A couple of post-game thoughts

[BobbyJ]

Other observations about the first 5.

Pheesa looks strong as hell.

Crystal is playing even more under control.

Lou's lower and upper body strength, especially lower, looks terrific.

The team still needs a little work on the break.

Positionally their half court offense looks terrific, and so does their ball movement.

Defensively they seem to keep their mark in front of them and all of them either have quick hands, long arms, or both.

Meg still needs work on her shot, although she looks like a beast. She's got to hit those open looks to take the offensive pressure of Lou and Pheesa. The option works best when there's no where to make UConn pay on offense. Nevertheless players like Jackie Young are going to have their hands full trying to cover her on defense, and will get pushed off their position on offense.

I would hope that their offense and defense looked terrific. This was like scrimmaging their own second team.

 

[BroadwayVa]

This team makes last year's club look really deep.

If you removed the REALLY I'd agree. They may be usable deeper. Some sitters won't sit this year.

CB, I thought you’re supposed to be the pessimist and I’m the optimist.

I love Kyla, but she doesn’t have the athleticism to play against top 20 competition. It would be great if Liv could contribute this year, but I think it will take a year for her to be able to compete vs top college Bigs.

Irwin shall never have good lateral movement or be fleet of foot. Still she can contribute as a banging rebounder and occasional 3. Very likely, your impression is the right one. ONO has a skill set and to gain the weight and muscle required may not happen during her UC career. Yet she has a place on this team. Rebounding often is more mental, yes muscle is great, the desire to get the ball goes a long way--but how far is that??

 

[JordyG]

I would hope that their offense and defense looked terrific. This was like scrimmaging their own second team.

I forgot to add one thing. The power of the puff! I want some of CW's hair. It's just so unfair.

 

[BroadwayVa]

My take on ONO was that she needs better hands. That could be a strength thing only manifesting in a poor handle, but it seemed the ball hit her in the hands several times on rebounds/catches that she fumbled.

I think Coombs will see a lot of playing time.

You can't fault Kyla's or Molly's effort. Geno obviously likes Kyla's development enough that she was first off the bench in both halves.

Remember Chong during Kia's first year? Geno praised her work ethic and she was all but appointed a starter--then Stanford . I agree on Coombs. Where Geno played Molly and when to me spells no trust.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I don't think Irwin is a question mark....you know you're going to get a max effort player who can rebound a bit and set screens but is otherwise limited and while I'm not sure how many points she'll provide this season, I do know that ONO will be a disruptive defensive force simply by standing under the basket with her arms up......

Faris was a coaches daughter too. She had high BBIQ, had good court sense yet she was a liability for 3 or so year because she woudn/t/ couldn't shoot the 3 and teams let her sit outside of the arc and doubled down low. Diggins took her to school I doubt Irwin will sit outside the arc--she can make some. Her weakness is guarding mobile players. She has energy, smarts, and desire--not a great deal of native talent.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I would hope that their offense and defense looked terrific. This was like scrimmaging their own second team.

Wouldn't Uconn's "second Team " have been much much much more of an opponent??

 

[Charliebball]

Remember Chong during Kia's first year? Geno praised her work ethic and she was all but appointed a starter--then Stanford . I agree on Coombs. Where Geno played Molly and when to me spells no trust.

Coombs just needs to slow it down a bit..............I love her swashbuckling drives to the basket but when a defender steps in she tends to panic and throw the ball away.................reminds me a bit of Kia Nurse in her youth..........

 

[BroadwayVa]

View attachment 35945

Just wanted to see if I could do this. Not saying anything ... yet.

Now here is a rare bird, fluid motions, mobile, and fleet of feathers. We need her on our team.

 

[Charliebball]

Wouldn't Uconn's "second Team " have been much much much more of an opponent??

you'd have to ask Geno about that....................

 

[Charliebball]

Now here is a rare bird, fluid motions, mobile, and fleet of feathers. We need her on our team.

is it an ONO bird?..............a Williams Whistler? a Walker Warbler?

 

[BroadwayVa]

I forgot to add one thing. The power of the puff! I want some of CW's hair. It's just so unfair.

I'm sure you know the fable of Samson---it's all about the hair. No hair, no game for CW please allow her her strength(game).

 

[JordyG]

I'm sure you know the fable of Samson---it's all about the hair. No hair, no game for CW please allow her her strength(game).

I have no hair and I wear glasses.. Are you implying something about my game or my vision?

 

[donalddoowop]

Not even close!!! As a freshman, Charles averaged 13pts/8rebounds and was the National Freshman of the Year and the Big East Freshman of the Year. ONO has a lot of developing to do before she even thinks about putting up those kind of numbers.

This is the reason why BYers should be patient with Ono. She will get there soon enough.

 

[BroadwayVa]

is it an ONO bird?....a Williams Whistler? a Walker Warbler?

Super great, just nice, wonderful---if we could only make 3 types of T shirts, one each.
On the other question: Geno's answer would be self serving and he'd say they couldn't beat a 10th grade pickup team. Yet, they have to be better than Vandy (sorry that was a great hard working bunch of kids, who deserve praise just for showing up) No matter how much you expect to be beaten, humiliation is much harder to take.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I have no hair and I wear glasses.. Are you implying something about my game or my vision?

Sorry, if you'd post in larger, darker letters or use a megaphone I'd understand your posting. Are you being blinded by the glare of my reflections?

 

[BroadwayVa]

This is the reason why BYers should be patient with Ono. She will get there soon enough.

I agree Olivia will be a standout at Uconn, Talent will out! Soon enough --???

 

[TitleTown]

Same bench man except for Liv, and more experience.

With no Stevens or Walker.

 

[JordyG]

With no Stevens or Walker.

Yes , I sure forget one and done. My bad. Walker was however no strength off the bench last year.

 

[Charliebball]

I'm sure you know the fable of Samson---it's all about the hair. No hair, no game for CW please allow her her strength(game).

besides if she leans her head forward just a little bit she measures in at 6'6"..................very intimidating!!!!!!.........

 

[MilfordHusky]

Really like the UCONN activity at the top of the zone from Crystal, KLS & Christyn. That is going to go a long way but Megan and Napheesa are going to need help rebounding the medium range rebounds and dives to the basket from the high post. Christyn is a much better defender that I imagined the announcer threw out an Odyssey Simms comparison, hadn't though of that but it works.

Yeah, Jordy et al. like the Sims comparison.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Milford: Sims was good but I believe CW year to year comparison is and shall be better.

I owe this to the starter of this thread and to the team ----THANK YOU . IT'S BEEN A LONG WAIT BUT YOU MADE IT WORTH THE WAIT. THANK YOU. I TRULY ENJOY MUCH OF THIS GAME. TO SEE MEGAN AND CW WAS WORTH THE PRICE OF A TICKET, HAD I PURCHASED ONE.

 

[JordyG]

Sorry, if you'd post in larger, darker letters or use a megaphone I'd understand your posting. Are you being blinded by the glare of my reflections?

What was that?

 

[Sonny44]

Will there be a replay of the game?

 

[Carnac]

Mikayla had a couple of buckets on moves to the hoop.

Olivia is a little raw, but very long.

The bench is handicapped by not being able to run the break.

I think it’s pretty clear that Meg and Squeaks deserve to start.

Yes, very clear.

 

[BroadwayVa]

What was that?

When I bend over in a bright sunlight the reflection from my scalp may blind you.