JoePgh
Cranky pants and wise acre
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2011
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I have noticed that UConn nearly always seems to go to a zone defense when Natalie is in the lineup. That makes sense, since it allows Natalie to stay under the basket and not have to roam the court to guard a specific opposing player. But I also wonder if it isn't a device to "hide" (i.e., limit the consequences of) her lack of mobility. I recall that the same thing was done several years ago when Kaili MacLaren played.
Maybe it will only happen when the opposing team has a lot of small, fast players. I wonder if it will be the case when an opponent like South Carolina uses another player in the same mold as Natalie, i.e., Alaina Coates. But against Kentucky, Coates showed more mobility than I expected, and more than I have seen from Natalie thus far.
It will be interesting to see if Natalie gets minutes outside of garbage time against the Gamecocks, and if she is trusted to guard Coates one-on-one. If she is, and proves that she can do it with some level of effectiveness (and avoid fouls), that will almost certainly produce a double-digit UConn victory. But I am inclined to think that realistically, Natalie won't see the floor much against South Carolina. On the other hand, if she plays because Stewart / Tuck / KLS / Collier are all in foul trouble, that would be a very negative sign (like Heather Buck defending Griner).
Maybe it will only happen when the opposing team has a lot of small, fast players. I wonder if it will be the case when an opponent like South Carolina uses another player in the same mold as Natalie, i.e., Alaina Coates. But against Kentucky, Coates showed more mobility than I expected, and more than I have seen from Natalie thus far.
It will be interesting to see if Natalie gets minutes outside of garbage time against the Gamecocks, and if she is trusted to guard Coates one-on-one. If she is, and proves that she can do it with some level of effectiveness (and avoid fouls), that will almost certainly produce a double-digit UConn victory. But I am inclined to think that realistically, Natalie won't see the floor much against South Carolina. On the other hand, if she plays because Stewart / Tuck / KLS / Collier are all in foul trouble, that would be a very negative sign (like Heather Buck defending Griner).