UConn 314th in steals per game

[Scottobot]

I can’t recall a UConn team that had less steals per game than this team. They are average 5.4 as a team per game and Diarra has 1.5 of those. Seems like they have a complete lack of quickness on this team. The most egregious is Jaylin Stewart averaging 0.1 steals per game over 18.6 minutes. To make matters worse they foul more than most teams.

 

[uconn_jack]

Blocks are still up there though.

 

[RuffRuff]

Blocks are still up there though.

Steals are usually via overplaying with ball pressure and anticipating - this team is still working on the basics defensively.

 

[Scottobot]

Where I am going with this is I think the lack of quickness not lack of size has been what has really killed them this year. They are slow to get to loose balls. Last of quickness is source of dribble drive defense problems. Lack of quickness means late on rotations to guard the 3. Lack of quickness affects wings and guards getting rebounds. Lack of quickness is why we can’t dribble drive.

 

[UCONNFAN179]

And our 2025 recruits are not exactly known for their quickness

 

[Waquoit]

Maybe we can pick up a steals guy in the portal.

 

[Hi-Low]

This years team is what it is....will enjoy March & hope good guys make a run in BE Tourney & secure a 7 seed or higher in the Dance.

There is no question though that the staff will need to land a lead PG type & 1 other no doubt impact player in the portal.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

They averaged 6.2 a game last year.

 

[Scottobot]

And our 2025 recruits are not exactly known for their quickness

Quickness isn’t always something the scouts track. it is hard to measure, as it’s a combination of athletic ability and how sharp your mind is, ie how quickly you mind tells you to react and move. Nadav Henefeld of the dream team never struck me as a superior athlete but he was very quick and had great intuition. He averaged 3.7 steals a game in the one year he played at UConn. You would have to watch a few games of our incoming recruits to be able to tell. Sometimes it’s hard to tell in high school because the talent level they play against is so variable.

Calhoun seemed to always recruit quickness at the PG. Shabazz, Kemba, Boatright, Ollie, Taliek Brown, Ricky Moore, all super quick. Even El Amin who sometimes looked like he was a bit overweight was very quick.

 

[auror]

You don't need steals to have a good defense.

Nobody is writing home about Samford's 180th ranked defense despite them getting 10 steals a game.

 

[Scottobot]

They averaged 6.2 a game last year.

excellent point. I was surprised by that, and it makes me wonder how much of their great defense last year was solely due to Clingan. Also surprised that Spencer led the team with 1.5 steals.

 

[Palatine]

Not surprised. No one really excels at reading the passing lanes or as a pest on defense. Even when Diarra knocks the ball away, the opponent usually gets it back. And we really don't have quick guys. So, it is what it is.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

This is the most unathletic UConn team I’ve seen, in my 47 years of watching us.

 

[RuffRuff]

excellent point. I was surprised by that, and it makes me wonder how much of their great defense last year was solely due to Clingan. Also surprised that Spencer led the team with 1.5 steals.

Steals per game not what I would call the most indicative stat of success. If you look at the top 50 teams in SPG, I wouldn’t say it’s loaded with top teams. Two of the better are in our own conference (StJ and Marquette).

Often it implies that teams do take a lot of risks and then give up easy baskets. Last year our teams defensive MO was giving up low quality contested shots.

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[3rdbass]

excellent point. I was surprised by that, and it makes me wonder how much of their great defense last year was solely due to Clingan. Also surprised that Spencer led the team with 1.5 steals.

And a lockdown defender in Steph. We don't have one of those this year.

 

[Excalibur]

Where I am going with this is I think the lack of quickness not lack of size has been what has really killed them this year. They are slow to get to loose balls. Last of quickness is source of dribble drive defense problems. Lack of quickness means late on rotations to guard the 3. Lack of quickness affects wings and guards getting rebounds. Lack of quickness is why we can’t dribble drive.

We have neither the quickness to take the ball nor the length to get into passing lanes.

 

[Excalibur]

excellent point. I was surprised by that, and it makes me wonder how much of their great defense last year was solely due to Clingan. Also surprised that Spencer led the team with 1.5 steals.

Solely? That’s laughable. We had length and size all over the floor, a hyper-quick perimeter defender coming off the bench, and a ton of experience.

 

[AdamaNation]

They averaged 6.2 a game last year.

Exactly. I think it’s the grind them out and let rebounds be the turnovers mentality as gambling and overplay is too risky without a legit shot blocker. Reed is good. Can’t figure out why Sam isn’t punching shots to the 3rd row. . “Kills” on d.

 

[willie99]

We don't play to steal, hence we're going to steal less than many teams

Teams that play to steal press more, reach in more, play defense more aggressively, constantly pressing the ball for 94 feet. We don't

The GOAT emphasized defensive FG % and rebounding margin, not steals or deflections or even flopping. Hurley's defense is closer to Calhoun's than Pitino's. I'm OK with that

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Steals is a by product of team defense and quick handed guards typically. But remember a block by Reed, Jr., which is tracked down by a UConn player is a block, a turnover but not a steal. Has the same value (they don't score, we get the ball back) just like a defensive rebound.

Steals do indicate +defenders at the guard position and Ball and Diarra have decently quick hands, but not elite at steals. They can knock the ball away or sometimes be the beneficiary of a turnover by ball pressure, but you don't need to lead in steals to have a good defense.

 

[boog204]

Steals really do not mean all that much. Just guard people and keep them in front of you. We haven't been a "turn you over" team in a long time. Always baffles me when people talk about how we have to get back to pressing. We haven't pressed consistently since the mid-'90s.

For perspective spg and turnovers forced:

2025 - 5.4/10.6
2024 - 6.2/10.6
2023 - 6.3/12.6
2014 - 7.0/13.0
2011 - 6.3/11.5
2004 - 6.0/11.6
1999 - 8.0/16.3
1990 - 13.1/21.4

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Don't have enough lateral quickness at ANY perimeter position to stop penetration

Our 3 PGs are all 6 foot, with not alot of length

When other team goes by us, We foul rather than give a step

Can't make a lot of steals when they are on the foul line

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Steals really do not mean all that much. Just guard people and keep them in front of you. We haven't been a "turn you over" team in a long time. Always baffles me when people talk about how we have to get back to pressing. We haven't pressed consistently since the mid-'90s.

For perspective spg and turnovers forced:

2025 - 5.4/10.6
2024 - 6.2/10.6
2023 - 6.3/12.6
2014 - 7.0/13.0
2011 - 6.3/11.5
2004 - 6.0/11.6
1999 - 8.0/16.3
1990 - 13.1/21.4

Every steal = a turnover so naturally as SPG goes up TOPG goes up. The only upside to a steal vs say a block and recover or a defensive rebound is a steal by a guard is more likely going to result in an uncontested layup/dunk.

 

[businesslawyer]

Your first defensive priority can be to deny your man a high percentage shot or it can be to look for a chance to get a steal. You can’t have two first priorities. We are a poor defensive team, but not generating enough steals is way, way down the list as to why.

 

[willie99]

Steals really do not mean all that much. Just guard people and keep them in front of you. We haven't been a "turn you over" team in a long time. Always baffles me when people talk about how we have to get back to pressing. We haven't pressed consistently since the mid-'90s.

For perspective spg and turnovers forced:

2025 - 5.4/10.6
2024 - 6.2/10.6
2023 - 6.3/12.6
2014 - 7.0/13.0
2011 - 6.3/11.5
2004 - 6.0/11.6
1999 - 8.0/16.3
1990 - 13.1/21.4

As your post reflects, we haven't pressed since the dream season

For a while I expected for Calhoun to bring the press back, but he never did