St. John's Post Game Thread

[uconndogs]

Solid guard play and defense will take you a long way in the Tourney. The question is whether or not we have the shooters.

imho

 

[Henry]

Fantastic game. Couldn't have happened to a better opponent. From the getgo we were aggressive, focused, and active. We need this kind of performance in every game from here on out.

Tarris showed what he's capable of. And he did it without racking up fouls. This is key to our success.

 

[Waquoit]

Love the stuff at the end about Tarris. Put it on Tarris that this is what UConn needs to win titles. Need 11 games with this effort.

ABC

 

[Waquoit]

I have no stats to back this up, but UConn seems to shoot better in Hartford.

I honestly think the rims are softer.

 

[Donyell 360]

It seems like the picked up the pace. Very few possessions were the shot clock ran down.

Loved that play where Ball pushed the ball in transition and found Tarris for a dunk. Need more of that. We too often walk the ball up so we can run our offense.

 

[NJHusky]

I don't agree. SJU did a lot of screening. Our switching was impeccable. The path to the lane was blocked most of the night. We also did a much better job identifying who to leave open at the arc and who needed to driven off the three point point line after the switch. We knew who to go under and who to go over. Hurley made this point himself in the post game. Tarris's timing on the hedge was also very good. That allowed him back in he lane and resulted in six block and numerous clogged middles.

The switching was definitely a coaching move by Hurley. Make no mistake, this was a different game plan from New York.

Exactly! The F68 guys said the same thing. They said we switched up our D with switching and St John didn’t know how to respond

 

[Donyell 360]

The biggest difference in this game is how often Tarris touched the ball tonight. Not only in the post, but throughout the form of the offensive sets. This is the kind of stuff we've been pining for. So I guess my biggest question is then - do coaches save stuff?

I think a lot of us have been wondering whether Hurley has another trick up his sleeve to "peak at the right time". I'm sure great coaches do hold off on things until it really matters, but I do not know for sure.

I noticed twice they threw the ball over the top to him. Haven't seen that much this year. Smith also had one to Reibe. I like they are finding different angles to enter the post to keep the defense off balance.

 

[RuffRuff]

I noticed twice they threw the ball over the top to him. Haven't seen that much this year. Smith also had one to Reibe. I like they are finding different angles to enter the post to keep the defense off balance.

Yup - he missed a little lefty hook on one, but it was nicely designed as a whole.

 

[Donyell 360]

A side note; Pitino not doing media after the game is such chicken-*. I’m glad we have a coach who will face it always, win or lose. Pitino is such a sore loser and the sport will be better when he retires.

I don't like Pitino either but I think it is good for the BE and the sport in general to have some villains. It makes for a more compelling storyline.

 

[Donyell 360]

Why didn’t St John’s run their press that mauled us last time ?

They didn’t even on their few makes.

It seems to me they were pressing us but as you said, so few makes makes it hard to apply constant pressure. Pitino admitted last time the secret is to wear the other team down, not necessarily to get turnovers. But you have to make some shots and that just wasn't happening last night.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Solid guard play and defense will take you a long way in the Tourney. The question is whether or not we have the shooters.

imho

Let's see...UConn is Top 50 nationally in 3pt%, 36th in 2pt%.

Solo Ball has struggled throughout the season shooting from 3pt, but over his last 6 games, he is 18/48 (37.5%)

Everyone else on our team has shot 189/492 (38.4%) from 3pt range on the year.

The only area where you could beef about is our FT%.

We are a great shooting team.

 

[Woof]

This is what happens when our player don’t get tick tak fouls call early and are in foul trouble.

The refs were still terrible. The difference is that we were so much better that it didn't matter.

 

[RuffRuff]

I don't like Pitino either but I think it is good for the BE and the sport in general to have some villains. It makes for a more compelling storyline.

Sports = entertainment

Villains are a part of almost an movie - they're absolutely good for the game. Many see Hurley as a villain.

 

[Drame]

Loved that play where Ball pushed the ball in transition and found Tarris for a dunk. Need more of that. We too often walk the ball up so we can run our offense.

That was great. but then following a 3 on 1 fastbreak and Silas pulled the ball back when he had Mullins up ahead. Missed opp.

 

[Woof]

I for one am SHOCKED that a Fishy take is god awful

He wasn't wrong. The team was bad. Teams evolve and especially Hurley coached teams.

 

[RuffRuff]

I can’t remember a shooter like Mullins who can look so good with his quick release and then shoot a brick. It wasn’t just this game but he had a few against St. John’s.

Have to let him rip it and keep that mentality.

 

[RashadRay11]

Pitino stated that UConn's biggest flaw is that UConn fouls too much..
I think St. John's biggest flaw is that they shoot like a group of blind people.

This made me laugh out loud at work so much that my boss asked...."everything okay?"

Yes. Yes it is.

 

[uconn_jack]

I hate AI. That's crap.

 

[HCCForever]

He’s the one you want to shoot when there is 0.7 seconds left on the clock- can’t think of anyone with a quicker release

I agree but Solo did have that three with shot-clock expiring from the logo. I can’t remember the opponent.

 

[jibsey]

It seems every game Mullins takes a very very deep 3 shot. Probably not his best decision to do this.

Could not agree more but Hurley must be giving him the green light on those. I could not get over 1 play. He raced to the corner with no separation with his defender, went up and released simultaneously making the shot. Quickest release I ever saw.

 

[husky429]

Could not agree more but Hurley must be giving him the green light on those. I could not get over 1 play. He raced to the corner with no separation with his defender, went up and released simultaneously making the shot. Quickest release I ever saw.

Mullins takes shots even AK shouldn't be allowed to take. He's a ridiculous shooter.

I'd say on average I get annoyed with maybe 1 shot a game the kid takes. When it's not a transition 3, but also early in the shot clock I can get miffed.

 

[superjohn]

Mullins takes shots even AK shouldn't be allowed to take. He's a ridiculous shooter.

I'd say on average I get annoyed with maybe 1 shot a game the kid takes. When it's not a transition 3, but also early in the shot clock I can get miffed.

He has the ultimate green light. He'll have a couple crazy ones that miss everything and he'll also make a couple of crazy ones nobody else can possibly make. It's fun to watch.

 

[Mike Honcho]

If someone posted this and I missed it, I'm sorry, but it gave me some Elite 8 Illinois vibes. Clearly the team got into St. John players heads. When you airball an 8 footer (I think that was Hopkins on the baseline), all is not right between the ears.

I've seen a lot of references to this game (and for good reason). But let's not forget the prior year's elite 8 game against Gonzaga where we took their souls.

82-54. UConn 82-54 Gonzaga (Mar 25, 2023) Box Score - ESPN

 

[Donyell 360]

Pitino stated that UConn's biggest flaw is that UConn fouls too much..
I think St. John's biggest flaw is that they shoot like a group of blind people.

That is very disrespectful to blind people. They can shoot better than that.

 

[Mike Honcho]

I honestly think the rims are softer.

The Johnnies would disagree 😅