Three Takeaways – Xavier edition

[HHusky]

All too often we got bullied underneath by Xavier, mostly Jones on our D. We should mix in more fronting the big and quick double teaming help by whoever is guarding their worst offensive player.

 

[dennismenace]

No. 1- all the lack of late game smartness was coming from the veterans. It's what lost us the game and it's unacceptable. We badly outplayed Xavier in the second half until Vital and Gilbert lost their minds.

I think that Xavier interior defense expected the drive by AG and CV and took that away and fouling them if necessary. The height of our guards against good interior shot blockers is hard to get around without alternative three point shooting. At least they made the free throws. The key was stopping the guards and they did a good job on that. I was critical of Polley on another post for his lack of rebounding but I don't recall him getting any open looks and he could only score on that play off the screen. Good defense. Xavier fouled out their own guards but denied the shots. In retrospect it looks like they had a pretty good game plan. There were a number of bonehead plays by both teams but there was no lack of intensity by either team. Very much looking forward to future Big East wars.

 

[lange10]

We are T E R R I B L E out of TO and out of bounds in general. Especially when inbounding under the hoop we’re shooting at. This was actually an area of strength for KO and Danny doesn’t have it

Ollie’s inbounds play was to heave the ball to half court, which was intercepted 25% of the time.

This game was lost when Josh had the chance to slam one home and put us up 8. Instead, he took too long to collect himself, got blocked and Scruggs promptly buried a 3. Five point swing.

 

[intlzncster]

1. The reach-in by Bouk cost us the game. Terrible foul. Inexcusable. That said, he is FUN to watch. Talented kid.

It's excusable in that he's a freshman playing in his second game. They do dumb sh_t.

 

[Chasm64]

All too often we got bullied underneath by Xavier, mostly Jones on our D. We should mix in more fronting the big and quick double teaming help by whoever is guarding their worst offensive player.

Totally agree, I would have liked to see Akok fronting their big as I don’t believe they wouldn’t be able to get the ball to him over the top

 

[intlzncster]

We are T E R R I B L E out of TO and out of bounds in general. Especially when inbounding under the hoop we’re shooting at. This was actually an area of strength for KO and Danny doesn’t have it

Wait what? KO teams were the worst I've ever seen at this.

That said, we had a couple of complete head scratchers last night which directly involved Vital and Gilbert.

Edit: actually no I'm wrong

 

[8893]

Wait what? KO teams were the worst I've ever seen at this.

For the first three seasons, KO's teams were actually very good at plays out of TO and out of bounds.

 

[intlzncster]

For the first three seasons, KO's teams were actually very good at plays out of TO and out of bounds.

When they had Shabazz and Boat, sure. After that, not so much.

 

[8893]

When they had Shabazz and Boat, sure. After that, not so much.

Agreed. But it was a notable strength in those first few seasons, and actually seemed to be an improvement over the most recent JC-coached teams. I remember thinking that KO might be some sort of savant with Xs and Os from all his time on NBA benches playing for great coaches. Didn't turn out that way, obviously, but at the beginning it looked promising.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Wait what? KO teams were the worst I've ever seen at this.

That said, we had a couple of complete head scratchers last night which directly involved Vital and Gilbert.

If you look it up, he actually consistently lead the country or was near the top in points off in bounds play’s

 

[Matrim55]

When they had Shabazz and Boat, sure. After that, not so much.

No, we were consistently really good on OOB plays under Ollie until that last season.

 

[intlzncster]

No, we were consistently really good on OOB plays under Ollie until that last season.

Hmm, I don't remember that. Guess all the rest of it is clouding my memory. c'est la vie.

 

[UconnU]

We should have been doubling Jones all night.

 

[jibsey]

Mike Anthony just basically wrote give the ball to Bouk.

 

[intlzncster]

Can anyone explain why we run so many dribble handoffs through Carlton beyond the 3 point line? I get drawing the opposing big away from the basket, but when AG gets doubled and flips it back to Carlton, the set is toast.

Why not run that through Polley and Akok?

Well, mainly for your first reason. We have to get their center out of the paint, or Vital nor Gilbert can score at the rim.

That said, when the set breaks down, we need to shift quick.

 

[Waquoit]

Didn't turn out that way, obviously, but at the beginning it looked promising.

Napier graduates and all of a sudden Ollie isn't a savant anymore. Huh!

 

[browndog319]

No. 1: We're better than I thought we would be. Obviously it's inconsistent, obviously the offense can disappear, obviously we leave points on the table with missed bunnies and, uh, let's call it "questionable" guard play. But if you'd offered me these kinds of games – legitimate dogfights against top 25 teams with experienced guards and true Big East big men – before the season, I'd have taken it.

Honestly I thought we were going to lose this one by 10. And at halftime I thought we were going to lose by 20.

We're not particularly smart* or talented, but we've become tough. Let's hope that lasts.

* I am worried that our lack of late-game smartness isn't solely coming from the kids. Some of Hurley's rotations and play calls are pretty, pretty bad. Pretty bad!

No. 2: Unless you're snagging top 50 recruits left and right, in the college game you are who your upperclassmen are. And our upperclassmen are four 3-star recruits (Carlton, Vital, Whaley, Polley) and a high 4-star who, for various reasons, has never been able to live up to his ranking.

Xavier's best players tonight were Scruggs (top 40 recruit), Marshall (top 60) and Jones (top 100).

We are at a talent deficit and an on-court knowhow deficit against good teams. It's just reality for this year, and I suspect we'll lose more of these games than we'll win because of it. It's frustrating, but that's life.

For now.

No. 3: I told y'all a year ago that Bouk was a 5-star recruit the services had underranked b/c of the injury he suffered as a junior – he just wasn't on the circuit as much so folks didn't get to see him.

He's going to be special on both ends.

Love, love, love Bouk.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

This game was lost when Josh had the chance to slam one home and put us up 8. Instead, he took too long to collect himself, got blocked and Scruggs promptly buried a 3. Five point swing.

He drives me nuts with the amount of time it takes him to gather himself and go up. He's a smart player, he's crafty (at times) in the paint and he sees the floor reasonably well. He's a valuable big, but he's just not the kind of guy that's going to be dunking on people or consistently finishing over people.

 

[NJHoops]

Bouknight is going to start, you just don’t do that in a tournament on day 1 or 2 for him when everyone else has already been playing. Hurley has had no problem taking juniors and seniors off the floor and out of the starting line-up before and we’ll see it when the time is right here. There’s more to managing a roster of different abilities and personalities when you’re actually doing it. The guys offered as saviors have their own limitations, but they’re ultimately the future, so they’ll go with them. Vital and Gilbert aren’t as bad as some are making them out to be and Adams isn’t as good. Bouknight will have his own growing pains as teams start to be able to scout him. Beat Miami, then take the week off to get healthy and right and capitalize on the relatively easier schedule.

 

[lange10]

He drives me nuts with the amount of time it takes him to gather himself and go up. He's a smart player, he's crafty (at times) in the paint and he sees the floor reasonably well. He's a valuable big, but he's just not the kind of guy that's going to be dunking on people or consistently finishing over people.

I’m personally a huge fan of Josh. I think people might have too lofty of expectations for him. As @UConnStats stated, if he cuts down on the turnovers all is good. I also think we force to him a bit too much. The entry passes from the top of the key are disastrous and need to stop. Swing the ball and then work it inside.

 

[CL82]

We were a three game suspension and an academic ineligibility away from easily winning this game.

And probably just a three game suspension away... and maybe Richie being eligible would have been enough. It was that close.

 

[Martin]

Couple things.

1. The reach-in by Bouk cost us the game. Terrible foul. Inexcusable. That said, he is FUN to watch. Talented kid.

2. Gilbert and Vital have the WORST shot selection I've ever seen. Vital get these blinders on and there is no chance he passes. I love his intensity but my lord he kills me with the shot selection. Gilbert is best distributing the ball. He can get into the lane but he over penetrates and get stuck under the basket with nowhere to go.

3. Akok is the best rim protector we have had in awhile. Not sure why he wasnt playing late in that game. Hes also an asset on offense.

a lot of peeps say this. I was ok with it. The guy got In the paint pretty easily. If he shoots and misses and they get a rebound or tip in game over. The foul stops the clock and forces him to make free throws. He makes them Uconn has 10 plus seconds to get a shot off and potential rebound tipin. I prefer Uconn have the ball at the end. Unfortunately the player with the ball happened.

 

[ctchamps]

And probably just a three game suspension away... and maybe Richie being eligible would have been enough. It was that close.

Ok. Correct the emotionally spent and physically exhausted old dude. And I can tell you there were not too many people my age who were whooping it up as much or more than the young pups. Although I did not hold a candle to the young lady who stood next to me.