Team chemistry....as always this will be Geno's biggest challenge

[Gabbyfan]

I am a new member to this site and have been reading threads for a couple of weeks now. It seems that various threads touch upon this subject, but most are commenting on the performance of various players. Personally, I think that Geno's biggest problem (and it is a problem all coaches would love to have) is to find the right combinations of players on this new team who will perform efficiently as a team. There is so much firepower on this team both offensively and defensively that it will be interesting to see how certain players play with starters and which player provide the spark off the bench ....again it is all chemistry folks...the skills and athleticism are already there. If Geno continues to think outside the box, like he did with Gabby, there could be a lot of surprises this year.

 

[rford53]

I am a new member to this site and have been reading threads for a couple of weeks now. It seems that various threads touch upon this subject, but most are commenting on the performance of various players. Personally, I think that Geno's biggest problem (and it is a problem all coaches would love to have) is to find the right combinations of players on this new team who will perform efficiently as a team. There is so much firepower on this team both offensively and defensively that it will be interesting to see how certain players play with starters and which player provide the spark off the bench ....again it is all chemistry folks...the skills and athleticism are already there. If Geno continues to think outside the box, like he did with Gabby, there could be a lot of surprises this year.

First gabby fan welcome to the boneyard! Secondly, if team chemistry is Geno's biggest problem then it's a very small one. The core starting four from last year are a given(Stewie, Morgan, MoJeff, Kia) as is Natalie, as most of us believe will be the fifth starter, and two strong off the bench in Gabby and Saniya. With huge leads in most games by half time, working in the three freshmen as well as Courtney should develop into joyful additions to the starters. It's conceivable to have a platoon system with the last six mentioned here playing most of the second half minutes (plus Pallido and Terney) and by tournament time a really solid eight or nine person rotation. This is definitely not going to be a problem to work in an embarrassment of riches to share playing time.

 

[Tonyc]

Geno has every member of the team on the same page. That includes the doctors, managers, and administrative staff. Having the same expectations, team goals, and belief in his system and trusting Geno keeps the team a team. There are no individuals on this team. This season like most seasons UConn has a terrific chemistry and with the nucleus coming back and that's 4 starters the underclassman will learn to work together which helps create team chemistry.

Our upperclassman are team leaders. They know what is expected, they've been through the trenches and they will encourage our underclassman. IMO what makes UConn so much different from so many other teams is everybody is on the same page and no player is bigger then the team. They know how to execute within the team concept and working within that team concept is what makes UConn who they are.

Many fans and opposing coaches talk about Geno having all that great talent. Bull. Other teams have great players. The difference is Geno develops his players from the number 1 player to the last player on the bench. Mentally UConn players are stronger then their opponents. The discipline, and hard work go far beyond any team in WCBB. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have a hard time winning when you keep doing the wrong thing.

 

[Tonyc]

Geno has every member of the team on the same page. That includes the doctors, managers, and administrative staff. Having the same expectations, team goals, and belief in his system and trusting Geno keeps the team a team. There are no individuals on this team. This season like most seasons UConn has a terrific chemistry and with the nucleus coming back and that's 4 starters the underclassman will learn to work together which helps create team chemistry.

Our upperclassman are team leaders. They know what is expected, they've been through the trenches and they will encourage our underclassman. IMO what makes UConn so much different from so many other teams is everybody is on the same page and no player is bigger then the team. They know how to execute within the team concept and working within that team concept is what makes UConn who they are.

Many fans and opposing coaches talk about Geno having all that great talent. Bull. Other teams have great players. The difference is Geno develops his players from the number 1 player to the last player on the bench. Mentally UConn players are stronger then their opponents. The discipline, and hard work go far beyond any team in WCBB. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have a hard time winning when you keep doing the wrong thing. This is gonna be one heck of a season.

 

[Bgillon]

Gabbyfan raised a great point and one that is overlooked by many people. Talent without harmony does not produce championship teams. One of Geno's real strengths is developing team chemistry. A year ago this time many BYers were boasting about how great the team was going to be with Stokes replacing Stef and becoming an offensive threat while Saniya would become a very valuable contributor to the starting rotation with Bria leaving. Then Stanford game shook UCONN followers and the team. Geno replaced those two starters with Tuck and Nurse and redefined the roles for Stokes and Saniya. And we all know the results. Plus no locker room revolt, etc. TEAM CHEMISTRY!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Truth is: As Tonyc says, our players arrive expecting Hell Week to last 4 years. Just by saying yes to that they have announced that they either don't understand what they are signing up for - like one freshman last year - or they are tougher than most and are in search of a prize that is worth the struggle. It should be no secret in the land of the recruits that the WCBB program where you will work the hardest, will be tested 'til you break, be held to the highest standards of personal comportment, be no one special no matter how hot you were in high school ball, become an unbreakable band of sisters with legends behind you, be pampered as much as you are beaten upon, learn b'ball beyond all other programs, have a shot at becoming part of WCBB history/legends/records , and one of the few who can say: Yes, he was my coach.

 

[Kibitzer]

Nobody posting in this thread thus far has mentioned Katie Lou or Napheesa. I believe that KLS will start at least 25 games. Collier will compete with Butler and Gabby for PT.

The chemistry solution is simple: Do what Geno tells you to do or you don't play.

 

[baggerbob]

People won't really appreciate Stewie, Moriah, and Tuck, until after this season is over. They came in together, joined a veteran team, stayed in the background, as UConn lost 3 games to Notre Dame, but when needed played well in the NCAA tournament and won the championship. Since then they have been 78-1 with 1 hiccup.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

People won't really appreciate Stewie, Moriah, and Tuck, until after this season is over. They came in together, joined a veteran team, stayed in the background, as UConn lost 3 games to Notre Dame, but when needed played well in the NCAA tournament and won the championship. Since then they have been 78-1 with 1 hiccup.

Surely you are joking! We Husky fans, we few million, fully appreciate what SMT have brought to the table. We are living in high cotton. We are just afraid to be too exultant about it, lest the Basketball Gods crush us for our hubris. Are we watching something great? YES! Just don't go too hard on the gas, lest the mighty fall as punishment for our exuberant enthusiasm. It's a New Englander thing.

 

[jsloanjr]

Cannot wait to see the final product..........Master Geno has a plan

 

[Zorro]

Geno has every member of the team on the same page. That includes the doctors, managers, and administrative staff. Having the same expectations, team goals, and belief in his system and trusting Geno keeps the team a team. There are no individuals on this team. This season like most seasons UConn has a terrific chemistry and with the nucleus coming back and that's 4 starters the underclassman will learn to work together which helps create team chemistry.

Our upperclassman are team leaders. They know what is expected, they've been through the trenches and they will encourage our underclassman. IMO what makes UConn so much different from so many other teams is everybody is on the same page and no player is bigger then the team. They know how to execute within the team concept and working within that team concept is what makes UConn who they are.

Many fans and opposing coaches talk about Geno having all that great talent. Bull. Other teams have great players. The difference is Geno develops his players from the number 1 player to the last player on the bench. Mentally UConn players are stronger then their opponents. The discipline, and hard work go far beyond any team in WCBB. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have a hard time winning when you keep doing the wrong thing. This is gonna be one heck of a season.

You can say THAT again, Tony!!

 

[Kibitzer]

You can say THAT again, Tony!!

Tony's repetitive post reminds me of the fellow who went to the opera (first time) with a pal who was an aficionado. Midway through Act I, the tenor sang a big aria that was coldly received (a few hisses, tepid applause). Our novice's friend shouted "ENCORE! ENCORE!," whereupon the tenor sang the aria again. Really badly.

The audience showed their displeasure by jeering, hissing and booing loudly. Once again, the same fellow stood and shouted, "ENCORE! ENCORE!" Our newcomer was puzzled and asked his knowledgeable friend why he was so insistent on demanding repeat performances by this hapless tenor. The reply: "I'm gonna make him keep singing it until he gets it right!"

 

[Carnac]

I am a new member to this site and have been reading threads for a couple of weeks now. It seems that various threads touch upon this subject, but most are commenting on the performance of various players. Personally, I think that Geno's biggest problem (and it is a problem all coaches would love to have) is to find the right combinations of players on this new team who will perform efficiently as a team. There is so much firepower on this team both offensively and defensively that it will be interesting to see how certain players play with starters and which player provide the spark off the bench ....again it is all chemistry folks...the skills and athleticism are already there. If Geno continues to think outside the box, like he did with Gabby, there could be a lot of surprises this year.

Welcome to the boneyard Gabbyfan. Your first post out of the gate was a good one. It was thought provoking, and triggered some intelligent and insightful responses. We look forward to reading more of your thoughts and observations in the future.

 

[Buzzyboy]

People won't really appreciate Stewie, Moriah, and Tuck, until after this season is over. They came in together, joined a veteran team, stayed in the background, as UConn lost 3 games to Notre Dame, but when needed played well in the NCAA tournament and won the championship. Since then they have been 78-1 with 1 hiccup.

Really????? I can't fathom one UConn fan who would have any issues with Morgan, Breanna or Moriah, since the tail end of their freshman year. They've been stellar though obviously Morgan had health issues that limited her drastically in her sophomore year. The fact that Breanna has been a three time MOP in the NCAA tournament means that virtually no one has OVERLOOKED her and Morgan had a lot of people crying foul as to why she wasn't at least a 2nd team All-American last year. Moriah is obviously the best point guard in the country so I don't think she's being underappreciated by too many people. Who do you feel doesn't show these three enough love or respect???? I'm at a loss because even our fiercest opponents and their coaches have done nothing but praise these young ladies. Muffett has gone so overboard in praise for the three of them that you'd almost think that they played for the Irish.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Geno has every member of the team on the same page. That includes the doctors, managers, and administrative staff. Having the same expectations, team goals, and belief in his system and trusting Geno keeps the team a team. There are no individuals on this team. This season like most seasons UConn has a terrific chemistry and with the nucleus coming back and that's 4 starters the underclassman will learn to work together which helps create team chemistry.

Our upperclassman are team leaders. They know what is expected, they've been through the trenches and they will encourage our underclassman. IMO what makes UConn so much different from so many other teams is everybody is on the same page and no player is bigger then the team. They know how to execute within the team concept and working within that team concept is what makes UConn who they are.

Many fans and opposing coaches talk about Geno having all that great talent. Bull. Other teams have great players. The difference is Geno develops his players from the number 1 player to the last player on the bench. Mentally UConn players are stronger then their opponents. The discipline, and hard work go far beyond any team in WCBB. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have a hard time winning when you keep doing the wrong thing. This is gonna be one heck of a season.

I think everyone knows that the team's emphasis is always totally on team play but I think what needs to be done is develop a cohesiveness between players, particularly on the defensive end and sometimes that takes a bit of time as we saw last year in the Stanford loss. The most finely crafted engine can have issues if any of the cylinders are misfiring, even slightly and that's what needs to be done yearly, as players move on. We're losing two key players and though their apparent replacements all are talented and showing a willingness to play the type of ball Geno has espoused for all these years, there may potentially be a little period where that cohesiveness is wanting until Geno tweeks things. It's happened before though no one is better at resolving things than Geno and company!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Four incoming players, one of which is a sophomore who practiced with the returnees for an entire year. The other three are high-level talents who have blended in pretty seamlessly in international tourneys and a 3x3 event. All things considered, UConn should have less trouble blending in its newbies than most other programs.

 

[meyers7]

I am a new member to this site and have been reading threads for a couple of weeks now. It seems that various threads touch upon this subject, but most are commenting on the performance of various players. Personally, I think that Geno's biggest problem (and it is a problem all coaches would love to have) is to find the right combinations of players on this new team who will perform efficiently as a team. There is so much firepower on this team both offensively and defensively that it will be interesting to see how certain players play with starters and which player provide the spark off the bench ....again it is all chemistry folks...the skills and athleticism are already there. If Geno continues to think outside the box, like he did with Gabby, there could be a lot of surprises this year.

Welcome. Hope you enjoy it here. And as customary, a public service announcement:

 

[meyers7]

Geno has every member of the team on the same page. That includes the doctors, managers, and administrative staff. Having the same expectations, team goals, and belief in his system and trusting Geno keeps the team a team. There are no individuals on this team. This season like most seasons UConn has a terrific chemistry and with the nucleus coming back and that's 4 starters the underclassman will learn to work together which helps create team chemistry.

Our upperclassman are team leaders. They know what is expected, they've been through the trenches and they will encourage our underclassman. IMO what makes UConn so much different from so many other teams is everybody is on the same page and no player is bigger then the team. They know how to execute within the team concept and working within that team concept is what makes UConn who they are.

Many fans and opposing coaches talk about Geno having all that great talent. Bull. Other teams have great players. The difference is Geno develops his players from the number 1 player to the last player on the bench. Mentally UConn players are stronger then their opponents. The discipline, and hard work go far beyond any team in WCBB. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have a hard time winning when you keep doing the wrong thing.

Geno has every member of the team on the same page. That includes the doctors, managers, and administrative staff. Having the same expectations, team goals, and belief in his system and trusting Geno keeps the team a team. There are no individuals on this team. This season like most seasons UConn has a terrific chemistry and with the nucleus coming back and that's 4 starters the underclassman will learn to work together which helps create team chemistry.

Our upperclassman are team leaders. They know what is expected, they've been through the trenches and they will encourage our underclassman. IMO what makes UConn so much different from so many other teams is everybody is on the same page and no player is bigger then the team. They know how to execute within the team concept and working within that team concept is what makes UConn who they are.

Many fans and opposing coaches talk about Geno having all that great talent. Bull. Other teams have great players. The difference is Geno develops his players from the number 1 player to the last player on the bench. Mentally UConn players are stronger then their opponents. The discipline, and hard work go far beyond any team in WCBB. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You have a hard time winning when you keep doing the wrong thing. This is gonna be one heck of a season.

Not sure which post to "Like".

 

[Bgillon]

Nobody posting in this thread thus far has mentioned Katie Lou or Napheesa. I believe that KLS will start at least 25 games. Collier will compete with Butler and Gabby for PT.

The chemistry solution is simple: Do what Geno tells you to do or you don't play.

I respectively disagree. No coach can demand cohesiveness, i.e. chemistry. For the starters, the players have to like and respect each other. Then each one has to believe they are being given a fair chance to contribute to the team, i.e. no coach's favorite. And lastly, most UCONN players have to accept the fact that they are no longer the best player on their team. Geno and staff work hard on this aspect of "TEAM". Reference CD's efforts on trips to sight see and have fun games to play off the court.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Nobody posting in this thread thus far has mentioned Katie Lou or Napheesa. I believe that KLS will start at least 25 games. Collier will compete with Butler and Gabby for PT.

The chemistry solution is simple: Do what Geno tells you to do or you don't play.

You've got this right!! Those that don't want to sit--leave--Chemistry established. When is our happy birthdays? Mine's tomorrow, are we same year different dates? Aficionado in Charge, Geno!! I also like perfect practice makes perfect (Geno ism?). When Lou Holtz was coaching in Arkansas and ND someone made a book of Holtz-isms, someone needs to make one of Geno-ism! Holt's ism--Why did you lose coach? (Lou) We were running north and south on an east west field.

 

[VAMike23]

Welcome. Hope you enjoy it here. And as customary, a public service announcement:

It's worse than that --

 

[Gabbyfan]

Yikes!! You guys/girls are too funny.

Just to elaborate a little more on chemistry...Geno always maintains that those who do well in practice are most likely to receive playing time. What to they do in practice? They learn their plays and where to be on the court at all times, i.e. Maximizing their potential as a team. In Geno's world a perfectly played game is not where a player or players go off and have triple doubles, but rather they make consistently good decisions on the court offensively and defensively. When Geno is yelling at these players during time outs, it's always about "where ..k were you on that last play?" Believe me , I am hard of hearing and can read lips!

It's worse than that -

 

[cabbie191]

I must admit that in times past, I was bothered when a player would leave the team. I no longer am. I have come to understand that if someone is unhappy at UConn - for whatever the reason, and no matter their athletic skill set - the TEAM is better off with their departure.

Overall, with exception of EDD, I don't think the departures have derailed the train to any great extent.

 

[baggerbob]

Surely you are joking! We Husky fans, we few million, fully appreciate what SMT have brought to the table. We are living in high cotton. We are just afraid to be too exultant about it, lest the Basketball Gods crush us for our hubris. Are we watching something great? YES! Just don't go too hard on the gas, lest the mighty fall as punishment for our exuberant enthusiasm. It's a New Englander thing.

That wasn't meant as a negative, but as when the other greats, such as Rebecca, Sue, DT, Tina, Maya, they are appreciated even more when they have finished their work at UCONN. UConn fans always appreciate what Geno, CD, and the players do.

 

[Kibitzer]

I respectively disagree. No coach can demand cohesiveness, i.e. chemistry. For the starters, the players have to like and respect each other. Then each one has to believe they are being given a fair chance to contribute to the team, i.e. no coach's favorite. And lastly, most UCONN players have to accept the fact that they are no longer the best player on their team. Geno and staff work hard on this aspect of "TEAM". Reference CD's efforts on trips to sight see and have fun games to play off the court.

Your points are well made. Permit some reinforcement. The scavenger hunts, scrumptious team meals and sightseeing trips are fun and surely help the players bond.

Geno's rules, usually enforced by CD, have the effect of discouraging individuality and stimulating "team." Some recruits are turned off by one or more restriction. It's a long list with zero tolerance for idiosyncrasies:

No names on uniforms;
No visible tattoos;
No knee socks or t-shirts with the uniform;
No earphones in public;
No colored nail polish;
No social media during the season;
No hassling refs or taunting opponents;
No dissing anybody when interviewed;
Always (practice, warmups and games) wear prescribed uniform;
At all times represent family and UConn basketball properly; and,
Adhere to any rule not on this list if expressed by Geno. Chris, Shea, or Melisa.​

Final rule: You wanna play? Do what Geno says.

Or else.