Auburn

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

This looks like a pretty good team. They are 9-2 and beat Oklahoma by 4 last night at the Mohegan Sun Casino. They have lost by 25 to Purdue and by 1 to Boston Colege, which last night lost to Fairfield at home. Auburn seems to have improved and Bruce Pearl is a proven winning coach so the Huskies will have their work cut out for them. This will likely be a difficult close game and UConn will need to keep playing aggressive defense while watching the fouls and using the zone defense judiciously to conserve fouls.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Regarding the 25 point loss to Purdue, Purdue made 17 of 26 3 pointers attempted. I have not seen such a high % of 3s (65%) made on 25 or more attempts and it suggests to me Auburn played bad defense and Purdue was red hot from outside. In the college game now you have to be able to defend the 3 because if you don't you can lose to anyone and lose badly.

 

[Ozzie3178]

This will be a tough game bring your lunch pale type!

Pearl obviously knows as everyone we are depleted and even when not rebounding was/is an issue. We play with a sense of insurgency we should win. Need Purv to have a game like Cuse as I feel everyone else will ply their games and role. He will need to be a difference maker for us to win.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

UConn needs this win. Unfortunately the RPI value of the win over Syracuse was tarnished when Syracuse lost by 33 at home to St. John's last night, the worst loss by Syracuse in Carrier Dome history. I suspect Auburn will show itself to be a better team than Syracuse over the season, although they have a couple of puzzling losses that will not look goo.

 

[dbaum_]

Biggest thing heading into this game is controlling the glass and not allowing any second chance points. They have some good post players and we cannot allow Brimah or Facey to get into foul trouble (that leads to more minutes for Enoch and you know how that's going to end up). We just need to continue to switch up from man-to-man into a 2-3 zone because it has been giving teams problems as of late. Jalen has to dictate the pace and create the offense to spread the floor for open shots. We cannot lead to a frantic offense where there is a ton of dribbling and Purvis either takes a forced shot or turns it over. Limiting the turnovers and out rebounding Auburn will be the reason to win this game. GO HUSKIES!

 

[ohsfan28]

As an Auburn fan, I can tell you we have a young, undersized team. Will likely start 3 or 4 freshmen. Also have a guard or small forward based perimeter offensive team. Not much size or low post scoring. Also usually struggle with rebounding

 

[ohsfan28]

Biggest thing heading into this game is controlling the glass and not allowing any second chance points. They have some good post players and we cannot allow Brimah or Facey to get into foul trouble (that leads to more minutes for Enoch and you know how that's going to end up). We just need to continue to switch up from man-to-man into a 2-3 zone because it has been giving teams problems as of late. Jalen has to dictate the pace and create the offense to spread the floor for open shots. We cannot lead to a frantic offense where there is a ton of dribbling and Purvis either takes a forced shot or turns it over. Limiting the turnovers and out rebounding Auburn will be the reason to win this game. GO HUSKIES!

Actually we don't have much low post scoring. Our best post player offensively just graduated from high school at the end of the fall semester. He only enrolled in school last Thursday and will only be playing his 3rd college game against UCONN

Our tallest player during most of the season is only listed at 6'8". The new kid is listed at 6'11".

 

[andersonfro]

Re rebounding the Huskies need to build on what they did the last game with ball movement with the extra passes breaking down the defense and getting shots 10ft in to give the bigs rebounding opportunities. As the offense goes so goes the boards.

 

[andersonfro]

As an Auburn fan, I can tell you we have a young, undersized team. Will likely start 3 or 4 freshmen. Also have a guard or small forward based perimeter offensive team. Not much size or low post scoring. Also usually struggle with rebounding

Happy you stopped in. What kind of D does Auburn like to play?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

If what Ohsfan28 said is correct we can expect Brimah to get a lot of touches, as he was getting against NFU until again getting in foul trouble. I am expecting a good game, I will be interested to see what happens. The one player for UConn who needs to step up is Vance Jackson. With all the zone defense UConn has seen, he should be making his presence felt. He is a good shooter, a good passer and handles well for his size, but I think the speed and strength of the college game has been a big adjustment for him as he isn't a great athlete. He should be able to punish anyone playing zone defense if they work to get him looks. We need to get VJ going and would also be nice to see Durham stick a few jumpers and block a few shots. Perhaps Enoch can also build on his 7 point 7 board effort against NFU.

 

[ohsfan28]

Happy you stopped in. What kind of D does Auburn like to play?

Mostly or all man to man defense. I have seen very little or no zone

 

[ohsfan28]

I linked Auburn's official roster below. We have 3 players over 6'8", but two of those players are walk ons Austin Wiley is the only scholarship with that size, and he is a true freshman who just enrolled in school last Thursday




http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/aub-m-baskbl-mtt.html

 

[ohsfan28]

Oh yeah, one reason we struggled against Purdue is because they have a 7'2" center and a 6'9" forward who were both pretty good.

Auburn didn't have the size to match up with them, so we had to double team them a lot. That left their guards open for a lot of 3 pointers. They made something like 17 three pointers in that game

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Ohsfan28 if Bruce Pearl has watched tape on UConn he will want to play some zone especially if Auburn lacks size. UConn shooting 32% on 3s and hasn't consistently functioned well against zone defenses although they have seen so much recently that in the last game they attacked it better and shot very well although mostly lobs and teardrop jumpers and not so many 3s. If Auburn plays man to man defense Adams and Brimah could be factors in the game.

 

[andersonfro]

Pretty confident against the zone right now

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Vegas Insider has UConn -2 over Auburn

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/las-vegas/

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Do the football talking heads on ESPN2 look silly in their Merry XMas sweaters or what? Surprised they are not wearing Santa caps. LOL.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

We are seeing development from Enoch. He rebounded the ball very authoritatively in the first half and looked confident and in the game. Brimah again with dumb fouls and picking up 3 first half fouls against a team that was not pushing him around. However on balance I like the board work with Facey and Enoch in the game, much better than earlier in the year. 10 Offensive Boards is great stuff.

 

[andersonfro]

How the f do you call that effing flop????

 

[andersonfro]

Jalen concussed

 

[andersonfro]

Rodney is a pig...offense is dead when he touches the ball

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I don't think UConn would have lost this game if Jalen Adams did not go out with a concussion with 8 minutes to go and Rodney Purvis was effectively forced to be a point guard for much of the rest of the game including all of the OT. But congrats to Auburn, they have a very good young team. I give UConn a pass on this loss and just hope Jalen is ready for the next game. That was one of the most brutal concussions I have seen, I thought his neck could have been broken on that play, very hard contact and his head was severely whiplashed.

 

[Ozzie3178]

It's all on the Bs calls. I hope these refs EAAID!!!

They are in bonus all game early and often and we can't get shit and we were the more aggressive team all day. Like wtf

 

[Dr.O1]

Nice look but story of this year...

 

[ohsfan28]

UCONN both attempted and made more free throws.

Good game! Hope the kid with the concussion is okay. I know UCONN has had terrible luck with injuries this year

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Yeah, UConn took and made more FTs so that is not the reason they lost the game. Two reasons they lost the game, 1 is Jalen Adams concussion, 2 is 4-28 on 3 pointers. Nobody who shoots 4-28 on 3s deserves to win- I mean WTF!!!!!! But even with that suck-ass 3 point shooting they still would have won if Jalen had not been concussed but that is the way this season has gone with injuries. Just hope he is OK.

 

[ohsfan28]

The injury might have hurt UCONN more defensively than offensively. Auburn's guards seemed to have a good deal of success driving the ball to the basket after the injury

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

It most definitely hurt UConn more offensively. UConn did not score a FG after Jalen went out except at the very end of regulation. Neither Rodney Purvis nor Christian Vitale, who BTW are the only other guard bodies on the team, can run an offense. UConn previously lost Alterique Gilbert to injury who would have been the starting PG. In any event when Vitale fouled out at the beginning of OT that was a crushing blow because Rodney can neither handle the ball nor run offense. But yeah Auburn did have some success driving most of that was UConn was shorthanded and tired but it is what it is. Honestly Auburn would not have won this game if UConn was at full strength but it is sports and injuries are part of the game and it is what it is.

Hamidou Diallo please commit we need you second semester!!!!!!!!!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

One other thing- the 3 point shooting is the worst I can remember it being. The 2014 national champions had 3 starters who were over 40%. Now UConn has NOBODY who can make a 3. WTF. You cannot win a college basketball game making 4-28 on 3s. I also do not understand why they shot that many 3s with the paint offense they had 1st half. Makes no sense. This team should never shoot more than 20 3s in a game.

 

[ohsfan28]

It is not injury related, but Auburn played 5 freshman at least 15 or 20 minutes today. That includes 4 true freshman.

We probably wouldn't have won with UCONN full strength, but a road game against an even halfway decent team is going to be a struggle with that much youth

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I was impressed with Auburn. Pearl is a very good coach and Auburn acquitted itself very well today considering its youth. The youth showed at times with shot selection, but they are going to be a very good team down the road.

 

[Ozzie3178]

LOL... obviously NON basketball people talking in here. The reason we took more free throws is because auburn mostly jacked shots from Storrs all game! We were the more aggressive team at home and did not come close to an equal whistle!!

Also FTs does not relate to equality in fouls.... we had an important player foul out... along with many others in foul trouble ALL game. Guess what that does.... it limits there effectiveness and aggressiveness on Offense and Defense. See how that works??? Especially with an already depleted squad

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

No question the foul trouble with an already depleted team hurt. But Ozzie WTF with Brimah consistently in foul trouble every game. This guy is a 4 year starter!!!!!!!!! Come on man!!!!!!!!!
And 4-28 on 3s is winning basketball?????

 

[ohsfan28]

The UCONN player who fouled out had 3 points in 35 minutes he did play

Brimah finished with 4 fouls, but he only had 6 points in 27 minutes anyway.

No other UCONN player finished with more than 3 fouls

Injuries are probably a legit excuse for UCONN losing, but any reason relating to fouls seems to be bogus

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

ohsfan28,

Due to Jalen Adams leaving the game with a concussion and Christian Vitale fouling out UConn had exactly one (1) healthy guard on the roster for that OT and that one healthy guard was Rodney Purvis, who is a poor handling, turnover prone shooting guard that in no way has the skills to play point guard, which is exactly what he had to do in the OT. Despite that, UConn actually managed to have a 3 point lead at one point in OT but Auburn to its credit made a 3 and then some key drives and got the win.

To say foul trouble which made UConn play OT with one guard who can't handle was not partly the reason for the loss would not be accurate. Auburn has a deeper team and deep teams can withstand these issues. UConn, on the other hand, was injury depleted to begin with, and then lost Adams to concussion and Vitale to a foul out. Those were the only 2 guys who can play point guard on the team. It was not a winnable game for UConn at that point but it is what it is, we accept it and move on.

 

[dbaum_]

Going 4-28 from 3 and continuing to shoot just does not make any sense to me. As poorly as the shot selection was, there were too many opportunities to put this game away. Brimah and Facey hitting those two shots at the end of regulation saved us, but Rodney Purvis thinking he is Kemba and try to shoot in anyway possible is not going to win us games. I know the injuries have piled up against us even with Jalen exiting, but Rodney has just made mistake after mistake that has cost us multiple games. There are so many plays where he turns the ball over, takes a poor shot, drives with his head down and does not even kick it back out to set up the offense. It just shows how low of a basketball IQ he has. He hits free throws at a good percentage but he is a very flawed player. When you have Facey being our best offensive threat (I never thought I would be saying that), you need to feed him the ball. Enoch as well was having one of his best games of his career and made shots in the post; why go away from that? Kevin Ollie in the postgame press conference mentioned we needed to go to them more often, but why didn't that happen when it mattered? There is a lot of blame to go around but just another disappointing way to lose for UConn. The defense has been playing better as the season has progressed, but the little things is what is ultimately costing them in the end. Bad shot selection, Rodney Purvis trying to save the day and laziness. Just overall a very tough way to go out.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Purvis had the ball in his hands a lot at the end of the Auburn game and most of OT because UConn had no choice as it was shorthanded on guards. With Purvis compelled to handle the ball a lot, more decisions had to be made by Purvis on what to do with the ball, and the result was a lot of bad things happened. It was a severe magnification of the flaws of Purvis as a player. The recipe is simple, get more guards on the floor and keep the ball out of his hands so as to minimize his decision making. Although Purvis is somewhat being scapegoated for the loss to Auburn, he was thrust into a role that he should not have been thrust into. It was a very odd game, and I am almost certain UConn wins the game if Jalen had been out there the rest of the way. UConn was left without anyone with solid PG experience and honestly they did well to take the game right to the end as they did.