St. John's Post Game Thread

[uconngb]

I love all the newbies on Here that have extreme bipolar takes on this team week to week. We literally got what we dished last month. Pitino built this team to beat us. AK was getting torched by everyone at the start but no one.not one player could match up. My bigger concern is ball’s lack of confidence and forced hero ball and Silas’ ball security and now his health. There was a lid on the basket but let’s remember, preseason had us 4 and St. John’s 5. We are like both very dangerous 3 seeds. If we lose in a. Lose game we stay in the 2 line but that didn’t happen. And as far as not being ready. Hurley chilled in his hard tactics with his team for good reason and I promise, they were prepared. Pitino was prepared too. I’m not thrilled by no means. But I will always remember Louisville in 14. Just wish we had a dog like boat or bazz. Thought Silas was that guy. Maybe next year. He will be preseason fave for POY. Let’s get 6 wins.

In fairness, the bi-polar takes pretty much describe the team: it’s bi-polar. We’ve shown we can play with anyone and we’ve shown we can lose to the last place team in our league.

We are 34 games into the season, hard to believe a light switch is gonna go on now. Can only hope that getting away from familiar teams and terrible officiating is our best bet.

 

[freshler40]

Funny how we lost 8 games that year and were a 4 seed. I don’t recall 15 pages and counting on how bad we suck and have no tournament potential.

Exaptation's have grown along with the budgets in Division 1. Saint Johns may be the best college team that money can buy. You pay more, you expect more.

 

[controlfade]

People have good reason to be disappointed in this team’s performance tonight. They came out looking sluggish, not ready to play, and didn’t come close to matching St. John’s intensity. Hurley got outcoached. Badly. But after the 10-0 run to start the game, UConn actually played SJU evenly til about 6 minutes left in the game - despite playing like dogsh!+e the entire 40 minutes.

This team has been a total enigma all season. There were even signs early on in their quality wins - like the second half against BYU. But I do believe that a LOT of people are overreacting tonight. UConn gets an entirely different whistle on both ends during NCAA tournament play. The only real question that remains… does this team have the heart and ‘nads to pick themselves up after getting emasculated by SJU and start anew later this week.

I am not one to complain about the refs but the amount of ticky tack fouls we were called for and Tarris an others being physically beaten up with no calls is insane.

 

[TheShot1990]

It’s OK to be disappointed and I was at the game and I’m extremely bummed at what I just witnessed, but I’m not giving up on the team.

The time has run out to say “Hurley has learned from that last demoralizing loss” because we seem to keep having them.

Danny’s technicals do NOT fire up the team. They’re just stupid.

The officials didn’t cause us to lose by 20 points. If they allow pushing and clawing and hacking, then we should do the same thing.
Seton Hall does, why don’t we?

We are not soft, St. John’s was just better than we were, was more prepared and has better athletes.

Saying Mullins might have some small chance of coming back next year is not “trashing him.” It’s a reality. “but but-but but they had Mitchell on him!” What the hell do you think the NBA is going to do? This is not the first game he threw up air balls, hit the front of the rim and threw the ball away. He’s a future NBA player, we love him, but if he keeps slipping till late in the first round who knows.

Saying St. John’s will go out in the second round is sour grapes. I hope St. John’s has a good run because it would not be good for the big east if our dominating team got slapped around by some 12 seed.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Oates and Hurley are pretty close I think.

It's just a flawed roster - amongst other things, it's missing a ton of BBIQ. If you look at that 2024 team, they had 4 high level IQ players on the floor, and then a smart role player in Alex. Even if this team is running the "system", it's robotic and lacks instincts and improv. Nothing looks smooth or anticipated.

Even with some players having talent on this team, the IQ is so low - Tarris, Solo, even Demary are not high level IQ athletes. Mullins is a kid and we have him sitting in the primary scorer role. Alex is the same guy, but he's such a complimentary wallflower at times - I honestly don't know why Hurley has been so compelled to run him back twice.

Maybe the non BE refs thing turns into something. If not, this will be two years running where Hurley has basically made the same mistakes with the roster. The only starting spots next year that should be locked are Silas and maybe Reibe. Silas is not a good enough natural PG to play next to Solo, who has zero on ball creating skills. We roll that back out there, it's not going to look much different. Building a roster around Solo creates major limitations.

Reibe cannot be the starting center next year if we want to win a championship.

 

[NickDanger]

So many of you complain how soft the team is but here you are complaining that they are no fun to watch. Don't be a soft fan. We got embarrassed, again, but we need to be tough too. Don't give up on the team. Don't stop trying. Let's get behind them and hope for the best. Here are some positive takeaways from an otherwise frustrating and forgettable game:

Reed was terrific. He did not dominate Ejiofor this time but he did enough. The team kept feeding him. Unfortunately doing so kind of took everyone else out of their game. Need to find the right balance. But can't complain about his effort.

Ross needs to play more. It is still frustrating that he won't drive to the basket and when he does he loses the ball because his handle is still very much a work in progress, but he brings too much positives to sit him. It is fun seeing him step up.

Reibe looked awful in the previous two matchups with SJ but he was pretty good today. He is a serviceable backup for Reed. It is a great luxury when you have 10 fouls to give with 2 quality bigs.

Malachi is still frustratingly undersized and out of control but he has been so bad, the past few games have actually been encouraging. He made some positive plays. We are toast if Demary can't go, but as much as I hate to admit it, we need Smith to give us something. The past few games have given me hope that we can at least survive his minutes.

Mullins looked lost out there but I credit Mitchell's defense. Mullins was very good against G'Town. I think it is just a bad matchup for him. Good news is he probably won't have to face Mitchell again this year.

Team has been hitting their free throws the past few games. They don't get to the line much but nice to see they can hit them sometimes.

True, 3-19 from 3-pt range won't get it done. But if we had hit a few shots at key moments, this could have been a close game. That possession where there got 3 offensive rebounds and missed 4 straight was a killer. But if they had converted, it would have been a huge momentum change. The point was, we can beat good teams when we shoot decent from 3. When we shoot 16% we probably lose, but that's true of any team. We just need to get hot at the right time. So you are telling me there's a chance? I hear ya!

You know it actually doesn't matter if the people on this board "stop trying" or not. Only if the players do

 

[Klipper]

Mullins can shoot when he is wide open. He. Ant drive and he cannot handle the ball. He is not NBA ready at all.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

The box score says we go as far as our shooting will take us. 34% overall, 3 for 19 on 3 pointers, and 16 turnovers won’t get it done.

I don’t know how you get vaunted shooters like Ball, Mullins, and Karaban to start draining shots at a respectable clip, 36-40%, but that will have to happen to make a run.

Those 3 plus Demary were a combined 7 for 30, and 2 for 16 on 3’s.

 

[boog204]

Remember a few years ago when some site listed us as one of the most toxic fan bases and you all lost your minds?

On the tenor of this awful thread, there’s a stark difference between venting and analyzing flaws (that even our coach has talked about for two years) and going full imbecile and thinking we’ll lose to a 14 as a 2 seed (which is simultaneously idiotic and impossible, mind you).

Several things have been pretty obvious, even while winning, since the BE season. Amongst them, our lack of athleticism, ball handling, a baffling inability to inbound the basketball, and shot makers plus our lack of quality depth, poor individual defenders, and our inability to get to the free throw line. The game last night exposed pretty much every single one of those things.

The staff has to figure out a way to mask at least some of those because we are one tough matchup away from potentially ending this season earlier than we anticipated. The staff also has to legit do what they said they would last year and tweak this roster via the portal to avoid looking so overmatched against a team built like SJU.

 

[BFieldHusky]

Landrew is a big body guard, I'm very excited about him as a player but he's not an elite athlete. I've watched a bunch of him. He was apparently offered a scholarship to Bama football as an underclassmen which screams elite athlete but he's not that on the court. Junior County isn't that either, he seems like more of a guy we're going to try and grow into a lead guard down the road but neither of them address our lack of elite athelticm.

Abdou Toure is elite as it gets athletically and he grew up with UConn as his dream school. We didn't prioritize him and that bothers me.

The staff didn't want to deal with the family, and based on the quotes the Dad gave back in the fall, I think they made the right move.

 

[TheShot1990]

Pitino has won the same number of national championships as our coach. That is “a couple” not “a few.”

 

[BFieldHusky]

The dance is going to everything this year. Hurley does deeper than Pitino w/o the BE refs, he’ll have the last laugh. Hurley gets bumped early and his whole system built for OOC schtick starts going white noise.

Isn't the dance everything every year?

 

[aceboon]

I usually laugh and shake my head at the "he needs another year/he's not ready for the NBA" comments from posters who don't actually watch the NBA, Mullins is not one of those situations. Mullins still remains more of an idea than an actual reality out there on the court, eventually you have to actually make shots and consistently play well in games to justify this rep/praise.

 

[REB1094]

Gave myself the night before posting but still feeling pretty bad!

Summary: Yet another game where UConn expects to sleepwalk to a victory while the opponent is hunting for blood. The score ebbed and flowed but St John’s mentally defeated UConn after about 3 minutes

The bright spots: Tarris and Silas were the only ones playing hard early. Unfortunately Zuby shut them both down. Tarris got going later but just wasn’t enough. Ross did bring good energy, but nobody matched it. Silas never got going, as St John’s was freely beating him up all game which led to an injury on a play where he was pushed in the back on his way up and clotheslined on his way down (no whistle, play on). I hope he’s okay, he’s our most important player

Everyone else: The rest of our highly decorated team was invisible. BE 1st team Alex Karaban: mostly invisible. BE 2nd team Solo Ball: completely invisible. BE freshman 1st team Braylon Mullins: not ready for the moment

Looking forward: This team gets to pick how far it goes. Play hard and find your identity, you’re going to the final four. Play like you did yesterday, you’re going home in the second round. Alex: if you lose, your UConn career is over. We need you!

By the way: weakest technical foul I’ve ever seen

Put it behind you and get ready for the tournament. 6-0 is the only option. LET’S GO HUSKIES

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Pitino has won the same number of national championships as our coach. That is “a couple” not “a few.”

He’s won 1

 

[Mike Honcho]

At this stage of the season, at least in the Big East, a second and third time playing, our offense is well known. This won't be the case in the NCAA's early rounds. Other teams have flaws or injuries. We are still a fine team and a difficult match-up most nights. Go Huskies.

I hope this is true. I fear that our team doesn't have enough plus passers (and maybe screeners) to really take advantage of our offense as designed. Silas can thread the needle, and AK a bit too (with the exception of inbounds plays), but we're not passing with confidence or anticipation. Malachi especially has struggled with this in 2026.

 

[KembaSlice]

He’s won 1

He won at Kentucky and Louisville, nice try

 

[Palatine]

Don't over react. There will be no games like this in the NCAA. St John's fouls on almost every possession and last night the refs let SJU play as physical as they wanted.

Hurley saw what the refs were doing and got T'd up for it. Sometimes, an early T like that will be followed by a few fouls to tame the game down. Not last night.

Flush it. Move on.

 

[1999GoodSon]

Same with Karaban I'm afraid. He honestly hasn't gotten much better since his freshman year.

I can't say this is the most idiotic post, there are so many. But it at least deserves honorable mention.

 

[HW611]

What is happening to Dan - what a weird presser

He has to stop comparing teams to his past teams that had a 7’2 cheat code that erased layups from opposing coaches game plans.

Something teams get with relative ease these days.

 

[RuffRuff]

I can't say this is the most idiotic post, there are so many. But it at least deserves honorable mention.

Is it inaccurate?

 

[UConnTrumbull]

He won at Kentucky and Louisville, nice try

Check again *

 

[prankster]

He most certainly did not "punch" Demary. It was incidental contact after a clean Block

Not so "clean".

He had his hand in Silas' back the whole way up. Giving him (Silas) a little extra propulsion.

But: Forget it, Jake. It's Big East refs.

 

[Stinger92860]

It will be interesting to see if the Boneyard theory on the BE refs is accurate. I believe it to be true especially after what we accomplished in 2023. The amount of holding and grabbing by St Johns was the most I’ve witnessed this year. Darling holding Silas on every possession was ridiculous.

Pitino’s own son said in the pregame that St Johns holds on every possession. I agree. On the Silas drive at the end of the first half 4 different players got a hand on him. Thats not basketball, but it worked for them.

I predict better offensive motion for us in the tourney and let’s see how the fouls are called for St Johns. I watched Wisconsin and Michigan yesterday and while the game was physical, it did not feature the extensive grabbing and holding that we experience in the BE. Also, it’s clear that bReEDiNg knew before the game that he was going to tech Danny. I get it, Dan Hurley is over the top, but the lack of calls and bReEDiNg’s incompetence is too much to take. BE leadships or lack of allows this.

Let’s see what happens the next few weekends.

 

[HW611]

I dislike Pitino but the guy can coach

Over the last 5 games vs UConn he is 4-1.

I would not be surprised if Rick lost in Hartford like that on purpose. He is a master of mind games.

1. He was able to motivate his team knowing there would be a 3rd match.

2. It would make us more comfortable after a beat down like that.

After that horrendous offensive performance by them in Hartford they came out like absolute gangbusters in this game. I know it ate at him when Hurley beat him with Clingan and he’s been owning Hurley since.