Azura

[MilfordHusky]

Moriah was hardly at the end of the bench. She averaged more minutes than several bench players. With Doty a shell of her former self there were opportunities for more minutes but Moriah's play didn't earn Geno's trust. I bet if Geno were asked which guard he trusted more as a freshman he would say Crystal. That's not to say Crystal didn't struggle as surely she did, but she was better than freshman Moriah. The question now is how good Crystal becomes and will she be as good as Moriah was as a junior and senior. That is a very tall task.

What she said!

Crystal was ahead of Moriah as a freshman, especially on the offensive end. How will her career trajectory compare? Mo won 2 Liebermans and a NDPOY award. If not for her lanky teammate, she should have been the NPOY. She was arguably the best college PG ever.

 

[oldude]

Batouly seems solid, but Morgan was much more polished on the offensive end and a better FT shooter.

Agreed. I have referred to Batouly as a "working man's" Morgan Tuck. She is strong, play's defense, rebounds and can score from 15 ft in, but doesn't have Tuck's all-around game.

Still, for what UConn needs, Batouly will provide solid minutes off the bench either at the 4 or 5.

 

[EricLA]

Agreed. I have referred to Batouly as a "working man's" Morgan Tuck. She is strong, play's defense, rebounds and can score from 15 ft in, but doesn't have Tuck's all-around game.

Still, for what UConn needs, Batouly will provide solid minutes off the bench either at the 4 or 5.

One of the things I loved about Tuck, and Geno said this many times, was that she NEVER seemed to be rushed. She didn't possess any skills that were truly spectacular (like Stewie and Jefferson), but she did SO MANY things so well that it made her just a terrific, complete, all around basketball player.

If Batouly can even come close to what Tuck brought to the table, she will be incredible indeed!

 

[ricky]

KLS is not nearly as effective as Collier. When Collier sits, the team falls apart. No one accept Williams was very good in the loss to MS.

I bet you thought chong wasn't starting last season! So who plays pg along with nurse? Don't even say gabby or kls because they are not guards. Dangerfield will run the point that is why geno recruited her. Geno will not forget how collier played against miss st in the ff. She will come off the bench to give Z a break. KLS will get the most playing time.

 

[MilfordHusky]

One of the things I loved about Tuck, and Geno said this many times, was that she NEVER seemed to be rushed. She didn't possess any skills that were truly spectacular (like Stewie and Jefferson), but she did SO MANY things so well that it made her just a terrific, complete, all around basketball player.

If Batouly can even come close to what Tuck brought to the table, she will be incredible indeed!

Grandma Tuck was a steadying presence. She did rush in the first half of the NC game her junior year, but calmed things down at halftime. Pretty much every other game, she was as cool as the other side of the pillow. She killed Notre Dame one time. Morgan Tuck is the epitome of "solid." As a player and a person.

 

[ricky]

Collier was awful in the MSU game, no question, but in Geno's mind that will not undo a year's worth of consistent, All-American-level play.

She will start. In fact, all 4 returning starters will start.

The question is whether Stevens or Dangerfield is the 6th "man".

The only bright light I saw in that game was Gabby.

 

[hugefan]

KLS is not nearly as effective as Collier. When Collier sits, the team falls apart. No one accept Williams was very good in the loss to MS.

Why don't you say that to Her face when you go visit your sister

 

[SVCBeercats]

At this time last year I anointed Danger--Moriah jr---with defense, concussions, freshman problems--she didn't live up to my (overly high) expectations---Geno at the end of last season--in the NCAA's put Danger into a lot of games--the trust was there (also knowing her limitation)--I think she will blossom --she is still only a new soph. I am now anointing Walker the very best Walker UConn has had in the past 10 years (women that is).

I believe the trust was there that she would deliver to a certain level but not always to the level he had hoped for. She got minutes because she did deliver and very well in a few games but who else could he play? No one! A few times I got the impression he was not thrilled with KLS's performance and would have given her a "rest." Probably at some time he would have liked to do this for each player. But, again, his short bench did not allow for this. At season's end he made a comment about next season he hoped to be able to send a message to players not performing or practicing to his expectations with some bench time. If he has enough in the mix, he will do so. I believe he has seven players in the mix for sure ... Gabby, Crystal, Azurá, Lou, Kia, Napheesa, and Camara. I am hoping at least two of the frosh will earn Geno's trust to play 10-15 minutes per game. So maybe nine in the mix. I'm thinking practice habits this season will be even better. Bent and/or Irwin may make a sophomore leap I don't expect. Even better!

 

[Bajan Best]

Lots of interesting comments made on this post, allow me to add a slightly different concern..
Of the returning core of players, I believe KLS will have the most pressure on her shoulder's to be more consistent, it will be interesting to see how that plays out.. The Coach love players who play stifling D, and with so many players who can hit an open jumper he will have the luxury of subbing if a player is ineffective on a given night.. Also KLS focus for the coming year was to become physically stronger which can sometimes have an impact on your outside touch, I truly hope not..

Once healthy I see Gabby and Napheesa as the two locks for playing time.. KLS, Azuza Crystal and Nurse should dominate the remainder of the playing time this year.. Unless Crystal's defense improves drastically she may have the most difficult time demanding minutes, curious to see if she tries, or is capable of applying ball pressure and denying players touches, because of her height it is important that she does not become such a liability on defense this year.. we all know she can break a press single handily and find an open player for a basket.. Only time will tell...

 

[huskeynut]

Don't think for a second that Geno doesn't watch what the pros are doing and then implement some of those schemes at UConn. Geno's all-time favorite team was the Knicks with Reed, Dubussere, Bradley, Frazier & Barnett, 5 players who could all pass and shoot the ball. Last summer he picked Pops brain in SA.

Geno is personally killing the entire concept of a traditional, big, slow post player in WBB. 4 years of Stewie's athleticism put it on life support, and all of the wins against top 10 teams with big posts this past year, with UConn matching their size with a 5'11" super-athlete put the final nail in the coffin.

Geno will kill the traditional pg as well. His motion offense requires that everyone can move, handle the ball, pass and shoot. Against pressing teams, Geno often has his center and forwards bring the ball up because they usually have a distinct athletic advantage over the players covering them. Geno also likes size at all 5 positions so he can switch anytime on defense.

I will go back to about 3 years ago when the UConn Alumni hosted an evening with Geno and Kevin in Hartford. The question was asked about positions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Both Kevin and Geno said those positions are no longer relevant. Geno stated that a post player, the classic type, is limited in the offense. They only function well on the low post. Steph was not a type post player. She had the 15 footer and occassional 3. She was an exceptional passer. Then there was Stewie. Now its Azura. Geno has also said many times he wants his guards to be able to run the offense and to shoot. Everyone refers to Mo as what the team needs. Let's remember, Mo not only ran the offense but by her junior year was a dangerous shooter either by the drive or from 3.

The 1 to 5 traditional positions are a thing of the past. Geno wants players who can play at different positions on the court. Pheesa is a monster down low but showed she can hit the jumper and the 3. Lou. a 3 point specialist, has shown her ability and willingness to go down low and drive to the basket. Plus she has that beautiful curl move for the 15 footer. Gabby is devastating at the high post position. She drives, either hand, shot the 15 footer and make the past to the low post slot. These are all multi-position players. They are all defensive nightmares for opponents.

Kia will start along with Lou, Pheesa, Gabby and Z. They are the best 5 to run the show.

 

[bizarro aj]

KLS is not nearly as effective as Collier. When Collier sits, the team falls apart. No one accept Williams was very good in the loss to MS.

Really? How many games did uconn lose with collier on the bench Einstein? What games were you watching last season?

 

[Fishbone]

Really? How many games did UConn lose with collier on the bench Einstein? What games were you watching last season?

Several games they won had times when Collier was out they were significantly inefficient offensively.

 

[meyers7]

Z will be a starter this season along with gabby, kls, nurse and Dangerfield with collier first off the bench.

You is bizzaro. Yep, pretty sure Geno is gonna take the leading scorer, AA from last year and put her on the bench. Brilliant idea, just brilliant.

 

[bizarro aj]

Teams game planned to put pressure on kls which left collier open down low for the easy layup which she made with ease most of the season until the miss st game. Geno doesn't pick his starting lineup by who made AA last season, he picks them by how practice goes. Whether you start or come off the bench he expects you to play at a high level when your on the floor.

 

[CocoHusky]

Geno doesn't pick his starting lineup by who made AA last season, he picks them by how practice goes.

My guess is that the returning AA will do pretty well in practice and in games.

 

[oldude]

Teams game planned to put pressure on kls which left collier open down low for the easy layup which she made with ease most of the season until the miss st game. Geno doesn't pick his starting lineup by who made AA last season, he picks them by how practice goes. Whether you start or come off the bench he expects you to play at a high level when your on the floor.

While I don't agree with your suggestion that Pheesa will come off the bench this coming season, your point about Lou is correct. Every team that UConn played last season started their game plan for the Huskies by knowing where Lou was at all times, chasing her all over the court and bumping and fouling her constantly. That opened the court up for Pheesa, Gabby, Kia & Saniya.

 

[bizarro aj]

Lets put our money where are keyboards are. I say Dangerfield starts at pg the beginning of the season. I also think Z starts as i doubt geno will have gabby jump ball when he has a 6'6" npoy candidate sitting on the bench. The 2 seniors will start And that leaves 1 remaining spot which will go to kls.

 

[ricky]

Teams game planned to put pressure on kls which left collier open down low for the easy layup which she made with ease most of the season until the miss st game. Geno doesn't pick his starting lineup by who made AA last season, he picks them by how practice goes. Whether you start or come off the bench he expects you to play at a high level when your on the floor.

Your not serious and only trying to raz. Just trying to be that mosquito bite on my #%%.

 

[ricky]

Really? How many games did UConn lose with collier on the bench Einstein? What games were you watching last season?

All games salvaged once Collier was sent back in.

 

[oldude]

Lets put our money where are keyboards are. I say Dangerfield starts at pg the beginning of the season. I also think Z starts as i doubt geno will have gabby jump ball when he has a 6'6" npoy candidate sitting on the bench. The 2 seniors will start And that leaves 1 remaining spot which will go to kls.

So what are we talking about? $2 bucks or $200 large ($200,000 for the uninformed)?

 

[huskeynut]

Lets put our money where are keyboards are. I say Dangerfield starts at pg the beginning of the season. I also think Z starts as i doubt geno will have gabby jump ball when he has a 6'6" npoy candidate sitting on the bench. The 2 seniors will start And that leaves 1 remaining spot which will go to kls.

Really?

 

[ricky]

While I don't agree with your suggestion that Pheesa will come off the bench this coming season, your point about Lou is correct. Every team that UConn played last season started their game plan for the Huskies by knowing where Lou was at all times, chasing her all over the court and bumping and fouling her constantly. That opened the court up for Pheesa, Gabby, Kia & Saniya.

So often, Collier was covered by 2 or 3 defenders at a time down low and was able to leverage from their contact and score. She has a knack for feeling the defense and taking the pounding. I think she enjoyed the contact. Then she was so mobile to move quickly and shoot from any outside spot on the floor. She is the ultimate "go to" player except during the loss. But no one was "go to" or clutch in that game. She just looked so tired and worn down in that game.

 

[ricky]

While I don't agree with your suggestion that Pheesa will come off the bench this coming season, your point about Lou is correct. Every team that UConn played last season started their game plan for the Huskies by knowing where Lou was at all times, chasing her all over the court and bumping and fouling her constantly. That opened the court up for Pheesa, Gabby, Kia & Saniya.

So often, Collier was covered by 2 or 3 defenders at a time down low and was able to leverage from their contact and score. She has a knack for feeling the defense and taking the pounding. I think she enjoyed the contact. Then she was so mobile to move quickly and shoot from any outside spot on the floor. She is the ultimate "go to" player except during the loss. But no one was "go to" or clutch in that game. She just looked so tired and worn down in that game.

 

[meyers7]

Your not serious and only trying to raz. Just trying to be that mosquito bite on my #%%.

Hopefully.

 

[meyers7]

My guess is that the returning AA will do pretty well in practice and in games.

I'm sure Geno uses that AA status as motivation too.

"Is that how an AA practices?"
"Huh, I thought you were and AA?"