UConn-Florida, Sunday 12:10 pm on CBS

[Mr. French]

Our ability to attack and actually make good scoring/passing decisions is sorely missing. It's not just that guys can't get downhill, they're mostly making bad choices when they do. Or they make the right choice, but they're not skilled enough to make the shot or pass.

That was noticeable last night, not that it wasn't all year. I was worried when it was a 2 point game under 4 and they have Fears. Luckily for us, they went away from him like 3 straight possessions, and we scored.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

"When we pull off the upset, I will absolutely lose my friggin mind!!!!"

There, I fixed it for you.

Now write it 100 times.

I really like what you did there but I have one small criticism; when we win a basketbll game it is never an upset.

 

[prankster]

Well, that is definitely a bit of perspective.

When we "shocked the world", I know many of the faithful were not looking at it as though it was an upset.

But the rest of the sports world took a different view.

Still, this is the Boneyard, so your perspective is the one that should be presumed here.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I mean… he’s not wrong.

The team that wins is the team that can establish THEIR game. If UConn comes out and hits their outside shots, and plays good defense, they can win this.

 

[TroyHall98]

Especially the last part. Florida is great at offensive rebounding.

Physicality will determine a lot in this game. I think we can match or maybe even exceed their physicality.

 

[Kowalski]

Physicality will determine a lot in this game. I think we can match or maybe even exceed their physicality.

Tarris Reed will be key. He matches up great with their bigs. But he’s got to avoid foul trouble - play straight up & not leave his feet on the guy he’s guarding.

 

[HooperScooper]

UConn was an underdog to Oklahoma? I'm surprised by that

No. UConn was favored by 4.5 to 5.5.

 

[BuffaloHusky]

This feels like the Giants/Bills Super Bowl. If we control the tempo and limit turnovers, we should be in until the end.

 

[3rdbass]

You could go tonight….

Yeah but ticket prices aren't as good now.

 

[Goldenflash]

Yeah but ticket prices aren't as good now.

With the Dukies playing 20 minutes from home ticket prices aren’t likely to come down much over what you’re seeing. If Duke was the early game it might be worth stalking the sidewalk outside the building for tickets from the early games losing fans leaving early, unfortunately we’re the early game tomorrow.

 

[NJHusky]

Yeah but ticket prices aren't as good now.

I meant drive up tnt, party, then buy ticket tomorrow.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Florida better be ready for a street fight. While UConn may not be as talented as them up and down the roster, this squad has pride in themselves and in this program. To quote Rocky in Rocky IV: “To beat me he is going to have to kill me. I don’t know if he is ready for that.”

Let’s go!!!!

Show me a big forward that Florida has on the bench that can shoot it and mix it up under the basket better than Stewart.

 

[Waquoit]

They say when fighting a gator to hit it in the eye.

I read that their jaw-opening muscles were very weak compared with their jaw-closing muscles. So if you can close their mouths, it's relatively easy to keep them closed.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I mean… he’s not wrong.

I think maybe he was referring to our backcourt starters, and without actually saying it, their ball handling skills. That being said, we do have Mahaney who definitely can score off the dribble, that high kiss off the glass that wowed everyone in the last game is a perfect example. Karaban and McNeeley both can penetrate and score off the dribble or rebound their own miss and make it to the FT line. Are they great ball handlers, no but they make up for that with their height and jumping ability as well as their touch around the rim.

 

[Rico444]

Have to say I agree. We run good stuff but our personnel is lacking and on most sets we are playing 3 on 5. Hass is a non factor in the half court and our big is either a screener or point center 25 feet from the hoop. We run the high screens and hand off etc but the opposing big can just zone up. Our bigs are apparently unable to shoot and our three scorers coming off screens are challenged to put the ball on the floor or take a middy which they are at times reluctant to take. When it all bogs down, then Liam tries to be a hero or Hass takes a fall away airball
Jumper. It’s been the same thing since Maui.

I got briefly excited when Hurley said we were robotic, etc., but we have no real creators so it’s really irrelevant.

I think we can win but we’re going to need one or three main scorers to have a real good shooting night and we need to post Tarris as much as possible to give the defense some different looks. Tarris basically got like 5-6 post ops last game and got a bucket or a good shot each time. It’s idiotic he’s just a screener in some sets.

If the opposing defense can defend the pick and roll, it's basically 4 on 5 with Samson out there. With Tarris we have 5 legitimate threats to score.

 

[boog204]

If the opposing defense can defend the pick and roll, it's basically 4 on 5 with Samson out there. With Tarris we have 5 legitimate threats to score.

It’s 4v5 if the set just has Tarris stay at the theee point line screening and doing handoffs.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Kind of surprised it's that low. Especially since it was 4.5 or 5.5 against Oklahoma and they weren't that good.

Opened at -4.5 and at tip off had changed to -5.5

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Tarris Reed will be key. He matches up great with their bigs. But he’s got to avoid foul trouble - play straight up & not leave his feet on the guy he’s guarding.

It is quite possible Florida gets some fouls and has to sit someone too

 

[Superhuskies]

There is a world where Solo, Liam, and AK each hit 4 or 5 threes and we get Tarris and Samson Johnson to both be "on". That feels reasonable...make it so Sunday fellas!!

Cam Spencer available, from nearby Memphis..?..., as new walk on, zorro-masked grad manager, name...Cram Splinter..?? ...,.. Dress, #00, play...couple,...30 ?? casual ...minutes..shoot couple, 15 ? quick 3's...???

 

[EROCK CONN]

Well, they have 8 games to squeeze in each day.

Just drives me nuts that there’s two games before 5 and then 6 from 530 to 945.

 

[mussels]

Cam Spencer available, from nearby Memphis..?..., as new walk on, zorro-masked grad manager, name...Cram Splinter..?? ...,.. Dress, #00, play...couple,...30 ?? casual ...minutes..shoot couple, 15 ? quick 3's...???

Sam Kenser has entered the game for the Huskies

 

[auror]

everyone keeps saying this, but i’m not so sure.

in past years maybe. but our offense doesn’t seem as difficult to guard this year.

especially if you have a big that you can park in the paint, and athletes that can switch every screen on the perimeter. which it seems like Florida has.

we will keep running these “elaborate” sets, when we should be playing a simple inside outside game thru reed anytime he is in.

It's easier than last year, but it's still a tough prep. Oklahoma had a week. Big East teams saw us twice and a couple times before that in most cases. We struggled in Maui, but it wasn't the offense (except maybe in Dayton game when we were shook).

Think of the 2nd games of the weekend last year. Northwestern and Illinois. We demolished them, and their gameplans were horrible.

I think they will probably try to do what you said. But we'll see if they can execute it as well with only 1 day of practice.

 

[sdglast]

It's easier than last year, but it's still a tough prep. Oklahoma had a week. Big East teams saw us twice and a couple times before that in most cases. We struggled in Maui, but it wasn't the offense (except maybe in Dayton game when we were shook).

Think of the 2nd games of the weekend last year. Northwestern and Illinois. We demolished them, and their gameplans were horrible.

I think they will probably try to do what you said. But we'll see if they can execute it as well with only 1 day of practi

Certainly that can be viewed as a positive, but remember that Florida already scouted and played Oklahoma and knows what they will do. I am guessing Golden and his assistants did a lot of work on UConn, as they already had the Oklahoma scouting report in their arsenal. It's not like other teams who haven't seen either 8 or 9 seed. With that being said, UConn is going to have to play a stellar game today and make LOTS of 3s and can't get into foul trouble. Unless Hurley is willing to go zone, which I doubt he is, fouls and made 3s will likely carry the day for UConn's potential to pull an upset. Florida will likely take over 30 threes, and I suspect they will make in the neighborhood of12. If they shoot better than that from 3, it's going to be a long day. If UConn goes 5-25 like the Oklahoma game, it's likely a 20 plus blowout. UConn needs to play like Creighton 1st half against Auburn to have a chance.

 

[RuffRuff]

Certainly that can be viewed as a positive, but remember that Florida already scouted Oklahoma and knows what they will do. I am guessing Golden and his assistants did a lot of work on UConn, as they already had the Oklahoma scouting report in their arsenal. It's not like other teams who haven't seen either 8 or 9 seed. With that being said, UConn is going to have to play a stellar game today and make LOTS of 3s and can't get into foul trouble. Unless Hurley is willing to go zone, which I doubt he is, fouls and made 3s will likely carry the day for UConn's potential to pull an upset. Florida will likely take over 30 threes, and I suspect they will make in the neighborhood for 12. If they shoot better than that from 3, it's going to be a long day. If UConn goes 5-25 like the Oklahoma game, and it's likely a 20 plus blowout. UConn needs to play like Creighton 1st half against Auburn to have a chance.

The benefit of the 1 seed is you can pretty much start scouting Game 2. Golden is smart and will be ready. He pretty much stated what he is preparing for in his presser, which is spot on. Borges was obsessed with Billy Donovan in that presser btw, was weird.

We need all 5 fouls out of Reed today. There is no reason not to extend him.

We need to get hot from 3 and for them to be cold, for any chance. We need Tarris to be disruptive down low during their 2 center rotation. Lose with your best players playing every minute they should.

My biggest curiosity is whether Dan has any wrinkle he's willing to use here - his creativity has been minimal this year, stuck in a lot of what won him the titles. I've seen very little adapting to the current roster, more a continuance of trying to get this roster to play the scheme. In a one game format that can end your season, against a team that is basically better at every position other that maybe the 5, you should have at least one or two wrinkles ready to go to stop a run.

This team should be loose and relaxed today, as the underdog. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

We are the last Big East team standing, so let's give the SEC so grit today!

It's going to take a real Tarris monster game to control the points in the paint and our 3pt shooting hopefully is better - I have posted that Florida is not especially quick (Tennessee and BYU want to run - Florida can but no elite speed). We need to control the tempo and run our offense to tire them out and hopefully induce fouls so their key guys have to ride the pine.

Clayton and Richards are 6'3" and 6'4" so not too tall for Solo/Mahaney at 6'3" but we need Diarra and them to help each other rotate to stop the open 3s. And our Centers cannot keep leaving Alex or Liam defending the paint AND the sideline 3s. Way too many times we get burnt there.