Putting Uconn Under the Microscope

It is apparent that Uconn needs to improve and has to do it now but you can’t argue that these cubs are not trying. Fans can’t point at their defense as the culprit for this recent downslide. They rank third in points allowed in The Big East at 59.9 ppg and rank number one in field goal percentage on defense holding opponents to a .359 percentage. Syracuse is a distant second in .370 per game.

The defense is fueled by Thabeet and Adrien anchoring a great shot blocking duo, ranked first in blocks at 8.74 a game and in rebounding margin at +10 per game. The guards are also getting into passing lanes tied for sixth in The Big East at 8.47 a game.

So don’t get frustrated with the way the defense has been all year. The offense is a different story. You can’t look at the points per game because they are distorted due to the lack of quality opponents in the first eleven games of the season but obvious signs of stagnation are obvious. Uconn is dead last in three pointers a game 4.53 a game and second to last in assist to turnover ratio at .85, averaging 15.6 turnovers per game with only 13.3 assists. Ouch! But an encouraging sign is that A.J. Price ranks 5th in the league in assists to turnovers at 1.76.

While watching Uconn’s pummeling through The Big East Conference, it is amazing that they aren’t near the bottom in field goal percentage but they sit in the middle of the pack, ranked 9th at .456 a game, a result of easy buckets around the hoop and transition points. The lack of consistency lies in the a 20 points a game threat. Uconn’s leading scorer, Jeff Adrien, is 23rd in The Big East at 13 ppg. Dyson is ranked 29th at 12 ppg.

If you don’t have that constant threat than you need to convert at the line and here is where it gets ugly. Uconn ranks second to last at .636 a game with DePaul last at .630. But Uconn has attempted 522 shots a game, first in the conference making only 332. Do you think that Uconn could have used those 190 points this season.

Uconn can hang its hat on defense but has an insurmountable task on offense. You can’t develop confidence in practice or with moral victories. They only come with victories and Providence would be a great start.