2013-14 roster down to 8.

[boontonbomber]

That may be your concept of practice but it is one small part of what practice is like at UConn. Practice at UConn includes 5 on 7 and 5 on 8 situations, starting a simulation series ten points behind and expected to erase the deficit, and more real world situations and worse. Only part of it is repetitive execution of plays but practice overall is far more sophisticated than that.

sorry ice, it's still practice.

 

[UCONNfan1]

sorry ice, it's still practice.

It is practice, but the Ice's point is twofold (if he didn't say it I am sure he knows it)...

1) Geno plays players in games based on how they practice. Period. No if's, and's or but's. If someone isn't cutting it in practice, there is not only no reason to expect they can suddenly do better in a game, but he also will NOT reward them with playing time in a game.

2) I'm not sure why someone would suggest that he play Lauren more minutes in games so she would be more likely to stay. Wouldn't that sit wrong with someone like Brianna Banks, who has turned into a better player? In her mind, if Geno is playing Lauren and giving her Brianna's minutes, then you have a better player who is unhappy with Geno saying one thing (I give game minutes based on practice performance), but doing something else...

 

[Goodgood]

It is practice, but the Ice's point is twofold (if he didn't say it I am sure he knows it)...

1) Geno plays players in games based on how they practice. Period. No if's, and's or but's. If someone isn't cutting it in practice, there is not only no reason to expect they can suddenly do better in a game, but he also will NOT reward them with playing time in a game.

2) I'm not sure why someone would suggest that he play Lauren more minutes in games so she would be more likely to stay. Wouldn't that sit wrong with someone like Brianna Banks, who has turned into a better player? In her mind, if Geno is playing Lauren and giving her Brianna's minutes, then you have a better player who is unhappy with Geno saying one thing (I give game minutes based on practice performance), but doing something else...

Well, Brianna is the next one with the least minutes. Buck is happy not playing and Uconn is footing the bills for her graduate program. If you don't beat out 7 players, you mop up, unless Geno learned something during the Olympics how to keep 12 players happy.

 

[Goodgood]

That may be your concept of practice but it is one small part of what practice is like at UConn. Practice at UConn includes 5 on 7 and 5 on 8 situations, starting a simulation series ten points behind and expected to erase the deficit, and more real world situations and worse. Only part of it is repetitive execution of plays but practice overall is far more sophisticated than that.

Sorry but do you think Lauren gets to play on the right side of 5 on 7 or 5 on 8 simulation? she is more likely be on the 7 or 8 group...basically she would play the other team along with the male practice players. I am sure she gets to play on the good side once in a while but probably not often enough since she will never get to be in that situation.

 

[UConnCat]

Well, Brianna is the next one with the least minutes. Buck is happy not playing and Uconn is footing the bills for her graduate program. If you don't beat out 7 players, you mop up, unless Geno learned something during the Olympics how to keep 12 players happy.

Heather is happy not playing? Please, tell us all how you know this. Insulting. And to compare the Olympic roster to a college team roster is beyond ridiculous.

 

[Goodgood]

Heather is happy not playing? Please, tell us all how you know this. Insulting. And to compare the Olympic roster to a college team roster is beyond ridiculous.

If you are sitting on the bench for 4 years and are coming back for a 5th year, and you are currently sitting behind Dolson and Stokes, comes October, you will be further down the bench behind Stewart and Tuck. You can't be too unhappy if you come back for more. It is what it is.

Who is comparing a college roster to an Olympic roster? Where did you see that? It is a matter of managing egos. Every single player that is on the Uconn roster was the best player in her school when she graduated. She never played with a player as good as she was and she started every game and was the go to player on the team. Now, she is at Uconn and has no idea what is going on. It is similar situation to a player on the Olympic team, except she is older and wiser. and for a short time, egos can be checked. That is all I meant. Please!

 

[HuskyNan]

Well, Brianna is the next one with the least minutes. Buck is happy not playing and Uconn is footing the bills for her graduate program. If you don't beat out 7 players, you mop up, unless Geno learned something during the Olympics how to keep 12 players happy.

Sorry but do you think Lauren gets to play on the right side of 5 on 7 or 5 on 8 simulation? she is more likely be on the 7 or 8 group...basically she would play the other team along with the male practice players. I am sure she gets to play on the good side once in a while but probably not often enough since she will never get to be in that situation.

You are making an awful lot of assumptions. Based on what we know about Geno and the way he's run the program for 30 years, I highly doubt that he'd keep a player on the roster that was "happy" to sit on the bench or that he's given up on Lauren as a player. He's all about maximizing players' potentials, not giving valuable schollies to players permanently relegated to the bench.

 

[triaddukefan]

That may be your concept of practice but it is one small part of what practice is like at UConn. Practice at UConn includes 5 on 7 and 5 on 8 situations, starting a simulation series ten points behind and expected to erase the deficit, and more real world situations and worse. Only part of it is repetitive execution of plays but practice overall is far more sophisticated than that.

 

[trisailin]

Let's take this into a completely different discipline - airline pilots. They practice, practice, practice emergencies in a simulator. Only the ones who successfully negotiate the simulated emergencies get to actually fly. I'd prefer it that way. So yes, practice isn't the real thing - but practice is also the only "safe" place to show if one is properly equipped to deal with the real thing.

 

[meyers7]

Sometimes, at the end of a game, in a blowout against a cupcake, it always seemed like their best players were better than our subs and yet, none of them were ranked in the top 100's while we had highly recruited subs running around missing shots after shots and barely keeping the spread.

Sooo putting them in in the middle of the game, they are going to do better??? How so??

 

[Goodgood]

Let's take this into a completely different discipline - airline pilots. They practice, practice, practice emergencies in a simulator. Only the ones who successfully negotiate the simulated emergencies get to actually fly. I'd prefer it that way. So yes, practice isn't the real thing - but practice is also the only "safe" place to show if one is properly equipped to deal with the real thing.

Your point is well taken. I have written thousands of simulation scripts to test my programs at work and I understand the needs for that. However, this is just a game that kids play, and no one will die because someone missed a defensive assignment. My point is, let the kids play when you are 15-20 points ahead, no need to drive anyone to the ground looking for perfection. But I don't have a national championship and I don't coach basketball, so what do I know?

 

[Goodgood]

You are making an awful lot of assumptions. Based on what we know about Geno and the way he's run the program for 30 years, I highly doubt that he'd keep a player on the roster that was "happy" to sit on the bench or that he's given up on Lauren as a player. He's all about maximizing players' potentials, not giving valuable schollies to players permanently relegated to the bench.

Yes I am. And I am sure Geno has never given up on any of his players. When Michala Johnson transferred, I remembered him saying something to the effect that there was really no playing time for her here at Uconn. I can't find the quote though. It is not given up, it is reality.

 

[Vowelguy]

no need to drive anyone to the ground looking for perfection.

Then you shouldn't have Geno as your coach, because that is what he demands.

I certainly don't know if I'd want Geno as my coach, but he's just one coach; there are hundreds of others if that's not your cup of tea. I seriously doubt anyone is confused beforehand about the type of coach he is. And these players chose that.

 

[Goodgood]

Then you shouldn't have Geno as your coach, because that is what he demands.

I certainly don't know if I'd want Geno as my coach, but he's just one coach; there are hundreds of others if that's not your cup of tea. I seriously doubt anyone is confused beforehand about the type of coach he is. And these players chose that.

Yes, I know. They wouldn't be here if they didn't. But some "un"chosed that a couple of years later. This is why we are having this discussion. Yes?

 

[Tonyc]

I liked Laurens game. Could she fit in at UConn. I think so. BB is next to step up but I do think Lauren couldve contributed if given more minutes and if there were minutes to give. With that said there will be minutes now. So how do the minutes get divied up? Caroline isnt 100% but IMO she will start. The big question is can Caroline go 25-30 minutes and be strong at the end of the season. That would give us 2 point guards Bria and Caroline. That would solve the big question at the point as BB and MJ gain experience. How far can she go and be able to be effective late in the season? Big Question. BB is next to step up as she has experience. Moriah has great potential and will need PT to gain experience. For the first time in a long time we could be short with ball handleing guards. We have alot of height, we are deep underneath and we have shooters. This season in the big games we will need more then Bria and Caroline handleing the ball. What could ease all the doubt is that Caroline can go 25-30 minutes if needed.