23-24 UConn Basketball: Stephon's Castle
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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When they get the 2 most talented players healthy and playing well in Castle and Clingan this team will be the best in the country.
Could have seen a mini-let down after that environment in Kansas but Hurley had them ready to play. They run some really nice plays in the half court.
Defensive intensity still has room for improvement, and the lack of consistency at the line is a bit of a concern. Those are what get you through when the shots aren’t falling, and both need to be a little better, but if they can improve those even a little, they are pretty complete.
Defensive intensity still has room for improvement, and the lack of consistency at the line is a bit of a concern. Those are what get you through when the shots aren’t falling, and both need to be a little better, but if they can improve those even a little, they are pretty complete.
Hopefully this happens. I’m concerned that guys are going to be fighting injuries all season.
He probably should get some time off when the schedule eases up a little. I know they're about to hit the conference schedule but there are a few opponents in there that they can beat without him. And I'd absolutely give him the game off against Arkansas Pine Bluff on Saturday. If he does nothing but rest and do cardio from here til the Gonzaga game, that's essentially 9 days off to rest and heal up.
Hurley says next year they’ll get one of these major OOC games at home.
https://twitter.com/storrscentral/status/1735454529884225871?s=46&t=IVL2VrlFgLlpc3mjGGto8Q
https://twitter.com/storrscentral/status/1735454529884225871?s=46&t=IVL2VrlFgLlpc3mjGGto8Q
Is Castle starting or are they still easing him m back?
Have to figure Gonzaga is gonna come out smoking after we beat them by 30+ during the March run.
Withstand the first 5-10 minutes and we should be OK
Have to figure Gonzaga is gonna come out smoking after we beat them by 30+ during the March run.
Withstand the first 5-10 minutes and we should be OK
They need to burn the black jerseys.
Anywho the game turned in the first when Clingan went to the bench with 2 fouls and completely turned when he went out in the second with the injury. Seton Hall was able to get to the basket at will when he was out.
4-21 from 3. 0-18 margin on the fastbreak. That’s some ugly.
Anywho the game turned in the first when Clingan went to the bench with 2 fouls and completely turned when he went out in the second with the injury. Seton Hall was able to get to the basket at will when he was out.
4-21 from 3. 0-18 margin on the fastbreak. That’s some ugly.
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It’s almost like these kind of games have to happen for some bizarre reason. For some reason Big East games are just more difficult for us.
The St. John’s game at the XL was similar last year in January in just being out physical’d and outwilled. Then two months later we are blowing everyone out en route to the championship.
The clingan injury is the big question here as the game completely changes when he was out due to fouls and then injury. He may be out for a few weeks depending on how bad his sprained ankle is.
The St. John’s game at the XL was similar last year in January in just being out physical’d and outwilled. Then two months later we are blowing everyone out en route to the championship.
The clingan injury is the big question here as the game completely changes when he was out due to fouls and then injury. He may be out for a few weeks depending on how bad his sprained ankle is.
Castle looked good especially in the last 10 minutes.My favorite ply was Samson’s dash from the foul line. I wouldn’t have complained if they called traveling.
I thought Castle was brutal until he flipped a switch with 10 to go.
He’s had a rough start for a kid projected to go lottery. Great athlete, can defend, but no evidence of a shot at all. Just keep giving him minutes, maybe that’s what will get him to where he should be.
Regardless a good win after the seton hall loss. Big East is a physical league with some great coaches, I was worried a Pitino team would start us at 0-2 to start the Big East.
Losing Clingan for a month sucks but it will make Samson so much better for March madness minutes.
Shaky start to conference play but we still have the tools to win a 6th national championship.
He’s had a rough start for a kid projected to go lottery. Great athlete, can defend, but no evidence of a shot at all. Just keep giving him minutes, maybe that’s what will get him to where he should be.
Regardless a good win after the seton hall loss. Big East is a physical league with some great coaches, I was worried a Pitino team would start us at 0-2 to start the Big East.
Losing Clingan for a month sucks but it will make Samson so much better for March madness minutes.
Shaky start to conference play but we still have the tools to win a 6th national championship.
Great game by Castle. He hit the biggest shot of the game with the 3 after Butler cut it to 1. If he continues on this track, this team will be very very good when DC gets back.
Yep if castle keeps improving like this and Clingan ever stays healthy, we have a legit chance to win back to back.
I like getting the freshmen real minutes lately - will help down the stretch.
It's sad we only get to root for Spencer for one year. The kid is smart, good, and tenacious. He's like a younger Hurley on the floor.
I like getting the freshmen real minutes lately - will help down the stretch.
It's sad we only get to root for Spencer for one year. The kid is smart, good, and tenacious. He's like a younger Hurley on the floor.
I love winning national championships but I also loved winning Big East titles. So it would be nice to win a conference title this year.
View: https://twitter.com/noescalators/status/1743761951610581477?s=61&t=mLlSRkfq4VtgCm4CvSpAPg
View: https://twitter.com/noescalators/status/1743761951610581477?s=61&t=mLlSRkfq4VtgCm4CvSpAPg
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Clingan’s absence is big, but the difference that jumps out is that they are just not quite there on defense yet. Last year is not a fair yardstick, but they just can’t seem to put the clamps down in the half court on a consistent basis. It makes them susceptible on nights they are having trouble scoring. I think they will find it eventually, but holding teams to low 30s for halves is the key to consistency.
Really shaky closing this one out tonight. There are no guarantees in conference play especially on the road. Look at what happened to the rest of the top 10 this week. Free throws!! Take care of Georgetown on Sunday and I do believe we are looking at a number one ranking come Monday. When was the last time UConn was ranked 1 during the regular season?
edit. Looks like the 2008-2009 season. It’s been a minute
edit. Looks like the 2008-2009 season. It’s been a minute
Conference wins on the road are great no matter how you get them, but there were some troublesome signs. They won tonight because of much better shooting, but man did they get bossed on the glass. 20 offensive rebounds for Xavier. They played ok in half court defense, but the second chances led to easy chances or fouls. Can’t score in the 80s every night. Need to get just a bit better on the defensive side of the ball and on the glass. To be fair, they had 7 blocks, which led to a couple of easy offensive rebounds. But still — that smaller line up would have been trouble against a team that could shoot.
Just another 80 point effort. Rock fights suck but if you are going to play in them you might as well win them.
Excellent three point shooting covered up some weaknesses, especially another game where the defensive glass was an adventure. But if they can keep winning while they figure it out, that’s pretty darned good.
Excellent three point shooting covered up some weaknesses, especially another game where the defensive glass was an adventure. But if they can keep winning while they figure it out, that’s pretty darned good.
Largely, yes. Earlier in the week one of the UConn Twitter accounts posted the team's defensive efficiency ranking before/after the Clingan injury (I think these were KenPom metrics). UConn was ranked 11th with Clingan and has fallen to the 40s since his injury.
For the first time since 2009 (Kemba's freshman year). (Not counting the 3 end of year polls in our national champion years.)
And the women are back into the top 10, at #9. Both teams are looking good right now. Hope it continues!
Well, so much for worrying about what they would be able to do if their shots weren’t falling. The game was too early for me to watch out west but the box score looks pretty good. +16 on the glass, turned them over 14 times, held them really in check. Between the offensive rebounds and the turnovers, Connecticut took 18 more shots. Didn’t make them at a great rate, but when you have that many more opportunities, good things happen.
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Defensively, it was a clinic. Creighton scored 48 points and had to make a late run to even get that many. The only concern I had from that game is the offensive game of Steph Castle. He really can't shoot the ball for shit. He contributed in other ways, but I've largely been disappointed with his game. I can't imagine he's a 1-and-done guy which in turn is good for the program because I think he'll get better, but right now he's not playing even close to being a lottery pick.
Alex Karaban, OTOH, is playing lights out lately. He's making himself into a really decent NBA prospect. If Castle and Clingan give close to the stat lines that they are capable of, it isn't even close as to who the best team in the country is. Just keep improving offensively(there's another gear there), stay hungry especially on the defensive end and on the glass, and stay healthy. Dan Hurley is the perfect coach for this team. He will have no problem keeping this team motivated and hungry.
Alex Karaban, OTOH, is playing lights out lately. He's making himself into a really decent NBA prospect. If Castle and Clingan give close to the stat lines that they are capable of, it isn't even close as to who the best team in the country is. Just keep improving offensively(there's another gear there), stay hungry especially on the defensive end and on the glass, and stay healthy. Dan Hurley is the perfect coach for this team. He will have no problem keeping this team motivated and hungry.
The difference Clingan makes on the court defensively is just amazing. The shot attwmpts he turns away is stunning. He rarely leaves his feet anymore until the very end, so his fouls the past few games have been minimal.
Once he gets back up to 25 minutes or more this team has a legit chance to be repeat champions. One night Karaban is quiet and Spencer goes off, or vice versa. Diarra was quiet tonight but he's been lethal in moderate minutes off the bench. Newton can take lazy deep shots but then lock in and make big shots.
And think once Samson goes back to 15 minutes he will be much better.
Once he gets back up to 25 minutes or more this team has a legit chance to be repeat champions. One night Karaban is quiet and Spencer goes off, or vice versa. Diarra was quiet tonight but he's been lethal in moderate minutes off the bench. Newton can take lazy deep shots but then lock in and make big shots.
And think once Samson goes back to 15 minutes he will be much better.
Statistically, it was an amazingly even game. I thought the offensive foul at the end was the deciding play and I thought they were a little fortunate to get the call. It was a foul but certainly not one you can always count on getting on the road. Win or lose that was going to be a great hostile environment test for the team. So might as well win it.
Those stressful inbounding and free throw games in a hostile environment can really be a double edged sword. We have all seen teams that struggle in those areas kind of have a carry over. Bad inbounding gives players the yips for future games, and failure to convert close and late free throws can fuck with guys sometimes. They passed both tests.
Those stressful inbounding and free throw games in a hostile environment can really be a double edged sword. We have all seen teams that struggle in those areas kind of have a carry over. Bad inbounding gives players the yips for future games, and failure to convert close and late free throws can fuck with guys sometimes. They passed both tests.
UConn really putting it upon the hapless Xavier Musketeers. 75-36 with just over 10 minutes left. I’ve seen enough. Putting this one in the W column. Don’t ever remember seeing this dominant of a performance in conference play. Fully healthy and playing great. Look out.
Grind this out. PC playing hard but need to find a way to get some open perimeter shots. DC playing will help this half to get some room for Spencer and Newton.