NoThankfully we won, but I'm sorry we need to use our bench. Not only because we are fatigued....but maybe...just MAYBE someone could provide a spark off the bench that we weren't getting for long stretches of time. Hmmmm?!?!
We need to keep our players fresh (and healthy) for the March run. Running them into the ground for an extra win or 2 along the way is not the way to go. Anyone else losing their mind over this at all??
Can we use our bench, please?!
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No, not at allThankfully we won, but I'm sorry we need to use our bench. Not only because we are fatigued....but maybe...just MAYBE someone could provide a spark off the bench that we weren't getting for long stretches of time. Hmmmm?!?!
We need to keep our players fresh (and healthy) for the March run. Running them into the ground for an extra win or 2 along the way is not the way to go. Anyone else losing their mind over this at all??
right or wrong, this game shows how much trust GA has in our bench and more poingnatly, the lack of trust he has and in particularly with Yanna. I thought she could be trusted with 15-20 minutes a game by now, but apparently not. I don't expect the other players to play in close games. But yanna, I really thought she could help us much more off the bench.
I'm shocked that members on this site dislike a comment about THIER team wanting to win Championships. Actually, thinking about it, it's funny!!
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It seems @southofnorth is disliking most every "can't play the bench" post. Yet doesn't offer an opinion, unless it is via an alternate name.
Bald Husky
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During the fourth quarter I was hoping that Azzi would stand up, throw down her crutches, and say put me in coach!
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Thank you. A voice of reason. Crazy some peoples points of view.I'm shocked that members on this site dislike a comment about THIER team wanting to win Championships. Actually, thinking about it, it's funny!!
Bonkers.
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I bet you Paige has been wanting to do this a lot!
I don’t think Azzi had her crutches today?
She did during warm ups prior to start of game
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Agreed with your sentiment. As a past experience as a starting PG in games, I'm not about to let a game slip away when I and team have expended a lot of effort. Nothing against the subs, but, you know what they can do, and the starters have worked so hard and fought to "that" point. Around the 5 minutes remaining mark/timeout, they were gassed. During the timeout, you could see the communication in their faces...let's gut this out and get the W.
Loss today almost guarantees a drop to a 2 seed in the tournament, unless they magically can beat SC. Which means there's a chance you have to beat South Carolina, Stanford, Indiana, LSU etc. to get to the Final 4. Every game matters now.
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I agree. It's mind boggling to think people would be fine with intentionally taking an L in a conference game. The players wouldn't want that. The coaches wouldn't want that. It accomplishes nothing positive and in the end will just be a negative in multiple ways. If players really need rest that badly then Head Coach Geno can and probably would do a few easier practices between games.
Besides, what does it say to bench players to essentially be like "we're just giving up on winning so it doesn't matter if you suck".
If you're a bench player, you should be looking at a game like this and thinking you want to be the next reliable player up who Geno can sub in when necessary.This isn't like the later Stewie years where the starters can play 10 minutes and the game is done and dusted. The starters need to be out there and it will benefit them and everyone else in the long run. I bet if you asked any of the starting 5 if they had wished they'd sat out so they could be rested, they'd all disagree. They're all fiercely competitive. They want to be out there.
I cannot fathom players that are willing to sit on the bench and get 2 minutes of playing time at the end of blowouts. Winning is OK but I want to play and I would go elsewhere even to DII to get that chance. I was a motorcycle racer (middle of the pack) but I got to race 2 motos ever weekend. Never won but thrilled to compete.
AgStatesman
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Today you could have subbed all three bench players for Nika, Lou, and Aaliyah and had zero drop off in productivity. Zero.
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I truly understand the posters that say our starters need breathers. I have no doubt that that will happen if we get Azzi and Caroline back. It will and sometimes has happened even with them out, but in tonights game who would you bring in off the bench to 'spark the offense'? There is nobody there at the moment that can do that. If things are more in sync and we are playing with a lead, the guys that are available presently can come in and add some positives. Today much of the game we were not in sync and playing at best even and at worst from behind. The only way we were going to win this one today was by gutting it out, which our starters reached down and were able to do and I would argue the bench players, given Villanova's play on the defensive end, wouldn't have been able to help with that.
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Ridiculous mentality. Every team in EVERY sport has bench players. They are vital to the team in more ways than minutes played. The experience of playing for a powerhouse, seeing packed crowds for every game and potentially winning a National championship is far more enticing for many than playing 40 min in an empty gym at a DII school.
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No…….go back and watch it again.
Amashutcha
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Geno did say in a presser that due to the injury situation, he treats some games like in the NBA in that if they lose, they just ask what's for dinner and maybe pair it with wine depending on their performance. So taking an L for the long-term benefit of the team might actually be okay. The problem is whether or not the net benefit is real or even measurable. Maybe the effects of a loss is greater than the possible benefit of using the bench more. I don't exactly know.
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Who on the bench is going to guard somebody? Who? What would they learn in a game like today? How about scoring!!!! This topic is j so lame. Caroline and Azzi are the bench to answer all of these questions.Thankfully we won, but I'm sorry we need to use our bench. Not only because we are fatigued....but maybe...just MAYBE someone could provide a spark off the bench that we weren't getting for long stretches of time. Hmmmm?!?!
We need to keep our players fresh (and healthy) for the March run. Running them into the ground for an extra win or 2 along the way is not the way to go. Anyone else losing their mind over this at all??
B&C
As far as the NCAAs, every team has almost a week from conference tournaments to the opening NCAA game, ample time to re-charge the batteries.
Nova came in having had 9 days off, played 7 players 20 minutes or more, only Siegrest with 40 and Olsen with 38 played more than 30 and yet which team made the plays when it counted? This team is incredibly mentally tough and I sure as heck would not like to be the one to tell them I am willing to lose a game or two because I think you are tired. Players play, they play to win, and there was not a Uconn player on the court too tired to do what it took to win that game.
Nova came in having had 9 days off, played 7 players 20 minutes or more, only Siegrest with 40 and Olsen with 38 played more than 30 and yet which team made the plays when it counted? This team is incredibly mentally tough and I sure as heck would not like to be the one to tell them I am willing to lose a game or two because I think you are tired. Players play, they play to win, and there was not a Uconn player on the court too tired to do what it took to win that game.
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It may be DII but you are playing, competing and not watching someone else win the championships. To me competing is way more important than winning. But I never won but always competed and that was fine with me.
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GKB.Thankfully we won, but I'm sorry we need to use our bench. Not only because we are fatigued....but maybe...just MAYBE someone could provide a spark off the bench that we weren't getting for long stretches of time. Hmmmm?!?!
We need to keep our players fresh (and healthy) for the March run. Running them into the ground for an extra win or 2 along the way is not the way to go. Anyone else losing their mind over this at all??
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Obviously Geno cares it is what he gets (pain) and paid for. Wins and losses determine seeding down the road every game counts.
Some folks are new to the program.
I will not re post what many have said above for those that think the talent available on the bench would have kept the team in the game.This is why players are allowed to transfer and granted that right. This is not little league and everyone gets to play. You make a good point off topic of the thread, but that happens all the time.
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I am really glad I never had to coach a player that only play just to compete and I bet your teammates never knew that
Motocross and golf were my sports as a young adult. Didn't have teammates, maybe that is why I can't grasp the "watch not play" concept. But I understand your stance.
Has anyone suggested losing on purpose? Why is that even being imputed?I agree. It's mind boggling to think people would be fine with intentionally taking an L in a conference game. The players wouldn't want that. The coaches wouldn't want that. It accomplishes nothing positive and in the end will just be a negative in multiple ways. If players really need rest that badly then Head Coach Geno can and probably would do a few easier practices between games.
Besides, what does it say to bench players to essentially be like "we're just giving up on winning so it doesn't matter if you suck".
This isn't like the later Stewie years where the starters can play 10 minutes and the game is done and dusted. The starters need to be out there and it will benefit them and everyone else in the long run. I bet if you asked any of the starting 5 if they had wished they'd sat out so they could be rested, they'd all disagree. They're all fiercely competitive. They want to be out there.
A coupe of weeks ago I suggested playing Amari and Ines in blowout games both to enhance their skills under game conditions, but especially to give starters breathers avoid tired legs, and fatigue. Posters opined mostly that a) it was more important to work on team chemistry; b) these are young players who weren't or don't get fatigued; c) Ines and Amari are lost/a liability when on the court. i believe I lost that argument back then and would probably lose it again now.
The fact remains the team is tired and Geno acknowledged it in today's post game presser. In the current circumstances, what is the solution? To be sure "Trust in Geno" but if that's the only response, why do we bother to have these Boneyard discussions?
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