The difference yesterday was that UConn was aggressive.

[gibhunter]

They were looking to score and score fast. Later in first half they slowed down, Boat was on the bench and they looked like they did in the cold stretches last few weeks, but after half-time they went back to form and it was pretty much over.

Props to DePaul as they did not fold and fought hard till the end unlike what happened to UConn at Louisville.

You can see that UConn's offensive execution (especially against the zone) is much better since the loss at UL. They scored on 8 of 9 possessions late in second half against the Cuse and zone didn't bother them last night when DePaul used it a couple of times. I'm looking forward to Saturday.

 

[gibhunter]

Ps. For what it's worth, this was DePaul's worst loss of the season.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

It did seem to be a point of emphasis from the first possession of the game - Napier received the jump ball and immediately sprinted down court looking to make something happen.

The difference of course is that DePaul wanted to play this way and even encouraged us to run by pressing/trapping in the backcourt. It's not as easy to run when the other team is doing everything they can to stop you. But it does seem that the coaching staff has finally figured out that the more shots we can get in early offense without having to run a half-court set, the better.

 

[bmayuc]

Look I have faith in this team still getting it together, but that DePaul team is terrible. They were jacking early shots, missing open threes, did not hit the glass with any passion, letting cutters roam unrestricted. That was the opposite of a good basketball team. Melvin by himself took about 5-6 shots that were absolute bricks from beyond 15 feet.

Now with that said, it could really help our confidence, or it could be fools gold.

Lets hope the former, and that this is a jumping off point.

 

[Huskybass]

UConn pushed it and was aggressive. However, it is alot easier to look good against Depaul then it will be against Marquette. Thats said.... GO HUSKIES!!!!

 

[Danzz]

They were looking to score and score fast. Later in first half they slowed down, Boat was on the bench and they looked like they did in the cold stretches last few weeks, but after half-time they went back to form and it was pretty much over.

Props to DePaul as they did not fold and fought hard till the end unlike what happened to UConn at Louisville.

You can see that UConn's offensive execution (especially against the zone) is much better since the loss at UL. They scored on 8 of 9 possessions late in second half against the Cuse and zone didn't bother them last night when DePaul used it a couple of times. I'm looking forward to Saturday.

It makes 2 good games in a row. They were very aggressive against Cuse. If they play like they did the last couple of games, we'll make the tourney.

 

[TheChamps990411]

All i saw last night were two pretty bad teams with one being worse than the other.

 

[Kitaman]

Funny thing is was that UConn seemed unfamiliar with having a large lead. It was like "what do we do now"? Their initial answer seemed to say "not lose". Not sure if Blaney discussed this at halftime, but in the second half they played to win. Anyway, its really just their inexperience with having a large lead.

BTW: It really seems we are too nice. Prior teams would have put their shoe on their necks especially a league opponent. We need a mean and physical enforcer, Alex should apply but he's usually already in foul trouble. Maybe AD is stepping up from what I saw the last couple of games.

 

[Prezidint]

Ps. For what it's worth, this was DePaul's worst loss of the season.

I like it. It's worth something indeed.

 

[Prezidint]

All i saw last night were two pretty bad teams with one being worse than the other.

Are you aware that feline leukemia is the number one killer of cats in America?

 

[Henry]

We let DePaul hang around too long in the first half. They never got it going and finally we did. Mostly, we have a tendency to waste possessions which has killed us all year and will finish us if we do not treasure each possession more.

 

[freescooter]

We let DePaul hang around too long in the first half. They never got it going and finally we did. Mostly, we have a tendency to waste possessions which has killed us all year and will finish us if we do not treasure each possession more.

That's my take too...There were times when it looked like two middle School JV teams playing each other, especially late in the first half. Sorry, but beating an awful DePaul team doesn't exactly fill me with high hopes. We had a chance to blow them out of the building at the half and let them creep back in by lousy shooting, poor shot selection and horrible ball handling. that they couldn't take advantage was a break for us. When I was a studnet at UCONN I once attended a hisotry lecture on the Spanish American War. The professor was talking about the US invasion of Cuba and said that the US Army outfitted its troops in winter uniforms, gave them out of date weapons, didn't have enough ships to transport all the troops to Cuba, didn't provide sufficient ammunition and sent a number of trained cavalry units (including Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders) but didn't have any way to transport their horses thus forcing them to fight as infantry for which they were neither properly armed nor trained...After listenin to that list of woes, somone was moved to ask, "Well, how did we win?" to which the Prof replied "The Spanish were even worse." that to me sums up the DePaul game.

 

[Rico444]

Well what does this say about the rest of the Big East, if we're a middle school team, played like garbage, yet still gave Depaul their worst loss of the season?

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Well when we played terrible teams at home in November and won by 12-14 points, our lack of killer instinct would be a hot topic.

Our last two home games against lousy teams were wins of 23 and 26 points, so I guess our killer instinct has doubled since November!

 

[Huskybass]

I'm thrilled to win by a big margin, and to have been at the last two wins, but wins over Seton Hall (without Pope) and Depaul, both at home should be expected. A win over Marquette tomorrow would go a long way toaward turning the season around.

 

[Scot-e]

If we have a game were we score less then 8 points from ally oops to AO and AD we will not win. It shows we are running and playing our game vs being forced to play the way other teams want us to. I think if we can run and push the pace it picks up our D and is the natural way this team can compete with the "big boys" this year.

Note to a few of the posters above. If and when we beat MU on Sat no need to come around supporting the team if you think we suck and have no chance of improving this year. Did any of you watch last year? Be a homer if you want -but do not feel the need to post your stupid ass comments for our benefit. We would rather have hope and enjoy the good games when they happen.

 

[freescooter]

Scot-e,
I hope we do beat marquette on saturday. I don't think it is out of the question. But this team has some glaring weaknesses to date. Everything from chemistry to lack of consistent outside shooting, to lack of a killer instinct to sometimes lackadaisical play. Every game we seem to have these incredibly long dry spells. After starting off hot, we went something like 3 for our last 14 in the first half inlcuding missed layups, and attempted jumpshots when dunks were called for.

 

[prankster]

The other big difference in the way the team played, was the way they absorbed and reacted to the pushing, slapping, bumping and grabbing by DePaul....

In so many other games they played soft.....they allowed that crap to piss them off when it wasn't called.... they allowed it to put them off their offensive sets and they allowed it to disrupt them on defense...

Not against DePaul....

They played through it and they, ultimately, started getting the calls...

As soon as they internalize that lesson....that they have to stand up for themselves and play through that crap, and they cannot turtle and pray for the striped shirts to take pity on them....then they will be able to impose their will onto their opponents.....consistently.

 

[freescooter]

prankster, that is actually a very good point. I noticed that and mentioned it to the people I was watching the game with...