Caroline Still Not Her Old Self

[sun]

She's been making some really nice & smooth layups.

 

[TeamFirst!]

Caroline had a week before Seton Hall so seeing some incremental health improvement makes a lot of sense. She looks visibly sharper and had a solid game.

 

[Gordo]

I have been following The Boneyard and UConn women's basketball teams since the mid-90s. Never have I seen such treatment of a young woman like this before. How many of you, who are so critical of Caroline, have ever even played basketball past the grammar school level? How many of you have had a hip replaced? Of those very few that have, how quickly were you capable of doing everything you did before the surgery? She's back playing in less than a year? How many of you have had a hip replaced and were back playing at the very highest level of Division I WCBB in less than a year?

Caroline is going to get there, but it's going to take time. She's going to have a few good games and then a bad one or two. We've already begun to see her improvement in the last couple of games. Relax, give her a break ... she most definitely deserves it. Stop the bitching about this and that. Stop posting advice of how she should be shooting the ball ... comparing taking a 3 pt shot with hitting a golf ball. Or, posting something really stupid about why she isn't ready to go since she has (supposedly) been practicing since August. I'm not sure how accurate those reports were. In her second or third game, the announcers said she had only practiced with the team on four (4) occasions before that game.

The team is rounding into shape. It doesn't matter where we're ranked at this point. It doesn't matter what our preliminary seeding is. It doesn't matter that we're going to lose some games along the way ... perhaps more games than normal for a UConn women's team. If and when Azzi returns, and Caroline continues to round into shape, and if the serious injuries stop ... this team can beat anyone and I expect them to do very well in the playoffs. But as "fans" we need to root for them, not continually tear down and pick on one of our best players. Stop looking at the glass half empty, instead of half full. Stop complaining (nit-picking) about the various mistakes Caroline makes, and start praising the things she is beginning to do well again. Be mindful at all times what she has gone through and is still going through. Some of you need to educate yourself on what that actually is! If and when she is fully recovered, playing 30 minutes a game, scoring 15-20 points, stealing 3-5 balls, causing at least as many turnovers as she commits herself, rebounding 5-7, getting 3-5 assists, then feel free to criticize on occasion.

Happy holidays to all Boneyarders! Let's hope the new year is much better in all respects for each and everyone of us.

 

[Gordo]

@LCConnFan -

I noticed that you didn't care for my comments in this thread you started. So, for what isn't worth, I want to clear the air with you if I can?

In no way were my remarks necessarily intended towards the article you provided. It was well written, certainly informative, and definitely should be considered as part of the "education" I mentioned that many BoneYarders should undertake before complaining (constantly or otherwise) about Caroline in any way, shape or form. I don't want to drag this out, I said what I felt needed to be said. Hopefully you can now accept this.

 

[faithfulfan]

She's a little out of sorts, but you see improvement, and if it continues, watch out in the tournaments!

 

[boontonbomber]

I have been following The Boneyard and UConn women's basketball teams since the mid-90s. Never have I seen such treatment of a young woman like this before. How many of you, who are so critical of Caroline, have ever even played basketball past the grammar school level? How many of you have had a hip replaced? Of those very few that have, how quickly were you capable of doing everything you did before the surgery? She's back playing in less than a year? How many of you have had a hip replaced and were back playing at the very highest level of Division I WCBB in less than a year?

Caroline is going to get there, but it's going to take time. She's going to have a few good games and then a bad one or two. We've already begun to see her improvement in the last couple of games. Relax, give her a break ... she most definitely deserves it. Stop the bitching about this and that. Stop posting advice of how she should be shooting the ball ... comparing taking a 3 pt shot with hitting a golf ball. Or, posting something really stupid about why she isn't ready to go since she has (supposedly) been practicing since August. I'm not sure how accurate those reports were. In her second or third game, the announcers said she had only practiced with the team on four (4) occasions before that game.

The team is rounding into shape. It doesn't matter where we're ranked at this point. It doesn't matter what our preliminary seeding is. It doesn't matter that we're going to lose some games along the way ... perhaps more games than normal for a UConn women's team. If and when Azzi returns, and Caroline continues to round into shape, and if the serious injuries stop ... this team can beat anyone and I expect them to do very well in the playoffs. But as "fans" we need to root for them, not continually tear down and pick on one of our best players. Stop looking at the glass half empty, instead of half full. Stop complaining (nit-picking) about the various mistakes Caroline makes, and start praising the things she is beginning to do well again. Be mindful at all times what she has gone through and is still going through. Some of you need to educate yourself on what that actually is! If and when she is fully recovered, playing 30 minutes a game, scoring 15-20 points, stealing 3-5 balls, causing at least as many turnovers as she commits herself, rebounding 5-7, getting 3-5 assists, then feel free to criticize on occasion.

Happy holidays to all Boneyarders! Let's hope the new year is much better in all respects for each and everyone of us.

Thanks for this post. And you didn't even mention her other injuries.

 

[LCConnFan]

@LCConnFan -

I noticed that you didn't care for my comments in this thread you started. So, for what isn't worth, I want to clear the air with you if I can?

In no way were my remarks necessarily intended towards the article you provided. It was well written, certainly informative, and definitely should be considered as part of the "education" I mentioned that many BoneYarders should undertake before complaining (constantly or otherwise) about Caroline in any way, shape or form. I don't want to drag this out, I said what I felt needed to be said. Hopefully you can now accept this.

We disagree for sure, but of course you're entitled to your opinion! I think of this as a forum where EVERYTHING can be said, barring hurtful or inciteful comments. Why can't we criticize our players? Many times we don't even know what's going on physically with them, because everything today is about 'privacy'! Well this was never the case before and, IMO, shouldn't be now. Since that 'NIL' happened, (but that's another thorn in my side), they should now be considered pro athletes and as such, their fans, should have more knowledge about their conditions, just like the WNBA, NBA, NFL, etc. If every comment was just when they played up to standards, we'd have a pretty boring place here, again, IMO!

 

[AmeriConn]

We disagree for sure, but of course you're entitled to your opinion! I think of this as a forum where EVERYTHING can be said, barring hurtful or inciteful comments. Why can't we criticize our players? Many times we don't even know what's going on physically with them, because everything today is about 'privacy'! Well this was never the case before and, IMO, shouldn't be now. Since that 'NIL' happened, (but that's another thorn in my side), they should now be considered pro athletes and as such, their fans, should have more knowledge about their conditions, just like the WNBA, NBA, NFL, etc. If every comment was just when they played up to standards, we'd have a pretty boring place here, again, IMO!

They’re still just kids. They aren’t professional athletes.

 

[stamfordhusky]

I have been following The Boneyard and UConn women's basketball teams since the mid-90s. Never have I seen such treatment of a young woman like this before. How many of you, who are so critical of Caroline, have ever even played basketball past the grammar school level? How many of you have had a hip replaced? Of those very few that have, how quickly were you capable of doing everything you did before the surgery? She's back playing in less than a year? How many of you have had a hip replaced and were back playing at the very highest level of Division I WCBB in less than a year? . . .

Be mindful at all times what she has gone through and is still going through. Some of you need to educate yourself on what that actually is!

Apparently a number of people need an education on this subject.

Caroline did not have hip replacement surgery. While she had a significant surgery, it was nowhere close to a replacement. Many athletes return in less than six months from the type of labrum surgery she had.

Note: at no time have I been one of Caroline‘s critics.

 

[LCConnFan]

They’re still just kids. They aren’t professional athletes.

OK, so why should they be paid?

 

[HopJim]

Caroline has had several strong games in a role. Even before, she played strong defense and gutted out several games when asked to play the entire 30 minutes. Certainly came back earlier than expected but seems injury free and playing well. Feel that much of the current criticism from Boneyarders that haven't seen her on TV recently.

 

[jabstep]

Like last year Caroline has been asked to step up and I think she has. Can she play better sure everyone can always play better. Her health and her play will be critical for the tournament. I bet she steps up. She has been rebounding, shooting and running the floor better. Keep it up Caroline.

 

[Bone Dog]

All's I know -- see what I did there? -- is that she looked really good against SH. She ran well and shot well, 16 pts on 6 of 8 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. She had a really good game in all the tangible ways, as well as being well positioned at key moments. If that one little mishap, when an SH player stepped on her foot and she seemed to tweak her hip, if that amounts to nothing, I suspect Caroline is almost there for us.

If I'm right, then there's no further need for anyone to fuss about her, or about how others speculate about her, or about her HIPAA information, or anything else about her game. It's getting to be time to bask in the warm light of her excellence.

 

[Gordo]

Apparently a number of people need an education on this subject.

Caroline did not have hip replacement surgery. While she had a significant surgery, it was nowhere close to a replacement. Many athletes return in less than six months from the type of labrum surgery she had.

Note: at no time have I been one of Caroline‘s critics.

If you are correct, then yes I stand corrected (educated). There are conflicting reports as to which it was. However, hip labrum surgery is still very significant and requires lengthy recovery time. Regardless, my position regarding the constant bombardment of negativity towards her this season remains unchanged. Injured athletes simply cannot be held to the same standard as the non-injured.

 

[Redux]

Caroline did not have hip replacement surgery

I don't think anyone took that seriously. Though actually you can "play" basketball after a hip replacement, in a sense. But not at a college or pro level. Maybe someone will come up with an exception or two but I'd guess that would have to have been for a very limited period time, hard to believe a doctor would allow it even as a stunt.

But back to the thread: I like the slope of the curve on Caroline's recovery chart. I just get the feeling this problem is going to require slow, steady improvement rather than allow a breakthrough.

 

[wingsfan055]

CD has both the size and shooting ability to play a Wing position, which poses mismatches against most teams. Probably the only UConn player that gives us this advantage. She'll be needed in March against the top teams if we want a good shot at another title.

 

[CL82]

CD has both the size and shooting ability to play a Wing position

Unfortunately she used up her eligibility at Rutgers.

 

[oldhusky]

If you are correct, then yes I stand corrected (educated). There are conflicting reports as to which it was. However, hip labrum surgery is still very significant and requires lengthy recovery time. Regardless, my position regarding the constant bombardment of negativity towards her this season remains unchanged. Injured athletes simply cannot be held to the same standard as the non-injured.

I think some of the reactions to Caroline including mine, were based on the limited information that was provided regarding her surgery. If for example the normal recovery from this type of injury would take well into the season before getting close to normal, and that was indicated at the time, then many of us would not be disappointed at where she is now.

But that kind of information was lacking, and for myself, I fully expected Caroline to be substantially better than last year by the first game this season. That was based on little indication the timeline for recovery went into the season, a surgery that didn't seem to be major, and the realization that I didn't know that Caroline was playing with a hip problem last year.

Of course, none of us know the true health details with Caroline or any other Uconn player for that matter. The team and players keep that internal which is their right, but that also means that fans can get the wrong impression, and sometimes unintended criticism of that player can be the result. Maybe the surgery wasn't as successful as anticipated, I don't know, but the lack of information or periodic realistic updates along the way allows expectations to get pretty far away from reality.

If a player feels she has to defend herself by revealing the health issues that are affecting her play, and set more realistic expectations such as "I still have a long way to go" then it seems to me the policy of keeping the public in the dark had an adverse effect in this case, if indeed this rate of progress was expected all along.

 

[uconnfan68]

I don't think anyone took that seriously. Though actually you can "play" basketball after a hip replacement, in a sense. But not at a college or pro level. Maybe someone will come up with an exception or two but I'd guess that would have to have been for a very limited period time, hard to believe a doctor would allow it even as a stunt.

But back to the thread: I like the slope of the curve on Caroline's recovery chart. I just get the feeling this problem is going to require slow, steady improvement rather than allow a breakthrough.

I was told I could do anything I wanted to after my hip replacement with the caveat that it would need earlier replacement if it was abused, as in running. I’ve known guys that were back working in less than 2 weeks and playing golf within 3. I think the key is whether muscle gets cut or not. That’s what takes so long to recover from.