Bria? Breanna?

[Bigpetunia]

Worst I've felt after a 34 point win. This kind of scoring imbalance bodes ill for the post-season. Two potentially big offensive weapons looking lost out there. Bria does contribute in other ways, but unless she's a scoring threat, defenses will adjust in ways that will make it tougher for both Kaleena and Stef. Geno's trying with Bria, but to no avail.

 

[uconnfan68]

Worst I've felt after a 34 point win. This kind of scoring imbalance bodes ill for the post-season. Two potentially big offensive weapons looking lost out there. Bria does contribute in other ways, but unless she's a scoring threat, defenses will adjust in ways that will make it tougher for both Kaleena and Stef. Geno's trying with Bria, but to no avail.

You can only quit or go forward. To her credit, she's going forward. I look for a breakout Monday night.

 

[blackbird]

She can't play worse.

I'm hoping Geno takes out the Baylor game and ND win from last season. Maybe a little confidence...and seeing how she played..would help her.

Breanna...I'm hoping we get a breakout in the BE tournament.

 

[doggydaddy]

Worst I've felt after a 34 point win. This kind of scoring imbalance bodes ill for the post-season. Two potentially big offensive weapons looking lost out there. Bria does contribute in other ways, but unless she's a scoring threat, defenses will adjust in ways that will make it tougher for both Kaleena and Stef. Geno's trying with Bria, but to no avail.

Are you worried for ND? They have had their scoring dominated by Diggins and McBride more often than UConn has had just two players dominating their scoring.

It was ONE game with unbalanced scoring. Why would that be something that would continue?

 

[Blueballer]

Are you worried for ND? They have had their scoring dominated by Diggins and McBride more often than UConn has had just two players dominating their scoring.

It was ONE game with unbalanced scoring. Why would that be something that would continue?

Good points DD but I do happen to agree that if the other team (And good teams will) makes life real tough for KML then UCONN has problems. Unfortunately neither Stef nor KML are able to get to line as much as the the ND players (Esp Diggins). That's one of the things that's hard to overcome. If you make Diggins life tough by doubling or playing physical the refs reward her at the line. If Bria were playing better I would feel much better about Monday. It certainly has been a lot longer than one game for her struggles. I'll be there with everyone screaming for UCONN Monday night but I'd be lying to say I feel real confident about the game.

 

[UConnCat]

Are you worried for ND? They have had their scoring dominated by Diggins and McBride more often than UConn has had just two players dominating their scoring.

It was ONE game with unbalanced scoring. Why would that be something that would continue?

Because we're doomed. ND is too, though I doubt its fans realize it.

 

[meganmatthews]

Because we're doomed. ND is too, though I doubt its fans realize it.

We'll never make it, Gulliver! We're DOOOOMED!

 

[alexrgct]

I'd rather be excited about the fact that KML is a BMF.

 

[Husky68]

5 turnovers for Hartley and 4 fouls on BS. These are type stats the allows ND to pull out close games against Uconn. BS has trouble guarding away from the basket and Hartley can't guard anyone on ND.
Masterful job by Geno in figuring out that in Uconn's 29th game of the season that the seldom used Tuck (9th most minutes per game prior to this game) should be a starter and getting BH's and BS's games to where they are.
Good thing Lauren and Michala aren't around disrupting practice so Geno can concentrate keeping Hartley/Doty's dribble, fast break and passing skills at such a high level and helping BS round her game into shape for the challenge of Griner and next ND.

 

[alexrgct]

5 turnovers for Hartley and 4 fouls on BS. These are type stats the allows ND to pull out close games against Uconn. BS has trouble guarding away from the basket and Hartley can't guard anyone on ND.
Masterful job by Geno in figuring out that in Uconn's 29th game of the season that the seldom used Tuck (9th most minutes per game prior to this game) should be a starter and getting BH's and BS's games to where they are.
Good thing Lauren and Michala aren't around disrupting practice so Geno can concentrate keeping Hartley/Doty's dribble, fast break and passing skills at such a high level and helping BS round her game into shape for the challenge of Griner and next ND.

You sound like a delightful person to be around. Do you do children's parties? My daughter's birthday is tomorrow.

 

[blackbird]

5 turnovers for Hartley and 4 fouls on BS. These are type stats the allows ND to pull out close games against Uconn. BS has trouble guarding away from the basket and Hartley can't guard anyone on ND.
Masterful job by Geno in figuring out that in Uconn's 29th game of the season that the seldom used Tuck (9th most minutes per game prior to this game) should be a starter and getting BH's and BS's games to where they are.
Good thing Lauren and Michala aren't around disrupting practice so Geno can concentrate keeping Hartley/Doty's dribble, fast break and passing skills at such a high level and helping BS round her game into shape for the challenge of Griner and next ND.

Hartley is the team's second best defender. Even as crappy as she's been playing offensively. So if she can't guard anyone on ND, we're in a world of trouble.

 

[svetbird]

Breanna has been much better lately. She is going to look bad at times , she is still a freshmen. Bad game today hopefully means good one Monday!

 

[CONNFAN23]

Hartley is the team's second best defender. Even as crappy as she's been playing offensively. So if she can't guard anyone on ND, we're in a world of trouble.

How do you figure that? And dont even say steals.

 

[Bigpetunia]

Well, Doggy, I know that you tend to brook no criticism of our girls' play, however objectively stated. No, as my post suggested, I am not worried so much about Notre Dame as I am about the post-season in its entirety, however long it lasts for us. In fact, if this were a one-game phenomenon, as you seem to suggest, I would not have posted. It is clearly a trend, and, to the dismay of all of us, it seems at the present time to be getting worse, not better. Bria's confidence is totally shot, which, short of some fervently hoped for post-season miracle, will translate into a completely lost season for her. That being said, I do applaud your gallantry.

 

[blackbird]

How do you figure that? And dont even say steals.

Because I watch the team and listen to what Geno says. She's very good defensively. Jefferson applies good pressure but she's so small that it's easy to shoot over her, and she gets lost on rotaitons. KML isn't a good defender. Doty isn't physically able to defend like she might have been able to. Stewart's going to be a beast defensively, but like Jefferson, she gets lost at times. Dolson has an argument, but quick players can get the best of her. Tuck is a freshman..and plays defense like she is. Stokes and Buck are out of the rotation and not really worth discussing. Although, actually Buck is our best post defender.

Also, notice who plays Diggins when we play ND. (It's Hartley. Every time we play.) And although Diggins usually makes the biggest shots, I'd argue holding her to something like 3 for 18 is a job well done defensively.

It is sad what has happened to Hartley offensively. I don't remember the last time I've seen a player go from an All American to playing like the way Bria is playing. Diana wasn't great her senior season, but she was so injured the fact that she was on the court was a miracle. Hopefully a break between the regular season and post season will hope....or maybe this game being as bad as it was...will snap her out of it. Or perhaps the alternative is she's hurting far more than she's letting on.

 

[doggydaddy]

Well, Doggy, I know that you tend to brook no criticism of our girls' play, however objectively stated. No, as my post suggested, I am not worried so much about Notre Dame as I am about the post-season in its entirety, however long it lasts for us. In fact, if this were a one-game phenomenon, as you seem to suggest, I would not have posted. It is clearly a trend, and, to the dismay of all of us, it seems at the present time to be getting worse, not better. Bria's confidence is totally shot, which, short of some fervently hoped for post-season miracle, will translate into a completely lost season for her. That being said, I do applaud your gallantry.

What teams do you believe might be matched up for UConn that can beat them in the post season that makes you so worried?

Trend?

Pitt - 4 players in double figures.
Seton Hall - 4 players in double figures.
Baylor - 4 players in double figures.
Rutgers - 4 players in double figures.
Providence - 6 players in double figures.

I could go on, but you get my point. I don't see anything in these games that would show a trend in scoring.

And yes, I tend to defend the players. They work hard and some of the critisism is just not necessary.

I'm sure the Michael Jordan teams where the scoring was dominated by Jordan and Pippen would disagree, even if this was the situation with UConn (but it's not).

Dismay of ALL of us? You are speaking for the entire board?

 

[diggerfoot]

I actually thought Stewart played well today, outside of getting the fouls. One thing I noticed though, the team is much less likely to pass to an open Stewart near the foul line than an open Dolson. Mama Stef commands respect from her little guards, Stewart's not there yet.

 

[Tonyc]

Wow alot of thoughts, opinions and nervous fans. We are what we are and today we won a game on a day when we didnt look really good, to a team who beat some ranked teams and took ND into overtime. We only won by 30+. So what did we do to win by 30+. Well we didnt have great offense from most players. You know what. Win or lose to ND on Monday and what ever happens in the BE and NCAAs. We are what we are a team that has been plagued by injuries all season on a short roster. All I can say is we have 2 losses to the two teams ahead of us and some how some way we need to find a way to win and if we do we will be National Champs again. There isnt a team in WCBB that has two players who can score like Stef and KML. We are the only team. The other players and coaches have to find a way to score and last on the list is shooting treys. I love this team.

 

[msf22b]

Tony
This is not the team that you and I anticipated in the fall.
I thought that Doty would regain her freshman form.
We all thought that Stewie would immediately rise to new, unheralded heights.
I could go on but Doggie eschews the obvious.
The team has evolved differently than we and probably Geno expected.
We could murder Notre Dame on Monday, as imperfect as we are. Or we could be trampled.
I like this version of UConn woman's BB , I don't love it.

 

[svetbird]

Tony

This is not the team that you and I anticipated in the fall.

I thought that Doty would regain her freshman form.

We all thought that Stewie would immediately rise to new, unheralded heights.

I could go on but Doggie eschews the obvious.

The team has evolved differently than we and probably Geno expected.

We could murder Notre Dame on Monday, as imperfect as we are. Or we could be trampled.

I like this version of UConn woman's BB , I don't love it.

It is funny you say that. As someone who has not missed a game all year(thank you direct tv) I find I love the team more the way it is then what I expected. Who thought steph would be this good. Who thought KML would be this dominant. Stewie has been up and down but when she is on she is fantastic. Hell I wasn’t even sure Kelly would be as good as she is. Even the other freshmen who I didn’t expect much from have contributed some great play. Bria is the one that scares me. How could her game have gone this off?

 

[doggydaddy]

Tony
This is not the team that you and I anticipated in the fall.
I thought that Doty would regain her freshman form.
We all thought that Stewie would immediately rise to new, unheralded heights.
I could go on but Doggie eschews the obvious.
The team has evolved differently than we and probably Geno expected.
We could murder Notre Dame on Monday, as imperfect as we are. Or we could be trampled.
I like this version of UConn woman's BB , I don't love it.

Obviously, it depends what the subject is that is obvious. You really think that stating every flaw on the team is good posting?

I'll tell you what. I challenge you to a contest. For every negative point you can make, I'll make a positive one and we will see who runs out first.

I love this team. I'm entertained every game. I know they practice hard, train hard, play hard. What more can I ask?

 

[OneTrickPony]

Well, Doggy, I know that you tend to brook no criticism of our girls' play, however objectively stated. No, as my post suggested, I am not worried so much about Notre Dame as I am about the post-season in its entirety, however long it lasts for us. In fact, if this were a one-game phenomenon, as you seem to suggest, I would not have posted. It is clearly a trend, and, to the dismay of all of us, it seems at the present time to be getting worse, not better. Bria's confidence is totally shot, which, short of some fervently hoped for post-season miracle, will translate into a completely lost season for her. That being said, I do applaud your gallantry.

Your confidence is totally shot, Mr. petunia...that is apparent to all...try not to project your lack of optimism onto any of us, or (most laughably) Bria...go play your mind games on the feeble-minded, they won't gain any traction here...

 

[OneTrickPony]

I love this team. I'm entertained every game. I know they practice hard, train hard, play hard. What more can I ask?

Nothing...well-stated DD...let the dreary petunias wilt...

 

[glenn fisk]

It is funny you say that. As someone who has not missed a game all year(thank you direct tv) I find I love the team more the way it is then what I expected. Who thought steph would be this good. Who thought KML would be this dominant. Stewie has been up and down but when she is on she is fantastic. Hell I wasn’t even sure Kelly would be as good as she is. Even the other freshmen who I didn’t expect much from have contributed some great play. Bria is the one that scares me. How could her game have gone this off?

+1

 

[glenn fisk]

It doesn't really matter what happened,but what will happen.I t has been an exciting year,seeing Kelly a potential scoring threat,Stef playing towards becoming another great center,KML moving into a class of her own.
I do not think we have seen their best yet.All this experience,good and bad,for the freshmen is a plus as the year winds down.I assume Geno still has not shown everything to Notre Dame,or Baylor,or anyone else.
Hard to believe,you win by 30 over a tough team,and make it sound like the sky is falling.
I say,trust the coaches,trust Geno,trust the development.The best hasn't been displayed,and will be at the proper rime.