THE CURSE OF THE SCOE

[Prezidint]

Boatright didn't really show much outside of the first 3 minutes as a starter (or when GT went to zone). I hope either he or Napier gets it together because they are both struggling. He played about 20 minutes and didn't score a point.

I don't agree.
I want to compare BR's performance w/o Napier on the court and w/Napier. Far as I can tell, the first 3 minutes were Boat's only 3 minutes without Napes on the floor.

I dearly and sorely hope that JC gives BR time alone, as, to this unqualified eye, it sure did appear that BR was awesome, as was the team, with Bazz on the bench.

 

[huskymagic]

Boatright didn't really show much outside of the first 3 minutes as a starter (or when GT went to zone). I hope either he or Napier gets it together because they are both struggling. He played about 20 minutes and didn't score a point.

Napier is limited, but I'm not so sure the last two games are indicative of how limited he is. He is better than the last two games showed.

I still think Daniels has shown a ton of potential just not ready this year, but I know we just disagree on this point.

Roscoe was both the 3 and the 4 last year, it really changed depending on the game and in the game itself. He is just a very versatile defender and last year he was hitting from the 3 (this year he's not even attempting them).

Agreed with everything you said but Boatright only played 20 minutes and when he was there in the second half he deferred too much to Napier not wanting to take the reigns as he doesnt want to step on anyone's toes. Boatright was too tentative in the second half and should have been taking charge of the game and situation.

Calhoun just needs to make it clear that Boatright should be the starter for the rest of the year and that Boat should handle 90 percent of point guard duties.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Napier's problem on defense is all mental. He has a mental break down and reaches. This is a guy who was veiwed as one of the best on ball defenders in the country last year. Remember reading the Sports illustarted final four article talking about how other coaches were saying hes the best pressure defender in the country. Napier is in a huge mental funk.

I just dont think Roscoe at the SF is gonna solve anything. I mean what has he shown you this year from that position?

 

[caw]

I don't agree.
I want to compare BR's performance w/o Napier on the court and w/Napier. Far as I can tell, the first 3 minutes were Boat's only 3 minutes without Napes on the floor.

I dearly and sorely hope that JC gives BR time alone, as, to this unqualified eye, it sure did appear that BR was awesome, as was the team, with Bazz on the bench.

Agreed with everything you said but Boatright only played 20 minutes and when he was there in the second half he deferred too much to Napier not wanting to take the reigns as he doesnt want to step on anyone's toes. Boatright was too tentative in the second half and should have been taking charge of the game and situation.

Calhoun just needs to make it clear that Boatright should be the starter for the rest of the year and that Boat should handle 90 percent of point guard duties.

Fair enough, but Boatright needs to learn not to draw bad fouls if he wants to play/start. Also, might want to take a look on when G-town played zone as well.

Either way, Boatright was 0-4 without any foul shots in 20 minutes.

 

[caw]

Napier's problem on defense is all mental. He has a mental break down and reaches. This is a guy who was veiwed as one of the best on ball defenders in the country last year. Remember reading the Sports illustarted final four article talking about how other coaches were saying hes the best pressure defender in the country. Napier is in a huge mental funk.

I just dont think Roscoe at the SF is gonna solve anything. I mean what has he shown you this year from that position?

Napier is trying to hard to make something happen on defense and is losing his man. On offense he is trying to hard not to make a mistake and is not taking any chances with his passing. He is also trying to hard to be the hero and his recognition of time left in game is worse than Roscoe in Texas.

 

[huskymagic]

Napier's problem on defense is all mental. He has a mental break down and reaches. This is a guy who was veiwed as one of the best on ball defenders in the country last year. Remember reading the Sports illustarted final four article talking about how other coaches were saying hes the best pressure defender in the country. Napier is in a huge mental funk.

I just dont think Roscoe at the SF is gonna solve anything. I mean what has he shown you this year from that position?

The big issue is to let Boatright, lamb, scoe, alex, and drummond in the game for 10-20 minute stretches without making substitutions. We cant play 2 little guard like I have pointed out already because we are to small with Boat and Bazz in the game and the opposing teams guards will body up our guards, or shoot over them or drive by them in the case of Napier. We need to play with athletic big lineups to counter this and run up tempo basketball.

Scoe can also help Drummond and oriakhi with the boards as well as shutting down the opposing teams best wing player. This is what we need the intensity, quickness, passion which is completely missing right now.

 

[caw]

The big issue is to let Boatright, lamb, scoe, alex, and drummond in the game for 10-20 minute stretches without making substitutions. We cant play 2 little guard like I have pointed out already because we are to small with Boat and Bazz in the game and the opposing teams guards will body up our guards, or shoot over them or drive by them in the case of Napier. We need to play with athletic big lineups to counter this and run up tempo basketball.

Scoe can also help Drummond and oriakhi with the boards as well as shutting down the opposing teams best wing player. This is what we need the intensity, quickness, passion which is completely missing right now.

I don't necessarily disagree with most of this, just not sure you can play Drummond and Oriakhi together against some teams (ie Cincy with a mobile 4). My reasoning is that Oriakhi can't really defend mobile fours who want to shoot the 3 and if you have Drummond out there, that takes your best rebounder away from the basket. Unless the four shooting the 3 happens to be the other teams best rebounder (ie WVU) that puts UConn at a disadvantage unless Oriakhi ups his game. That might be the best defensive unit possible, as long as they aren't making bad gambles. I would like to see this for 5-8 minute intervals, because I don't think you can realistically ask for this for 10 minutes at a time.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Yah I disagree. I think the lineup I want to start is

Boat
Lamb
Daniels
Scoe
AD

I just rewatched the game and i thought Daniels played with really good energy. Scoe at the four because AO did nothing and TO isnt tough enough to me.

 

[Huskybass]

Yah I disagree. I think the lineup I want to start is

Boat
Lamb
Daniels
Scoe
AD

I just rewatched the game and i thought Daniels played with really good energy. Scoe at the four because AO did nothing and TO isnt tough enough to me.

I like that starting lineup best as well.

 

[Dribbles]

There are bevy of issues with this team:

1. It's young
2. Boatright sat 9 games
3. Calhoun misssed 3 games

OK now that those are out of the way:

1. Napier is obviously trying to run the offense, but he seems tentative with his passing
2. Napier is gambling too much on defense
3. Lamb is not aggressive on offense (he rarely attacks and shies from contact)
4. Lamb also gambles in passing lanes too much
5. Daniels shot has disappeared, I don't know where it went but he just isn't hitting anything outside of the lane.
6. Daniels goes under screens way too much.
7. Alex just doesn't play with fire. I don't mind aggressive fouls or mistakes due to being aggressive (the charging foul on the post up is bad but I'm OK with it because he is at least attacking, same with the ball being pinned between the rim and the backboard). I can't stand the bad plays where he doesn't secure a rebound or jogs around
8. Boatright, for all his talent doesn't run the half court offense that well (he is better at bailing himself out because he is so quick).
9. Boatright goes under screens way too much on defense.
10. Giffey and Olander play well and within themselves.
11. Drummond doesn't box out enough. He is an absolute physical beast and he has games where he is such, but he just seems like he could be so much more of a rebounder if he boxed out properly.
12. Roscoe took and made his first shot yesterday, then he passed on about 2 more that were open shots.
13. Too many players are trying to be the hero (taking contested 3's with 6 minutes to go down 6, or trying for a steal when the shot clock is winding down leading to a dunk by your man, etc.)

Positives from last night:

1. UConn still won a championship last year
2. Daniels actually attacked the rim twice and scored both times
3. Drummond dominated until he decided to go for about 2 steals in a row leading to layups by his man
4. UConn, even with a lot of defensive flaws, still played solid defense all told
5. Olander had some great passes to Drummond and Oriakhi, and I do mean great
6. They got a lot of open shots against GT

All-in-all there are a ton of issues from the past 4 games that keep occuring. Last night was also the first night of the season the team also just missed every open shot in the book. Lamb missed at least 3 open 3's, Daniels 2, Giffey 1, Napier at least 2, Boatright 1. It was one of the worst shooting nights I've seen from this team. Honestly, if they make a third of their open shots they are in another UT/ND/Cincy situation with a close game in the final minute. If they hit half their open shots they are probably up. Considering this is a good shooting team most nights, that part I'm not terribly concerned with.

Did you check their FT % in that game? Wowser!!!

 

[caw]

Did you check their FT % in that game? Wowser!!!

Worst shooting game I've seen at UConn. Missed foul shots, threes and layups. For a good shooting team, it was hopefully just a fluke.

 

[Danzz]

If Roscoe would stop passing up wide open shots, that would be a good start. JC may not want him shooting but a wide open shot is a higher percentage than an out of control drive leading to a charge or a desperation heave as the shot clock is running out.

Roscoe knows if he misses one JC will pull him. There isn't much I don't like about JC's coaching style but pulling players quickly is one of them. It ruins continuity and usually doesn't improve performance.The mistake already happened, the player knows it but let them play through it . The player screwed up but JC compounds it by pulling him. It starts to play on players heads and right now we have enough confidence problems. The last thing this team right now is a kick in the butt.
Roscoe should play more. Alex should start with a long leash. We aren't going anywhere unless those 2 play as they did last season.

 

[Danzz]

Did you check their FT % in that game? Wowser!!!

Excellent post. You pretty much summed up this team.

 

[huskymagic]

Roscoe knows if he misses one JC will pull him. There isn't much I don't like about JC's coaching style but pulling players quickly is one of them. It ruins continuity and usually doesn't improve performance.The mistake already happened, the player knows it but let them play through it . The player screwed up but JC compounds it by pulling him. It starts to play on players heads and right now we have enough confidence problems. The last thing this team right now is a kick in the butt.
Roscoe should play more. Alex should start with a long leash. We aren't going anywhere unless those 2 play as they did last season.

Pretty much what I am saying that we need Roscoe and alex to be starters and play. With Boat at point and with lamb, roscoe, alex, and drummond on the court for long stretches of the game this team will see radical improvements.

 

[huskymagic]

Starting Lineup for Seton Hall game:

1: Boatright

2: Lamb

3: Roscoe Smith(repentance and restitution only way to reverse the curse of the scoe)

4: Oriakhi

5: Drummond

P.S. I think Blaney might actually be good for the team tomorrow as he doesnt make many substitutions and is going to let the guys play a little without getting a quick hook. Boatshow I need to play 35 minutes and as the undisputed point guard and leader of this team.