Tag: Villanova

Observations on Big East Tournament Games and Team Overall: Sanago at a Crossroads, Martin on Fire, and Questions About 3-Pointers

With the best UConn men’s basketball team since the 2014 season (in my humble opinion) ready to enter the NCAA tournament, a lot of fans will want to just completely focus on the tourney results and not dwell on what the Huskies accomplished either during the regular season or Big East tournament. There are a lot of valuable observations and lessons that can be taken from their conference tournament performance as the No. 3 seed, a quarterfinal win against Seton Hall and semifinal loss to eventual champion Villanova. In particular, I learned a lot from the performances of Adama Sanago and Tyrese Martin and how the team used them in the games.

The 62-52 quarterfinal win against sixth-seeded Seton Hall on Thursday was easily one of UConn’s best performances of the season. Its defense was elite, holding the Pirates to 18 points in the first half and just 0.87 points per possession on 35.7% shooting. The defense, particularly Andre Jackson and Isiah Whaley, absolutely shut down Jared Rhoden and Alexis Yetna, holding the dynamic duo to a combined 13 points on 4-21 shooting. While the Huskies were not exactly lighting MSG on fire as they shot 36.1%, they 17 points each from R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin, outrebounded Seton Hall 46-33 (five players had five or more boards), limited their turnovers and shot 12-14 from the free throw line, all formulas to tournament success.

While the UConn-Villanova semifinal game on Friday wasn’t quite as exciting as the second between the two a few weeks ago, it was close. While UConn came out on the losing end of a 63-60 game, it gave the Wildcats everything they had and led in the final minutes of the first half and early in the second. What ultimately did the Huskies in was their offensive struggles in the paint and beyond the arc and inability to stop Villanova from scoring at the rim in the second. After Jermaine Samuels and Brandon Slater burned UConn on 3-pointers in the first, Samuels continued his excellent play in the second and Colon Gillespie put on an offensive clinic, finding teammates for buckets with bounce passes and finishing with 10 assists. The Huskies inability to finish shots at the rim and find quality 3-point shooting opportunities doomed them as they tried to make a comeback. Martin was their only reliable offensive player on the night, scoring 19 on 7-17 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds and two steals.

While UConn may have lost in the Big East tournament semifinals for the second consecutive year, their outstanding win against Seton Hall and solid performance against Villanova, which is a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, bode well for how compeubjtitive they can be in March Madness. The Huskies, whom are seeded No. 5 in the West Region, will play No. 12 New Mexico State in the first round and should be solidly favored. After the Big East tourney, fans and the medica can feel up about the play of Martin and Andre Jackson, UConn’s excellent rebounding, especially on the offensive end, and overall defense on the interior. However, there are legitimate concerns about the play of Adama Sanago, UConn’s inconsistent shooting and the thinness of the bench. I address these subjects and more below, as well as my overall positivity about the team’s ability to go on a tournament run.

The Curious Case of Adama Sanago

There are two versions of Adama Sanago. One is the Sanago that is scoring effectively and aggressively around the basket, getting teammates involved on offense and dominating on both the boards and defense while avoiding foul trouble, even if these elements aren’t all happening at the same exact time. The other is the Sanago that is hesitant on offense and missing easy shots at the rim and or not sharing the basketball with teammates when well-guarded, struggles with foul trouble and gets lost on defense, leading to easy baskets for opponents. Good Sanago is the extremely gifted sophomore who was named First-Team All-Big East and nominated for the Kareem-Abdul-Jabber Award, which recognized the top five big men in the country. Unfortunately, the Huskies got Bad Sanago on offense at the Big East Tournament, and it especially cost them against Villanova.

After consecutive games where he didn’t play well offensively and struggled on defense against Creighton, Sanago ended his regular season on a high note against DePaul with a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds, giving fans hope that he would have strong games against Seton Hall and then Villanova. Sanago had been excellent against both teams in UConn’s most recent games against them. Instead, he had ugly offensive performances against both teams. Sanago shot just 2-11 against Seton Hall and scored just six points, and then had 15 points on 6-15 shooting against the Wildcats and went 3-7 from the free throw line. Sanago committed two turnovers in both games and had a single block between the two, coming against the Pirates. There were bright spots, as Sanago grabbed a combined 24 rebounds against the teams and generally avoided foul trouble while playing solid defense.

Against Seton Hall, Sanago did not obtain a lot of high-quality shots, as the Pirates did a very good job of not allowing him to get position deep in the paint and playing him aggressively without fouling. However, there was still no excuse for Sanago not to make at least a couple of more shots. While his performance was concerning, it was less of an issue with the Huskies ahead virtually the entire game, and I was pretty confident that he would have a better game against a Villanova defense that wasn’t quite as good or had the length of Seton Hall. I was very wrong. Despite being able to establish strong position in the paint and getting a decent amount of open looks against the Wildcats, Sanago consistently missed shots within five feet of the rim, a few times even badly. While he was able to get to the line seven times, Sanago missed four of the shots. The sequence that summed up his struggles came when he got the ball on four straight possessions and scored just one point, missing free shots and a free throw during the stretch. Sanago still ended the game with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds and was far from the only UConn player that had an ugly offensive day, as Isiah Whaley went scoreless and R.J. Cole 1-6 on 3-pointers. However, his team probably would have won if Sanago had hit just two or three of his open looks at the rim.

For Sanago, who played poorly in last season’s first-round NCAA tourney loss to Maryland, it is time to step up Thursday. He should have a big advantage against New Mexico’s state front line and if the Huskies most likely face Arkansas in the second round, a favorable matchup as well. Sanago needs to start either using the backboard or dunking the ball more on his shots to make it easier for him to score, and absolutely needs to involve his teammates more when well-guarded against the high-quality defenses he could consistently face in March Madness. At the same time, he needs to show a killer instinct offensively every second he is on the floor. I am expecting Sanago to rebound well against any opponent he faces and play good defense against most of them as long as he avoids foul trouble. If he isn’t efficient and smart offensively however, UConn will be in trouble and games could turn ugly.

Tyrese Martin Emerging as a Star on the Biggest Stage

My man crush on Martin is well-documented, and every UConn fans knows how important his versatility on both ends of the floor has been to the team’s success this year. He still seems to be overshadowed by Cole and Sanago and not fully appreciated by the media however, as he was snubbed for each of the All-Big-East teams despite averaging 13.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2 assists per game despite missing four games due to a wrist injury and dealing with lingering effects to his wrist throughout the season. Martin, whose big personality and competitiveness has always been a treat to see, was sufficiently motivated by the slight and said he would get back at it by trying to earn the conference tournament MVP award. While he didn’t quite reach that goal, Martin still earned a place on the All-Tournament team by averaging 18 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2 steals and assists against Seton Hall and Villanova.

Martin was outstanding on both ends in each game and especially against Seton Hall. The senior forward spent the whole game trash-talking the Pirates and absolutely shut down Pirates star Jared Rhoden, limiting him to 7 points on 2-13 shooting. Martin made some tough mid-range shots whenever the Huskies needed them, distributed the ball well (4 assists) and was strong on the boards as always with 8 rebounds. Against Villanova Martin was by far the most reliable offensive player, going 4-8 from three, and helped keep UConn in the game in the second half with multiple 3-pointers. As in the first game, his defense and rebounding continued to be strong.

Martin could be a nightmare for New Mexico State and any other NCAA Tournament opponents to content with. His ability to contribute in nearly every facet of the game, as well as his 3-point shooting (43.9%) in Big East play, can allow him to make a difference even if his shot isn’t falling. In addition, Martin is arguably UConn’s emotional leader along with Whaley and can help his teammates get through any struggles and intimidate opponents. As long as Martin is having a strong offensive game and can mostly avoid his issues with fouling and turnovers, it will be very hard for the Huskies to lose to an opponent.

UConn Continues to Dominate the Boards While Improving its Ball-Handling

Everyone already knows the Huskies rebounding prowess, especially when on offense, but there were still occasional games throughout the season when UConn had fewer rebounds than opponents even when the team had a clear advantage in this area normally. This has not been a problem lately, as the Huskies won the rebounding battle comfortably in the final few regular season games and then against Seton Hall and Villanova. This especially made a huge difference against Seton Hall, as their second-chance opportunities helped overcome a poor shooting night. While UConn did not convert on many of its second-chance opportunities against the Wildcats, their offensive rebounding helped to eat up clock and limit Villanova’s scoring opportunities. The Huskies talent on the boards will help nullify New Mexico State’s strength in this area as well. If they advance and most likely face Arkansas, they are better on the boards on paper as well.

While UConn’s struggles where turnovers have been a problem throughout the season, it has improved its ball-handling remarkably since early February, a huge factor in the team’s success late in the season. That continued in the Big East tournament, as the Huskies committed 17 turnovers against 22 assists, and only 7 versus Villanova. As a team, their turnover rate of 17.4% ranks 110th in the country. It is still higher than a team of their caliber should have, but the improvement is a good indicator for NCAA tourney success. New Mexico State forces turnovers just 16.4% of the time and Arkansas 17.4%.

Most of UConn’s improved numbers in the turnover department can be attributed to the improvement of Andre Jackson when handling and passing the ball. After being a turnover machine at times for much of the season, Jackson has not committed more than one turnover in six consecutive games while averaging four assists per game during this span. Jackson has not been as reckless when running the fastbreak and cut down on making risky passes that teammates are not ready far while still showcasing his outstanding his outstanding court vision. While his minutes have been limited, Jalen Gaffney has been more careful with the ball when running the paint recently, and Jordan Hawkins has been more disciplined with his dribble when handling the ball, although Dan Hurley has rarely put him in the position to do so. If these players can continue to limit their turnovers and guys like Martin and Sanago can be more disciplined with the ball, then UConn’s offense can run a lot smoother in the tournament.

The 3-Pointer Conundrum

Entering the season, many fans were worried about how well UConn would shoot from deep after they didn’t get a sharpshooter on the transfer market. It was actually significantly better on 3-pointers than myself and many others thought they’d be, draining 35.3% of them overall (79th in the country) and 35.7% in conference play (fourth). While Cole and Gaffney’s numbers from deep fell, Martin improved significantly, as did Polley to a small extent and Jackson significantly. Add on the contribution of Hawkins (33.3%), and the Huskies 3-point shooting numbers were actually a strength of the time. At the same time, they were pretty inconsistent against high-caliber team and struggled mightily on threes in the last four games of the season (27.3% against Creighton and 30% against Seton Hall). The team also had issues getting Polley open for 3-point opportunities, with an example being him taking no more than three 3-pointers in any of the last five games.

After missing three games due to a concussion suffered against Creighton, Hawkins is expected to be able to play a significant number of minutes against New Mexico State. His presence will help make it easier for UConn to get good 3-point shooting opportunities in the NCAA Tournament. To go on a tournament run, it is essential that the Huskies shoot well from deep. It’s not only a skill that’s been demonstrated to be a barometer for tournament success over time, but will make it easier for Sanago to score as defenders will be drawn away from him. Martin needs to continue to make threes at a consistent clip, Cole needs to be more consistent and another player (likely Hawkins, Whaley or Jackson) will need to contribute at a decent clip. Most importantly, the team needs to find a way to get Polley a decent number of opportunities in every game it plays, particularly shots where he is set, and he needs to do his job and be the sniper he was recruited to the program to be. New Mexico State has held opponents to just 30% from deep (20th in the country), so the Huskies have their work cut out for them.  

While there’s legitimate concern about UConn’s ability to make threes, the bigger issue is allowing threes. It allowed all opponents to shoot 34.5% (233) and conference opponents to make 35.8% of treys). It allowed their last three opponents to shoot over 33% from three, and generally allowed a lot of opponents and players who weren’t particularly good from three this season to have very good nights against its defense (See Brandon Slater and Jermaine Samuels against Villanova). Part of opponent’s success from three against UConn is due to its defensive system, which prioritizes guarding the rim and not allowing ball handlers to beat them off the dribble. While the hard hedge is very successful on defense a majority of the time, it can make it harder for players to close out late on 3-point shooters. As I discuss more below, the Huskies have to be willing to make defensive adjustments to limit quality 3-point opportunities if a player or full team is going off. The players also need to communicate with one another to help limit kickouts and make sure players are capable of closing out efficiently.

New Mexico State and Arkansas are both poor 3-point shooting teams, although Vermont is an excellent one if they managed to pull off the upset against the Razorbacks. While a lot of luck is involved when team’s have especially good games from deep, I could absolutely see that being a big Achilles heel for UConn whenever it loses.

Will Dan Hurley be Flexible?

Hurley had a very good year. He continued to be an excellent defensive coach, tweaked things on offense in the second half of the season that allowed it to become more efficient and began to win more close games as the season went on. Hurley was also instrumental in helping Jackson and especially Sanago make big leaps as sophomores. At the same time, Hurley needs to be willing to make adjustments in a couple of areas in certain situations during March Madness, especially if the Huskies are losing to New Mexico State or another opponent down the round.

The first area UConn and Hurley need to be flexible is with their starting lineup. It has consistently started games out slow and a huge factor in this is the lack of offensive power in its regular lineup with Jackson and Whaley. As elite of a defender as Whaley is, I think that the team would generally be better off starting Polley or possibly Hawkins (although I very much doubt that will happen). Starting Polley involved could help him get going early and allow the Huskies to possibly stretch the floor at the same time, which could be a huge boom for Sanago. I am almost completely sure that Hurley would ride the starting lineup he has all season, but it would be interesting to see him change it and throw a wrinkle into the game plan of opponents, especially considering the strength of New Mexico State’s defense.

A second area Hurley needs to be flexible is making sure to his players that they cannot fall into a habit of feeding Sanago and watching him work, especially if Sanago is struggling. Instead, Sanago needs to be told to pass the ball out or to cutting teammates if he is not in good scoring position and then find methods for allowing Sanago to score more easily. Sanago should be very effective against New Mexico State, but UConn would need to continue to follow this strategy against any opponent it faces. Finally, Hurley needs to be way more flexible with his defense if the Huskies are struggling in the man-to-man and with playing the hard hedge, which would involve practicing it a decent amount in the leadup to Thursday’s game. I’d like to see him throw in some variation of a zone if the defense is shaky. Ditto with a box-and-one defense. If the team is consistently struggling to stop a single player, which in this scenario would likely be Aggies star Teddy Allen, I believe Hurley shouldn’t hesitate to double-team said player. Finally, I would love to see the Huskies press ball-handlers in an effort to get more transition opportunities. When you’re in the win-or-go-home situation of an NCAA tourney game, a team shouldn’t hesitate to try anything that might give them a better chance t

Observations on the Win Against Villanova: UConn Sticks the Landing, Sanago and Whaley Own the Paint and the Importance of Ball Control

What can you say about UConn’s 71-69 win against Villanova on Tuesday night?

The most important win the program has had in the post-2014 era? Check. A win that demonstrated to college basketball fans the program cannot only challenge but beat the best of the Big East and that it is on the cusp of being a national power again? Check. An indication that the Huskies are gelling and playing their best at the right time? Check. I have more to talk about in regards to the importance of this win elsewhere on the blog. As far as observations go, however, the essential observation I had right after the win was that UConn was facing an excellent Villanova squad having a good night, and yet didn’t flinch and executed a great game pan that took advantage of the team’s biggest strengths and allowed them to overcome the Wildcats.

The resolve that the Huskies showed throughout the game, helped by the encouragement of the wonderful XL Center crowd, was admirable. After they got off to a very quick start led by Adama Sango, they consistently responded to Villanova’s baskets to keep it a back-and-forth game. When Dan Hurley was ejected with just under five minutes remaining in the first half (more on his ejection near the end of the article) and the Wildcats scored five points off of his two technical to go up 29-24, UConn could have tried to force the action or become flustered and fallen further behind by halftime. Instead, Kimani Young took over as head coach and the trio of R.J. Cole, Sanago and Isiah Whaley all made tough baskets and the defense clamped down to ensure the team led by one (33-32) at halftime.    

Throughout much of the second half, the Huskies kept up its high level of play even as Villanova did everything it could to gain control of the game. They came out like gangbusters and scored 10 points in less than three minutes to take a 43-36 lead, with Tyrese Martin draining two 3-pointers during this stretch. After the Wildcats quickly drained two threes to make it a one-point game, the next 10 minutes of game action were frustrating for UConn, as Villanova drained a succession of threes despite good challenges from Husky defenders and their offense struggled to score at the rim. With 7:55 remaining, Colin Gillespie hit a three to put his squad up 56-54. Again, UConn would not go easy, scoring five consecutive points in the next minute, including a three by Tyler Polley off a gorgeous pass by Andre Jackson, to go back up by three.

While the Huskies were largely able to shut off the paint, the Wildcats used their excellent ability to force contact to get to the free throw line and regain the lead. Adama Sanago scored four points to retie the game at 65, but free throws by Gillespie and Brandon Slater put ‘Nova up 69-65 with just 30 seconds left. With Villanova getting to the line at will and the Huskies struggling with turnovers for the first time all game, I have that I didn’t have much hope that the team could rally and win the game in that short of time. Luckily for me, I was mistaken. Young and UConn did everything right on both sides of the ball to pull off the comeback, setting off a wild celebration for fans at both the XL and elsewhere.

While the Huskies have had a very impressive February in general and are now on a four-game win streak where they have beat a quartet of squads that will or almost definitely make the NCAA Tournament, Tuesday night’s win was a clear indication that UConn can beat anyone and go on a deep run during March Madness. It also allowed the Huskies, who are third in the conference standings, to get revenge on a Wildcats program that have defeated them five consecutive times since 2014. They may still be the class of the conference, but its clear that UConn (and surprisingly Providence) will have something to say about this both now and in coming seasons.

There were a million observations on UConn’s win I have had from the minute after the game ended until now. Just a few of these described below include the decision-making and execution of Young and his players in the final 30 minutes, the Huskies ability to own the paint behind Sanago and Whaley, the importance of the team’s improvement from beyond the 3-point line, and the unforgettable ejection of Hurley. Enjoy.

Kamani Young and the Seniors Execute a Beautiful Comeback

If an uninformed viewer flipped on a TV during Tuesday’s game and had no prior knowledge that Young was an assistant (officially associate head coach) with no prior game coaching experience, they would probably think Young was an old pro as a head coach. In contrast to the always animated Hurley, Young projected an air of confidence and coolness while still strongly encouraging his players. If he was nervous, he certainly didn’t show it. Young did a good job of managing minutes, especially for Cole, and the offensive sets generally looked like they were run pretty efficiently, with the team ultimately finishing with 15 assists to Villanova’s 9. UConn also didn’t go on any extended periods of defensive lapses with Young on the bench.

Young made an especially memorable mark in the final 26 seconds with UConn trailing Villanova 69-65, with Polley, Cole and Martin executing his plays to a T. First, Young called a timeout to go over the next play and inserted Polley as the first option. The play design to set up Polley’s 3 began with a handoff from Andre Jackson to Polley, but having Martin and Cole right off the ball as scoring options made it so defenders were unable to help right away, and gave Polley the option to find either Martin or Cole on the wings as well as take the three. Polley made the right decision, each player was prepared and the basket came in just five seconds, allowing UConn plenty of time to make a quality stand on defense to get the ball back.

It was very smart of Young to tell the Huskies to pressure the Villanova player who got the ball after a basket and try and force a held ball (Cole ultimately was credited with the held ball and turnover) or turnover instead of just immediately fouling. While one can debate whether the held ball on Gillespie that gave them the ball back via the possession arrow was actually a held ball or foul (I am still not sure), it was clear the defense flustered Gillespie and put him in a dangerous situation, as it was clear the star was just trying to earn a foul and not make a basketball play. If the team had instead immediately fouled, they would have to face putting one of the best foul shooters in the country on the line and then almost definitely be down by three with less than 20 seconds remaining. Instead, UConn got the ball back trailing 69-68 with 17 seconds remaining, and Cole was set up for his signature play of his Huskies career (so far).

On Cole’s go-ahead basket with five seconds remaining, the two dribble handoffs that got the point guard isolated on the right side of the court and allowed Sanago to set a ball screen and be a decoy, leaving the right side totally open for Cole to drive. This great misdirection allowed Cole to go into the open paint carrying the ball on his right hip and Brandon Slater too late to get back and successfully challenge the layup. Young and his players understand how they could leave the Wildcats defenders vulnerable, and that Cole was ultimately the right man to guarantee them the win. He did that seconds later with the charge he drew on Gillespie, the last illustration of how the Huskies were able to limit the All-American inside the arc for 40 minutes.

 Young and the aforementioned players are at the point of the season where they understand the strengths of both the team and individual players on both ends, and with the help Hurley they demonstrated that knowledge in the final 0:26. Earlier in the season I wouldn’t think a win like this was possible, especially with Hurley not on the bench, but now I am at the point where I can expect it. Thank you Kamani Young. Let’s hope you’re not snatched up to be the head coach at another program too soon.

Whaley and Sanago Set the Tone on Both Ends

Sanago concluded a signature 3-game stretch with 20 points on 8-14 shooting, 6rebounds, and 3! assists, adding 2 blocks for good measure.  Against Seton Hall, Xavier and Villanova, the sophomore averaged 18.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2 blocks, demonstrating why he is going to be an All-Big East player. Against Villanova, Sanago continued to demonstrate his improved shot selection and positioning, establishing deep position for easy layups or jumpers. While Sanago missed a couple of bunnies, he more than made up for this with his passing, delivering a couple of pinpoint passes to others for layups or jumpers, and also avoided making any turnovers. Finally, Sanago took advantage of his opportunities at the charity stripe, knocking down 4-5 free throws. In comparison to his offensive performance in the game against the Wildcats nearly three weeks ago, Sanago took much better care of the ball and passed it back out when it was smart, his footwork was much more delicate and he got up for rebounds more effectively. The Sanago we saw at the XL Center Tuesday on offense demonstrated a ton of intelligence, strength and shot making ability.  

Sanago was nearly as valuable on defense as he was on offense against the Wildcats, however. After being limited by his early foul trouble in the team’s first meeting, Sanago was able to avoid it to a large extent and did an excellent job of primarily guarding Eric Dixon. Dixon, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds in the team’s first tilt, made only one field goal on four attempts and committed two turnovers. Sanago also played reliable help defense on Jermaine Samuels, Gillespie and others.   

While Sanago has more or less been pretty reliable all season, Whaley has been all over the place on offense and his defense has even been inconsistent at times. Starting with the second St. John’s win however, the super senior has been a rock on both ends when given the opportunity. Whaley had one of his most efficient offensive games of the season against Villanova, scoring 13 points on 4-5 shooting and going 4-4 from the line. Whaley, who grabbed three offensive rebounds, did an excellent job of beating defenders at the rim or earning putbacks and also stepped back for a key 3-pointer. With Sanago and Whaley leading the way, UConn absolutely dominated the Wildcats in the paint at times.

While he had just one block and no steals, Whaley’s outstanding defense on Tuesday was highly evident when you watched him defend Gillespie, a task he shared with Jackson. Whaley gave Gillespie littler room to maneuver with the ball, forcing him into either tough shots or stalled dribbles that hurt Villanova’s ball movement inside the arc. He and Jackson forced Gillespie into five turnovers and limited him to just four 2-point attempts. Factor in Whaley’s help defense on Villanova’s other guards as well as Gillespie, which helped lead to 14 turnovers, and you can see how Whaley’s speed and strength can allow him to be a great defender against various opponents come tournament time if he stays disciplined.

The Huskies Look Like a Different Team When Knocking Down 3-Pointers

While UConn was terrible at shooting 3-pointers against Seton Hall (4-18), they’ve been very effective beyond the arc in the remainder of the six most recent games starting with the Marquette win. They shot at least 33% in those other games, and against Xavier and Villanova it has shot over 40%, including 10-24 against the Wildcats. The improvement in the last two games was significantly driven by the awakening of Polley, who was 3-3 against the Musketeers and 3-6 against Villanova. Martin was almost as valuable as Polley against them, shooting 3-7 from deep and draining two huge threes at the beginning of the second half to give the Huskies momentum. Cole has shot solid from deep recently and Whaley and Jordan Hawkins have made important contributions from there at times as well. Even if Polley and Martin have been the most dangerous shooters on the team, having so many players capable from deep makes it tougher on defenses.

When UConn is knocking down threes (or at least shows a threat of doing so), it especially makes this offense more dangerous. Most obviously, effective outside shooting spreads the floor for Sanago and to a lesser extent Whaley, and makes it much easier for them to operate efficiently in the paint. It does the same for Cole when he drives for layups, as otherwise Cole’s height makes it much more difficult for him to score against large guards. If Jackson or Hawkins can better develop their 3-point shooting, then it will allow them to pull of shot fakes and drive for baskets easier.

The biggest exhibit for how much UConn’s improved 3-point shooting has helped them is that the team has easily scored more than a point per possession in six of the last seven games, with the exception being the 63-60 win at St. John’s on the 13th. The Huskies will for sure have another game or two where they struggle heavily from deep this season, but they have generally been better at shooting from deep then I thought they would be (86th in the country and fourth in the Big East) and can beat anyone if Polley and or Martin is on point from there.

UConn Finally Impresses With its Ball-Handling

After a Xavier win in which the Huskies nearly fell apart in the second half due to turnover issues and ultimately committed 18, they had a huge incentive to show they could be a disciplined offensive team. It was a challenge for the team to do so against a great Villanova defense, but UConn made it look easy while also making it seem like Villanova was the team who had issues with ball security.     

There were a few factors that allowed for UConn to handle the ball better on Tuesday. First, the Huskies ran tight offensive sets that demonstrated a lot of flow and emphasized ball movement and screens. For example, they rarely tried to force the ball too much into Sanago. In multiple games this season that has allowed opponents to get multiple easy steals, with the previous win over the Musketeers being a prime example. While Cole did a smooth job of running the offense like always, it was Jackson who was the most dynamic guard on offense. The sophomore finished with eight assists against just one turnover. While he certainly threw some impressive passes and set teammates up for easy baskets, Jackson was also in control and did not try to fire off passes’ teammates would not be ready for or that were uncatchable, a huge Achilles heel of his. Hopefully, the lessons Hurley, Young and the remainder of the coaching staff have tried to install in Jackson about the importance of being a disciplined passer are slowly paying off.

In addition to Cole and Jackson, multiple other plays demonstrated strong passing and ball-handling against Villanova. I already mentioned Sanago, and Martin had only one turnover after a sloppy performance the previous game. Jalen Gaffney gave Cole some valuable rest and did a much better job of running the offense then at most points this season. While Hawkins isn’t handling the ball much per say, he definitely seems to be more patient with it and is avoiding the senseless turnovers he was committing up until early this month. Only Whaley, who had four turnovers, fell into the trap of trying to do too much with the ball.

UConn will have a tough time with ball-handling frequently just because of the fact that they do not have a second reliable guard behind Cole who can also shoot, but when they play smoothly it can be pretty to watch and the team has more chances for good shooting opportunities, as well as opportunities for offensive rebounds. We’ll see if this was a special exception or if the team can largely avoid the turnover blues going forward.

Observations on Villanova and Marquette Games: The Huskies Show Their Best and Worst Qualities Against Tough Opponents

I am not going to waste a lot of time going into full details about how UConn’s loss at Villanova and win over Marquette played out, as I am sure readers (and me myself as well) are more interested in my more direct observations on these two games and how the Huskies performances contrasted each other, as well as other observations. Suffice to say, I felt very down on the team after the Villanova loss and the win over Marquette somewhat renewed my confidence in them. I’ll have a much clearer picture of my feelings after tonight’s contest at Xavier.

While UConn “only” lost by 11 (85-74) against the No. 15 Wildcats last Sunday, the game was nowhere near that close. They possess one of the best offenses in the country and are a particularly tough matchup for the Huskies due to playing with four guys on the perimeter, shooting and ball movement. Despite possessing more size than Villanova and top scorer Justin Moore being out with an injury, UConn was helpless to stop the Wildcats inside, particularly Eric Dixon (24 points and 12 rebounds), and had defensive breakdowns there as well as on the perimeter. Once Isiah Whaley and Adama Sanago each picked up two fouls in the opening minutes and UConn shot 36% in the first half, it was clear that it was on its way to being blown out against the Big East’s premier program.

The Huskies were visibly desperate to win at home Tuesday after consecutive losses to Creighton and ‘Nova and facing an opponent that had won eight of nine. This paid off with an 80-72 win, their most important of the season and one of their most complete efforts. The offense was very efficient in the first half, shooting 59% percent as the team went up 46-36. While the offense slowed down in the second half, UConn continued to dominate the boards and their defense was solid. The Huskies outrebounded the Golden Eagles 46-27 and had 20 second-chance points to Marquette’s 11. They closed the game out well after Marquette got within three points twice in the second half, going on a 9-0 run with six minutes right to take a nine-point lead and essentially lock up the win. As discussed more below, Sanago and Tyrese Martin had big games, two players who needed to get going for UConn.

As the Huskies look to maintain momentum against Xavier, let’s examine observations I had about the two most recent games pertaining to both overall performances as well as those of certain players.

It’s Amazing How Different a Team Looks When It’s Knocking Down Shots, Isn’t it?

The UConn offense looked pretty putrid in the first three quarters, scoring just 44 points to fall behind by 19. In the first half and much of the third quarter, it chose poor shots and the offense looked sluggish, featuring very little ball movement or well=executed sets. With the Huskies again struggling from the perimeter for the third consecutive game and Whaley and Sanago dealing with first-half foul trouble, UConn could not stretch the floor and operate inside efficiently. With the frequent absence of Whaley and Sanago and others not picking up the slack, it did not get its usual putback opportunities and got killed on the boards overall against a Villanova team that focuses much less on getting rebounds, grabbing just 20 boards to the Wildcats 28. The Huskies offense finally woke up in the fourth, scoring 30 points and shooting over 60% against a Villanova squad that had taken their foot off the gas. It did a better job of sharing and handling the ball and finally began to hit perimeter shots, with Jordan Hawkins knocking down three. Cole would finish with 25 points and Martin and Sanago 14. Still, UConn had no shot on winning after such a bad start and allowing Villanova to shoot 59.2% and have three players score 16 or more points.

The Huskies offensive performance to end Sunday’s game was a harbinger of things to come against Marquette, especially in its first half. The offense was excellent from the opening tip and especially caught fire 10 minutes in when UConn established control with a 17-3 run that gave it a 38-24 lead. The Huskies moved the ball very well and were able to open up space for Sanago to operate by getting Hawkins and Tyler Polley going (the pair each knocked down multiple 3-pointers). Sanago bullied defenders to the tune of 14 first-half points, and UConn’s excellent defensive rebounding allowed it to get down the floor quickly and score 15 fastbreak points.

While the offense slowed down in the second half as the game became much more physical and it had cold stretches, Sanago and Martin continued to score effectively and the Huskies managed to go on valuable runs. They especially did an outstanding job of forcing contact and getting to the free throw line and knocked down 20 of 23 attempts (87%), including 6-8 by Sanago.

UConn ended up shooting 47.4% and had five players score at least nine points. Martin, who was a beast on the boards and did a great job of maneuvering through the defense to get good shots, finished with 18, 15 rebounds and 3 assists on 8-15 shooting. Sanago went for 24 and 15 and Hawkins and Polley each scored eight. While the Huskies finished with 14 turnovers, six were by Sanago and they generally did a better job of handling the ball and finding open teammates at the rim or beyond the arc. Considering the level of the opponent, this was arguably the team’s best offensive performance so far.      

Owning the Glass

While Villanova is no slouch at rebounding, UConn’s inability to win at or least be competitive on the boards Sunday was extremely surprising. The rebounding gap of -8 was the largest UConn has had this season. A lot of different factors played out in these struggles. Villanova did an excellent job of boxing out despite the Huskies height advantage and consistently beat them to long rebounds or loose balls, resulting in many more second-chance opportunities for the Wildcats (they had 20 offensive rebounds to UConn’s 13. The foul troubles of Sanago and Whaley meant there were less opportunities for putbacks, and neither Andre Jackson or Martin stepped up and earned offensive rebounds. Most importantly, Villanova just looked stronger and more athletic than UConn and the effort level just wasn’t there for the Huskies, especially as they fell behind a ton. Hurley was extremely frustrated by UConn’s poor rebounding and overall effort after the game and he had good reason to be.

As I already wrote, UConn had a huge advantage on the boards against Marquette (46-27), a quality rebounding time with good size. While the Huskies were strong on the offensive boards, where they beat the Golden Eagles 14-10 and got five each from Sanago and Martin, it was the defensive boards where they made the biggest difference, beating Marquette 32-17. Behind Sanago and Martin, who had 10 each on that end, the Huskies were consistently able to limit Marquette to one shooting opportunity. Even more than with offensive rebounds, their defensive ones led to fastbreak baskets or quality shots and opportunities at the free throw line. It was clear that UConn’s rebounding neutralized the Golden Eagles fast paced offense and eventually wore them down. Outside of the team’s 17-3 run, the signature sequence of the game for the Huskies came late in the second up eight with 1:47 remaining when the Huskies grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds before Jackson was finally fouled and made one of two. That sequence basically clinched the game and demonstrated the effort and toughness Hurley has been looking for the past few games. Hopefully it will be present against Xavier as well.

Starting and Ending Games Well is Critical to Success

While UConn actually started the game OK at Villanova, trailing just 15-12 when the second TV timeout came 8:29 in, the foul trouble of Whaley and Sanago and UConn’s poor shot selection and inability to hit a jumper weighed on them. Villanova began dominating the Huskies inside and Gillespie closed out the first half with two 3-pointers.  The Huskies started the half OK and cut the deficit to seven, but the Wildcats went on a 12-0 run to seal the game with roughly 12 minutes to go, dominating the Huskies on both ends.

I’ve already gone into detail about UConn’s solid offensive start against Marquette and their ability to go on a big run to establish a decisive first half lead. However, it was its ability to counter every run Marquette went on in the second half that won it the game. When Greg Elliot and Daryl Morsell hot threes and Oso Ighodaro made two free throws to cut the Huskies lead to 53-52 with 11:56 remaining, the team made six free throws and Martin hit a jumper while forcing 11 consecutive Marquette misses to push their lead back to 11 with 7:39 to go. The Golden Eagles answered quickly with eight straight points, but a hook shot by Sanago and three from Martin gave UConn a nine point lead, with it closing the game out at the 11. The Huskies showed great composure and found scoring opportunities to maintain the lead. It’s only one game, but this demonstrated to the players, Hurley and fans that they can execute to win games late against quality conference opponents.