The Sanogo issue

[StllH8L8ner]

Adama had a not so great game, struggling on offense and was getting beaten time and time again on defense. It happens. Other guys, particularly the upper classmen need to step up more when their teammate is struggling. Cole played his heart out but wasn’t getting a lot of help.

I love Porkchop (sticking with that nickname) and AJax but they both should spend every waking, free moment practicing threes. While they’ll occasionally hit during games, they’re both hesitant behind the three point line and defenses aren’t concerned with them shooting thus they sag and clog the lane where Adama roams.

Overall, great comeback just couldn’t get over the hump to take a lead. I’m encouraged and looking forward to tourney time though.

F Duke

 

[husky429]

Creighton/Mac kept going to Kalkbrenner until/if UConn stopped the action. Never happened.They didn't even need the three ball last night because of the success they were having.. Adama/staff need to watch some film.. Gonna see it again.

Looked to me like AS was caught watching the ball too much and was a step slow on recovering to stop his guy.

Give the guys credit for coming back and keeping the game close.

Coach has to protect Sanogo in that situation by going zone or allowing him to stay parked in the paint.

"Stepping up" and "playing harder" are not the answers--our team plays their hearts out every night.

 

[Palatine]

Sanogo was abused on defense in the second half.

Hurley NEVER made an adjustment. That was the bigger issue. Coaches must put their players in the best situation to succeed. That didn't happen last night and the result was a loss.

Did anyone in the press that follows UConn ask him why he never made an adjustment?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Sanogo is only a sophomore, and Kalkenbrenner did a great job on him. Next year Sanogo will be fine against 7 footers, but he is not there yet. I could have sworn Kalkenbrenner tipped at least two Sanogo shots, but there is nothing in the box score.

One of the issues I have always had with Sanogo is his shot fundamentals inside because he almost never uses the bank. This creates two problems for a 6'9 center: 1) the shot is simply a harder shot without using the backboard. This is basic angles and trajectory. 2) when you are going straight in rather than using the bank, you have to slow the shot down a little right at the release. This is a split second adjustment, but it makes you as a shooter more prone to getting blocked. Since shooters know this, they often try to make adjustments to their shots as they release the ball to avoid shotblockers. This makes their shots less accurate, effectively giving the shot-blocker exactly what he wants without having to actually block the shot.

Sanogo needs to use the backboard more often.

 

[Brandon86]

The supposed easy change out of Whaley is laughable here. He is easily our best defender, the other coach knew it last night and assured he wouldn’t get many chances to hedge. Take him out for Polley is hilarious. We lose so much on defense in that case it’s beyond belief, watch the game. Tyler gets beat off the dribble 90% of the time and kills the defense. And while I understand he brings potential offense he’s not able to do that in his own, doesn’t create himself does he? And tell me how many plays coach is drawing up to get him looks?

I agree it’s painful with he and Andre early on with neither wanting to shoot it. But I’m not sure we have the answer no matter. The only shot at the answer last night hit a wall because his teammate didn’t call out a pick.

It’s not about benching him for Polley. It’s about getting Polley’s shooting on the floor to unclog the lane. People keep forgetting also our best 3 rebounders are Sanogo, Jackson, and Martin. Sanogo gets double and triple teamed constantly. It comes from teams dropping completely from Whaley and Jackson. If you got Cole, Polley, and Martin outside the Arc you can’t help off none of them. This gives Sanogo WAY more room to operate. If Jackson man drops, he can simply cut to the basket. You can’t have two guys on the court like that. Whaley should most definitely play alot. They just shouldn’t play them as much together. I love my squad, but if we keep running that offensively challenged lineup we going home early.

 

[Umami Zen]

Coach has to protect Sanogo in that situation by going zone or allowing him to stay parked in the paint.

"Stepping up" and "playing harder" are not the answers--our team plays their hearts out every night.

Agree with you re: their consistent effort. BTW.. What happened to TM after his wrist getting jammed? He seemed to be able to get his shot at will on ISOs in first half but was non-existent/quiet in second half.. Hope his health is ok.. Foul trouble is prob the answer

 

[Deleted at users request]

you had me but now I know you’re trolling.

Do you think scoring and stats is all there is to basketball?

 

[JustbrewitMan]

It's high comedy to read the sheer volume of BY posts from the usual suspects who want to do a complete "CTRL+ALT+DEL" of our entire team's offensive and defensive lineup/strategy after one generally bad team shooting night coupled with one guy struggling to defend.

In the ~7 games prior to last night, we were shooting ~42% from 3pt range and shooting well overall. No surprise, we were formidable and nearly unbeatable.

Last night, we matched up against a team with a great coach, at their arena, on senior night/$1 beer night.

Is it that big of a surprise that it could have ended up as an "L"?

In the first part of the 1st half, we played great D while getting good looks, shooting poorly and digging ourselves a 16-pt hole.

Two of our key 3pt shooters (Hawkins & Polley) got banged up....one badly enough to not return to the game.

Like the Final Four potential team that we are, we fought back in a hostile environment to tie the game midway through the 2nd half. Just couldn't get over the hump. Had chances to tie/take lead with good looks that just didn't fall (Cole 3 late).

It's tough to win on the road in the Big East (any strong conference, for that matter).

Let's regroup, and get ready to beat a surging DePaul team in 3 days!!!!!

 

[freshler40]

Defensive issues aside, there was seemingly a lid on the rim for stretches for Sanogo. Really frustrating game, have to imagine the dislocated finger had an impact. He will be back.

It might help if Sanogo were to dunk instead of the under shot 4-5 footers he settles for. This might also get more fouls on the other big and result in more scores for us, 3 point plays. Seems like most of his misses are short, either he is tired or doesn't power his way to the hoop.

 

[RichZ]

and he had 6 blocks compared to Whaley's 0

Whaley's stat line - 3 points (one three pointer), 2 rebounds, 1 TO

Sanogo's stat line - 13 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 1 steal, 1 turnover.

But you left out the 22 points he let the opposing center score unmolested. Two steps behind him at the rim every time..

 

[3rdbass]

6’7 vs a legit 7 footer is tough.

i love how Sanogo is getting smaller and smaller. Pretty soon he he will be shorter than Cole. LOL!

 

[3rdbass]

My god - if Sanogo was making those bunnies that he missed repeatedly tonight - would you be saying this?

Sanogo, Cole and Martin - tell me who else has been more important to the success of this team this season?

The overreactions after a loss are beyond belief on the boneyard

Yeah besides the hedging on defense that Sanogo should never do as he isn't athletic to get back like Whaley does an that hurt us he should start. Just can't play Whaley and Sanogo the whole time and why are we running a play with the 2nd option Jackson taking a 3 at the end of the game? LOL!

 

[EASTFLA]

It isn't all on Sanogo. When he goes out to hedge the weak side defender has to slide down into the paint, and that doesn't happen. Perhaps that gives someone an open look outside or from deep, but Creighton shoots 30% for the season out there. I'll take my chances on that shot as opposed to a dunk fest!

 

[freshler40]

How about not running him into the ground chasing on D at half court all game. He might have a little in the tank when it matters. Or, not force feeding him with a 7 footer and defenders collapsing on him. Hurley is a one trick pony and opponents know his schtick all too well.

Perhaps opposing coaches only have to look at one average game film to establish their game plan. We seem very predictable. These hedges can exhaust a player, do we need to do them all the time?? Could an occasional zone help, throw off a different defensive look???? We just traded baskets for the last 7 minutes of the game then went dry when it counted, missed some second foul shots, setting up a questionable 3 pt shooter. Even, at the end of the first half with 3 seconds on the clock, we set up Jackson for the half court shot??? We have the potential but seem confused near game ends. Run the clock down.

 

[Tenspro2002]

and he had 6 blocks compared to Whaley's 0

Whaley's stat line - 3 points (one three pointer), 2 rebounds, 1 TO

Sanogo's stat line - 13 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 1 steal, 1 turnover.

The problem with Sanogo is the efficiency.

13 points on 6-16 shooting, for a big, is awful. Especially considering -- an under-discussed aspect of the force-feeding strategy -- all of those misses end up with nobody in offensive rebounding position (Sanogo himself isn't, and we purposefully clear out the lane to give him room to operate), an easy close of the possession which is deflating for us and affirming for the defense.

When he's not getting it done, we simply have to go small and try something else. It's just a momentum anchor otherwise.

Likewise, on defense, 6 blocks is great, but how many wide open layups and dunks did he give up? 6 blocks vs. 8-9 90%+ shot attempts is pretty bad efficiency on the defensive end.

 

[Kolumbo]

I can't blame Sanogo at all. Others need to step up.

 

[kansashusky]

i love how Sanogo is getting smaller and smaller. Pretty soon he he will be shorter than Cole. LOL!

I don't think he will ever be shorter than Cole.

 

[bendm]

Sanogo is only a sophomore, and Kalkenbrenner did a great job on him. Next year Sanogo will be fine against 7 footers, but he is not there yet. I could have sworn Kalkenbrenner tipped at least two Sanogo shots, but there is nothing in the box score.

One of the issues I have always had with Sanogo is his shot fundamentals inside because he almost never uses the bank. This creates two problems for a 6'9 center: 1) the shot is simply a harder shot without using the backboard. This is basic angles and trajectory. 2) when you are going straight in rather than using the bank, you have to slow the shot down a little right at the release. This is a split second adjustment, but it makes you as a shooter more prone to getting blocked. Since shooters know this, they often try to make adjustments to their shots as they release the ball to avoid shotblockers. This makes their shots less accurate, effectively giving the shot-blocker exactly what he wants without having to actually block the shot.

Sanogo needs to use the backboard more often.

did you watch the purdue v wisconsin game? wisconsin's bigs, crowl and wahl, were consistently scoring on 7'4 zach edey off semi post ups by creating a little separation and then banking it off the backboard. all edey could do was helplessly flail at the ball, it was very impressive.
sanogo should have had a much easier time against kalk. this was a blair v. thabeet matchup where the lower center of gravity should win.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

did you watch the purdue v wisconsin game? wisconsin's bigs, crowl and wahl, were consistently scoring on 7'4 zach edey off semi post ups by creating a little separation and then banking it off the backboard. all edey could do was flail at the ball, it was very impressive.

Speaking of banks, Wisconsin’s winning shots were a ridiculous banked three and a banked step back that hit the backboard at about 40 mph.

 

[CTBasketball]

The lid was caused by having a 7 footer on him and that got in his head.

I also think Sanogo takes some really bad shots at times. Shots that usually are passed up by any normal frontcourt player.

 

[BigFanCT]

People on here are really b***hing about a guy who has done this in his last 5 games:

• 13 and 16
• 6 and 2 (not good but not needed)
• 20 and 6
• 15 and 9
• 20 and 16

And ignoring that we have a big man that has regressed from last year (IW) and a guard who is non-existent on offense (AJ).

Sanogo aint the reason we lost yesterday. It was 3 on 5 all game from an offensive perspective. Polley hit a 3. Yay.

 

[3rdbass]

People on here are really b***hing about a guy who has done this in his last 5 games:

• 13 and 16
• 6 and 2 (not good but not needed)
• 20 and 6
• 15 and 9
• 20 and 16

And ignoring that we have a big man that has regressed from last year (IW) and a guard who is non-existent on offense (AJ).

Sanogo aint the reason we lost yesterday. It was 3 on 5 all game from an offensive perspective. Polley hit a 3. Yay.

Yeah the offensive lineups that Hurley puts out there is really mind-boggling at times. I guess he is all about the defense and forget and resemblance to an offense. Jackson taking 6 3's last night and especially the 2nd option on that shot near the end was weird. Did Hurley give him the green light? He surely did on his drives which were ugly too. I mean his defender sags so much off him as they know he can just penetrate. He needs to keep people on honest and has to work on his shot.

 

[husky429]

People on here are really b***hing about a guy who has done this in his last 5 games:

• 13 and 16
• 6 and 2 (not good but not needed)
• 20 and 6
• 15 and 9
• 20 and 16

And ignoring that we have a big man that has regressed from last year (IW) and a guard who is non-existent on offense (AJ).

Sanogo aint the reason we lost yesterday. It was 3 on 5 all game from an offensive perspective. Polley hit a 3. Yay.

People complain about everything. It's super frustrating the things we make up to be upset by after losses. We have the same problems in wins AND losses, but people like to ignore it after wins.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Was Akok hurt?

Hurley has no idea how to use him. So yeah, he's probably hurt by not playing.

 

[bendm]

Hurley has no idea how to use him. So yeah, he's probably hurt by not playing.

cmon. akok is not the answer to our problems.

at this point i'm just hoping he can end his career on a relatively high note, i.e., by giving us 12-14 productive mpg next season in a PF timeshare w/ samson and karaban.

 

[husky429]

Hurley has no idea how to use him. So yeah, he's probably hurt by not playing.

Eh, I see him as basically unplayable in close games at this point. He's a shell of his former shelf. Hurley played him VERY well as a freshman, and he got tons of minutes. He didn't just forget the kid's skillset.

 

[buddy]

They may be silly, but I wonder if he gets dehydrated as the game goes on and it effects his play. I notice that he seems to sweat a lot more than the others. And I also appreciate how hard he has it with two or three men guarding him. Maybe hydration will help. He is not responsible for the loss. Silly turnovers that killed momentum and inability to stop their big did the job in the second half when UConn was on the verge of taking the lead.

 

[NJHusky]

Coach has to protect Sanogo in that situation by going zone or allowing him to stay parked in the paint.

"Stepping up" and "playing harder" are not the answers--our team plays their hearts out every night.

Has coach played more than 30 sec of zone?

Agree. Effort is not the issue. They exploited the hedge the way Calhoun exploited the hole at the top of the key in the cuse zone

 

[husky429]

Has coach played more than 30 sec of zone?

Agree. Effort is not the issue. They exploited the hedge the way Calhoun exploited the hole at the top of the key in the cuse zone

We played a few possessions at the end of the Seton Hall (???) game earlier this year, but that's it.

I'm not a big fan of zone, but good coaches have it in their bag.

 

[NJHusky]

It isn't all on Sanogo. When he goes out to hedge the weak side defender has to slide down into the paint, and that doesn't happen. Perhaps that gives someone an open look outside or from deep, but Creighton shoots 30% for the season out there. I'll take my chances on that shot as opposed to a dunk fest!

Well then it’s on the coach to notice and correct it during the game