Still struggling closing out games.

[JustbrewitMan]

Kind of glossed over in the SHU game. We missed three front ends of one-and-ones (that's all of them) in the final couple of minutes. Cole, our best foul shooter, missed two of them. And Cole also fouled a three point shooter in the last minute or so. In a closer game, that's losing basketball.

Even worse, Cole, who Hurley constantly says is the player responsible for leading the team, was committing the errors. We are long past the time to clean up these lapses. Some may believe that these ever repeating mistakes at the end of games are random. More likely they come from either a lack of focus or are the result of pressure.

There has to be some way to prepare the team for these moments. But whatever we have been doing is not paying dividends.

Maybe we could look to the 2/8/22 Villanova-SJU game for some helpful hints from the masters on closing out games. Because we sure know that Villanova are the premier game closers...errr...wait...they actually almost blew a 20pt lead in the last 4:27 of the game, letting the Johnnies close to within 3 with 0:35 left.

I know your schtick is to be the "critical contrarian" but sometimes, you should try taking a break and enjoy the ride.

We are one of the best FT shooting teams in the BE. Sometimes, kids have a bad game.

 

[Pudge]

And then ... I did look: Rhoden did have 5 points at the 6 minute mark to go. Then scored 9 points in the remaining minutes. I think we suddenly drifted more on Defense of him. The one Three ball was heavily contested make. The 3 twos were a variety of scramble defense by UCONN. One foul line jumper. My impression is we were running our break in the last 6 minutes and scoring reasonably easy; then SH came back just as fast and we didn't break down into defensive stands and they found those last minutes easier scoring earlier in the shot clock.

 

[HooperScooper]

Rj played hurt the entire 2nd half. He hurt his knee in the first half, went down behind the play due to a collision with someone on the Hall. Was down for 3/4 seconds, got up limped back and drew a charge on that defensive possession.


I watched him come out of the locker room and he had a substantial limp in the layup line, he clearly was able to still play in the 2nd, but no way was he 100%.

Well this probably didn't help.

Late in Wednesday’s 70-65 win over Seton Hall, Tyrese Martin ran up to R.J Cole, wrapped his arms around Cole’s waist and hoisted the guard up in the air in celebration. Martin then dropped him with such force Cole felt like his ankles were shattering.

When UConn’s leading threesome of Adama Sanogo, Tyrese Martin and R.J. Cole are all firing, Huskies are tough to beat

Late in Wednesday’s 70-65 win over Seton Hall, Tyrese Martin ran up to R.J Cole, wrapped his arms around Cole’s waist and hoisted the guard up in the air in celebration. Martin then dro…

www.courant.com

 

[VAHuskyFan]

Folks have been complaining about our performance in close games (quoting performance in games decided by +/-5 points).

Well, we did what we needed to do to win a close game. If we’d done any more, it wouldn’t have been a close game.

 

[uconngb]

There was not much pressure in this situation. Outcome was never seriously in doubt.

So what does that mean?? If there was MORE pressure he would have made the shots?? that doesn't seem plausible. When you're 90% you are supposed to make those shots no matter what the situation.

 

[freshler40]

Making foul shots trying to close out a close game can be a mystery. At this level, with so many such games behind these players, the answer seems to be in the heads of such players and rhythm of the game. Opposing coaches, when down, often try to freeze the player by calling time out. Top golfers employ a shrink, have we tried that? How can you relax and just shoot foul shots like in practice??? What is the current state of the art in this area?
The best answer might be to not let the game get so close it matters but the other team has a lot to do with you getting enough advantage.

 

[NJHusky]

So what does that mean?? If there was MORE pressure he would have made the shots?? that doesn't seem plausible. When you're 90% you are supposed to make those shots no matter what the situation.

Actually only 9/10 times

 

[Huskydog45]

Cole is shooting 90% from the line for the year and has hit many clutch free throws this year.....they were up 10 when he missed the first one and up 8 on the second.....you really think he had pressure on him being up 10 with less than a minute remaining? the guy played a ton of minutes, ran the team and guarded their most dynamic player......the kid was exhausted at the end and that can effect your technique from the line for sure. Think the comments are way off base...preparing for these moments and repeating mistakes...has to be a way to prepare them???? Those comments are laughable for hitting free throws at the end....

 

[UConnSwag11]

Need Jackson and Sanogo to dunk the ball a lot more. No reason why they don’t

 

[UConnSwag11]

Kind of glossed over in the SHU game. We missed three front ends of one-and-ones (that's all of them) in the final couple of minutes. Cole, our best foul shooter, missed two of them. And Cole also fouled a three point shooter in the last minute or so. In a closer game, that's losing basketball.

Even worse, Cole, who Hurley constantly says is the player responsible for leading the team, was committing the errors. We are long past the time to clean up these lapses. Some may believe that these ever repeating mistakes at the end of games are random. More likely they come from either a lack of focus or are the result of pressure.

There has to be some way to prepare the team for these moments. But whatever we have been doing is not paying dividends.

Let’s see going forward if we’ve learned to close games. Today and Tuesday will be telling. I’m not gonna rip on Cole so much as he’s arguably the most important player, but that wasn’t good of him. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again