Can someone explain to me why Chris Daly can't

[Olde Coach]

bring herself to say a single nice word about Kiah Stokes?

Kiah has been playing some really good basketball for the past month. But every time Meghan Culmo says something in praise of Kiah, CD just shrugs her shoulders, looks dissatisfied and grumpy, and refuses to offer any compliments.

I have seen/heard this in a number of recent interviews with CD. It makes no sense to me. In fact it infuriates me. Kiah and Kaleena (the freshmen) kept UConn in tonight's game for the whole 1st half. And Kiah clearly outplayed Stef for most of the time she was in the game.

Just wondering why the lack of encouragement.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Kiah is not a finished product and they must know if they ne nice she may not grow. Geno didnt hug Tina til she was 39 games into her senior year

 

[Olde Coach]

Kiah is not a finished product and they must know if they ne nice she may not grow. Geno didnt hug Tina til she was 39 games into her senior year

There are times when a pat on the back accomplishes a whole lot more than a kick in the butt.

 

[Aluminny69]

Kiah was interviewed by WTIC after the game. She was their player of the game. She sounded remarkably mature for a freshman. Actually, mature for a college student.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I agree with OC. I think Kiah was late getting out on the 3-point shooter, but she got us buckets when no one else could. We would have lost worse without her.

 

[Aluminny69]

I agree with OC. I think Kiah was late getting out on the 3-point shooter, but she got us buckets when no one else could. We would have lost worse without her.

If you are talking about that last Samson Johnson 3-pointer, CD said that was Tiffany's man, but Tiffany was a little confused...

 

[VAMike23]

Kiah is not a finished product and they must know if they ne nice she may not grow. Geno didnt hug Tina til she was 39 games into her senior year

That's right - I remember when he didn't even hug her when she came out at the end of the '09 NC game her junior year when she played like a beast. I remember either Maya or KG shaking their head. I thought that was a little petty, even though he was probably trying to make a point since she had only just then started to play at the level he knew she could reach. I seem to remember him denying that he avoided hugging her, but I didn't buy it...

 

[meyers7]

There are times when a pat on the back accomplishes a whole lot more than a kick in the butt.

And vice versa. I figure CD knows what she's doing. Heck look at how well Kiah has played recently.

 

[Jonathan Husky]

bring herself to say a single nice word about Kiah Stokes?

Kiah has been playing some really good basketball for the past month. But every time Meghan Culmo says something in praise of Kiah, CD just shrugs her shoulders, looks dissatisfied and grumpy, and refuses to offer any compliments.

I have seen/heard this in a number of recent interviews with CD. It makes no sense to me. In fact it infuriates me. Kiah and Kaleena (the freshmen) kept UConn in tonight's game for the whole 1st half. And Kiah clearly outplayed Stef for most of the time she was in the game.

Just wondering why the lack of encouragement.

I also wonder about that. Stef has regressed this year and has really played poorly the last few games.Kiah is now the much stronger post and certainly should be encouraged. They will not be successful against the better teams in the NCAA's with Stef at the post. She plays much too soft and has become tenative. IMO Kiah represents their best chance to be successful. My guess is that she is in CD's doghouse. Makes no sense

 

[boontonbomber]

it's baloney that you can't give a player credit when it's deserved. it makes coach daly look rather foolish. kiah's been outplaying stef consistently, and the coaches really seem to be afraid to give her any praise. kiah blamed herself postgame for not switching, and allowing the open 3 by smith, which is pretty damn mature.

 

[Blueballer]

I think Coach Daley is handicapped but what she sees in practice every day. Perhaps she has been so focused on improving the weaker aspects of Kiah's game that she isn't allowing the finer points of her game to occupy space in her brain. Or maybe to put it another way they may be playing good cop/bad cop (Coach). If one of the other coaches is building Kiah up CD might be tearing her down. Just a thought.

 

[ThisJustIn]

It's obvious Chris hates Stokes and is doing everything in her power to destroy her confidence and limit her personal growth as a player. The proof of this is in the pudding: Kiah's play.

Come on, OC -- you, of anyone, should know you have no idea what kind of praise CD offers Kiah in the practices. Nor do you have any idea of what kind of prompts or buttons she has.

 

[Olde Coach]

It's obvious Chris hates Stokes and is doing everything in her power to destroy her confidence and limit her personal growth as a player. The proof of this is in the pudding: Kiah's play.

Come on, OC -- you, of anyone, should know you have no idea what kind of praise CD offers Kiah in the practices. Nor do you have any idea of what kind of prompts or buttons she has.

I appreciate what you are saying, TJI. And I am sure you are right that there are lots of positive things going on between Kiah and CD and other coaches. She wouldn't be making so much progress if she weren't! I get that stuff, in spades.

But I don't understand why in a media interview (which Kiah doesn't even see or hear) a little enthusiasm for Kiah's progress is so difficult to share with the media folks and the listening public. Kiah was WTIC's player of the game. I don't get why CD can't muster up a smile for that. Just call me "confused in Vermont."

 

[DaddyChoc]

well "confused in Vermont" I think CD wants to keep Kiah as our secret weapon

 

[tomcat]

I'm with OC on this one. Of course, CD was pretty disappointed with everyone, so even the best player in the first half was going to get less than a ringing endorsement. Still, you'd think she could muster up at least a little more enthusiasm.

 

[DaddyChoc]

maybe this question could be asked during the next Geno Show...

 

[Frank]

I am with OC on this one too - did seem a bit harsh....Which makes me think CD is trying to keep the focus on the starters that will be going to the end...and not start or fuel controversy about starters or playing time this late in the season (KLM, Kiah, etc).

 

[msf22b]

Its possible that Geno and Chris think (know) that as important as the contribution of Kiah is on evenings such as tonight, all we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg of a monster talent that can completely dominate the paint on both ends of the floor. I still see in Kiah's performances an occasional passive moment and rarely the kind of fierceness, grit and steely determination that all great post players display. Say 50% of her ability gets you what we say tonight, they want more, much more!

 

[TDiNozzo]

One "Good job" wouldn't kill her...

 

[DaddyChoc]

One "Good job" wouldn't kill her...

maybe she said it while on the bench or in the locker room after the game...

we must understand that we dont hear EVERYTHING that goes on with this team.

 

[RoyDodger]

I also wonder about that. Stef has regressed this year and has really played poorly the last few games.Kiah is now the much stronger post and certainly should be encouraged. They will not be successful against the better teams in the NCAA's with Stef at the post. She plays much too soft and has become tenative. IMO Kiah represents their best chance to be successful. My guess is that she is in CD's doghouse. Makes no sense

Kiah deserved some praise from Chris Dailey. Meghan Culmo looks and sounds disappointed every time she praises Kiah and gets that nasty stare back from CD at halftime.
As for Stefanie, Meghan suggesting several times that Stefanie was open and should have gotten the ball. Maybe the Huskies are so insecure with Stefanie's recent play that they're afraid to give her the ball.

 

[Frank]

Good call out. You are right even Meghan Culmo, and probably Eric, had an agape look about themselves from CDs reaction to the Kiah question (and it was not the first time as Roy point out). CD is not blind; she knows Kiah is doing great, so you have to ask why intentionally down plays it to the audience. Perhaps it has more to do with Dolson's Psyche. They don’t want the starters questioning themselves this late in the year.....Can't wait till Stewart drops 18 in a game next year and CD says, well she needs to improve on her footwork…..chuckle.

 

[HuskyNan]

Kiah deserved some praise from Chris Dailey. Meghan Culmo looks and sounds disappointed every time she praises Kiah and gets that nasty stare back from CD at halftime.

Nasty stare? Here we've been thinking she's such a nice lady for 27 years. Who knew CD was such an awful person?

 

[Icebear]

One thing we never know is are the various players executing what they were asked to go in and do in the game. It is very possible that players have solid games on the stat line but did very little what the coaches want of them. In turn that may reduce others players effectiveness. We have no way of knowing if that is the case or not.

 

[Sonny44]

I didn't see the game, but why would we have a freshman center trying to cover a 3pt threat on the outside instead of positioning her for a rebound? Everyone says there was too many offensive rebounds already for Samson Johnson. Shouldn't we have the quicker and way more mobile guards covering the three point shooters in that situation?