The defense is

[CTBasketball]

This will not happen but bringing Ball off the bench as a spot-up shooter will keep his defensive liabilities off the court.

Mahaney needs to grow up and play the 2 guard like he knows he can. He was not this bad last two years on defense even vs. high major opponents.

 

[UConnJim]

I look at Castle and the closest thing athletically to him is Ball. Ball should be and still could be a really good defender, but he has to pay attention to detail.

Castle is a unique and gifted athlete. Physically, Ball looks stronger than Castle, but Castle is taller, longer, and quicker. Castle can disrupt Steph Curry and there is nobody on the UConn roster who could do that.

 

[jibsey]

Castle is a unique and gifted athlete. Physically, Ball looks stronger than Castle, but Castle is taller, longer, and quicker. Castle can disrupt Steph Curry and there is nobody on the UConn roster who could do that.

Castle was human steel and for his position at UConn have we had anyone stronger?

 

[Lambeau]

Nostalgia is probably not going to help; I hope the staff is not sitting around pining away for Castle and Clingan.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

Nostalgia is probably not going to help; I hope the staff is not sitting around pining away for Castle and Clingan.

This staff has always been forward-looking. They'll figure it out with this group

 

[ctchamps]

Not sure I have seen anything in this year's offense that remotely resembles the dynamic "Euro style offense" of last year, in which there were players constantly rotating, criss-crossing, picking and cutting all over the half court. This year at area around the key is continually vacant with our guards and 5s dribbling and passing above the arc and the forwards generally stationary in the corners.

Hopefully the coaches figure it out way sooner than later.

Second half of the UMES game was the first time I saw that offense on a consistent basis.
Can they perform it against better teams? It’s obviously unknown. But it wasn’t good against the first four weak teams so there’s that.

 

[freescooter]

This staff has always been forward-looking. They'll figure it out with this group

Sometimes it is just a question of having the right guys. It is, at least in theory, possible to be a good team by just our scoring people and playing minimal defense. Play a mix of man and junk zone to slow teams down but don’t expect much by way of turnovers and stops. Doesn’t seem we have the level of players to dominate defensively this year. Scorers on the other had, we have. This isn’t a model to win a national championship but maybe it gets you enough to dance.

 

[DogMania]

The team D just isn't good. It seems it breaks down a lot with the perimeter players getting beat off the dribble. How much of this is a lack of physicality, poor technique with positioning and hedging or something else. They seem to take too many chances at times, and the fours and fives are just not hedging on the screen and then getting back on their bigs with the perimeter players re-engaging with the player they were guarding. Seems players are turning the corner and driving right at the basket and they just can't defend without fouling, putting the other team on the line way too much.

And on offense, they're just not getting into the motion offense and running quickly enough to gain an advantage. They need to take advantage of the open threes but also curl and drive into the lane more often. They just don't seem like they're executing it. And when they face more athletic and physical teams those teams are pressuring the ball where they just can't seem to get into their offense. Lastly, it's not all on the guards who have the ball in their hand, seems often their teammates aren't exactly getting open off the ball giving them opportunities.

 

[3rdbass]

Castle is a unique and gifted athlete. Physically, Ball looks stronger than Castle, but Castle is taller, longer, and quicker. Castle can disrupt Steph Curry and there is nobody on the UConn roster who could do that.

I'm not sure Castle is quicker but more that Ball is an Airhead when it comes to D. He just doesn't have good defensive instincts. Castle was taught these at early age. Also, Ball is also very lazy player on D. Not sure why but he needs to work on it and learn how to get in a true defensive stance. He is too upright at times.

 

[Excalibur]

I'm not sure Castle is quicker but more that Ball is an Airhead when it comes to D. He just doesn't have good defensive instincts. Castle was taught these at early age. Also, Ball is also very lazy player on D. Not sure why but he needs to work on it and learn how to get in a true defensive stance. He is too upright at times.

I'm just not sure he has the lateral quickness to be a great on-ball defender. He's fast and can jump but the same things that limit him offensively (good straight line driver but can't really break down a defender) are also limiting him on the defensive end.

 

[JerseyAlum]

This staff has always been forward-looking. They'll figure it out with this group

Preach.

Defense is learned; offense is what brought in these players.

In time we will have a much better D but give it until late January.

Mainly it's the fouling but second is spacing.

Diarra and Nowell could be a good 2-guard backcourt that can drive and really handle the rock and are both defensively superior to other guards we have.

Karaban and Stewart are probably the best wing defenders.

Reed, Jr. is a better defender (see the ratings above) yet people say Johnson is better for some reason).

 

[Spaceman213J]

Castle is a unique and gifted athlete. Physically, Ball looks stronger than Castle, but Castle is taller, longer, and quicker. Castle can disrupt Steph Curry and there is nobody on the UConn roster who could do that.

I didn't expect Ball to morph into Castle, but just that Ball should be an average defender at least with the natural skills he has. He has good size and speed, but he's one of the worst perimeter defenders I've seen under Hurley. It's not like he's small and is being bullied all the time. He gets caught watching the play way too often and is horrible at closing out on a shooter.

 

[RuffRuff]

Their weight distribution is so different.

Steph enjoys contact, seeks it out. In fact all three guards last year did. Solo hides from contact, plays mechanical. 4 rebounds in 3 games in Maui, despite 30 minutes a game. Also only 4 assists total. 20 of 27 shots were threes. Doesn’t bring any X factor to the table at all, one trick pony.

Solo will be given every chance to figure it out this season, and if he doesn’t he’s got a trio of big guards coming in to take over. The frosh should be licking their chops for PT.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I am getting more optimistic the further I get from last week’s debacle. There is too much talent for this team to just suck on defense.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Their weight distribution is so different.

Steph enjoys contact, seeks it out. In fact all three guards last year did. Solo hides from contact, plays mechanical. 4 rebounds in 3 games in Maui, despite 30 minutes a game. Also only 4 assists total. 20 of 27 shots were threes. Doesn’t bring any X factor to the table at all, one trick pony.

Solo will be given every chance to figure it out this season, and if he doesn’t he’s got a trio of big guards coming in to take over. The frosh should be licking their chops for PT.

While Hurley enjoys positionless players, Solo is a shooting guard with almost only one skill in shooting. He may learn to drive, play better D (like everyone should learn to), and rebound but he has to want to learn. He has this season to really figure it out bc Nowell will be the PG next year for sure, and as for another guard, Adams has it all over Ball at least on current thinking.

Honestly I'd rather just see Nowell and Diarra start together and Ball and Mahaney can vie for coming in to rest either.

 

[RuffRuff]

While Hurley enjoys positionless players, Solo is a shooting guard with almost only one skill in shooting. He may learn to drive, play better D (like everyone should learn to), and rebound but he has to want to learn. He has this season to really figure it out bc Nowell will be the PG next year for sure, and as for another guard, Adams has it all over Ball at least on current thinking.

Honestly I'd rather just see Nowell and Diarra start together and Ball and Mahaney can vie for coming in to rest either.

Wouldn’t be opposed to that if for no other reason to bring toughness and play making to the backcourt, two things this team lacks big time. If Solo isn’t going to do the things a bigger guard should do (defend and rebound), what’s the point. Also, might as well start seasoning the kid that you’re gonna need more next year. Solo is gonna be massively redundant as a pure shooter with the crew coming in.

 

[cp176]

Defense is about making the offensive player go where you want him to go and keeping him there. It takes genuine determination and a certain amount of strength to be able to do that. You cannot be mentally lazy when it comes to defense whether you are on the ball or not. At this time, I see two backcourt players who make a commitment to defend - Diarra and Nowell.

 

[ctchamps]

Defense is about making the offensive player go where you want him to go and keeping him there. It takes genuine determination and a certain amount of strength to be able to do that. You cannot be mentally lazy when it comes to defense whether you are on the ball or not. At this time, I see two backcourt players who make a commitment to defend - Diarra and Nowell.

I don't see one player who is lazy. I see players with different skill sets and/or experience/mental recognition to react quickly.

If you are talking only about guards then Diarra and Nowell have better on ball coverage than Mahaney and Ball at this stage. It appears from the UMES game the staff are experimenting with Ross and Abraham to defend opposing teams best guards. Ross especially appears to be on track to be our best perimeter defender even considering his predisposition for taking chances with steals and players getting past him. To me he needs game experience to get his timing better. But of all the guards my money is on him to be that elite defender by year end. Additionally he's committed to rebounding. Watched him in the UMES game keep an eye on his player at the same time watching where the ball was on the court. There should be an iso tape of his rebounds. Reminds me a lot of AJ and Rip in assessing who and when someone on the opposing team is taking a shot and where the ball might careen if the shot is missed.

 

[ctbro1999]

I didn't expect Ball to morph into Castle, but just that Ball should be an average defender at least with the natural skills he has. He has good size and speed, but he's one of the worst perimeter defenders I've seen under Hurley. It's not like he's small and is being bullied all the time. He gets caught watching the play way too often and is horrible at closing out on a shooter.

I'm really hoping he can figure things out on the defensive end soon. Doesn't need to become an elite defender, but as you said, just adequate.

 

[RuffRuff]

I'm really hoping he can figure things out on the defensive end soon. Doesn't need to become an elite defender, but as you said, just adequate.

Would love to know what the staff thinks is stopping him. It’s perplexing as to how bad he is, but then again similar to his absence offensively to doing anything but shooting threes. Feels upstairs to me.

 

[ctchamps]

Would love to know what the staff thinks is stopping him. It’s perplexing as to how bad he is, but then again similar to his absence offensively to doing anything but shooting threes. Feels upstairs to me.

Shooting threes at an elite level. It would be neat if someone can do side by sides of Ball and Hawk to compare how quickly they curl, catch the ball, and release their shots. My bet is Ball may end up being better than Hawk.

Upstairs or In your head means different things to different people. So let's postulate why Ball an elite shooter and who has the body framework to be an elite defender struggles with it. How can someone who has no hesitation between the time he catches the ball, shoot and make them at an elite level frequently looks lost on defense.

All postulation from this point on:

Regarding his defense I don't think it's a mental block. I don't think it's because he doesn't like or care about defense. Millions are riding on his development of it. I don't believe he is a one trick pony. My wife's thought is Solo is a linear learner. He learns something to the point of mastering it and then he moves onto the next thing. My additional thought is he an observational learner. He watches and assesses something until he is comfortable with it and if it clicks (my wife has full confidence it will) he will become really good at it. He is the polar opposite of a player like Ross who learns by immersion. Ross will play aggressively to the point of making mistakes but refine his movements until he gets them under control. I have full confidence that over time he will.

For comparison sake:

McNeeley and Castle blend the learning processes of Ross and Ball. Intellectually thinking about their game and what they need to do to improve it while not being afraid to play and make mistakes as they are learning. The difference between these two and Ross and Ball is that someone guided them at an early age to integrate the two learning processes or they were born with that ability. Either way it is why they are players who don't (didn't) play like most freshmen.

I have confidence Ross and Ball will get there. It just will take them longer than Liam or Steph. But isn't that the more typical situation with most of our players who turned out great?

 

[JerseyAlum]

Shooting threes at an elite level. It would be neat if someone can do side by sides of Ball and Hawk to compare how quickly they curl, catch the ball, and release their shots. My bet is Ball may end up being better than Hawk.

Upstairs or In your head means different things to different people. So let's postulate why Ball an elite shooter and who has the body framework to be an elite defender struggles with it. How can someone who has no hesitation between the time he catches the ball, shoot and make them at an elite level frequently looks lost on defense.

All postulation from this point on:

Regarding his defense I don't think it's a mental block. I don't think it's because he doesn't like or care about defense. Millions are riding on his development of it. I don't believe he is a one trick pony. My wife's thought is Solo is a linear learner. He learns something to the point of mastering it and then he moves onto the next thing. My additional thought is he an observational learner. He watches and assesses something until he is comfortable with it and if it clicks (my wife has full confidence it will) he will become really good at it. He is the polar opposite of a player like Ross who learns by immersion. Ross will play aggressively to the point of making mistakes but refine his movements until he gets them under control. I have full confidence that over time he will.

For comparison sake:

McNeeley and Castle blend the learning processes of Ross and Ball. Intellectually thinking about their game and what they need to do to improve it while not being afraid to play and make mistakes as they are learning. The difference between these two and Ross and Ball is that someone guided them at an early age to integrate the two learning processes or they were born with that ability. Either way it is why they are players who don't (didn't) play like most freshmen.

I have confidence Ross and Ball will get there. It just will take them longer than Liam or Steph. But isn't that the more typical situation with most of our players who turned out great?

Liam was at Montverde which was an offensive juggernaut and had players with the height to defend at almost every position.

Liam was kind of like AK being a point forward so has some bk iq but defense was not at a premium there as much as college.

Hurley knows this and recruits players who can score but want to learn D and we need to be patient as they all do not learn at the same pace.

 

[80shusky]

It's right here. Defensively 85th isn't going to cut it. Need that in the mid-twenties to be a realistic title contender while keeping a top 25 offense. They need to find a way to get there and I still believe there is too much talent on this team and coaching staff that they can't improve that drastically if not get all the way there. I still think mixing in some other defenses with the straight man might help but the staff is in the best position to figure that out obviously. Hoping for a nice showing tomorrow night to start a turnaround.

 

[uh-no]

It's right here. Defensively 85th isn't going to cut it. Need that in the mid-twenties to be a realistic title contender while keeping a top 25 offense. They need to find a way to get there and I still believe there is too much talent on this team and coaching staff that they can't improve that drastically if not get all the way there. I still think mixing in some other defenses with the straight man might help but the staff is in the best position to figure that out obviously. Hoping for a nice showing tomorrow night to start a turnaround.
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it's even worse if you discount the preseason bias....whch puts the defense at 200+. that's inexcusable given the quality of the athletes on this team.

 

[Husky68]

Not sure I have seen anything in this year's offense that remotely resembles the dynamic "Euro style offense" of last year, in which there were players constantly rotating, criss-crossing, picking and cutting all over the half court. This year at area around the key is continually vacant with our guards and 5s dribbling and passing above the arc and the forwards generally stationary in the corners.

Hopefully the coaches figure it out way sooner than later.

You hit it on head, looks more like the Cole/Martin/Polley/Whaley offense where no easy looks (Polley never seemed to be open and Cole had to try and win games one on one). Maybe it was more the players than the system last two years.