So, the FSU game was exciting, huh? I know some people are unhappy with the fact the Huskies struggled for much of the game. I'd like to remind folks that this team is very different from last year's and Geno is relying on some very young women to be key players. A reminder about the roster:
10 Molly Bent 5-9 Guard FR/FR Centerville, Mass.
51 Natalie Butler 6-5 Center SR/JR Fairfax Station, Va.
12 Saniya Chong 5-8 Guard SR/SR Ossining, N.Y.
24 Napheesa Collier 6-1 Forward SO/SO O'Fallon, Missouri
5 Crystal Dangerfield 5-5 Guard FR/FR Murfreesboro, Tenn.
25 Kyla Irwin 6-2 Forward FR/FR State College, Penn.
20 Tierney Lawlor 5-7 Guard SR/SR Ansonia, Conn.
11 Kia Nurse 6-0 Guard JR/JR Hamilton, Ontario
33 Katie Lou Samuelson 6-3 Guard/Forward SO/SO Huntington Beach, Calif.
15 Gabby Williams 5-11 Guard JR/JR Sparks, Nev.
23 Azurá Stevens 6-6 Forward/Guard JR/JR Raleigh, N.C. - sitting out this year due to NCAA transfer rules
32 Batouly Camara 6-2 Forward SO/SO New York, N.Y. - sitting out, same reason
ONE starter is returning from last year (Kia). There are 5 freshmen and sophomores who've never been the focus of the defense or asked to contribute as much as they'll be needed this year. The juniors - Kia, Gabby, and Natalie, are still struggling a bit to step up and need to find their balance as team leaders and play makers. Big kudos to Saniya on her game at FSU - she played like a UConn senior, my highest praise. Keep it up, kiddo.
Anyway, the point of my post is to remind posters that this is a young team in an unfamiliar conformation. Players are being asked to do things they've never had to do before. During games, I understand expressing frustration with goofy turnovers or boneheaded fouls but, please, don't turn your frustration into personal insults of the players. Criticizing the play is always OK; criticizing the human being is way out of line.
Criticism is fine, but there are a handful of posters who've taken it on themselves to beat the drum of negativity of one player over and over again. These people rarely post, and when they do I already know what their posts say before even clicking on the link. Technically, these posts criticize player but really, they are just spontaneous rants against a single player. These posters may have noticed their posts disappearing. If they just get up one morning and decides to rant against the same player, their posts will continue to disappear.
Thanks everyone for the mostly even-handed response to the game at FSU. Not saying this as a mod, but as a fan, please try to continue to be patient. I have a feeling it will be worth it in the long run.
