We're okay. This game means nothing.

[TheChamps990411]

It's a good loss and we still had moments of brilliance, just not enough of them. Some things need to be fixed. Some of them can't be fixed so we need work arounds.

We need to work on in-bounds plays. And the team needs to keep their heads up when the other team decides to press. We were caught off guard on a number of occasions and it disrupts our offense. Hurley and Murray need to find new ways to get Solo open. He got taken away in the second half. He is going to see more and more attention. Reed needs to stay close to the basket on offense. We are less effective when he goes out to hedge. Samson let his bad habits reappear.

We really crashed the boards last night and it worked. McNeeley needs to keep attacking the glass. Both our PGs need to be more aggressive. When we attacked their defense early in the shot clock we were much more effective. We still haven't figured out our best pace. It needs to be slow enough to limit TOs and fast enough develop rhythm.

No one got hurt. Our chemistry will improve as we get healthy. Just win enough games to go into the BET strong. The only thing that matters is March.

Laughable. This teams biggest problem is PG. Diarra whos naturally not a pg but can manage the position is now clearly injured and was literally hobbling around the court. To complicate things further hes playing far too many minutes because NOwell is out and Mahaney absolutely stinks! If we had solid PG play most of the issues you mentioned are no longer issues. This team showed it has a lot of answers on the court but the one question that may go unanswered is who leads this team at the point and in the end it will prove to be our undoing. I am extremely concererned.

 

[CTBasketball]

Laughable. This teams biggest problem is PG. Diarra whos naturally not a pg but can manage the position is now clearly injured and was literally hobbling around the court. To complicate things further hes playing far too many minutes because NOwell is out and Mahaney absolutely stinks! If we had solid PG play most of the issues you mentioned are no longer issues. This team showed it has a lot of answers on the court but the one question that may go unanswered is who leads this team at the point and in the end it will prove to be our undoing. I am extremely concererned.

I think Hurley panicked after Maui, rode Hassan 30+ min a game, and reduced Mahaney’s chances. Nowell has the injury bug so his development was ruined.

Now everyone’s hurt or lacks development so we’re in a really tough spot. Especially when we can’t depend on our pre-season All America.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

DH is right (imo). We only have so many weapons and when one of them refuses to even put bullets in his gun, everyone else’s job gets harder.

I do not want to see Karaban pass on an open look to swing it to Diarra in the corner. I do not want to see him come open on a flare screen and fake a shot and go nowhere and put Liam in jail with the shot clock winding down.

We don’t have someone who can break down the D (unless Liam becomes that guy). Our system is designed to run Euro offense to try to get shooters shots. We have enough role players - we aren’t running plays to get Diarra, Johnson or Ross open looks. The guys who are supposed to shoot need to shoot. When you run stuff and shoot when you’re supposed to, other players can anticipate the shot and work to get offensive rebounding position. Or people can cut into the gaps created by defenders trying to take away the shot.

Karaban can’t be so mentally soft that he can’t handle missing. He’s hurting his teammates by deferring to guys who then get the pressure on them. He’s hurting his teammates by not being a threat who demands defensive attention.

Diarra got a turnover in the corner because St. John’s didn’t think AK was going to shoot, they didn’t respect him, and they took away the next pass. A pass to an injured non-scorer was a greater threat to them than an open AK. If that was Liam or Solo in that spot, Diarra would have been wide open.

I agree with you on the part that when Karaban is open he needs to shoot and not pass off, especially with the clock running down.

That being said, when he shoots he needs to hit at least 35 percent. Minimum. He should be coming off the bench until he starts hitting consistently at that rate, or better, over a span of games.

 

[UConniki]

Yes. I think we get that this week. He’s our best defensive guard. Give him rope and at least 15 mpg.

Mahaney isn’t a PG. He’s a slightly undersized shooting guard. He’s about what Joey C was. Offense off the bench. Problem is he can’t handle aggressive pressure teams like St. John’s. So that was not a good matchup for him.

Probably should have played Ross a little more. He can throw over those guards and beat the press.

Joey C was / is better. I’d trade him for Mahaney is a heartbeat. It’s not even close and he was like our 5th guard at the time.

 

[mauconnfan]

Eh not impressed with the Johnnies. The fact we played dreadful basketball (some because of their defense but a lot careless) and even our best player goes 4-15 and we’re still in this game to the end would scare me if I were a Johnnie fan. They’re tough but they can’t shoot a lick. Get away with murder too!

I rewatched the game kind of fast, not all of it prior to the Bowl last night. A couple of things that I saw which weren’t as easy to notice while watching live. One thing that popped out consistently was that Ejiofor lives in the lane,’pitches tents quite often. Quick view had at least 4-5 times he was in there longer than a 4 second count no wonder he’s such a good offensive rebounder. I would hope the staff is letting the next crew know this is a habit when they play at MSG, it’s a huge advantage in the paint. Late game huge take by Luis he’s been in the for 5 and already boxing out not allowing for help on top of it all.

But the big take away for us is Diarra is worse than I could see injury wise. He now can’t guard off the dribble or help like he normally can, which also means he’s not taking anyone off the dribble on one leg. He’s a huge warrior for sure but we need someone to step up or we’re dead.

 

[UCan3]

Laughable. This teams biggest problem is PG. Diarra whos naturally not a pg but can manage the position is now clearly injured and was literally hobbling around the court. To complicate things further hes playing far too many minutes because NOwell is out and Mahaney absolutely stinks! If we had solid PG play most of the issues you mentioned are no longer issues. This team showed it has a lot of answers on the court but the one question that may go unanswered is who leads this team at the point and in the end it will prove to be our undoing. I am extremely concererned.

Actually while inbounding the ball isn’t our biggest problem IMO, is indicative of the biggest problem in my book so far this year -- players are not moving well without the ball.

They don’t set good enough screens.

They don’t space the floor well.

It is a testament to our offensive prowess how well we still make shots when covered like “white on rice” while our opponents have open jumper after open jumper at key moments of the game.

Reed is starting to get it. We saw that Fri Night. Don’t stand around when you don’t have the ball. Make something productive happen no matter what it is - it doesn’t have to be points to affect the game.

Unlike some here I saw lots of positives Fri night - lots.

I agree with Title post - the game means nothing with caveat - how we react does.

 

[gtcam]

Point guard is an issue, your captain has demons in his head, the coaching staff has what appears to be no answers and not able to adjust a single thing and your best player last game hadn't stepped into action at all in over 30 days - yeah there is reason to be concerned about the future THIS season.

 

[AntG168]

Point guard is an issue, your captain has demons in his head, the coaching staff has what appears to be no answers and not able to adjust a single thing and your best player last game hadn't stepped into action at all in over 30 days - yeah there is reason to be concerned about the future THIS season.

I think the coaches are making adjustments. It's a borderline miracle we have as good a record as we do with AK being a near no show for most of the season and Mcneeley missing 1/3 of it.

 

[mauconnfan]

I think the coaches are making adjustments. It's a borderline miracle we have as good a record as we do with AK being a near no show for most of the season and Mcneeley missing 1/3 of it.

21-10 is much better than 20-11 at this point although there is no guarantee on even 20Ws at all. Scary where we are because of the injuries it can go south in a way none of us expected. It’s kind of up to Alex, the back up guards and the staff.

 

[alphasigko]

I think it meant that we would fall out of being ranked in the Top 25.

 

[UCan3]

I think Hurley panicked after Maui, rode Hassan 30+ min a game, and reduced Mahaney’s chances. Nowell has the injury bug so his development was ruined.

Now everyone’s hurt or lacks development so we’re in a really tough spot. Especially when we can’t depend on our pre-season All America.

Well in fairness, Mahaney has been given his chances to take the reins but apparently he doesn’t want them. Not right now.

And Karaban now only dependable at the free throw line presents all kinds of challenges to our team.

To be fair, I don’t know how Hurley could plan for this - I honestly think he’s doing about as good as he can w/ given circumstances.

It’s a tough time for players and fans but we’re still 16-7.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow night.

 

[sledog]

I think it meant that we would fall out of being ranked in the Top 25.

AP 26, Coaches 24

 

[bendm]

And Karaban now only dependable at the free throw line presents all kinds of challenges to our team.

Did you erase the Nova game from your memory?

 

[UCan3]

Did you erase the Nova game from your memory?

Good point but overall his % is still decent At the FT Line.

I don’t know how any coach plans for this - I just hope Alex can get back on track.

Was thinking today if you subtract the 3 losses in the early season tourney we have 4 losses.

All hope is not gone.

We have to rebound and find answers.