Two Weaknesses Needing a Fix

[Umami Zen]

All true but the team has missed Mullins open a bunch and, on Saturday, missed Reed rolling to the basket a bunch. Not a knock on Demary or any other player on this team as much as it is an appreciation of Newton, Spencer, Castle and Karaban of always seeming to find the player and make the pass as they were getting open, rather than seeing them get open, and then looking to make the pass.

Spencer and Castle were exceptional with their BBIQ and passing-as secondary outlets to Newton. They continue to show that talent at the NBA level. This current version of UConn does not have the equivalent passing talent- as them- with Ball/Mullins/ Ross. The ball just isn't going to move as efficiently as with those guys you mentioned (as a unit). IMO- It puts more emphasis on Silas to run the offense and find guys in their spots.

The team has been missing Reed rolling to the basket for awhile. Not just last game. But with a team committed to three point shooting like we are through our motion offense- The Big Guy will need to demand the ball more often to receive it. To your point on Mullins- When he's not getting grabbed/bodied by defenders-He frequently is open.

When our shooters are hitting their shots and sharing the ball with Tarris- We are tough to beat.Looking forward to BET/March Madness

 

[Donyell 360]

Free throw shooting is not going to change at this point unfortunately.

Outside of Reed, the starting 5 shoots a good percentage.

That's true, the starters minus Reed shoot a pretty good percentage. But that's it. Everyone else is pretty bad, and once we start missing them, it seems to become contagious.

 

[mauconnfan]

I hope Seton Hall makes the NCAA tournament... I'd love to see them shoot as well as they did against us in it too.

Problem 68 is they won’t.

 

[ArizonaHsky]

It’s been a pretty consistent top 10-15 defense this year. Anomalies happen.

It’s been half a week since we allowed 40 to St. John’s.

Watch with your eyes, we struggle keeping players in front of us

 

[ArizonaHsky]

Yesterday is hard to use to define our defense. Hall had the best offensive game they've had in 5 years. There were plays where we played great defense and they hit crazy shots. Watch the highlights and it'll be more glaring. Ross cut off so many lanes but dudes were hitting crazy Dick Barnett fall backs.

My eyes tell me we can't keep guys in front of us

 

[HW611]

That missed chance to pass to Mullins made me wonder if somehow Silas doesn’t like him- no basis to think that really, it was just a spontaneous thought. I wish Silas would take more shots but he was closely guarded all game

Shouldn’t this post be deleted.

I can find video film of what I said on multiple occasions lol

 

[husky429]

My eyes tell me we can't keep guys in front of us

It's silly to lump everyone together. Silas is phenomenal at keeping guys in front of him. Solo is not. These are ultimately indvidual skills.

You're also forgetting that part of it is by design. We put a lot of pressure on our PF and C to help because our guards purposefully guard the line aggressively to limit 3-point attempts.

 

[Fan1978]

• Defending outside with hands at your side is a losing strategy (note: watch the women).
• PG missing wide open shooters too often (especially wide open Mullins).

The second one was an issue for seton hall game but has not been a season long issue. Lack of back door cutters except alex has been a problem. Perhaps this is step one to fixing, now ball handlers need to look for it. Newton and cam were exceptional passers. Silas etc need to develop this skill

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Watch with your eyes, we struggle keeping players in front of us

What did you see with your eyes against St. John’s?

 

[Lafayette]

Yeah watch the drubbing of St. John's and Fanta saying if UConn hits another the place with go crazy (sic). Pass to wide open racing Mullins on the right side 3 - swish - place went nuts.

If Braylon or anyone else is open to your eyes on TV, being at playing level might be an arm blocking the vision or clear passing lane. It happens and some of this is reaction speed. Humans take 100-500 milliseconds to process what we see. There is no "now" because of Plank's constant of 1 x e-27 is how long an instant is, so depending on Silas vs Malachi etc, 100-500ms is between a tenth and half a second. Sometimes we fit the ball through a needle quickly and sometimes we don't react in time.

 

[FightOnCT]

Watch with your eyes, we struggle keeping players in front of us

What if my eyes tell me this team has a top 10-15 defense?

 

[alphasigko]

Only 2? I can name 5:

Improve FT shooting, especially Tarris, Reibe and Smith,

In bounds passing during a full court press,

More reliable shooting % from above the arc,

Reduction of stupid TOs, and,

Reduction of stupid reach-in Fouls.

Moderate improvement in each going forward would help a lot.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

This team plays up to the competition. We should be better on the second and third weekends of the tourney. There are other great teams. But we are one of the great teams. I will die on the hill that out of conference foes are no match for us over 40 minutes. I have read in other threads that some of you want to avoid Duke, or Florida, among others. I want to avoid St. John's and Villanova. And after the second St. John's game we can put to bed the narrative that we can't handle Houston's press. March is going to be fun.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

23 and 24 didn't have go to players unless you thought Tristen was it? UConn under Hurley has been about having multiple guys who can score and not relying on one player to take over.

I think the back2back teams had multiple go to guys. Hawkins, Sanogo, Spencer, Newton. This team really has no one that can confidently take a shot with the game on the line. Maybe Karaban? Mullins hasn’t shown enough. Ball isn’t consistent enough.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

You never answered my question. UConn vs Duke in the National Championship game, who are you rooting for?

I answered. U C O N N. I don’t really like Duke. In fact, I despise Duke. I just goof around. Now it’s tourney time, and time to be serious, because we have a legit shot at 3 titles in 4 years. If we play Duke, my money is on us.

 

[ArizonaHsky]

What did you see with your eyes against St. John’s?

Excellent defense, that's 1 game

 

[ArizonaHsky]

What if my eyes tell me this team has a top 10-15 defense?

Numbers can be deceiving. Do you really think the defense is good at keeping their man in front of them? How many layups have we given up because of poor defense.

 

[3rdbass]

I think the back2back teams had multiple go to guys. Hawkins, Sanogo, Spencer, Newton. This team really has no one that can confidently take a shot with the game on the line. Maybe Karaban? Mullins hasn’t shown enough. Ball isn’t consistent enough.

If you are going to put Sanogo in there you need to mention Reed as a go to guy. Also, Demary has shown in games. I really don't see much difference between those teams besides maybe more refined roles which might come as we get close to March. I have confidence in Hurley with this team in making a run. The talent is there.

 

[husky429]

The second one was an issue for seton hall game but has not been a season long issue. Lack of back door cutters except alex has been a problem. Perhaps this is step one to fixing, now ball handlers need to look for it. Newton and cam were exceptional passers. Silas etc need to develop this skill

Leading the conference in assists.

 

[jibsey]

I answered. U C O N N. I don’t really like Duke. In fact, I despise Duke. I just goof around. Now it’s tourney time, and time to be serious, because we have a legit shot at 3 titles in 4 years. If we play Duke, my money is on us.

I too dislike Duke as many do here but they are pretty much crushing their opponents home and road in the ACC which if you believe ESPN is predicting 8-9 bids. What does that mean?
I’m not smart enough basketball wise to know. Same for Arizona and Michigan. We have had some impressive performances but many very close games in a league getting 3 bids?

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I too dislike Duke as many do here but they are pretty much crushing their opponents home and road in the ACC which if you believe ESPN is predicting 8-9 bids. What does that mean?
I’m not smart enough basketball wise to know. Same for Arizona and Michigan. We have had some impressive performances but many very close games in a league getting 3 bids?

Hurley is a better coach than the rest of the field. Last year’s Florida game proved that, if anyone still had doubts. We’ll be okay unless our lousy free throw shooting sinks us.

 

[Excalibur]

Numbers can be deceiving. Do you really think the defense is good at keeping their man in front of them? How many layups have we given up because of poor defense.

Where is the rolleye emoji?