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Message: [QUOTE="EASTFLA, post: 3859114, member: 10791"] I think most of us came away from that game thinking we had our chances, and let one slip away. My take is we are as good as Villanova, but they are better coached. I say that because every player on the Villanova team utilizes ball fakes, and misdirection jab steps to create space and an advantage. You don't see that often with our players at all. I counted 14 Villanova 1st half points created by spacing the floor and isolating back downs in the lane. I watched Villanova players backing down, head faking, pivoting, more ball fakes, leaning in, drawing fouls, or making easy lay-ups. There was not a single time a UConn player dropped down to help. I know you are going to say if we do that they will kick out for an open 3. So you make a choice as a coach. Give up and one's and or easy layups, or a good look at a three. Villanova was abusing us the same way all game making 80% or better on back downs, if they hit 50% of three's on kick-outs, it is a better option. There comes a point if you can't stop something, you try something else. That try never came. Our offense simply lacks shooters. When you have a potential lottery pick on the floor, in what was his biggest game in a UConn uniform, a chance to carry the mail, James Bouknight simply didn't deliver. He went 0-9 over a game period of well over 20 minutes, finally hitting a meaningless 3 at the end. He also had 5 turnovers. We just can't win games against a top 10 team with one of the best players in the country tanking his biggest game in a UConn uniform. We just don't have the poise and shooters down the stretch to win. Villanova made adjustments in the 2nd half and shut us down completely. It's heartbreaking to watch, because the talent is there, what has been an issue, as we all know too well, we need shooters! My feelings about Hurley are led by his ability to recruit the level of players we need to get back to being a top 25 team every year. I give him kudos for being that guy. Where the jury remains questionable to me is his in-game coaching and adjustments or lack thereof. How many times do they create isolations in the lane and back down or 1-1 defender, and do nothing to mitigate it? It killed us, and it also got us in foul trouble. Painful loss. [/QUOTE]

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