When was the last time UCONN had a quality bench of depth?? It seems it's been quite some time. Even coming off 4 straight titles our bench has always been thin. U look around the country with the top teams. Baylor is loaded, Maryland is loaded, Notre Dame has depth, South Carolina has depth ... And many more ... Seems every year where in a position where we can't afford injury or foul trouble... Yes it's worked out great but I just don't understand.... Is it recruits don't want to come to UCONN or is GENO very selective. Yes next year we won't have that issue but come tourney time u need at least a quality rotation of at least 8-9 players. UCONN just doesn't have that. I've seen the last couple of games u can see the team is starting to feel the affects on this long season. I truly believe it will be the reason this team doesn't win it all... I see a few teams who have gotten much better.., Notre Dame is better, Baylor is better, and South Carolina is better. Like I said I think we make it to the final four but winning it all is going to be quite difficult. I think Baylor is the biggest threat and having the final four basically in Baylors back yard will be like a home game. Just never understood the type of program UCONN has you would think recruits would be lined up.... I love when people always say UCONN gets all the best players..., I hope I'm wrong but UCONN shouldn't be in these type of situations where there relying on a rotation of 6 players when most of the top programs can rely on much more players.
Two thoughts here........
1. When you reference UConn's "short bench", don't forget that two players defected (transferred) last year (Boykin and Ekmark) than would have added some depth to his bench.
2. If you've been following UConn for any length of time, you'd know that Geno
ALWAYS shortens his bench to 1-2 players during the NCAA tournament. This year, it will be
Dangerfield and
Butler (and they'll make it work).
Two years ago,
Kiah Stokes was the bench for Geno during their tournament run for the championship. He pulled it off. Geno knows his team. He already has the game plan and strategy he's going to use planned out. The starters know going in that they may have to play 40 minutes, so that's not a problem. They are mentally and physically prepared for that scenario should it occur.
You can't compare the Huskies to other teams because not only are the dynamics different, but so is the criteria and expectations. Coaches have different criteria for using different players in tournament games. There are two types of players that comprise Geno's roster. Starters and role players. Geno has his own unique system. It may not work for others, but it works for him. I think you would agree it's worked pretty good the last four years. When you find something that works, you stay with it. The man knows what he's doing.
In Geno we trust!!
UConn has had a short bench all year. It has not cost them a game yet. UConn is down to their last 7 games. Geno is a master at coaching and managing his squad.
31 games down, 7 to go. The finish line is in sight. If having a short bench was going to be a problem, that problem would have manifested itself by now. Or as Geno said two years ago, just before their semi-final game at the final four: "
If we were going to lose, we'd have done it by now". Mike, fear not, Geno and his short bench will be fine. Go Huskies.
