UConn vs Texas Post Game Thread...

[Dogdeacon]

I think it’s safe for say that unless AM has an epiphany it’s unlikely we see him as much more than what we saw yesterday in key matchups, which was 6 minutes (2 turnovers).

It is almost as if Mahaney is a freshman. I think he'll be in a good game/bad game period for awhile and is still more in phase of coaches breaking his game all the way down vs. building it back up. I did like that last night he played tenacious D and forced a turnover on a drive after a couple of offensive mistakes. Going into yesterday's game I was hopeful that Aidan would build on the success of the Baylor game, but seemed more like he had no chance in a road environment.

Optimistically the competition for minutes between Nowell and Mahaney should improve both. Mahaney has more to offer within the sparkplug pure scoring off the bench role, with Nowell offering the long-term overall game and upside.

 

[Skies2018]

They thought they could win. They could not.

All time sports quote

 

[RuffRuff]

Caring about Waylon's opinions on anything is maybe even stranger than typing in the game chat during the game from the arena.

Seeing what the BY faithful are seeing during a TV timeout in the day of the iPhone being strange is what tech obsolete peeps say .

 

[yungdowork]

Lots of players have good shooting splits at this point in the season because they are playing cupcakes.

Well definitely not a lot of guys because he is literally the only 18 year old in the country that is doing it. The only one averaging more than 20 is Dylan Harper and he’s barely above 30% from 3

 

[Candyman]

He played the game as if it were an AAU game - all he cared about was his offense - kid plays little to no defense for the most part. He'll make $ playing the sport but he needs to understand there are other parts of the game he needs to look at. KD? nah Great scorer but there are plenty of those at the next level. Still - he carried that team for a while but with him and Kaluma (sic) scoring 80% of their points is eye opening.

That is all he is asked to do and his defense is fine. Its more coaching than anything else. Again, the coach plays iso ball with him clearing out. Not sure how it is his fault? Again he led their team in assists and could have had more if Shedrick was any good.

This is the third game I watched of them. He is unreal shot maker, best scorer in college right now. Flagg and the Rutger kids are better all around players for sure.

Again,mini KD in referring to the way he shoots and dribbles. Thats it, IMO his shot remind me of KD. Texas uniforms all.

 

[Candyman]

It is almost as if Mahaney is a freshman. I think he'll be in a good game/bad game period for awhile and is still more in phase of coaches breaking his game all the way down vs. building it back up. I did like that last night he played tenacious D and forced a turnover on a drive after a couple of offensive mistakes. Going into yesterday's game I was hopeful that Aidan would build on the success of the Baylor game, but seemed more like he had no chance in a road environment.

Optimistically the competition for minutes between Nowell and Mahaney should improve both. Mahaney has more to offer within the sparkplug pure scoring off the bench role, with Nowell offering the long-term overall game and upside.

Mahaney when someone presses up on him he really struggles. Baylor guards gave him some breathing room, Texas did not. He just can't run the offense as a PG. He is a natural 2 guard who should be running off screens.

With Nowell out I expect Diarra to play 30 plus minutes. His feel for the offense is getting better and better. He's a natural PG and Mahaney isn't.

 

[TribecaHusk]

Well said.

Our play kept the the fans sitting on their hands with closed mouths but it seemed like the crowd noise was muted at times by the telecast.

Was at the game. Not a loud place. Maybe the football loss had something to do with the mood but not as much energy as other venues I’ve been to

 

[HCCForever]

I'm really glad Solo showed signs of hope on defense. And he showed he's more than a 1-dimensional catch and shoot 3 guy.

Solo can shoot, no doubt about that. He also had a nice scoop hoop driving to the rim late in the first half. Much improved defensive game for Solo.

The team was +4 with Singare in the game. Up 14 when he entered the game and up 18 when he exited.

 

[TMB4405]

I was at game. Glad we jumped out quick. I thouhht that was key. Some random away game fan thoughts:

Texas fans pretty respectful overall; many were happy to engage/discuss; most dont like their coach; Texas made a lot of tough shots to even stay within shouting distance but not much team play; fans think Hurley is great but annoying; arena very nice; did not ever wait for more than a minute at concession stands; happy hour every game until national anthem and all drinks half price; quite a few Uconn fans at game more than I expected.

 

[3rdbass]

Mahaney when someone presses up on him he really struggles. Baylor guards gave him some breathing room, Texas did not. He just can't run the offense as a PG. He is a natural 2 guard who should be running off screens.

With Nowell out I expect Diarra to play 30 plus minutes. His feel for the offense is getting better and better. He's a natural PG and Mahaney isn't.

Totally agree. The offense doesn't run well with Mahaney in at PG. He is a SG and Dan realizes it. He even plays Mahaney at 2Guard when he subs for Ball. I think the key to UConn this year is Nowell. I love Diarra and he has to run the PG now but he just doesn't score and his outside shot is just not there. I think if Nowell if healthy will eventually become the PG with Diarra backing him up. I mean maybe Diarra can find his offense and i will be surprised. Either way Diarra is playing well dishing out the ball, driving to the hoop and playing top notch D. I love this kid no matter his role going forward.

 

[HCCForever]

Miscellaneous:

Travis Knght and Jake Voskuhl in the first row behind UConn bench, not far from Bill Murray. Grabbed a pic with Bill after.

Surprised you noticed 1990s players. Sounds like something for the Boneyard nostalgia section.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Totally agree. The offense doesn't run well with Mahaney in at PG. He is a SG and Dan realizes it. He even plays Mahaney at 2Guard when he subs for Ball. I think the key to UConn this year is Nowell. I love Diarra and he has to run the PG now but he just doesn't score and his outside shot is just not there. I think if Nowell if healthy will eventually become the PG with Diarra backing him up. I mean maybe Diarra can find his offense and i will be surprised. Either way Diarra is playing well dishing out the ball, driving to the hoop and playing top notch D. I love this kid no matter his role going forward.

Also agree 100%. Wonder if it is somewhat a size/strength issue and if that can be improved upon? Obviously can't add 15lbs of muscle during the season, but possible over a 2-year span. He's a SG/scoring off the bench for the time being.

There are a lot of shooters, but it is a hole in the offense when UConn's starting PG is only good for ~3 attempts from 3 per game and almost never good creating either a shot or drive in a late shot clock situation. Liam may be the best option to have the ball with under 5 seconds to shoot.

 

[HCCForever]

Diarra threaded the needle with some absolute dimes today. By far his most consistent performance running the offense. Great game from him.

Diarra did have some great assists. Unfortunately, he missed one of the easiest when he overthrew a trailer (can't remember who) after stealing the ball in the first half.

 

[Lambeau]

Great to see Ball stepping up his game--he has such potential.
I hope we continue to see more offensive motion so Diarra can move the ball instead of dribbling interminably.

 

[RuffRuff]

Diarra did have some great assists. Unfortunately, he missed one of the easiest when he overthrew a trailer (can't remember who) after stealing the ball in the first half.

He had 11 assists. As long as we get points from AK, Liam and Solo, doesn’t need to do more than hit his open shots and run the offense. I thought he played great, between both ends.

 

[JerseyAlum]

View attachment IMG_4841.jpeg

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Totally agree. The offense doesn't run well with Mahaney in at PG. He is a SG and Dan realizes it. He even plays Mahaney at 2Guard when he subs for Ball. I think the key to UConn this year is Nowell. I love Diarra and he has to run the PG now but he just doesn't score and his outside shot is just not there. I think if Nowell if healthy will eventually become the PG with Diarra backing him up. I mean maybe Diarra can find his offense and i will be surprised. Either way Diarra is playing well dishing out the ball, driving to the hoop and playing top notch D. I love this kid no matter his role going forward.

You don’t need a pure point guard in Hurley’s offense, you just need two guards and a wing that make quick reads in the half court. Calhoun’s offense, with its emphasis on speed and transition, demanded a really strong traditional point guard.

 

[JerseyAlum]

View attachment 105329

That was a photo from a corner of the UConn reception prior to the game. Dave Benedict asked not post one where he looked like he was serving from the buffet so will honor that.

 

[JerseyAlum]

He had 11 assists. As long as we get points from AK, Liam and Solo, doesn’t need to do more than hit his open shots and run the offense. I thought he played great, between both ends.

Yeah assist wise he was marvelous…did not like him taking that 3 with Liam wide open.

Singare was great for the purpose of closing the first half with our main bigs at 2 fouls not 3 and great experience gained.

Was there and chatting throughout with some grads behind me who were awesome. One of the best road games I could attend and everyone was super respectful.

 

[CL82]

Singare fouled 4 times in 8 minutes, but it looked more like inexperience. I liked the way he moved his feet and slid to cover and then recover on drives. It looks like having the two bigs in foul trouble was manageable.

I love using Singare when our two primary centers are in foul trouble. It gives him experience, it allows us to keep them on the bench, and we don't have to expend AK energy playing him as the 5.

 

[RuffRuff]

Yeah assist wise he was marvelous…did not like him taking that 3 with Liam wide open.

Singare was great for the purpose of closing the first half with our main bigs at 2 fouls not 3 and great experience gained.

Was there and chatting throughout with some grads behind me who were awesome. One of the best road games I could attend and everyone was super respectful.

Austin is a very cool city too. Went for a run down on the Colorado, super active scene. Saw the wider area on Lime scooters, checked out 6th Saturday night - that was interesting. Overall great vibe, feels very liveable. Lives up to the hype.

 

[ScottBonz]

Austin is a very cool city too. Went for a run down on the Colorado, super active scene. Saw the wider area on Lime scooters, checked out 6th Saturday night - that was interesting. Overall great vibe, feels very liveable. Lives up to the hype.

Good uconn presence over in sections 120-123 last night. Saw a bunch of fans on Congress walking around. Ran the Colorado as well on Saturday and finished at the Capitol.

 

[3rdbass]

Diarra did have some great assists. Unfortunately, he missed one of the easiest when he overthrew a trailer (can't remember who) after stealing the ball in the first half.

That was Liam McNeeley. He should of done a bounce pass as the defender had jumped pretty high.

 

[3rdbass]

You don’t need a pure point guard in Hurley’s offense, you just need two guards and a wing that make quick reads in the half court. Calhoun’s offense, with its emphasis on speed and transition, demanded a really strong traditional point guard.

The problem is Mahaney is having issues handling the ball under pressure and isn't really allow the offense to move the ball. When Diarra is in the offense moves a lot crisper.

 

[3rdbass]

I love using Singare when our two primary centers are in foul trouble. It gives him experience, it allows us to keep them on the bench, and we don't have to expend AK energy playing him as the 5.

Yep I was hoping for this in preseason and early on that Singare(when our other 2 bigs are in foul trouble) would get run instead of Karaban at the 5. He is playing well on D for the most part.