UConn Game Thread

[cincrulz11]

Did anybody else see the stat that there have been 17 two-game road trips in league play this year. The road team has only won both 1 time out of 17 and it was Tulsa when they played East Carolina and Tulane.

We have 1 more 2 game road trip and its a short turnaround one too. At Houston and then At South Florida 2 days later.

 

[cincrulz11]

Interesting that brannen is wondering if our better offensive games cause us to lose focus on defense.


used to be our struggles on offense caused us to lose focus on defense.



maybe guys just hate playing defense.

 

[cincyguy13]

Did anybody else see the stat that there have been 17 two-game road trips in league play this year. The road team has only won both 1 time out of 17 and it was Tulsa when they played East Carolina and Tulane.

We have 1 more 2 game road trip and its a short turnaround one too. At Houston and then At South Florida 2 days later.

Yep, it’s common sense. They haven’t been home for 5 days, don’t have a bench, and the other team is treating it like a super bowl. It’s going to be hard to win. I wish they could have overcome it, had chances, but couldn’t finish. Isn’t the end of the world. I expect to win comfortably Thursday.

 

[cincyguy13]

At the end of the game we kept going to Jarron for something that wasn't working the whole game unless he passed the ball. Most of those times he didn't even come close to putting a ball close to the basket. The plays we drew up were not very good.

We had plenty of chances to win this game. I put this one on the coach and the definition of insanity. We kept doing the same thing over and over with the same results. It worked in many games but it wasn't working in this one. It would have been one thing if we could have gotten Jarron driving on his right side but he went left too often and the D collapsed on him every time...we should have kicked those out on some possessions to whoever was open.

I think we have one loss to give now and that will likely be in Houston but stranger things have happened. It's too hard in conference to expect to run the table so we have our work cut out. Lose one max and win a couple in the tourney.

Everyone wanted the “Jarron show” but when it doesn’t work, we should have ran something else? UConn did a great job on Jarron and Vogt. Have to tip your cap. I’ve never seen Jarron shut down like that. I still ride with Jarron at the end. He’s the only one that can create his own shot and he’s very good at getting fouled.

 

[cincyguy13]

At the end of the game we kept going to Jarron for something that wasn't working the whole game unless he passed the ball. Most of those times he didn't even come close to putting a ball close to the basket. The plays we drew up were not very good.

We had plenty of chances to win this game. I put this one on the coach and the definition of insanity. We kept doing the same thing over and over with the same results. It worked in many games but it wasn't working in this one. It would have been one thing if we could have gotten Jarron driving on his right side but he went left too often and the D collapsed on him every time...we should have kicked those out on some possessions to whoever was open.

I think we have one loss to give now and that will likely be in Houston but stranger things have happened. It's too hard in conference to expect to run the table so we have our work cut out. Lose one max and win a couple in the tourney.

I agree, if we win 6 of the last 7 we are fine. Maybe one in the tourney. These other bubble teams are going to lose games. If we can do that, I think we are in comfortably. Prob a 10ish seed.

 

[waterhead]

Everyone wanted the “Jarron show” but when it doesn’t work, we should have ran something else? UConn did a great job on Jarron and Vogt. Have to tip your cap. I’ve never seen Jarron shut down like that. I still ride with Jarron at the end. He’s the only one that can create his own shot and he’s very good at getting fouled.

In most games there is evidence that it is working. There was no evidence of it working in this game. It wasn’t even close to working...so yah...try something different when that happens IMO. I still want the ball in Jarrons hands but we should have found an open player in several circumstances when he drove

 

[cincrulz11]

I would like to point out some stats on defense since there appears to be a misconception about brannen ball not including playing defense.

stats for in conference play


efg%

2020 - 44
2019 - 50

TO%

2020 - 19.7
2019 - 20.5

OR%

2020 - 28.9
2019 - 29.7

3p%

2020 - 32.7
2019 - 37.3

2p%

2020 - 41.4
2019 - 45.6

block %

2020 - 14.6
2019 - 13.9



defense has struggled on the road a few times, but offense has been much better on the road. it's weird the stats are like that since usually its the possible, defense usually travels and offense is harder on the road.


but overall this years defense is better than last years. in fact that 2p% defense is even better than the amazing 2018 team.

 

[cincrulz11]

In most games there is evidence that it is working. There was no evidence of it working in this game. It wasn’t even close to working...so yah...try something different when that happens IMO. I still want the ball in Jarrons hands but we should have found an open player in several circumstances when he drove

i mean jarron wasn't passing the ball at the end of 2nd half or OT. im not really sure thats a coaching thing. brannen can't make him pass.

the announcers even pointed out a time or two when he forced a bad shot and had jaevin wide open for 3.


jarron didn't get a shot up on either of the last second possessions. thats on him. no excuse for the OT possession to end without ever getting a shot up.

 

[cincyguy13]

In most games there is evidence that it is working. There was no evidence of it working in this game. It wasn’t even close to working...so yah...try something different when that happens IMO. I still want the ball in Jarrons hands but we should have found an open player in several circumstances when he drove

If Jarron makes either one we win. With the game on the line, I give the ball to Jarron every time. And would continue to until he’s gone. More often than not he is going to make the correct decision.

 

[Loser Mentality]

Jarron was kind of out of it yesterday from my view. The difference in his game yesterday was he was passive and had some athletic defenders on him.

I noticed Jarron was in pain late in Thursdays game which may have carried over. Also it's never a good sign when Tre has 20+ points, which in my eyes means Jarron aint scoring. Any opposing coach will let Tre Beat them all day.

Only 2nd half adjustment would have been to take Jarron off the point position. He was giving the ball a headache, and the offense was taking to long to get started. UCONN's semi press helped with that.

We just need to clean some things up, and we should be okay.

 

[cincrulz11]

Jarron was kind of out of it yesterday from my view. The difference in his game yesterday was he was passive and had some athletic defenders on him.

I noticed Jarron was in pain late in Thursdays game which may have carried over. Also it's never a good sign when Tre has 20+ points, which in my eyes means Jarron aint scoring. Any opposing coach will let Tre Beat them all day.

Only 2nd half adjustment would have been to take Jarron off the point position. He was giving the ball a headache, and the offense was taking to long to get started. UCONN's semi press helped with that.

We just need to clean some things up, and we should be okay.

we had mika bringing the ball up late in the game.

 

[justinhub2003]

I would like to point out some stats on defense since there appears to be a misconception about brannen ball not including playing defense.

stats for in conference play


efg%

2020 - 44
2019 - 50

TO%

2020 - 19.7
2019 - 20.5

OR%

2020 - 28.9
2019 - 29.7

3p%

2020 - 32.7
2019 - 37.3

2p%

2020 - 41.4
2019 - 45.6

block %

2020 - 14.6
2019 - 13.9



defense has struggled on the road a few times, but offense has been much better on the road. it's weird the stats are like that since usually its the possible, defense usually travels and offense is harder on the road.


but overall this years defense is better than last years. in fact that 2p% defense is even better than the amazing 2018 team.

I think the issue is that his teams typically lose on the road because they don't defend well on the road.


Last year NKU lost 5 games away from to teams ranked 117 or worse in Kenpom.


In only one of those losses did NKU play good defense:
@ #235 EKU: 1.06 ppp Allowed (#266 offensive in the country)
@ #175 Oakland : 1.13 ppp Allowed (#107 offense in the country)
@ #191 IUPUI: 1.22 ppp Allowed (#186 offense in the country)
@ #117 Wright State: 1.19 PPP Allowed (#122 offense in the country)


His best team ever was the 2018 Norse, who were 90 in Kenpom.

That team lost in the first round of the Horizon Tourney by allowing 89 points which was good for a whopping 1.20 ppp against #300 ranked Cleveland State who had the 302nd worse offense in America.



That was Cleveland states best offensive showing ALL SEASON LONG.


Now factor in this:

In conference we have played 6 road games and I think we've played good defense in just 2 of them. The Memphis game and the UCF game.

The other 4 was not good:

-Tulane: 1.12 ppp allowed against #195 ranked offense, their best ppp all conference

-Temple: 1.17 ppp allowed against #205 offense, 2nd best offensive performance in conference

-WSU: 1.16 PPP allowed against #133 offense, best offensive performance all conference

-UCONN: 1.00 ppp allowed against #144 offense, OK defense but poor 3pt and transition defense and defensive rebounding



There is trend here guys.


We are letting really bad offenses have some of their best offensive outputs against. Its not just bad luck.

it's a pattern.

 

[sedziobs]

That was Cleveland states best offensive showing ALL SEASON LONG.
...
it's a pattern.

No, it's not a pattern if 3 games have good defense and 3 games have bad defense. That's called a distribution.

If the Cleveland St thing is so bothersome, please look into our performances last year at East Carolina and vs SMU in the AAC tournament. Or at home against Tulsa in 2018. It happens. Statistics follow a distribution, and you'll always find outliers to fit your narrative.

 

[cincyguy13]

No, it's not a pattern if 3 games have good defense and 3 games have bad defense. That's called a distribution.

If the Cleveland St thing is so bothersome, please look into our performances last year at East Carolina and vs SMU in the AAC tournament. Or at home against Tulsa in 2018. Each of those was the second highest PPP of the season for those teams. It happens. Statistics follow a distribution, and you'll always find outliers to fit your narrative.

Also look at Nevada, anytime we played Xavier. Teams make shots. Good teams do it often. You can’t completely shut down teams. This is college basketball. These guys are good. Can our defense be better, of course but we can’t freak out every time teams make shots. It happens. It happened when we were elite defensively.

 

[waterhead]

If Jarron makes either one we win. With the game on the line, I give the ball to Jarron every time. And would continue to until he’s gone. More often than not he is going to make the correct decision.

I would give the ball to him too...just think Brannen could have said to him that what he was trying to do (get a floater in the paint or get fouled) was not working and call a play for a kick out if it's not there. It just wasn't there on most of his drives. I think a coach can remind him there are other options if he runs into a buzz saw. Jarron generally gets the whole team involved early and then closes things out in the second half. We were getting great looks off of his assists and we probably should have gone back to that well at least on a couple of his drive attempts.

Just an observation. I am fully aware of what Jarron is capable of and usually it works at the end of games. This time it not only didn't work...it wasn't working for an extended period of time. He's still the man and CJB is still a good coach. On to the next

 

[cincyguy13]

I think the issue is that his teams typically lose on the road because they don't defend well on the road.


Last year NKU lost 5 games away from to teams ranked 117 or worse in Kenpom.


In only one of those losses did NKU play good defense:
@ #235 EKU: 1.06 ppp Allowed (#266 offensive in the country)
@ #175 Oakland : 1.13 ppp Allowed (#107 offense in the country)
@ #191 IUPUI: 1.22 ppp Allowed (#186 offense in the country)
@ #117 Wright State: 1.19 PPP Allowed (#122 offense in the country)


His best team ever was the 2018 Norse, who were 90 in Kenpom.

That team lost in the first round of the Horizon Tourney by allowing 89 points which was good for a whopping 1.20 ppp against #300 ranked Cleveland State who had the 302nd worse offense in America.



That was Cleveland states best offensive showing ALL SEASON LONG.


Now factor in this:

In conference we have played 6 road games and I think we've played good defense in just 2 of them. The Memphis game and the UCF game.

The other 4 was not good:

-Tulane: 1.12 ppp allowed against #195 ranked offense, their best ppp all conference

-Temple: 1.17 ppp allowed against #205 offense, 2nd best offensive performance in conference

-WSU: 1.16 PPP allowed against #133 offense, best offensive performance all conference

-UCONN: 1.00 ppp allowed against #144 offense, OK defense but poor 3pt and transition defense and defensive rebounding



There is trend here guys.


We are letting really bad offenses have some of their best offensive outputs against. Its not just bad luck.

it's a pattern.

You also can’t completely sell out one way or the other. Cronin sold out for defense, couldn’t score, others sell out for offense, can stop anyone. There’s a balance you have to find. And let’s be honest, we don’t have many options. Vogt has to play because diarra is a complete mess sometimes, Jaevin has to play because we don’t have many shooters. Those are two players that aren’t great defensively.

 

[cincyguy13]

I would give the ball to him too...just think Brannen could have said to him that what he was trying to do (get a floater in the paint or get fouled) was not working and call a play for a kick out if it's not there. It just wasn't there on most of his drives. I think a coach can remind him there are other options if he runs into a buzz saw. Jarron generally gets the whole team involved early and then closes things out in the second half. We were getting great looks off of his assists and we probably should have gone back to that well at least on a couple of his drive attempts.

Just an observation. I am fully aware of what Jarron is capable of and usually it works at the end of games. This time it not only didn't work...it wasn't working for an extended period of time. He's still the man and CJB is still a good coach. On to the next

To be fair, we have no idea what brannen said. If you listen to his postgame the game before, he had 3 options for the final play. I find it hard to believe he would have only had one option this time.

 

[cincrulz11]

No, it's not a pattern if 3 games have good defense and 3 games have bad defense. That's called a distribution.

If the Cleveland St thing is so bothersome, please look into our performances last year at East Carolina and vs SMU in the AAC tournament. Or at home against Tulsa in 2018. It happens. Statistics follow a distribution, and you'll always find outliers to fit your narrative.

the overall numbers are what they are and they are that for reason.

if i wanted to just pick good defensive performances away from home i could do that (but it would be dumb to base our defense just on those games).


osu was a great defensive performance, bowling green was a great defensive performance, iowa was a great defensive performance, ucf was a great defensive performance, memphis was a great defensive performance.


all of those were away from home and all had an ADJD of below 91.


the only truly horrific one was at temple, thats the only one that comes up in red. wichita state was bad.



the temple one was them getting hot and making tough shots for 3/4 of the game. its amazing we won that one.

 

[justinhub2003]

No, it's not a pattern if 3 games have good defense and 3 games have bad defense. That's called a distribution.

If the Cleveland St thing is so bothersome, please look into our performances last year at East Carolina and vs SMU in the AAC tournament. Or at home against Tulsa in 2018. It happens. Statistics follow a distribution, and you'll always find outliers to fit your narrative.

Remind me of my narrative Mr know it all.


I just posted out that UC and NKU has had multiple In conference defensive issues that lead to outlier offensive performances from otherwise poor offensive teams.


Ok. So your sorry I’m 100% wrong and our defense and rebounding on the road have been great in conference?


Lol sure. We are letting some of the leagues worst offenses drop their best performances all season and it’s not a problem.

 

[justinhub2003]

Y’all act like I’m asking for Cronin back.

What I’m asking for is UC defense were used to seeing coupled with John Brannen’s offense.

We defend great at home, but on the road we don’t.

I have no idea why. But the numbers show it