Azurá Stevens hopes practice leads to perfection | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Azurá Stevens hopes practice leads to perfection

mauconnfan said:
handle the ball enough in 90% of the games to play there.
Expand ...

Heck, 90% of the games aren't games. You build a starting 5 to play the 10%. Your point about how different UConn's floor movement is is well taken however. I would not put anything past Geno and Co. next year.
 
MJL243 said:
From Carl Adamec:

"The coaches have done an amazing job, especially CD and Marisa, trying to help me with my game," Stevens said. "They never cast me to the side. They're always helping me as if I am playing in games. And my teammates treat me like I'm playing. When I'm out there with them in practice, we're all in this together. When I'm on the bench in the game they look at me for support. There's no stigma that I'm not playing.

"I have definitely made strides. I'm learning to go harder, play like a UConn player, which is definitely a challenge but it's fun when you work so hard for something and you see the rewards. I'm waiting for that next year."

Transfer Stevens hopes practice leads to perfection
Expand ...
I like that article--and like OUR new stars --who transferred in to Uconn--really positive about Z.
 
bags27 said:
Pheesa on the bench? I think it more likely that Geno will convince the NCAA to revive women's basketball temporarily as played by 6 women, 3 in front court and 3 in back court...
Expand ...
YES but they couldn't cross the center line. It is a bit unbelievable that some fans believe the kids that pulled off the greatest magic act in Uconn history will be sitting on the bench come next year. It may be a different model for Geno to use 15 super duper kids--it may be difficult for the staff and the players --but I'm sure ALL will get what they DESERVE---with all the implications that may suggest.
 
Will we have 15 kids next year? I hope so, but it wouldn't surprise me if we had 1 or 2 transfers. Having depth for once would feel really, really good.
 
.-.
wes33 said:
No doubt there is better coaching there but you opened the door to how
much is to much. Duke may have had a decent shot at it all this year and
that would have been much better for the game. If the fellers Azura put
out had said NO she probably would be at Duke today.
Expand ...

Wah, wah wah....And that's another.... UConn's bad for the game !!!
UConn does not seek transfers they seek UConn.
Players of the caliber that have transferred from Duke speaks for itself ...One should not blame the school they moved on to.
 
Playing against Z in practice gets Gabby et al. ready to face A'ja Wilson.

I heard somewhere that Geno agreed to accept Z if she promised to play 2 years. I don't know if that's true, but I hope it is.

Early this season, I thought next year's starters would include Kia, Gabby, Pheesa, and Lou. I don't think any of them has done anything to get "demoted." Who will be the 5th starter? Early on, I thought it would be Crystal. Then, others on the BY convinced me that Z is too good not to start. More recently, one of the eminent posters has me reconsidering Crystal. The following year, we lose Gabby and Kia. Who steps into their slots? Z and Meg.

I think Geno goes at least 9 deep next year. The starters plus Crystal or Z, and Nat, Batouly, and Meg. The other frosh will get worked in slowly and will compete with Molly and Kyla.
 
wes33 said:
She is to the Duke program but coach P would over all ranks in the top 10% of
all coaches. Azura left for one reason her professional carrier under the best
coach with assurances to be accepted .
Expand ...

Even though you are a Duke fan, I take it that you did not attend Duke.
 
MilfordHusky said:
I think Geno goes at least 9 deep next year. The starters plus Crystal or Z, and Nat, Batouly, and Meg. The other frosh will get worked in slowly and will compete with Molly and Kyla.
Expand ...

There is a great deal of merit to what you state. I think that Geno will have less angst next year because of the strength of his bench. The foul trouble issue will virtually disappear; rotation could be two or three at a time to rest players, and fourth quarter scoring could be really high.

Don't count out Kyla and Molly just yet. Kyla may surprise everyone with a strong uptick in her skill sets and confidence.

I sure am anxious to see Azura play and to watch Comara come in and contribute.
 
The size next year provided by Z, Batouly and also Walker along with the return of the Core-4 as well as added depth will eliminate any disadvantage that the Huskies face this season against teams like Baylor & SC.

While I'm loving every minute of this season I can't wait for next season.
 
.-.
HoopsFan21 said:
Lou's a guard as much as Stewie was a guard. That she doesn't dribble the ball off her feet doesn't mean you want her as a ball handler. Not sure where this idea that she can suddenly play a guard position for extended periods at this level came from. Lou would get her lunch money stolen and sent packing back to Cali crying by smaller quicker guards.
Expand ...
She was listed as a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman award last week. Crazy.... but true. :eek:
 
reno tony said:
She was listed as a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman award last week. Crazy... but true. :eek:
Expand ...
I really do see next year's starters as the Core-4 + Z. Lou has an excellent handle, and at 6'3" she will create significant matchup problems for opposing teams at the 2.

Crystal still has a ways to go before Geno trusts her. While I would hope that she establishes herself as the 1st guard off the bench, IMO both Walker & Coombs will be pushing hard for playing time once they get to Storrs setting up an intense competition for minutes.
 
wes33 said:
She is to the Duke program but coach P would over all ranks in the top 10% of
all coaches. Azura left for one reason her professional carrier under the best
coach with assurances to be accepted .
Expand ...
Any coach that would have refused to consider Azura Stevens as a transfer to their program should be fired immediately.
 
I doubt Geno made her promise to commit for 2 years. He wants what is best for his players. Morgan Tuck had another year of eligibility, he definitely could have used her, yet he thought about her knees and what was best for her.
 
oldude said:
The size next year provided by Z, Batouly and also Walker along with the return of the Core-4 as well as added depth will eliminate any disadvantage that the Huskies face this season against teams like Baylor & SC.

While I'm loving every minute of this season I can't wait for next season.
Expand ...
Yes you can wait oldude. You have no choice.
 
.-.
HuskyNan said:
Any coach that would have refused to consider Azura Stevens as a transfer to their program should be fired immediately.
Expand ...
There was only one team under consideration. Again how much is to
much for our game?
 
Can a coach talk to another teams player before she has been released from her scholarship?
 
Zanzman said:
Can a coach talk to another teams player before she has been released from her scholarship?
Expand ...
I recall reading that a coach at another school is not permitted to initiate such contact. I don't know whether the player could do it "legally" (per NCAA).

I can't imagine that there is, or could be, any restriction on a player communicating through third parties to the school(s) that she is interested in, or in those schools responding to such an inquiry -- as long as the whole thing is initiated by the player and not the other school.

Didn't the same scenario play out when Brittany Hunter transferred from Duke to UConn? Somehow, before she burned any bridges, she would have had to find out if UConn would be receptive to her transferring.
 
Great article about Stevens. I'm as eager to see her on the court as anyone.

But, I really want to comment on the revisited discussions in this thread of who will start next year. Obviously none of us knows what will be in Geno's head about starters next November (I can't imagine him thinking at all about it now as we fans do except for looking forward to both transfers being able to play next year.)

Having said that, from where I sit I think it is ludicrous to think that any of the core four, all potential AAs, will be on the bench for the first tip-off next season. The core four plus Stevens will be the starters. Just as he has been doing for more than 30 years, Geno will adjust his offense and/or defense to fit his players. I think too many fans have the 2 guard, 2 forward, 1 center mindset. How often has UCONN played in this construct?

Gabby came in as a guard. She is not a natural post player and will not be in the pros. She is playing there because she can. When she was a freshman it was what the team needed. It quickly became clear that she had the talent, athleticism, and ups to play there. She has become so good in that role that she is a serious AA candidate, but next year either KLS or Gabby will play more like a guard in whatever offense Geno creates to fit these 5 great players.

Not every guard needs to be a great 3 pt shooter. If you think Gabby doesn't have the speed, ball-handling skills and passing ability to play guard, I submit you haven't been paying attention. If you think Gabby won't be working on her own this off-season to improve all of her guard skills, you haven't been paying attention to that character trait as well.
 
.-.
Gabby didn't come in as a guard. Geno said so himself during recruiting that she wasn't a (college level) guard. I don't know where all these ideas cane from that everyone on the team can play a guard position whether that be KLS or Gabby neither of whom have ever been listed as a guard when they show/announce the starting line ups.
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Lou's a guard as much as Stewie was a guard. That she doesn't dribble the ball off her feet doesn't mean you want her as a ball handler. Not sure where this idea that she can suddenly play a guard position for extended periods at this level came from. Lou would get her lunch money stolen and sent packing back to Cali crying by smaller quicker guards.
Expand ...
Poor comparison. Should be KLS is a guard as much as KML was a guard. Granted neither one of them were an actual 1 or 2. Both are really pretty pure 3's.

However, KML slid over into the 2 spot quite a bit her senior year with Jefferson being the only "real guard" out there. KLS can certainly do the same. In fact KLS probably has a better "handle" than KML did and it worked out just fine with KML.

As for bringing the ball up. UCONN is not going to have any trouble with guards preventing them from bringing the ball up. KLS can pass over any 1 or 2 guards and Williams can bring the ball up against any 3/4 who would be guarding her.

NOT a problem at all with having KLS at the 2 spot.
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Gabby didn't come in as a guard. Geno said so himself during recruiting that she wasn't a (college level) guard. I don't know where all these ideas cane from that everyone on the team can play a guard position whether that be KLS or Gabby neither of whom have ever been listed as a guard when they show/announce the starting line ups.
Expand ...

OK, fine. Excuse me for not stating it perfectly. Gabby left HS as a guard. She was listed as a guard by both HoopGurlz and Prospects Nation. Geno says a lot of things including (and I'm paraphrasing here) that Gabby had no skills whatsoever when she first arrived. You may choose to think that Geno always means exactly what it sounds like he is saying, but I think most of the time he is speaking as Geno Auriemma, master psychologist. Those comments were all made to light a fire under Gabby's butt just like some of things he said to Stewie the 4 years she was in Storrs.

What is your expertise that allows you to state that someone can't play guard or is this just your opinion? Are you or were you a high-level coach? Were you a high-level player? Or, are you just a fan who thinks he knows more than any other fan?

As for KLS being listed as a guard, check the UCONN official roster. She is listed as a guard/forward. Whereas Stevens is listed as a forward/guard. Call me crazy but I interpret that as guard is KLS' primary position. Someone at UCONN thinks KLS is a guard. I also think that if you went back and looked at the starting lineups for the 2015/2016 season you'll find that on most occasions they included 3 guards and 2 forwards. I'm not going to spend any time doing the research but you can if you choose. Absent that, I'll continue to believe what I believe and you can continue to believe what you believe. Neither of us is more right than the other 21.

BTW, nobody but you used the phrase "everyone on the team can play a guard position". I certainly didn't.
 
Considering Geno had KLS playing backup point guard as a freshman I'm pretty sure he has confidence in her handling ability and considers her a guard offensively. She's only improved in that area and will only continue to do so, and she shouldn't ever have to play point guard like she did as a freshman next season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,346
Messages
4,566,162
Members
10,468
Latest member
ADD3LA


Top Bottom