We are slowly changing the way we play offense.

[Palatine]

With McNeeley back we are attacking the rim much more successfully. In the last bit against Nova were were not looking for the three point shot. We took a few when they were available. But the offense was designed to go inside.

This should give our offense more balance and hopefully get us away from the five and six minute droughts when we go cold. It should also get us to the foul line more often. That switch in philosophy really opened up the offense last night. And we took full advantage.

 

[auror]

Nova was blitzing the pick and roll, so we just hit the roll man or short roll frequently. We weren't actually finding post-ups very often, the exception being the Reed seal and dunk entry from Ball. It was mostly a reaction to how they were playing defense.

McNeeley has been driving all season (post Maui at least).

 

[Fishy]

With McNeeley back we are attacking the rim much more successfully. In the last bit against Nova were were not looking for the three point shot. We took a few when they were available. But the offense was designed to go inside.

This should give our offense more balance and hopefully get us away from the five and six minute droughts when we go cold. It should also get us to the foul line more often. That switch in philosophy really opened up the offense last night. And we took full advantage.

I think nine of our first ten shots were inside the arc last night which is something of a change - we missed eight of them, but’s another issue.

 

[djct1999]

I think nine of our first ten shots were inside the arc last night which is something of a change - we missed eight of them, but’s another issue.

It is, but the looks were wide open. Hurley said after the seton hall game that wearing the UConn shirt is heavy. There is no question this team is feeling the heat. But if looks are there, which they are, things will settle down.

 

[uconn_jack]

Ball needs to get better at finishing at the rim since he is otherwise pretty good at getting there. He seems to lay it off the backboard too hard and it often bounces off without even hitting the rim. He need to figure out a softer release.

 

[auror]

Ball needs to get better at finishing at the rim since he is otherwise pretty good at getting there. He seems to lay it off the backboard too hard and it often bounces off without even hitting the rim. He need to figure out a softer release.

His right hand is awful. He's fine with his left.

 

[TheShot1990]

Well we scored all of 2 points that were not free throws in the first 8.5 minutes of the nova game if I remember correctly. 2!

So don’t get too excited about the offense just yet.

 

[uconn_jack]

His right hand is awful. He's fine with his left.

True, it is mostly his right, but he misses with his left more than he should too.

 

[Huskygrad88]

His right hand is awful. He's fine with his left.

He needs to take it stronger all the way to the basket. He avoids contact and is always trying to finesse it up there.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

His right hand is awful. He's fine with his left.

He avoids contact pretty heavily even when going left, makes for a more difficult shot sometimes.

 

[Marat]

The pace of play on offense needs to be faster when possible. When they ran and attacked in the 2nd it was much better than passing the ball around and then shooting at the end of the shot clock. They do not have a breakdown player to consistently create at end of clock in the half court, but running and attacking sooner seems to work better.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The pace of play on offense needs to be faster when possible. When they ran and attacked in the 2nd it was much better than passing the ball around and then shooting at the end of the shot clock. They do not have a breakdown player to consistently create at end of clock in the half court, but running and attacking sooner seems to work better.

UConn was 305 last year in average possession length, and UConn destroyed everyone in its path in the tournament. Definitely don't want to do that again.

 

[Palatine]

Nova was blitzing the pick and roll, so we just hit the roll man or short roll frequently. We weren't actually finding post-ups very often, the exception being the Reed seal and dunk entry from Ball. It was mostly a reaction to how they were playing defense.

McNeeley has been driving all season (post Maui at least).

In the first half we had open look after open look from three and went 1-9. In the second half, we were a little better from the arc but not much.

Hurley definitely decided to change the focus of the offense and get the ball inside later in the second half. And it worked. It was that change that won the game. I think it was more a reaction to how were were playing offense rather than anything Nova did. Nova played pretty much the same defense all game.

 

[gsmooth]

His right hand is awful. He's fine with his left.

His right wrist is heavily bandaged. I am sure that it's not only affecting his off hand finishes near the basket but also his ball handling.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

In the first half we had open look after open look from three and went 1-9. In the second half, we were a little better from the arc but not much.

Hurley definitely decided to change the focus of the offense and get the ball inside later in the second half. And it worked. It was that change that won the game. I think it was more a reaction to how were were playing offense rather than anything Nova did. Nova played pretty much the same defense all game.

UConn’s offense takes what it is getting, so I do not see a change in focus last game. I do see a big change in three point shooting accuracy the last four games. UConn has shot .276, .231, .308 and .211, which is mostly Karaban’s cold streak, Diarra cutting back on shooting, and Mahaney not part of the rotation anymore.

Villanova’s collapse in the last 11 minutes was as big a driver as anything for the outcome.

 

[jibsey]

Reed showed a great move where he pump faked multiple times to convert. Solo should take notice when he drives well guarded.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This team can't really execute the off balls screen offense the last two teams did. They don't have the facilitators or big bodied wings/guards that can set those screens. Cam, Newton and Castle all set screens last year. I don't think Ball has ever set a screen. As a result we rarely get the kind of open looks for shooters we did the last two years. It doesn't help that the Big East allows all the interference and holding of cutters.

So we really struggle to score after a made basket. Teams soft press us and we don't have time to run any offense. We're forced into ISO and we're just not good at it.

The solution is defense. We are good on the break and we can exploit teams before their defense sets up. Our offense now has to come from the defense, whether steals, blocks or just misses where we push the pace. This team has to speed up. Move faster. Move the ball faster. Make quicker decisions. Shoot when you get an open look.

 

[Marat]

UConn was 305 last year in average possession length, and UConn destroyed everyone in its path in the tournament. Definitely don't want to do that again.

That was last year. This is this year. Different team and different set of skills/players. They need to press, run, and attack quicker in the shot clock and grab rebounds and pass out for perimeter shots when available. When they play slow they look slow. Need to play faster with intention and crisp on the cuts.

 

[Marat]

This team can't really execute the off balls screen offense the last two teams did. They don't have the facilitators or big bodied wings/guards that can set those screens. Cam, Newton and Castle all set screens last year. I don't think Ball has ever set a screen. As a result we rarely get the kind of open looks for shooters we did the last two years. It doesn't help that the Big East allows all the interference and holding of cutters.

So we really struggle to score after a made basket. Teams soft press us and we don't have time to run any offense. We're forced into ISO and we're just not good at it.

The solution is defense. We are good on the break and we can exploit teams before their defense sets up. Our offense now has to come from the defense, whether steals, blocks or just misses where we push the pace. This team has to speed up. Move faster. Move the ball faster. Make quicker decisions. Shoot when you get an open look.

Exactly this !

 

[RuffRuff]

UConn was 305 last year in average possession length, and UConn destroyed everyone in its path in the tournament. Definitely don't want to do that again.

Their defense was the catalyst when it mattered, blocked shots, etc. By end of year the defense was the strength, we shut teams down as they had an hard time scoring over 60. This defense is light years from that. No point in comparing pace.

I’d change the entire concept with this team offensively. Let them run a little more, go inside out, open the floor out of pace. They’re going no where trying to execute the slow half court sets ala last year.

And hell, have a zone in the back pocket against teams that are hammering it into the paint. I have seen so many good programs using it successfully, in spots.

This team needs something to switch things up. Once StJs is over you have a chance to try some things. Even when winning we haven’t looked very efficient all year. We’ve had some spurts of hot shooting, but I haven’t seen a team that has looked comfortable in its own skin. The halfcourt sets looked forced and ineffective. Dumb it down.

 

[boog204]

UConn was 305 last year in average possession length, and UConn destroyed everyone in its path in the tournament. Definitely don't want to do that again.

Maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with having two lottery picks and most likely three 2nd round picks in the starting lineup? Or 5 guys who were heady and didn't dribble the ball off their face once or twice a game? Or the kicker, three guys who would be considered "lead guards"?

 

[NJHusky]

Maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with having two lottery picks and most likely three 2nd round picks in the starting lineup? Or 5 guys who were heady and didn't dribble the ball off their face once or twice a game? Or the kicker, three guys who would be considered "lead guards"?

Actually we had 4 lead guards if u add in Hass as a backup. This year we have 1

 

[bluestreak]

This team can't really execute the off balls screen offense the last two teams did. They don't have the facilitators or big bodied wings/guards that can set those screens. Cam, Newton and Castle all set screens last year. I don't think Ball has ever set a screen. As a result we rarely get the kind of open looks for shooters we did the last two years. It doesn't help that the Big East allows all the interference and holding of cutters.

So we really struggle to score after a made basket. Teams soft press us and we don't have time to run any offense. We're forced into ISO and we're just not good at it.

The solution is defense. We are good on the break and we can exploit teams before their defense sets up. Our offense now has to come from the defense, whether steals, blocks or just misses where we push the pace. This team has to speed up. Move faster. Move the ball faster. Make quicker decisions. Shoot when you get an open look.

Agree 100% of this.

Was at the game and was looking for screens. I don't think I saw one effective screen. We don't know how to set a screen, don't know how to use screens and on defense we don't know how to go through or around screens. It can be taught and I'm surprised we're so bad at it.

 

[boog204]

Actually we had 4 lead guards if u add in Hass as a backup. This year we have 1

I was referring to the starters... but, yup, add Hass in too as a competent decision-maker.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with having two lottery picks and most likely three 2nd round picks in the starting lineup? Or 5 guys who were heady and didn't dribble the ball off their face once or twice a game? Or the kicker, three guys who would be considered "lead guards"?

Maybe, just maybe, UConn had one of the most efficient offenses in the country until 4 games ago. Were the two lottery picks you are talking about playing for UConn 3 weeks ago?