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It's always tough if you're a seasoned Husky fan to have the basketball season come to an end. A long summer of little fun on the Boneyard and waiting for either recruiting info and/or who's hanging around the campus in the summer to get better. I must say this one isn't as tough as many others because this team never was what we had hoped for so many reasons, and the thought of beating Kansas with the usual inconsistent play of so many was never there for me in all reality. I tried like hell to get the inner mau to believe this team had "it" to come up with one more win for the ages but I knew deep down inside they weren't that type of Husky team.
Last night:
Hey if they were going to have the usual lull to start their games as they did most of the year, KU was not going to be the team to continue the trend. Well not only did we miss shots but hey, to their credit, they made shots. We can say they shot out of their respective a**es in the 1st half and yeah, they did but they are capable and we needed to match it if they did. They showed a little more of what they can be in the 2nd half from 3 with those "masons" from deep, many bad misses, but this is what happens in the tourney against #1.
The key for me is they were tougher and smarter. They manhandled (legally for the most part) our bigs leaving Shonn, AB and everyone else basically worthless on the boards and defensively in their match ups. Lucas looked like a man against children (he's not that good either) under there as did everyone else they had and brought in. Our guards were crapping their pants and making bad decisions as was DHam. Add to that the ball just wasn't going in I honestly believe we were very lucky to be down by just 20 in that debacle of a first half. Miller was able to get the ball more than lately but he couldn't make a shot, shots he has made all year were hanging on the rim bouncing around the rim and not going in. DHam had a couple but he also settled for 3's too much but then again, what else were we going to get? KO took too long to call a TO at one point I thought but that's his way.
Our guys were never in that game, you can say they played better and won the 2nd half but that could easily be because KU knew they just needed to step on the pedal any time we inched back, and they did just that never letting the 9 point lead get closer twice. They were easily the better team in so many ways, they didn't let our guards get any offense going and defended our bigs rather handily. But when your bigs can't offensive rebound or score the ball, what chance do you have against a team of that depth?
Congrats to KU, they are a solid and deep team with some really nice players. Hell Diallo and Bragg are hardly a piece and both of them could start and play 25-30 minutes at the 5 for us
Moving on:
There is hope. Having Rodney and DHam back is huge they are getting better every year. I expect even more growth form them next year and more maturity in their games. Jalen needs to grow as a player and a person but I think he will. His pouting and talking back needs to go away and show of being coachable and the confidence of a leading guard will be required to get better as a team, he is the future. He will need to have the ball in his hands as either the PG or the secondary guard to make DHam an even better player, allowing him to be more of the wing he needs to be. Rodney's ability to score and defense is a great thing to have back and anyone thinking otherwise is just whacked out of their mind. He has his flaws, every player does, but his positives as a person and a prideful Husky are 2nd to none, glad he's back in a big way. Terry Larrier is a piece which will be very important to us, as we've heard of his abilities, even seen t as a freshman at VCU at times and on video, but will he make that jump from inconsistent freshman to the transfer with maturity after the year of practicing alongside his teammates? This is big as the more experience we bring back the better we will be. Also returning are Facey, AB ad Enoch and each one of them need to do lots of work in the summer. While it's great to have 3 bigs coming back, 2 of which are going into year 4, none have proved to be a factor in winning consistently mostly because none are. It's unfair to even put Steve in this group and we will wait to see how his summer goes, but I expect big things from him. Actually he is our hope to have a experienced big who can make a big difference so we can only hope he has a transitional summer like Emeka and others have had. AB, well why go on so Jerry can attack me? LOL, I mean once again we saw him, good and mostly not so good all year. He's the same guy, not a bad guy to have on your team as the 5 because he can block shots and get the occasional rebound but to have the same numbers for 3 years, well says it all no arguing it. Anyone who expecta him to get a lot better will need to tell me who's brain he came back with. He does nothing naturally on the floor and gets lost way too much for anyone to think "he's finally getting it" - he's not and he won't. Facey is so similar in a lesser role, so athletic and with huge potential but never got it on both ends. Truth be told, we will need Enoch to be better to be really good down low and Larrier will need to play some pf the Miller role. Or else our freshman coming in will need to fill that role.
Not going to go into the freshman, although it's obvious what we will require from all or most of them. Whether you liked them or not, Gibbs and Miller aren't easy to replace. Both brought something to the team especially SM, although I wished he rebounded as well as I thought. But he was a presence on the offensive end on the block and now we do not have one. Does DHam try this part or Larrier or is it a frosh?
The class is loaded and some or all will need to step up immediately if we are to get back to UConn expectations. Not going last year and going out somewhat quietly this year is not the way we like it around here. Can't wait to see what happens as usual, but to say I am sure it will next year isn't being honest with myself. KO needs to get better, players need to get better and recruits need to be ready and a piece. Hear's hoping 16-17 is the beginning of getting the Huskies on track.
Last night:
Hey if they were going to have the usual lull to start their games as they did most of the year, KU was not going to be the team to continue the trend. Well not only did we miss shots but hey, to their credit, they made shots. We can say they shot out of their respective a**es in the 1st half and yeah, they did but they are capable and we needed to match it if they did. They showed a little more of what they can be in the 2nd half from 3 with those "masons" from deep, many bad misses, but this is what happens in the tourney against #1.
The key for me is they were tougher and smarter. They manhandled (legally for the most part) our bigs leaving Shonn, AB and everyone else basically worthless on the boards and defensively in their match ups. Lucas looked like a man against children (he's not that good either) under there as did everyone else they had and brought in. Our guards were crapping their pants and making bad decisions as was DHam. Add to that the ball just wasn't going in I honestly believe we were very lucky to be down by just 20 in that debacle of a first half. Miller was able to get the ball more than lately but he couldn't make a shot, shots he has made all year were hanging on the rim bouncing around the rim and not going in. DHam had a couple but he also settled for 3's too much but then again, what else were we going to get? KO took too long to call a TO at one point I thought but that's his way.
Our guys were never in that game, you can say they played better and won the 2nd half but that could easily be because KU knew they just needed to step on the pedal any time we inched back, and they did just that never letting the 9 point lead get closer twice. They were easily the better team in so many ways, they didn't let our guards get any offense going and defended our bigs rather handily. But when your bigs can't offensive rebound or score the ball, what chance do you have against a team of that depth?
Congrats to KU, they are a solid and deep team with some really nice players. Hell Diallo and Bragg are hardly a piece and both of them could start and play 25-30 minutes at the 5 for us
Moving on:
There is hope. Having Rodney and DHam back is huge they are getting better every year. I expect even more growth form them next year and more maturity in their games. Jalen needs to grow as a player and a person but I think he will. His pouting and talking back needs to go away and show of being coachable and the confidence of a leading guard will be required to get better as a team, he is the future. He will need to have the ball in his hands as either the PG or the secondary guard to make DHam an even better player, allowing him to be more of the wing he needs to be. Rodney's ability to score and defense is a great thing to have back and anyone thinking otherwise is just whacked out of their mind. He has his flaws, every player does, but his positives as a person and a prideful Husky are 2nd to none, glad he's back in a big way. Terry Larrier is a piece which will be very important to us, as we've heard of his abilities, even seen t as a freshman at VCU at times and on video, but will he make that jump from inconsistent freshman to the transfer with maturity after the year of practicing alongside his teammates? This is big as the more experience we bring back the better we will be. Also returning are Facey, AB ad Enoch and each one of them need to do lots of work in the summer. While it's great to have 3 bigs coming back, 2 of which are going into year 4, none have proved to be a factor in winning consistently mostly because none are. It's unfair to even put Steve in this group and we will wait to see how his summer goes, but I expect big things from him. Actually he is our hope to have a experienced big who can make a big difference so we can only hope he has a transitional summer like Emeka and others have had. AB, well why go on so Jerry can attack me? LOL, I mean once again we saw him, good and mostly not so good all year. He's the same guy, not a bad guy to have on your team as the 5 because he can block shots and get the occasional rebound but to have the same numbers for 3 years, well says it all no arguing it. Anyone who expecta him to get a lot better will need to tell me who's brain he came back with. He does nothing naturally on the floor and gets lost way too much for anyone to think "he's finally getting it" - he's not and he won't. Facey is so similar in a lesser role, so athletic and with huge potential but never got it on both ends. Truth be told, we will need Enoch to be better to be really good down low and Larrier will need to play some pf the Miller role. Or else our freshman coming in will need to fill that role.
Not going to go into the freshman, although it's obvious what we will require from all or most of them. Whether you liked them or not, Gibbs and Miller aren't easy to replace. Both brought something to the team especially SM, although I wished he rebounded as well as I thought. But he was a presence on the offensive end on the block and now we do not have one. Does DHam try this part or Larrier or is it a frosh?
The class is loaded and some or all will need to step up immediately if we are to get back to UConn expectations. Not going last year and going out somewhat quietly this year is not the way we like it around here. Can't wait to see what happens as usual, but to say I am sure it will next year isn't being honest with myself. KO needs to get better, players need to get better and recruits need to be ready and a piece. Hear's hoping 16-17 is the beginning of getting the Huskies on track.
