pick, I'm thinking we may be seeing the #1 pick.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Tough critic!

I’ll take Diarra being “off” like this any day. Dude was an absolute dawg on defense, finished off some important drives with nifty layups to keep SJU from mounting runs, 5reb, 2 steals.

He pulled it together in the second half but was outright bad in the first half. A few blown defensive assignments that led to easy drives, a handful of fumbled balls and just bad decisions on offense. It was definitely one of his weaker performances this season, but again, these are pretty uncommon for him this year.