Auriemma eyes dominant frontcourt in UConn’s quest for 12th title

[oldude]

Imho while UConn has some very good “big”
Players none of them have the ability to post
In the low block ..Dorka is a very skilled player
But like most European players is most comfortable facing the basket with good 3
Point range. With another big player who could post up would be very effective
AE is a good rebounder can defend multiple positions and seemed to be getting better at
Shooting the foul line jump shot..a very good player . at this point
Does not have the “natural ability” to establish
Post position,feel the defender and use the body
And foot work to either finish or find the open
Man when there is help defense .these skills
Are very hard to teach and imho are somewhat
natural skills..I believe improved shooting from the foul line and putting the ball on the floor to finish at the rim are areas she could make the most improvement
AD certainly can shoot the ball and in limited
Minutes appears to have a Good “feel” for the game Seems she may have the skills to be a post player but no certainty Her “upside” is very high

Which brings me to why GA seems to be
Very high on I Brady
Have watched multiple video and she
Absolutely knows how to post up great footwork
Knows how to use her body to create angles and space and has a soft touch and being left handed helps additionally very comfortable putting the ball on the floor and range to 15
Feet
She has all the skills that other UConn big
Players do not have and seems physically ready for the college game
Like most freshman players defense will a challenge
While South Carolina will be the favorite and Stanford very formidable. a healthy uconn
Team with improvement from
AD and significant contributions from the freshman could allow the best backcourt
In the country to be the difference
I’m optimistic!!

You make an interesting point. UConn’s best low post players were not centers. They were forwards. Specifically, Tuck & Pheesa were 1st team AA’s with incredible low-post scoring ability. Geno probably sees that potential in Ice.

 

[Geesworld]

Not so sure why it Sounds like UCONN faithful is in panic Mode. We just reached final four and the finals. There is no need to panic, trying to keep up with one program. If anything we have to find the next Post player that is going to compliment Deberry and the next couple of classes coming in. Won't have Dorka after next season.

I've said it a few times. Post Players isn't something you use sparingly. If Geno wanted a post presence, I'm certain that is what the offense would look like. It's time to commit to having a post influence. Especially with the gifted shooters we have on this team.

 

[hoophuskee]

Uconn needs to score against South Carolina from the outside...........ultimately UConn needs to find a way to get Fudd, Bueckers and Ducharme more open shots......that's their advantage and the only way they win against SC.......hopefully the front court players can compete enough to keep the SC forwards honest..........this is where I'm hoping Brady's ability to shoot from midrange will come into play.........

I think the opposite. They need some scoring on the inside to open up the outside. That's why I've been more "pro-Patterson" while you are more "pro-Brady" I suppose.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

You do realize South Carolina has lost to Missouri (69-70, 47 to 32 rebs) and Kentucky (62-64, 44 to 32 rebs) respectively.

South Carolina is a super #1 team but not unbeatably. Any schools with a good day and coaching plan, (and also some good luck) can beat South Carolina even with less rebounds.

I do realize that. I also realize they averaged a +18 on the boards for the season. And they were +13, +17, and +25 the last three times they've faced the Huskies.

 

[hoophuskee]

Injuries are not an intangible they are a reality of the game. When both teams were at full strength early in the season SC was still the dominat team. SC also beat Stanford earlier this season. There is a significant gap between SC and UCONN. I really don't care about the other teams. Lamenting the injuries UCONN had in this game or on the season does nothing to close the gap. A new/different strategy + improved (new?) players is now a necessity- at least that's what I got out of reading this article.

when was UCONN at full strength? They were hurt too often to ever be at full strength. Even at the end of the season, Paige wasn't at full strength until arguably the end. And at the end Dorka got hurt.

 

[hoophuskee]

Not so sure why it Sounds like UCONN faithful is in panic Mode.

It's time to commit to having a post influence.

I'm not sure I understand the 1st sentence vs the 2nd?

 

[Kaizen]

I do realize that. I also realize they averaged a +18 on the boards for the season. And they were +13, +17, and +25 the last three times they've faced the Huskies.

I am only talking about rebounds and I do not mention UConn in my post.

And then, this season UConn only played 2 times with South Carolina, where do you come to three times. Don't add last year's game in here otherwise I can tell you the last 10 years' games.

 

[CocoHusky]

when was UCONN at full strength? They were hurt too often to ever be at full strength. Even at the end of the season, Paige wasn't at full strength until arguably the end. And at the end Dorka got hurt.

Technically never. It was announced after this game that Azzi was suffering from stress in feet and Aubrey had not been ruled out as of yet. Caroline was a healthy scratch for this game. My main point still stands it is fairly shortsighted to focus on the injuries because the gap between the teams is significantly above what the injuries would account for and the injuries are not predictable. It is really a quick excuse as was put forth last year when UCONN lost to Arizona-Nika was not fully healthy. This year people are pointing to Dorka being missing, Azzi being ill and Evina being nick up during the game. While I believe those fully healthy players certain would have worked in UCONN favor it is not something we should be counting on as the answer to closing this gap. I'll keep it a buck! Dorka did not exactly distinguish herself against the Indiana front line. She showed some early flashes against NCst before being injured. I'm just not sure why there would be hope for Dorka to distinguish herself against the SC front line.

Women's Basketball vs South Carolina on 11/22/21 - Box Score - University of Connecticut Athletics

University of Connecticut Athletics

uconnhuskies.com

 

[CocoHusky]

Not so sure why it Sounds like UCONN faithful is in panic Mode. We just reached final four and the finals. There is no need to panic, trying to keep up with one program. If anything we have to find the next Post player that is going to compliment Deberry and the next couple of classes coming in. Won't have Dorka after next season.

I've said it a few times. Post Players isn't something you use sparingly. If Geno wanted a post presence, I'm certain that is what the offense would look like. It's time to commit to having a post influence. Especially with the gifted shooters we have on this team.

Doesn't seem like you read the article if you are questioning what Geno want out of the post.

From the article:
"I’ve never gone to the national championship game and not had one or two big guys who could dominate the game at either end, offensively or defensively."

Geno

Geno want's a post presence he just doesn't have it.

 

[Geesworld]

I'm not sure I understand the 1st sentence vs the 2nd?

First sentence is saying don't panic for need of post players just to try and keep up with SC.
The second is time to start using all of your tools and not as a token usage rate.

 

[hoophuskee]

I am only talking about rebounds and I do not mention UConn in my post.

And then, this season UConn only played 2 times with South Carolina, where do you come to three times. Don't add last year's game in here otherwise I can tell you the last 10 years' games.

I agree with you. There also needs to be some fair context.

UCONN got wiped out in there earlier game this year with SC with no Griffin (before season started you would have expected a core rebounder on UCONN's team would have been available to play) and an unhealthy Dorka. I mean-- there was "a reason" why they got Dorka. It was to combat getting wiped out. If she is hurt or unable to play it puts the team at a disadvantage.

Then it title game excluding Griffin, there was no Dorka and a hurt Liv. And to a lesser extent a hurt Evina but much lesser extent.

One just can't gloss over these things as if they didn't matter then just spout out stats without any context.

 

[TeamFirst!]

SC will have a new point guard and that may be the weakness for them. Henderson was very good at controlling the pace and the team. She was a senior and did the job that Harris did before her. We have to disrupt the new point guard. It could be Cooke or maybe Amihere would played it when Henderson was out early in the year.

It probably is Raven Johnson who was a top recruit last year and who was getting a lot of PT for a Freshman before she got hurt.

 

[CocoHusky]

I am only talking about rebounds and I do not mention UConn in my post.

And then, this season UConn only played 2 times with South Carolina, where do you come to three times. Don't add last year's game in here otherwise I can tell you the last 10 years' games.

You can go back 10 years if you want but fact are facts. UCONN NEVER lost the rebounding margin to South Carolina until Aaliyah Boston step foot on SC campus. Since then it has been decisively in SC's favor. That is he point of @Sluconn Husky post. UCONN can't be dealing with those kinds of rebounding deficits and expect to ever beat SC.

 

[hoophuskee]

Doesn't seem like you read the article if you are questioning what Geno want out of the post.

From the article:
"I’ve never gone to the national championship game and not had one or two big guys who could dominate the game at either end, offensively or defensively."

Geno

Geno want's a post presence he just doesn't have it.

He forgot about the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 teams.

 

[hoophuskee]

First sentence is saying don't panic for need of post players just to try and keep up with SC.
The second is time to start using all of your tools and not as a token usage rate.

Okay.

But what if he doesn't have it? Who was the player he could have dumped the ball inside to vs SC?

 

[Kaizen]

You can go back 10 years if you want but fact are facts. UCONN NEVER lost the rebounding margin to South Carolina until Aaliyah Boston step foot on SC campus. Since then it has been decisively in SC's favor. That is he point of @Sluconn Husky post. UCONN can't be dealing with those kinds of rebounding deficits and expect to ever beat SC.

UConn has played South Carolina only 2 times this season so can you tell me where is the 3rd game Sluconn mentioned?

 

[Stymie]

This is an interesting article. It appears that Geno is weighing whether or not to play the hand he has next season as far as frontcourt players are concerned or to dip into the transfer portal for another Big.

Much of UConn’s ability to make it back to the FF next year, and perhaps overcome the enormous challenge posed by SC & Boston, comes down to the development of Amari DeBerry, a 6’5” post. Amari needs to improve her conditioning and agressiveness but she definitely has the skill set to become a dominant post player.

I am heartened to know that Amari plans to stay on campus over the summer to work with Andrea Hudy, as well as the coaches. She is most certainly the X-factor going into next season.

Devil’s advocate here.
How do you know Amari ‘definitely’ has the skill set to become a dominant post player.
All one really has to go on, by and large, is tape of her beating up on inferior sized/skilled HS competition.
We don’t see practice.
Have seen absolutely nothing in her playing time at UCONN besides a couple of rebounds and a number of 3 point heaves.
Not down on her-Christ, she’s an athletic 6’5”- but please, show me SOMETHING.
Haven’t seen anything as a precursor to “ dominant”.

 

[hoophuskee]

UConn has played South Carolina only 2 times this season so can you tell me where is the 3rd game Sluconn mentioned?

He's referring to the game that UCONN beat South Carolina.

 

[Kaizen]

Then it title game excluding Griffin, there was no Dorka and a hurt Liv. And to a lesser extent a hurt Evina but much lesser extent.

One just can't gloss over these things as if they didn't matter then just spout out stats without any context.

And Azzi was also sick in this title game. So UConn has , may be, 5 players not in their normal conditions. ..

 

[CocoHusky]

UConn has played South Carolina only 2 times this season so can you tell me where is the 3rd game Sluconn mentioned?

@Sluconn Husky never said the teams played three times this season what he wrote was "The last three times they've faced the Huskies".

I do realize that. I also realize they averaged a +18 on the boards for the season. And they were +13, +17, and +25 the last three times they've faced the Huskies.

 

[LoboDays]

Maybe the coach looks at things a bit differently than many of us do. We want instant gratification. “Get someone in here who can at least get her share of rebounds and points against Boston”

The coach may look at things on a longer term basis. What do I need from my post players to win at the highest level going forward?”

In a way, it’s the same question but the difference, IMO, also includes changes in recruiting decisions and the overall offensive scheme. My assumption is that players like Boston, Morrow, etc, will be an increasing part of the college scene going forward. Players are getting bigger, stronger and better. Teams must be able to compete in the paint. The “ guards win championships” mantra doesn’t make it by itself. If you are not competitive In the paint, your guards will be stopped.

So, anticipating the usual responses about making it to the FF for the umpteenth time, out rebounding the majority of opponents, having a superior back court, ……I only say,….if we don’t change, we are good enough to make the FF again. But, if more Bostons are in our future, the chances of ending the NC drought are not too good.

I would focus on stronger forwards who can crash the boards and score mid-range. And, I would stop this offensive scheme that has, at times, both of our bigs hovering around the 3 point line trying to set screens. Get them in the paint, keep them there and make their defense take them seriously.

It is a different game now. It must be adjusted to.

 

[TeamFirst!]

So recently having a great post is the difference maker. The data point which skews the results. A great post can be a statistical anomaly. There are not a lot of "great" posts ergo our need to try to recruit them, which I'm absolutely sure we are trying to do. For whatever reason, recently we have lost some of those battles and it doesn't look like that is going to change any time soon. Geno is doing everything he can or he wouldn't have focused so much on Ice ( who he gambled on and offered early if I remember correctly ) and Ayanna who is capable of being a dominant rebounder. Is anyone going to complain if Ayanna comes in and gives us 12 rebounds a game next year? I don't think so. If all she did was rebound and defend like that we all would be ecstatic.

 

[Kaizen]

@Sluconn Husky never said the teams played three times this season what he wrote was "The last three times they've faced the Huskies".

So I have never mentioned UConn in my post. Do you know that?

Why when people said something other people always redirected to UConn Husky?

 

[CocoHusky]

Devil’s advocate here.
How do you know Amari ‘definitely’ has the skill set to become a dominant post player.
All one really has to go on, by and large, is tape of her beating up on inferior sized/skilled HS competition.
We don’t see practice.
Have seen absolutely nothing in her playing time at UCONN besides a couple of rebounds and a number of 3 point heaves.
Not down on her-Christ, she’s an athletic 6’5”- but please, show me SOMETHING.
Haven’t seen anything as a precursor to “ dominant”.

Nobody knows for sure. If you are a UCONN fan you hope she becomes that players the same way we hoped for 3 years that ONO would as well. The BY would be a boring place if all our hope and expectation was at the same level. I hope you are wrong about Amari.

 

[CocoHusky]

So I have never mentioned UConn in my post. Do you know that?
Why when people said something other people always redirected to UConn Husky?

I have no idea why that would happen on a UCONN Board! But my guess is that it will keep happening.

 

[Kaizen]

I have no idea why that would happen on a UCONN Board! But my guess is that it will keep happening.

OK, thanks anyway.

 

[TeamFirst!]

I agree with Lobodays on the high post affecting our rebounding potential. If they are going to set that high pick then we need more focus on rolling to the basket for the pass back or rebound. I still think we don't crash the boards as much as we could with our bigs. Our guards also seem to just assume the ball is going in the basket rather than get in rebounding position. Of course some guards need to stay back to defend the break but even though we are a good rebounding team overall we could still improve.

 

[veryolddog]

There is no question that SC has 3 excellent players that can play the post. As Dawn Staley said in an interview: we do not worry about making the first shot because we know that we are going to get the offensive rebound and either make that shot or get fouled.

If UConn is going to contend against SC, they are going to need 3 big "Bulls" to push and shove against those 3 excellent post players on SC. The portal at this point is the place to look for some of them with experience. And, they should act quickly before Dawn adds them to her team.

 

[hoophuskee]

My main point still stands it is fairly shortsighted to focus on the injuries because the gap between the teams is significantly above what the injuries would account for and the injuries are not predictable. It is really a quick excuse as was put forth last year when UCONN lost to Arizona-Nika was not fully healthy.

Women's Basketball vs South Carolina on 11/22/21 - Box Score - University of Connecticut Athletics

University of Connecticut Athletics

uconnhuskies.com

Well there is the difference. It's not short-sighted one bit. It’s spouting facts.

And to use what you're doing about Dorka and speaking of her 3 minute play vs Indiana is just another negative excuse. Using that logic then looking back at UCONN vs UCF then UCONN should never have beaten NC State and/or Stanford. The point is- you can't do what you're doing by using Doka’s one 3 minute game and applying to what would have happened vs SC.

That’s just openly being negative. I do agree though with you and anyone else that has the sentiment that the inside needs to be better. It's why I am so darn hopeful with Patterson. Not as a low post but can maybe get some easy baskets and in different ways even vs the elite teams. Even if it means her defense helps UCONN on the fastbreak.

Well it';s sunday I'm out. Have a great day coco and kaizen olddude slu geeworld and everyone else.

 

[Charliebball]

I think the opposite. They need some scoring on the inside to open up the outside. That's why I've been more "pro-Patterson" while you are more "pro-Brady" I suppose.

that's the way it should work but against South Carolina I'm speculating that if Brady hits a couple of those jump shots it would force Boston or Saxton away from the basket, hopefully allowing Patterson, Edwards etc a bit more space to operate while also taking the focus away from the three-point shooters........simply put, the more players UConn has that are a threat to score the less the defense can cheat or double team