A couple of post-game thoughts | Page 2 | The Boneyard

A couple of post-game thoughts

Charliebball said:
Kyla is what she is.....she and Batouly are charter members of the committee of the big bodies that Geno may be forced to employ if Collier gets into foul trouble or needs a breather....that's ten additional fouls to give against the bigger opponents down low......I've been watching ONO for a couple of years now and she's got a lot more to her game then the average 6'4" player....she certainly will grow with time but she will be needed this year and in between the mistakes you're going to see some pretty impressive stuff
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It typically takes Bigs a year or more to adjust to the college game. I hope Liv develops quickly. Time will tell.
 
CocoHusky said:
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.
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When Mil and I saw Chistyn at the Jordan Brand both of us mentioned in our reports that she had that Odyssey Simms look and feel to her game. We also mentioned how good she was defensively. If she can make that pull up consistently she's going to be a handful. People don't realize how defenders are so accustomed to going to their left to contest while pushing off your dominant leg. With a lefty it's the complete opposite and that's to "Squeaks" advantage. Her offensive game seems well rounded, her defense is solid, and she'll do anything on the court to win.

I would like Crystal to learn that stop and go game to get to the basket. Something that Mo had down. Also that fake the hand off then quick step to the basket. Maybe I'm just wishing. I saw a couple of opportunities where if these were part of her game she'd be unstoppable.
 
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JordyG said:
When Mil and I saw her at the Jordan Brand both of us mentioned in our reports that she had that Odyssey Simms look and feel to her game. We also mentioned how good she was defensively. If she can make that pull up consistently she's going to be a handfull. Her offensive game seems well rounded, her defense is solid, and she'll do anything on the court to win.
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and she had a few assists that were not converted. She is a pretty good passer off the dribble.
 
ONO played 21 mins, 5 pts, 11 rebs, 2 asts, 2 blocks, not bad for a bench freshman.
She missed 3 FTs otherwise she can score 8 pts.
I think with more playing time and experiences she will be very good. She knows where she should be and very aggressive.
 
Is ONO as good as T. Charles was when she was a freshman. It took Charles two years before she played to her potential, the level that pleased Geno.
 
eebmg said:
and she had a few assists that were not converted. She is a pretty good passer off the dribble.
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With either hand. She also has excellent strength and can make that bullet pass in traffic and for distance.
 
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donalddoowop said:
Is ONO as good as T. Charles was when she was a freshman. It took Charles two years before she played to her potential, the level that pleased Geno.
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I remember once Joe Morgan said, and I'll paraphrase, "I don't give a (darn) about potential, I want players". Well, Liv is a playa, but it's always been clear to me that her weaknesses are strength and conditioning, and that (stuff) ain't gonna come overnight. Hit me up in January then we'll talk. Hopefully by then we won't be calling her Liv but (all the way) "Live".
 
Also, if, and I mean if, Lou can be a rebounding and defensive force this year even ND will have a tough time beating these guys; and I mean ND and no one else.
 
donalddoowop said:
Is ONO as good as T. Charles was when she was a freshman. It took Charles two years before she played to her potential, the level that pleased Geno.
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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.
 
To me it was as expected. KLS, Collier, and Dangerfield better be ready to go 35-40 minutes a game even against AAC teams. This team is a '19,'20, and '21 recruit's dream situation.
 
tomcat said:
Yeah, UCOnn's freshmien are pretty good. We'll see how good later in the season, but they both look like they belong and, as someone in chat said, no yips. WIlliams is the real deal, ONO needs muscle and has this annoying tendency to hesitate before shooting, but she's not afraid to rebound. Walker looked better as the game progressed. Katie Lou, Crystal and Napheesa were just as we would expect. Camara did a decent job in limited minutes. I was not blown away by anyone else.
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I was pleased that Irwin got in EARLY and rebounded. Camara got a couple of rebound and 4(") points. CW early, very early spelled out the letters U C O N N, I agree she is all Geno said and shall be more. ONO (Olivia) is very good, the hesitation will soon be smooth shooting, Geno will fix that. The slightly frame will take time and calories/weight room. I was pleased Coomb was early into the game with nice minutes (Danger needs her). Walker is no novice and should not be given the pass the new kids get, she must drive and rebound (as she did) to make Uconn successful. Soon she will actually show the Megan Walker that wants to get out .
This team cannot afford to Be Katie Lou, Napheesa, CW, Danger, Walker (in that order) the last 3 must step up their game as must Coombs, Irwin, Camara, ONO.
I hope I'm terribly wrong but from minutes, results, and time of entry Lexi and Molly have an amount of work to do that may be impossible. The 8/9 rotation seems cast in slowly curing concrete!
 
BobbyJ said:
To me it was as expected. KLS, Collier, and Dangerfield better be ready to go 35-40 minutes a game even against AAC teams. This team is a '19,'20, and '21 recruit's dream situation.
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You mean like last year where the bench went two deep then prayed for a long TO?
 
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TitleTown said:
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.
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I am hardly ever correct on Players but to compare ONO to Charles is like comparing apples to coconuts. Charles started as a banger and yet she did not become Tina Charles until late in her Jr year. ONO may never push heavy players around but if she is willing to mix it up and work for rebounds she could be as good as any.
 
I think it is pretty clear that ONO is not affected by the moment and her teammates (even the top group) are willing to get her involved. She may be physically overwhelmed at times but she is not shying away from activity on both sides of the ball.
 
huskeynut said:
Good start, even though Vanguard was totally over matched.

Williams is the real deal. She looked very comfortable in the first half. Nice three point shot, good midrange and she can put on a burst of speed to blow by a defender. She also showed she can make the pass to the open player.

Olivia will play a significant role this year. Raw in some respects but the skills are there. She is not afraid to crash the boards. She will get stronger as the year progresses but don't expect her to put on a lot of muscle. Not her body type.

Lou, Pheesa and Crystal as expected.

Irwin may be in the best shape every but - don't see her game going to the next level. Coombs may be a dark horse. We'll see if it comes out. Don't see the rest doing much but mop up time.
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Williams looked like a senior. Very impressed.
 
MilfordHusky said:
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.
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I hope I'm wrong but I think I saw the 9 or 8 that may end the season. To run KLS, Danger, Napheesa, CW, Megan 35/40 minute a game ever game is just a disaster in the making.
ONO is NOT strong but that can be fixed, she is slightly in build that will be fixed in 20 years.
Her skill set is excellent and Christine and Geno will work their magic on her and before her career is done she will be among the best--but not this year. There are some, less than I thought, that will end their careers on the end of Geno's bench. Hopefully Irwin isn't one of them.
 
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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.
 
JordyG said:
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.
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I would hope that their offense and defense looked terrific. This was like scrimmaging their own second team.
 
BobbyJ said:
This team makes last year's club look really deep.
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If you removed the REALLY I'd agree. They may be usable deeper. Some sitters won't sit this year.
oldude said:
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.
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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??
 
BobbyJ said:
I would hope that their offense and defense looked terrific. This was like scrimmaging their own second team.
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I forgot to add one thing. The power of the puff! I want some of CW's hair. It's just so unfair.
 
Bigboote said:
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.
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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.
 
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Charliebball said:
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......;);)
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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.
 
BobbyJ said:
I would hope that their offense and defense looked terrific. This was like scrimmaging their own second team.
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Wouldn't Uconn's "second Team " have been much much much more of an opponent??
 
BroadwayVa said:
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.
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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..........
 
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