LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Here are highlights of George Blaney’s post-game interview, following UConn’s 70-59 loss at Louisville:
“One of the things about this league is that you won’t want to play teams when they’re on an uptick, and Louisville is really on an uptick. I thought they were, when I watched them the last four games.”
“I thought we were in good shape at the end of the half. We continued to not play very good offense but we were playing terrific defense. We were on the floor for loose balls, we were competing and we were in fine shape. We came out at the start of the second half, we didn’t box out a couple of times and just kind of turned them loose. The crowd is sensational here, they did get fired up, and they made seven or eight threes in the second half, shot 50 percent and embarrassed us. That’s not the way we play. That’s not the thing we’ve been working on. But I have to give them a ton of credit for how tough and strong they played. Seventeen offensive rebounds and we were a little bit slow on the backboard.”
“I sure hope [the players feel embarrassed. That was a pretty good beating in the second half. Fifty one points and 50 percent shooting, seven or eight threes."
"I think [Andre Drummond] had a freshman night.”
“We’re not running offense. We’re settling for quick things or not moving the ball quickly enough and we’re not staying with the things we’re trying to do. Any time you play Rick’s team the defense is going to be 2-3 matchup, it’s always a good defense. Quite honestly, I am not convinced that it’s as good as it actually is. I thought it was more our offense than it was their defense. We had spent an incredible amount of time in the last couple of days on the offense just to make sure we stayed in it, and we got out of it.”
“We’ve still won 15 games. We’re not a bad team, we just played bad in the second half and I think we’ve got enough kids that are good enough to lead. I’m just really concerned about the way we’re playing offensively. That’s really the key issue I have.”
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18 Responses to Louisville 80, UConn 59: George Blaney’s Take
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[...] Louisville 80, UConn 59: George Blaney’s Take [...]
What a bunch of stiffs! This team has no chemistry, no heart, and no drive to win for each other. Just a bunch of slugs hanging out on a street corner looking for a handout. The coaching staff looks just as bad. Nobody getting up in players faces and telling it like it is or trying to fire them up. Why not let some players with desire play, you know, the walkons and freshmen. They can’t be any worse. At least they would play like the game meant something.
This staff and team should be blown up and started all over again. They ain’t special, they’re chumps and quitters.
Blaney is at fault for not benching Napier. Napier was not even trying, his pathetic passing showed that he quit and he disgraced uconn basketball. When will this staff accept the fact that Daniels is not ready to contribute as a freshman. He may be a player some day but this year he is awful. Drummond should have been benched as well, he was completely disengaged.
Lamb is another problem. He has not shot well for at least the last 8 games and when he doesn’t score he sulks. He doesnt play defense and stands around. Funny how they bench Oriaki, but Lamb can do whatever he wants to do.
The vitriol here is so so disheartening. You have a group of young men playing “usually” their best for you every night and this is what they get? I see the same thing when Louisville loses a game and it is so wrong. These guys do what 90% of us can’t and you write crap like this that you know they read! I’m ashamed for you as “fans” as I am for Louisville “fans” when they do this. SUPPORT is what the team needs. YOU WON A CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR! I understand wanting to be in the tournament each year – sometimes it just doesn’t happen!
Bazz just hurts the team being on the court. Every shot or pass he makes is the wrong one. At least sitting on the bench he won’t be turning the ball over. AD should see less time as well, he plays so soft and really is a non factor. Problem is, who do you replace these guy with? Looks like we just take our lumps this year and hope Omar Calhoun will inject some life into the team next year.
Dude, Shabazz SUCKS. its reality
lets stop playing him now.
ALl he does is chuck and chuck some more shots. No discipline and I have to blame Calhoun for letting this go so early
Agree with nearly everyone above. Time to clean house and start over.Our coaches have been outstanding over the years and we owe them a great debt of gratitude, but as an older man myself,I understand when it is time to step aside.Last year was all Kemba and only Kemba. Someone got into the players heads that they were NBA bound before this season started and they are playing like the season is over and off they go. However, the competition for NBA spots is great and NO ONE on this team is near ready. As a matter of fact by the end of the season if this continues they may not ever be considered for the NBA so let’s hope at least they will get an education. As far as offensive performance this rests on the coaching staff. Do they actually have any set plays? You would never know it. All one sees is hesitancy,passing up open shots and sloppy play. Even when UConn was at the bottom of the BE back in the late seventies, at least the teams put in a effort. This is pathetic. As I said previously, they will be lucky to win 2 more games. Plan on an early exit in the BE tourney and watch the NCAA’s from home.
Just a pathetic display. I graduated in 1971 and have never seen a UConn team mail in the remainder of a season with so many games left. Who taught them the offense of standing around for 20 seconds and then pass to the other team . . . Louisville received more passes from UConn than they gave Lamb. And what is with the entire team and staff with their heads down in the late stages of the second half. Time for an entire coaching staff change and the benching of the starters for those players on the bench who are at least willing to play.
Many things wrong. Drummond has no offensive game, he is simply all athletisim and when everyone is athletic on the court he struggles. Who where his coaches at the lower levels and why didnt anyone tell him to learn some post moves. A simple baby hook would be ok. Lamb has no confidence, Shabadd is one of the worst decision makers at the point. Get the ball inside, many times bigs had great postion on the low block and they just swing it around 3point line. Time is running out on this season
All of the above make great points, but someone needs to take the leash off these guys offensively. They are simply too talented to be playing so poorly on the scoring side of the ball. It’s time for the players to stop worrying if their offensive choices will be questioned by the coaches. I don’t like seeing Shabazz throwing up stupid shots, but at least he doesn’t look as afraid as the rest of the team. For such a talented bunch it’s just hard to understand.
I have been a Huskies fan since 1973 and for many years my pride for Uconn was off the charts. however, the last few games they look pathetic, they don’t appear to be trying. Napier and Lamb must believe the hype written about them and are just putting in 50% effort. Team hustle is not evident except for Tyler O, Free throw shooting is still below par. Shabazz is insane to think he can drive to the basket and challenge kids 6-8 inches taller. I have the utmost respect for Jim Calhoun but in my opinion it’s time for him to go and the sad part is they know how old Calhoun is and they should be grooming some one other than Blaney. Mark my words without a well known coach in the wings to take over, the entire men’s BB program will suffer a 5-10 year backward spiral.
I am a die hard fan. But I have never seen a team so willing to give up uncontested 3′s when that is UCONN’s Achilles heal.The opponents sixst man in Napier. Every guard dreams for a Napier match-up because Napier will take ridiculous shots and not guard them in 3 point land.I don’t know why the coaches love him.
I was waiting to see what George B would say after this display. You don’t want to play teams on an “uptick” ? How about being one of those teams on an “uptick”. It may be a small frustration on my part, but our bigs seem to want to always lay the ball into the hole. Isn’t it about time to jam that ball into the hoop, make a statement, maybe next time they will get out of the way. If “we are not running our offense” why are those people on the floor? Calhoun has a quick trigger, but if you aren’t doing what he expects, you sit simply sit. That concepts seems to be lost on George B. “We still have won 15 games”, unless something changes in the next 96 hours you will be saying that on February 22nd.
Have been watching Uconn BB since the early nineties.Got
indoctrinated into defense causes offense.Once this team gets down by 10 points its over everyone just gives up,Definitely not a Calhoun team.Whateverer happened to the Ricky Mores of Basketball.Boatright says he wouldnt mind becoming a leader.Hope he convinces the rest of the team the seasons not over..
THIS WAS WORSE THAN THE DYSON YEARS.WHAT A STIFF OLANDER IS.IN 5 MINUTES HE WAS OUTREBOUNDED,POSTERIZED,MISSED 3 WIDE OPEN SHOTS,FELL FLAT ON HIS FACE ,AND TOOK TWO BALLS OFF THE FOREHEAD.WASHINGTON GENERALS NEED A CLOWN?LAMB PLAYS NO D.SHABAZZ
CANT BREASTFEED OFF KEMBA ANYMORE.DRUMMOND IS OUT FOR HIMSELF.IF ROSCOE WAS A 5 STAR RECRUIT,THAN IM A 8 STAR JOURNALIST.AND WHERE WAS GIFFEY ALL NITE?
Just watched Uconn’s loss to Syracuse, WOW! didn’t think they would win but didn’t think they would quit again late in the game. What a shame, they had the players to go to the Final Four again,and they will be lucky to get into the NIT. Is Tyler Olander related to the President or Dean of the college, granted he hustles on every play but on offense he is horrible. I am worried that with the impending suspension,Jim Calhoun will retire and Uconn will struggle for the next 10 years to be competitive in the toughest conference in America.
Well well, here we are, at the close of the 2011/2012 season and what a disastrous,disgraceful disappointing season it was. I really thought Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith and Jeremy Lamb would become much, much better players with a NCAA title under their belt and when they added a thoroughbred like Andre Drummond into the mix, I felt another championship was surely a possibility. Did that happen? Hell no, and does anyone know why? I would love to hear your thoughts. My feeling is that Shabazz and Lamb force way too many shots. The whole team settles for long jumpers instead of getting the ball inside. As a matter of fact, did anyone see the comparison of points in the paint, I think Iowa had a 15 point advantage in the category and Uconn lost by 13. Another issue was free throw shooting, very poor again. Lastly, they gave Iowa way too many second and third chances to score by not hustling after loose balls and not rebounding well. So the season that should have ended with another final four appearance, is OVER and I wish I didn’t care because it sure seems the players don’t.