WTF has happened to Hamilton?

[UConnSwag11]

He's not playing well, last two games have been brutal for him. It's just strange when you see someone with his talent look that bad in two straight games.

played much better and looked much better this game... he's struggling because teams know what he's going to do when he gets into the lane so he's trying to adapt... more outside shots and trying to get to the rim before they set their defense up... i would really like him to post up like daniels used to, he has vision to find the open player if he can't score

 

[superjohn]

Just to make sure we're all on the same page, he finished with 12 pts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

He plays the whole game so he's going to accumulate some stats but there is no denying he's been horrible the last two games, 4-24 field goals is as bad as it gets. I agree with posters saying the loss of Brimah has hurt him the most, I just expect someone with his talent to adapt and to finish what look like easy plays. The play down the stretch where he tripped himself trying to dribble which led to a layup the other way was tough to watch.

 

[geohusky]

He also fell down at top of the circle and that led to a layup.

And then took an ill advised three the very next possession.

 

[pnow15]

And then took an ill advised three the very next possession.

Forgot about that shot.

 

[jibsey]

Just to make sure we're all on the same page, he finished with 12 pts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Those are certainly decent numbers but if his shot was falling he would have had 18 points at least.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The whole point of the stat line is that when your shot isn't falling you need to contribute in other ways. Some of those ways might include leading your team in rebounding, leading your team in assists and leading your team in steals. Of which he did all three tonight.

Every player is going to have poor shooting nights. Sometimes its due to the shot not falling on good looks, sometimes its because a player can't figure out how to get his shots in the flow of a particular game.

He didn't sulk or mail it in tonight.

 

[mauconnfan]

4 for his last 24 and some really bad shots. He's not the same player the last 2, anyone seeing anything else is not watching closely. I will go so far as to say he's killing them on the offensive end because he doesn't offensive rebound too much either. But he is rebounding on the defensive end I will give him that. But another telling stat is 6 assists in the last 2. Don't want to hear about the bail out occasional lob because they don't happen as often in league play and against good teams we know that. He's just forcing the issue and needs to step back a little and let the game come to him now. They are defending him as the head of the snake and he needs to adjust. And he is struggling shooting the ball can't make a 8 foot banker even.

Has been solid at the FT line though give him that. He'll come back, need him in the Texas swing for sure!

 

[bmayuc]

Could the simple answer just be that opponents have 'successfully' developed a plan to neutralize him. He's too good to have this happen and he needs the Coaches and teammates help.

Stop him and you stop UConn. Its now a chess game and its Ollie's move.

This is clearly it. He can't get all the way to the rim due to a lack of quickness, so he spins/behind back dribble at the foul line. Teams have realized that and now simple crowd him on that move. Thats really his whole game. W/O Brimah there as a lob, he's left with bunch of bad decisions. He's going to have to figure it out, but they've figured it out, he's too important to this team. He needs to be @ 15-20 ppg

 

[Woof 101]

I know what happened to him. He was playing an all around game. Not forcing it. Suddenly there was a push from the announcers, from the boards, from whoever that he needs to shoot more. That he is hurting the team if he doesn't. He has tried to play that way now and its not working for him. The problem now is its hard to go back to the other way because of the pressure and all the talent out there. If he tries to go back and screws up a few times....

YES! Most good or better D1 players take their info from announcers, boards or whoever....This is a classic revelation!

Could the simple answer just be that opponents have 'successfully' developed a plan to neutralize him. He's too good to have this happen and he needs the Coaches and teammates help.
Stop him and you stop UConn. Its now a chess game and its Ollie's move.

Some folks get it and some folks don't. Common sense used to be common....

 

[Chin Diesel]

4 for his last 24 and some really bad shots. He's not the same player the last 2, anyone seeing anything else is not watching closely. I will go so far as to say he's killing them on the offensive end because he doesn't offensive rebound too much either. But he is rebounding on the defensive end I will give him that. But another telling stat is 6 assists in the last 2. Don't want to hear about the bail out occasional lob because they don't happen as often in league play and against good teams we know that. He's just forcing the issue and needs to step back a little and let the game come to him now. They are defending him as the head of the snake and he needs to adjust. And he is struggling shooting the ball can't make a 8 foot banker even.

Has been solid at the FT line though give him that. He'll come back, need him in the Texas swing for sure!

To be fair the game plan today was to get back on defense and stop Memphos' transition game. UConn was sprinting four back on defense when shots went up. Only the 5 man was trying for offensive rebounds.

 

[mauconnfan]

To be fair the game plan today was to get back on defense and stop Memphos' transition game. UConn was sprinting four back on defense when shots went up. Only the 5 man was trying for offensive rebounds.

Agree but we are awful rebounding offensively. Even against Tulane shot goes up, misses and not white shirts to be found. Bazz and Boat would get 7-8 each on this team, we don't even get long rebounds. If it weren't for Facey we'd never get int hat column, scary.

 

[alfonse]

YES! Most good or better D1 players take their info from announcers, boards or whoever....This is a classic revelation!

Some folks get it and some folks don't. Common sense used to be common....

You can't tell me he is not trying to force it the past two games. It would not suprise me if the coaches did not tell him to look for his shot more. Which is not bad advice but in this case he has looked too hard.

 

[BoatShow]

He's been pressing without AB for sure.

 

[David 76]

I think it has been the past 3 games. Still rebounding though. I can't remember the last time I saw a player lose it (confidence?) like this
He almost single handedly gave away the game tonight. On consecutive trips at crunch time: a horrible 3 pt attempt, 2 missed FTs, and a turnover.
DHam needs help!

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

And then took an ill advised three the very next possession.

And does Ollie sit him down? Nope.

And we wonder why we keep making the same dumb mistakes/ mental errors over and over and over.


Although to D Hams credit. He did fight for a rebound/steal/ tie up shortly after that he ended up getting fouled on. So he showed some hustle unlike last game.

 

[David 76]

Although to D Hams credit. He did fight for a rebound/steal/ tie up shortly after that he ended up getting fouled on. So he showed some hustle unlike last game.

Yeah, he seemed to come out of nowhere on that play.

 

[willie99]

he's still our best rebounder, that alone makes him vital to this team because I can't imagine where we'd be on the boards without him

having said that, he's our star and the linchpin to any success we may have

 

[djct1999]

We have heard many times now that KO and the staff has implored DHam to be more aggressive and selfish. He is doing that, but its still a bit out of his comfort zone. There is no doubt in my mind that it will all come together. Also, last night Doris Burke said how KO values being a positive influence on the floor even when your shots aren't falling. DHam is certainly that.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I know what happened to him. He was playing an all around game. Not forcing it. Suddenly there was a push from the announcers, from the boards, from whoever that he needs to shoot more. That he is hurting the team if he doesn't. He has tried to play that way now and its not working for him. The problem now is its hard to go back to the other way because of the pressure and all the talent out there. If he tries to go back and screws up a few times....

I think that this is correct. I also expect that it was the head coach who told him to score more. It has not been a great success so far, but perhaps long-term it will result in his finding a better balance.

 

[bluestreak]

[Whoops.]
Agree with this. The Brimah option is not there right now and his other option is to kick it back out to an open shooter. Too often unwilling to take the shot. I think Purvis and Gibbs both passed up a couple of good looks last night just to pass it around. DHam would have more assists if the shooters were more willing too shoot.

 

[Kevin Caliendo]

Hamilton has stopped penetrating inside the foul line where he makes a lot of floaters or dishes for a dunk.

teams are adjusting and packing in the lane. guys play off him now and try to take away the middle of the lane. he can't shoot and his go to stuff has been figured out. he needs to adjust and force teams to play him differently.

also, not having Brimah in the post hurts him as he was a consistent target for his passes and also forced a post defender to stay near the baseline versus helping early above the dotted line

 

[mauconnfan]

teams are adjusting and packing in the lane. guys play off him now and try to take away the middle of the lane. he can't shoot and his go to stuff has been figured out. he needs to adjust and force teams to play him differently.

also, not having Brimah in the post hurts him as he was a consistent target for his passes and also forced a post defender to stay near the baseline versus helping early above the dotted line

All solid points but he's missed the same short bankers he's made before a lot and has made really awful decisions, no denying that. It's packed in a little more but he's still getting to his spots but struggling to make a shot.

Hopefully it ends in Texas.

 

[InKembaITrust]

I think I was the only one on this forum to say that Hamilton looked TERRIBLE in the Tulane game with a thread I created. Now look what has come from it. The last 2 games, (3 including Tulane), Hamilton has been completely out of his element with fluid & confident play; especially during the last quarter of the game.

I think more times than not it slips uconn fan's minds that he's still a sophomore, and yes I am going to say it, overrated. Now this does not make him a bad player by any means, I'm not saying that. People just expect way too much from him, including Ollie. And yes half of his versatility comes from lob dunks to Brimah.

I will give credit where credit is due, he is a rebounding machine at his size and position, but after that and after these last 3 games a mediocre player. (This is me judging him on his stat line and eye test with games and opponents that actually matter; not early season CCSU's & Sacred Hearts where he boosted his stats).

I strongly believe he needs 1 more year with us. Let him tag team with Larrier and see whether or not we can cut down the nets come April.

 

[raf46]

He doesn't even look like a D1 player the last two games, it's cringeworthy.

He is still hitting the boards. Also, the attention he gets frees up Gibbs. His shot will come around.

 

[mauconnfan]

I think I was the only one on this forum to say that Hamilton looked TERRIBLE in the Tulane game with a thread I created. Now look what has come from it. The last 2 games, (3 including Tulane), Hamilton has been completely out of his element with fluid & confident play; especially during the last quarter of the game.

I think more times than not it slips uconn fan's minds that he's still a sophomore, and yes I am going to say it, overrated. Now this does not make him a bad player by any means, I'm not saying that. People just expect way too much from him, including Ollie. And yes half of his versatility comes from lob dunks to Brimah.

I will give credit where credit is due, he is a rebounding machine at his size and position, but after that and after these last 3 games a mediocre player. (This is me judging him on his stat line and eye test with games and opponents that actually matter; not early season CCSU's & Sacred Hearts where he boosted his stats).

I strongly believe he needs 1 more year with us. Let him tag team with Larrier and see whether or not we can cut down the nets come April.

Against UM, SU, Gonz, MD, UT and Oh St he is averaging 15.5/6.8/4.5 so I think you can throw out your theory of getting his numbers from the cupcakes only. I will say his trending line does not have the look you'd want for financial gains.

 

[3rdbass]

I think I was the only one on this forum to say that Hamilton looked TERRIBLE in the Tulane game with a thread I created. Now look what has come from it. The last 2 games, (3 including Tulane), Hamilton has been completely out of his element with fluid & confident play; especially during the last quarter of the game.

I think more times than not it slips uconn fan's minds that he's still a sophomore, and yes I am going to say it, overrated. Now this does not make him a bad player by any means, I'm not saying that. People just expect way too much from him, including Ollie. And yes half of his versatility comes from lob dunks to Brimah.

I will give credit where credit is due, he is a rebounding machine at his size and position, but after that and after these last 3 games a mediocre player. (This is me judging him on his stat line and eye test with games and opponents that actually matter; not early season CCSU's & Sacred Hearts where he boosted his stats).

I strongly believe he needs 1 more year with us. Let him tag team with Larrier and see whether or not we can cut down the nets come April.

Let me get this straight. You are calling dham overrated due to his last 3 games? How about his body of work which has been great. Some posters find it too easy to dump on our best players when they are down. Give him time to adjust and learn to assist players not named AB and not force shots. He played great in the Texas game but has fallen into a funk. I think he still has the talent to become our alpha dog.

 

[Jaker]

He is often forcing the issue too much, should be looking for our wings more.

 

[CTBasketball]

When you lack a killer instinct you panic in pressure situations.

 

[8893]

He is often forcing the issue too much, should be looking for our wings more.

I was happy enough with the win, but yeah it would have been nice if he hit that first FT and we reached 82.

 

[jibsey]

Here's something I noticed about his non 3 shot, no soft touch. It clanks for whatever reason without backspin so when it hits the back rim as it often does it doesn't bounce around and go in often. Don't think it can be corrected at this point because it's in his shooting DNA. Of course the solution is net only.