This will be an interesting game for Karaban.

[huskyfever]

3 keys to beating Providence:

* Go double bigs ( know I’m beating a dead horse). They did this first half against PC last time and Croswell looked lost. I’m not sure why they went away from it.

* AJ must guard Hopkins. He had the length and athleticism to guard him (gives up strength, but so does AK, who isn’t nearly as athletic). Only other option it to have Clingan guard Croswell and have AS guard Hopkins. I know he can’t compete athletically, but Hopkins can struggle from outside. I would give him the 15-20 footer and body him if he gets closer, which AS can do.

* run multiple double picks for Hawk. Can’t let Carter deny him. Hawkins starting out with a few made 3’s is crucial.

 

[gtcam]

Karaban will be ok. The one thing about Hopkins is that he tends to get lazy on both ends of the court and it’s been more pronounced as the seasons has progressed. Maybe he is tiring a bit.
The kid who scares me is Carter-the kid can flat out ball. He is getting stronger and more confident as time goes on. He’s a lot better than when UConn faced him the first time.
Hopkins will dominate Newton, NA or Joey C. Diarra may give him some issues with pressure but the kid is a PG
This to me is a must win and it won’t be easy

 

[MrSec238]

Gotta try Andre on Hopkins. I think he can frustrate him and draw some offensive fouls out early

 

[Get a Job]

I'll feel much better about our prospects of doing something in the tournament if we beat Providence and Nova. I'm surprised by how many people think we win the rest of our games. We certainly have the talent to do it but Providence is really good and Nova on the road will be tough with the way they're playing. Even St. John's on the road won't be easy but that's a game we have to win, that team is a mess.

Providence just has some physical studs in Hopkins and Carter who can beat you in a lot of ways, they're deep with their guard/swing guys and they're really good at getting into the lane to score or stopping in the lane and bounce passing to Croswell for dunks.

Agreed on Providence, but the PTSD on this forum vis á vis Villanova is laughable. 'Nova hasn't beaten a good team this season. They have lost to some bad teams. They are very bad by Big East standards, and abysmal by their own standards.

Don't get me wrong, they will beat us in Philly. But it's not because they're not terrible. It's only because I wrote this post.

 

[Frank06830]

Karaban’s ability to defend Hopkins et al is probably number 71 on my list of concerns for Wednesday. Top 5 things on my mind:

1. Does “Rip Van Winkle” Newton show up to sleep walk through the game, or do we get the aggressive offense initiator version of Newton?
2. Do we get solid perimeter scoring and decent three point shooting?
3. Can we get double-digit fast break points?
4. Can we limit turnovers?
5. Can Hurley make quick, in-game adjustments or does he get punked by Cooley?

I’d put #5 at the top of my list

 

[gsmooth]

Gotta try Andre on Hopkins. I think he can frustrate him and draw some offensive fouls out early

Hopkins can be susceptible to offensive fouls in the sense when he dribble drives he is so aggressive in seeking out contact.

 

[gsmooth]

3 keys to beating Providence:

* Go double bigs ( know I’m beating a dead horse). They did this first half against PC last time and Croswell looked lost. I’m not sure why they went away from it.

* AJ must guard Hopkins. He had the length and athleticism to guard him (gives up strength, but so does AK, who isn’t nearly as athletic). Only other option it to have Clingan guard Croswell and have AS guard Hopkins. I know he can’t compete athletically, but Hopkins can struggle from outside. I would give him the 15-20 footer and body him if he gets closer, which AS can do.

* run multiple double picks for Hawk. Can’t let Carter deny him. Hawkins starting out with a few made 3’s is crucial.

or Alyn Breed. Both Breed and Carter were mugging Hawkins in the game at Providence, but at the same they are both very good defenders. I would like to see UConn use Hawkins as a decoy and use misdirection for Karaban 3 on the other side of the court from where Hawkins is running off screens. When Hawkins runs off screens all 5 defenders eyes are on him, which was especially true in the game at Providence, which will leave opportunities with a misdirection play.

 

[gsmooth]

Karaban will be ok. The one thing about Hopkins is that he tends to get lazy on both ends of the court and it’s been more pronounced as the seasons has progressed. Maybe he is tiring a bit.
The kid who scares me is Carter-the kid can flat out ball. He is getting stronger and more confident as time goes on. He’s a lot better than when UConn faced him the first time.
Hopkins will dominate Newton, NA or Joey C. Diarra may give him some issues with pressure but the kid is a PG
This to me is a must win and it won’t be easy

Yeah that Carter is a baller and a very good defender. He shut out the Nova guards on 4 straight possessions were either Moore or Caleb Daniels backed him down.

The other guy that concerns me the most that no one is talking about is Noah Locke. He is like a Hawkins-lite. He is very good at running off screens. Always, always force him to put the ball on the floor and when he gets into the paint going left he loves that Dirk Nowitzi-like one foot fadeaway. Very rarely does Locke ever score going to the hoop for a layup or dunk like Bynum or Carter. If the defender is up on him at the catch he really can't do much, but catch and shoot is his bread and butter.

PC will definitely be tough, no doubt.

 

[MrSec238]

Gotta force PC to hit 3s. They are so so there. I dont expect the whistle to get them to the line as many times as it did at the Amp.

Im honestly not worried about our Defense tho. Its the offense that scares me. We have been shooting it rough of late.

 

[Conndog]

Alex is going to be strong in years to come. The experience helps, but physical strength will be the difference maker down the road

I'd like to see him score more inside too. He does a lot of things right that don't show up in the scoring column, and he is very accurate from deep, but those 3-pointers are often late in the game- clutch whenever he makes them- but if he can become even more of a scorer, so much the better.

 

[Billy Jack]

TBH.. Don't remember.. Just sayin' that whoever is guarding him.. He frequently initiates contact (looking to get to the FT line) and could easily pick up offensive fouls.. Will be a key guy for us to keep under control Wed. Forcing him to give up the ball due to tough D will be important.. No easy task.. He's one of the best in the BE with the ball in his hands off the dribble.

I think you’re onto something. Let’s hope it works.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I'll feel much better about our prospects of doing something in the tournament if we beat Providence and Nova. I'm surprised by how many people think we win the rest of our games. We certainly have the talent to do it but Providence is really good and Nova on the road will be tough with the way they're playing. Even St. John's on the road won't be easy but that's a game we have to win, that team is a mess.

Providence just has some physical studs in Hopkins and Carter who can beat you in a lot of ways, they're deep with their guard/swing guys and they're really good at getting into the lane to score or stopping in the lane and bounce passing to Croswell for dunks.

We have to learn how to play against these overly physical teams. It's certainly been a point of weakness, including the loss at Seton Hall. St. Johns beat us up too. I believe we can win these games, because we have to. They have to learn how to handle the physicality, how to draw fouls and punish those teams that are less skilled. Have to make the open shots from outside and attack the basket.

The game at Nova is tough, but it will play to our strengths. They won't be hacking, bumping and hip checking, it will be skill vs skill and we are better.

 

[Billy Jack]

We have to learn how to play against these overly physical teams. It's certainly been a point of weakness, including the loss at Seton Hall. St. Johns beat us up too. I believe we can win these games, because we have to. They have to learn how to handle the physicality, how to draw fouls and punish those teams that are less skilled. Have to make the open shots from outside and attack the basket.

The game at Nova is tough, but it will play to our strengths. They won't be hacking, bumping and hip checking, it will be skill vs skill and we are better.

Agree with you about Villanova.

What do “overly physical” and “ less skilled” mean?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Agree with you about Villanova.

What do “overly physical” and “ less skilled” mean?

Certain teams have less skilled players than UConn. Mostly, those teams are stronger, and more physical and seek to drive the game in that direction. Providence is one of those teams. St. Johns and Seton Hall play that way too. Creighton, Xavier and Nova are high skill teams that aren't as physical. It doesn't mean PC doesn't have some skilled players. I'm not saying that. But their main advantage is physicality, not skill. That includes playing hard, tough basketball with a lot of contact.

Think hockey of 20-30 years ago. You had guys like Gretzky and guys who dominated with physicality.

 

[ucp990411]

Hard to get all 5 in the same game, but possible.

Getting PC in foul trouble by driving to the basket, and having AJ play like Saturday would help even if all of 1-5 above doesn't kick in.

We will need to have different schemes than what we did vs Seton Hall to free up AJ. Cooley will have them prepared.

 

[ucp990411]

3 keys to beating Providence:

* Go double bigs ( know I’m beating a dead horse). They did this first half against PC last time and Croswell looked lost. I’m not sure why they went away from it.

* AJ must guard Hopkins. He had the length and athleticism to guard him (gives up strength, but so does AK, who isn’t nearly as athletic). Only other option it to have Clingan guard Croswell and have AS guard Hopkins. I know he can’t compete athletically, but Hopkins can struggle from outside. I would give him the 15-20 footer and body him if he gets closer, which AS can do.

* run multiple double picks for Hawk. Can’t let Carter deny him. Hawkins starting out with a few made 3’s is crucial.

So if we go double bigs and AJ guards Hopkins, who does Adama guard - Locke? Not a chance

 

[Candyman]

So if we go double bigs and AJ guards Hopkins, who does Adama guard - Locke? Not a chance

I was about to say the same thing. Hopkins would get Adamam in foul trouble as well.

 

[ucp990411]

People don’t stop and think every action has a reaction

 

[gsmooth]

So if we go double bigs and AJ guards Hopkins, who does Adama guard - Locke? Not a chance

oh hell no to Adama on Locke. If UConn goes double bigs they would have to play a 3-2 zone.

 

[imno1]

So if we go double bigs and AJ guards Hopkins, who does Adama guard - Locke? Not a chance

If we go 2 bigs we will most probably play a zone on defense

 

[Billy Jack]

Certain teams have less skilled players than UConn. Mostly, those teams are stronger, and more physical and seek to drive the game in that direction. Providence is one of those teams. St. Johns and Seton Hall play that way too. Creighton, Xavier and Nova are high skill teams that aren't as physical. It doesn't mean PC doesn't have some skilled players. I'm not saying that. But their main advantage is physicality, not skill. That includes playing hard, tough basketball with a lot of contact.

Think hockey of 20-30 years ago. You had guys like Gretzky and guys who dominated with physicality.

You’re being vague. Who are the players on the Providence team who are less skilled than their UConn counterparts? I’m sorry that I’m not seeing it, so you’re just going to have to help me out.

Providence ranks 63rd in the country in fewest personal fouls committed out of 363 D1 teams. I just don’t see how a team that is “overly physical” gets called for so few fouls. Are you implying that there is some kind of grand conspiracy among college refs to give Providence players a pass and not to call fouls on them?

 

[HuskyHawk]

You’re being vague. Who are the players on the Providence team who are less skilled than their UConn counterparts? I’m sorry that I’m not seeing it, so you’re just going to have to help me out.

Providence ranks 63rd in the country in fewest personal fouls committed out of 363 D1 teams. I just don’t see how a team that is “overly physical” gets called for so few fouls. Are you implying that there is some kind of grand conspiracy among college refs to give Providence players a pass and not to call fouls on them?

If you're not seeing it, then watch the game and you will. PC gets away with a lot in the Big East. Cooley has coached them well. The Big East emphasizes reach and touch fouls and lets a lot of bumping go. That bumping is a foul for most officials. Not sure if you watch other leagues, but the games often look different.

 

[Billy Jack]

If you're not seeing it, then watch the game and you will. PC gets away with a lot in the Big East. Cooley has coached them well. The Big East emphasizes reach and touch fouls and lets a lot of bumping go. That bumping is a foul for most officials. Not sure if you watch other leagues, but the games often look different.

I never miss a game. And I don’t see what you see. The stats I provided on PC’s foul are based on the entire season, including the preseason games which are not officiated by BE refs. PC’s foul rate is actually higher in conference games than it was in non- conference games - 16.6 vs 13.6. But that in-conference foul rate is 6th in the BE, which is right in the middle, dead-on average.

You claimed that PC is “overly physical”, but we have a way to determine that. It’s called refereeing. Neither BE refs nor OOC refs have found their physicality to be excessive - and BE refs are NOT allowing them to get away with more fouling as you claim. Just the opposite, they’re allowing less fouling than OOC refs did.

If there’s something I’m missing, explain it to me. I’m supporting my opinion with data. So far, you’re only offering the eye test, which frankly doesn’t matter whether it’s your eyes or mine. Providence is playing within the rules & Hurley has to prepare the guys to deal with it, and to give as good as they get. That’s his job.

 

[gtcam]

If you're not seeing it, then watch the game and you will. PC gets away with a lot in the Big East. Cooley has coached them well. The Big East emphasizes reach and touch fouls and lets a lot of bumping go. That bumping is a foul for most officials. Not sure if you watch other leagues, but the games often look different.

I agree that PC appears to get away with a lot of physical defending. It’s a trademark of Cooley and he teaches his kids to defend with their feet with arms up because he knows reach ins will get a whistle. That is the way the NBE refs call the game.It hurts UConn because the UConn players all reach in- why? Your guess as good as mine.
As far as the talent level is concerned- PC has some extremely talented players in their top 6, in fact, I would say that they are more talented basketball players than what UConn has with the exception of Hawk.
It will come down to who plays smarter, who wants it more and who plays under control.

 

[Billy Jack]

I agree that PC appears to get away with a lot of physical defending. It’s a trademark of Cooley and he teaches his kids to defend with their feet with arms up because he knows reach ins will get a whistle. That is the way the NBE refs call the game.It hurts UConn because the UConn players all reach in- why? Your guess as good as mine.
As far as the talent level is concerned- PC has some extremely talented players in their top 6, in fact, I would say that they are more talented basketball players than what UConn has with the exception of Hawk.
It will come down to who plays smarter, who wants it more and who plays under control.

When you say that “PC appears to get away with a lot of physical defending”, what you’re saying is that they’re playing tough defense but they’re playing within the rules. The stuff they’re “getting away with” is allowable. That’s why they’re “getting away with it”.

No one gets away with illegal play consistently over the course of an entire season. A team of refs can have a bad game here or there, but that’s it. Anyone who thinks that PC or any other team is “getting away” with things they shouldn’t simply doesn’t understand what’s allowable.

Calhoun coached tough, hard nosed, man-to-man defense. Nothing fancy, just in your face, we’re tougher than you are. Opponents also thought that we were getting away with too much, but that’s the way that fans of losing teams always see it. “Kill the ump!” It’s as old as the ages.

 

[huskymedic]

Assisted access here <<


-> Karaban, a freshman, had been burned for 27 points by PC star Bryce Hopkins back on Jan. 4, a 73-61 Friar win in Providence.

"I felt like he embarrassed me," Karaban said. "I took full responsibility for that loss, because I wasn't able to contain him as well as I should have."

An avid college basketball TV viewer, Karaban had just finished watching Villanova's win over Xavier on Tuesday night when he heard "someone" (apparently a commentator) give him some extra inspirational fodder, harking back to Karaban's first matchup against Hopkins.

"It just gave me extra motivation in this matchup," Karaban said.

Hopkins finished with a relatively harmless, team-best 16 points on 4-for-10 shooting. He was just 1-for-4 in the second half. And the 6-foot-7, 220-pound Hopkins, who entered the game averaging 9.3 rebounds a game, finished without a single rebound.

Zero. Zip. Nada.

"To play him even in the game is a huge plus," Hurley said. "Alex took personal, I think, some things that were commented on after the first game, in terms of that matchup and how much a disadvantage it was for us. Playing against an NBA player .... but Alex, too, is an NBA player."

"I understood him better as a player," Karaban said. "But it was more of a team effort. Those guys were in the gaps, helping me out. Tristen got a steal on one of them, Adama came in with blocks. It wasn't just me. I wasn't left on an island like at Providence."

"I mean, he's one of the best players in the Big East," Karaban continued of Hopkins, who entered the game second in the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game. "I respect the hell out of his game. He's a superstar in this league, and he's going to have a bright future. But, I was excited to come back and hold my own a little." <-

 

[CTBasketball]

Hey man he’s been playing better defensively.

Let the chips fall where they may. Buy the ticket, take the ride. You will never see Karaban play again on Wednesday 2/22/23 ever again. Savor it.

Everyone’s gotta put on some 1972 Dead, drink a few DIPA’s, and relax.

Buy the ticket. Take the ride.

 

[navery12]

Interesting game indeed

 

[willie99]

I think Alex is going to grow into his body. This is just the beginning

 

[JayKoz]

Hey man he’s been playing better defensively.

Let the chips fall where they may. Buy the ticket, take the ride. You will never see Karaban play again on Wednesday 2/22/23 ever again. Savor it.

Everyone’s gotta put on some 1972 Dead, drink a few DIPA’s, and relax.

Yup, this.