St. John's Post Game Thread

[djct1999]

Just an observation from a team standpoint Demary does a decent job breaking down defenders and getting into the lane, which really helps the offense. A few times he’s stops short instead of going stronger to the rim could create easier buckets or open looks for teammates on dump offs and kick outs. He also seems to slip and fall, maybe just momentum plays, but staying on his feet helps the team finish possessions stronger.
Silas brings toughness and shot-making that the team really needs. Clean up a few small things and that impact gets even bigger for our run in the tournament.

Silas is a player but again he is a reach at pg for the way the staff wants rhis offense to run. It feels to me we strip him of his biggest strengths.
To me, the biggest disappointment this year is that the staff didn’t quite make adjustments to better fit Silas’s game. He has so much more to offer than what he has so far.

 

[Mr. French]

What is happening to Dan - what a weird presser

What was weird?

 

[djct1999]

Agreed, although he did pick them early in the season as his title favorite.

Dauster thinks they lose in the 2nd Round. Was surprised he said that.

Pretty wild to say that without even knowing who they can potentially play. As down as I am, UConn always show in the tournament, even last year. I don’t bet , but I’d be shocked if we don’t make it to the second weekend. And as bad as yesterday was, I still think it’s more likely they play three weekends than one, with two the overwhelming outcome.

 

[giddyup]

Easy to complain. Dan is not perfect. You have to take the good with the bad. You prefer Kevin Ollie?

It is easy to complain, true. My concern is they laid two eggs when something important was on the line. I don’t think the team has the speed, athleticism, or consistency to vie for a NC. Something happened to these guys that went from confident, high execution before 2026 to sputtering, dodging bullets to folding in games that matter.

The playbook on UConn is written. If you have a quality center - extend and defend the arc and let UConn take it inside with hit or miss contested 2s. On O, spread the floor and take UConn inside out like an accordion because they are low twitch players over committing on D.

 

[Lafayette]

That is a challenge to the team, and a statement on the refs last night.

Maybe watching on TV with replays helps vs being there, but saw a lot of textbook fouls not being called, and some flagrants not caught on review of other events.

I mean in what other league do they let someone block a ball and clobber someone in the head? That is not contact incidental to the play. I don't recall Okafor hacking them and not getting a whistle.

Then two hands on the opposing player has been a foul called over and over - not last night. Twice.

And help me out - Zuby stole the ball from Tarris went down on one knee, his back foot heel moving while controlling the ball and rolling it - that is not a travel?

 

[jdb50]

Not sure why Silas is slipping and falling so much on his drives. Having Smith in at the same time gives him a break on being the primary catalyst. Silas has abandoned shooting the midrange even though it is there on his drives. Reed does take forever to make a move and shoot. It is excruciating to watch. Zuby is so much quicker with the ball. Why did Solo not dunk when he was in front of the field in second half? At worst he would have had 2 free throws not been blocked. We looked slow vs St Johns. They blitzed us when we turned it over. That's hard to cure. They were more athletic.

 

[RuffRuff]

Pretty wild to say that without even knowing who they can potentially play. As down as I am, UConn always show in the tournament, even last year. I don’t bet , but I’d be shocked if we don’t make it to the second weekend. And as bad as yesterday was, I still think it’s more likely they play three weekends than one, with two the overwhelming outcome.

Sans the two amazing runs (the critics will call it the Clingan factor), not a lot. We like to talk about the Florida game last year without talking about the Oklahoma game. I think what Hurley does in this tourney may be a bit more defining on how he looks going forward, along with what he does in the portal.

I too think we'll get to the second weekend. We are good enough to beat a 7 seed, right now BM has them as Kentucky, Miami, UCLA and St Mary's. Very much doom & gloom thinking we are going down there.

 

[mauconnfan]

Lots of Silas hammers out here. Don’t get me wrong he didn’t play well at all, too many indecisions for a PG. But we need to remember how hard it is to play PG when the other team is trying like hell to cut the head off the snake. Add to that, Alex, Solo, Braylon and Ross can’t do anything to help you, no one making shots or getting to the hole. They were awful and he had to try to do more than normal. He needs to be better, but THEY need to help make his job easier.

The more we watch it’s obvious how badly we need help in the portal with players that can create and get their shot, it’s a huge must!

 

[gsmooth]

The reality is we haven't looked like any kind of contender since the beginning of January. It's a historically weak Big East and we had a bunch of uncomfortably close wins against teams we expected to pound coming into it. The St. John's games a few weeks ago was fun because we destroyed them and it gave us a feeling we may have found something but it was fools gold.

As I have said for a few weeks, and others have recently, this team reminds me of the 2006 team. Their styles are not similar, but they are similar in that they both had high expectations throughout the year and we're ranked in the top 5 throughout the year, only to struggle down the stretch. If anyone remembers that 2006 team seemed to peak when they got their revenge and defeated Villanova and then after that every game was a struggle, including against #16 seeded Albany.

 

[Lafayette]

Expected more from Dauster, but not Goodman.

One game is not indicative of a team, unless it's the last one.

St. John's was playing rugby - we were playing tennis.

 

[RuffRuff]

Lots of Silas hammers out here. Don’t get me wrong he didn’t play well at all, too many indecisions for a PG. But we need to remember how hard it is to play PG when the other team is trying like hell to cut the head off the snake. Add to that, Alex, Solo, Braylon and Ross can’t do anything to help you, no one making shots or getting to the hole. They were awful and he had to try to do more than normal. He needs to be better, but THEY need to help make his job easier.

The more we watch it’s obvious how badly we need help in the portal with players what can create and get their shot, it’s a huge must!

I guess I just wonder how Hurley didn't see that in advance, especially after last year. He knew what he had in Solo and AK, then intentionally went out and got Mullins. Mullins rep was spot up shooter. I'm not sure where he miscalced - maybe he thought he had something more in Malachi? Did he think Silas was going to make up for all of it?

 

[gsmooth]

Basically talk about how this team has regressed - Dauster way down on them.

Alright Dan, you media loving genius, here is your stage set tomorrow. Put up or shut up time with no hissy fits.

I agree with Goodman. I saw this clip last night.UConn can make the Final Four, but I am not necessarily expecting it. They really have not fixed the weaknesses.

 

[Kemba15]

It is easy to complain, true. My concern is they laid two eggs when something important was on the line. I don’t think the team has the speed, athleticism, or consistency to vie for a NC. Something happened to these guys that went from confident, high execution before 2026 to sputtering, dodging bullets to folding in games that matter.

The playbook on UConn is written. If you have a quality center - extend and defend the arc and let UConn take it inside with hit or miss contested 2s. On O, spread the floor and take UConn inside out like an accordion because they are low twitch players over committing on D.

You make it sound so easy but there are like 3 centers in the country better/stronger than Reed. Zuby being 1 of them

 

[Alum86]

It is easy to complain, true. My concern is they laid two eggs when something important was on the line. I don’t think the team has the speed, athleticism, or consistency to vie for a NC. Something happened to these guys that went from confident, high execution before 2026 to sputtering, dodging bullets to folding in games that matter.

The playbook on UConn is written. If you have a quality center - extend and defend the arc and let UConn take it inside with hit or miss contested 2s. On O, spread the floor and take UConn inside out like an accordion because they are low twitch players over committing on D.

And defend/press the inbounds from the get-go. Take time off the clock for the motion offense and good for a few turnovers. God, this is still an issue.

 

[RuffRuff]

You make it sound so easy but there are like 3 centers in the country better/stronger than Reed. Zuby being 1 of them

Zubi is not stronger than Reed. He plays harder, and plays with more intention. I think Pitino's entire strategy was on Zubi to go after Tarris one on one. There were times when Zubi was bull shouldering into Tarris to get space for shots. He played with his hair fire and it all started here, fed the rest of the team. Tarris can't keep up with Zubi's level of intensity.

Would love to see StJ get a 4 seed and play against the FCs of the one seeds to see what he could do.

 

[RashadRay11]

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.

Yup

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Pitino after getting smacked in Hartford didnt even want to talk to the media except 1 min

45 seconds longer than expected

 

[TheHorde]

Yup

I think they’ve already started to adjust by recruiting and signing guys like Colben Landrew and Junior County. The next group the staff brings in through the portal will be critical. I think they can strike a balance between building a roster that can stack up well versus Big East teams, particularly St John’s, and perform very well in the NCAA tournament where games are officiated differently. I agree with certain posters who have indicated that the staff might need to have one or two difficult conversations with guys currently on the roster about minutes and fit on the roster moving forward.

 

[Kemba15]

Zubi is not stronger than Reed. He plays harder, and plays with more intention. I think Pitino's entire strategy was on Zubi to go after Tarris one on one. There were times when Zubi was bull shouldering into Tarris to get space for shots. He played with his hair fire and it all started here, fed the rest of the team. Tarris can't keep up with Zubi's level of intensity.

That was his strategy and it worked. 95% of teams in the tournament won’t be able to execute that same strategy vs Reed

 

[freshler40]

It was very apparent how SJU was going to defend us and what they were going to take away, but not only couldn’t we counter that effectively, it didn’t seem like we tried to use a different style of attack to counter it. That was troubling.

Reed seemed to be our only attempt to counter what we faced. Unfortunately, that didn't play out well early in the game, but he did bring us back at times. This was, like both teams the third (3) game in three days, a big load to carry for him with other players struggling.
What I don't understand was the early rapid growth of Rebie meshed from an elegant game into a grab and hold defense which resulted in many fouls for him. I do love his offensive moves and determination to score when given the chance. He will be a key to build around in the future.

 

[RashadRay11]

Guy one a championship with defensive athletes and said nah, I want offensive minded shooters from here on out.

Talk about not being aware enough to know why you had your success in the first place.

As @RuffRuff said. Hurley is digging deeper and deeper into the lucky rather than good ditch. How far we go in this tournament can mean A LOT.

wild.

 

[BlueandOG]

It was a tough loss. We were outplayed and outcoached. On to selection Sunday.

 

[TheHorde]

Reed seemed to be our only attempt to counter what we faced. Unfortunately, that didn't play out well early in the game, but he did bring us back at times. This was, like both teams the third (3) game in three days, a big load to carry for him with other players struggling.
What I don't understand was the early rapid growth of Rebie meshed from an elegant game into a grab and hold defense which resulted in many fouls for him. I do love his offensive moves and determination to score when given the chance. He will be a key to build around in the future.

I think Reibe can be a very good power forward that can pass and shoot. But we need more physicality and rim protection at the five. Reibe can play there in spurts, but if we are going to have guys at the perimeter that can’t stop dribble penetration or aren’t physical enough to stop their man on the block or in the lane, then we need an intimidator on the block.

 

[mauconnfan]

I guess I just wonder how Hurley didn't see that in advance, especially after last year. He knew what he had in Solo and AK, then intentionally went out and got Mullins. Mullins rep was spot up shooter. I'm not sure where he miscalced - maybe he thought he had something more in Malachi? Did he think Silas was going to make up for all of it?

I think the answer is a lot easier than this. Not only did he not get an improved Solo Ball which he anticipated, he received a worse edition on both ends. This alone changed this team, a 43% 3pt shooter to 25% can’t make things easy.

 

[RuffRuff]

That was his strategy and it worked. 95% of teams in the tournament won’t be able to execute that same strategy vs Reed

True, a couple guys out there like Ike and Bidunga, but Tarris can overpower them. Then it's really those top 4 teams.

This guys tweet hits it pretty good. Getting Stew back could make a difference - he hasn't played great, but his size along could help. We look petite out there. What Hurley does with Ball for next year will be worth watching - I'm guessing the loyalty and adverse to change part of Danny brings him back.