We are Flawed

[bendm]

It isn't that black and white. Sure, we have nobody that can be his initial defender, most teams don't. But there isn't a reason we can't play better help/team defense.

Yes But every comment he’s made is that Karaban shouldn’t haven been guarding him..he was the only possible primary defender we could throw at him without Samson

 

[Giddyup5]

Jackson should have been guarding Hopkins.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Sanogo got cooked a couple times by Hopkins. He’s not quick enough.

Once from what I remember. And then you have Clingan there instead of Newton who’s covering for sanogos high hedge

 

[3rdbass]

We don’t seem to have a killer instinct that wins close games on the road. We play tight. Love this team. Still have high expectations, but we don’t have it… yet.

Maybe if RJ Cole stayed an extra year we would actually have a leader at PG who could run the offense.

 

[shizzle787]

That Marquette game after Creighton ain’t gonna be no picnic either

Luckily, we matchup well with them but fingers crossed.

 

[3rdbass]

Like other posters have said Clingan needs to start or play at least 20 plus minutes for us every game. He is the only game changer on the team.

 

[3RingsCT]

They didn’t learn anything from the Xavier loss. Not one damn thing.

Who’s fault is that?

 

[navery12]

Jackson should have been guarding Hopkins.

The issue is that is Jackson was parked on the bench for 16 minutes of the 1st half with 2 fouls while Hopkins was going off

 

[YearoftheHusky]

This

Who was supposed to guard him with Ajax on the bench?

 

[huskyfan224]

Past two games were eye opening poor performances. Guards have to play and shoot better, Adama needs to figure it out (love him but he’s gotta play stronger and draw fouls) and make free throws.


The worst thing I’ve seen, however, is the officiating. I mean it has been hilariously bad and makes it that much more difficult to win

28-9 in Xavier and this one was closer at 35-19 only because the game was in the bag and they started gifting fouls to us. Same calls in crucial moments went against us

 

[3RingsCT]

Like other posters have said Clingan needs to start or play at least 20 plus minutes for us every game. He is the only game changer on the team.

He was the most effective with his minutes tonight and he sat for over half the game.

 

[3RingsCT]

The issue is that is Jackson was parked on the bench for 16 minutes of the 1st half with 2 fouls while Hopkins was going off

We were down 3 at the half and the second half was atrocious play.

 

[KingAG]

Who was supposed to guard him with Ajax on the bench?

I would given Springs a couple minutes with the way Karaban was getting abused

 

[Improviser]

Cole could draw fouls, and was a physical defender.

Newton had not been able to since the earlier and easier part of the schedule.

 

[3rdbass]

I don’t know how big the sample size needs to be that Karaban can’t guard these type of players.

It’s insane

He is a Fresman but I agree in this game we should had Jackson guarding Hopkins and Alleyne starting guarding Carter.

 

[pj]

We need 1) Samson to come back to guard the guys Karaban can’t. And 2) Newton/Joey C to be worth something

Agreed on (1) - Samson will stabilize the defense. But, on (2) it's more than Newton and Joey C. Sanogo/Clingan/Karaban were 13-19 from the floor, Hawkins was 5-14, rest of team was 5-30. We have to get more offensive production from all the perimeter guys. Newton above all.

 

[uconnfan68]

Biggest flaw is thinking they can run offense through Sanogo.

BE coaches know how to collapse on him.

Also, if you heard the in game mic of Cooley during TO teams know to shut down Hawk on perimeter and make others beat you.

Sanogo got toasted by Croswell at both ends. No wonder people shook their heads at BE POY.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Last few games Adama has looked eerily similar to that long stretch at the end of last season when he was missing bunnies, not jumping for rebounds, not providing help defense. Really concerning. Right now, he is not our best center.

 

[navery12]

We were down 3 at the half and the second half was atrocious play.

These are true statements but irrelevant to the discussion about guarding Hopkins

 

[WhereistheDove?]

The issue is that is Jackson was parked on the bench for 16 minutes of the 1st half with 2 fouls while Hopkins was going off

The foul trouble changed the entire defensive game plan. Even when Jackson was back in, couldn’t risk the fouls against Hopkins and we clearly had no good answer there. Samson can’t get back soon enough.

 

[3rdbass]

We have no guards that can score off the dribble and Newton has totally lost his shot. Our opponents really only have to front Sanogo and faceguard Hawkins and they shut us down with ease.

Yeah, pretty much unless Karaban can hit 3's consistently which he can't right now.

 

[uconngb]

They didn’t learn anything from the Xavier loss. Not one damn thing.

Who’s fault is that?

Danny “Mr Adjustment” Hurley

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He is a Fresman but I agree in this game we should had Jackson guarding Hopkins and Alleyne starting guarding Carter.

That’s not an excuse coaching wise. You don’t just let a guy get dominated because he’s a Freshman. You switch him off or sit him down. He’s not up to snuff on defense in general, but then having to guard the other teams best player? That’s a huge issue.

 

[uconnever]

Hurley just severely outcoached. Sanogo is not close to being the best player in the Big East. Their home crowd is way better than anything Gampel or XL has shown. And they just are not tough.

I don’t know about being out coached. The players just are always out toughed ALWAYS!. And no one drives to the basket to get fouled. And our entry passes are always a gamble or they do t happen when they should.

 

[KingAG]

That’s not an excuse coaching wise. You don’t just let a guy get dominated because he’s a Freshman. You switch him off or sit him down. He’s not up to snuff on defense in general, but then having to guard the other teams best player? That’s a huge issue.

Karaban just needs to learn to fall down. I counted 4 times where he could’ve just dropped and got a charge call on Hopkins

 

[3rdbass]

That’s not an excuse coaching wise. You don’t just let a guy get dominated because he’s a Freshman. You switch him off or sit him down. He’s not up to snuff on defense in general, but then having to guard the other teams best player? That’s a huge issue.

I'm totally agreeing with you on this one. I think after he saw how bad of a matchup it was for us we should of went zone or subbed him. Actually Sanogo played Hopkins better on D.

 

[storrs15]

This game will help in the long run:

• Exposed our weakness guarding 4s. Hurley can’t just keep Karaban in there for that long. It’s unacceptable. He will learn from this.
• Exposed that we need scorers on the court. Diarra and Alleyne just can’t be out there together. Ever. The offense just stops in it’s tracks.

I think there is a lot to build on over the last 2 games. 2 early big East losses are not a big deal. A loss against Creighton, however, would be catastrophic.

 

[husky429]

Yes But every comment he’s made is that Karaban shouldn’t haven been guarding him..he was the only possible primary defender we could throw at him without Samson

Jackson.

 

[connVA]

Was a bit surprising how many loose balls ended up in the Friars hands. How many second and third rebounds did they get? Got beat today by a team that wanted it more and played harder

Exactly this. Need to worry more about lack of effort and heart and less about foul disparity. Uneven refereeing on the road in college basketball is almost a given unfortunately. Deal with it.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I don’t know about being out coached. The players just are always out toughed ALWAYS!. And no one drives to the basket to get fouled. And our entry passes are always a gamble or they do t happen when they should.

Hurley gets his lunch eaten in the Big East. It’s a trend.