UConn Hoops: Huskies shake off rust in charity exhibition against URI
A slow start turns into a big win for the reigning national champions
UConn Hoops: Huskies shake off rust in charity exhibition against URI
- Thread starter strattonstave
- Start date
I was there. I thought UConn looked good offensively but they need some work defensively and rebounding the ball, even though they finished the game +1 on the boards. Although they were sloppy with the ball at times especially in the first half, it looked like UConn was pushing the ball up very aggressively and intentionally playing fast the whole game. The objective being to wear down URI with their depth, which they eventually did in the second half.
Aidan Mahaney and Solomon Ball were the players of the game for UConn. Mahaney played some point guard, made excellent decisions, showed a nose for the ball and for making plays with the ball. Ball was very dynamic out there on both ends and he is the one guy I saw crashing the boards really hard in the first half.
My biggest concerns about this team were losing Clingan and not having really good rim protection, and at times tonight the rim protection was weak. Ex UConn center Javonte Brown, who is a 7 footer with a solid body, kind of bullied both Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. and was a key reason why URI kept this game close in the first half. I have yet to see Samson Johnson effectively defend anyone who has a few inches and a few pounds on him, and that was true tonight as well. UConn is going to see better 7 footers than Brown, including Ryan Kalkbrenner among others. The rim protection probably will never again be as good as it was last year with Clingan, but it has to be better than it was tonight.
The team looked very deep tonight and they did a lot of things well. I am looking forward to seeing how the coaches will develop the team's defensive identity going forward.
Aidan Mahaney and Solomon Ball were the players of the game for UConn. Mahaney played some point guard, made excellent decisions, showed a nose for the ball and for making plays with the ball. Ball was very dynamic out there on both ends and he is the one guy I saw crashing the boards really hard in the first half.
My biggest concerns about this team were losing Clingan and not having really good rim protection, and at times tonight the rim protection was weak. Ex UConn center Javonte Brown, who is a 7 footer with a solid body, kind of bullied both Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. and was a key reason why URI kept this game close in the first half. I have yet to see Samson Johnson effectively defend anyone who has a few inches and a few pounds on him, and that was true tonight as well. UConn is going to see better 7 footers than Brown, including Ryan Kalkbrenner among others. The rim protection probably will never again be as good as it was last year with Clingan, but it has to be better than it was tonight.
The team looked very deep tonight and they did a lot of things well. I am looking forward to seeing how the coaches will develop the team's defensive identity going forward.
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Good stuff, KSTW. I got out to the reservation too with a group of friends. Enjoyed a first look at the many new pieces of the roster and everyones roles. 9 players split minutes, 8 guys from 17 to 24 mins. While AK being the 9th and leader with 27 min.
As you mentioned no one replaces a 7-3/280lb monster in the middle so that will be blatantly obvious. And I'd say overall, as I thought as pieces were replaced coming into the new season, this team is just physically smaller across the board from backcourt to the post.
My first take is Stewart could give them more on D and rebounding with a group of AK, Samson, Ball. While Mahaney seemed to step up as possible starter too. Dropping Diarra back in his 6th man role with McNeely who could add instant offense off the bench, wouldn't be a bad rotation either. Plus Ross and Reed as the 2 other bench pieces in that first 9. In any event there seems to be no lock down defender in the AJ or Castle mold of the last 2 years. So offense and shooting may have to overcome D and rebounding as this team evolves, which isn't always the greatest formula to sustain on some nights.
Box score below/ by the numbers fun fact. Despite the team looking a little weak defending in the paint they had 10 blocks overall with Samson leading the team with 4. ( and speaking of shooting they put up 46.4% on 3's)
PS. as Zanetto mentioned on his podcast the officiating was very mediocre in pre-season form at best, mainly that porky pig looking bald headed ref Matt Potter. Who for several years now has had a hard on for Hurley and continues to make 9 out of 10 calls against Uconn. ( URI got 35 FTS to UCONN's 11, WTF! ) As it looks like he goes blatantly out of his way, while he seems to be enjoying himself doing it.
uconnhuskies.com
As you mentioned no one replaces a 7-3/280lb monster in the middle so that will be blatantly obvious. And I'd say overall, as I thought as pieces were replaced coming into the new season, this team is just physically smaller across the board from backcourt to the post.
My first take is Stewart could give them more on D and rebounding with a group of AK, Samson, Ball. While Mahaney seemed to step up as possible starter too. Dropping Diarra back in his 6th man role with McNeely who could add instant offense off the bench, wouldn't be a bad rotation either. Plus Ross and Reed as the 2 other bench pieces in that first 9. In any event there seems to be no lock down defender in the AJ or Castle mold of the last 2 years. So offense and shooting may have to overcome D and rebounding as this team evolves, which isn't always the greatest formula to sustain on some nights.
Box score below/ by the numbers fun fact. Despite the team looking a little weak defending in the paint they had 10 blocks overall with Samson leading the team with 4. ( and speaking of shooting they put up 46.4% on 3's)
PS. as Zanetto mentioned on his podcast the officiating was very mediocre in pre-season form at best, mainly that porky pig looking bald headed ref Matt Potter. Who for several years now has had a hard on for Hurley and continues to make 9 out of 10 calls against Uconn. ( URI got 35 FTS to UCONN's 11, WTF! ) As it looks like he goes blatantly out of his way, while he seems to be enjoying himself doing it.
Men's Basketball vs Rhode Island (Exhibition) on 10/14/2024 - Box Score - University of Connecticut Athletics
The official box score of Men's Basketball vs Rhode Island (Exhibition) on 10/14/2024
uconnhuskies.com
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I happened to notice Kayla Burton both during and after the game. My buddy also noticed her. She is a very beautiful woman to say the very least, and she is also a former basketball player at Lehigh (her sister Veronica plays in the WNBA for the Connecticut Sun). I quickly realized she was an NBC Boston Sideline Reporter when I observed her going into both the UConn and URI huddles and nobody said anything to her.
Her father was a QB at Northwestern and her mother I think was a collegiate swimmer. Her grandfather played for the Patriots. It's quite an athletic family.
Her father was a QB at Northwestern and her mother I think was a collegiate swimmer. Her grandfather played for the Patriots. It's quite an athletic family.
Kayla Burton joins NBC Sports Boston
NBC Sports Boston has added a familiar name to its roster. The network announced that it has hired Kayla Burton as a multiplatform host.
www.boston.com
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BTW I don't know who the random guy who sang the national anthem was, but that was a spectacular rendition. Not an easy song to sing (and some have failed spectacularly at live events), but he did a wonderful job and hit the high notes beautifully.
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Lastly I wanted to send out kudos to the guys at Sushi Koya. My buddy and I got to the Casino at 4:20 pm and wanted to have an early dinner at Tao but their dining room was not open until 5 pm. Same story at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse. We saw Sushi Koya was open and there were seats at the bar and ate there. The sushi was fresh and good although not the tightest rolls in world history, and service was on point.
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