December 14, 2017
Ohio (5-2) vs #21 Connecticut (5-1)
Uconn is rated 90 OVR (9- off/87 def/92 sht/87 reb/93 coach). Similar to Texas Tech though not quite as good overall. But they're ranked which probably means something too.
Their only loss is to Virginia Tech. Its also the only team they've played that belongs in Division I. The Big East was always known for its pansy scheduling
As a result, they're averaging a 25 point margin of victory so far and have the 3
rd most efficient offense in the nation. That's overrated b/c of their schedule I'm sure, but this is a balanced, talented, senior lead squad. They appear completely for real.
Scouting
PG – Borislav Hughes – SR – 81 OVR – 88 speed/85 quickness. 82 defense/79 steals. 77 hands/75 passing, a natural SG actually and just average with the ball. 85 close/80 med/75 3/80 off the dribble/86 in traffic. 14.3 ppg so far this year, 2
nd on the team.
SG Romas McGuire – SR – 82 OVR – Would you believe McGuire is a freaking walkon? Yup. 92 speed/78 quickness. 84 defense/73 steals. 85 close/77 med/89 3/83 off the dribble. 78 clutch, very high. 8.5 ppg so far this year. His quickness is his main weakness, though Jimenez isn't eactly a speed demon.
SF Diego Bermudez – JR – 87 OVR – 6'7” natural SF. 85 speed/87 quickness/88 vert/77 str/81 hustle. Serious, serious athletic talent. 84 defense/81 steals, plays D like a guard. 87 close/85 med/82 3. 84 off the dribble/94 in traffic. His outside shooting tendencies are very low, it looks like he prefers to drive and shoot in close. Only 7 ppg so far this year.
PF Zack Ervin – SR – 86 OVR – 6'6” natural SF. Good rebounder though, 82 off/82 def. Good enough in the post, 74 off/73 def. Bright can hopefully take advantage of the size and weaker post D. 96 close/77 med/71 3. 81 off the dribble/90 traffic. Extremely talented, but only 8.3 ppg.
C Howard Konate – SR – 83 OVR – natural PF and only 6'7”. We have a really big size advantage today. 82 orb/85 drb. 87 post offense/79 post defense. 90 close/90 in traffic, 77 str (B+). He might be small but he has very good skills. Leads the team with 18.2 ppg/5 rpg.
This is a very talented, very deep team. They go 10 deep with players rated 75+. they lack big man depth as many teams do, but they have a huge overabundance of talented guards.
Uconn has 3 6'11” big men on their bench but have chosen to go with the higher rated/more talented players. But we'll see a lot of size during their rotation. Their backup guards are rated 72 and below, no more stars out there out of the starting 5... but its a damn good starting 5.
Half
| Time
| OHIO
| CON
| Notes
|
1
| 14:00
| 3
| 14
| Uconn is 5-6, 1-2 from 3, 3-5 from the line. We are 1-8 from the field, 1-3 from 3. Trying ahrd inside, Bright and Grundy are 0-5. Guards are having a hard time driving. Backups are in early to try to change it up.
|
1
| 10:30
| 5
| 21
| Timeout Ohio. They're 8/10, we're 2/12.
|
1
| 8:05
| 7
| 28
| Timeout Ohio, starters coming back. They are now 11-13. We are 3-14.
|
1
| 5:50
| 15
| 31
| We've scored on 4 straight trips. Need to see if we can improve the defense somehow.
|
| HALF
| 21
| 40
| Uconn shoots 65% from the field to our 37%. Balanced scoring from Uconn, 9 from Ervin, 7 from Bermudez and McGuire, 5 from a couple.
On our side Grundy Bright and McCully all have 4. Grundy is 2-7, he got the ball in great position repeatedly and got blocked a couple times and missed a bunch. Bright is 1-4 with 2 free throws. We're 1-6 from 3.
|
2
| 18:20
| 29
| 40
| Well I knew Uconn was capable of big runs but I sure didn't see this coming! They miss the opening shot, Jimenez beats his man for a bucket. Grundy with a block, McCully out for a fast break deuce. They fumble it away in the back court, Santiago gets the layup, and then after a normal stop/missed shot, we feed Bright who hits a close hook shot, 8-0 run to start the half!!
|
2
| 17:00
| 29
| 45
| They answer with 5 straight, I call a timeout.
|
2
| 15:10
| 31
| 47
| Well that's frustrating. Jimenez misses two wide open 3's, then we let them get THREE offensive boards on the other end before finally being fouled. Bright sits, he's a bit gassed.
|
2
| 13:50
| 36
| 47
| Jimenez with a 3, McCully with a bucket after a steal, and we're back to within 11. Backups have to come in though. Go go northcutt and withers.
|
2
| 12:30
| 36
| 53
| Two straight 3's, dammit! Timeout Ohio.
|
2
| 11:45
| 36
| 56
| Three straight 3's.
|
2
| 10:10
| 40
| 61
| I score twice in a row, but so do they, including their 4th 3 in the last 2 ½ minutes. I call my final timeout to get the starters back in.
|
They are up 25 with about 7 minutes left and its time to call it.
Connecticut 80
Ohio 52
That start was brutal, and we made a couple great efforts to get it close again but when we got it down near 10 they pushed it right back out of reach.
McCully: 8 points
Jimenez: 10 points
Santiago:10 points
Bright: 9 points/10 boards
Grundy: 6 points/6 boards