UConn’s Vulnerabilities Heading To Postseason

[jibsey]

This is not any kind of swipe or dig at our great team in this amazing season but seeking some honest takes from the crowd here other than we have a terrible shooting night. We go on the premises that everyone is healthy and playing well. And I realize that you can run into another team where they get hot from 3 and go 10-20.
The only letdown I see is at the backup 5 with Johnson, but as opposition and reffing change when we get outa the BE that may not be a problem so much.You never know what is lurking to shut you down but the team’s increased D performances bode very well the way we have limited points scored lately.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Clingan foul trouble and big physical 4’s that can bully Karaban down low (he’s been better here and there aren’t a ton in the country that can really exploit this.

 

[GlastonTim]

Edit the thread title please

 

[Chin Diesel]

First in with a "It's UConn not UCONN" with a douchey explanation of difference between when to use each one.
(Nevermind the actual spelling typo almost no one noticed until they re-read the title).

 

[StllH8L8ner]

 

[Chin Diesel]

This is not any kind of swipe or dig at our great team in this amazing season but seeking some honest takes from the crowd here other than we have a terrible shooting night. We go on the premises that everyone is healthy and playing well. And I realize that you can run into another team where they get hot from 3 and go 10-20.
The only letdown I see is at the backup 5 with Johnson, but as opposition and reffing change when we get outa the BE that may not be a problem so much.You never know what is lurking to shut you down but the team’s increased D performances bode very well the way we have limited points scored lately.

A team making 10 threes a game isn't unusual any more. Plenty of teams make 9 or more a game on average.
A team would have to make at least 15 threes to get my attention for being "hot" from 3.

 

[runner11]

Clingan foul trouble and big physical 4’s that can bully Karaban down low (he’s been better here and there aren’t a ton in the country that can really exploit this.

Agreed, Clingan getting into foul trouble and then having attacking guards who can take advantage.

 

[imno1]

This is not any kind of swipe or dig at our great team in this amazing season but seeking some honest takes from the crowd here other than we have a terrible shooting night. We go on the premises that everyone is healthy and playing well. And I realize that you can run into another team where they get hot from 3 and go 10-20.
The only letdown I see is at the backup 5 with Johnson, but as opposition and reffing change when we get outa the BE that may not be a problem so much.You never know what is lurking to shut you down but the team’s increased D performances bode very well the way we have limited points scored lately.

How many teams in college bb have a better backup at the 5 than Samson?

 

[husky429]

How many teams in college bb have a better backup at the 5 than Samson?

Quite a few. He makes spectacular plays once a game, but he's having trouble even "hold down the fort" at this point with his absurd foul rate and -5000 rebounds per game.

 

[Huskygrad88]

How many teams in college bb have a better backup at the 5 than Samson?

Fair point in overall talent. The challenge with Sampson is that he can be a handsy foul collector, even when we need him to eat up minutes.

 

[dennismenace]

I like the way they showed how they can collapse on a talented Big (Soriano) when Clingan is on the bench. These combinations (small ball, even having lockdown Castle at the 5 are impressive to me as
the coaching staff keeps coming up with more and more options on offense and defense. If we stay healthy, we are going to be difficult to stop especially getting out of the rock fight Big East into the national tournament. Hope we can stay healthy during the Big East Tournament.

 

[Tenspro2002]

How many teams in college bb have a better backup at the 5 than Samson?

Flashier? Few.

Better? Many.

Johnson makes the highlight-reel plays with alley-oops where he's 2 feet above the rim (which, don't get me wrong, adds value to our offense when we can execute it). But he's a mediocre on-ball defender against opposing bigs, doesn't protect the rim as well as a guy with his hops and length should, and has among the worst rebounding instincts we've seen.

One could argue that we'd be better off with a backup 5 along the lines of a Charles Okwandu who, for all his limitations, at least made the steady plays and kept the opposing team in check in the time he was spelling better players.

That said, this isn't really our biggest vulnerability since we can even go to small-ball lineups for a time if needed.

 

[Palatine]

Running into a hot goalie. That can shut anyone down.

 

[boog204]

teams with lots of athleticism... Both of our losses are against teams that were quicker, stronger, and more athletic than us. Our guards/Karaban can get beat off the dribble quite a bit.

 

[Hi-Low]

Can we fix thread title asap or delete the thread....not a good look.

 

[NJHusky]

Bad calamari

 

[JohnnyJr]

I’d worry about a team like Tennessee that can muck up our offense like the providence game but is a better offensive team than providence

 

[MexicoHusky]

Our team is good. Can they be beat? Sure. Do they have weaknesses? I dont think so... i mean what were the coaches supposed to do in the offseason? The team is lights out. Are they guaranteed to win the NC? No. Do they have a good shot? Absolutely.

Newton, Spencer, Castle can give you 20. With enough minutes probably Diarra as well. But can they be outplayed... maybe. But its not likely.

Does our back up center enter the game and crush the competition like last year? No... but the guy we have is pretty good. Weve won with worse backup centers.

We can probably beat most of the field with a pretty good game. But theres a few teams we are going to need to play well to beat.

 

[LStudfellow]

Our biggest vulnerability was actually highlighted in Tuesday night's game against Butler. A team with a combination of strong guards who are good with the kick out to shooters who hit a few more shots when they are open. Butler had 3 or 4 chances to make us really start sweating in the latter stages of that game, but they missed each of those penultimate shots. If any of them go down and Butler gets our lead under 5...

A team with a little more talent on a better shooting night in the tournament could put us in that position. Then let's see what happens when things get tight around the collar for us.

Otherwise, I agree that a strong 4 with some offensive game that gets Karaban either into foul trouble or at least back on his heals enough times is our other biggest vulnerability. We do not have anyone who matches up defensively against a DeJuan Blair/Jerome Lane-type of player... not that their are many DeJuan Blair/Jerome Lane-types floating around college basketball currently, if any.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Cling staying out of foul trouble and everyone healthy and making shots.

Also, more raccoon gifs…

 

[HooperScooper]

Wait, isn't the post season over 5 weeks away? I'll tell you then.

 

[willie99]

Less vulnerabilities than everyone else

Butt youse have 2 play da games

 

[alexd]

Nope. Not biting.

 

[uconndogs]

There aren't many absent a rash of injuries.

Defense and good guard play carry you through these tournaments. UCONN certainly has that.

 

[Icehawk]

An athletic team that can switch 1-4?

 

[auror]

Who has had big games against us this year?

Liam Lloyd - 6'5" 3-point shooter
Jackson Benigni - 6'1" guard, local kid
Rayquan Brown - 6'6" guard, was inefficient but 5 oreb.
Malik Reneau - 6'9" forward, post moves mostly, did foul out
Dillon Mitchell - 6'8" forward, very athletic, his only 20 point game of the season.
NH had 3 guys who were hot from 3.
KJ Adams - 6'7" forward, athletic.
Kevin McCullar - 6'6" guard, strong and made clutch shots. (Castle was out).
RJ Davis - 6'0" guard, All-American candidate, made shots.
Harrison Ingram - 6'8" forward, shot well.
Rashad Williams - 6'2" guard, shot well from 3.
Anton Watson - 6'8" forward, he wasn't particularly efficient.
Kadary Richmond - 6'6" guard, strong and athletic. Tons of steals.
Dre Davis - 6'5" guard, strong.
Da'Sean Nelson -6'8" center (Clingan was out).
DJ Davis - 6'1" guard, jitterbug shooter.
Pierre Brooks - 6'6" guard, strong, both Butler guys hot from 3.
Quincy Olivari - 6'2" guard, drew a bunch of fouls.
Supreme Cook - 6'9" center, killed us on boards (Clingan was out).
Dayvion McKnight - 6'1" guard. Like a fly against a hurricane.
Devin Carter - 6'3" guard, All American candidate.
Josh Oduro - 6'9" center. Had his way with Clingan.
Daniss Jenkins - 6'3" guard, shot well.
DJ Davis x 2 - 6'1" guard, shot well.
Jahmyl Telfort - 6'7" forward, strong.

I don't really see a huge pattern. Some shooters, some great players, some strong wings, some athletic 4s, some centers when Clingan was out.

9 guys 6'3" or shorter. 9 wing-sized guys. 3 centers (2 when Clingan was out).

 

[boog204]

Who has had big games against us this year?

Liam Lloyd - 6'5" 3-point shooter
Jackson Benigni - 6'1" guard, local kid
Rayquan Brown - 6'6" guard, was inefficient but 5 oreb.
Malik Reneau - 6'9" forward, post moves mostly, did foul out
Dillon Mitchell - 6'8" forward, very athletic, his only 20 point game of the season.
NH had 3 guys who were hot from 3.
KJ Adams - 6'7" forward, athletic.
Kevin McCullar - 6'6" guard, strong and made clutch shots. (Castle was out).
RJ Davis - 6'0" guard, All-American candidate, made shots.
Harrison Ingram - 6'8" forward, shot well.
Rashad Williams - 6'2" guard, shot well from 3.
Anton Watson - 6'8" forward, he wasn't particularly efficient.
Kadary Richmond - 6'6" guard, strong and athletic. Tons of steals.
Dre Davis - 6'5" guard, strong.
Da'Sean Nelson -6'8" center (Clingan was out).
DJ Davis - 6'1" guard, jitterbug shooter.
Pierre Brooks - 6'6" guard, strong, both Butler guys hot from 3.
Quincy Olivari - 6'2" guard, drew a bunch of fouls.
Supreme Cook - 6'9" center, killed us on boards (Clingan was out).
Dayvion McKnight - 6'1" guard. Like a fly against a hurricane.
Devin Carter - 6'3" guard, All American candidate.
Josh Oduro - 6'9" center. Had his way with Clingan.
Daniss Jenkins - 6'3" guard, shot well.
DJ Davis x 2 - 6'1" guard, shot well.
Jahmyl Telfort - 6'7" forward, strong.

I don't really see a huge pattern. Some shooters, some great players, some strong wings, some athletic 4s, some centers when Clingan was out.

9 guys 6'3" or shorter. 9 wing-sized guys. 3 centers (2 when Clingan was out).

The pattern is that most of the guards/combo forwards you mentioned said "strong" or "athletic" as part of your description. That's it. If a team can match up against Tristen, Cam, or AK with somebody who has a quickness/athleticism advantage, those players tend to play well. That's the way to attack us offensively. Pull Clingan out as much as possible and either force him to switch or get ISOs with Tristen, Cam, or AK.

 

[CTBasketball]

1. Clingan foul trouble
2. Stretch 4’s and 5’s that can pull our bigs away from the basket. Combined with quick guards who can drive.
3. Opposing player going for 30+

Teams that come to mind, are Tennessee. Very physical, good experienced guards, bigs that can step out if need be, and Dalton Knecht can go for 40+ if he wants. Castle guarding him is our only hope of shutting him down outside of an off-shooting night.

 

[storrsroars]

How many teams in college bb have a better backup at the 5 than Samson?

Pittsburgh, but they'll be in the NIT.

 

[ucp990411]

Our team is good. Can they be beat? Sure. Do they have weaknesses? I dont think so... i mean what were the coaches supposed to do in the offseason? The team is lights out. Are they guaranteed to win the NC? No. Do they have a good shot? Absolutely.

Newton, Spencer, Castle can give you 20. With enough minutes probably Diarra as well. But can they be outplayed... maybe. But its not likely.

Does our back up center enter the game and crush the competition like last year? No... but the guy we have is pretty good. Weve won with worse backup centers.

We can probably beat most of the field with a pretty good game. But theres a few teams we are going to need to play well to beat.

We won a national championship with Phil Nolan at the 5