UConn- lineup & thoughts | The Boneyard

UConn- lineup & thoughts

Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
48,016
Reaction Score
161,510
Once Bouknight is back, hopefully next game the lineup needs to be Bouknight, Jackson, Tyrese, Sanogo and either Cole or Gaff. I'm leaning Gaff, it's always been about confidence with him. He has to know how good he is after today.

This was by far the best version of Seton Hall, we simply caught them at the wrong time where they are fully healthy with Aiken back and healthy and Cale playing the best ball of his career it makes them a completely different team and the whole team shot the best they ever have. You simply can't spot a team like that a 17 point lead. Covid interruptions and injuries have decimated us but now is the time things should finally click.

Jackson completely turned that game around from being a blowout. He's going to be the best athlete on the court no matter who he's playing against and he's by far our best passer, Sanogo must love him. He was running the offense for a while and threw most of the best passes we've had all season, his vision and instincts are on another level and he was also hounding people on D.

The pieces are all there now once Bouknight comes back and Hurley has to get out of his conservative/stubborn mentality cutting Adams minutes way down and playing Jackson and Sanogo 30 minutes per game. Coach still needs to be a lot better about his in game feel for what's happening, he's about to have the pieces.
 

Chin Diesel

Power of Love
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
32,410
Reaction Score
97,251
I put on another thread.

Gaff, Bouk, Jax, Whaley and Sanogo.

I like Whaley over Martin in this lineup.

With Jax and Bouk, Gaff can take the third perimeter option on D. Let Jax choke off the point and Boil take the second best peter player.

Love Sanogo in the post and his rebounding. Someone has to protect the rim and that is Whaley.
 
Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
48,016
Reaction Score
161,510
I put on another thread.

Gaff, Bouk, Jax, Whaley and Sanogo.

I like Whaley over Martin in this lineup.

With Jax and Bouk, Gaff can take the third perimeter option on D. Let Jax choke off the point and Boil take the second best peter player.

Love Sanogo in the post and his rebounding. Someone has to protect the rim and that is Whaley.
I thought I put Whaley in my starting lineup, of course he needs to start. My bad.
 

Chin Diesel

Power of Love
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
32,410
Reaction Score
97,251
I thought I put Whaley in my starting lineup, of course he needs to start. My bad.

Whaley hit a 12' baseline shot towards end of game on a catch and shoot.

Also, earlier in second half Whaley caught ball on left wing and squared up for a 3. He froze the defender allowing Whaley to pass to Adams in the corner for a 3.

Those are types of plays allowing me to want to see Whaley at high post and wing leaving room for Sanogo inside.
 
Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
2,210
Reaction Score
7,650
Playing PC you can get away with

Gaff, Bouk, Jackson, Martin, Whaley.
 
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
16,450
Reaction Score
31,328
Gaffney (because I just always liked him), Bouk, Martin, Whaley and Sanogo.

Jackson only has to wait half a year to start, but he would replace Polley as first one off the bench.
 
Joined
Jan 19, 2012
Messages
1,976
Reaction Score
10,644
Let me just play devils advocate here...

our defense was pretty abysmal today. Allowed easy passes, easy driving lanes, soft double teams...and most importantly, allowed Mamu to catch the ball wherever and whenever he desired.that’s controlled by ball hawking guard defense, which doesn’t allow for them to sit and wait for mamu to post.

work in progress for sure. But they straight up bodied us today in the back court, plain and simple.
 
Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
48,016
Reaction Score
161,510
Whaley hit a 12' baseline shot towards end of game on a catch and shoot.

Also, earlier in second half Whaley caught ball on left wing and squared up for a 3. He froze the defender allowing Whaley to pass to Adams in the corner for a 3.

Those are types of plays allowing me to want to see Whaley at high post and wing leaving room for Sanogo inside.
We're so close to being great. In a non-Covid season with no injuries I legti think we would have final 4 type talent. It'a unlikely we get to where we could've been because of all that went down but there's still time for a run with Bouknight coming back. Hurley has to be better at using all his weapons but it's a tough job with all the Covid cr@p and injuries. They are much better than I thought they would be with losing so much to Covid and injuries. Beginning of the season we looked like we had a top 5 player in the country and a bunch of guys standing around. There's still time but Hurley has to figure it out.
 
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Messages
201
Reaction Score
974
It’s been really tough for Polley after his 3 breakout games. I suspect his role and shooting becomes more important and gets back on track when Bouk comes back - he gives us the ability to spread the floor and guys can’t drape themselves all over him and give James the lane that easy
 
Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
48,016
Reaction Score
161,510
It’s been really tough for Polley after his 3 breakout games. I suspect his role and shooting becomes more important and gets back on track when Bouk comes back - he gives us the ability to spread the floor and guys can’t drape themselves all over him and give James the lane that easy
Agreed, excellent shooter when open which Bouknight and Jackson should be able to provide for him but he's pretty much unplayable without getting open looks. He should be an instant offense three point shooter off the bench when Bouk comes back.
 
Joined
Apr 14, 2020
Messages
4,423
Reaction Score
19,361
I put on another thread.

Gaff, Bouk, Jax, Whaley and Sanogo.

I like Whaley over Martin in this lineup.

With Jax and Bouk, Gaff can take the third perimeter option on D. Let Jax choke off the point and Boil take the second best peter player.

Love Sanogo in the post and his rebounding. Someone has to protect the rim and that is Whaley.
Love this lineup.Excellent speed with JB/AJ/JG. Wish the refs would let Sanogo play a little bit more.Seems like they're calling him on some BS calls almost as if they're anticipating more contact than what actually happens. Like that call in the corner on Aiken.
 
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
12,088
Reaction Score
63,208
It's a very clear 8 man rotation going forward.

Bouk, Whaley, Martin, Jackson, Gaffney, Cole, Sanogo, Polley.

And I think in that order, IMO. Can play hot hand with Gaffney/Cole and more Sanogo in certain matchups.
 
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
1,669
Reaction Score
4,285
Once Bouknight is back, hopefully next game the lineup needs to be Bouknight, Jackson, Tyrese, Sanogo and either Cole or Gaff. I'm leaning Gaff, it's always been about confidence with him. He has to know how good he is after today.

This was by far the best version of Seton Hall, we simply caught them at the wrong time where they are fully healthy with Aiken back and healthy and Cale playing the best ball of his career it makes them a completely different team and the whole team shot the best they ever have. You simply can't spot a team like that a 17 point lead. Covid interruptions and injuries have decimated us but now is the time things should finally click.

Jackson completely turned that game around from being a blowout. He's going to be the best athlete on the court no matter who he's playing against and he's by far our best passer, Sanogo must love him. He was running the offense for a while and threw most of the best passes we've had all season, his vision and instincts are on another level and he was also hounding people on D.

The pieces are all there now once Bouknight comes back and Hurley has to get out of his conservative/stubborn mentality cutting Adams minutes way down and playing Jackson and Sanogo 30 minutes per game. Coach still needs to be a lot better about his in game feel for what's happening, he's about to have the pieces.
I couldn’t of said it better myself - you took the words right out of my mouth with every single thing you said -thank you for saving me three minutes of texting. The run begins Wednesday at 4.
 
Joined
Apr 14, 2020
Messages
4,423
Reaction Score
19,361
It’s been really tough for Polley after his 3 breakout games. I suspect his role and shooting becomes more important and gets back on track when Bouk comes back - he gives us the ability to spread the floor and guys can’t drape themselves all over him and give James the lane that easy
Tyler Phommachanh benefits from spacing on the floor as opposed to creating his own open shots/separation with his foot speed. Doesn't have the moving without the ball DNA of Rip or Ray. Relies on his teammates to "find" him .
 

Hankster

What do I know.
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
1,912
Reaction Score
3,292
I put on another thread.

Gaff, Bouk, Jax, Whaley and Sanogo.

I like Whaley over Martin in this lineup.

With Jax and Bouk, Gaff can take the third perimeter option on D. Let Jax choke off the point and Boil take the second best peter player.

Love Sanogo in the post and his rebounding. Someone has to protect the rim and that is Whaley.
The couple of games I have seen Whaley give up too many open looks. Again today, multiple times. Looks to pass 99% of the time. I like Whaley but he has to kick in with some points. He gets the ball at the top of the key 3 point line. Nobody near him, sets, aims and then looks around to pass. Martin has been rebounding and scores. Sonogo is playing great.
 
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
1,669
Reaction Score
4,285
We're so close to being great. In a non-Covid season with no injuries I legti think we would have final 4 type talent. It'a unlikely we get to where we could've been because of all that went down but there's still time for a run with Bouknight coming back. Hurley has to be better at using all his weapons but it's a tough job with all the Covid cr@p and injuries. They are much better than I thought they would be with losing so much to Covid and injuries. Beginning of the season we looked like we had a top 5 player in the country and a bunch of guys standing around. There's still time but Hurley has to figure it out.
My buddy and I just looked at a betting site. UConn is +5000 to win the tournament -great great odds. I’m telling you with the covid stops and starts we’ve had and the injuries and the fact that were getting a potential player of the year candidate back in next 1 or 2 games -In addition to the emergence of Jackson and Gaffney today and sanogo improving - don’t be surprised if this team makes a very deep run in the tourney. I’m not even mad about the loss today cause I know we’re gonna rock them we we play them again / Cool thing is , no one really knows about this squad except people that follow them. I like our odds against anybody in the tourney. just don’t want to see Baylor or Gonzaga till deep in
 
Joined
Apr 14, 2020
Messages
4,423
Reaction Score
19,361
Whaley hit a 12' baseline shot towards end of game on a catch and shoot.

Also, earlier in second half Whaley caught ball on left wing and squared up for a 3. He froze the defender allowing Whaley to pass to Adams in the corner for a 3.

Those are types of plays allowing me to want to see Whaley at high post and wing leaving room for Sanogo inside.
DH has mentioned in interviews that the quicker/more proficient IW becomes in that spot-The more explosive and dangerous we are as an offense.

With JG/AJ/JB spreading the floor IW could really be effective in that spot. Dump it down to the Big Man for an occasional jump hook/dunk.
 
Joined
Jan 29, 2021
Messages
860
Reaction Score
2,979
The couple of games I have seen Whaley give up too many open looks. Again today, multiple times. Looks to pass 99% of the time. I like Whaley but he has to kick in with some points. He gets the ball at the top of the key 3 point line. Nobody near him, sets, aims and then looks around to pass. Martin has been rebounding and scores. Sonogo is playing great.
I totally agree that Whaley is passing up many open shots as many on this team do. There is to much guard dribbling and late shot clock looking to drive. Look at the low number of assists this team posts. We also need Polly to get in the middle for a quick 2 point jumper or pass to a big for a lay up. This would draw out the defense some for others to drive. Our three point shoot is suspect so we have to find other ways to score. Martin could also be this player and could drive if covered. Let involve more players inside the key!
 
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
16,036
Reaction Score
23,102
We have a coach making 3 million a year who should be able to put a successful lineup together that doesn’t leave the team in a hole out of the gate. He can recruit but this part is important too.
 

HuskyHawk

The triumphant return of the Blues Brothers.
Joined
Sep 12, 2011
Messages
31,862
Reaction Score
81,491
It's a very clear 8 man rotation going forward.

Bouk, Whaley, Martin, Jackson, Gaffney, Cole, Sanogo, Polley.

And I think in that order, IMO. Can play hot hand with Gaffney/Cole and more Sanogo in certain matchups.

I’d have Polley out of the rotation unless we need a late 3. He’s a major liability on defense and for rebounding. He has a weak handle and isn’t a good passer. I’d rather see Adams and Carlton as the situation requires. Once Bouk is back, I’m not worried about shooting. Gaffney looks better and showed deep range. Cole can shoot. Martin can shoot. Jackson even hit his one try. We win with defense and rebounding. Sanogo needs a lot of minutes, so does Martin.

Our one big lineups have generally not fared well, because Hurley insists on having the 5 hard hedge. Akok helped there because he could cover the rim. Maybe Jackson can bring that shot-blocking. Nobody else can and we get burned by vacating the lane.
 
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
80
Reaction Score
144
I think the guards might shoot better in a more uptempo game than this plodding slow motion offense we are using, when it was successful we had either Kemba, Boat, or Shabazz taking it to the hoop fearlessly
 

August_West

Universal remote, put it down on docking station.
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
51,047
Reaction Score
87,452
This thread wore well.
 

Online statistics

Members online
80
Guests online
2,768
Total visitors
2,848

Forum statistics

Threads
155,799
Messages
4,032,034
Members
9,865
Latest member
Sad Tiger


Top Bottom