Uconn vs. Miami

[the Blades]

1 p.m. vs. University of Miami @ Charleston, S.C. TD Arena.....TV: ESPN2

They start a smaller guard than AG, their other loss besides FLA was to #2 Louisville and Steven Enoch

 

[the Blades]

Yesterday on Tha Cook:

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

The VI line was just posted and it’s UConn -1.5

 

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

When you consider that the guards shot 4-25 and UConn played without Akok in crunch time and still almost beat Xavier, a top 20 team, it’s pretty remarkable. This team isn’t that far away from being really good but we need to see how it goes today. Playing without Akok or a banged up Akok is not what you want as the frontcourt depth just isn’t there.

 

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

This is the second straight Sunday UConn doubleheader basketball games. Last Sunday the women were at 1 pm and the men at 3 pm and this Sunday the men are playing the opener of the doubleheader and the women play at 3 pm. I am kind of glad it worked out that way as I like my UConn games back to back.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I just checked Street and Smith and Lindy’s which I picked up and they have Miami picked 10th and 8th respectively out of 15 ACC teams. Lindy’s comment is that their team is “Bubblicious”, but Larrangua the coach gives them a fighting chance to make NCAA tourney because of his stellar track record.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

I love the way these kids are defending the basketball! Gaffney can play some D! I notice Sid is not as good on man to man D as help but really did good job at end. They are playing D like a UConn team should play D!!!!!

Bouknight is rapidly becoming a main man player before our eyes!!!!!!!!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Carlton has 2 assists to cutters out of double teams in this half!! They coaching him up and he is learning!!!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Miami is weak inside. UConn is actually beating them up inside with points on O-boards. Can’t even remember the last team that they bullied inside like this.

 

[12rtackerman12]

This is the best I’ve seen us look in a really long time.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Exceptionally strong win for the Huskies!

 

[the Blades]

I guess it finally got through to them...for AG and CV ..less is more . Al had his best shooting game of the year 40% on 2-5 FG's , but more importantly he drove and looked to pass (7 assts ) ... Vital was 5-10 shooting...and they figured out the Josh double teams...with his 3 assists finding the cutters...Also it looked like an NBA game with the 2nd unit coming in and picking up where the 1st left off...as the "Bouk Show" lead the way....most impressive team win (they all contributed) in years !..... We have a coach who can change things on the fly boys and girls...

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

37 points from the bench!

 

[the Blades]

Box score--Uconn 80 - Miami 55

 

[the Blades]

I love it... so they actually do listen to social media, but time out.... it was regular media too (read it), so everyone saw the suck fest he was creating for his TEAM MATES, not just fans...remember that DH. And if it made AG change his approach ( Mike Anthony: article) at what he does good, is that a bad thing ? Look at the results, only 5 shots taken with 7 assists and a 25 point win because he didn't freeze out his TEAM MATES and played under control...

He still needs to fall in love with setting his team mates up on a nice assist ....more than he needs to be taking 3's and the team will be better off for it. And if he does and creates better ball movement maybe the ball gets swung back to him and then he doesn't have to take these rushed off balance shots that has been killing his FG%.. ... But great for Dan having his guys back and if AL becomes a pass first PG , who plays bulldog defense , sky's the limit.. ( all he has to do is ask his asst coach about 2004)

PS. that little PG for MIAMI beat him a little to much early in the game, but that's fixable and I'm sure DH can correct it too.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Gilbert played much better today than he did against Xavier. He didn’t try to do too much and focused more on running offense than forcing shots up, and the 7 assists contributed to today’s stellar team effort.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Hurley apparently made quite a bit with the social media posts on Gilbert in the ESPN recap as well. I don’t know which social media he is referring to but the fact is that Gilbert played a poor game against Xavier and when you are shooting 20% FGs you do need to shoot less and pass more. I am sure Hurley is cognizant of that.

 

[the Blades]

Hurley apparently made quite a bit with the social media posts on Gilbert in the ESPN recap as well. I don’t know which social media he is referring to but the fact is that Gilbert played a poor game against Xavier and when you are shooting 20% FGs you do need to shoot less and pass more. I am sure Hurley is cognizant of that.

I remember Whaley being called out on twitter and a reading that a few fans told him he should leave after last season.... but you have to give Whaley credit, he worked his ass off this summer and now is an important part of the rotation...so it's all what you do with the criticism. Hurrah for AG being the leader Uconn needed today ( he still can't hit a 3 ) by playing a much smarter game...and also for DH for having his guys back. But personally, it's still about works not words, so that's all that matters coach.

 

[the Blades]

Hurley apparently made quite a bit with the social media posts on Gilbert in the ESPN recap as well. I don’t know which social media he is referring to but the fact is that Gilbert played a poor game against Xavier and when you are shooting 20% FGs you do need to shoot less and pass more. I am sure Hurley is cognizant of that.

From TOS, it sounds like people were directly tweeting Gilbert or on instagram and calling him trash. Or on the official UConn Bball account & Hurleys twitter.... that is frickin' creepy....

We all know these crazy fan sites are for "entertainment only" and just that ..for crazy fans...HELLO short for FANATICS...and should never be read by people who do the work... I even told a Uconn QB's father to not waste his time, ignore anything on here and don't post.... after he was questioning and took issue with a Desmond Connor/ Hartford Courant article, about his son, that was re-posted here...He did stop posting and his son became a starter for the Huskies.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

but you have to give Whaley credit, he worked his ass off this summer and now is an important part of the rotation...so it's all what you do with the criticism.

UConn had 9 blocks today, 6 by Akok, but a very important one by Whaley when Akok let his man get by him for what looked like it was going to be a layup which Whaley blocked and collected for a break going the other way. He also can stick the mid range jumper when left open and is looking like a serviceable second team player. UConn had 10 guys contribute to the win today, everyone scored at least 3 points and it looks like they have a legit 10 man rotation going forward and the guys on the second team can contribute very meaningfully as we saw today. It's been a long time since I saw a UConn team play this well, on both ends of the floor for 40 minutes.

 

[the Blades]

" Everyone seemed to settle into comfortable roles, the Huskies getting 17 assists and only six turnovers....“As the start of the season, the only established roles were [Gilbert, Vital and I] being the leaders,” Carlton said. “As the season has gone on, guys have started to find their roles. We’ve got a deep team, 10 guys who can contribute, and everybody is ready to play every night.”

“Just think about the week we had here,” Hurley said. “I don’t think anyone has had a week in college basketball like we’ve just had in terms of quality opponents. Florida last Sunday, Buffalo, the Xavier war and then Miami, that’s a heck of a week. I wish we went 4-0, but 3-1 against that level of competition, I’m thrilled with the win but just as much with how laser-focused we were, and I attribute that to the leadership of Alterique Gilbert.”

 

[the Blades]

 

[CaNOLEE]

It’s nice to watch a team that appears to be growing and getting better.

It’s like they forgot to practice for 3/4 years until now. Keep building.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

It’s the best full in season tournament UConn has played since Maui in 2010. The games in Maui were great and UConn played out of their minds and hammered Kentucky in the championship. The only disappointment here is that they didn’t make the finals. But still it was a great week for UConn, wins over Florida, Buffalo and Miami and a tough loss to Xavier that easily could have been a W. It feels like they are back!

 

[the Blades]

Interesting regarding the Introductions:
......Once all five names had been announced, the starters all jumped off the bench together, a symbol of team unity. “We know it’s only us,” said starting center Josh Carlton. “Being locked in together, coming out as a unit is a better show of unification that we want to have as a team.”

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

“We have two guys red-shirting and one dead scholarship,” Hurley said, referring to Richie Springs, R.J. Cole and the scholarship lost to NCAA infractions, “but we do have 10 guys we can put on the court, and coming out of this tournament, we have a much better idea of how we need to play it. Guys can’t pace themselves. They’ve got to take advantage of their minutes while they are in the game, and no one should probably be north of 30 or 32 minutes......“I’ve always been able to go nine or 10 deep with my teams at Wagner and Rhode Island,” Hurley said, “and we were able to wear teams down with our pressure.”

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Regarding minutes distribution against Miami, nobody played more than 30. I believe Carlton had 29, Gilbert 27 and Akok 25. Everyone else played less.UConn looked remarkably fresh in the second half when the announcers kept wondering if they would wear down. It was the exact opposite. They were pulling away and would have beat Miami by 35 if the game went another 10 minutes. On the other hand last night Florida had 17 point lead and Xavier turned up the defensive pressure and had a chance to tie the game at one point and Florida hit a bucket that saved that game. I am pretty sure if they played another 5 minutes Xavier was gonna win.

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

And if it made AG change his approach ( Mike Anthony: article) at what he does good, is that a bad thing ? Look at the results, only 5 shots taken with 7 assists and a 25 point win because he didn't freeze out his TEAM MATES and played under control...

He still needs to fall in love with setting his team mates up on a nice assist ....more than he needs to be taking 3's and the team will be better off for it. And if he does and creates better ball movement maybe the ball gets swung back to him and then he doesn't have to take these rushed off balance shots that has been killing his FG%.. ... But great for Dan having his guys back and if AL becomes a pass first PG , who plays bulldog defense , sky's the limit.. ( all he has to do is ask his asst coach about 2004)

" (Taliek ) Brown can relate what Gilbert, who's struggled offensively and taken some heat from fans, is experiencing this season. Long before Brown held up the (2004) national championship as well as two Big East tournament trophies, he dealt with criticism for his offensive shortcomings while his leadership qualities and toughness were sometimes undervalued by those outside the program. His teammates gladly followed him into the competitive fire. Gilbert, a redshirt junior, is in a similar place. "