VAMike23
The Virginian
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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I've been bowled over several times this year already at this squad's defensive execution, especially it's still early days for the season. Last night's game might have been yet another high water mark.
Per Moriah:
"The defensive effort was extra special. We were really playing at a fast pace, getting up into [their faces]. And in the start, before our offense got moving, it was a defensive game. Everyone was trying to get stops . . . . Every time someone got beat on defense, someone else was there [to cover]."
LINK to JA's Courant article
I think that there has not been a more *dominant* defensive lineup for UCONN than the one that Geno occasionally deployed in Stef's senior year featuring the utterly fearsome back line of Stewart, Dolson & Stokes. I mean, really; this was a modern-day murderer's row if ever there was one. While not a starting lineup, it was the scariest unit whenever it took the floor.
However, from the standpoint of defensive execution between and among the players, I have always had a soft spot for the 2009-10 squad:
Faris
Hayes
Greene
Moore
Charles
This team had many beautiful moments on the defensive end. Great balance between perimeter pressure, outstanding individual defensive chops and a strong back line with Tina as a stopper in the middle and Maya always lurking to blow up your offensive scheme (you couldn't really game plan for Maya's defensive exploits because half of the time, even Geno didn't know where she'd be ). IMHO, this has been the benchmark for the classic UCONN team D that had no weaknesses, always playing with tremendous aggression and yet never having to "pay" for that aggression because they could always cover up, rotate and trap like nobody's business. Part of the secret sauce that made the 2009-10 crew extra special was that you had several players who could guard multiple positions and do it well -- an obvious requirement for an effective help defense and/or a defense that makes the choice to switch on screens a lot.
Fast forward to today, and the defense looks a little different with Geno running zone so much, to take advantage of this squad's strengths. But you have a group that really executes the zone and can follow the ball very, very well. Where other dominant UCONN defenses would utilize blocked shots by the dozen, this squad gets "offensive" on the defensive end by trapping and jumping the passing lanes as well as any Husky team in recent memory. Their rotation in the man-to-man is similarly stellar. Finally, the secret sauce is there with at least two players--Gabby and Stewie--who can easily defend multiple positions. Morgan could easily get the nod here as well. She has the quick feet for guarding the 2 or 3 and knows how to use her body and her position to guard the bigs.
The even scarier thought for opponents is.... Butler hasn't even taken the floor yet! She adds a puzzle piece that will allow Geno to wreak even more havoc against certain matchups. And the frosh are getting better fast. Boykin could also be defending at a high level come tournament time once she gets up to speed.
As much as the UCONN offense and ball movement is fun to watch, I am enjoying this year's Defense just as much if not more! By year's end, it could well be that this team sets the new standard for overall team defensive execution at UCONN. And that would be saying a lot. A lotta lot.
Per Moriah:
"The defensive effort was extra special. We were really playing at a fast pace, getting up into [their faces]. And in the start, before our offense got moving, it was a defensive game. Everyone was trying to get stops . . . . Every time someone got beat on defense, someone else was there [to cover]."
LINK to JA's Courant article
I think that there has not been a more *dominant* defensive lineup for UCONN than the one that Geno occasionally deployed in Stef's senior year featuring the utterly fearsome back line of Stewart, Dolson & Stokes. I mean, really; this was a modern-day murderer's row if ever there was one. While not a starting lineup, it was the scariest unit whenever it took the floor.
However, from the standpoint of defensive execution between and among the players, I have always had a soft spot for the 2009-10 squad:
Faris
Hayes
Greene
Moore
Charles
This team had many beautiful moments on the defensive end. Great balance between perimeter pressure, outstanding individual defensive chops and a strong back line with Tina as a stopper in the middle and Maya always lurking to blow up your offensive scheme (you couldn't really game plan for Maya's defensive exploits because half of the time, even Geno didn't know where she'd be ). IMHO, this has been the benchmark for the classic UCONN team D that had no weaknesses, always playing with tremendous aggression and yet never having to "pay" for that aggression because they could always cover up, rotate and trap like nobody's business. Part of the secret sauce that made the 2009-10 crew extra special was that you had several players who could guard multiple positions and do it well -- an obvious requirement for an effective help defense and/or a defense that makes the choice to switch on screens a lot.
Fast forward to today, and the defense looks a little different with Geno running zone so much, to take advantage of this squad's strengths. But you have a group that really executes the zone and can follow the ball very, very well. Where other dominant UCONN defenses would utilize blocked shots by the dozen, this squad gets "offensive" on the defensive end by trapping and jumping the passing lanes as well as any Husky team in recent memory. Their rotation in the man-to-man is similarly stellar. Finally, the secret sauce is there with at least two players--Gabby and Stewie--who can easily defend multiple positions. Morgan could easily get the nod here as well. She has the quick feet for guarding the 2 or 3 and knows how to use her body and her position to guard the bigs.
The even scarier thought for opponents is.... Butler hasn't even taken the floor yet! She adds a puzzle piece that will allow Geno to wreak even more havoc against certain matchups. And the frosh are getting better fast. Boykin could also be defending at a high level come tournament time once she gets up to speed.
As much as the UCONN offense and ball movement is fun to watch, I am enjoying this year's Defense just as much if not more! By year's end, it could well be that this team sets the new standard for overall team defensive execution at UCONN. And that would be saying a lot. A lotta lot.
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