BC Post Exhibition Thread

[Longtime fan]

I missed the beginning. Was there any word on Cheli?

She is still recovering from ankle surgery and, as a result, did not play. I have concerns about her health. If it isn't an ankle, it is a knee or a hamstring. She has already missed a lot of court time from year one. Hope I am wrong . I think she can be a star.

 

[Longtime fan]

We are thin at point guard.

KK is good as a defensive player but not that consistent scorer we need at guard.

Kaleigh looked very slow on defense and offense and does not make me believe she will be a premier guard.

I can see Azzi being the main point guard bringing the ball up with KK.

Otherwise the main players will be Williams, Strong, Shade, El Alfy and maybe Ice.

I am holding my opinion on Kellis Fisher. She looks fast, can handle the ball and might need a couple of games. The remaining new

players look very raw and we can only hope there is a significant jump in their development as players.

The new players may need most of the year to get comfortable and contribute as they can. There will also be a lot of " garbage time" this season, for players to get on the court.

 

[1974yankees]

Somehow, despite both games being broadcast on the same network and played live on UConn+, only the men's game is archived. You can listen to the women's game but there is no video.

I am still looking for the replay of the game. Checked YouTube and Uconn Plus. Nothing.

YouTube just shows a couple clips and the audio version/no video..

Uconn Plus has replays of games from 2 years ago.

I figured somebody would have posted it on YouTube by now.

Watching a game at 2pm on a Monday just wasn't doable for me.

I really wanted to take a look at how our new players looked too. I don't want to read or hear about them. I want to see them..

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[HopJim]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

 

[Linart]

I found this on YouTube, replay of the game (not highlights) but only for the first three quarters.

 

[FanSince17]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

Remember Arkansas a few years ago?
Dribble-drive-kick. Favorite offense from middle school to the pros. Because it’s the hardest thing in basketball to stop.
UConn last year (and 2024) bought into Geno’s team defensive cohesiveness. It’s not easy. Players don’t like working on it. (It’s boring) Look how long it took last year for the defense to gel.
If UConn had played ND from Feb on last year do we think they could have shut down Hidalgo? I say yes.

 

[DEpup]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

I have to think that teaching moment was being set up by the strategy they employed. They basically pressed the whole game which then challenges the ability of guards to stop ball and bigs to rim protect. I would assume Geno did that by design so he had film to show for instructional purposes.

 

[Bone Dog]

Late to this thread because I just found a full replay.

Yes, the team is ragged at both ends and didn’t stick to the ‘concept’ a lot of the time. It looks a lot better when the starters are on the floor. Azzi and Sarah in particular seemed to settle things down.

What really sticks out for me is:

• UConn is huge! OMG
• And quick!
• And long! (even Kelis seems big)

As for individuals:

• Blanca doesn’t know where she needs to be yet, and not just her. Serah Kayleigh and Kelis too. No surprise there.
• Serah can create her own shot pretty regularly, and she really knows how to play basketball. Very instinctive.
• Blanca is a very instinctive defender and she has the same sticky hands as Sarah
• KK is in game shape.
• Ash too, and she’s found her shot already.
• Kayleigh will get the time she needs.
• Azzi is in mid season form. Sarah too
• Sarah is not forcing anything and seems to be developing new shots, elbow jumper, fadeaway jumper, more little flip shots.

This is going to be a really fun season!

 

[msf22b]

2) As always, there is some discussion about the quality of the broadcast crew. We’ve been spoiled. And given that our games this year are going to be broadcast by multiple outlets, I think we’re generally going to be much more disappointed going forward without having a dedicated broadcast team. Plus I think many will find it more challenging to even watch the games in the first place.

Cabbie

I’m far from an expert of the intricacies of pro football; even basketball (though I still play a bit at 86)...

But I’ve found that watching with the sound (completely) off is increasingly satisfying...especially, with (IMHO) the diminution in quality of broadcast teams
and their utter refusal (probably on orders from above) to actually calI the game in a traditional sense.

I grew up on Red Barber and Mel Allen for baseball, and Bob Wolf and Marv Albert for BB...UConn’s Bob Joyce on radio calls a good game, but its not synced up to the TV pic

I would expect as a minimum be informed who a foul is on and to call the substitutions as they occur. These days, you can't even be guaranteed of that.

So for the most part, I just turn off the sound and do my own internal commentary.

 

[Charliebball]

Finally got to see the replay........Sarah looks quicker and more aggressive, Azzi look like.... Azzi, and Serah looks like she's going to be a huge addition.......as long as those three stay healthy, I expect big things from the team this season.....

 

[Bigboote]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

I've thought about this too, but am pretty sanguine about it. The kay, as always, is team defense. Azzi, Asnlynn, and KK have shown that they're good in the switching defense, and I think it likely that Kayleigh will pick it up, as well as Allie and Morgan if available. Sarah has shown she's capable of playing defense away from the basket. But the key to me is that UConn has rim-protectors this year. Serah and Sarah are both good shot blockers. I think Jana and Ayanna will learn to play defense without fouling this year.

So I think there's hope. 😁

 

[HuskyNan]

While too early with too many unusual combinations to draw any conclusions, my biggest concern is UConn's ability to stop quick guards and their drives to the basket. Until last year, Huskies were punished by teams like Notre Dame and South Carolina who consistently drove around picks for lay ups and fouls. Yes, we have KK, but once she is picked off, too many open lanes to the basket. Didn't see any other players with the defensive maturity and/or quickness to cut off the driver without leaving multiple open 3-point shooters.

Didn’t UConn take So Carolina to the woodshed twice last year?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I made the game a very lazy watch. The biggest impression I came away with was how big we were inside for a good chunk of the game, with Serah being the one getting the most done.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Didn’t UConn take So Carolina to the woodshed twice last year?

That seems to be the impression that Dawn is going with. 😂

 

[Zinethar]

I didn't realize until today's game, but UCONN possesses one of their tallest teams in memory with
Serah, Jana, Ice, Blanca, Gandy, Ayanna & Sarah all ranging between 6'2'' & 6'5".

And you missed 2 of them - Morgan and Caroline both listed at 6'2"

 

[cabbie191]

So for the most part, I just turn off the sound and do my own internal commentary.

I’m a bit younger at 74 but old enough to have listened to the broadcasters you mentioned. They were awesome!

But I’m chuckling at your last comment. Years ago as a side job, I did score keeping for community basketball leagues. Didn’t pay much but did give me a free Y membership!

I knew most of the players so it was really easy to keep score. I found myself broadcasting the games inside my head in the manner that I heard when listening to actual games on the radio, mainly Johnny Most. (Did the Celtics ever get called for a foul they really committed?)

I thought I did a pretty good job keeping my audience informed and engaged!

 

[Monte]

Most of the announcing in sports today is terrible! In the MLB Playoff game, while the game was going on, Joe Davis, the announcer was showing us how to slice a cooked turkey that he had in the booth.

 

[cancontent]

Most of the announcing in sports today is terrible! In the MLB Playoff game, while the game was going on, Joe Davis, the announcer was showing us how to slice a cooked turkey that he had in the booth.

A couple days late for Canadian Thanksgiving, lol. 😉

 

[Basingstoke]

I’m a bit younger at 74 but old enough to have listened to the broadcasters you mentioned. They were awesome!

But I’m chuckling at your last comment. Years ago as a side job, I did score keeping for community basketball leagues. Didn’t pay much but did give me a free Y membership!

I knew most of the players so it was really easy to keep score. I found myself broadcasting the games inside my head in the manner that I heard when listening to actual games on the radio, mainly Johnny Most. (Did the Celtics ever get called for a foul they really committed?)

I thought I did a pretty good job keeping my audience informed and engaged!

As a Knicks fan, I can attest to the "fact" that the Celtics got away with a ton of uncalled fouls and flops (particularly when playing at home)...

 

[WiseWillie]

Cabbie

I’m far from an expert of the intricacies of pro football; even basketball (though I still play a bit at 86)...

But I’ve found that watching with the sound (completely) off is increasingly satisfying...especially, with (IMHO) the diminution in quality of broadcast teams
and their utter refusal (probably on orders from above) to actually calI the game in a traditional sense.

I grew up on Red Barber and Mel Allen for baseball, and Bob Wolf and Marv Albert for BB...UConn’s Bob Joyce on radio calls a good game, but its not synced up to the TV pic

I would expect as a minimum be informed who a foul is on and to call the substitutions as they occur. These days, you can't even be guaranteed of that.

So for the most part, I just turn off the sound and do my own internal commentary.

Agree. Play by play announcing is something of the past. For diehard sports fans who remember the iconic ones you mentioned plus others like Billy Packer, Dick Enberg, Vin Scully, Pat Summerall, Chris Schenkel, Curt Gowdy or even Howard Cosell, sports today is just another form of entertainment.

OK, some will say that sports has always just been a business. To be fair, maybe it's always been, but media rights and digital platforms have amped up sports into a massive entertainment business. The media rights deal by the Big East fracturing UConn games over many broadcast platforms for more $ is just one examplei of what is going on across all college and professional sports and what we can expect for the future. Besides split broadcast platforms and streaming outlets, there will be more and more theatrical elements (halftime show for the upcoming Super Bowl with Bad Bunny anyone?) plus side bar interviews not related to anything on the floor or the field all designed to "entertain" hoping to draw in not the true sports fan but the casual observer.

Despite all of this, sports as the great equalizer still will tap into all of our primal instincts of the thrill of winning, the agony of defeat - and an endless amount of amazing chat and interesting dialogue on the Boneyard.

 

[jaydee602]

And you missed 2 of them - Morgan and Caroline both listed at 6'2"

I should have been more specific. I was referring to the front line of forwards & centers. Our rebounding should be an advantage with all of that height.
But Morgan & Caroline definitely add to the size to this year's team.

 

[msf22b]

I’m a bit younger at 74 but old enough to have listened to the broadcasters you mentioned. They were awesome!

But I’m chuckling at your last comment. Years ago as a side job, I did score keeping for community basketball leagues. Didn’t pay much but did give me a free Y membership!

I knew most of the players so it was really easy to keep score. I found myself broadcasting the games inside my head in the manner that I heard when listening to actual games on the radio, mainly Johnny Most. (Did the Celtics ever get called for a foul they really committed?)

I thought I did a pretty good job keeping my audience informed and engaged!

When I was in college...must have been 57 or 8
I took a gf to a Knicks game...not in the garden; the 7th Regiment armory, perhaps?
Any way...I “called" the game for her as she sat there...much to the bemusement
and annoyance of those sitting around us...

 

[Skeets]

Agree. Play by play announcing is something of the past. For diehard sports fans who remember the iconic ones you mentioned plus others like Billy Packer, Dick Enberg, Vin Scully, Pat Summerall, Chris Schenkel, Curt Gowdy or even Howard Cosell, sports today is just another form of entertainment.

OK, some will say that sports has always just been a business. To be fair, maybe it's always been, but media rights and digital platforms have amped up sports into a massive entertainment business. The media rights deal by the Big East fracturing UConn games over many broadcast platforms for more $ is just one examplei of what is going on across all college and professional sports and what we can expect for the future. Besides split broadcast platforms and streaming outlets, there will be more and more theatrical elements (halftime show for the upcoming Super Bowl with Bad Bunny anyone?) plus side bar interviews not related to anything on the floor or the field all designed to "entertain" hoping to draw in not the true sports fan but the casual observer.

Despite all of this, sports as the great equalizer still will tap into all of our primal instincts of the thrill of winning, the agony of defeat - and an endless amount of amazing chat and interesting dialogue on the Boneyard.

I always liked Frank Gifford for play by play. The ones you mention are also very good, but not Cosell. As far as color commentators are concerned Cosell and Dick Vitale annoy me. My favorite color commentator? John Madden. Whenever I see a vicious hit, I think to myself that Madden would say he was "de-cleated". In fact, Madden and Summerall are the GOAT announcing tandem.