Tag: Xavier

UConn Must Execute on Defense to Beat Xavier

With UConn primed to play its biggest game of the season tomorrow home in Storrs against Xavier and your esteemed writer in attendance (a Christmas present), it is a good time to look at the No. 19 Huskies (16-5, 5-5 in the Big East) and figure out what they needs to do well to shut down the No. 12 Musketeers (16-4, 8-1), which is first in the conference and has an elite offense. Xavier has the best starting five offensively in the conference and can score efficiently from all areas of the floor, as UConn learned in its devastating 83-73 loss on New Year’s Eve.

The Huskies looked great on both ends of the floor in its 86-56 win against Butler on Saturday, but it’s hard to say the team is rounding a corner in any way when the Bulldogs are already a bad team that was missing its best player. UConn must beat Xavier and go over .500 again to show it can be an upper echelon team in the Big East and gain momentum heading into what should be two comfortable wins at DePaul and Georgetown. It should be favored to win at Gampel, but there are multiple areas the Huskies must play well in to emerge victorious, starting with playing quality defense.

Below, I talk about what UConn needs to do well defensively to win Wednesday. I am not sure if the team has the skills and mental fortitude to slow down Xavier’s offense and win what should be a close game, but it’s time for the team to put up or shut up. I look forward to being there with nervous anticipation, and will provide you dear readers with my observation’s on the team’s performance in many areas and the crowd atmosphere within the next few days. Let’s go!

The Defense Needs to be Smart and Flexible  

Starting in mid-December against Georgetown, UConn’s previously elite D began to slip, and the Xavier loss initiated lousy defensive performances in each of its losses over the next three weeks, with the team’s win against Creighton the lone receipt. After the Huskies took a 50-43 lead three minutes into the second half in Cincinnati, Xavier’s offense started dominating their defenders and never let up. UConn could not stay in front of Xavier’s guards, and they attacked the basket constantly, either scoring around the rim or finding bigs Zach Freemantle, Jack Nunge and Jerome Hunter for easy baskets. Most frustratingly, the Huskies were unable to play smart defense and avoid unnecessary contact, resulting in 23 free throws on 28 attempts. Ultimately, the Musketeers shot over 60% inside the arc and scored 1.12 points per possession (PPP). With all the talent Xavier has, they are fully capable of repeating this success Wednesday.

The inconsistent defense and inability to defend players without fouling continued in the next game at Providence, with the Friars making 29! free throws and winning by 12 despite making five fewer field goals tan UConn. After a strong performance against Creighton, the defense again wilted throughout the next two games against Marquette and St. John’s, as the team’s scored at least 1.10 PPP. After a great first half defensively against Seton Hall, the Huskies allowed the Pirates to score 41 points and shoot over 60% in the final 20 minutes to come back from 17 down and hand UConn a devastating last-second loss.

In these four losses, the team continued to struggle mightily with defending the rim. The guards were beat off the dribble constantly and Husky bigs could not defend the rim effectively, leading to layups or free throw opportunities. The Husky defenders did a particularly poor job of staying in front of their man and avoiding biting on pump fakes, leading to either touch fouls as players reached for the ball as a player got past them or guys jumping in the air and fouling opponents after they faked a shot (Andre Jackson and Alex Karaban seemed like were the biggest offenders in these categories). UConn has shot fewer free throws than their opponents in all five losses and recorded more turnovers in four. UConn players have seemed to frequently miscommunicate with each other and leave players wide open after going to defend another opponent, leading to easy baskets. Of course, all these issues seemed to crop up down the stretch in these losses, leaving the Huskies looking rattled. Combine all these factors with not boxing out consistently on rebound opportunities and an obvious lack of hustle at times, and you have some of the poorest defending since Dan Hurley’s first year in Storrs.

While UConn looked much more disciplined on defense against Butler, they were still playing a team that lacks guards who can attack off the bounce and which was missing star big man Manny Bates. In Xavier, it is matching up against a squad that shoots 39.7% from three and is also excellent in the paint. First, Husky players just need to fight harder to get over screens and stay in front of their man when defending one-on-one. It sounds cliché, but players have been lazy and fundamentally unsound on defense at times, especially when also struggling offensively. Along the same lines, defenders need to avoid committing costly ticky-tack  touch fouls or leaving their feet on defense after fakes. If the Huskies can control their hands and stay on the floor when defending, then they should avoid the foul trouble which has plagued them and force Xavier to win by taking tough shots. In addition, players need to recognize they can’t overextend too much on the Musketeers out on the perimeter, as it could result in easy drives to the basket and defenders being unable to recover. As great of a 3-point shooting team as Xavier is, UConn needs to be more concerned with protecting the paint and avoiding fouls. It has defended the perimeter extremely well throughout the season, and I think it will do a solid job again Wednesday. Finally, the Huskies and especially their bigs need to box out more effectively, especially off perimeter shots and Hurley needs to reiterate this to his guys. I would hope the ending against Seton Hall gets that message across to the team.

At the same time, UConn and Hurley need to make adjustments. Freemantle absolutely dominated Karaban last game using his size and athleticism, and could absolutely do so again if he is not double-timed. In some situations, Hurley needs to be willing to try double-teams on other hot players as well. In addition, he should be willing to let players switch defensively in certain situations. UConn should play zone as well if Xavier is scoring easily. A 2-3 zone could prevent guards from being able to easily score in the paint or get the ball into the bigs. Such a zone could also allow the Huskies to use both Sanogo and Clinigan for small stretches, providing both rim protection and a big advantage on the boards. With Samson Johnson finally back from injury, he can hopefully provide the team much needed rim protection. I am sure UConn has a detailed defensive game plan ready they will try to follow. What they need to do is be able to adjust when things aren’t going the team’s way. The Huskies defense failed to do that at Xavier and all their losses.

During Hurley’s tenure at UConn, the program has hung its hat on being relentless on defense and shutting down the paint. The team was doing that earlier in the season, and it still has great defensive numbers overall when you look at analytics, including being ranked 13th nationally on KenPom. It is time for the Huskies to regain their identity and play strong defense for 40 minutes. While the offense must meet certain goals as well, UConn will ultimately win or lose with their defense. Time to buckle up.

Observations on Last Week’s Wins: Polley Wake Up, Cole Asserts His Importance and the Danger of Turnovers

Right now, all UConn men’s basketball fans have a right to feel giddy. The Huskies have won three games in a row and four of five against strong opponents, and this week moved up to the No. 21 spot in the AP Poll. The attention being paid to the program and the rising attendance at games the last two weeks indicates that there is the most excitement around the program in at least six years. And now with Villanova traveling to the XL Center Tuesday night in front of a packed house, the Huskies, now 19-7 and 10-5 in the Big East, could win their biggest regular season game arguably since the early days of the AAC, when Louisville was still a member. And yet, there are still a lot of questions and doubts surrounding the team even after impressive wins against Seton Hann and Xavier.

The wins against the Pirates and Musketeers, both at Gampel, were similar in a lot of ways. While UConn was strong on offense overall, it was their defense and rebounding which distinguished their play as a team. Both games featured excellent performances by RJ Cole and Adama Sanago, with the pair getting just enough help from their teammates to close out the games efficiently. Neither team was able to put together a full 40 minutes in either win, as the Huskies started slow against Seton Hall and had an ugly second half against Xavier, but they also showed confidence and teamwork even when things weren’t going right. The enthusiastic crowds at Gampel certainly helped.

With the game against Villanova looming, it’s appropriate to look back on the positive and negative observations to take from last week’s wins. These include the play of Adama and RJ, the defense and rebounding, and the continued struggles with turnovers.

 RJ Cole and Adama Sanago set the Tone for UConn

The further we get into the season, the more appreciation I get for R.J. Cole.  Most fans are very fond of Cole, but it can be hard to comprehend just how important he is to the program unless you regularly watch UConn. Cole is the one player who can be a consistent playmaker and can be relayed upon to hit tough shots or get to the free throw line. While the senior isn’t a natural point guard and can sometimes become too focused on getting his shot in expense of others, he is a reliable ball-handler and passer and does a quality job of avoiding turnovers. Cole’s strong defense can occasionally be negated by his lack of height, but there is no double he is one of the Huskies best two-way players and is especially good at earning steals and drawing charges. Finally, while Cole isn’t normally a vocal leader, it is clear he brings a sense of stability to the offense and inspires his teammates to be more disciplined. Just look at how much smoother the offense frequently appears with him at the point in contrast to others. Not bad from a transfer who jumped from a low major to the big bad Big East.

   While Cole had a strong day in the 70-65 win against Seton Hall (16 points on 7-11 shooting and three assists), Xavier was one of his signature performances of the season. After UConn began the second half committing turnovers on seemingly every play and Cole was briefly forced to the bench due to earning a third foul, the Huskies came close to blowing a 17-point halftime lead and as Tyrese Martin and Jalen Gaffney could not effectively run the offense. Once Dan Hurley brought Cole back to the floor with about 13 minutes to go, the team slowly became calmer and more disciplined. With others struggling to hit shots, Cole helped carry the offensive load as he drove for a couple of layups and set Jordan Hawkins up for a back-breaking three to put UConn up 59-50. With his offensive play and solid defense, Cole got the team back on track and allowed them to slowly pull away from the Musketeers. While Cole will struggle to score more against Villanova’s big guards, I am confident he is capable of running the offense with the same efficiency he showed on Saturday.

Sanago did a great job last week and especially in the Seton Hall win of re-asserting his dominance after the foul trouble that limited him against Villanova and Xavier in the first matchup. Against Seton Hall, Sanago did an outstanding job of asserting his dominance early, recorded 12 and 9 rebounds in the first half, and managed to play discipled defense with only foul in 32 minutes while blocking three shots. He allowed UConn to get off to a great start and withstand the Pirates comeback later in the first half, and then made some big baskets in the second to put the Huskies in control. Against Xavier, the sophomore really didn’t do anything scoring-wise after the first 2-0 minutes when he pushed around their defenders for 15, but he continued to rebound and finished with nine boards, four offensive, and two blocks. Finally, Sanago again only had one foul in 38 minutes. The only negative for Sanago against Xavier was his four turnovers, but Hurley admitted after the game that this was partly due to the team trying to force the ball into Sanago to much at the beginning of the second. Villanova is a tough matchup for Sanago, but as long as he can find a way to stay out of foul trouble and not force shots, he’s very capable of having a quality day.

Tyler Polley Provides a Shot in the Arm

As his is style, Polley’s season has been all over the place. The super senior’s main role is supposed to be that of team’s 3-point specialist and sniper, but Polley’s numbers from beyond the arc had been down for the second consecutive season, as he came into the Xavier game shooting 33.9% in conference play. Polley had gone 1-9 from there in the previous three games, and had not hit more than two 3-pointers in one since a 3-4 day in the first St. John’s game. A lot of factors went into Polley underperforming from deep, including defenses constantly keying in on him, Pollfive ey not getting set for shots, and teammates not doing a good enough job of finding him when he was open. To his credit, Polley has played solid defense and extremely valuable late in the game as a free throw shooter, but he needed a game where he filled his niche. Enter Saturday against Xavier.

Polley’s shot was completely on point against Xavier. He easily drained the trio of threes he took, even when they were well-defended. Polley used shot fakes and step-backs to give himself room on the shots, something he doesn’t do enough when taking threes. Add a midrange jumper and five three throws (including three he earned when fouled on a 3-point attempt, and it added up to 16 points, Polley’s third highest total of the season and first double-digit scoring game since January 18th. Polley also did an excellent job of using his height to break Xavier’s press late in the game. He gave the Huskies a lot of momentum early with his shooting and then executed well on both ends to pull the game out. That’s the mark of a senior leader and what they are looking for from Polley.

As many have said, Polley can be an ex-factor for UConn the remainder of the season. If he is on from deep and finding other ways to score while also playing solid defense, than that could elevate UConn’s offensive ceiling and allow them to beat any opponent if the team is also playing solid in other areas. Meanwhile, if the performance at Xavier is an anomaly and Polley returns to being very inconsistent from deep and a non-entity on offense at times, then the Huskies will find it that much harder to score and more pressure will be put on the team’s top players (Cole, Adama and Tyrese Martin). A lot of it will depend on his teammates, but Polley can make a new legacy at UConn the remainder of the regular season and come tournament time.

UConn Reestablishes its Identity as a Defense and Rebounding First Team

In the losses to Villanova and Xavier, UConn underperformed on the defensive end, especially with guarding the paint, and did not control the defensive boards and gave up too many second-chance opportunities. While it was understandable the Huskies would have trouble shutting down an elite offense it doesn’t match up with well, it didn’t make much sense on paper against Xavier, which has had a mediocre offense in Big East play. It was also very disappointing to see that UConn underperformed on the boards against both teams, as they should have been able to effectively use their size and athleticism to get the upper hand on Wildcats and Musketeers players.

Against Seton Hall and Xavier, the defense built on its performance against St. John’s and was completely dominant at times. It held the Pirates and Musketeers to 42.6% and 38.3% inside the arc, and limited Xavier to 5-17 shooting from three. It also held Xavier to 0.90 points per possession, and limited star guard Paul Scruggs to 3 points. UConn earned six blocks in both games, with Sanago earning three in the first game and Whaley four in the second. In both wins, the defense did an excellent job of defending and altering shots at the rim and ramping up ball pressure. Against Xavier, the Huskies did a much better job of defending from behind the arc then they have recently, and the player’s help defense was extremely efficient. In both games, the defense kept their opponents from going on long runs and were able to recover from a few lax possessions or brief struggles. That ability to suffocate the defense and generate offense from that is what can make UConn an elite team, and I am confident it can continue to play at a high level as long as the defense is creative.

It was also great to see the team elevate its rebounding after a few games where it underperformed. Sanogo’s ability to avoid fouls against both teams and go up to get offensive rebounds allowed him to fulfill his destiny as a great all-around big man. Martin had double-digit rebounding games against both Seton Hall and Xavier, and it was smart of him to focus on rebounding and defense when his shot wasn’t falling on Saturday. And Whaley and Andre Jackson were a nuisance on the boards, as they always are. UConn needs to keep up its energy and box out to continue that level of rebounding against Villanova, especially on the offensive end. If it doesn’t rebound well against ‘Nova, I see no possibility of the team winning.

The Huskies Decision Making When Moving the Ball Needs to be Better

Ahhh, the opening minutes of the second half against Xavier. Where to begin? I don’t remember any game I watched where a team committed so many turnovers in almost no time (10 in the first seven minutes of the second, to be precise), and how many of them were preventable. Yes, Xavier did a great job of ramping up its defense to start the second and were pressuring ball handlers.  But there’s no excuse for Jackson, Jalen Gaffney and Martin throwing sloppy and off-target passes inside to no one in particular, and resulting in baskets for the Musketeers. The Huskies were stubborn about forcing the ball into Sanago even when he was very well-defended (Hurley admitted after the game that the team was too focused on doing this), and for some inexplicable reason Jackson was out of the game when Cole was sitting due to foul trouble, leaving the team with no reliable ball-handler against a pressure defense. UConn has to do a better job of substituting in situations like this, and it needs to look at film to better understand what went wrong during this stretch and how the team can still handle the ball effectively if Cole is sitting. That stretch was inexcusable, and it cannot happen again.