Clay Kallam picked ND to win it all

[Phil]

Stanford 2013 so it happen to two teams last year both with very good coaches and at least one superstar on the returning team.

Stanford is slightly more complicated than that.

Obviously, Nnemkadi is straightforward, as a senior starter lost to graduation. However, La Rocque started 11 games and graduated as a senior, so it isn't quite correct to say four of 5 starters returned.

In addition while Kokenis returned, she missed the end of the season, so the team that tried and failed to make it to another final four had somewhere between 2.5 and 3 of their prior years starters returning. Counting Chiney as full, Ruef did not start in prior year James did not start in prior year, Orrange started 62% of games, and Tinkle started 67% of games. (Interestingly Greenfield started a third of games in prior year, but came off the bench just barely, with 2 minutes in last game)

 

[Icebear]

True, but it is entirely reasonable to be more concerned about injuries when one has a 9 player roster (sorry Polly and Tierney) than when one has a 15 player roster. (At least I hope it is reasonable, because I worry.)

Not necessarily, Phil. It depends on what the talent drop off is to players 9-15. Frequently, they are very marginal.

 

[doggydaddy]

I picked ND second in the boneyard poll and can see three concerns (two that have been discussed extensively - I have excluded the injury agenda)) that could push them (ND) to one:

1) Mo's outside shot or lack thereof if it doesn't materialize this year - that allows the defense to play 5 on 4. I know she can drive, but she has to put ball up at odd angles when she is among the trees.

2) I watched Kiah in the First Night Game and I did not see any great change from last year. From the 4:55 point to the end of first half - I counted 12 times she was in camera range and gave her a plus or a minus depending on whether I THOUGHT she was engaged with other players. I came up with 12 minuses. I know the way the game was played could lead to some of this, but all the other women appeared to be engaged in the game most of the time. I will be her biggest cheerleader should Gino's comment about her be correct.

3) I will never use my boneyard name around UConn fans, because this next one will get me stomped smaller than a grape being dejuiced. KML needs to stop channeling Kelly - I saw this last night and during the World University games. KML is a shooter first and foremost, she does not need to emulate Kelly, which is what I SEE. When she becomes Kelly, she tends to shoot like Kelly (1 for four on threes last night and they did not look good, forget the Univ. games and I hope she does). She needs to become KML and add the other pieces to the KML persona, otherwise I believe she will have a hard time breaking the 45% mark on threes.

1. I believe it's a misnomer to say 5 on 4. They just can't ignore her on the perimeter. She will drive until she gets some resistance and then make a move to get past the moving defender. I just don't see that being a big issue. Will she have to take the occasional outside shot? Of course. But it just don't see that being a big problem. I also expect her to hit a reasonable amount of outside shots if left wide open.

2. Using the first night game to critique a player is just silly. Engaged with other players? The object of this game was to have fun and don't get hurt. Mission accomplished.

3. If you are worried about her outside shot, then you are just looking for problems. She might not shoot as high a percentage as last year on 3's. But do you understand how good 45% is?

I'm sure others will find three other places that Uconn could struggle. And others will find three others. I guess it's what fans do.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Not sure why everyone has a big issue with questions about UConn's depth. It is undoubtedly the team's biggest weakness (if not, what is?). The roster has just 9 scholarship players! And 3 of them have big question marks (Chong - frosh, Banks - recovering, Stokes).
UConn clearly has the best starting 5, but throw in a twisted ankle, foul trouble, or even a bad cold, and the team has some vulnerability.

I'm one of those who think ND lost a ton with Diggins graduation, but the Irish have 2 big advantages: hosting the Regional and that they will not be intimidated by UConn. Who else can say that? Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, and Maryland have all lost badly in recent years.

Why? Because UConn is deeper than almost every other team in WCBB. No other team can bring players of the caliber of Stokes, Tuck, Chong, and Banks off the bench. If being a freshman or not meeting Geno's standards for major PT make someone a question mark then every team in the country is riddled with them. By that standard, what other team in the country has six players who are NOT "question marks?"

Unless we have multiple players with injuries, depth simply won't be an issue. Could depth be a problem? Sure, but that is true of virtually every team. Is it likely? No way no how.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Three places in which Some BoneYarders struggle…

Spelling Geno(as in Gino) correctly

Staying positive regarding a NC with four possible All Americans returning to a NC Team

Waiting for actual games to occur before critique of in game play

 

[doggydaddy]

Why? Because UConn is deeper than almost every other team in WCBB. No other team can bring players of the caliber of Stokes, Tuck, Chong, and Banks off the bench. If being a freshman or not meeting Geno's standards for major PT make someone a question mark then every team in the country is riddled with them. By that standard, what other team in the country has six players who are NOT "question marks?"

Unless we have multiple players with injuries, depth simply won't be an issue. Could depth be a problem? Sure, but that is true of virtually every team. Is it likely? No way no how.

I totally agree with you. I don't get what having a roster of 15 does for you depth wise unless 10 of your players are injured and you can stil field a team.

Take any team in the country and start with their weakest player. Work your way to the best on the roster and tell me how many players do you count before you find one as good as Chong. I guarantee you won't have 8 players left to count after that.

 

[MarlboroughMike]

1. I believe it's a misnomer to say 5 on 4. They just can't ignore her on the perimeter. She will drive until she gets some resistance and then make a move to get past the moving defender. I just don't see that being a big issue. Will she have to take the occasional outside shot? Of course. But it just don't see that being a big problem. I also expect her to hit a reasonable amount of outside shots if left wide open.

2. Using the first night game to critique a player is just silly. Engaged with other players? The object of this game was to have fun and don't get hurt. Mission accomplished.

3. If you are worried about her outside shot, then you are just looking for problems. She might not shoot as high a percentage as last year on 3's. But do you understand how good 45% is?

I'm sure others will find three other places that Uconn could struggle. And others will find three others. I guess it's what fans do.

To paraphrase Popeye, " I sees what I sees" (and yes, I can see the obvious retorts coming).

 

[Tonyc]

Clay has his feelings and whether he's just picking ND to be different or not it doesn't matter. UConn isn't going to lose a game for at least 2 years and that depends on who verbals this year and next . All this barring injuries. There isn't a team in WCBB who can defend them, or score more points then them. This is an explosive team and perhaps the greatest team ever in WCBB on both sides of the ball. Possible 4 AAs and if Morgan gets enough playtime she could be too, shes better much better then advertised.

ND doesn't bother me. They're very good but without height, and with an inexperienced freshman point guard they will have problems with UConn. Against teams that don't play great defense and can switch off each other ND will win. The secret to beating ND is keeping them off the line. I've said many times you need a good point guard. If NDs freshman can be good ND could make the FF, if not they wont.

 

[Kibitzer]

To paraphrase Popeye, " I sees what I sees" (and yes, I can see the obvious retorts coming).

I also watched the First Night scrimmage for manifestations of positive/negative indicators. Since I was unable to read KML's mind I focused on a different but vital aspect of competitive NCAA Division I basketball: free throw shooting.

It is comforting for me to report with unassailable precision that no player on either team missed any free throws.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

To paraphrase Popeye, " I sees what I sees" (and yes, I can see the obvious retorts coming).

I will digitally salute you(sic split infinitve) on my way to Colchester today.

 

[Phil]

I totally agree with you. I don't get what having a roster of 15 does for you depth wise unless 10 of your players are injured and you can stil field a team.

Take any team in the country and start with their weakest player. Work your way to the best on the roster and tell me how many players do you count before you find one as good as Chong. I guarantee you won't have 8 players left to count after that.

Good way to look at it. I hope you are right.

I am still worried. maybe cautiously nervous is a better term.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Good way to look at it. I hope you are right.

I am still worried. maybe cautiously nervous is a better term.

I am happier than a pig in excrement and I intend to enjoy every game.

 

[doggydaddy]

Good way to look at it. I hope you are right.

I am still worried. maybe cautiously nervous is a better term.

Injuries happen. What about this roster is any different than any other past UConn team in regards to being able to withstand a bad injury?

I hate that we even talk about it.

 

[ASweet3781]

As I said above, just 9 players, 3 with significant question marks.

Until kiah shows she's willing to even look at the basket, let alone take a shot, she is not much of a factor.

What?

Are you saying Kiah, on a team with Stewart, KML, Dolson, Hartley, etc has to SCORE to be a FACTOR?

I guess you don't value defense and rebounding.

 

[ASweet3781]

UConn's roster is usually always around 11. But in that 11 there's usually 2 players who with all due respect would never see the light of day in a competitive game.

I really don't see how UConn's roster makes them any more or less vulnerable to an injury than other teams. Most teams go 7 players tops when it counts. If you lose a top 7 player or starter it will effect you. Whether you have 15 players on your roster or 9. All of UConn's top 9 are capable and able to contribute. To include Chong as a question mark simply because she is a freshman? Please. I actually trust the recruiting instincts of our coaches. I think they've earned that.

We made the final 4 in 2011 with a starting 5 and a bench of Lorin Dixon. I'm not too worried about a starting 5 with 4 potential All American candidates and a bench of Tuck, Banks, Stokes, and Chong. If we lose any of our starters to injury I can guarantee you that even if we had 11 or 12 players on the roster they would not come close to replacing any of our starters if they go down with injury.

Now the elite 8 home court advantage, esp if we have to play in South Bend. That is a big potential problem to worry about. You cannot control injuries.

 

[ASweet3781]

I picked ND second in the boneyard poll and can see three concerns (two that have been discussed extensively - I have excluded the injury agenda)) that could push them (ND) to one:

1) Mo's outside shot or lack thereof if it doesn't materialize this year - that allows the defense to play 5 on 4. I know she can drive, but she has to put ball up at odd angles when she is among the trees.

2) I watched Kiah in the First Night Game and I did not see any great change from last year. From the 4:55 point to the end of first half - I counted 12 times she was in camera range and gave her a plus or a minus depending on whether I THOUGHT she was engaged with other players. I came up with 12 minuses. I know the way the game was played could lead to some of this, but all the other women appeared to be engaged in the game most of the time. I will be her biggest cheerleader should Gino's comment about her be correct.

3) I will never use my boneyard name around UConn fans, because this next one will get me stomped smaller than a grape being dejuiced. KML needs to stop channeling Kelly - I saw this last night and during the World University games. KML is a shooter first and foremost, she does not need to emulate Kelly, which is what I SEE. When she becomes Kelly, she tends to shoot like Kelly (1 for four on threes last night and they did not look good, forget the Univ. games and I hope she does). She needs to become KML and add the other pieces to the KML persona, otherwise I believe she will have a hard time breaking the 45% mark on threes.

Lord give me strength. KML outside shooting complaint. That's rich. Kiah who appeared 12 times on camera for a nano second got 12 minuses from some mythical scoring system of her engagement with those around her? You do realize half of the players around her where men's players who she doesn't play with?

I guess I'll just ignore what the Hall of Famer 8 time national title coach said that Stokes has been one of the best players the first 2 days and focus on your instincts of her.

Lord give me strength.

 

[Vowelguy]

To include Chong as a question mark simply because she is a freshman? Please. I actually trust the recruiting instincts of our coaches. I think they've earned that.

Just because they recruited her, doesn't mean she'll be great out of the box. Even highly touted players like MoJeff and Tuck didn't produce much for 80% of last season. Frosh can take time.

Nor does it mean she'll be a great contributor at all. The coaches recruit for a lot of reasons - ability, of course, but also effort, intensity, personality, and chemistry. I doubt Geno thinks every recruit is going to be an AA.

The point is we don't know what we're going to get from Chong this season.

 

[Vowelguy]

What?

Are you saying Kiah, on a team with Stewart, KML, Dolson, Hartley, etc has to SCORE to be a FACTOR?

I guess you don't value defense and rebounding.

The issue is the team's ability to overcome injuries should they occur. A team starting the Stokes from her first two years would have some weaknesses.

And I'm not saying Stokes is a non-factor, Geno is:
In 12 key games last year, Stokes averaged 10.0 minutes -- 2.5 fewer than she did the year before.

I like Kiah, and think she has great potential. But it is undeniable that she has not been offensive-minded in her first two years, and that has really hurt her game.

 

[svetbird]

ok, I pick us, but ND is the ONLY team that scares me. They play us hard every time and beat us a fair amount of the time. I worry because of our division this year. It is not like we play them three times in the regular season and get to see just how good they are. We get the one shot. They are the one team I want to avoid. I am not saying I would pick them over us, but it would be a good and close game.

 

[UConnCat]

I totally agree with you. I don't get what having a roster of 15 does for you depth wise unless 10 of your players are injured and you can stil field a team.

Take any team in the country and start with their weakest player. Work your way to the best on the roster and tell me how many players do you count before you find one as good as Chong. I guarantee you won't have 8 players left to count after that.

Geno addressed the depth issue with Bob Joyce on wtic at media day. He used the same Red Auerbach quote he's used before: "If you can't win with 8 players, you can't win with 88."

I don't understand not ranking UConn #1 because of a perceived lack of post depth due to Dolson's risk of re-injury. Dolson played the entire NCAA tournament on 2 really bad wheels and UConn beat MD by 26, Kentucky by 30, ND by 18 and Louisville 33.

 

[doggydaddy]

Geno addressed the depth issue with Bob Joyce on wtic at media day. He used the same Red Auerbach quote he's used before: "If you can't win with 8 players, you can't win with 88."

I don't understand not ranking UConn #1 because of a perceived lack of post depth due to Dolson's risk of re-injury. Dolson played the enter NCAA tournament on 2 really bad wheels and UConn beat MD by 26, Kentucky by 30, ND by 18 and Louisville 33.

Dolson has missed 1 game in 3 seasons, playing in 84 of 85 games. And the game she missed was because she "didn't feel well".

Why on earth does Clay or anyone else think Dolson is any more an injury risk than anyone else on UConn? Or any other team?

I think Clay just wanted to be different and there was nothing else to bring UConn down to the level of ND except injury.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Dolson has missed 1 game in 3 seasons, playing in 84 of 85 games. And the game she missed was because she "didn't feel well".

Why on earth does Clay or anyone else think Dolson is any more an injury risk than anyone else on UConn? Or any other team?

I think Clay just wanted to be different and there was nothing else to bring UConn down to the level of ND except injury.

Amen.

 

[Suebird10fan]

The issue is the team's ability to overcome injuries should they occur. A team starting the Stokes from her first two years would have some weaknesses.

And I'm not saying Stokes is a non-factor, Geno is:
In 12 key games last year, Stokes averaged 10.0 minutes -- 2.5 fewer than she did the year before.

I like Kiah, and think she has great potential. But it is undeniable that she has not been offensive-minded in her first two years, and that has really hurt her game.

Can you think of a backup center in wcbb better than Kiah? I can't.

 

[Tonyc]

I really don't know why there is this much discussion on what Clay thinks. It wont change my mind. I remember when I brought up Saniya Chong on the ESPN board and nobody had heard of her. He had a lot of opinions then too and look where Chong is now. He is entitled to his opinion and you don't have to agree. I don't. He picked UConn last year and so did I. We were both right. LOL Im picking UConn to go undefeated this season, if healthy and next season too. Why? Any team with Breanna KML and Tuck for 2 years will be very difficult to beat. WCBB imo does not know how to play suffocating defense like UConn. ND knows how to get to the line and that's how they offset their lack of height. This season they have more height so we shall see.

 

[pap49cba]

Clay is just stirring the pot. If he ends up being right he looks like a genius. And if he's wrong, so what. He's probably had more page hits as a result of this thread than he's ever had.