The Offense

[RuffRuff]

This one has been touched upon through threads today - but why does this team settle for the deliberate half court offense? So far from an identity that was this Uconn program back in the day. The slow grind back and forth exchange that shortens games and allows less talented teams to thrive. The Wisconsin types do it because year in year out they have to figure out ways to win with sub pars athletes. This team has no shortage of athletes. I could understand with Boatright out and not enough depth at guard, but that running and pushing the ball never seemed like it was going to be incorporated. This team creates practically zero transition points/fast breaks/easy buckets. Meanwhile they continue to look stuck in mud in this Dick Bennett style half court game. Break out the horses - have some fun out there.


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[BlueMAB]

The offense? What offense?

 

[caw]

It's not just the deliberate offense that is killing UConn it's Napier's want to take the hero shot.

He took and missed 3 bad three point shots in the last minute. And that's if we ignore the other bad plays he made during the game.

The team also collapses way too much on help defense which is leaving teams open from 3. Both are fixable things, but I don't know at this point in the season.

I would almost rather see this team press full court, because the half court offense just looks bad most of the time.

 

[tentoes4rings]

I couldn't agree with you guys more. This has be to be the most painful 2 game stretch I can ever remember watching in 30 years. Play 9 guys and make it 40 minutes of hell, even if they lost it sure wouldn't be any worse than this.

Despite what some here feel I think Daniels and Roscoe could make a good contribution in an open court system.Neils is long, Drummond can run like a deer, let's get back to the style of ball we were known for. From a talent standpoint this has to be the most underachieving team we've ever had.

 

[RuffRuff]

The team has the right type of kids to make a press effective - long athletes that clog passing lanes and quick pesky guards. Guys like lamb, Daniels, roscoe and Andre would thrive in it. And they have depth. The only part that could become problemsome is depth at the guard spot whereas beyond SN and RB there is nothing - so those two being gassed in the last 5 could be a bit counterproductive. But this team is not having fun at all out there - you can see it throughout everyone's body language. And they have no one that can run a half court offense right now - its a team having a difficult time getting out of the 50s. I mean, that is something no one would have ever thought possible back in the golden years.

 

[Palatine]

At least Napier shoots. The other guys look timid with the ball in their hands.

We pass up lots of good shots to get in a situation where we have to take a bad one.

 

[DogMania]

At least Napier shoots. The other guys look timid with the ball in their hands.

We pass up lots of good shots to get in a situation where we have to take a bad one.

Good point. There were many good shots passed up for worse ones. What hurt was our bigs couldn't seem to hit the midrange to short J, not to mention were MIA for the most part on the offensive boards. Now how much of this is the PGs unable to get the ball to our bigs and cutters in better position to score, I don't know.

IMO, it's a combination of poor execution in what they run and not running enough variety in their halfcourt. I'm sure there are a half dozen other problems with the offense. Let's hope enough of them can be fixed so that this team can begin winning more often than losing.

 

[UCweCONN]

I said this before AD stepped onto the court for UCONN for the first time and I believe it just as strongly today: I want Drummond to either dunk or pass it out. His offensive game is, let's be frank, very poor right now. I've had enough of him forcing shots and hoping to get lucky and have one drop. Rebound and dunk. That's his proper role on this team this season until he develops some post moves in practice or learns to put the ball on the floor and take it strong. I don't want games to be the place he experiments.

 

[BUHusky]

At least Napier shoots. The other guys look timid with the ball in their hands.

We pass up lots of good shots to get in a situation where we have to take a bad one.

It's almost a completely mental thing at this point. Giffey, Daniels, Smith, Olander, (and sometimes even Alex) don't shoot even when they are wide open cause they know the quick hook by Calhoun is waiting as soon as they brick a shot.

On the other hand Shabazz can go 0 for infinity (taking some of the worst shots imaginable), run terrible offense, play even worse defense, and still know that Calhoun can't/won't take him out for more than a minute. Despite the fact that UConn ran some of its best offense during the mid to late 1st half when Shabazz was on the bench.