St John's post game thread

[uconnbill]

Karaban is slumping. UConn needs someone to step up as the turnovers cannot continue. Mahaney needs to do better when in the game.

 

[hookshot]

You’re right but he was projected late first/early second last year. He could’ve gone pro. Bet on himself. It is what it is.

He coulda been a contenda

 

[UCfor3]

Karaban was 22 of 47 from 3 (about 47% against much weaker competition) up to the point he got a concussion. Since the concussion he has been 24 of 91 (about 26%). Last season his 3P% was 37.9. Currently, this season it is 37.6. What does it mean - I am not sure, but statistically he is about where he was last year. But, he started the season with what looked to be an improved 3P shot. After a concussion his 3P% plummeted by almost 50% or by 21 percentage points. Is it possible that he is still suffering effects of the concussion? Maybe some vision issues?

He had a similar slump the end of last year but we had 4 other studs so it was only a minor issue.

 

[Gurleyman]

The thing with Alex is that these midseason stinkers aren't going to be his legacy - he's obviously got the two natties, and the question is how he plays in March. I don't think many of us expect the three-peat at this point (although we didn't see it in 2014 either), but if he plays well in the big dance, and hits some big shots and makes some plays and leaves it out there however far we go, his struggles in January and February this year won't mean a thing once he's gone.

Just hate seeing this version of him. OK - you've missed some shots. Don't give up trying and hand a hot potato to a freshman playing for the first time in six weeks, or an injured point guard trying to gut out 40 minutes. Going 1-2 in the second half is atrocious. Would rather see 1-8 - the "2" means you went into hiding.

 

[Agent0]

Need Karaban to show up

 

[TheHorde]

Karaban is slumping. UConn needs someone to step up as the turnovers cannot continue. Mahaney needs to do better when in the game.

He seems to drive into the paint or near it, but hesitates to go all the way to the rim. And he often has a brief opening to take a short jumper, but hesitates to pull the trigger. Then he forces passes into tight windows. I think if he was more decisive and took the short jumpers when they’re there, it could open up more 3 point looks. It seems like he’s hesitant to go all the way to the rim for some reason. The kid really could benefit from getting bigger and stronger in the weight room this offseason.

 

[Mike Honcho]

We should have played the foul game with 39 seconds left and Kadary in the game and SJU shooting into our student section. They were hitting all their middies. Prolong the game and get extra chances. Especially cause I think we still had a 1 and 1 left.

 

[TheHorde]

We should have played the foul game with 39 seconds left and Kadary in the game and SJU shooting into our student section. They were hitting all their middies. Prolong the game and get extra chances. Especially cause I think we still had a 1 and 1 left.

Thank you. Put the athletes on the floor including Samson, Ross, Ball, Liam, and Stewart. Sub in after made free throws or time outs and full court press. Speed their offense up. They committed one bad turnover against full court pressure. Then we stopped doing it. With the ball in Richmond’s hands often, you always have the option to foul him.

 

[storrsroars]

Why’d you think St John’s wasn’t a good perimeter defense team?

because they're like 200th in 3pt prevention.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

After seeing what pressing does to us in back to back games I wonder if we’re going to see more of that moving forward.

 

[AllHusky]

Diarra biggest problem. He needs a break, which he can’t have.

 

[Agent0]

After seeing what pressing does to us in back to back games I wonder if we’re going to see more of that moving forward.

I don’t think so. Marquette and St. John’s are built to press

 

[Vowelguy]

It's a sad day when I'm the voice of optimism but

=> Close game against the #12 team.
=> Liam played well for a 1st game back. He'll be even better next game.

 

[SwingDog]

With a banged up Diarra going 34 minutes, McNeeley playing for the first time in over a month coming off an injury, and an out-of-sorts Karaban, losing by 6 points to the first place team in the conference...what will happen when we are healthy and Alex gets his rhythm back?

Hurley mentioned after the game that not really having any other options besides Hass at point right now is a big factor in the turnovers, and I agree. But there were a number of bonehead plays as well. I think there's reason for optimism, especially as we get healthier (maybe besides Hass, as they say he'll need to fight through this the rest of the season) and get back to full(er) strength.

 

[uconnbill]

Hurley missed on Mahaney being that lead guard. He is bad on defense and just isn't a point but a shooter who isn't shooting.

 

[dalydosehoops]

Turnovers plague UConn as St. John’s spoils McNeeley’s return

Liam McNeeley made long-awaited return Friday and logged double-double, but it wasn’t enough as UConn fell to St. John’s. (Photo by UConn Me...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

 

[Gurleyman]

It's a sad day when I'm the voice of optimism but

=> Close game against the #12 team.
=> Liam played well for a 1st game back. He'll be even better next game.

Was really impressed with Liam today. He was cold to start but kept at it. His FGA were too high and his percentage too low because he got a lot of 911 passes late in the shot clock and was asked to try to make something happen. Which shouldn’t be the case. But he was absolutely a gamer.

If he finds that next level once he’s healthy, we’ll have a go to guy and a great complement in Solo. And some other guys can fill in around them.

 

[superjohn]

It’s more so the decision making from AK more then anything he takes a 35 footer ok fine, then he passes up an open 3 in rhythtm passing trapping Hass in the corner. Not to mention the first foul at the very beginning of the game leaving your feet not worth the risk in the first half, the little things all add up.

He's a mess right now and has been for a while. I was hoping he would be way more comfortable with McNeeley back. It's just the first game with Liam back but disappointing.

 

[BigTenFan]

McNeeley showed absolutely no signs of missing all that playing time.

 

[HooperScooper]

Does anyone know what Nowell's injury is? We need him back and we need to let him go through some growing pains these last 10 games or so. Our PG situation is a mess and we need a potential other option.

Diarra and Mahaney are both game-time decisions, Nowell likely out for the third straight game with an ankle sprain.

Injured in practice about 2 weeks ago.

 

[The Viking]

In recent years it seemed we would get 3-4 buckets a game by lobbing it to our center. Now it seems we don't even attempt it

 

[sdglast]

AK cannot get his own shot. He can't take anyone off the dribble, cannot play with his back to the basket, and now seems to lack confidence. He's a one trick pony, and teams have figured that out. I don't want to hear anyone suggest he is an NBA level player. He needs a ton of work on his game. I know Solo is a great shooter, but he's another player who just can't turn the corner and explode to the basket. The last 2 years this team had Newton who, whenever they were struggling, could get to the basket and score. Those are the critical baskets a team needs to inject some confidence back when they are struggling. Not this team, it's a bunch of guy passing the ball around the perimeter with no one (except McNeeley) putting the ball on the deck and creating their own shot. Late in the game, McNeeley got to the basket twice, hitting the lay in and getting fouled on the 2nd drive. That needs to happen more during the game, but not just by him. Solo, Stewart, hell even Karaban have got to start getting to the basket and stop living on 3s. St. Johns is certainly a touch matchup with lots of height (Hurley is going back to the bigger guards with next year's recruiting class), but you gotta be able to turn the corner on them and get to the basket. I thought defensively UConn was good tonight. They rebounded the hell out of the ball as well, but turnovers, missed free throws, and just plain bad offense did them in.

 

[NickDanger]

GREAT first 8 minutes.

AK hasn’t been the same since missing the two free throws vs Nova.

I was saying that tonight: I think missing those two free throws wrecked his confidence

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Mahaney does not look like he belongs in the big east

Analytics said over the summer he was supposed to be an All-American.

His WAR score was 100 or something like that. And he could shoot on top of it.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

In a minute I've counted 20 posts throwing our man Karraban under the bus. From grown men, masquerading as die hard Husky fans. Here's my permanent dislike to all. Teams win, this was a team loss, including coaches. Get over it.

21-70 his last 6 games. He has absolutely wilted.