St. John's Post Game Thread

[TheHorde]

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.

I don’t think his wrist is healthy. He’s clearly playing hurt like Alex did last year. But his defense hasn’t improved one bit in three years, and I still don’t think his passing and finishing in the lane and at the rim has made noticeable strides either.

 

[TheHorde]

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.

This tweet nails it. We need more DUDES and fewer guys that look like they play ball in a Euro pro league.

 

[BFieldHusky]

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.

So he wants us to start a guy who may not even be available next weekend. Another great find Ruff lol.

 

[freshler40]

They never doubled him, they let Zuby play him straight up. No one cutting into his path, let him try to score. Not many assist opportunities.

So true! Nobody cut to the hoop, all stood around the three-point line..........repeatedly.

 

[aceboon]

 

[Glastonhusky]

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 he thought Mal and Silas would fix a lot of the issues from last season. I thought the same thing, but then again, I don't get paid millions to make these decisions.

 

[mauconnfan]

This will be the most important news moving forward. But putting weight on it and playing on it is a long way away. Here’s hoping for a healthy Silas.

 

[aceboon]

Hopefully they're scheduled on Friday to give Silas another day to get ready

 

[FightOnCT]

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?

The main issue last year was a lack of reliable PG and athleticism. He technically covered it with Silas but probably underestimated the need for another athlete/ball handler. I don’t even think it was out of arrogance this time.

If anything, I think nobody realized until the past few games is that the real missing ingredient is an AJax/Castle type player. Two players that can play in, but don’t rely on our offensive system. The system is fine, but you need a player who can deviate from it for the sake of always having an option on offense.

 

[RashadRay11]

Hopefully they're scheduled on Friday to give Silas another day to get ready

Or just sit him in the first round, shouldn’t need him to get by a 15 seed.

 

[RuffRuff]

This will be the most important news moving forward. But putting weight on it and playing on it is a long way away. Here’s hoping for a healthy Silas.

Hopefull we get a Friday game - could ease him back, focus on Sunday if we win.

 

[gsmooth]

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.

This guy is correct. The only problem is if Stewart will be healthy to start the NCAAT.

 

[Matias]

It's simple. If you are built as a shooting team, 3/19 from 3, with 16 turnovers will not beat a decent team. It won't even beat a bad team, like Marquette.

This team will either start hitting shots and will take care of the ball, or they will lose. I actually think the turnovers are more concerning because it allows teams to get out and run and get easy points, versus having to score against our halfcourt defense.

We've known this for how long this season yet they still have not been able to draw and execute sets that consistently create open looks or even train the shooters to develop routines to create shots for themselves.

 

[HW611]

Crazy to see Zubi say they’re back to back regular and tournament season champions in his post game interview

 

[HooperScooper]

With that big east championship performance, thoughts on declining an invite all together instead of taking an even more humiliating loss to a 15 seed? Especially with Silas potentially out. Just go back to the drawing board and come back better next year.

 

[superjohn]

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.

I think it was a big mistake but we'll see.

A lot of pressure to bring in some elite athletes this portal season because we don't have any yet for next season.

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

I know we’re all debating whether UConn will win another game this year and all assuming St John’s will struggle to make the second weekend of the tournament after they get out of the Big East version of basketball…..

……but could you imagine if we have a rematch and game #4 of UConn v St Johns in the Final Four or Championship game in Indianapolis?! 🤪

 

[TheHorde]

The main issue last year was a lack of reliable PG and athleticism. He technically covered it with Silas but probably underestimated the need for another athlete/ball handler. I don’t even think it was out of arrogance this time.

If anything, I think nobody realized until the past few games is that the real missing ingredient is an AJax/Castle type player. Two players that can play in, but don’t rely on our offensive system. The system is fine, but you need a player who can deviate from it for the sake of always having an option on offense.

That and a shot blocking big. Clingan’s don’t grow on trees. But we need a big with those qualities. We need someone that can erase penetration if guys like Ball get beat off the dribble. Castle, Spencer, Newton, Jackson, etc didn’t allow tons of perimeter penetration, but having an eraser behind them often allowed them to overplay their guys and consistently run shooters off the three point line. We need that quality back on the roster in some form.

 

[Matias]

I don’t think his wrist is healthy. He’s clearly playing hurt like Alex did last year. But his defense hasn’t improved one bit in three years, and I still don’t think his passing and finishing in the lane and at the rim has made noticeable strides either.

Yea. He's shown flashes of being extremely capable in the lane, rim, and self-creating mid-range jumpers yet we've seen no development of that. Seems to be too stuck on his perimeter open-look comfort zone.

 

[freshler40]

Very surprising there wasn't adjustment to the midrange at halftime. We've seen that Braylon, Silas and Solo all have a good midrange shot but it was no where to be found last night

We were pressed the entire game and had a hard time getting to our offensive sets. Increasingly we relied upon getting the ball into Reed to go one on one. This exhausted Reed who also played to the ten (10 minute) mark of the first half, not the usual 14-15 minute mark. Rebie collected a lot of early fouls, that didn't help.

 

[BFieldHusky]

Philly is a Fri/Sunday schedule.

 

[TRest]

I think he thought Mal and Silas would fix a lot of the issues from last season. I thought the same thing, but then again, I don't get paid millions to make these decisions.

He may have also expected lights out shooting by Mullins, instead of just another inefficient 3 point shooter.

 

[TRest]

Philly is a Fri/Sunday schedule.

If the first opponent is weak enough do they rest Silas for that game?

 

[KingAG]

I’m not nearly as worried as some here.

Nothing that happened last night was all that unpredictable.

I figured one of us would get smacked. It’s how the games against SJ have gone all year.

No one else has also come close to making us look like that.

In 2014 Louisville pasted us the final game of the season.

The tournament is a different animal all together. OOC is a different animal. One we’ve shown to be dominant in.

Hurley didn’t forget how to coach or recruit because we lost to SJ. The same way Pitino didn’t forget how to coach and recruit when we beat them by 30.

News Flash but SJ has probably been a top 8 team the last 20 games. That loss is nothing to hang your head on. Conference tourney results aren’t necessarily an indicator on NCCA tourney results.

Regroup against whatever 16 seed and 7/10 seed we’ll face. I have no doubt we’ll be in the sweet 16. And at that point we’ll all be back on the wagon.

 

[gsmooth]

Hopefully they're scheduled on Friday to give Silas another day to get ready

That was the first thing I was crossing my fingers and toes for after the game ended yesterday was for UConn's first game to be late Friday.