Three Takeaways – St. Joe's edition

[GemParty]

Not a secret.

1. Our two guards are an undersized pg who has never been able to finish near the rim and a good shooter who has limited dribbling/driving ability. Two guys who can't get to the rack

2. Our best big man had a D- game and missed a bunch of bunnies he usually makes

3. Our other big men are finesse players with limited to no down low game. Polley is a spot up shooter, Sid literally has no niche offensively and typically just gets the ball at the elbow, takes a dribble and a random jump stop, and then wildly chucks the ball toward the rim. I swear to god, that's like 60% of his shots in his career. And Akok is basically teh same as polley. Spot up finesse big.

So, that's all of our players, and not a single even average finisher in the paint, outside of Carlton, who had the worst game of all players on our team today and was completely inneffective.

so, thats how 8-34 happens.

We have two guards that don’t scare anybody with the dribble & drive. I’m hoping Gaffney & Bouknight are the cure. Are they Freshman. Yes. I saw a Freshman kill us on STJoes yesterday.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

1. I think its a fair obvservation that it is bizarre that in 17 minutes of play he has not put up a single unit of production outside a single assist! That is unusual and worthy of note. It's hard to do!

2. Do you disagree with my assessment that he looks lost and uncomfortable on the court to date?

3. ...

4.

no. 17 minutes into his UConn career, you've already closed the book on him.
wowzer.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Earl Kelley. Loved him. But could win either. Similar careers.

There is no comparison talent wise. The similarity is taking over games more selfishly than doing so within the context of team play, but totally different situations.
Earl took over control of the team from his coach, he was competing against GREAT OG big east teams & though they stole a couple big Ws mostly UConn was way over-matched talent-wise & coaching wise. Earl was the only player on the squad near the talent level of the top 2-3 guys starting for the rest of that league. Earl's worst year in assists was better than CV's best and his athleticism and shooting were NBA level. I don't recall many games were he jacked up a ridiculous amount of shots and he was never a 'volume' scorer. IF JC had come along in Earl's sophomore year like he did for Cliff, 51% Earl has a similar 10+ year NBA career - OR 49% he'd have been booted off the team in year 1.
Good stats bad team guys are common, sometimes they are a product of their surroundings (Earl) and other times they are one of the causes (CV).

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

1. I think its a fair obvservation that it is bizarre that in 17 minutes of play he has not put up a single unit of production outside a single assist! That is unusual and worthy of note. It's hard to do!

2. Do you disagree with my assessment that he looks lost and uncomfortable on the court to date?

3. ...

4.

I think back to fall 2010 when I saw nothing in Lamb, and therefore make very few negative projections about early freshmen. More so when they've been slowed by injuries. I see no advantage in being ahead of the curve if by chance a harsh or skeptical assessment would turn out to be right.

 

[Com'rGordon]

Anyone going to post a game replay video or atleast the highlights for those of us who missed it??

 

[KodiacKemba]

His attack mode is a major part of the problem. It’s selfish basketball. He also overcommits on D all the time. Yes, he gets steals, and he also gets burned over and over. I’ve said it before, if he’s stuffing the stat sheet we are a bad team.

Everybody but Akok was bad yesterday. But Vital and Gilbert were the worst. They are the guys who need to set the tone and get others involved. Our off the ball movement is terrible. We stand like statues and are so easy to defend as a result.

So if players are standing around it must be systematic , so it’s coaching maybe Hurley needs to do better , instead of having a guy stand at the free throw line, which is making it hard for players to cut to the basket because the paint is clogged up with defensive n offensive of players... but Gilbert by far was horrid hopefully we will see how this season play out cuz if we don’t make it to the tourney in the American then we’re going to get killed in the big east

Again what system are we running..??????

 

[Psolo12]

Anyone going to post a game replay video or atleast the highlights for those of us who missed it??

Trust me, you don't want them to.

 

[bmayuc]

no. 17 minutes into his UConn career, you've already closed the book on him.
wowzer.

Closed the book on him? He's going to play 140+ games. I'm just pointing out the first two have been ineffective.

You guys are all nuts

 

[jdb50]

Earl Kelly was the reason to watch the team in his day. Al Frederick threw done some monster dunks also but those teams were very overmatched. Earl did beat Cuse twice. Once at the HCC with a game winning field goal on our last possession. The best though was at Cuse before a huge Carrier Dome crowd when he had to put the game away with foul shots. Taking the ball at the line he said "well that's the game boys." He made em both. He had confidence and if he had played for JC, JC would have loved him.

As for last night our horrible shooting night inside the arc doomed us. bmaycu is right on that.

 

[mauconnfan]

Earl Kelley. Loved him. But could win either. Similar careers.

CV is not Earl Kelley or close talent wise. I think CV has been a savior in many ways but he's also been part of the reason we lose. I do think he's improved his understanding of knowing his limitations and he does amazing things rebounding the basketball. But 16 boards or not he was horrific and back to his frosh/soph years play last night. Besides the 3-4 times he was mad Daly schooled him so he had to take the next shot from 25 he also took too many of his own boards coast to coast. Got bailed on a couple but also made some FT's off them but they were not at all good decisions. Gilbert did the same thing and it was amazing how bad they both were on the same night, whacked actually!

 

[mauconnfan]

Earl Kelly was the reason to watch the team in his day. Al Frederick threw done some monster dunks also but those teams were very overmatched. Earl did beat Cuse twice. Once at the HCC with a game winning field goal on our last possession. The best though was at Cuse before a huge Carrier Dome crowd when he had to put the game away with foul shots. Taking the ball at the line he said "well that's the game boys." He made em both. He had confidence and if he had played for JC, JC would have loved him.

As for last night our horrible shooting night inside the arc doomed us. bmaycu is right on that.

"Skinner" (Al F) was a nice player, underrated overall. Great guy too played against him in CC twice one year got to guard and be guarded by Al, that was not really good but he was a fun dude to play against. Very talkative but in a positive laughing manner. Had a great 10-15 foot tough off the backboard and as you mentioned he could fly. Lucky if he was 6'4" he was always undersized (not against me lol) at UConn but tough as nails and strong. Glad you brought him up thanks good memories.

 

[joober jones]

Not saying he’s nba bound. But srs find other ways to contribute. Yes d Beverly is probably better.

I realize the DBev line was in jest, but honestly, I wish we had him on the team this year. He wouldn't put up big numbers, but he'd keep guys calm and be a solid game manager off the bench. We don't have a guy like that on the team this year... someone whose biggest contributions come from the neck up.

 

[mauconnfan]

So much to say after the other night but I can’t find the time lol. I mean there needs to be a change in attitude on D and a increase in efficiency in our impact players just to begin with. Also Coach Hurley needs to pull on that rope early and often when people leave the team concept.

Listen whether you want to hear it or not part of the other night was ST Joes played the best half of their lives period. It was catchy it happens just seems like more to us as of late. While we need to get hands in the face they still made shots some bombs actually. But even when we went out to guard them and they drove we had zero help no one understands help defense or reading a play that’s scary.

No matter game 2 not done yet. Let’s see what happens at Florida who’s have my troubles scoring. They are physical thoughdown low and may kill uaon the boards.

Let’s see what happens before my real rant. Hope I don’t.

 

[Dogdeacon]

So much to say after the other night but I can’t find the time lol. I mean there needs to be a change in attitude on D and a increase in efficiency in our impact players just to begin with. Also Coach Hurley needs to pull on that rope early and often when people leave the team concept.

Listen whether you want to hear it or not part of the other night was ST Joes played the best half of their lives period. It was catchy it happens just seems like more to us as of late. While we need to get hands in the face they still made shots some bombs actually. But even when we went out to guard them and they drove we had zero help no one understands help defense or reading a play that’s scary.

No matter game 2 not done yet. Let’s see what happens at Florida who’s have my troubles scoring. They are physical thoughdown low and may kill uaon the boards.

Let’s see what happens before my real rant. Hope I don’t.

I didn't see the game, but part of what I heard in Hurley's press conference is that UConn lacks the mentality and players that dictate no ing way someone is having a best half of their life against us. I think Hurley realizes he still underestimates the malaise. UConn can't assume a re-emergence 'because we are UConn' there has to be a new culture at every level. Calhoun knew this and did this. Hate to use this as an example, but UMass 'refuse to lose' back in the day is an example of the institutional change needed.

 

[intlzncster]

I didn't see the game, but part of what I heard in Hurley's press conference is that UConn lacks the mentality and players that dictate no ing way someone is having a best half of their life against us. I think Hurley realizes he still underestimates the malaise. UConn can't assume a re-emergence 'because we are UConn' there has to be a new culture at every level. Calhoun knew this and did this. Hate to use this as an example, but UMass 'refuse to lose' back in the day is an example of the institutional change needed.

He even said that last year. Something like "I overestimated what we had here". Don't remember the exact quote.