Adamec: Opportunity for Chong Tonight

[Jimbo]

https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/opportunity-knocks-for-chong-against-tulsa/161151664/

I especially liked this quote from Stewie about Saniya: "I don't know how she does it, because I'm sure it has to be difficult. When we played at Madison Square Garden, she didn't warm up at all. Then she comes in and is disruptive and then in the second half makes a big shot for us. Props to her."

 

[Kaizen]

"I'm able to go full practice," Chong said. "Going up and down [the court], sprinting here and there. … The last couple of days I've been able to do a full practice."

Said Auriemma: "Saniya has been unbelievable in practice."

Chong offers UConn another ball-handler and another experienced player on the court. Freshman Katie Lou Samuelson, the best high school player in the country last year, could see her minutes increase after losing playing time in recent games. Auriemma said he has seen an improvement in Samuelson in practice over the past week, but that Chong earned the start.

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...-tulsa-women-advance-0106-20160105-story.html

 

[mrmojack]

Saniya will probably score 20 tonight. This is a nice opportunity for her to shine bright.

 

[EricLA]

Saniya will probably score 20 tonight. This is a nice opportunity for her to shine bright.

I hope she does but I'd be thrilled with her scoring 8-10, dishing out 6 assists, grabbing 5 boards and making 3 steals with only 1-2 turnovers. To me that would be a greatly successful night.

 

[Bonpland]

If Saniya holds her own tonight, plays a tight game with a few buckets and a strong effort on defense, she will have taken a giant step towards working her way back into the future rotation. She doesn't have to score 20 points or have ten assists. If she just shows us how solid she can be we'll all feel better about our bench.

 

[Monte]

I hope she does but I'd be thrilled with her scoring 8-10, dishing out 6 assists, grabbing 5 boards and making 3 steals with only 1-2 turnovers. To me that would be a greatly successful night.

I will be happy, if she just plays multiple minutes, plays well, and most of all: comes out of the game healthy. I wish her the best of luck!

 

[UconnWBB]

I hope she plays well, and everyone gets their chance to shine!

 

[Huskies Rule]

Saniya will probably score 20 tonight. This is a nice opportunity for her to shine bright.

That's one helluva call, mr.mo. Right on, on both counts- 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and played the point nicely. She certainly did shine bright!

But please, next time you predict a kid's scoring total, try to be a little more accurate.

 

[Gus Mahler]

That's one helluva call, mr.mo. Exactly right on both counts- 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and played the point nicely. She certainly did shine bright!

Thirty-eight points in her last two starts!

 

[Aluminny69]

Thirty-eight points in her last two starts!

Post game, Geno said he's not surprised she scored. Saniya was a scorer in high School. Geno is still not satisfied with her defense. He said he IS surprised when Saniya plays defense.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Post game, Geno said he's not surprised she scored. Saniya was a scorer in high School. Geno is still not satisfied with her defense. He said he IS surprised when Saniya plays defense.

He said he's surprised when she plays great defense.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Geno is just relentlessly 'brutal.' Even after Saniya's excellent performance tonight, he couldn't get himself to be too complimentary. Maybe it's his motivational device, or maybe he's just afraid Saniya will get a big head and become complacent (no way!) How else to explain Geno's post-game comment about Saniya's defense?

With a straight face, he declared that a woman in the stands suffered a heart attack when she saw Saniya actually play some defense. I know that's Geno's sarcasm, but man, that's really cold, coach. I get it, he is constantly looking for ways to encourage his kids to play better. And that's why he is the greatest.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Geno is just relentlessly 'brutal.' Even after Saniya's excellent performance tonight, he couldn't get himself to be too complimentary. Maybe it's his motivational device, or maybe he's just afraid Saniya will get a big head and become complacent (no way!) How else to explain Geno's post-game comment about Saniya's defense?

With a straight face, he declared that a woman in the stands suffered a heart attack when she saw Saniya actually play some defense. I know that's Geno's sarcasm, but man, that's really cold, coach. I get it, he is constantly looking for ways to encourage his kids to play better. And that's why he is the greatest.

I really think that's it. He wants her to keep trying to please him.

I didn't think she played great on defense tonight, but she was more than adequate. She sometimes looks out of kilter on defense. I think time and experience will help. And two good wheels.

 

[UcMiami]

Part of the issue on defense especially when Stewart or Jefferson aren't playing is the communication - there were a number of times tonight both in man and in zone where the switching/passing off of an offensive player was a little suspect. The more different combinations of players on the floor and especially including those who haven't been playing (Natalie and Saniya) the more difficult that becomes. I thought the zone looked particularly suspect tonight - uncoordinated in the spacing and sliding between the zones.

 

[boontonbomber]

Don't understand why Geno focuses so much on Saniya's defense, when other players' individual defense is definitely suspect. It is certainly showing up more this year, without Kiah to "correct" mistakes. For him to say that KML was usually in the right place on defense makes me wonder what he's looking at out there.

 

[JoePgh]

Don't understand why Geno focuses so much on Saniya's defense, when other players' individual defense is definitely suspect. It is certainly showing up more this year, without Kiah to "correct" mistakes. For him to say that KML was usually in the right place on defense makes me wonder what he's looking at out there.

KML's positioning in her senior year was nearly always correct, based on what I observed. As a result of that, she got steals (including muscling balls out of her opponent's hands) and contributed that way on defense. Her problem (accentuated in the WNBA) is that she was not quick at all, and could not keep fast opponents in front of her. That's not an issue of positioning; it's an issue of basic athletic ability to react and move your feet as quickly as your opponent is moving hers.

Regarding other players' defense this year (besides Saniya), I agree that has been a problem. But it has mostly been a problem for the freshman and for players like Courtney who did not play much last year. Saniya has had a lot of time at UConn and a lot of minutes to get her positioning correct, so she is properly held to a higher standard than less experienced players. (However, I will acknowledge that Kia Nurse has been beaten on the dribble far more than she should be, by players who are not as quick as she is, e.g., Marina Mabrey.)

 

[boontonbomber]

KML's positioning in her senior year was nearly always correct, based on what I observed. As a result of that, she got steals (including muscling balls out of her opponent's hands) and contributed that way on defense. Her problem (accentuated in the WNBA) is that she was not quick at all, and could not keep fast opponents in front of her. That's not an issue of positioning; it's an issue of basic athletic ability to react and move your feet as quickly as your opponent is moving hers.

Regarding other players' defense this year (besides Saniya), I agree that has been a problem. But it has mostly been a problem for the freshman and for players like Courtney who did not play much last year. Saniya has had a lot of time at UConn and a lot of minutes to get her positioning correct, so she is properly held to a higher standard than less experienced players. (However, I will acknowledge that Kia Nurse has been beaten on the dribble far more than she should be, by players who are not as quick as she is, e.g., Marina Mabrey.)

I guess my point was that KML, even last year, was not quick enough to keep players from going around her. So I don't understand what use good positioning is if your foot speed can't keep up. Based upon what I observed, she was not a good man-to-man defender. Despite so-called good positioning, it was no surprise to me that she is having trouble defending in the WNBA.
I definitely agree with you regarding Kia Nurse. But I also see Morgan , and the sometimes over-aggressive Moriah, letting people go by them. I think the team as a whole is "steal focused", which I enjoy watching, but can lead to players getting away from defenders a bit too often, or to dumb fouls being committed.