This is what I would when Liam came back

[Scrappy3]

Starting unit 7 man tight rotation
C Reed 25 minutes
F karaban 35 minutes
F jaylin Stewart 25 minutes
Sg Liam McNeeley 35 min
Pg Hassan diarra 35 minutes
6 th man solo ball 30 minutes
7th man Samson Johnson 15 minutes
Foul trouble Ross Mahaney

R establish some block post ups with Reed and play 4 out. Our centers are not being guarded right now and it’s hurting spacing. We also increase our size on defense which will help rebounding
Solo ball strategically goes to 6 th man w starters minutes to utilize his scoring punch to prevent lows. I’m going 7 tight and making sure Reed gets multiple post touches/// he will also increase d and r
Using Stewart as a starter is to help with defense perimeter deterrent

 

[jibsey]

The quality McNeeley brings is a game changer for this team. We aren’t good enough without him except to beat the lower BE teams. It’s now apparent and I think we all suspected it and hoped it wasn’t true. Team still has upside but with him.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The quality McNeeley brings is a game changer for this team. We aren’t good enough without him except to beat the lower BE teams. It’s now apparent and I think we all suspected it and hoped it wasn’t true. Team still has upside but with him.

Yup. There’s no alpha on this team besides Diarra (who has been the 6th man for the last two title teams). Liam is that guy, or at least has the most potential to be that guy.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I see we’re at the “let’s throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks” phase of the season on the BY.

 

[Platt81]

I talked to some friends yesterday who were so down on how they’ve been playing. I said without McNeeley we’re getting to see what everyone else is made of, and although the results in the last week haven’t been great, I think it makes the team infinitely stronger come March when it matters. Let the whole country think they can’t compete this year, just makes them even hungrier. I have faith.

 

[HailUConn]

Despite the fact that he's improving, Samson's defense deficiencies in rebounding, box-out and rim protection and liability to foul are often putting us in a hole early.
I was a staunch supporter for Hurley's sticking with Samson to start, but it's time to end the experimentation.

My only change in your line up would be switch Stewie with Solo. we need his shooting. Stewie will be 1st off the bench.

Tarris
AK
Liam
Solo
Diarra


Bench order: Stewie, Samson, Mahaney

 

[HooperScooper]

Diarra (who has been the 6th man for the last two title teams).

Stat correction. Not that it matters for your point, but Diarra was the 6th man last year but on the championship team 2 years ago he averaged less minutes than Alleyne and Calcaterra. He also played very little in the NCAA Tournament when he fell out of favor.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Unless the team metrics dramatically change, Tarris is just not going to become the starter. In our games since Dec 1st, we are about 24 Adjusted Pts/100 better with Samson in the lineup vs. Reed. If you filter only for games with Liam in the lineup, the difference goes to about 32 Adj P/100...and the improvement is due to equal improvements in defense & offense:

Although not an apples-to-apples comparison, overall, we have played like a Top 5 KenPom team since 12/1 with Samson in the lineup. With Tarris in the lineup, we are more like a KenPom 25-30 team.

 

[Scrappy3]

Despite the fact that he's improving, Samson's defense deficiencies in rebounding, box-out and rim protection and liability to foul are often putting us in a hole early.
I was a staunch supporter for Hurley's sticking with Samson to start, but it's time to end the experimentation.

My only change in your line up would be switch Stewie with Solo. we need his shooting. Stewie will be 1st off the bench.

Tarris
AK
Liam
Solo
Diarra


Bench order: Stewie, Samson, Mahaney

I think ball is the second most important player in the team and earned his 30 minutes as much as anyone. Starting McNeeley and Stewart is simply strategic for our defense and rebounding. It gives us a much healthier rotation. I listened to coach Hurleys defeatist cc after the game where he said he doesn’t care if alex goes 5-17. I don’t agree with him. We have 7 great players and we need to simply step up collectively

 

[boog204]

Stat correction. Not that it matters for your point, but Diarra was the 6th man last year but on the championship team 2 years ago he averaged less minutes than Alleyne and Calcaterra. He also played very little in the NCAA Tournament when he fell out of favor.

Yup, ppl seem to forget that Hassan barely played on the 23 team and when he did, he was not very good. Many people were hoping we'd bring another portal guard last year to backup Newton.

 

[gtcam]

If Ball is going to allow significant guard penetration by opponents at the current rate one cannot allow him the 30 minutes. Yeah, the kid can score but he gives up more on the other end.
The high hedge with these two 5s is just going to be a "close your eyes and pray it works" continuation for the staff. Keep them home and see what happens.
Why not try some junk zone D at times?
DH and staff seem pretty set with what they do with this team and in my eyes it's just not working.
Me thinks DH thought he has something this season, maybe he just doesn't.
Not too late to correct direction but it may mean eating some pride.
Never thought this team was going to be like last season but beside HD and Liam at times, I see no kids who go balls out on both sides of the court.
Lets see as the season creeps (actually time does fly!) on.....................................................
UConn just needs to make the dance - they may have an advantage of having players who have been there before