Courtney Moving Ahead of Saniya in Depth Chart? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Courtney Moving Ahead of Saniya in Depth Chart?

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boontonbomber said:
I'm glad that you mentioned that about Saniya. I was really bothered by Auriemma's comments. IMO, it's just not the kind of stuff to put out there for public consumption. CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD REMAIN BETWEEN COACH AND PLAYER. I can't remember him ever doing anything quite like that to a player.What on earth could she have done to precipitate such an a public "calling-out"? It was over the line. I see nothing to be gained by doing it, but do see that damage can be done.I felt terrible for Saniya.
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Charde Houston? Tina Charles?

He played Farris but he used to say to paraphrase "I can't always be playing 4 on 5 on offense." Referring to minute distribution.
 
I somewhat recalled him calling TC to task. I believe she answered the call.
 
Sonny44 said:
I've never seen that take charge resolve in her eyes. Maybe next year if she sheds her health issues.
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I think Saniya's demise was the Stanford game. She was the best pre-season practice player, started a few games early. She was our best player that game. KML was awful, so was Tuck, STewie, and Stokes. We lost, Saniya was benched. Her confidence must have felt like it got hit by a Mack truck. I don't think she has fully recovered.
 
Kia Stokes got the same treatment and she turned out ok
 
JoePgh said:
Did anyone notice that in today's game, Courtney Ekmark entered the game before Saniya Chong?

Did anyone watch the"All-Access" program and other SNY footage of practice and notice that Geno had far more negative comments (and filmed rebukes) concerning Saniya than any other player? And to me, it seemed that his comments about her were more serious -- not needling but actual criticism about whether she has earned the trust of her teammates and the coaches enough to play in critical games.

Regarding Courtney, I continue to notice what I have noticed all season -- she almost never makes a mental error. She is in the right place and makes the right decision. She his limited by her lack of speed and vertical leaping, but her 3-point shot is becoming more reliable, and she can make a contested layup.

The substitution pattern that seems to be in effect lately is a 7-player rotation while the game is competitive: the five starters plus Gabby and Napheesa. Leaving aside Pulido and Lawlor, the last three spots in the depth chart are occupied by Courtney, Natalie, and Saniya, and it looks increasingly like it will be in that order.
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There is no comparison comparing Courtney to a "healthy" Chong in physical basketball skills. A healthy Chong can do it all. Meagan said, during a broadcast, that she never saw a Uconn player who can switch hands off the dribble as well as she can. Then, throw in her speed and shooting. Time will tell, and I wish them both the best of luck.
 
hardcorehusky said:
Kia Stokes got the same treatment and she turned out ok
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You're right. But Kiah also played with a very short leash. And all people don't react the same way. Geno obviously doesn't trust Saniya. I don't know what goes on in practice, but 4 min. in the last game is harsh.
 
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I certainly didn't notice Chong being singled out in the All Access program, she may have been in the clips that SNY chose, but it didn't register to me, because in every clip I have ever seen of practice, he is riding someone mercilessly, and whether cameras are in the gym or not doesn't seem to effect his demeanor at all. The report from Lobo of him making Stewart run the same drill over and over and over - something like 12 repetitions until she final got a stop or a teammate missed a shot is the same thing. He doesn't treat anyone like a delicate flower, and neither do the other coaches - there is never 'we'll get it right next time'. If you can't handle it you transfer. If you can, you learn life lessons. And if he stops doing it to you, it means you are no longer worth his time and effort and maybe you should find a new interest in life.
 
wbfree said:
I think Saniya's demise was the Stanford game. She was the best pre-season practice player, started a few games early. She was our best player that game. KML was awful, so was Tuck, STewie, and Stokes. We lost, Saniya was benched. Her confidence must have felt like it got hit by a Mack truck. I don't think she has fully recovered.
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Not meaning to be contrary, but your comments got me going back (ugh!!) to re-watching the Stanford game (thanks a lot??). So, just to say that Stewie had a great game; she was certainly the best player on the court, even though she was being doubled and beaten up with impunity. Saniya had a terrific offensive game, but if you play the game to the bitter end you'll hear the announcers keep saying that Saniya was making a lot of defensive and mental mistakes (there were times when she looked like Lou did the first 6 weeks of this season--playing defense in the wrong zip code) and that Kia was a lot more effective on defense. Geno had Kia in when UConn had a lead close at the end (until she fouled out), so he had already made a judgment about their comparative strengths.

Subsequently, as KML recovered her health and shot, Morgan played herself into being Morgan after a year off, and Mo began demonstrating a solid 3 pointer, Kia's defense was clearly more important than Saniya's offense. I don't think Geno "blamed" Saniya for the loss (and I don't think you're suggesting that either), since he coached it in a way that acknowledged her strengths and weaknesses. If any single play lost that game for UConn, it was Kiah's decision to take that shot with a minute plus left in regulation after Geno signaled to run time.
 
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boontonbomber said:
I'm glad that you mentioned that about Saniya. I was really bothered by Auriemma's comments. IMO, it's just not the kind of stuff to put out there for public consumption. CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD REMAIN BETWEEN COACH AND PLAYER. I can't remember him ever doing anything quite like that to a player.What on earth could she have done to precipitate such an a public "calling-out"? It was over the line. I see nothing to be gained by doing it, but do see that damage can be done.I felt terrible for Saniya.
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and it doesn't help that posters take those comments and run with them for yearrrrrs... Geno get praise cause he has won 10 championships but that doesn't mean his techniques work for everyone. Since he has other talent he can say what he wants about any of his reserve players. I figured that out when he gave up on Charde when Maya came along. His behavior towards other humans isn't always nice but since he's where he is these days he can say/do whatever he wish. Not every coach has that luxury (if that's what you want to call it). Do have anything nice to say don't say anything at all (feeding your fans flame)
 
CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD REMAIN BETWEEN COACH AND PLAYER
and then there's that well-known Rebecca Lobo story, where he talks about in public what she assumed had been a confidential discussion. She concluded from that that Coach wasn't going to change; it was up to her to change....
 
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Rebecca, Saniya and whoever else are totally different people... and Im sure as "celebrities" now they can look back at it and chuckle while holding the mic for ESPN or SNY (Kara and Meghan)
 
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DaddyChoc said:
Rebecca, Saniya and whoever else are totally different people... and Im sure as "celebrities" now they can look back at it and chuckle while holding the mic for ESPN or SNY (Kara and Meghan)
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I agree on all counts. But obviously Rebecca was deeply hurt at the time, and I'm just reflecting that that's pretty much Geno's well-known style; recruits need to know that it could well happen to them. Geno called out De'Janae publicly about her academics....and then she transferred.
 
Monte said:
There is no comparison comparing Courtney to a "healthy" Chong in physical basketball skills. A healthy Chong can do it all. Meagan said, during a broadcast, that she never saw a Uconn player who can switch hands off the dribble as well as she can. Then, throw in her speed and shooting. Time will tell, and I wish them both the best of luck.
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What you say is quite true, and I think that explains why Geno makes harsh comments about Saniya and has not made them about Courtney, to my recollection. Courtney is doing everything she can with the body she was born with; Saniya is selling her talent far short.

Having said that, if you compare the two recently in terms of basketball productivity rather than basketball talent, there is also "no comparison", but the balance is reversed. Courtney is producing more in her minutes than Saniya is in hers. I replayed Saturday's Tulane game last night, and when Saniya did get in the game with about 2 minutes left, on the first defensive play she was guarding Tulane's best scorer (forget her name). That player cut to the basket and got a layup while Saniya's attention was elsewhere -- she was 10 feet away when the basket was scored. She can't blame that on her IT band injury. After all the flak that she has taken about her defense over the past two seasons, you would think that would be the last thing that she would let happen when she finally gets in a game.

At this point, if she finds herself at the end of the bench, she has nowhere to look but in the mirror for an explanation.
 
Saniya is inconsistent. That translates in Geno's world to a lack of trust. She's a great young person and I don't think anyone here was not at one time or another a rooter with high expectations. But expectations, unfulfilled over time, have to diminish, though dramatic turn arounds do occur in sports. Me, I'm going to focus on the stretch run at a historic goal and still wish for Saniya that she reaches her potential.
 
IMHO Why would Saniya return next year? She has 2NC's, and a possible 3rd, which she is/was a minor part of. After all, sitting on the bench and watching others play, especially underclassmen, jump past you on the depth chart is not fun, at least not from from my personal experience in recreational/intermural leagues. Can Saniya transfer to a smaller college, with a scholarship, sit out next year, rest her IT band, get her 4 year degree, and then return for her 5th year, having the new college pay for the masters degree and also have a fun year of playing with lots of time on the court before her college, and basketball career ends?
 
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bags27 said:
I agree on all counts. But obviously Rebecca was deeply hurt at the time, and I'm just reflecting that that's pretty much Geno's well-known style; recruits need to know that it could well happen to them. Geno called out De'Janae publicly about her academics....and then she transferred.
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He gets the players, he wins national championships, and his teams play like no other women's teams have ever played. And all of this could still be accomplished, IMO, without publicly calling out players. It's a part of his "style" that is ugly, and may have helped Tina, but didn't help Charde, and I think continues to hurt Saniya. It hurt Lobo, has hurt other players, and we really don't know if it has actually ever helped anyone.
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
Saniya is inconsistent. That translates in Geno's world to a lack of trust. She's a great young person and I don't think anyone here was not at one time or another a rooter with high expectations. But expectations, unfulfilled over time, have to diminish, though dramatic turn arounds do occur in sports. Me, I'm going to focus on the stretch run at a historic goal and still wish for Saniya that she reaches her potential.
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Saniya isn't inconsistent, she's in pain. The young lady is hurting- a lot. Give her time to heal, and then we'll see. Do you remember how Coach Geno has praised her work ethic? How much change he said he saw in her? He understands that it's day-to-day in terms of what her painful leg can take. Coach cuts her slack, and so should BY.
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
Saniya is inconsistent. That translates in Geno's world to a lack of trust. She's a great young person and I don't think anyone here was not at one time or another a rooter with high expectations. But expectations, unfulfilled over time, have to diminish, though dramatic turn arounds do occur in sports. Me, I'm going to focus on the stretch run at a historic goal and still wish for Saniya that she reaches her potential.
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Saniya isn't inconsistent, she's in pain. The young lady is hurting- a lot. Give her time to heal, and then we'll see. Do you remember how Coach Geno has praised her work ethic? How much change he said he saw in her? He understands that it's day-to-day in terms of what her painful leg can take. Coach cuts her slack, and so should BY.
 
boontonbomber said:
He gets the players, he wins national championships, and his teams play like no other women's teams have ever played. And all of this could still be accomplished, IMO, without publicly calling out players. It's a part of his "style" that is ugly, and may have helped Tina, but didn't help Charde, and I think continues to hurt Saniya. It hurt Lobo, has hurt other players, and we really don't know if it has actually ever helped anyone.
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For me, as a teacher, this is an incredibly important and stimulating point. I struggle constantly with what works better: the carrot or the stick; or, what is the teacher's moral responsibility to support or criticize. But teaching is different from coaching: I don't have a won-loss record or 10,000 fans watching my every class or social media commenting on every syllable I utter. And, of course, I can't morally or probably even legally, call out a student in front of others for academic issues.

But I do think Geno's style is by now so well known that potential recruits are well-advised to consider their feelings and inner resources before committing to UConn. Of course, not every 17 year old knows her true feelings and inner resources, which is why some do transfer and why others probably do graduate with bitter memories. But all in all, it's one legitimate way to run an athletic program--let it all out there publicly and survival of the fittest. Think of Bill Belichick and his BFF, Nick Saban.

Which is not to say that I don't share your deep sympathy for players who seem unable to deal with Geno's public criticisms. It's not the army and Geno isn't George Patton (although look what happened even to him!).
 
CTexpatinFL said:
IMHO Why would Saniya return next year? She has 2NC's, and a possible 3rd, which she is/was a minor part of. After all, sitting on the bench and watching others play, especially underclassmen, jump past you on the depth chart is not fun, at least not from from my personal experience in recreational/intermural leagues. Can Saniya transfer to a smaller college, with a scholarship, sit out next year, rest her IT band, get her 4 year degree, and then return for her 5th year, having the new college pay for the masters degree and also have a fun year of playing with lots of time on the court before her college, and basketball career ends?
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No!
 
As this discussion ensues, once again I think of the incomparable Red Auerbach. He made no bones about it -- "one set of rules for Russ and another set of rules for the rest of you."

What was a little bit subtle (he thought) was that he never criticized Russ or Cooz. I have Tommy Heinsohn on DVD explaining that Red considered them to be so completely driven that nothing need be said to motivate them. So, as Heinsohn tells it, he and Jim Luscotoff were "Red's whipping boys," innocent victims of Red's wrath, even when Russ or Cooz had it coming.

Such tactics worked for Red. Ditto for Geno's more recent version.;)
 
"Coach cuts her slack, and so should BY."

He cut her zero slack the other night. Negative comments while the camera was focused on her. I think one of two things is happening. Either he has given up on her or he is trying a different tack to motivate her.

"Saniya isn't inconsistent, she's in pain. The young lady is hurting- a lot"

She has probably been the most inconsistent player on the team for the last 3 years. If she is "hurting a lot and in pain", I don't think she would be playing.
 
So are we saying that Geno hasn't been able to develop Chong?

They're some former players that have bitter memories of there time in the program but the program continues to roll on.
 
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Beltway when it comes to guards Shea Ralph works with them...ie., Moriah giving Shea props at the end of the senior night game. Marissa and CD work with the post players... Geno just gets all the credit (good or bad).
 
boontonbomber said:
He gets the players, he wins national championships, and his teams play like no other women's teams have ever played. And all of this could still be accomplished, IMO, without publicly calling out players. It's a part of his "style" that is ugly, and may have helped Tina, but didn't help Charde, and I think continues to hurt Saniya. It hurt Lobo, has hurt other players, and we really don't know if it has actually ever helped anyone.
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Umm, yea we do. Just listen to the players talk about their time at UCONN. Very, very few complain about it. Yea, not always fun at the time, but looking back most are extremely grateful for their time at UCONN with Geno.
 
Kibitzer said:
As this discussion ensues, once again I think of the incomparable Red Auerbach. He made no bones about it -- "one set of rules for Russ and another set of rules for the rest of you."

What was a little bit subtle (he thought) was that he never criticized Russ or Cooz. I have Tommy Heinsohn on DVD explaining that Red considered them to be so completely driven that nothing need be said to motivate them. So, as Heinsohn tells it, he and Jim Luscotoff were "Red's whipping boys," innocent victims of Red's wrath, even when Russ or Cooz had it coming.

Such tactics worked for Red. Ditto for Geno's more recent version.;)
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An aside. I saw Heinsohn in person have probably his worst night as a pro. It was at old MSG but not against the Knicks. It was one of the old 4 team doubleheaders with the Knicks in the nightcap. Heinsohn was something like 0-15 and fouled out. Probably anxious to get to a bar.

That same game, big Clyde Lovellette was ending his career in Boston. Beer belly and all, he got into the game in the last few minutes. The NY fans egged him to shoot. Of course, he launches his patented deep set shot. Swish and the crowd goes wild.
 
@cohenzone. I remember Red describing a different Heinsohn game performance. Something like this:
"Tommy went 17 for 19."
"Wow! 17 baskets?"
"No. 19 touches, 17 shots."
"Oh."​

[Now someone is sure to transplant this conversation, change the names, and blog it somewhere to discredit some hotshot.]
 
Permit just one more. In Jerry Kramer's book he explained how Vince Lombardi inspired his players:

"[Coach Lombardi] treated us all the same. Like dogs."​
 
vtcwbuff said:
"Coach cuts her slack, and so should BY."

He cut her zero slack the other night. Negative comments while the camera was focused on her. I think one of two things is happening. Either he has given up on her or he is trying a different tack to motivate her.

"Saniya isn't inconsistent, she's in pain. The young lady is hurting- a lot"

She has probably been the most inconsistent player on the team for the last 3 years. If she is "hurting a lot and in pain", I don't think she would be playing.
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Very unfair. She was a freshman one year. And this year she's suffered through a very painful, chronic leg injury. Come on! I don't know whether you've been listening to Coach Geno very closely, or following UConn very closely. But the coach has been very complementary of Saniya, and he has backed that up by giving her lots of playing time. But sometimes she is in so much pain, she can't handle much time. And the coach has been very upfront about how she's trying to deal with that IT band injury. Let's stop piling on. She doesn't deserve it.
 
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