Well

[cohenzone]

Everyone keeps saying Clingan is the reason we won, but he played 13 MPG his freshman year.........I'm giving the staff that just won B2B in record fashion the benefit of the doubt that they'll be able to fix this by Jan/Feb.

Clingan made us totally different and Sanogo was a highly skilled 3rd year player. No team in the country had anyone like Clingan to bring off the bench. The question is really do we win that year without him. We have no idea. Last year, is there any real question. By the way, I think Reed is a fine college player, but he just does not come close to Clingan’s impact.

 

[Palatine]

It doesn’t take much than the eyeball test and reviewing the full body of work to realize what Samson is. And he has zero upside, he is a fixed talent. Please. I get standing up for him because he’s a good kid, but any reliable evaluation can see he ain’t it.

All I said is that he was one of the better players on the floor versus Dayton. Watch the game.

And he is the only rim protection we have. Whether you like it or not he is the best option for defense we have. Our bully, Reed, was bullied in Maui.

 

[Mr. French]

95% of this board is so funny, but also embarrassing.

 

[bendm]

Take a step back and realize this is just a transition year. Nothing wrong with it after winning back to back National Championships

Sure You May have already accepted this is a transition year but according to Hurley we were supposed to be good enough to 3peat so the rest of us are still wrestling with the first and second steps of grief- denial and anger

 

[Orc]

SJ is gonna end up at 10-15 min a game. Dude still doesn’t know he can raise both hands at the same time for the ball, watching guys jump over him for boards.

Diarra is having to do WAY too much right now, and Mahaney hasn’t shown anything, but we haven’t given him an opportunity to show anything.

In all honesty, the ball penetration is atrocious. We move it a ton, and can’t get an inch inside the 3 point line.

I don’t envy these guys during practice the next week.

Limit SJ minutes to garbage time only.

 

[BlueandOG]

Ahhh, it’s an easy, lazy take to dump on them right now.

For me, this just makes our maniac obsessive coach stop talking about how great the last two years have been and hit the lab to figure it out harder now. Not worried in the least.

I’m beginning to think you may be Dan Hurley

 

[Gurleyman]

All I said is that he was one of the better players on the floor versus Dayton. Watch the game.

And he is the only rim protection we have. Whether you like it or not he is the best option for defense we have. Our bully, Reed, was bullied in Maui.

Samson also was playing post D straight up, while we were running double teams all the time with Reed defending on the low block and giving up open threes. Reed honestly should be able to play straight up. He was burned a few times in Maui with routine post moves, but he has the size and strength to be tough to score on if his technique improves. But if we are running doubles it means that we don’t currently have any faith in him to guard the post alone at this point. That has to improve.

 

[Rico444]

Glad to be of service, hangovers being what they are. And that you missed the main point. Happy TDay.

Okay, sport. You think the program is better with a string of one or two and dones and I think THAT is idiotic. Which is why I decided to make fun of your post since I knew exactly what you meant. And you have plenty of company who are whining about this year’s team. I think we are better with winning with experienced top talent. I think that attracts at least as much talent as does kids seeing that kids can go pro quickly from here. You are entitled to your opinion. Having a very experienced Newton was a big part of both championships and even he needed part of his first year here to get up to speed. If McNeeley goes pro after one season and we fall short, explain to me how that did anything to help the program as opposed to his sticking around. I am open to considering your point.

You keep whining about one and two and dones while simultaneously talking about how critical Clingan was to our team. Do you know how many years he played?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Well they brought in people to start over Diarra and SJ, it's just that the replacements started slow in practice (and one of them is also on that list).

There is no indication they brought Reed in to start over SJ. He has outplayed SJ from the start and Hurley continues to run SJ out as the starter.

Diarra at a minimum was being relied on to handle much more of the PG duties this year. That’s looking like a mistake as well (but yes, highly compounded by Mahaney also being a flop in that respect so far).

 

[Rico444]

I’m beginning to think you may be Dan Hurley

It's not about being worried, it's about readjusting expectations. This team isn't winning anational title, but I think they can vastly improve the defense and make the tournament, and hopefully win a game or two.

 

[Orc]

I will never complain about potentially recruiting over returning players again.

This has to happen in the portal next year if we want to get back on top.

Soph class not getting it done. Danny can get anyone he wants from the portal.

 

[Marat]

Well, there is always next season !

Just kidding. We may not be good right now, but I have faith things will get better gradually.

 

[RuffRuff]

It's not about being worried, it's about readjusting expectations. This team isn't winning anational title, but I think they can vastly improve the defense and make the tournament, and hopefully win a game or two.

Think your take is great. As dreamy as it would be to make a run at a third, the ebbs and flows of how this sport works makes it really d@mn hard. A lot of people hung their hat on DHs genius but the reality is that he’s a great coach but no renaissance savant. You need the right groceries to make the casserole and he doesn’t have that this year.

After an off-season of low humility it’ll be interesting to see how DH responds to a bottom out so quickly, as it must be a real kick in the nuts. If we reframe this season it can still be entertaining. Seeing this as more of an exhibition for next year because there is no way this collection is coming back in its entirety. It would be great to make the tourney just to have a chance but this team has so many holes there is zero chance they are NC capable. The biggest disappointment right now in a season of rare opportunity is how poorly the staff diagnosed the shortages during portal recruitment as there were plenty of options.

 

[UCan3]

Aside from the offense - which is awful - and the defense - which is worse - and the roster construction - which is abysmal - I think we’re doing pretty well.

I am kind of puzzled as to which team Danny Hurley was watching when he got offended that we were not the preseason #1. The team he’s brought to Hawaii was the eighth-best team there and currently looks like an NIT hopeful.

What a debacle. Maybe more complaints about not getting calls at the post-game presser will fix things.

I agree. What irritated me the most was all Danny’s constant 3-Peat comments. It’s almost like we were set up to have this fall.

We have some soul searching to do - that might be an unexpected positive of this debacle.

 

[uconnfan68]

I don’t know how you go from being a good enough staff to construct and coach two rosters that win national championships, to putting together a team that gets smoked by a bubble team and loses to an NIT squad. Like it’s a bit baffling at this point how badly they fudged this up after seemingly having their pick of the litter in the portal

I know they lost a lot of talent, but in the portal era you can at least replace enough to beat Colorado and Dayton…

Well, that's just not true... the portal opened during the 2nd weekend of the tournament, and because they were still playing they couldn't do anything. It's the NCAA version of parity.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Only potential positive from Maui is hopefully Danny will keep his demeanor and mouth shut about a 3 Peat; as well as ragging on refs for preferential calls due to our “prestige “.

Not a good look Danny. You can think those things, but don’t say them.

 

[SubbaBub]

We lost a ton of rebounding and it doesn't appear to be coming back. We aren't going to win many if we consistently give up 40 point halves.

 

[JLW]

How quickly we all jump ship!! This is where good coaching comes in. I’m still optimistic they‘ll work it out.

 

[BFieldHusky]

I was hoping to see some adjustments in this one and a plan forming, instead Dan decided Samson was his guy again. If there is one thing I feel good about, it’s that Samson is not a starting 5 on any aspiring college hoops team. I am as confused with the staff at this point as I am discouraged by the play. This is going to be a long season.

Moving into a state of preservation rather than aspiration, concerns being:

- getting AK drafted in the first round. The quality around him is so poor I just hope it doesn’t impact his draft status.

-this not being so miserable a season that some of our talented young kids don’t bolt for the portal. Hurley is going to have to manage that. I was told multiple parents of kids not playing left the game early yesterday. When you’re winning you can validate your rotation decisions, when you suck parents will be asking why their kid isn’t getting run.

- making sure the recruits hold. I’m sure they joined to be part of the systematic machine of an offense and now it looks like a group of drunk people in a conga line. Top that with a coach that is blowing his top. Shouldn’t be a worry but who knows.

- Danny keeps some positivity in the national spotlight this season. He went out of his way to take every interview possible this offseason and with a lot of “confidence”. Now that the kryptonite has been unleashed and he kicked off the season with cartoon like demonstrations, you are seeing how much opposing fanbases detest the guy. Really needs to find his zen.

Such a sharp fall from grace can be tough to swallow and it presents different types of challenges. If this is in fact a bridge year you have to manage it differently as you’re not “bulletproof” in your decision making.

The portal strategy has been mystifying, maybe the delay in getting to it did impact given the glaring mismatch.

Let's go through your points:

1. Alex is going to be fine. If he wants to be a 1st round pick he is going to have to be more consistent from 3, and drive the ball more. Obviously been a great player for us, but he has historically been an inconsistent shooter.

2. I'm not sure what this even means, and I'm calling BS on you actually getting info. The game was getting out of hand, and it was the last game of the day. In 2024 you will have to deal with families complaining about not getting playing time. Why do you think the portal has become the wild wild west?

3. Do you think Braylon Mullins is having 2nd thoughts because we struggled in Maui? I mean Indiana lost by almost 40 to an unranked team yesterday. Yes, they have to keep in touch with their recruits. That's normal practice.

4. Do we honestly care if people hate the guy? He has won 2 titles, and back to back. He was hated before he won. He is hated now. Who cares.

5. The portal comment is fair.

You are way too dramatic in your posts, whether it be about the team, or the Big East. This may turn out to be a rebuilding year. It happens. Can we let it play out? And while last night was disappointing, they lost their first 2 games in Maui by 3 points. I'll wait until they have played 20 games to really look at what this team is or is not.

 

[RuffRuff]

Only potential positive from Maui is hopefully Danny will keep his demeanor and mouth shut about a 3 Peat; as well as ragging on refs for preferential calls due to our “prestige “.

Not a good look Danny. You can think those things, but don’t say them.

To say opposing fan bases are relishing in it would be an ubderstatement. It’s feeling a bit Cal-like out there, but he set himself up for this. He is getting killed on the webiverse. Needs to manage the highs and lows like a pro. I’m the first one to admit I’ve enjoyed some of the “branding” but now see how it’s biting in the @ss.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I'm not giving up on this team, but one thing I've noticed is a lack of B-Ball instinct. Hurley has praised these guys saying they have a high B-Ball IQ, but you to have instinct as well. Of the guys getting regular minutes, Karaban and McNeeley are the only ones I see have it. Other guys may know how to play and where everyone and the ball should be at times, but there's a difference between that and that 'voice' or whatever it is inside you to to read a ball off of a shooter's hand and know you need to move to a different spot for the rebound, or your guys is covered now, but give him another second and he'll be open with a lane to get him the ball.
Cam Spencer is a guy who is not the most athletic guy. If he had Ball's athleticism, he would have been a top 3 pick. He just knows how to play and learned on defense to use his feet enough and use his quick hands.
The last 2 teams have been blessed having multiple guys on each team like Sanogo, Jackson, Newton, Joey 'California', Karaban and especially Clingan and Newton. Others here have aluded to it, but I don't think many truly realize how special Clingan's mere presence on the court was. He was 7' plus feet, and when healthy, very mobile and instinctive to the ball. His ability to help and recover is truly special.
Newton, outside of Storrs, did not/has not received enough credit for what he did for these 2 teams. Again, he is not going to blow you away with his athleticism, but the dude can just play.
I still have hope because it is early, and remember that Newton did struggle for a while in 22'/23' especially in Big East play. However, now much of this hinges on the health of Karaban. If he is out for a long period or this is something that lingers throughout the season, this team could very well finish below .500.

 

[3rdbass]

There is no indication they brought Reed in to start over SJ. He has outplayed SJ from the start and Hurley continues to run SJ out as the starter.

Diarra at a minimum was being relied on to handle much more of the PG duties this year. That’s looking like a mistake as well (but yes, highly compounded by Mahaney also being a flop in that respect so far).

I think Diarra has been decent at PG. He is a backup PG which is the mistake. He is the only player who consistently penetrates for us. He actually needs to do more of that and we have to switch from all these perimeter passing to someone like him penetrating and dishing it out, alley-loop or scoring. Diarra has been our only decent guard. Ball I can't say has been decent since he is a total whiff on defense.

 

[Dove]

Happy Thanksgiving, Yard!!!

Our food will still taste great. The alcohol will taste sweet. The pies will still satisfy.

And we gots football today.

 

[cohenzone]

You keep whining about one and two and dones while simultaneously talking about how critical Clingan was to our team. Do you know how many years he played?

Another one who misses the point. So this year’s team is better off without junior Clingan and soph Castle. Heck, throw in senior Hawkins. I know why these guys are leaving, I would too. But I guess I’m a bird in the hand type when the bird is hard to better. The whole premise that we won’t get superior talent if they can’t see others who came before them go pro very fast is just speculation. It supposes McNeeley doesn’t come if he doesn’t see Castle leave after a year or Clingan, Hawkins and Bouknight leave after two. Did he say that, or did he see us winning and his mind well coached. You and I don’t know. Are next year’s recruits coming because they see our early departures or they see us winning. All is know is we have an impatient fan base.

 

[Gurleyman]

Happy Thanksgiving, Yard!!!

Our food will still taste great. The alcohol will taste sweet. The pies will still satisfy.

And we gots football today.

I read that as the piss will still satisfy. Which can be true after lots of sweet alcohol.