Coaching genius from Geno: "Look, be like Stewie today."
Thanks --a very good read. Adamec has the same beliefs in Katie Lou I have and apparently the Master has. Katie Lou is so much more. I love the comparison to DT and Stewie--is Katie lou destined to be another DT/Stewie??? Time will tell. But the kid can drive, she can rebound, she can take a charge, she can shoot the 10 footer and the 3's and defends well far a new kid at Uconn.
It seems most posters are starting to see the same thing. Milford you zeroed in on the same line as I did. This is just another reason why Geno stays ahead of the crowd. First, Geno recruits BBplayers---not just bigs, or athletes, or just shooters. UConn players always have a high BBIQ.-- Think of the Ohio State tandem who some consider the best 1-2 guards. When their main game was taken away--they had nothing much to turn to. Almost every AA on the first, 2nd, & 3rd team (except UConn) are more one dimensional or maybe two dimensional- scorers, maybe some rebounding.
Geno sees Lou and I think Pheese too, as Stewies in progress. I know, no one can replace Stewie, but Geno sees these two as raw material to shape in the Stewie mold. What is that specifically?
It is a FULL score line! IMHO this is the template for every UConn player. I see it as 6 parts - Outside points - Inside points - Rebounds - Assists - Steals - Blocks. I would like to see if Stewie covered all six in the first three games. This comprehensive score line seamlessly fits the team mold. Defensively you defend and help-- and steals or rebounds come from that. Assists are easy to see as team work. Inside and outside threats open the court for the other players since UConn players have to be defended everywhere on the court. (Conditioning comes to the fore here & we know NO ONE can hang with UConn for the entire game.) A quarter or a half maybe! Blocks are really the only facet that is individual. Of course, a team mate can funnel the dribbler or driver to the blocker.
Who in the USA can match Stewie's consistent score line? No one.
Lou and Pheese have the size and multiple skill sets to fill a score line. They also have the IQ, desire, and work ethic to accomplish the task. Some might say there are several players across the country who have that potential. MAYBE. Except they don't have a coach who understands and can fulfill the promise.
To finish - Here is where the separation occurs; Geno/CD/R&M--recognize the situation; understand what mental & physical elements need to change to accomplish it; have the Guts to put it into action (here is where Geno said don't worry about shooting the 3 --be like Stewie); they have the knowledge of what specifically has to be done ; and they know exactly what it looks like when it is developing.
Go down the list of each UConn player and look at their skills year by year. They usually add another dimension to their game. I know, other teams have that on their list too. They just don't do as good a job as Geno et al.
