UConn is good.

[MU82]

I wish Ben would have gotten more looks as well, but UConn was not playing him soft, and he was struggling to get open in the slow half court offense. Kam and Jop both went iso a couple of times when they could have hit Ben wide open, but they kept dribbling. The offense is a work in progress with TK and the need to figure it out quickly if TK is out longer than we hope.

It was very difficult for Gold, Kam or Joplin to find much space out there for 3s. UConn is so good, and they don't need to help on D. But there were a few opportunities for Gold on the pick-and-pop and for Oso on the lob ... but the passes weren't made. That's what happens when you don't have your stud PG out there.

To me, it's not so much that Kam can't find a guy on a pick-and-pop or that he can't throw a lob, it's that it simply hasn't been what he's been asked to do for 3 years. You can't just say, "OK, now go!" So Shaka mostly asked Kam to just do what Kam does well. Kam's sure hasn't been why we didn't win these last two games (nor did you say he was).

I heard nothing postgame to make me think Kolek won't be back for the NCAA tournament. Looking forward to having him back on the court.

Meanwhile, if we just play as well as we have these last two games, we should have more than enough to win Saturday.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

If he was on your team, you would love him.   Heck of a player.

His play?  Sure. His antics?  Nope. I don't see him and TK in the same way as far as that goes.

[tower912]

Meh.  He was having a ridiculous night, had just made a great play, stuck a dagger 3, and talked sh!t.  He got the T he deserved, the lecture from his coach, and turned the momentum against his team.

The game needs heels, too.

[Goose]

tower


The game does not need heels. Was just talking about the lack of heels on the PGA and how that is making it even more difficult for me to watch. I wish every good team had a true heel on their team because it makes more fun to hate them. If not for Spencer, I would find it hard to cheer against UConn most nights.

[rgoode57]

Truth is, UConn is simply a better team than MU. No shame in that. Can MU beat them? Yes, but everything has to go exactly right. Maybe that happens next week. Last night, I just never felt like our gius were going to get over the hump in the second half. They were having to work too hard to score. On the positive side, Tre Norman played some good minutes and Stevie, of course, played his heart out.

[tower912]

Low blow on the timing of this

There is never bad timing for a pun.

[Biggie Clausen]

His play?  Sure. His antics?  Nope. I don't see him and TK in the same way as far as that goes.

That's because TK is on the team you root for.  You're just soft.

[MuggsyB]

Truth is, UConn is simply a better team than MU. No shame in that. Can MU beat them? Yes, but everything has to go exactly right. Maybe that happens next week. Last night, I just never felt like our gius were going to get over the hump in the second half. They were having to work too hard to score. On the positive side, Tre Norman played some good minutes and Stevie, of course, played his heart out.

We did have to work too hard offensively.  The question is whether this can be fixed before Tyko comes back or if he plays at like 75%?  My contention is Kam is exerting too much energy.  No doubt defenses will key on him but I don't really like him having to play 94 feet with the ball.  Oso, while I loved that he attacked Clingan, wasn't particularly efficient last night.  UCONN is a championship contender, but they also had like 4 points in 8 mins of playing time.  They're beatable.  But you're not beating them when they get multiple 2nd shots and we did a very poor job of rebounding.  Especially long rebounds.  Our guards have to snag those.   Lastly, I really think Oso in particular needs to slow down at times when he's looking to score. 

[rocket surgeon]

our defense gave us multiple opportunities to win this game!!  we just never capitalized!  there were a few sequences on offense where no one was moving expecting the other to do "something".  we came out of a time out and almost didn't get a shot off which didn't matter because it was almost as if uconn was in our huddle.

  many times, the crowd was ready to explode, but fizzled

yes, then the free throws-in the end, they matta'd


anyone have the super slo-mo replay of the dude at halftime trying to do his best simone biles immitation?  he almost needed some serious dental work-no worries as MU continues to have one of the stellar programs in the nation.  there were a lot of good ones in the crowd

good thing he was ok...i think

[MU82]

Truth is, UConn is simply a better team than MU. No shame in that. Can MU beat them? Yes, but everything has to go exactly right.

Everything didn't go exactly right last night, that's for sure. They killed us on the boards, it seemed like they hit every 3-pointer they took, we couldn't get open for 3s, we had trouble getting clear to the basket because of Clingan's presence and their perimeter defense, we missed a bunch of FTs, we played way too much iso-ball, and one of our starters - forced into the lineup because we were without our All-American PG - was too sick to contribute. Etc etc etc.

And despite all that stuff that didn't go exactly right, we were down 5 with the ball with 30 seconds to play.

I don't deny that UConn is simply a better team, but it's not by miles and miles. And we also have plenty of company, because they probably are the best team in the country.

Add a healthy Kolek (and Oso and Ross) to all the guts we showed these last two games, and I am far more encouraged than discouraged. Ready for a long NCAA run!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

That's because TK is on the team you root for.  You're just soft.

It's not.  You're just an idiot. 

[Newsdreams]

Zero chance MU doesn't add another guard for next year if Kolek heads for the NBA.

If no one besides Oso & TK leave, who do you send packing?

[Newsdreams]

100%. FT's do matter. FREEthrows. A fundamental that absolutely swings games.

Not really, that is why they're considered a waste of time during practice.

[willie warrior]

We did have to work too hard offensively.  The question is whether this can be fixed before Tyko comes back or if he plays at like 75%?  My contention is Kam is exerting too much energy.  No doubt defenses will key on him but I don't really like him having to play 94 feet with the ball.  Oso, while I loved that he attacked Clingan, wasn't particularly efficient last night.  UCONN is a championship contender, but they also had like 4 points in 8 mins of playing time.  They're beatable.  But you're not beating them when they get multiple 2nd shots and we did a very poor job of rebounding.  Especially long rebounds.  Our guards have to snag those.   Lastly, I really think Oso in particular needs to slow down at times when he's looking to score.

There is no doubt that UConn is better. Disappointing when you compstr us vs. Them from last year with what we had coming back. This just shows that Shaka needs to step up his recruiting game.

[muwarrior97]

Spencer earned the right.    One way to stop him.

Exactly! We'd love it if he had a MUBB jersey on......I don't like him BUT I think I'd love him if he was on my team

[Uncle Rico]

There is no doubt that UConn is better. Disappointing when you compstr us vs. Them from last year with what we had coming back. This just shows that Shaka needs to step up his recruiting game.

Thanks Dung Willie

[Shooter McGavin]

Exactly! We'd love it if he had a MUBB jersey on......I don't like him BUT I think I'd love him if he was on my team

Said the same to the UConn fans sitting behind me.  What a great portal pick up for them.  The guy is an assassin. 

[The Sultan]

100%. FT's do matter. FREEthrows. A fundamental that absolutely swings games.

Sigh. Not usually. The math has been posted here many times.

[The Sultan]

Meh.  He was having a ridiculous night, had just made a great play, stuck a dagger 3, and talked sh!t.  He got the T he deserved, the lecture from his coach, and turned the momentum against his team.

The game needs heels, too.

I have absolutely no problem with anything he did. The crowd gets on him and he gives it back.

[Big Papi]

I have absolutely no problem with anything he did. The crowd gets on him and he gives it back.

Same sh*t talking that Kolek does.  Those are the players you love when they are on your team and hate when they are the opposition.

[MU82]

Exactly! We'd love it if he had a MUBB jersey on......I don't like him BUT I think I'd love him if he was on my team

He's Rowsey on offense, while being willing to play some D and help on the boards. Damn right I'd take him or a player like him pretty much any time.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

100%. FT's do matter. FREEthrows. A fundamental that absolutely swings games.

The best team in country at making FTs only makes 81.7 of them so FREE throws are not actually FREE. #2 shoots 80.8%.

If we shot 81% on our FTs last night...we still lose by 3.

FT% matters, but it almost never swings games. Last night what swung the game was us only taking 16, 3Ps, allowing them to shoot 50% from three, and letting them grab 43% of their missed shots.

[MUfan12]

FT% matters, but it almost never swings games. Last night what swung the game was us only taking 16, 3Ps, allowing them to shoot 50% from three, and letting them grab 43% of their missed shots.

Yep. The FT thing is a lazy narrative.

The biggest thing I want to see improvement on is the number of times MU gets to the line.

[The Sultan]

Same sh*t talking that Kolek does.  Those are the players you love when they are on your team and hate when they are the opposition.

I've never hated an opposing player.

[Uncle Rico]

Yep. The FT thing is a lazy narrative.

The biggest thing I want to see improvement on is the number of times MU gets to the line.

I'm not sure there has ever been a lazy narrative on scoop