Coach's Corner: "Geno sez"......and some of you folks say.....

[winlots]

After a couple of reviews of the ND tape, Coach isolates three concerns: (1) offensive rebounding, (2) free throw opps and makes, (3) 3-point makes. Your take on each? Your take on the importance of each vs. other aspects of the ND game?

Here's mine: 1. I agree with Coach on the ORs. A concern of mine all year. In fact, I posted on this many weeks back after a game in which the opps were getting multiple shots per possession. Despite some terrific board work, ESPECIALLY by Faris and Lewis, this lack of success on the ORs has been apparent more often than not. We have three coaches that relate to our bigs. To me, rebounding is largely a combination of effort and savvy (size sure helps, obviously, as does agility). What is wrong in this area as you folks see it?

2. Agree with Coach again. But what are the reasons for the problem?? (For just one thing, I'd note that it is somewhat rare to get to the line when you are hoisting up threes. I'm not against the three, especially when you have talented shooters like we have.....just noting the relevance of this variable.)

3. Well, maybe not our best day from long range, but i haven't look at the relevant stats. I know and we all know that even a great shooting club will have off nights from out there. So, what do you do to compensate? I didn't think this was a huge factor.

Overall, my observations were that there were other areas even more critical in this very disappointing loss. A. An old refrain with me (and I don't need lectures on high-post play, opening up space for back-door cuts, etc.....I probably had about as much experience in such an offense as the median poster on this board), is that our post players seems to be too far outside WAY too much of the time, once again. And this time we got burned.....again. At least, from what I've been reading on here, I'm not the lone voice in the wilderness at this point on this issue. I do think Stewart has a more consistent shot from out there than Dolson......but Dolson seems WAY more effective down low for the most part......(I don't meaning just standing down there like a statue....I mean rotating down there aggessively, positioning herself for her impressive high-percentage shots.....best when she moves down there WITHOUT dribbling the damn ball, though she has improved in that this year). They both get their pockets picked outside also......just something to take into account.
B. Another old refrain of mine where I'm glad to see that others are making some similar observations at this point (include in those "others" Coach and CD sr): Hartley is not "all that" at all times and in all ways.....anymore than any of the rest of us are. She was only off the floor for one minute, I think. And yet our offense seldom had any real flow to it? How come as you all see it? My take: she spends too much time dribbling rather than passing, too much time forcing her own shot either on drives into traffic or early launches from outside (again rather than involving her teammates). And with her performing that way and being on the floor so much of the time, I have to take note of:
C. Lewis benched way too soon. Sure, you can foul out. And, yes, you can't foul out from the bench (unless you're a coach who gets a bunch of Ts).....but you also don't get a whole lot of shots, rebounds, assists, steals etc from the bench. Doty benched way too long. Banks used way too little (she was one of a few, along with Faris, Lewis, and Doty, who exhibited consistent grit and determination against a gritty and determined bunch of opponents).

 

[HuskyNan]

One reason the shooting was so bad on Saturday is that the Huskies never got into a rhythm. Give some credit to ND; the Irish defense bothered the Huskies a lot. UConn was rushing shots or taking bad shots, trying, as Geno says, to win the game in the next 5 minutes.

 

[Samanthabrown3]

I agree with the things you saw, Winlots, but my biggest concern was the free throws. Even those out and UConn wins. Fouls ended up almost the same for both teams, but the free-throw ones made the difference.

 

[Aluminny69]

What did Coach have to say about the 'extra hard" practices the day before AND day of the game?

 

[meyers7]

Overall, my observations were that there were other areas even more critical in this very disappointing loss. A. An old refrain with me (and I don't need lectures on high-post play, opening up space for back-door cuts, etc.....I probably had about as much experience in such an offense as the median poster on this board), is that our post players seems to be too far outside WAY too much of the time, once again. And this time we got burned.....again. At least, from what I've been reading on here, I'm not the lone voice in the wilderness at this point on this issue. I do think Stewart has a more consistent shot from out there than Dolson......but Dolson seems WAY more effective down low for the most part......(I don't meaning just standing down there like a statue....I mean rotating down there aggessively, positioning herself for her impressive high-percentage shots.....best when she moves down there WITHOUT dribbling the damn ball, though she has improved in that this year). They both get their pockets picked outside also......just something to take into account.

A couple things. One, this motion offense is the offense Geno runs. He's not going to change it. So it would be nice if many of you would quit whining about it. It works fine. Dolson was the leading scorer, obviously she is getting her shots. We didn't get burned by running our offense (we put up 72 points against the #5 team). Dolson is one of the teams top scorers, rebounders, and assisters (along with Stewart). Having them work from the high post is working quite well. And you may not want lectures on how the high post works (in a motion offense), but you look like you need it.

B. Another old refrain of mine where I'm glad to see that others are making some similar observations at this point (include in those "others" Coach and CD sr): Hartley is not "all that" at all times and in all ways.....anymore than any of the rest of us are. She was only off the floor for one minute, I think. And yet our offense seldom had any real flow to it? How come as you all see it? My take: she spends too much time dribbling rather than passing, too much time forcing her own shot either on drives into traffic or early launches from outside (again rather than involving her teammates). And with her performing that way and being on the floor so much of the time, I have to take note of:

As has been noted by many, Hartley is not a pure PG. She's probably more a 2 guard than a 1. Hence probably one reason Geno likes to use CD instead of Stewart in the starting line-up. Let's CD run the offense. Next year this will probably fall on Jefferson. Hopefully anyway. And agreed she has not really been up to "her standards" yet this year. Hopefully, she will.

 

[phil sampieri]

A couple things. One, this motion offense is the offense Geno runs. He's not going to change it. So it would be nice if many of you would quit whining about it. It works fine. Dolson was the leading scorer, obviously she is getting her shots. We didn't get burned by running our offense (we put up 72 points against the #5 team). Dolson is one of the teams top scorers, rebounders, and assisters (along with Stewart). Having them work from the high post is working quite well. And you may not want lectures on how the high post works (in a motion offense), but you look like you need it.


As has been noted by many, Hartley is not a pure PG. She's probably more a 2 guard than a 1. Hence probably one reason Geno likes to use CD instead of Stewart in the starting line-up. Let's CD run the offense. Next year this will probably fall on Jefferson. Hopefully anyway. And agreed she has not really been up to "her standards" yet this year. Hopefully, she will.

I could not agree more about your answer to Winlots. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but once in a while it should be someone who knows a little bit about basketball. Geez, lose what 10 games in 4 years and all of a sudden the coaches are to blame, c'mon.Attaining perfection is unattainable but searching for it is the goal.

 

[winlots]

One reason the shooting was so bad on Saturday is that the Huskies never got into a rhythm. Give some credit to ND; the Irish defense bothered the Huskies a lot. UConn was rushing shots or taking bad shots, trying, as Geno says, to win the game in the next 5 minutes.

 

[winlots]

OOopps. NAN - agreed that we never got into a rhythm. One of my major points, in fact, though we probably differ on the "why" of it. I do agree, also, that the ND defense was bothersome - but we've faced other good defenses this year with Doty and Lewis and Banks on the floor. The ball movement one of the games that Hartley sat out alot was so beautiful and some stetches that I saved the tape.....might have been Hartford? Not making her a scapegoat for the loss - there were ample reasons for the loss - just noting that she detracts as well as contributes.
ALso agree with you and Geno re "next five minutes," especially when it came to firing up the quick threes with no one in rebounding position.

Good to hear some response from you,, and Happy New Year.

 

[winlots]

I agree with the things you saw, Winlots, but my biggest concern was the free throws. Even those out and UConn wins. Fouls ended up almost the same for both teams, but the free-throw ones made the difference.

SAMANTHA - Good to hear your thoughts, and Happy New Year.

 

[sarals24]

I've also noticed that ball movement suffers when Hartley's in. She dribbles too much on the break, especially. That's a tough habit to break. She's a great player, don't get me wrong, but having to do a lot the first two years she was at UConn (scoring, etc) has not really prepared her for playing with a team of scorers.

 

[huskybill]

C. Lewis benched way too soon. Sure, you can foul out. And, yes, you can't foul out from the bench (unless you're a coach who gets a bunch of Ts).....but you also don't get a whole lot of shots, rebounds, assists, steals etc from the bench. Doty benched way too long. Banks used way too little (she was one of a few, along with Faris, Lewis, and Doty, who exhibited consistent grit and determination against a gritty and determined bunch of opponents).

Without talking about the reasons why Lewis, Doty, and Banks received too few minutes, that must mean that other Huskies should not have played the minutes they did. I guess you think one was Bria. Who else do you think played too much?

 

[winlots]

What did Coach have to say about the 'extra hard" practices the day before AND day of the game?

ALUM- very interesting to me that you would mention that. I didn't notice any comments of Geno's on this, but it was very much on my mind, and here's why: just the day before the game (and I'm sure many of us were giving thought at that point to the ND match-up) I found myself thinking about how some of the elite swimming coaches prepare their squads for huge meets by tapering OFF workouts as that meet approaches. ANd I was wondering if Geno was doing that to keep his kids fresh. Was actually hoping he would do something like that, as my sense from afar is that he drives them pretty hard most all the time??

Actually, I thought they came out pretty flat (not all of them) and I wondered what sort of preparation they had undergone the day prior and the day of.

Think it was some of the Horde which mentioned extra long practice day before.

((Am not CERTAIN about this swim theory/practice, that in the past.....maybe others can shed light on this....might be just for the very last meet of the season, and we are far from that point. Do know a bit about swimming from lifeguarding as kid and getting a couple of "Golds" in college for all-campus 50-year freestyle and for anchoring medley relay Club team with freestyle leg.....but the varsity swimming guys were not permitted to enter! And there was no exposure to elite swim training methods. But feel positive I did read about this this coaching/training technique a couple years back.)) Happy New Year.

 

[winlots]

A couple things. One, this motion offense is the offense Geno runs. He's not going to change it. So it would be nice if many of you would quit whining about it. It works fine. Dolson was the leading scorer, obviously she is getting her shots. We didn't get burned by running our offense (we put up 72 points against the #5 team). Dolson is one of the teams top scorers, rebounders, and assisters (along with Stewart). Having them work from the high post is working quite well. And you may not want lectures on how the high post works (in a motion offense), but you look like you need it.


As has been noted by many, Hartley is not a pure PG. She's probably more a 2 guard than a 1. Hence probably one reason Geno likes to use CD instead of Stewart in the starting line-up. Let's CD run the offense. Next year this will probably fall on Jefferson. Hopefully anyway. And agreed she has not really been up to "her standards" yet this year. Hopefully, she will.

MYERS: good to see you are still sitting up and taking nourishment in the New Year. Am a big proponent of the motion offense. So don't set up a straw man and then blow it down with a bunch of hot air. But I don't like Dolson DRIBBLING fifteen feet. If you disaagree with that, so be it. You can be in motion, without dribbling the ball...and SHOULD be, in a real motion offense, much of the time....with Hartley, especially, would understand that. .
By the way, I would say that Dolson has had a couple of surprisingly nice drives to the hoop this year, her third year. But not from way outside. ANd is certainly not among her several GREAT strengths.

Now re how I look and what I look like I need. At this point, I look like a need a whole lotta things. Lectures from you might well be among them - hadn't thought too much about that, but you might have a point.

As for "pure PG" and pure this and pure that, a whole lot of that is BS. (And, not the I particularly care, but I would think you would: Geno says that as well.) I like basketball players and team players.....and there are five guys on the floor at a time.....I like all five to be basketball players and team players. And having em run a motion offense is an added plus.

Glad we did agree that H is not up to her standards....and surely I agree that hopefully she will. I don't think for a minute the skills are not there....I have thought from the very first I saw her that her attitude needs adjustment toward the team-oriented mind-set and game. Always a kick to hear from you, no matter whether we are agreeing or disagreeing, Myers. Happy New Year to you.

 

[winlots]

Without talking about the reasons why Lewis, Doty, and Banks received too few minutes, that must mean that other Huskies should not have played the minutes they did. I guess you think one was Bria. Who else do you think played too much?

HUSKY - can't think of anyone else, really, though I haven't given that alot of thought. Maybe Dolson could have gotten more rest? Not sure. As a general point, I would say I like the Alabama football coach and his alternating backs.....keeping guys fresh to give their absolute max when they are in there. You?? Happpy New Year.

 

[winlots]

I've also noticed that ball movement suffers when Hartley's in. She dribbles too much on the break, especially. That's a tough habit to break. She's a great player, don't get me wrong, but having to do a lot the first two years she was at UConn (scoring, etc) has not really prepared her for playing with a team of scorers.

Hi SARA: we often seem to perceive things similarly, I've noticed. (You must be possessed of great wisdom ......or maybe quirky viewpoints.) Glad you chimed in -- and Happy New Year to you.

 

[bruinbball]

I've also noticed that ball movement suffers when Hartley's in. She dribbles too much on the break, especially. That's a tough habit to break. She's a great player, don't get me wrong, but having to do a lot the first two years she was at UConn (scoring, etc) has not really prepared her for playing with a team of scorers.

Very correct. Hartley does rarely gives the ball up on the break - and if it is with, she does not give it up at all. I am sure other coaches have noticed this and coached their players accordingly.

 

[Icebear]

Very correct. Hartley does rarely gives the ball up on the break - and if it is with, she does not give it up at all. I am sure other coaches have noticed this and coached their players accordingly.

And often when she does she does not do it well. Other coaches have likely noticed this as well.

 

[huskybill]

And often when she does she does not do it well. Other coaches have likely noticed this as well.

One thing that Bria has not done as well this year as in previous years is her stop and pop on the break. I think she made one against ND; the shot that was first called a three. If she can get that going again, it might strengthen her whole game dramatically.

I think I would have given Lefty Banks a few more minutes, at the expense of Bria, against ND because of the good things she did in the first half.

 

[sarals24]

In the Stanford game she had a three on one (basically, it was a little awkwardly spaced) with her, Kelly and Stewart. She kept the ball about two seconds too long, then threw a tough bounce pass to Stewart that she bobbled and went out of bounds. She is a great finisher, so hopefully next season MoJeff can lead the break and Bria can finish.

 

[meyers7]

MYERS: good to see you are still sitting up and taking nourishment in the New Year.

Where you expecting me dead?? Am I missing something??

Am a big proponent of the motion offense. So don't set up a straw man and then blow it down with a bunch of hot air. But I don't like Dolson DRIBBLING fifteen feet. If you disaagree with that, so be it. You can be in motion, without dribbling the ball...and SHOULD be, in a real motion offense, much of the time....with Hartley, especially, would understand that. .
By the way, I would say that Dolson has had a couple of surprisingly nice drives to the hoop this year, her third year. But not from way outside. ANd is certainly not among her several GREAT strengths.

Speaking of a straw man. Dolson rarely dribbles when she is in the high post area. And VERY rarely drives to the hoop from 15 ft out. (I wish she would do more of it.) Look in a motion offense, particularly this one that Geno uses, the bigs are going to be out in the high post area a lot, setting screens, hand offs, pick-n-rolls, playing Hi-Lo post game, passing to backcutters, taking some shots. Just the way it's gonna be. And the way we should want it.

As for "pure PG" and pure this and pure that, a whole lot of that is BS. (And, not the I particularly care, but I would think you would: Geno says that as well.) I like basketball players and team players.....and there are five guys on the floor at a time.....I like all five to be basketball players and team players. And having em run a motion offense is an added plus.

Well if you are in agreement with not wanting Hartley to play like a PG all the time, then why are you complaining about her not playing like a PG all the time? She should be dribbling and driving. In fact that was one of our problems in the ND game, not enough driving toward the hoop to get layups, kickouts, or fouls.

You have to remember this isn't the "Princeton" motion offense, where there is very little 1v1, take on your opponent stuff. You may be looking more for that, but they don't run a pure Princeton offense. UCONN runs one (Geno altered) that I think stems from Hank Iba/Bobby Knight type. Looks more like that. Although Geno has put a lot of his own wrinkles in it. And it will differ year to year based on personnel too.

 

[winlots]

Where you expecting me dead?? Am I missing something??


Speaking of a straw man. Dolson rarely dribbles when she is in the high post area. And VERY rarely drives to the hoop from 15 ft out. (I wish she would do more of it.) Look in a motion offense, particularly this one that Geno uses, the bigs are going to be out in the high post area a lot, setting screens, hand offs, pick-n-rolls, playing Hi-Lo post game, passing to backcutters, taking some shots. Just the way it's gonna be. And the way we should want it.


Well if you are in agreement with not wanting Hartley to play like a PG all the time, then why are you complaining about her not playing like a PG all the time? She should be dribbling and driving. In fact that was one of our problems in the ND game, not enough driving toward the hoop to get layups, kickouts, or fouls.

You have to remember this isn't the "Princeton" motion offense, where there is very little 1v1, take on your opponent stuff. You may be looking more for that, but they don't run a pure Princeton offense. UCONN runs one (Geno altered) that I think stems from Hank Iba/Bobby Knight type. Looks more like that. Although Geno has put a lot of his own wrinkles in it. And it will differ year to year based on personnel too.

MYERS: you know Hank Iba and yet you're surprised I'm surprised you're not dead? Maybe you better take another look...check your pulse or something.. You know Hank Iba? Wow. Way back when they were still the "Aggies"???

Don't you think of him more as a very SLOW motion offense (seriously)?

BObby Knight got alot of motion out of the chair, along with being one heck of a coach....saw his teams alot at Purdue.....with some heady Boiler victories.

 

[slimmer56]

I know how much Geno hates to lose, but after the fact I don't think he considers it such a bad thing now.We have steamrolled everyone, and had just beat a great Stanford team where we just took them out of their game. Had we become too cocky ? Reading and believing our headlines about how we were invincible ! So we got beat. Our team is still very young, yet we still had what...a couple of 3's by Kaleena and a shot by Stewie, and free throws galore to still win the game. You always hear from Geno about how we always SPEED up our opponents. This time we got sped up, a little. I believe if we played ND 10 times at neutral sites we would win at least 6. I do not think this loss hurts, I think it helps and it shall be proven in the end.

 

[winlots]

I know how much Geno hates to lose, but after the fact I don't think he considers it such a bad thing now.We have steamrolled everyone, and had just beat a great Stanford team where we just took them out of their game. Had we become too y ? Reading and believing our headlines about how we were invincible ! So we got beat. Our team is still very young, yet we still had what...a couple of 3's by Kaleena and a shot by Stewie, and free throws galore to still win the game. You always hear from Geno about how we always SPEED up our opponents. This time we got sped up, a little. I believe if we played ND 10 times at neutral sites we would win at least 6. I do not think this loss hurts, I think it helps and it shall be proven in the end.

yo SLIM: have missed you on here. Happpy New Year. I agree with your main point that we win at least 6 of 10 vs. ND IF we play to our potential, which we did not. That is , I think our best beats their best, prob 8 or 9 of 10.

MYERS: While I was having a sandwich, I had another thought about your most recent post in this thread.....the stuff about Hartley and PG or not PG etc. (I dont have your technical sophistication, so I can't set up your quote here. But it is easy to scroll up to it.) Was chuckling to myself over that sandwich when it occurred to me to compliment you on just how smoothly you had transitioned (speaking of the transition game, which we weren't), on that topic, from your earlier plain old everyday BS to something more akin to mindless drivel.

 

[meyers7]

MYERS: you know Hank Iba and yet you're surprised I'm surprised you're not dead? Maybe you better take another look...check your pulse or something.. You know Hank Iba? Wow. Way back when they were still the "Aggies"???

Know OF him.

Although I did "see" him (TV) coaching the 72 Olympic squad. (at the time though I had know idea of him)

BObby Knight got alot of motion out of the chair, along with being one heck of a coach....saw his teams alot at Purdue.....with some heady Boiler victories.

My favorite coach of all time. Geno reminds me a lot of him. (not completely or exactly though)

 

[meyers7]

MYERS: (I dont have your technical sophistication, so I can't set up your quote here.

Cut and paste baby, cut and paste.

MYERS: While I was having a sandwich, Was chuckling to myself over that sandwich

Don't pull a Mama Cass.

when it occurred to me to compliment you on just how smoothly you had transitioned (speaking of the transition game, which we weren't), on that topic, from your earlier plain old everyday BS to something more akin to mindless drivel.

With compliments like that..........