We got punched in the face | Page 2 | The Boneyard

We got punched in the face

They aren't a better team. They are a very good team. That's actually good for us. We know this. We pretty much called for this loss. It still sucks but it doesnt sum it up.

24 got beat by a worse team than this.
 
uconngb said:
We all knew it was coming, I’m sure Dan Hurley did too. We clearly weren’t ready for it, which is disappointing. But certainly not the end of the season.

Now let’s see the response. Dan Hurley has been preaching tenacity and urgency through all these cupcake conference games we squeaked out. The half full crowd said “who cares, we’re winning”. The half empty crowd was saying “it will catch up to us against better competition. I guess both were right.

But it’s clear we have to step up our collective game. Too much complacency and poor fundamental play. Missed FTs, lazy passes, pure bonehead plays. I would have hoped that a lot of that would have been coached out of certain players by now. Im concerned about continued bad habits out of a couple very key players (Reed, Ball) because I am afraid they are who they are.

Ultimately it will come down to matchups and we are always going to struggle with hard nosed, physical teams because that’s just not who we are. I do believe we have enough to be dangerous, just need to cut down on these low BBIQ plays. And dammit work on the FTs.
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Good post. I think if we're to be honest, we all knew we had been playing with fire. We did get punched in the face, but we also punched back, but it wasn't enough. Yeah, we beat Xavier and Creighton handily coming into this game, but we knew St. John's was a different caliber. Adversity can build character, and this loss is absolutely a humbling opportunity (for both coaches and players) to learn and improve, and I really believe this team will.

You articulated all the points so well, I can't really add any more to it. The only thing I will somewhat disagree with is the notion that Tarris and Solo can't get better and shake those bad habits. I believe they can. We've seen better from them. They just have to lock in on a daily basis mentally and physically. I am looking forward to the remainder of the season.
 
Admittedly I haven’t been here long but a lot of the complaining after a loss seems to be from people whose handles I’ve never seen. This isn’t a loss to DePaul or an even worse team (looking at you, Cuse). St John’s is a good team playing at home with a great vampire coach. It’s a process. We need to clean up some stuff but we’re fine.
 
StllH8L8ner said:
Admittedly I haven’t been here long but a lot of the complaining after a loss seems to be from people whose handles I’ve never seen. This isn’t a loss to DePaul or an even worse team (looking at you, Cuse). St John’s is a good team playing at home with a great vampire coach. It’s a process. We need to clean up some stuff but we’re fine.
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Which is what most people are saying. Again, I have not seen anyone say we suck, or let’s cancel the season cuz we lost one game. All you complaining about the people pointing out our weaknesses need to get a grip. Hurley is doing the same thing, I promise you.
 
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People aren’t really complaining. We got outplayed by a team that looked better than us. That doesn’t mean we won’t beat them by 20 in Storrs. Last night was disappointing and it confirmed what we were all starting to recognize, we aren’t playing our “A game”. We’ve got work to do.

After last night, I’d consider St John’s a pick’em in Storrs and I’d give them the edge in the BET. I don’t really care what anyone else thinks. We’ll just play the games and hope for the best. I’m not being negative or overreacting, but nothing I saw last night would make me think we’re better than SJU.
 
uconngb said:
Which is what most people are saying. Again, I have not seen anyone say we suck, or let’s cancel the season cuz we lost one game. All you complaining about the people pointing out our weaknesses need to get a grip. Hurley is doing the same thing, I promise you.
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I’ve seen you post so it wasn’t directed at you. My point is some d..bags only come out from under their rocks to complain after a loss. I look at this site multiple times a day so I know who the regulars are.
 
We lost to a rival in our 2nd loss of the season and first loss at full strength. We’re currently 22-2 and our coach now has 2-3 issues to push the 22-2 team harder in practice. We’ll be fine.
 
uconngb said:
We did not lose because of the refs. We turned the ball over too much and shot 40% free throws. SJU took it to us and we wilted.
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TO's, FT% and total FTs were the difference. TOs and FT disparity can be cleaned up a decent amount but the refs did have a hand in some of it also.

Not saying the refs are out to get UConn but rather the way the game was called was detrimental to UConn, and it was mostly called the same way on both ends. It's the same stuff we've seen for years in the BE. Off ball grabbing/holding just isn't called in the BE, whereas driving and initiating contact is. The off ball grabbing/holding is a cause for the FT disparity and some of the TOs. Hurley will need to adjust a bit but it's less of a concern OOC/in the NCAAT.

The FT% is a bigger issue than the other two IMO. Especially the front-ends being missed.
 
jibsey said:
Agree. We got punched in the face and the refs let it slide. 31-12.
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Foul difference was 23-15 and UConn shot 42% from the line.

Learn how basketball works and stop whining.
 
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jdb50 said:
We had the long win streak but St Johns was on a roll and I did not think we would win this one at their place. Knowing we could face them in the BET as well as the game at PBA I could live with it. We were in the game late and responded to small deficits but known problems for us raised their heads. Solo's wrist injury affecting his play? Free throw shooting by everyone. Inbounds issues vs pressure. Tarris vs a great offensive center. The home game will tell us the most about where we stand. Every player better be ready. St Johns has depth and they played well Friday night.
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It's almost like Vegas only had UConn at 1.5pt favorites and knew better than the fanatics haha
 
gtcam said:
Yes, the poor officiating played a part but stupid mistakes and the deer in the headlight appearance had zero to do with the officials. The fact is that Pitino knows how to work the refs and Dan Hurley knows how to piss them off.
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100%.

Next to Pitino, who is obviously one of the best in the business, Dan Huley’s ref work is 1 dimensional and prone to backfire. Really hope he took notes from last night because the contrast was stark.

gtcam said:
They can start with finding a way to get BM at least 20 clean looks at the rim every night. A talent like him is a shame to ignore.
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This is the way. Silas seemed to not even know he existed last night. It’s time to lock this down in the playbook.
 
We didn't lose because Mullins didnt get enough shots up. Heck, we probably couldn't have hot any better than we actually did. 55%/47% cant shoot any better than that. Overall, our defense was poor. Gave up a ton of high % 2 point shots.

3 point shooting - Won
2 point shooting - Draw
Turnovers - Lost
Rebounding - Lost
Foul Shooting - Lost
 
Huskie5life said:
Foul difference was 23-15 and UConn shot 42% from the line.

Learn how basketball works and stop whining.
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So you’re telling Hurley to learn how basketball works too? Watch his postgame. He said exactly the same thing about the way the game was called, St. John’s “style” that works for them in the BE and the foul discrepancy and joked about getting fined for talking about the refs.
 
St Johns is constructed to be successful in the Big East. It will not work in the non-conference slate or the NCAA tournament. They will not get +20 free throw differentials and will get knocked off early just like last year.
 
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Adding my bat into this dead horse conversation

St Johns' entire playstyle is to be hyper aggressive, hyper physical, and to beat you up/wear you down all game. That type of style is especially impactful against UConn, which relies on fluid movement to create openings. Same reason why teams like Seton Hall also give us trouble. That's no surprise, we all know that. This is a conference that rewards that style of play, as it always has been. That won't change. Have to just deal with it and win anyway

These games will always look like Friday did. Last season we didn't have the individual talent to keep it close, this time we did. And in CT, because of that talent, I will feel more confident than I did in last year's games

But just dropping this here - St Johns got called for 20 fouls against Arkansas in the tournament, leading to 27 FTA. There were only 3 times they got called for more fouls that season, and only 2 times an opponent shot more FTs than that. Even this season, 4 of their top 5 games in terms of fouls have been OOC. They are 1-4 in those 5 games

They are definitely a more well rounded team this time (AKA they can shoot much better), but they are playing with fire

Not entirely unsurprising, as predicted on November 26 here (shameless plug since I always get early season predictions wrong, so I need a victory lap when I get one right)
REB1094

Post in thread 'Big East OOC thread '25/'26'

So St John’s is just gonna commit 20 fouls a game and lose every OOC then come into the Big East, their fouls will be cut 25%, then they beat everyone

Great can’t wait
  • Like
 
REB1094 said:
Adding my bat into this dead horse conversation

St Johns' entire playstyle is to be hyper aggressive, hyper physical, and to beat you up/wear you down all game. That type of style is especially impactful against UConn, which relies on fluid movement to create openings. Same reason why teams like Seton Hall also give us trouble. That's no surprise, we all know that. This is a conference that rewards that style of play, as it always has been. That won't change. Have to just deal with it and win anyway

These games will always look like Friday did. Last season we didn't have the individual talent to keep it close, this time we did. And in CT, because of that talent, I will feel more confident than I did in last year's games

But just dropping this here - St Johns got called for 20 fouls against Arkansas in the tournament, leading to 27 FTA. There were only 3 times they got called for more fouls that season, and only 2 times an opponent shot more FTs than that. Even this season, 4 of their top 5 games in terms of fouls have been OOC. They are 1-4 in those 5 games

They are definitely a more well rounded team this time (AKA they can shoot much better), but they are playing with fire

Not entirely unsurprising, as predicted on November 26 here (shameless plug since I always get early season predictions wrong, so I need a victory lap when I get one right)
REB1094

Post in thread 'Big East OOC thread '25/'26'

So St John’s is just gonna commit 20 fouls a game and lose every OOC then come into the Big East, their fouls will be cut 25%, then they beat everyone

Great can’t wait
  • Like
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What’s crazy is this has been a Big East issue for years, when there were completely different groups of teams. Physical play will go a long way in conference and cause problems for you anywhere else
 
Inyatkin said:
What’s crazy is this has been a Big East issue for years, when there were completely different groups of teams. Physical play will go a long way in conference and cause problems for you anywhere else
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Probably goes all the way back to when Big East experimented with the 6 personal foul rule. That was 1980's
 
dog bone said:
Probably goes all the way back to when Big East experimented with the 6 personal foul rule. That was 1980's
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I’ve said for years that this comes from the top. They want to cultivate this image of the Big Bad Big East. Urban thugs. Despite the fact their best teams are from Storrs Ct and one of the wealthiest suburbs in the country.
 
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Turnovers and free throws cost us that game. SJU played their A game. Beyond the TOs and FTs, we played our B game. Half the TOs and twice the made FTs and we win.
 
Im glad im not the only one who thought we looked, maybe scared is the wrong word, but almost like the moment was too big. Or punched in the face and never recovered.
 
REB1094 said:
Adding my bat into this dead horse conversation

St Johns' entire playstyle is to be hyper aggressive, hyper physical, and to beat you up/wear you down all game. That type of style is especially impactful against UConn, which relies on fluid movement to create openings. Same reason why teams like Seton Hall also give us trouble. That's no surprise, we all know that. This is a conference that rewards that style of play, as it always has been. That won't change. Have to just deal with it and win anyway

These games will always look like Friday did. Last season we didn't have the individual talent to keep it close, this time we did. And in CT, because of that talent, I will feel more confident than I did in last year's games

But just dropping this here - St Johns got called for 20 fouls against Arkansas in the tournament, leading to 27 FTA. There were only 3 times they got called for more fouls that season, and only 2 times an opponent shot more FTs than that. Even this season, 4 of their top 5 games in terms of fouls have been OOC. They are 1-4 in those 5 games

They are definitely a more well rounded team this time (AKA they can shoot much better), but they are playing with fire

Not entirely unsurprising, as predicted on November 26 here (shameless plug since I always get early season predictions wrong, so I need a victory lap when I get one right)
REB1094

Post in thread 'Big East OOC thread '25/'26'

So St John’s is just gonna commit 20 fouls a game and lose every OOC then come into the Big East, their fouls will be cut 25%, then they beat everyone

Great can’t wait
  • Like
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This is a great post
 
gtcam said:
If Read can't give a total effort this team will go nowhere.
There are times when I feel the team runs it's offense better with Reibe in there, plus I feel more comfortable with Eric on the free throw line.
Ball is inconsistent at best and he needs to drive to the hoop or pull up at make those middies.
UConn did not look like a team that was ready to come out in their biggest game season to date and make a statement- this one is on the whole team - including Dan Hurley
Men vs boys was the scene at MSG last night
Yes, the poor officiating played a part but stupid mistakes and the deer in the headlight appearance had zero to do with the officials. The fact is that Pitino knows how to work the refs and Dan Hurley knows how to piss them off.
UConn can beat this SJ team but the entire UConn MBB program has to look at themselves in the mirror and discover if they have the stuff to play with fire and tenacity.
They can start with finding a way to get BM at least 20 clean looks at the rim every night. A talent like him is a shame to ignore.
Time to get off the mat, dust off and come out like one of the top 5 programs in the nation every game.
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Agree with a lot that you said. No way Reibe was going to play better against Ejifor than Reed. Eric would have fouled out of the game in 10 minutes. Wouldn’t say men vs boys but SJ was more physical…it’s the way they play.
Agree that BM needs more shots and his talent isn’t being used. Some of it is on him. He needs to start attacking not just floating on the perimeter for 3s. He took 7 threes and 1 two against SJ. And his two was a beautiful move and shot. He’s being too nice and accommodating to the upperclassmen.

One other thing I noticed. Love AK but when he does drive he never looks to pass. I watch some other power forwards who drive but sometimes kick it out when the defense collapses on them (Lendeborg, Markovic at Illinois to name a couple). AK is capable of doing the same.
 
uconngb said:
We did not lose because of the refs. We turned the ball over too much and shot 40% free throws. SJU took it to us and we wilted.
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Silly turnovers, bad fouls and a huge desparity in free throws were the primary reasons ... definitely a combo of those
 
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