UConn-Syracuse

[the Blades]

David Borges ‏@DaveBorges 10h10 hours ago
Kevin Ollie accentuates the positives after #UConn loss to Gonzaga. "I'm learning about this team as we go." http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20151127/kevin-ollie-uconn-loss-to-gonzaga-a-lesson-learned…

Also I found this KO quote weird since I thought this was one of the richest hoop tourneys:
“walking 17 miles, back and forth (to and from the gym each day). I’m not making excuses, but they could have easily quit.

you mean the tourney couldn't supply the players a van or bus ??? WTF ?

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Blades-

Having stayed at Atlantis in the Coral Towers, it's a fairly long walk from that building to the Convention Center, but I think Ollie was exaggerating. The reason it's so long of a walk is that they designed Atlantis so that the Casino is at the center and you have to walk through it to get to the water park and the Convention Center etc. The Atlantis "campus" is fairly spread out, and shuttles are not really feasible because you have to walk to get to where you want.

It occurred to me that Ollie might have kept the team at another hotel on Paradise Island to avoid the distractions to the players. There are other hotels from which there would be an even longer walk. The sister hotel next door, which I forget the name of, would be an even longer walk than the Coral Towers which is where I stayed, while still providing Atlantis campus privileges to the players.

My guess is KO may have housed the team at another hotel on the island to keep them away from distractions like what Olander had happen a couple years ago in the Virgin Islands. I saw a lot of very hot girls on the beaches and at the bars and this is what can lead to trouble, the combo of girls and the drinking at those bars.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Meanwhile Syracuse won the Battle of Atlantis, and Texas A&M had the same problems with the Cuse that UConn did. Remarkably, Syracuse hit double digit 3 pointers in all 3 games and made 35 in the tourney. Clearly, what Cuse lacks in their zone backline length and activity they are making up with their shooting prowess. UConn gave them the best game of anyone in the tourney.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Not a single UConn player made the all tournament team, which was comprised of Gbinije (MVP) and Cooney of Syracuse, House and Jones of Texas A&M, and Wiltjer of Gonzaga.

 

[northdakotahusky]

I actually like some of what Rodney did against Cuse and Gonzaga. He played poorly...no doubt. But we was very aggressive. I'm a believer that if you continue to be aggressive you will eventually develop composure in those situations. I'm torn about the starting lineup. I think Adams should be playing more. Running the team. I'm not sure who plays less to allow Adams to play more. Maybe Rodney, but it was Gibbs who sat against Gonzaga. I actually think it may continue to be Gibbs. KO is going to have to earn his money balancing the various personalities.

 

[the Blades]

It's not a matter of aggressiveness with Purvis, he's always had that just like Dyson which can be a positive. In hoops you have to have skill set to go along with it. This game isn't a north and south plow through the line contact sport like FB. So if he picks his spots the team can live with it. It's just the basic HS level understanding..... the out of control stuff that Rodney has to eliminate. And his passing skills on the move are a nightmare, so it's no surprise he threw the ball right into Gonzaga's hands in a one possession game with under a minute to go which = another close loss......Because of his limited skill set and a low BB IQ he doesn't know what to do if the lane clogs up. A mistake like that is unacceptable at crunch time and something you would never see from skilled guards like Bazz, Kemba, AJ, KEA, etc..... Expect more of the same if KO doesn't reel him in or find an alpha dog for end game situations.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Apart from that one bad turnover by Purvis at the end of the game (and unfortunately he needed to be out there in a 3 point one possession game because of his 3 point shooting prowess, otherwise you could go with Gibbs and Adams if the game were tied) was his terrible finishing. I was shocked at all the poor finishes by Purvis, and Gibbs also had trouble finishing. A few times Purvis appeared to be waiting for contact and shot the ball to the contact rather than to make the shot. To me this was the biggest concern, because the dude is blessed with a great body but what good is that body if he can't finish with or without contact? Kemba wasn't that big and he was 100 times a better finisher getting mauled than Purvis and Gibbs are not even getting touched.