Conditioning: Has UConn lost its edge?

[eebmg]

As I mentioned in the original post, Rosemary Ragle was the head athletic trainer. She was not a strength and conditioning coach. Although Ragle’s specific duties are opaque to me, I know that in general, athletic trainers are an integral part of the conditioning process.

For instance, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), one of the duties of athletic trainers is to “Design and implement conditioning programs (flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness) to reduce the risk of injury and illness.” (item 2, page 9).

According to this job description, an athletic trainer is involved in creating exercise and nutrition programs for athletes.

I therefore assume that Ragle was an integral part of the design and implementation of exercise programs for UConn’s women’s basketball team members.

I also believe that both Rosemary Ragle and Amanda Kimball played important roles in UConn’s national championships. Kimball joined the UConn staff in 2004, and Ragle was the athletic trainer for 10 of UConn’s women’s basketball national championships.

Last, my observation that the Huskies haven’t won a national championship since Ragle left the team was not original. It was something I read in this article by Carl Adamec.

Perhaps unrelated, UConn has not won since Stewie left the team.

 

[sarals24]

I was listening to a podcast with Steve Nash, and he said his coach in Phoenix always told them to play faster so they wouldn't get tired. Physical, slow play wears players down more than an up-tempo style where there is more ball movement and less bumping, posting up, etc.

I think it's a combination of the team's style of play this year, and that other teams have caught up to them in terms of conditioning.

Also, Rosemary Ragle had nothing to do with conditioning. She dealt with injuries. Amanda Kimball is very highly regarded. UConn’s Recipe for Success Is to Run, Run and Run Some More

 

[phil sampieri]

To me it's a matter of science and math. The games where it's the most notable are deep in the tourney and against our toughest opponents. Geno tends to significantly shorten the bench sometimes 7 or even 6 deep. This increases the amount of minutes for everybody and, regardless of condition, takes its toll.

Trying not to be snide but check your last sentence, UConn has been to the finals
11 times and despite them being run down, they have won all of them. Cmon

 

[Alydar]

I think it's wrong to claim that prior championship teams were less fatigued. To me the point is that those teams executed despite being fatigued. That, to me, is a key goal of UConn's practices, to fatigue the players and then demand focus and execution. That isn't accomplished quickly and with a current roster loaded with underclassmen it is not surprising that they aren't to that point yet. A lot of it has to do with mental toughness.
The other factor I see is how inefficiently this squad expends it's energy, especially on defense. Too much energy is being used reacting to defensive mistakes. Often this year the team leaves opponents unguarded and we see 2 UConn defenders rushing to guard them, usually too late. When UConn's switching man-to-man was at it's best that never happened and players handed off ball handlers and rotated like a Swiss watch. When the defense is efficient a lot less energy is expended. I'm still sure that we will see a return to that sort of defensive efficiency. If not this year then next.

 

[CocoHusky]

This is a classic Boneyard thread. One poster makes a (questionable) statement of fact, and then multiple posters jump in to explain one this situation (one unsupported by any evidence) has come to be. Amazing.

“Questionable statement of fact”? In this thread?

 

[HuskyNan]

This is a classic Boneyard thread. One poster makes a (questionable) statement of fact, and then multiple posters jump in to explain one this situation (one unsupported by any evidence) has come to be. Amazing.

I’m not gettting the objection to the thread. Seems like a viable topic for discussion.

For the record, I think the team’s conditioning is fine but have no objection to others offering a differing opinion. I do wish people would give the “keyboard coaches” thing a rest, though. No need to call someone a name for having an opposing opinion

 

[soxfan23]

As I mentioned in the original post, Rosemary Ragle was the head athletic trainer. She was not a strength and conditioning coach. Although Ragle’s specific duties are opaque to me, I know that in general, athletic trainers are an integral part of the conditioning process.

For instance, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), one of the duties of athletic trainers is to “Design and implement conditioning programs (flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness) to reduce the risk of injury and illness.” (item 2, page 9).

According to this job description, an athletic trainer is involved in creating exercise and nutrition programs for athletes.

I therefore assume that Ragle was an integral part of the design and implementation of exercise programs for UConn’s women’s basketball team members.

I also believe that both Rosemary Ragle and Amanda Kimball played important roles in UConn’s national championships. Kimball joined the UConn staff in 2004, and Ragle was the athletic trainer for 10 of UConn’s women’s basketball national championships.

Last, my observation that the Huskies haven’t won a national championship since Ragle left the team was not original. It was something I read in this article by Carl Adamec.

Athletic Trainers at the D1 level are primarily responsible for taping and stretching, treating minor injuries, after game recovery, and overseeing of the rehab of players. They have almost nothing to do with the strength and conditioning of the players.

 

[Centerstream]

Not gettting the objection to the thread. Seems like a viable topic for discussion.

For the record, think the team’s conditioning is fine but have no objection to others offering a differing opinion. I do wish people would give the “keyboard coaches” thing a rest, though. No need to call someone a name for having an opposing opinion

I will stop. I admit to using that term (often ). I read it in a post and thought it was humorous but I was wrong in thinking that way.

 

[CocoHusky]

Perhaps unrelated, UConn has not won since Stewie left the team.

Athletic Trainers at the D1 level are primarily responsible for taping and stretching, treating minor injuries, after game recovery, and overseeing of the rehab of players. They have almost nothing to do with the strength and conditioning of the players.

As the trainer Rosemary was world class at getting injured players to return to the court on the shortest timeline possible which often involved conditioning and rehab. Nutrition and proper hydration were her other areas of emphasis. UCONN players have a hydration routine for game day that starts once they get up.

 

[tomcat]

Two thoughts.
1. Other teams are catching up. This is a really easy way to start the process of getting better. If you don't have the talent, at least you can be well-conditioned
2. When UConn isn't doing well, we all naturally look for reasons. This one, however, is a reach.

 

[Rocket009]

Meghan Culmo made an interesting comment during a recent broadcast on SNY. She said that UConn has one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country, Amanda Kimball, who helps give the women’s basketball team a competitive edge over opponents.

UConn clearly has some well-conditioned athletes. My impression, however, is that UConn has lost some of the relative advantage in conditioning that it enjoyed in the past. When Rosemary Ragle was the head athletic trainer, the UConn women had a qualitative advantage over most of UConn’s opponents. The Huskies could often run their opponents right out of the gym. UConn’s advantage was particularly noticeable in the second halves of games.

This season, the Huskies have struggled in the fourth quarter of some games, most notably in the Baylor game, when the Huskies ran out of gas in the last five minutes as Baylor pulled away. In the DePaul game, UConn started the second half with a 26-point lead, but the Huskies tired in the fourth quarter; DePaul pulled to within 4 points before losing by 10.

Although there are a number of factors involved, including increased parity in collegiate women’s basketball and UConn’s lack of a transcendent player like Breanna Stewart or Maya Moore in recent years, it is interesting that the Huskies have not won a national championship since Rosemary Ragle left the team in 2016.

Has UConn’s overall conditioning deteriorated since Ragle left, or has the conditioning of other teams improved? I think it’s both. One thing is clear: Baylor had more gas left in its tank than UConn did at the end of their recent game.

This assumes that Amanda did not join the WBB program until 2016. While I cannot find exactly when she did, there are mentions of her working with Steph Dolson as far back as 2014 (Important Piece Of Puzzle: Amanda Kimball Keeps UConn Women Fit) , and she did join UCONN in 2004.

 

[JonathanXIV]

I’m not gettting the objection to the thread. Seems like a viable topic for discussion.

For the record, I think the team’s conditioning is fine but have no objection to others offering a differing opinion. I do wish people would give the “keyboard coaches” thing a rest, though. No need to call someone a name for having an opposing opinion

Respectfully, I did not call anyone a name. My attempt with my post was to express bemusement, and not frustration or disrespect (probably should have used an emoji). And while everyone is entitled to their opinion, often these opinions are based on the thinnest of factual evidence. To cite some recent examples, Crystal does not turn over the ball more frequently than other UConn point guards (best A:TO ratio as compared to those already on the wall), Baylor did not use it's substitutes more liberally than UConn did and, my favorite, UConn did not have "less than stellar" seasons the past three years (unless going 72-2 over two years, both losses in OT, is less than stellar).

If I caused offense, I apologize. I prefer humor over an attack when responding to a thread. Sorry if I missed.

 

[Phil]

Meanwhile Ms. Kimball does not accompany our team to the road games and was sitting in the stands for our home game?

I think I've attended more away games than most here. I won't say that Amanda is at all of them, but I often see her at away games. I was just at the UCF game and saw her there.

 

[soxfan23]

As the trainer Rosemary was world class at getting injured players to return to the court on the shortest timeline possible which often involved conditioning and rehab. Nutrition and proper hydration were her other areas of emphasis. UCONN players have a hydration routine for game day that starts once they get up.

No doubt about that, she just had nothing to do with the strength and conditioning of the team.

 

[Cedar]

Athletic Trainers at the D1 level are primarily responsible for taping and stretching, treating minor injuries, after game recovery, and overseeing of the rehab of players. They have almost nothing to do with the strength and conditioning of the players.

I agree that athletic trainers at the D1 level are involved in the activities you mentioned. Although conditions vary among universities, my understanding is that some trainers also have input into strength and conditioning exercises for rehabilitating injured athletes.

According to a 2011 NY Times article, Rosemary Ragle was also involved in injury prevention, specifically, in teaching UConn’s WBB players how to land to help avoid ACL injuries.

Rosemary Ragle’s role is secondary to the main issue I raised in the original post, namely, that the conditioning gap between UConn and other teams appears to have narrowed. Indeed, some schools, Baylor in particular, may have surpassed the Huskies in overall conditioning.

Some people evidently disagree with that opinion, and that is fine.

 

[Cedar]

This assumes that Amanda did not join the WBB program until 2016. While I cannot find exactly when she did, there are mentions of her working with Steph Dolson as far back as 2014 (Important Piece Of Puzzle: Amanda Kimball Keeps UConn Women Fit) , and she did join UCONN in 2004.

???

When I wrote the original post, I was aware that Amanda Kimball joined the staff in 2004. I did not state or imply that she did not join the team until 2016. Kimball and Ragle overlapped for many years, and as I said in another post, I believe both played important roles in (many of) UConn’s national championships.

 

[meyers7]

Two thoughts.
1. Other teams are catching up. This is a really easy way to start the process of getting better. If you don't have the talent, at least you can be well-conditioned
2. When UConn isn't doing well, we all naturally look for reasons. This one, however, is a reach.

And see, there's the problem (not necessarily you tom, but there seem to be quite a few who believe this). How is UCONN not "doing well"? UCONN is 16-1, beating teams by 23+ points a game. Been ranked in the top 5 all season, with a little time at #1 and now presently #3. UCONN isn't only doing well, it's doing damn good. Considering what UCONN lost coming into this year (a couple of 2/3 time AA's, the most prolific scoring duo in UCONN's history AND not having Westbrook for this year), things are going quite a bit better than "well".

Come on people appreciate what you got. When we look like TN the past few years or ND this year, then we can say things aren't going so well.

 

[CocoHusky]

i was too caught up watching the game. Can someone help me out here? How was the UCONN strength and conditioning in the 2nd half of the Tennessee game tonight?

 

[uconnell]

I agree that athletic trainers at the D1 level are involved in the activities you mentioned. Although conditions vary among universities, my understanding is that some trainers also have input into strength and conditioning exercises for rehabilitating injured athletes.

According to a 2011 NY Times article, Rosemary Ragle was also involved in injury prevention, specifically, in teaching UConn’s WBB players how to land to help avoid ACL injuries.

Rosemary Ragle’s role is secondary to the main issue I raised in the original post, namely, that the conditioning gap between UConn and other teams appears to have narrowed. Indeed, some schools, Baylor in particular, may have surpassed the Huskies in overall conditioning.

Some people evidently disagree with that opinion, and that is fine.

After tonight’s game against Tenn I don’t believe that we have lost some conditioning. We wore Tenn down in the 4 th quarter to the extent that they could barely make a basket.

 

[Calbysdad]

Trying not to be snide but check your last sentence, UConn has been to the finals
11 times and despite them being run down, they have won all of them. Cmon

Uh, yeah...OK. Glad you took me out of context...Thanks!!!!

 

[MSGRET]

After tonight’s game against Tenn I don’t believe that we have lost some conditioning. We wore Tenn down in the 4 th quarter to the extent that they could barely make a basket.

They could barely make a basket in the second half scoring only 14 points, 7 in the 3rd and 7 in the 4th quarters. It was the lowest scoring half in LV history.

 

[Two Sheds]

I think we just don’t have enough quality players to spell the starters. That was evident in the Baylor game. Baylor substituted freely and eventually pulled away. UConn just ran out of gas. If I’m not mistaken I saw Walker tugging at her shorts several times late in the third and fourth periods, a sure sign of fatigue.

Shorts tugging is not necessarily a sign of fatigue. In fact, I was tugging at my shorts earlier today and I was perfectly fine; normal respiration, heartrate, bloodpressure, etc. As a matter of fact, I'm tugging my shorts right now. No problem.

 

[eebmg]

Shorts tugging is not necessarily a sign of fatigue. In fact, I was tugging at my shorts earlier today and I was perfectly fine; normal respiration, heartrate, bloodpressure, etc. As a matter of fact, I'm tugging my shorts right now. No problem.

Problems start when you forget to put on your shorts.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Concerning this discussion on UConn's conditioning, thought a couple of views from outside the UConn family might offer some insight as to how the rest of college basketball views UConn's conditioning. Two quotes from VolNation following last night's game.

"Conditioning is one of the keystone trademarks of a UConn team. They can run all night."

"One of the core attributes of EVERY UConn team is conditioning."

There were more, but I think that conveys the impressions of Tennessee fans and whether UConn was the better conditioned team last night.

 

[meyers7]

Shorts tugging is not necessarily a sign of fatigue. In fact, I was tugging at my shorts earlier today and I was perfectly fine; normal respiration, heartrate, bloodpressure, etc. As a matter of fact, I'm tugging my shorts right now. No problem.

TMI.

 

[Cedar]

i was too caught up watching the game. Can someone help me out here? How was the UCONN strength and conditioning in the 2nd half of the Tennessee game tonight?

I think we can agree that UConn’s conditioning was superior to that of the Lady Vols.

Just two weeks ago, you were singing a different tune. After the Baylor game, you wrote that in the last 4-5 minutes of the game, Smith “took over because UCONN had no one with the energy or athleticism on the floor to stop her.”

 

[Cedar]

After tonight’s game against Tenn I don’t believe that we have lost some conditioning. We wore Tenn down in the 4 th quarter to the extent that they could barely make a basket.

I agree that we wore Tennessee down, and although the game was ugly, it was great to see UConn’s stingy defense in the second half. A victory over the Lady Vols is always satisfying.

That said, this was a game that many people expected us to win, against a team ranked #23. My discussion on conditioning was intended to be more focused on how UConn stacks up relative to the elite teams such as Baylor. After UConn played the Lady Bears on January 9, a number of posters observed that Baylor’s size, physicality, conditioning, and depth were important factors in the defending national champions’ win over the Huskies. Here is a sample of posters/posts: soxfan23, Checkmate 2.0, Sluconn Husky, BostonBay, Triad, willtalk, browns.

To UConn’s credit, the Huskies stayed within a point of Baylor until about the last five-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter, an achievement that is even more impressive when one considers that the Huskies were essentially playing 3 on 5. But then Baylor pulled away from the tired Huskies, to a decisive 16-point victory.

It will be interesting to see how the Huskies perform against other top teams such as Oregon and South Carolina.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I do not believe UConn has enjoyed a conditioning advantage over the years as much as they have enjoyed a competitive advantage that has kept their starters from having to play deep into games. It would be hard for me to imagine other top athletic programs not devoting as much attention to conditioning as UConn; Especially programs that enjoy tremendous success in multiple sports.

 

[CocoHusky]

I agree that we wore Tennessee down, and although the game was ugly, it was great to see UConn’s stingy defense in the second half. A victory over the Lady Vols is always satisfying.

That said, this was a game that many people expected us to win, against a team ranked #23. My discussion on conditioning was intended to be more focused on how UConn stacks up relative to the elite teams such as Baylor. After UConn played the Lady Bears on January 9, a number of posters observed that Baylor’s size, physicality, conditioning, and depth were important factors in the defending national champions’ win over the Huskies. Here is a sample of posters/posts: soxfan23, Checkmate 2.0, Sluconn Husky, BostonBay, Triad, willtalk, browns.

To UConn’s credit, the Huskies stayed within a point of Baylor until about the last five-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter, an achievement that is even more impressive when one considers that the Huskies were essentially playing 3 on 5. But then Baylor pulled away from the tired Huskies, to a decisive 16-point victory.

It will be interesting to see how the Huskies perform against other top teams such as Oregon and South Carolina.

Your original post stated: the Huskies have struggled in the fourth quarter of some games, most notably in the Baylor game. When the UCONN team holds the Lady Vols to 14 points in the second half of a game you dismiss that because UCONN was "expected to win". Fine! I don't suppose we'll hear from you again until February 11-after the South Carolina game?

 

[Cedar]

Your original post stated: the Huskies have struggled in the fourth quarter of some games, most notably in the Baylor game. When the UCONN team holds the Lady Vols to 14 points in the second half of a game you dismiss that because UCONN was "expected to win". Fine! I don't suppose we'll hear from you again until February 11-after the South Carolina game?

Perhaps I could have been clearer, but I think you misinterpreted my remarks. As I mentioned, it was great to see UConn’s stingy defense in the second half against the Lady Vols. I didn’t dismiss the Huskies’ performance, rather, my intention was to put it into context. The Lady Vols are ranked #23—they are clearly not at the level of Baylor, Oregon, or South Carolina. If the Huskies play excellent defense (and offense) in their upcoming games against Oregon and South Carolina, I will be very pleased.

Just to keep you happy, I’ll try to contribute to the board before the South Carolina game.