What Changed For Us?

[karstenkibbe]

Of course the player adjustments have made the biggest impact, but one thing not yet mentioned in this thread is the significant change in Hurley’s substitution patterns since the January swoon. He no longer employs the hockey line change substitutions, gets second unit players into the game much earlier than he previously did, and doesn’t keep guys on the floor for long stretches.

I firmly believe that our second half dominance over so many teams in the last eight weeks can be attributed to a fresh first unit and an absolutely worn down opponent in the last 10-20 minutes of games.

 

[80shusky]

I don't know if this makes any sense but it is almost like fixing the offense fixed the defense. It doesn't seem like we are defending that much differently other than doing a better job of sagging off of mediocre shooters and blocking the driving lanes instead. Moving Sanogo up higher, Jackson not taking as many threes and going baseline more and Newton and Hawkins driving to the basket more has made the offense work better. As a result of making more baskets they can set up the full court D. Once the offense gets rolling and looks unstoppable the other teams seem to get the deer in the headlights look and its over.

 

[REB1094]

I don't know if this makes any sense but it is almost like fixing the offense fixed the defense. It doesn't seem like we are defending that much differently other than doing a better job of sagging off of mediocre shooters and blocking the driving lanes instead. Moving Sanogo up higher, Jackson not taking as many threes and going baseline more and Newton and Hawkins driving to the basket more has made the offense work better. As a result of making more baskets they can set up the full court D. Once the offense gets rolling and looks unstoppable the other teams seem to get the deer in the headlights look and its over.

I think it's the opposite actually. Sagging off of mediocre shooters sounds (and is) simple, but we lost 2 games against Seton Hall and St Johns by not recognizing that. This team feeds off of high energy defense because it lets them push pace and get out and run, where Andre is great at running the show and finding shooters. Andre averages 2.6 3PA per game and has taken 2.5 so far in the tournament, although this is skewed a bit by 5 against Iona and then 1-2 vs everyone after

Hawkins driving to the hoop has been a really positive development. This was great in the Arkansas game because imo they had the scout right of jumping on Hawkins on the three point line, but he countered by driving in and either taking the shot or getting to the rim. That will be important for his professional career as well

+1 on the deer in the headlights comment. Arkansas was absolutely flustered, and Gonzaga gave up after 30 minutes

 

[uconn_jack]

Adama gave some insight after the Arkansas game too. Mentioned that the team started to point fingers in the locker room and everyone decided to put egos aside and buy in. A few players said they looked back on the 14-0 start and knew what their ceiling is and that helped them to buy in to team basketball. Bench players understanding the importance of their roles, Adama buying into not needing to play for BEPOY and passing out of double teams, Andre going back to defensive beast, no egos with giving Karaban the last shot and everyone buying into Hawkins being the priority on offense.

HOT TAKE: I don’t think we are here right now without scheduling the OOC the way that we did. It was a sore subject for a lot on the board but the team needed to build confidence with cupcakes going into the PK. If you sprinkle in a few losses before the PK I’m not sure we win that tournament, we saw how fragile the guys were mentally in January. Most teams don’t get past the locker room issues once they set in, especially with veteran transfers with experience being “the guy”. Our team collectively decided to put that aside because they had proof of what they were capable of doing. The OOC/PK85 this year was an important step in the rebuild, Hurley referenced multiple times that he was confident with this team once BE ended and we got into the tournament. The teams confidence starts with the head coach and I always believed those comments were not “coach talk”, Hurley believed it and the team fed off his confidence.

The rest is history, UConn is back. In the future Hurley can point to this season and the lull in January as a reason for his players to buy in. Such a huge pivotal season for UConn and Hurley. Let’s go for #5

Yeah, the complaints about the OOC schedule are so completely moot at this point. Might we have gotten a 3 seed if it was a little stronger (and we won them)? Maybe. But I don't think it makes any difference as to how they have performed in the tourney.

 

[uconn_jack]

I don't know if this makes any sense but it is almost like fixing the offense fixed the defense. It doesn't seem like we are defending that much differently other than doing a better job of sagging off of mediocre shooters and blocking the driving lanes instead. Moving Sanogo up higher, Jackson not taking as many threes and going baseline more and Newton and Hawkins driving to the basket more has made the offense work better. As a result of making more baskets they can set up the full court D. Once the offense gets rolling and looks unstoppable the other teams seem to get the deer in the headlights look and its over.

Demoralizing the other team with ridiculous offense is a great defense.

 

[formerlurker]

We need a Bill Murray / Nerd combo meme - STAT

 

[jibsey]

That foul shot discrepancy in the BE during that streak was crazy.