Been Pondering This Very Thing For A While | The Boneyard

Been Pondering This Very Thing For A While

RockyMTblue2

RockyMTblue2

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“We don't have a Diana or a Stewie because we don't have a Diana personality, No. 1, and we don't have a Stewie talent,” Auriemma said. “We don't have a Maya. What we do have is three really, really good players. I don't know that I would trade those three as a group for any other three anywhere in the country. But none of them are D, none of them are Sue, none of them are Maya, none of them are Diana. It's just different, a different world, and that's not to say they can't have the same success.”

I'm sure it has crossed the mind of quite a few here. This triumvirate can run and gun with anyone. Just need some help from a few friends.

“Sue was one,” Auriemma said. “She kind of waited until her senior year. She kind of deferred to the rest of the team her first few years here. Then senior year, especially the NCAA Tournament, it was like, it's over, just over. D did it as a junior, Tina Charles as a senior, Renee Montgomery as a senior. We've had guys who were really good and then when their senior year came – and that's what these guys are going to have to do.”

Mike Anthony: The UConn women might lack a transcendent star but have the best trio of players in the nation
 
We need to bring our A game in the FF. Simply put, the last two years we just did not bring our A game.

In the FF, methinks, our A game means 1-2 players just step up and play great. They take charge. Then, like in 2013, instead of losing to ND, as we did three times that year, we beat them by almost 20. Oh yes, that Stewie kid dropped 29 on ND, as a freshman. (I think that answered Miss McBride, who asked before that FF, "Well, how much better can they get?") (Muffet is sitting on the bench watching Stewie torch her team and thinking, "I have to deal with this for 3 more years, and she's going to get a lot, lot better. Yikes!)
 
I very much hate this parsing "best 3 players in the country" because of what it says about the other two UCONN starters and the rest of the team. At the end of the season the team with the three best players doesn't get to hoist a trophy, the best team does and that takes EVERYONE on the roster.
 
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To use a common phrase from Geno: "It is what it is."
 
CocoHusky said:
I very much hate this parsing "best 3 players in the country" because of what it says about the other two UCONN starters and the rest of the team. At the end of the season the team with the three best players doesn't get to hoist a trophy, the best team does and that takes EVERYONE on the roster.
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Agree. Having the best 3 doesn't mean squat. UConn supposedly had the best 3 last year plus the DPOY, plus a "superstar" transfer. And what did they win? Another conference championship. All I'll say is that intangibles come into play many times and maybe they weren't there.
 
CocoHusky said:
I very much hate this parsing "best 3 players in the country" because of what it says about the other two UCONN starters and the rest of the team. At the end of the season the team with the three best players doesn't get to hoist a trophy, the best team does and that takes EVERYONE on the roster.
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It is not like the players don't know this. They are aware that Lou, Phee, and CD are much better than they are as of now.
 
It bothers me that Geno did not get a true center. our last true center was Stef. How are we going to match up this year with the Baylor , Mississippi , etc teams with tall post players.
 
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rt bb fan said:
It bothers me that Geno did not get a true center. our last true center was Stef. How are we going to match up this year with the Baylor , Mississippi , etc teams with tall post players.
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There are very few teams in the country that have anyone on their roster that can match up with Brown & McGowan one on one. Fortunately, basketball is a 5 on 5 game.

As for not having a true center since Steph, Kiah, Stewie and Tuck were all phenomenally talented low post players who could match up with any post in the country. In addition, let’s give Liv some time to develop and I think she will also be a very talented post for UConn.
 
SVCBeercats said:
It is not like the players don't know this. They are aware that Lou, Phee, and CD are much better than they are as of now.
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"Much better" is very subjective, as of now even more so. How so? "As of right now" Christyn Williams is a starter in game 1 of her UCONN career, KLS, Crystal & Napheesa were not.
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
“We don't have a Diana or a Stewie because we don't have a Diana personality, No. 1, and we don't have a Stewie talent,” Auriemma said. “We don't have a Maya. What we do have is three really, really good players. I don't know that I would trade those three as a group for any other three anywhere in the country. But none of them are D, none of them are Sue, none of them are Maya, none of them are Diana. It's just different, a different world, and that's not to say they can't have the same success.”

I'm sure it has crossed the mind of quite a few here. This triumvirate can run and gun with anyone. Just need some help from a few friends.

“Sue was one,” Auriemma said. “She kind of waited until her senior year. She kind of deferred to the rest of the team her first few years here. Then senior year, especially the NCAA Tournament, it was like, it's over, just over. D did it as a junior, Tina Charles as a senior, Renee Montgomery as a senior. We've had guys who were really good and then when their senior year came – and that's what these guys are going to have to do.”

Mike Anthony: The UConn women might lack a transcendent star but have the best trio of players in the nation
Expand ...
DT stands alone as truly unique but she had an exceptional supporting cast for 3 years and if you look at Marie, Anne, the BT Express, Willnet, others she didn't win alone. True her personality enabled others to believe. Stew was a different bird (no pun) her's was height, talent and taught by the staff to ignore bumps and determination, with an exceptional cast--too did not win alone; she had Moriah, Tuck, Kia, Steff, KLM, Kiah, a bit of Napheesa, KLS.
Maya, probably the true-iest nicest kid to wear our White and Blue. Had she had a single bit of help she'd have won her last game--she had 36 points (?? close). That is/was one tough lady-lady--she just wasn't going to lose.

Point of all that above is just: If KLS, Napheesa, Danger, CW, Walker get any REAL help from Coombs, Gordon, Touly, Irwin, Bent, etc the improbable may become possible.
 
We may not Have Sue, Maya, Diana or Stewie, But this year we have the Three best players plus "She came here to be Legendary" CW.. I don't want to hear any excuses Mr. Geno... I'm expecting a win with a dunk come Dec 2nd, and Championship #12 this season. It is as simple as that. :cool:
 
UConn82 said:
We need to bring our A game in the FF. Simply put, the last two years we just did not bring our A game.

In the FF, methinks, our A game means 1-2 players just step up and play great. They take charge. Then, like in 2013, instead of losing to ND, as we did three times that year, we beat them by almost 20. Oh yes, that Stewie kid dropped 29 on ND, as a freshman. (I think that answered Miss McBride, who asked before that FF, "Well, how much better can they get?") (Muffet is sitting on the bench watching Stewie torch her team and thinking, "I have to deal with this for 3 more years, and she's going to get a lot, lot better. Yikes!)
Expand ...

You are right! However, Stewie, after playing 8 games and getting rave reviews, was bounced around in the Paradise Jam and there-after. At or near the NCAA she became STEWIE. Had she not folded under the physical punishment (or coach believed in Moriah or both) ND would have lost every game--but we don't live by what could have been, do we?
 
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I think those of you who are concerned about the center position are right. Williams is a wonderful talent who, is she stays healthy, will be damn tough to stop. ONO will take time, and that;'s time that UCOnn may not have this year. I expect she will be very very good next year and fun to watch this year, but we will need patience.She is slight of build and will get moved around a lot this year.
 
I agree with Geno. He has deeper meaning to his words, as always. Someone must step up for us to win the tournament. He is challenging the three returning starters with what he said, and also CW. CW can think, "hey, what about me. I will show coach." And maybe she will. Then Geno will smile at CW after we hoist the trophy, and say, "I knew you could do it."

Someone or someones has to step up deep in the tournament. I don't care about matchups or size or any details like that. We have plenty of talent to win the tournament. We need someone to dominate when the brightest lights are on.
 
I am going to sit back, and enjoy the ride. Like I said before, this will be another amazing and fun season. I believe Crystal, Lou and Napheesa will have the season of their lives. Christyn and Megan will prove why they were #1 in their class. You add Batouly, Mikayla and Olivia to the mix, and UConn is unstoppable.
 
I don't know about this sense of urgency. The starting five are pretty entertaining and play very fine basketball. They probably will win every game in the American. Out of conference teams play more competitive because its UConn. What happens, happens. And, then life goes on.
 
Shorty Dee said:
I am going to sit back, and enjoy the ride. Like I said before, this will be another amazing and fun season. I believe Crystal, Lou and Napheesa will have the season of their lives. Christyn and Megan will prove why they were #1 in their class. You add Batouly, Mikayla and Olivia to the mix, and UConn is unstoppable.
Expand ...
 
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rt bb fan said:
It bothers me that Geno did not get a true center. our last true center was Stef. How are we going to match up this year with the Baylor , Mississippi , etc teams with tall post players.
Expand ...
Pressure the guards. Run the floor. Control the pace. Have players with strength force the post further from hoop than normal. Disrupt the half court. Keep everyone fresh.
 
CW feels like a special player to me. She's skilled, of course, but she also is charismatic and has a great personal energy and enthusiasm about her. The reason why we admire/treasure the D's, Stewie's and Maya's of the world is because they are so unique that you appreciate them. We are fortunate to have had the three of them. (Should we be adding Sue Bird to this triumvirate?)

It is more than world class athleticism that makes them so special though. One of my favorite players to watch was Gabby Williams. My mouth would literally drop as I'd watch do things that most players couldn't dream of doing, play after play. Yet even with that unquestioned athleticism, we don't talk about her the same way as do about the big three. There's something else that makes up the greats. Hard to quantify it. D had swagger, but Stewie and Maya less so. They all were willing to take big shots at key moments and they typically made them. Maybe that is it. Maybe it is confidence at key moments.

Whatever that 'it' is, CW feels like she has it. Just something about her. But that is way too much to dump on 18 year old shoulders. So I am just going watch her develop without expectation. But I have a feeling....

FWIW, I've been telling anyone who listen to be sure to watch UConn WBB this year. I think CW and ONO are going to have great careers here. That's something you want to get in on at the start.

"We're still doomed."
 
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