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WWW.SB (What's wrong with Solo Ball)

For a player with perfect mechanics who has shown he can shoot it in big spots over an entire season, it's either an injury or a mental block.
It's relatively easy to perfect the mechanics to the point of repeatability but to perfect the touch and feel, that is pure (talent + skill) * practice - (pressure + focus).
The nerd speaks.
 
Elitehuskies said:
Has anyone seen how well he shoots 3s during practice? This may help indicate if it is a capability vs mental issue.
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I, too, have been wondering that and I would assume he shoots the ball well because if he's not then why would Hurley even play him? If he can't score, then he should have limited minutes on the court because he has no playmaking skills, his defense is poor and he's just not an instinctually good player. It's really tough to watch because the kid plays hard and has such a good attitude. I'm rooting for him to come up big Friday night because we need him.
 
SLAC wrist injury, I am guessing, Scapho-Lunate, prob tore the ligament, very chronic, doesn't take much to inflame and re-inflame! Cortisone injection can help but surgery is final destination, if my supposition is correct...long recovery! I'd say "give him some "slack", no pun intended! JCorbo PT
 
Who was the guy who was posting about his concerns about players benching for 3 repetitions or whatever it was?
 
I’m afraid the injury excuse isn’t right, wish it was. He looks great shooting it and mid range is better. He shot 28% his last year in Prep school so the bad news is he’s had more below 30 than above. The good news is he’s the same guy who last year we expected everything to go in when it left his hand. Maybe he finds that again times weekend and beyond. Here’s hoping, not just for us but mostly for him, he does want that to happen even more than we do!
 
Solo has been built like a 25 yr old running back since he was 16. It’s not that.

I’m assuming wrist injury and subsequent confidence issues
 
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knicksin7 said:
But can you really just have an entire outlier season?
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I would say so.

IMG_0435.jpeg
 
RuffRuff said:
Hard to know - shooting 41% is hard, and over lot's of volume. He has a great looking shot.

It feels like a confidence thing to me - but it's part of who Solo is, a bit of a headcase.
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How exactly is he a headcase? Met him many times. Hands down one of the nicest if not the nicest player on the team. All very nice but solo is extremely friendly with fans/little kids.
 
I have a hypothesis, but it's based solely on what I see on TV so take it for what it's worth.

What I see compared to last season is that he's trying to shoot with a quicker release. It's completely thrown off his rhythm. I went back to the Marquette game from 2025 (considered a breakout performance for him) and watched his mechanics. His release was a hair more deliberate and he was starting his shot lower. It looked different from this season. Not by much, but it doesn't take much.

I'm not sure this is even something he worked on in the off season. But watching Mullins getting his shot off lightening fast may have influenced him to try the same, to detrimental effect.

Anyway, that's my take. Could be BS.
 
husky429 said:
He's always been strong.

Didn't shoot well in high school. Didn't shoot well freshman year. Didn't shoot well junior year.

I think we just need to acknowledge he's not a 40+% shooter.

If he'd just work on getting to the rim, using his pull-up, and taking wide open 3s, he'd be great for us.
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He gets to the rim but always at an angle resulting in him getting knocked down. Never seen a guy spend so much time on his butt. Hope he finds his rhythm, feel like he’d be a solid mid 30% ish.
 
mauconnfan said:
I’m afraid the injury excuse isn’t right, wish it was. He looks great shooting it and mid range is better. He shot 28% his last year in Prep school so the bad news is he’s had more below 30 than above. The good news is he’s the same guy who last year we expected everything to go in when it left his hand. Maybe he finds that again times weekend and beyond. Here’s hoping, not just for us but mostly for him, he does want that to happen even more than we do!
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OK, I will injure or tear that ligament from a fall on outstretched arm on you and we will see how limiting that can be... if u understand shooting mechanics you will get it! Easy on this guy... is a human!
 
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Buffett10 said:
How exactly is he a headcase? Met him many times. Hands down one of the nicest if not the nicest player on the team. All very nice but solo is extremely friendly with fans/little kids.
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He's also one of the last people from a mental makeup standpoint that I would describe as a "headcase." He's a pretty serious, disciplined guy. Just a really bizarre, seemingly gratuitous shot. But we've also had Tarris described as the softest big in UConn history and Karaban's career success described as "circumstantial" so it's been an odd year all around from the #takequake perspective.
 
BigErnMcCracken said:
He's also one of the last people from a mental makeup standpoint that I would describe as a "headcase." He's a pretty serious, disciplined guy. Just a really bizarre, seemingly gratuitous shot. But we've also had Tarris described as the softest big in UConn history and Karaban's career success described as "circumstantial" so it's been an odd year all around from the #takequake perspective.
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Did you hear Mark Pope recruited Solo? LOL!
 
What about laser eye surgery? Anyone want to go there? NBA players from Lebron James to Andre Drummond have elected to have laser eye surgery. Some needed it, some just tried it to improve performance. LeBron had it in 2007 and had a career high shooting percentage the following season. Coincidence? This may or may not pertain to Solo, but I have found the subject interesting.

It's common in many sports. I tend to think the entire PGA has had it.

I don't know how the university feels about performance enhancement through LES. I do know this is a much bigger deal then gets talked about.

lasikomaha.com

Improving Your Game With LASIK - Kugler Vision

http://www.lasikomaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/driving.jpg
lasikomaha.com lasikomaha.com
 
tennmike said:
Time for a Calhoun message to the team.
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The Calhoun in your living room recruiting you or the Calhoun once you step on campus and you never see the family living room Calhoun until you leave campus. Then he’s a great guy again!
 
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Solo Ball always steps up for kids with cancer and treats them very special. I know of at least three situations where he went above and beyond. We all like to analyze basketball and praise criticize basketball plays and strategies. That’s fair for fans to do. But, let’s not ignore that he a smart good guy.
 
microfich said:
For a player with perfect mechanics who has shown he can shoot it in big spots over an entire season, it's either an injury or a mental block.
It's relatively easy to perfect the mechanics to the point of repeatability but to perfect the touch and feel, that is pure (talent + skill) * practice - (pressure + focus).
The nerd speaks.
Expand ...

His mechanics are most definitely not perfect.
Palatine said:
What about laser eye surgery? Anyone want to go there? NBA players from Lebron James to Andre Drummond have elected to have laser eye surgery. Some needed it, some just tried it to improve performance. LeBron had it in 2007 and had a career high shooting percentage the following season. Coincidence? This may or may not pertain to Solo, but I have found the subject interesting.

It's common in many sports. I tend to think the entire PGA has had it.

I don't know how the university feels about performance enhancement through LES. I do know this is a much bigger deal then gets talked about.

lasikomaha.com

Improving Your Game With LASIK - Kugler Vision

http://www.lasikomaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/driving.jpg
lasikomaha.com lasikomaha.com
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Thank you for sharing.
 
Inyatkin said:
That's egregious. Calling a kid a headcase because of a shooting slump is beyond
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"Headcase" may be a bit strong, but defense and decision-making -- not just physical performance -- haven't always been there either.

The fact is, other than Karaban, none of these guys have been major players on contending teams and have something to prove.
 
“What’s wrong with Solo?”

Comments have focused on his offensive deficiencies, but I think his lousy defense is a greater liability to the team, and it has nothing to do with upper body musculature. Defense is played with one’s feet.

Ross doesn’t need to score much to be an asset. The plus/minus numbers don’t lie.
 
Nostical said:
I'm no kinesiologist but take a good look at these photos. It appears to me that Solo's upper arms have become too muscle-bound. I feel his intense weight lifting has taken away the fluidity of his shots and he's using more of a "shot-put" motion. Could that be as reasonable an explanation--as all of the "lost confidence--it's in his head" theories? And yet I never hear the analysts mention it. Do any of you agree?
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I was thinking the same thing with the weight lifting but I didn’t have the balls to ever post it. Lol. He’s built like a Free Safety
 
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Is karaban a “head case” too? He went through a pretty tough stretch last year with his shooting. Yet, he just had one of the most cold blooded, mentally tough performances in program history.
Mental toughness is finding a way to continue to fight when it’s going bad, not never having it go bad. Like, for example, if you say you believe a team is generational, you don’t just ship at the first bad possession they have.
 
knicksin7 said:
Yes, but that was the suspension I recall.
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His shooting percentage was unaffected by the suspension because he was suspended from shooting during the suspension period.
 
Tenspro2002 said:
"Headcase" may be a bit strong, but defense and decision-making -- not just physical performance -- haven't always been there either.

The fact is, other than Karaban, none of these guys have been major players on contending teams and have something to prove.
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Congrats, you described 99 percent of college basketball players
 
Fishy said:
His shooting percentage was unaffected by the suspension because he was suspended from shooting during the suspension period.
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Funny, but you really think missing 15 games or whatever for a suspension has no impact on the mental state?
 
Solo should only be taking straight on shots at this point. He shot well from all locations last year, but we've had 30 games to hope and pray he regains that form.

Straight up threes, midi's in the paint, drives but get fouled (don't go to the ground for the show). Unfortunately, we need to limit him but Mich St doesn't need to know that.
 

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