Xavier Post Game Thread

[gsmooth]

That was a key burst. Not just Solo with the icewater though, the entire team. They don't get rattled. They didn't last year or the year before. All the turnover this year, especially at guard and they still don't get rattled. That's on Dan Hurley.

Specifically his rugged and tough practices. It conditions the players to play hard when they are uncomfortable and in sub optimal conditions.

 

[Gurleyman]

When UConn was down 5 with around 4 minutes to go it was Solo who exploded. He cut in for a reverse layup, then hit a three on the break and then followed it up with another three. Solo has shown time and time again in this short season he has ice in his veins.

Some credit to Hassan too for that little burst. You hear about making pressure shots but that was a “pressure pass” to find Ball down low through traffic … there wasn’t much of a window, and if that pass gets deflected, X forces a turnover up 5 and that could be that. Then he made a good read to pick Ball out on the semi-break to tie it. Easier play since we had numbers, but still a good decision in real time.

Ball of course deserves his flowers. Just liked Hassan’s game management in that stretch too.

 

[Stew Crew]

where are Ted Valentine, Jim Burr, and Tim Higgins when you need them ?

Interesting trio to choose.

Early in his career, Valentine was an arrogant, erratic referee that lived to make controversial calls. He evolved into a pretty good referee.

Burr was one of the best but age caught up to him and his last few years were not good.

Higgins was an egomaniac who thought he was bigger than the game. I swear Higgins and Billy Packer were twins separated at birth.

 

[aburks41]

Miller has never been shy about giving UConn props.

He wants the UConn job when Hurley goes to the NBA in a few years

 

[alphasigko]

Sorry to be ignorant, how is the +/- stat calculated(Ball = -13)

Actually Ball was +8, Ross was -13.

The +/- Stat indicates how many points a team gained or lost relative to the opponent when a player was on the floor. For Example: If Player A comes in the game and his/her team is up by 10, but they are tied when he /she exits the game, his +/- for that stretch will be -10.

So, while Ross may have appeard to play good defense (and maybe he did on his man) while he was on the floor, the Huskies lost 13 points relative to what the score was when he entered the game)

 

[Dogdeacon]

I'm sorry but X shot lights out from 3 with good perimeter D. They were mainly contested 3's than not, and they drained them. On the other hand, we do have to stop the dribble penetration which X did all night, reminiscent of the Maui tournament. That's has to stop. We did score 94 pts on a good team though.

Xavier shot 50% 29/58. AND UConn blocked 10 shots, so subtracting 10 attempts that were blocked Xavier's accuracy was over 60%. That's crazy efficiency that has to be combo of hot shooting and defense lapses.

One of the issues is when open shots occur that allows players/teams to get confidence and make more difficult shots later = even occasional lapses feed have a degree of causality to teams shooting well vs the Huskies this year. Only in OT when maybe X ran out of gas and the defense was more vigilant did the shooting cool off.

 

[Gurleyman]

Some credit to Hassan too for that little burst. You hear about making pressure shots but that was a “pressure pass” to find Ball down low through traffic … there wasn’t much of a window, and if that pass gets deflected, X forces a turnover up 5 and that could be that. Then he made a good read to pick Ball out on the semi-break to tie it. Easier play since we had numbers, but still a good decision in real time.

Ball of course deserves his flowers. Just liked Hassan’s game management in that stretch too.

Saw the replay again of the tying three and I didn’t give Diarra enough credit on that one. That wasn’t a very easy pass either. Small window to get it there between defenders and allow Ball the chance to shoot in rhythm.

 

[housekeys]

Concerning the officials, there is rarely a perfectly called game. Understandable. But there are "poorly" officiated games, like last night and badly officiated games, like against Memphis in Maui. I can accept the former but I will b*tch endlessly about the other.

For example, you have UConn defenders grab and release a Xavier player and visa versa. Sometimes they whistle against UConn, sometimes they don't. Same with Xavier, sometimes they whistle against them, sometimes they don't. Both fans will complain. Some fans conclude poor officiating, others brush it off because of consistency. But there is no FT or foul call discrepancy to speak of. The game will be close (it was last night) and any discrepancy in fouls was reasonably close.

THAT is not what happened in Maui. The games played out similarly. Both close and in OT. Both high scoring, etc. But there was a clear and significant discrepancy in FTA. Using the above example, it was as if (again, just an example) all UConn grab and holds were whistled, but few of the Memphis grabs were whistled. That is a horribly officiated game, regardless of outcome.

 

[cp176]

Ball’s best game on both ends by far. He’s going t get better and better. Diarra seems to like that point guard role. Another great game for him. That defense may not have been great in some people’s minds but playing with the intensity they are playing with is way above average. They are just going to get better. I really enjoyed the game. I would have liked to have seen Singare get a few minutes in the second half. He’s growing on me. As for all the ref complaints, after I gave up coaching I really that no one gets them all. This is a fun team to watch grow.

 

[uconn_jack]

The crowd was meh until the last five minutes and OT, but then it came through.

I was there and thought the crowd was pretty good. The last 5 and OT were the best I agree, but it was pretty good throughout. The periods of loud cheering didn't last real long sometimes because X kept hucking up and making 3's which silenced the crowd, but they were hardly disengaged.

 

[uconn_jack]

It was the most blatant makeup call in the history of makeup calls

It absolutely was, but I was also glad for it. As was said already, I was petrified of X having the last shot to win it with a 3 considering the way they were shooting and our weakness at defending the perimeter. I was much happier them just tieing it and leaving us with 10 sec for the last shot, with worst case being OT.

 

[bendm]

He wants the UConn job when Hurley goes to the NBA in a few years

sorry it's spoken for unless murray follows him

 

[uconn_jack]

Can you say anyone has their best defensive performance of the year when the other team shoots 54% from three?

Well, we all saw the kind of 3's they were making, a lot were well contested, side shifts or step backs. Normally you'd only expect shooting 30% or so like that, but they just seriously overshot the law of averages that game.

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Agree w this. Homerism is always going to skew each sides view of the refs. But the last 5 min of the and the OT was a film on bad refereeing. Just awful refereeing. Objectively

Yes, that is true. HOWEVER, JRoss got called on two fouls that objectively were not fouls. Ball took an offensive foul that was not called. HD blocked a 3 pointer late in the game that was all ball, and got called for a foul. And that's what I remember w/out notes. Terrible, one sided calls.

 

[cp176]

Well, we all saw the kind of 3's they were making, a lot were well contested, side shifts or step backs. Normally you'd only expect shooting 30% or so like that, but they just seriously overshot the law of averages that game.

 

[HooperScooper]

The way these teams are shooting 3s against us is unsustainable. They can't miss even when we're playing good defense, like tonight. We are now #11 in the country in 2pt defense only allowing teams to shoot 43%, while we're #359 in 3pt defense where our opponents are making a ridiculous 39%. Maybe we aren't that great at guarding the 3, but we are definitely not THIS bad.

Playing a very good 3pt shooting team in Butler on the road next and I'm terrified that this ridiculous luck will continue where teams just can't miss from deep against us.

Yeah that's what Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports told us last week. So when does the regression start?

10. UConn has been a little unlucky defensively​

There's a real chance that UConn has some positive regression coming its way defensively. Even in Sunday's much-needed, 76-65 road win over Texas, UConn still did not have the Basketball Gods on its side. Texas attempted four guarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. It made every single one of 'em.

That was not an anomaly.

Teams are shooting 37% on contested catch-and-shoot treys against UConn this season. That's an absurdly high number. Opponents are also shooting a ridiculous 35% on off-the-dribble 3-pointers against UConn. Again, a ridiculously high number compared to most of UConn's peers.

Overall, top-100 teams are shooting 48% from 3-point range against UConn this year. Maui's generous rims could be fudging those numbers a tad, but that does not feel sustainable at all.

If UConn's defense starts stringing together better performances, there's a good chance the 3-point luck has swung back in its direction.

Trotter's 10 Trends: Iowa State's soaring offense, Kentucky's changed Lamont Butler among top takeaways

UConn's unlucky defense is also among 10 trends that Isaac Trotter is tracking.

www.cbssports.com

 

[Waquoit]

where are Ted Valentine, Jim Burr, and Tim Higgins when you need them ?

My colleague last night said these guys suck but at least they are in shape. Of the above, TVal was in shape and he sucked. The other two were not in shape but could ref a game.

 

[uconngb]

Lol. You need to read the article you posted again. I was at that regular season game at MSG in January when he went 20-20 from the line.

You are correct sir!! He was “only” 10-10” from the line in the BET game

 

[AllHusky]

Actually Ball was +8, Ross was -13.

The +/- Stat indicates how many points a team gained or lost relative to the opponent when a player was on the floor. For Example: If Player A comes in the game and his/her team is up by 10, but they are tied when he /she exits the game, his +/- for that stretch will be -10.

So, while Ross may have appeard to play good defense (and maybe he did on his man) while he was on the floor, the Huskies lost 13 points relative to what the score was when he entered the game)

Yeah, mistyped, was referring to Ross. So Ross’ +/- was misleading, as he didn’t play offense.

 

[cp176]

Well, we all saw the kind of 3's they were making, a lot were well contested, side shifts or step backs. Normally you'd only expect shooting 30% or so like that, but they just seriously overshot the law of averages that game.

Their overall defense has come a long way in a short period of time. It’s pretty obvious that they are working on the things they need to work on

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Maybe guard them??

you obviously did not see the same game. Those shots were almost all contested shots.

View attachment 105554

Singare is no longer a project. The kid can play at this level. He is a contributor. I am feeling like my take on Nowell being a contributor isn't shared by Dan. That said, Mahaney played 3 minutes. Let's pray nothing happens to Hass. Defense is looking more and more like a champtionship level D. Not there yet, but better by leaps and bounds. Great FT shooting!

 

[HooperScooper]

I don't know who's dumber. Me, for taking on faith you had reading comprehension skills. Or you for telling someone they are wrong and posting proof that they were right. And not providing your own mea culpa. "It 100% was the BET!" LO freaking L!

I also had to laugh at that. One of the strangest posts I've seen on here. Tell someone they're wrong and then post proof that they're right. I'm guessing the guy isn't a lawyer! Lol I haven't read this entire thread yet but did he at least apologize for telling you you were wrong?

 

[DogMania]

Yup and he had 2 today.

It’s weird because Ross moves like he should have a better offensive game. He just doesn’t. But hope it develops as the season goes.

Early in the season he showed some solid scoring capability, but other than the UMES game, his ability to score has been close to nonexistent. Just seems he should be better. I predict things will click again for him, with next season being his breakout year.

 

[HCCForever]

Early in the season he showed some solid scoring capability, but other than the UMES game, his ability to score has been close to nonexistent. Just seems he should be better. I predict things will click again for him, with next season being his breakout year.

Unfortunately, Ross even missed a layup after AK's block in OT. Fortunately, AK trailed the play and put in the miss.

 

[Icehawk]

Nice to win the opener! And that's a few close wins now for Hurley, I agree it's officially time to retire that old story.

Really impressed overall with how the team faced adversity - I think the ass kicking in Maui is paying off in all sorts of ways. Solid improvements in a lot of places and there is still more to come. Love this squad, it's coming together alright.

It's been going on a couple seasons now where the opposing teams shoot lights out 3s against us and have a bench player drop 20, I love that we still win.


Why can't they just put a damn sensor on the rim to see if the ball touched it? I don't get the aversion to technology in sports myself.

 

[Icehawk]

Unfortunately, Ross even missed a layup after AK's block in OT. Fortunately, AK trailed the play and put in the miss.

Yeah, I was like he's "he's gonna dunk... oh, wait wut?" Glad Karaban was there to finish it off as we definitely needed that bucket.

 

[superjohn]

Some credit to Hassan too for that little burst. You hear about making pressure shots but that was a “pressure pass” to find Ball down low through traffic … there wasn’t much of a window, and if that pass gets deflected, X forces a turnover up 5 and that could be that. Then he made a good read to pick Ball out on the semi-break to tie it. Easier play since we had numbers, but still a good decision in real time.

Ball of course deserves his flowers. Just liked Hassan’s game management in that stretch too.

Hass has been good all season as our point guard.

 

[Supes]

Yeah that's what Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports told us last week. So when does the regression start?

Our defense has been very strange so far this season. We're 11th in the country in 2-point % defense, and 349th in 3-point % defense. Certainly we need to tighten up our defense on screens (Xavier had some very clean looks when Reed was switched on to perimeter players, especially Maddox), but there's going to be some regression I assume.

Butler is an excellent 3-point shooting team. Hopefully this game gave the team some things to work on in prep for that matchup.

 

[Scoe]

Who wasn't a little relieved when Xavier was sent to the line instead of shooting the gw 3.

 

[nomar]

My colleague last night said these guys suck but at least they are in shape. Of the above, TVal was in shape and he sucked. The other two were not in shape but could ref a game.

Don't forget John "Sarcastic Clapping T" Cahill!