Caroline Conundrum

[CONN78SEJ]

'A mere shell of herself?'

Caroline has turned the ball over quite often in a couple of recent games and clearly isn't at her best. Yet your description is a bit harsh for a player who had 15 points in a game recently and then had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and generally played good 'D vs. Maryland while physically extending herself well beyond what Geno would have preferred for her.

Hence my dislike for your post. I can't speak for HopJim, but I'm sure we'll all agree Caroline can and hopefully will do better.
However, Geno wouldn't have a player who's a 'mere shell of herself' on the court for 39 minutes, would he?

Compared to how she as a freshman averaged 25ppg over a 5 game stretch last year when the team really needed it, even winning some of those games single-handedly, yes I would still, relatively speaking, now call her a shell of how she played last year. I’m still pulling for her to have a game like one of the ones she had last year. If anything is harsh here it’s your dislike for my original post.

 

[#12in21]

I'm hoping with Nika back, she returns with her same proficiency at getting the ball to her teammates where they want/need it. If that is the case, I think Caroline will get many good opportunities and her shots will start falling - which will allow her to stop overthinking, which should help her get her game back and in turn boost her confidence. Caroline at her best last season was unstoppable coming in from either side to finish at the basket. I'm hoping we will see Nika getting the ball to her in motion to finish those shots.

I felt bad for Caroline in the pregame presser, she was courageously honest in her responses to question after question which focused on her current limitations, which could be a real downer. She seems frustrated but not defeated, no quit in her - which is no surprise. She believes she is now on an upward trend. First goal work through whatever her present limitations are to get back to her baseline last season (which was quite high!) and then who knows....

I think Geno may have put her out there (doing the presser) to get her over one hump - owning up to her current limitations and frustrations, then move forward. I think she will put her all into getting back where she wants to be, with her teammates and coaches at her side. I'm rooting for her. As she said, with Nika and Dorka back everyone can go back to doing what they do best, which should benefit the whole team,

 

[HopJim]

Why the negativity from “The deacon” and “HopJim”? I’m one of her biggest fans.

I don't normally answer commentary but never have been negative regarding Caroline. I have thought from the beginning of the season that she has had physical issues that she has gutted out when no other UConn resources existed. At times, Geno has had no other option but to play her the entire game and she has done her best. I am less worried about Caroline today with her hip issues and fully expect her to be one of the top offensive and defensive players when it matters in the NCAA's.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I'm hoping with Nika back, she returns with her same proficiency at getting the ball to her teammates where they want/need it. If that is the case, I think Caroline will get many good opportunities and her shots will start falling - which will allow her to stop overthinking, which should help her get her game back and in turn boost her confidence. Caroline at her best last season was unstoppable coming in from either side to finish at the basket. I'm hoping we will see Nika getting the ball to her in motion to finish those shots.

I felt bad for Caroline in the pregame presser, she was courageously honest in her responses to question after question which focused on her current limitations, which could be a real downer. She seems frustrated but not defeated, no quit in her - which is no surprise. She believes she is now on an upward trend. First goal work through whatever her present limitations are to get back to her baseline last season (which was quite high!) and then who knows....

I think Geno may have put her out there (doing the presser) to get her over one hump - owning up to her current limitations and frustrations, then move forward. I think she will put her all into getting back where she wants to be, with her teammates and coaches at her side. I'm rooting for her. As she said, with Nika and Dorka back everyone can go back to doing what they do best, which should benefit the whole team,

She beat people down the floor while dribbling, cut to basket when she didn’t have the ball, and I might point out she shot 36.4% from beyond the arc during a critical 4 game stretch. Her all around game was remarkable for a freshman.