Villanova post game thread

[BFieldHusky]

Nice win, ugly game. Nova was 5-32 from the floor outside of Poplar. Nova offense was a bunch of iso and Dixon was absolutely awful forcing up all kinds of low quality shots. They had 5 assists. Our D played well. AK had a really nice game, valuable minutes from Mahaney. Liam looks like he needs a sports therapist. Hass looks broken physically. A nice win but not one that gives you goosebumps around tourney potential. We are going to need Mahaney.

Nova fans can’t wait to find a real coach. Neptune looks like a maitre d on the sideline with the skinny pants, turtle neck and blazer look.

I got plenty of goosebumps during that 2nd half run.

 

[RuffRuff]

I got plenty of goosebumps during that 2nd half run.

I guess you’re easily goose bumped. The run where Dixon went 0-5 from the field taking terrible shots like he’s not even coached? Guy went 2-15 from the floor - he was god awful. He took a couple threes from Hoboken. I was there with a group and we all walked away wondering what we just watched. That was not a high quality basketball game. We had a high quality 5 minutes to an F- level Nova 5 minutes. A win is a win.

 

[Gampel91]

what was the technical for?

Hurley turned his back on the best ref in the ****ing sport.

 

[Icehawk]

Somebody needs to put that Popeye look that Samson flashed onto a t-shirt. It was perfect!

2:54 to go... the look was priceless! Full on Popeye There was a moment too when they showed Liam and I swear he was grimacing so hard I thought he'd shatter teeth. He's got a bit of Cam in him I think.

Loved the gameplay, this is what we all hoped we'd see from the beginning of the season.

 

[87Xfer]

I'm still preparing myself to wear the same t-shirt and hoodie for 3 days in a row.

 

[Excalibur]

(I)Neptune did us a huge favor midway through the second half. Poplar had just hit two threes and a breakaway dunk, and you’re starting to think that he won’t cool off. Neptune takes him out right around the 12 minute timeout, but instead of a quick 2 possession break he’s on the bench for 4 minutes of game time. He comes back and never got his rhythm again.

Edit — just looked and he was only out for about 2 minutes of game time, and not around the timeout. Felt like longer than that, but the timing was still terrible. Either get him out before the timeout or get him to the table once play starts following it.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Nothing for me to say that hasn't already been said. I'll just add that for those that love all things UConn, like myself, you can watch our Hockey East matchup at 7 on NESN as the lead into the basketball game. 4+ hours of UConn goodness!!!

 

[Henry]

Kerry Kittles should make a nice donation to UConn. I realize Dixon may still break his record, but we certainly did our part to prevent that.

 

[Gurleyman]

You're still on this?

The law of averages says that he will ignore the next reference to the law of averages.

 

[Umami Zen]

Creighton is beat up. I'd consider pressing them a bit and getting out on the break to wear them out late. Just contain Kalkbrenner and don't let Ashworth go off.

My two cents-the wildcard for Creighton is Neal. If we can contain him and get out early with a lead- Like our chances. Kalkbrenner and Ashworth will continue to perform. Will refs continue to swallow the whistle for Creighton? Need our fans to be loud in Storrs South tonite.

 

[Umami Zen]

Hurley turned his back on the best ref in the ****ing sport.

I may be wrong but I think the ref that T'd up Dan last night was the same ref he said that famous line to. Coincidence?

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Karaban's averages over the last six games:

16.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 bpg, 2.7 3PM, 49 2P%, 50 3P%, 95 FT%.

Momentum, momentum, momentum!

 

[JBK]

Tomorrow’s game is 6:30

Who are we rooting for in game 1 tonight

 

[alphasigko]

Mahaney now played well 3 games in a row. 40 mins only 2 TOs

His stature and game face on the court have changed as well. Let's hope he keeps it going!

 

[microfich]

So do you think Karaban is fully healed from the concussion? /s. He's had a pretty good 5 game run here.

Mahaney played pretty well. If he can give that every game it makes everything better.

Switching Diarra on to Poplar did the trick. I'm not sure how many points Poplar had with Diarra on him but it wasn't much.

On to Creighton.

That and Alex waking up were the difference-makers second half. Once Poplar started bending over, hanging on to his shorts, I knew we had a shot. They did play on Wednesday and we'll face a 2 OT-played Creighton to get to one of the loudest BE Finals ever with St. John's in The Garden.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

Personally I feel like Liam should have the song by Chumbawamba playing..."I get knocked Down but I get up again" because watching that game and how many times he was knocked to the ground and of course there was no calls... just irritated me.

So the game ended at 12:30 on 3/14. UCONN has to play again tonight on 3/14 at 9 pm... so two games on 3/14... that seems a little IRRATIONAL to me.... get it.. irrational on PI Day...

 

[01Neaggrad02]

Hurley was yapping at the younger ref during the timeout.

Would be nice if the refs did their jobs better so they would not need to be yapped at.

 

[Mister P]

Felt like it took the law of averages 30 minutes to work in UConn's favor. UConn was more dominant most of the game but was missing wipe open 3's while Nova was making contested 17' shots.

Agree.
During one of the networks second half In the Huddle timeouts, Hurley didn’t voice any frustration or urgency but praised the players on how well they were playing, to push Poplar to his left and that they will be fine once they got ‘over the hump’.
The players did just that.

 

[RuffRuff]

(I)Neptune did us a huge favor midway through the second half. Poplar had just hit two threes and a breakaway dunk, and you’re starting to think that he won’t cool off. Neptune takes him out right around the 12 minute timeout, but instead of a quick 2 possession break he’s on the bench for 4 minutes of game time. He comes back and never got his rhythm again.

Edit — just looked and he was only out for about 2 minutes of game time, and not around the timeout. Felt like longer than that, but the timing was still terrible. Either get him out before the timeout or get him to the table once play starts following it.

Yeah, it was weird - rode him then moved off him, I'm sure he was spent as he carried them for most of the game. Then they naturally went to their best player, who couldn't hit anything and was taking awful threes. Dixon took one three from the corner which he was behind the backboard on, and then another so far out of the flow of the offense, rushed, from the wing at about 27 feet. Nova doesn't run anything. They were awful in the last 8 minutes, not sure how much we take credit for or not. I think they had 3 points from around the 8 minute mark till the end of game other than some junk points at the very end.

 

[dalydosehoops]

Alex Karaban steps up big in March (again), but you shouldn’t be surprised

Alex Karaban has broken out of slump at best possible time for UConn, who now stands two wins from defending Big East championship. (Photo b...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

 

[HCCForever]

Nothing for me to say that hasn't already been said. I'll just add that for those that love all things UConn, like myself, you can watch our Hockey East matchup at 7 on NESN as the lead into the basketball game. 4+ hours of UConn goodness!!!

Like yourself, I root for all things UConn. I will attempt to listen to the baseball team play Campbell on MIXLR along with the hockey game prior to the MBB game. We have much to be proud of as fans of UConn athletics.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

UConn still got beat on the perimeter too often for a team that is hoping to win a game or two. They did a good job on Dixon for the most part. I really liked the offense. There were a lot of good looks, and if Ball hits a couple of the wide open catch-and-shoots that he usually hits, UConn pulls away earlier.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

UConn still got beat on the perimeter too often for a team that is hoping to win a game or two. They did a good job on Dixon for the most part. I really liked the offense. There were a lot of good looks, and if Ball hits a couple of the wide open catch-and-shoots that he usually hits, UConn pulls away earlier.

They did a great job on Dixon for the entire part, not the most part.

We locked down in the 2nd half. I agree we were getting beat too much in the 1st half.

 

[Deepster]

I guess you’re easily goose bumped. The run where Dixon went 0-5 from the field taking terrible shots like he’s not even coached? Guy went 2-15 from the floor - he was god awful. He took a couple threes from Hoboken. I was there with a group and we all walked away wondering what we just watched. That was not a high quality basketball game. We had a high quality 5 minutes to an F- level Nova 5 minutes. A win is a win.

They went down 9 and he launched a brick from the top of the key early in the shot clock (on a night he had shot poorly the entire game). Absolutely terrible and I blame that solely on the coaching.

 

[Icehawk]