Thoughts on UConn Auburn

[jdb50]

Most points scored in a Div. 1 college game since our 5 OT loss to Cuse in the Big East Tourney. Jackson had some really top notch entry passes. He was way off balance on a number of rebound chances, never seemed to have his feet under him to be able to get the ball. He had trouble with the shorter guards driving the ball as did the rest of our guards. AJ's 2 first half fouls looked like what Auburns defenders were doing most of the game with no fouls called on them. It is a credit to our 4 guys who did not force shots to get their own shots. Sanogo is the main emphasis of our offense but he needs to make more of his shots. It is interesting how little he uses the glass on his shot attempts. His defense at the end of the 2nd OT was huge. Gaffney was really out of sorts in the first half but came through at the line late as did Cole. If we hit 3's like we did today the sky is the limit. Tyler Polley did a lot more than hit 3's today.
The refs unable to correct the bad out of bounds call at the end of the second OT even after looking at the monitor was inexcusable and incompetent.

 

[AntG168]

Sanogo won’t feast on Bingham I’ll tell you that right now. Bingham is a uconn style low post defender.

Bingham will be in foul trouble by the under 12

 

[Jbirdp5]

Does anyone on the squad have a little Ricky Moore in him. We will need a defensive specialist at the guard position.

Someone else said it but the auburn guards were lightning quick, definitely a tough guard.
I don’t know if we have anyone Ricky like enough on this team. Jackson would have to be that guy if someone can get close to filling those shoes.

 

[navery12]

It's early in the season so all you can ask for his improvement on the mistakes players make. Was happy to see Sanogo go up strong and dunk it in 2OT after he got blocked from behind by Kessler in the 2nd half

 

[FatHank]

I feel bad for Yarders who watched it and deemed it a C+.

That game was a war, a sweet sixteen level battle, and an instant classic. Ye who hates on us in that game needs to get themselves checked out. My non-Yarder friend was the same way. Debbie Downer. Enjoy that epic game, a game we Won and have seen us normally lose in the past years, and enjoy that Thanksgiving week treat of a game!!!

 

[FatHank]

10am here. But it's ok to drink before noon on turkey day, right?

Ummm, yea-ahhh! Just don't be burnin' the turkey!!!

 

[UConnSwag11]

After 3 games Hawkins has already had a better frosh year than AJ did

and Bouknight, and Polley's career. We can say it about a lot of players on this team

 

[UConnSwag11]

Hoping to see some depth play tomorrow. Samson, Sool for a few min. Blood the youth

If they play I'm hoping we're up by 20 with a few left.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Dan Hurley has to be pumped about the win, he's watching this right now

Love Fanta

 

[UConnSwag11]

Hawkins needs 25=30+. The kid is special. He has talent but what separates him is his IQ and Confidence. Everything he does with the ball has a purpose and he does it with confidence

 

[Jbirdp5]

It's early in the season so all you can ask for his improvement on the mistakes players make. Was happy to see Sanogo go up strong and dunk it in 2OT after he got blocked from behind by Kessler in the 2nd half

His footspeed is so night and day from last year, he flashed and recovered very well while guarding Kessler and the other bigs . Also blocked his shot twice when Kessler didn’t go up strong.

 

[PAHusky]

and Bouknight, and Polley's career. We can say it about a lot of players on this team

….the same Polley that won us that game yesterday? Your love for Hawkins is great but that’s a clown take on a guy who just dropped 24 on a ranked opponent.

 

[UConnSwag11]

 

[F101Voodoo]

My opinion about this team is that they have a deapt that I do not recall since Calhoun days. I do not at this time see a great great player but feel this gang playing as a team will get UCONN far in March. The hole is as someone else said earlier is in the defensive guard position. I am happy to be back in the Big East for BB but sad and resent it as all he11 that UCONN football is hanging to life only because of life support!

 

[UConnSwag11]

….the same Polley that won us that game yesterday? Your love for Hawkins is great but that’s a clown take on a guy who just dropped 24 on a ranked opponent.

Clown take? What? Never said Polley didn't play great or he didn't win it for us. Pointing out that if people are going to go after Jackson's play after only 1.5 years, then everyone else is up for criticism. Why not go after the quote I replied to and say it's not needed?

 

[UConnSwag11]

Aaron puts out great content.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Draft expert for ESPN and DraftExpress

 

[PAHusky]

Clown take? What? Never said Polley didn't play great or he didn't win it for us. Pointing out that if people are going to go after Jackson's play after only 1.5 years, then everyone else is up for criticism. Why not go after the quote I replied to and say it's not needed?

You added “career “ in there for Polley the day after a huge performance from him and after a year where he was named 6MOY in the big East. The other poster compared apples to apples - AJax and Hawkins’ respective freshman years. Hawkins is great, why shade Polley?

 

[UConnSwag11]

You added “career “ in there for Polley the day after a huge performance from him and after a year where he was named 6MOY in the big East. The other poster compared apples to apples - AJax and Hawkins’ respective freshman years. Hawkins is great, why shade Polley?

Fair. Conversation for another day

 

[UConnSwag11]

 

[ucp990411]

Mostly agree with @superjohn

Jackson had a tough day getting the ball to fall but passed really well and we play so much better when we don’t have a guard dribbling endlessly up top. When he’s not in our offense reverts back to that too often. Bet he has a big game tomorrow.

Love Hawkins’ game, but he‘s a culprit too. Doesn’t move the ball and tries to beat everyone, which he often can. As teams figure him out and commit defenders to him, he has to learn how to find the open man.

Press break 101, don’t beat it with the dribble, beat it through the air. Jackson and Akok are press break machines if we use them properly. Need a taller inbounder and a tall target at half court. We made them pay once all game.

Akok should have played more. He owned the boards when he was in. He was wide open often while our guards went one on two and drove into traffic. They need to look for him and he needs to demand the ball.

Jackson did not have trouble getting his shot to fall. He took one shot in 20 minutes.

 

[NJHusky]

This was a really good test. Auburn is a legit team if they play like that all year.

And one of their top players is out. Glad we caught them without Flanigan!

I think this win will look even better in March

 

[the Q]

- the guards can’t get by people. Jackson becoming/developing into the primary ball handler would really open up this offense

- guard d was abysmal.

- Whaley with some very un-Whaley like plays, the foul on the 3 and letting up on the OT tip and letting the midget take the ball from the him. Glad he’s ok as his d is still key. Really want to see some development offensively but with sanaogo earning every touch, does seem it’s not coming

- speaking of sanogo. Great game. Are you Kessler. Good touch. Quick hook. But man, dunk the freaking ball. Too many of those.

- way too many turnovers. The least concerning was the fluke Hawkins one. It happens. Obviously it hurt at the time though. But just way too careless as a team.

- the ball movement in the first half was good. The last 10 minutes it was non existent and goes back to my first point here.

- still, a tough win where they battled back after squandering a 15 point lead in a game they had a chance to bury them. Learning lesson there.