Anna Makurat has renewed confidence in her outside shot

[Carnac]

By ALEXA PHILIPPOU HARTFORD COURANT |JAN 17, 2020 |

Heading into UConn’s short break for the holidays, Anna Makurat was hoping that her three-day trip home to Sierakowice, Poland would provide a mental reset following the opening stretch of her first collegiate basketball season. Makurat says her time home did just that, and the results are speaking for themselves six games into the new year.

UConn’s Anna Makurat went to Poland and returned with some renewed confidence in her outside shot

Heading into UConn’s short break for the holidays, Anna Makurat was hoping that her three-day trip home to Sierakowice, Poland would provide a mental reset following the opening stretch of he…

www.courant.com

 

[eebmg]

Nice article with a positive focus. (except for her traveling across Europe quip)

She’s found even more of a stride with her shot since the holiday break, scoring at least six points in all but one of UConn’s games so far this month. And in both of UConn’s tough road games this past week, with Memphis and UCF knocking on the Huskies’ door, she hit critical threes late in the game to put UConn up by 10. Her 10 points on Thursday against the Knights tied her career high.

 

[veryolddog]

I am so happy! The Team needs all the support and bright spots it can get.

 

[Dokey]

In last 11 games she has hit 48% of her threes.

 

[UConn2SF]

When her confidence goes up she will be "bardzo dobrze"

 

[Urshurak]

Definitely. It would be amazing for her confidence if she could hit one game and go like 5 for 5 from three!

 

[oldude]

Anna’s shooting over the past few games has been a real positive for UConn. Now it’s important for her to focus on the rest of her game, particularly the turnover aspect. If she cleans up the turnover problem and continues to knockdown shots, UConn becomes a much better team.

 

[BostonBay]

Anna is a Euro Pro. She has the moxie to deliver.

 

[chrissaran]

One thing Anna needs to do when she gets the ball is turn and shoot or quickly pass the ball to another player.

 

[Crossover]

Definitely. It would be amazing for her confidence if she could hit one game and go like 5 for 5 from three!

ISWYDT

 

[JoePgh]

My hunch is that her past basketball experience (can't say whether it is just her or is a European "thing") is that one doesn't take jump shots unless/until one is WIDE open, as in "Big Sky Montana" open. So she will take 3-point shots from the corner with no defender within a country mile, but similar shots from the top of the circle can be contested to some degree, so Anna isn't willing to attempt them.

Obviously, she needs to get over that, which means getting a less exaggerated idea of how close a defender has to be to block her shot.

 

[Carnac]

Anna’s shooting over the past few games has been a real positive for UConn. Now it’s important for her to focus on the rest of her game, particularly the turnover aspect. If she cleans up the turnover problem and continues to knockdown shots, UConn becomes a much better team.

.........And Geno will have his 5th starter for the remainder of the season. Having A shallow and relatively ineffective bench, the starters must accept the idea that if they are going to win, they’re going to have to pace themselves, stay out of foul trouble and be prepared to play 37-40 minutes a game, especially against the more elite teams. Not a comforting thought, but a realistic one.

 

[EricLA]

.........And Geno will have his 5th starter for the remainder of the season. Having A shallow and relatively ineffective bench, the starters must accept the idea that if they are going to win, they’re going to have to pace themselves, stay out of foul trouble and be prepared to play 37-40 minutes a game, especially against the more elite teams. Not a comforting thought, but a realistic one.

You raise a great point and interesting conundrum. It seems to me that the reason Anna was taken out of the starting line up in favor of Kyla is because of her lack of confidence and therefore lack of production. She fared much better coming off the bench as evidenced by the last 6+ games.

BUT... Kyla has regressed substantially the past 6 games. Her production is close to zero. Sure she still sets good screens and plays solid with UCONN on the floor, but the offensive flow that was better weeks back with her in with the starters seems to have disappeared.

Given that Kyla has shown zero scoring pop, does Geno go back to Anna, or continue to let a more experience Kyla start, bringing Anna off the bench towards the end of Q1?

 

[Crossover]

You raise a great point and interesting conundrum. It seems to me that the reason Anna was taken out of the starting line up in favor of Kyla is because of her lack of confidence and therefore lack of production. She fared much better coming off the bench as evidenced by the last 6+ games.

BUT... Kyla has regressed substantially the past 6 games. Her production is close to zero. Sure she still sets good screens and plays solid with UCONN on the floor, but the offensive flow that was better weeks back with her in with the starters seems to have disappeared.

Given that Kyla has shown zero scoring pop, does Geno go back to Anna, or continue to let a more experience Kyla start, bringing Anna off the bench towards the end of Q1?

I think he will continue to start Kyla, but bring Anna in at the 5 minute mark. We shall see.

 

[Carnac]

I think he will continue to start Kyla, but bring Anna in at the 5 minute mark. We shall see.

Me too. When life gives you lemons, the only thing you can do is make lemonade and hope for the best. There are reasons on both sides of the ledger to start or not to start them. Each one brings something to the table the other one does not.