Adamec: Jefferson to Chong: Next year is your year

[pap49cba]

“I told her on the stage, ‘Next year is your year,’ ” Jefferson said. “I made the jump and I know that she can make the jump. You have to put the time in at the gym and be focused and be prepared and come out and be ready to play every day.”

LINK

 

[meyers7]

“I went through the same thing last year when the results didn’t show on the court,” Jefferson said. “We have to build her confidence. But I’m telling you right now — Saniya’s going to be amazing next year.”

Sounds good to me.

 

[Striper69]

I'm pulling for Saniya Chong...

 

[HGN]

Good going MoJeff.............Keep Saniya spirit up and be a good example for her.

 

[VAMike23]

Great leadership from Mo, love it

 

[EricLA]

“I told her on the stage, ‘Next year is your year,’ ” Jefferson said. “I made the jump and I know that she can make the jump. You have to put the time in at the gym and be focused and be prepared and come out and be ready to play every day.”

“I went through the same thing last year when the results didn’t show on the court,” Jefferson said. “We have to build her confidence. But I’m telling you right now — Saniya’s going to be amazing next year.”

Sounds good to me.

I know she has the dedication. We saw it this year in Geno's comments about how good she was playing in practice. For some reason she went thru a crisis of confidence, but I know her teammates and Geno will help her get her head back on. The raw talent is there. BUT Moriah literally worked out 3 different times a day for several hours each time every single day this summer. If Saniya ha that kind of dedication, I'm sure she can see that kind of jump. Same goes for Banks. Because I guarantee you - if Williams is healthy, she and Nurse will likely be ahead of Chong and Banks on the depth chart, unless those 2 really improve their games...

 

[Aluminny69]

Just looked it up: In last year's semi-final game against Notre Dame, Moriah played just 11 minutes, was 0 for 3 from the field, zero points, zero assists, 2 personal fouls, and 2 turnovers. Yes, I would agree that's quite a turnaround to this year. BTW, just five players played 29 or more minutes, with Morgan Tuck the only bench player with major minutes (26) off the bench. Worked out last year, worked out this year. Helps that UConn players are in tremendous condition.

 

[Deadrody]

“I told her on the stage, ‘Next year is your year,’ ” Jefferson said. “I made the jump and I know that she can make the jump. You have to put the time in at the gym and be focused and be prepared and come out and be ready to play every day.”

LINK

I think the obvious key is getting in the gym. And the weight room more specifically.

 

[diggerfoot]

My take on relative likelihood for success from our guards next year, excluding Chong and Banks:

1. Jefferson (duh)
2. Nurse (17 year old starting pg for a national team that aggravates 30 year olds? Also, duh)
3. Edwards (never underestimate the understanding a Connecticut girl has for what it takes)
4. Williams (insane athleticism, but ask Dolson how important that is compared to other factors, injuries a question mark, could be used more as a wing)
5. Ekmark (I actually think she's as likely to succeed as Nurse, but seldom will be used as a guard)

Where do Chong and Banks fit into that "success" ranking? Certainly below Jefferson. For Chong, above Nurse is possible but I'm suspecting #3. Banks I suspect is below Jefferson and Nurse for sure, but could possibly be above or below any of the others, including Chong.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Just looked it up: In last year's semi-final game against Notre Dame, Moriah played just 11 minutes, was 0 for 3 from the field, zero points, zero assists, 2 personal fouls, and 2 turnovers. Yes, I would agree that's quite a turnaround to this year. BTW, just five players played 29 or more minutes, with Morgan Tuck the only bench player with major minutes (26) off the bench. Worked out last year, worked out this year. Helps that UConn players are in tremendous condition.

Moriah started becoming the Moriah we see today in the second half of the final with Louisville last year. Good advice from Moriah the upperclassman to her sophomore teammate.

 

[phil sampieri]

I think the obvious key is getting in the gym. And the weight room more specifically.

The only weakness in Chong's game in my opinion is her handle on the ball which she can surely improve over the summer. She has a great 3 point shot, she's super quick & fast and plays decent defense which I'm sure will improve by more playing time. A star in the making.

 

[RadyLady]

“I went through the same thing last year when the results didn’t show on the court,” Jefferson said. “We have to build her confidence. But I’m telling you right now — Saniya’s going to be amazing next year.”

And who is wondering now who the vocal leader is going to be next year? I am not.

Mo - maybe a little person, but a big, big, leader

 

[RadyLady]

Our back court will be a basketball buffet next year, especially if injuries are healed and folks do some time in the gym. It is the front court that I worry about (just a little), with Morgan still working through her knee problems. Kiah - I believe that all signs are leading up to Kiah having a really great year.

 

[Aluminny69]

Our back court will be a basketball buffet next year, especially if injuries are healed and folks do some time in the gym. It is the front court that I worry about (just a little), with Morgan still working through her knee problems. Kiah - I believe that all signs are leading up to Kiah having a really great year.

I was wondering if next year Geno might, at times, go with a five guard lineup. If anyone could pull it off, Geno could...

 

[j66kicker]

I was wondering if next year Geno might, at times, go with a five guard lineup. If anyone could pull it off, Geno could...

As long as one of them is 6'4" with a 7'1" wingspan

 

[Tenspro2002]

Just looked it up: In last year's semi-final game against Notre Dame, Moriah played just 11 minutes, was 0 for 3 from the field, zero points, zero assists, 2 personal fouls, and 2 turnovers. Yes, I would agree that's quite a turnaround to this year.

Moriah might not have played well, but at least she played. Obviously she had shown Geno enough that she could be counted on for some minutes in the biggest game of the year.

Chong showed none of that. I hope she makes a big leap in the offseason, but it's disingenuous to draw the analogy between Mo and Saniya when there's a huge difference between where they each started from.

 

[Aluminny69]

Moriah might not have played well, but at least she played. Obviously she had shown Geno enough that she could be counted on for some minutes in the biggest game of the year.

Chong showed none of that. I hope she makes a big leap in the offseason, but it's disingenuous to draw the analogy between Mo and Saniya when there's a huge difference between where they each started from.

Difference to take into account: Last year, Mo played to spell Hartley from point guard duties. This year, Hartley took over point guard duties for those minutes that Mo sat. That said, yes, Moriah was rated the #2 recruit last year. Saniya was not ranked nearly that high. Saniya needs to show more confidence offensively, and less deference to her teammates.

 

[Zorro]

From insecure freshman to Mama MoJet. You go girl.

 

[uconnfan68]

My take on relative likelihood for success from our guards next year, excluding Chong and Banks:

1. Jefferson (duh)
2. Nurse (17 year old starting pg for a national team that aggravates 30 year olds? Also, duh)
3. Edwards (never underestimate the understanding a Connecticut girl has for what it takes)
4. Williams (insane athleticism, but ask Dolson how important that is compared to other factors, injuries a question mark, could be used more as a wing)
5. Ekmark (I actually think she's as likely to succeed as Nurse, but seldom will be used as a guard)

Where do Chong and Banks fit into that "success" ranking? Certainly below Jefferson. For Chong, above Nurse is possible but I'm suspecting #3. Banks I suspect is below Jefferson and Nurse for sure, but could possibly be above or below any of the others, including Chong.

Based on only what I have read or heard (very few videos), but reading between the lines I see Kia Nurse starting next year. Playing Bria's role of sometimes 2-guard, sometimes point. I think she is really under the radar based on a lack of AAU ball, but the actual World Championship games didn't have very many AAU kids. I see Courtney Ekmark playing understudy to KML. I see a healthy Williams playing a lot of minutes at 2 and 3. Sadie Edwards will be MJ's understudy too. Saniya and Brianna will both get better over this summer (Brianna was recovering from a dramatic injury, full recovery isn't 6 months, but more like over a year before you aren't thinking about it). We will be a much faster team next year, playing a lot of kids and pressing a lot. Geno just changes the game to suit the team. With Stewie, Kiah, Morgan, and K, we'll be fine in the frontcourt.