IUFLA Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 (edited) When: Sunday, November 20th 1 PM EST Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY TV: ESPN Danny Hurley (6th year at UConn 107-52...258-160 overall) leads his 3-0 Connecticut Huskies (#5 AP Poll #4 Coaches) into MSG to take on our Hoosiers in the first game of the Empire Classic. UConn, of course, is coming off of their 5th National Championship last year when they went 31-8, and won all 6 of their tournament games by double digits. The main players they bring back off of that team are 6'5 Senior guard Tristen Newton, 6'8 Sophomore forward Alex Karaban, and 7'2 Sophomore center Donovan Clingan. Those 3 are joined by newcomers 6'4 grad transfer Cam Spencer (Loyola, Md and Rutgers), and 6'6 Freshman Stephon Castle who was a teammate of Jakai Newton at Newton High School in Georgia, and a McDonald's All American in the starting lineup. All 5 starters average double figures. As you can see, they run about 10 deep early in the year. The Huskies haven't had much competition yet either playing Kenpom #241 Norther Arizona, #349 Stonehill, and #362 (last) Mississippi Valley State, winning all 3 easily, so this will be their first real test as well. UConn takes a lot of 3s (28 per game) but overall shoot 33% from behind the line in early going. We know how dangerous Spencer can be, and Karaban and Newton both shoot over 35% from 3. It'll be a good measuring stick to see where this group stands. Clingan is about the closest thing we'll see to Zach Edey until we play PU. Big, a little more athletic than Edey, and soft touch around the rim. Not an outside threat at all. Good team. They share the ball (2:1 assist to TO ratio as a team), and are a good rebounding team. The winner gets the winner of the Texas/Louisville game immediately following. Let's go get them! Go Hoosiers! Edited November 17, 2023 by IUFLA 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUFLA Posted November 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 By the way, Kel'el played against UConn last year when he was at Oregon, going for 18 points and 9 boards before he fell into Altman's doghouse (Thanks Dana!) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGleas Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 Hate to be negative, especially this early in the season, but my expectations are really, really low for this game. Hoping we can keep it somewhere between 10-15 and not get blown out. Biggest thing I'll be looking for, aside from XJ's health, is how/if Woodson shrinks the rotation at all against a good team. Were the first 5 games tinkering and seeing what guys have, or is this 10-man lineup how we're going to play? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Ballin Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 16 minutes ago, BGleas said: Hate to be negative, especially this early in the season, but my expectations are really, really low for this game. Hoping we can keep it somewhere between 10-15 and not get blown out. Biggest thing I'll be looking for, aside from XJ's health, is how/if Woodson shrinks the rotation at all against a good team. Were the first 5 games tinkering and seeing what guys have, or is this 10-man lineup how we're going to play? If Walker and to a lesser extent Sparks see much floor time Sunday we are in trouble. I think they will have spots this year where each will shine but i think it will be in B1G play not against tip tier out of conference teams. CJ and Kaleb are going to have to pull up their big boy pants and do what they're supposed to without getting too hyped up and trying to do to much. Play solid D and make open shots when they come within the flow of the offense. If they, or any of the other bench guys try to force the action when they get in, it will get ugly quick. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUFLA Posted November 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 20 minutes ago, BGleas said: Hate to be negative, especially this early in the season, but my expectations are really, really low for this game. Hoping we can keep it somewhere between 10-15 and not get blown out. Biggest thing I'll be looking for, aside from XJ's health, is how/if Woodson shrinks the rotation at all against a good team. Were the first 5 games tinkering and seeing what guys have, or is this 10-man lineup how we're going to play? I don't know...They lost Sanogo and Hawkins, so they're kinda in unknown territory too... Even if X plays, I don't expect him to be at 100%, so Cupps is gonna get a baptism by fire...I think the 2 really interesting matchups will be Mgbako/Castle, and Reneau/Karaban... At best, we win...at worst, it's a learning experience as to the effort it takes to compete against good teams... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGleas Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 6 minutes ago, IUFLA said: I don't know...They lost Sanogo and Hawkins, so they're kinda in unknown territory too... Even if X plays, I don't expect him to be at 100%, so Cupps is gonna get a baptism by fire...I think the 2 really interesting matchups will be Mgbako/Castle, and Reneau/Karaban... At best, we win...at worst, it's a learning experience as to the effort it takes to compete against good teams... All accurate of course, but UConn, despite their roster turnover, has certainly taking care of business to this point much better than IU has. Of course, college basketball is weird and you never know how kids are going to react in their first real test (meaning both teams). I just find very little to feel confident about with this IU team so far. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steubenhoosier Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 Gonna be a record the game, watch football, and then watch the Hoosiers later if it's a good game kinda day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCHoosier32 Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 only thing i like about this game is that they also haven't played anyone good. that said, they have beaten those bad teams soundly and we have not. i don't think that means all that much, but i know i'd rather be in the other boat! the fact that they hit 3s at the rate that they do and we have looked bad defensively from 3 against bad teams scares me to death! i am excited to see this game though. i would be shocked with a win, but thrilled to even look good against them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWB Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 IMO, this will set the tone for the rest of the season. Will we compete? Or rollover when the going gets tough, and it will. A bunch of guys are going to have to really play hard for every second they're in the game. No possessions off. I think X (if available) and Gallo will have to lead the way followed closely by Gabe & Malik. Ware is going to really have to assert himself. We need to play "our game", not theirs. By all measures this is a home game for UConn. Our fans travel well, but this is a stone's throw from UConn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGleas Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 I think I know the answer, but will be super interested to see what Woodson does if either Reneau or Ware get in early foul trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierinbham Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 1 minute ago, BGleas said: I think I know the answer, but will be super interested to see what Woodson does if either Reneau or Ware get in early foul trouble. Might you be implying CMW could be forced to play Mgbako at the 4? Love to see it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGleas Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 13 minutes ago, Hoosierinbham said: Might you be implying CMW could be forced to play Mgbako at the 4? Love to see it! I think he'll stick with the 2 bigs rotation. But yes, curious to see if he'd ever think about going smaller? Doesn't have to be Mgbako necessarily, but instead of Walker/Sparks, how about we try lineups with some combination four of MM, Banks, Galloway, Cupps and Gunn with Reneau or Ware? These guys need to earn it obviously, but I'd love to see some minutes with Banks and MM together with 2 guards and a big. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go_iu_bb Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 2 hours ago, BGleas said: Hate to be negative, especially this early in the season, but my expectations are really, really low for this game. Hoping we can keep it somewhere between 10-15 and not get blown out. Biggest thing I'll be looking for, aside from XJ's health, is how/if Woodson shrinks the rotation at all against a good team. Were the first 5 games tinkering and seeing what guys have, or is this 10-man lineup how we're going to play? Yeah, I think this game will be brutal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyhoosier29 Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 Yikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCHoosier32 Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 46 minutes ago, DWB said: IMO, this will set the tone for the rest of the season. Will we compete? Or rollover when the going gets tough, and it will. A bunch of guys are going to have to really play hard for every second they're in the game. No possessions off. I think X (if available) and Gallo will have to lead the way followed closely by Gabe & Malik. Ware is going to really have to assert himself. We need to play "our game", not theirs. By all measures this is a home game for UConn. Our fans travel well, but this is a stone's throw from UConn. i'm afraid you're right and afraid it will be a bad answer. that said, it could always go like this - we could get blown out and then guys either have a reality check for how hard they need to play and how smart they need to play and we improve - or - Woodson could also have a reality check and make some changes and we improve. i'm not super optimistic about any of this, but gonna hope for the best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUFLA Posted November 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 (edited) Highlights of Kel'el (noticeably skinnier) when his Oregon team played UConn in the Phil Knight Invitational last year... I noticed they started Karaban on him...But he did have some time with Clingan on the floor...KW is much more athletic, but he'll be giving up 35+ Lbs... It was Kel'el's best game during his tenure at Oregon... So far, the two things that have impressed me about him the most are his hands, and his basketball IQ...Kid knows the game...Reneau talked about it in the postgame... Edited November 17, 2023 by IUFLA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Robby Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 I'm going to enter Sunday with the thought of "maybe we're playing to the level of our competition." Hopefully MSG brings out an extra gear from some of our dudes 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCHoosier32 Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 3 minutes ago, Coach Robby said: I'm going to enter Sunday with the thought of "maybe we're playing to the level of our competition." Hopefully MSG brings out an extra gear from some of our dudes i mean, we can hope this. maybe it is true to some extent? maybe they'll all step up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier987 Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 (edited) Reports are 6'6" Stephon Castle is injured and will not play this weekend for Uconn...consensus 5 star who's averaging 15 points per game. Edited November 17, 2023 by Hoosier987 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euroclydon Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 It would take a 180 about face for this to be a close game. Disciplined offense that works for good shots, and a team commitment to rebounding and defense. None of which has been displayed so far. My hope is they show up and play like they understand how to win. But if not, getting it handed to them on a big stage may open some eyes and help turn it around. I know some see this as too negative. It's not. It's reality. One that will prevent them from making the big dance if it is not changed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jv1972iu Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 1 minute ago, NCHoosier32 said: i mean, we can hope this. maybe it is true to some extent? maybe they'll all step up. Yeah, I'm not looking forward to this game. Hurley is a really good coach. UConn wins this one. Too much experience and shooting. We will struggle to match them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGleas Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUFLA Posted November 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 1 minute ago, BGleas said: What is it with kids from Newton HS and knees? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IUFLA Posted November 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 5 minutes ago, Euroclydon said: Disciplined offense that works for good shots, and a team commitment to rebounding and defense. None of which has been displayed so far. We're 17th in the nation in FG %...We're getting good shots... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inequality Posted November 17, 2023 Report Share Posted November 17, 2023 2 hours ago, BGleas said: Hate to be negative, especially this early in the season, but my expectations are really, really low for this game. Hoping we can keep it somewhere between 10-15 and not get blown out. Biggest thing I'll be looking for, aside from XJ's health, is how/if Woodson shrinks the rotation at all against a good team. Were the first 5 games tinkering and seeing what guys have, or is this 10-man lineup how we're going to play? I’m with you brother. Hopefully, our guys have been playing down to the level of comp as we’ve seen in the past but I think that’s being hopeful and not realistic. They’ve (UConn) won their last 3 games by a minimum of 34 I think at quick glance. Not 100 on that. I do expect to be -20+ at the final buzzer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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