We are officially in our January slump

[RuffRuff]

You've always overrated this guy. You said he was a better 3 point shooter than Jordan Hawkins. He hasn't been much better that the two J's lately. Hurley gave him a lot of rope yesterday and he didn't respond.

Have been surprised by those who have, I realize there is an unconditional nature to it. I like the kid, not sure I could build a better looking player(looks like a hoops assassin) and it's easy to fall in love with the flash of his shooting when it's falling because it's really pretty, but he's always had a knack for spacing out and not responding to action the way one should, or really dumb errors, or getting blown by on defense. The play against PC where he was face forward against a PC defender and simply dribbled the ball right to the guy takes the cake. The anti-Cam.

I agree we need a much better version of him to make a run - it's felt like ages since we've seen anything that looked like the Marquette game last year. I used to feel like it was always going in given how nice it looks off his hand, not I'm expecting a miss. He's got about a month to figure it out, or else I think the staff has to make some adjustments in how they use him. You cannot expect him to figure it out in March if he's had a whole season of 28% shooting from 3.

 

[gsmooth]

Largely because we can’t pull away from teams. He’ll always stay in close games.

AK was visibly tired yesterday. Perhaps AK should be subbed out earlier in games to keep him fresh. I don't think Solo should be removed from the starting line up, but maybe reducing his minutes will help keep him fresher. How much more should Ross and Stewart play? I don't know. The only issue is Stewart and Ross have to make sure they contribute and not play tentatively or passively which would lead to a big drop off when AK and Solo get subbed out. Everyone can see Hurley has not trusted the bench and to put it bluntly, the bench hasn't given a reason for him to trust them.

 

[gsmooth]

Have been surprised by those who have, I realize there is an unconditional nature to it. I like the kid, not sure I could build a better looking player(looks like a hoops assassin) and it's easy to fall in love with the flash of his shooting when it's falling because it's really pretty, but he's always had a knack for spacing out and not responding to action the way one should, or really dumb errors, or getting blown by on defense. The play against PC where he was face forward against a PC defender and simply dribbled the ball right to the guy takes the cake. The anti-Cam.

I agree we need a much better version of him to make a run - it's felt like ages since we've seen anything that looked like the Marquette game last year. I used to feel like it was always going in given how nice it looks off his hand, not I'm expecting a miss. He's got about a month to figure it out, or else I think the staff has to make some adjustments in how they use him. You cannot expect him to figure it out in March if he's had a whole season of 28% shooting from 3.

The problem is if he has any good shooting games left that it will feel like an outlier rather than something we can expect.

 

[Woof]

We're winning close games, our conference opponents are giving us their best shot, but we're simply not playing well

5 for 26 from three, we need to make more, many more.

We missed 6 of 8 FTs down the stretch, all by our best free throw shooters. Last game Reed was absolutely awful from the line. If you want to win a championship, you have to hit 80% from the line. Especially down the stretch

We're frustrated, I know the staff is frustrated, I know the players are the most frustrated, but still we are WINNING.

They're going to wake up. January will end, we're just not playing like a championship team this month

Arrogant and spoiled I suppose

I felt like this post was very reasonable and, frankly, a very optimistic way of viewing what we are seeing. As some have hypothesized, our tough practices could have the team hitting a wall. It is actually the most positive and rational way to claim why "there is nothing to worry about". To say they are playing great would be flat out delusional. But the rainbows and unicorn farts crowd just HAD to on this post.

Is it good that we are still winning these games? Of course. And while the, Ref infused, losses in January 2023 were frustrating and concerning, my eyes tell me that this team is not playing as well as that team was AT THIS TIME. But, as willie said, January will end. And we just don't know what the team will look like then. It will be better, but how much better? It may be better enough that they will be getting these close wins against the best teams. MAY...

 

[Tenspro2002]

My feedback to a non-UConn gambler this year. Bet against UCONN and the spread in Big East games this year and bet with us in the tournament. Hard to maintain elite level of play night in night out when we are the marquee game on everyone's schedule. Take the W and the $$ and enjoy the freight train that is coming when it matters most in March

It's been working. I'd actually take it a step further.

Live-bet against us against the spread when we get an early lead. Yesterday it was -15.5 after 6-0, predicated on the fact that we'd run away with the game. Savvy fans know we haven't been doing that.

In March, out of conference, we actually might.

 

[NickDanger]

I don’t want only 1 loss going into the NCAA Tournament. No team has won it all with less than 2 losses since the 1975 Indiana team. A few teams have entered the NCAA Tournament with less than 2 losses but none of them won it all. Including the supposedly invincible 1999 Duke team.

I don’t think the Huskies need to go undefeated the rest of the way to get the overall number 1 seed, or just any 1 seed, because I don’t think anyone else is going through the season without a few more losses.

This is just pure chance. There is no curse on having only one loss!

 

[NickDanger]

The problem is if he has any good shooting games left that it will feel like an outlier rather than something we can expect.

Why does it matter if it feels like an outlier, as long as he has some good shooting games?

 

[HooperScooper]

All of these posts about reducing Ball's minutes make me feel even more confident that he's going to break out in a big way pretty soon. It's my Inverse Boneyard Theory and it usually works.

 

[gsmooth]

Why does it matter if it feels like an outlier, as long as he has some good shooting games?

Outlier(s) for a good shooting game is better than it not occurring at all. But it matters because if it is an outlier it means it's not something that can be depended on. This team won't reach their peak without Solo's perimeter shooting. The offensive schemes are predicated on having consistent perimeter shooting and Solo hasn't really shown he can do that this year. His wrist is probably bothering him more than he is letting on, but regardless his shooting has been underwhelming.

 

[uconngb]

I'd like to see Solo win 6th man of the year in BE. What that entails is what we need him to do. Be a microwave on offense, which he can do, and not hurt us on Defense, which he has shown the ability to do. I guess that give Ross or Stew the start. I'd have Solo in fairly quickly, unless one of those 2 is having a career day.

Ross can no way, no how start.

 

[RuffRuff]

Ross can no way, no how start.

Hes gone back to old Ross after time off

 

[AllHusky]

Ross can no way, no how start.

Stew can if the matchup is right. Short stint, 5-8, bring in Solo. Ross will get going in a few games. Give him a little time. Took 2+ years to get him to be effective, he deserves a little leash. Use of NEVER on the Yard is a guarantee that it’ll be replaced by EXCEPT. We are going to need all hands on board the later the season goes. Solo and Ross gotta be effective, as Stewart is now and they both have been at times. Need it when we need it.