Damn. Let the 2nd guessing begin

[Charliebball]

But you're not Megan. Not to put too fine a point on it but what exactly is the relevance of you projecting your thoughts and your feelings on to an 18-year-old kid you don't know and about relationships you know nothing about?

So you don't think it's reasonable to assume she's not pleased with her freshman year? Geno has already made his thoughts plain in words and actions so my feelings represent a pretty likely viewpoint.........I didn't say what she's going to do about it..............now that that would be total conjecture on my part........

 

[WLT1717]

I have to say I was disappointed in Samuelson down the stretch. Yes, she was in foul trouble so she was limited on defense but as one of the best players in the country and the best offensive player on our team she disappeared in key moments. And if you can’t defend wel with four fouls, then you have to make your impact on the offensive end otherwise you’re basically a liability for the team. ND played great perimeter defense, but KLS was not looking for her shot at all—when she got the ball she looked to immediately pass it. One of the key developments for her this year has been her ability to penetrate defenses better and score inside to make her more versatile and difficult to guard, but I saw little if any of that tonight.

It’s natural to blame bad calls, but they went both ways and UConn simply was not aggressive enough. From a coaching standpoint, I disagree with leaving Stevens on the bench to start the second half and some defensive choices in the second half, but you have to hand it to ND for the tenacious way they played. Their aggressive drives to the basket and throwing up shots while getting fouled gave me nausea-inducing PTSD from similar drives years ago by players like Natalie Novosel. When ND got to the free throw line every other possession and made almost all their shots, it’s hard to consistently have to score make up for that 2 point deficit every possession. We had key chances down the stretch, but this team honestly never consistently played with the hunger that I expected them to given last year’s ending.

I do expect our team next year to be in the mix with improved play from KLS, Stevens, and Dangerfield (and hopefully Walker as well, but to be honest our weak conference does not build our mental toughness the way it has in years past and there are several teams on the rise. I expect Geno and the team to respond in kind. Until next year...hats off to Gabby and Kia for a truly fantastic four years—they are great women and incredible players who played with class and humility. I wish it had ended different for them, but no one can take away their two titles and the plethora of accomplishments they racked up over the years.

Many astute observations here, none the least of which is the evaluation of KLS’ performance.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I wonder when Tonyc is going to give his analysis on the ND-UConn game? I know he was confidence (like he always is) that UConn was going to win the game, so the outcome has to be a shock to him.

a video like Margo's would be great

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

After the loss I'm left with some questions.
1. Why didn't Azura start the 3rd period after being such a major part of the 2nd period comeback?
2. Why our G's didn't drive to the hoop as they did all season?
3. Why for the 2nd time in FF semi's we came out so flat? Geno and staff have to go back to the drawing board for that one!
4. Why our defense wasn't as shutdown tough as it was for the rest of the season?
5. Why do we use lazy passes across the court that were easily picked off instead of the razor sharp passes we used previously?
I don't know if I'll get the answers to those 5?

 

[Charliebball]

After the loss I'm left with some questions.
1. Why didn't Azura start the 3rd period after being such a major part of the 2nd period comeback?
2. Why our G's didn't drive to the hoop as they did all season?
3. Why for the 2nd time in FF semi's we came out so flat? Geno and staff have to go back to the drawing board for that one!
4. Why our defense wasn't as shutdown tough as it was for the rest of the season?
5. Why do we use lazy passes across the court that were easily picked off instead of the razor sharp passes we used previously?
I don't know if I'll get the answers to those 5?

maybe just maybe Notre Dame had something to do with how UConn played?

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

maybe just maybe Notre Dame had something to do with how UConn played?

Charliebball- - -the 5 things I named above had little to do with ND!
1. ND didn't convince Geno to start Crystal Dangerfield over Azura in the 3rd period
2. Our G's weren't as aggressive as usual, driving to the hoop for layups or dishing out for 3's. UCONN was content staying outside and shooting long 2's & 3's that didn't fall! Thereby not drawing fouls where they only went to the line 6 times to ND's 20+
3. We started the game as flat as a board, no spirit, no fire, ND didn't cause that, and UCONN got down early because of it
4. Because we played without emotion we didn't switch on defense as quickly as we usually do
5. The players threw lazy/slow passes and they are famous for their crisp and direct passes that beats the defensive movement
These 5 are UCONN traits that usually start UCONN off on a roll that the opponent usually doesn't recover from

 

[Charliebball]

Charliebball- - -the 5 things I named above had little to do with ND!
1. ND didn't convince Geno to start Crystal Dangerfield over Azura in the 3rd period
2. Our G's weren't as aggressive as usual, driving to the hoop for layups or dishing out for 3's. UCONN was content staying outside and shooting long 2's & 3's that didn't fall! Thereby not drawing fouls where they only went to the line 6 times to ND's 20+
3. We started the game as flat as a board, no spirit, no fire, ND didn't cause that, and UCONN got down early because of it
4. Because we played without emotion we didn't switch on defense as quickly as we usually do
5. The players threw lazy/slow passes and they are famous for their crisp and direct passes that beats the defensive movement
These 5 are UCONN traits that usually start UCONN off on a roll that the opponent usually doesn't recover from

well #2 sure had something to do with ND........they defended UConn with gusto forcing them to pass well outside of their normal area and for the most part prevented Gabby and others from slashing to the basket limiting defensive fouls............when something works for UConn in every game this season and then it doesn't there's got to be a reason more then just choking...........gotta give credit where credit is due

 

[CocoHusky]

I wonder when Tonyc is going to give his analysis on the ND-UConn game? I know he was confidence (like he always is) that UConn was going to win the game, so the outcome has to be a shock to him.

How did we Loose??????

 

[Charliebball]

How did we Loose??????

I think that should really be LOSE..........I always screw that one up myself

 

[Bronx23]

I guess KLS has another year to be Stewie-ish

As one of KLS's biggest fans, I now doubt she will ever be Stewie-ish. I do think she will go home this summer and bust her butt again and make another big leap in aspects of her game.
The reason I am now skeptical about her reaching or even being close to the Big Three, is her emotional makeup and this is not a criticism of it as she is truly a remarkable young woman. She plays hard all the time; plays hurt; is an amazing teammate even at her most difficult moments; she's constantly working to improve and has done so a huge amount; she's so well spoken any time she's asked a question or at a presser. So what am I alluding to? It's that will / drive to when necessary take over the game / control the ball and make things happen whether it be a shot, a pass, a rebound, a steal. It means not relying on their offensive system throughout or regardless of what's happening. She tends to remain within the system and at times gets lost,
Yes she had four fouls which clearly limited her abilities defensively. But when it makes her so tentative offensively as well, she isn't bringing much to the table. The type of player I'm hoping she can be, remains aggressive offensively. If they get a charge call against them and foul out, so be it. Yes they need her presence offensively on the floor which is why she plays almost every minute and is the last one subbed for. But her play after her fourth foul did not help the team at all.
Again she's a superb player, person and teammate. I'd be proud to be her parents, sibling, coach. If she desires to improve in the manner I am talking about it is a mindset and an emotional / psychological adjustment that's probably harder than any of the enormous physical work she already has and I am confident she will continue to put in. This is not even necessarily the right or even the best thing for her. It only is if she wants to be an all time U Conn and maybe even wbb
great. She has yet to be able to play in a national championship game and only has one year left. She or someone needs to be or become that person, or we may not win another championship until one appears.
Bronx23

 

[Kevin G]

The fouls calls drove me crazy! 23 shots for ND to 6 for UCONN...

I HATE HATE HATE making excuses for a loss. I think this FT difference is a huge difference but so are all the bad/rushed shots we took, turnovers, and the lack of putting teams away with a lead (like the old UCONN teams). This team lacks that killer instinct to say....NO not getting back in this game.

We lost. I am proud of these young women. UCONN is still the #1 team and program in the nation. We will always be the team to beat for years to come thanks to Geno and his wonderful coaches who go out and recruit amazing talented young women.

GO UCONN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bronx23]

when the number one player high school player in the country can barely see the floor that's worth talking about..Geno treated her like a puppet on a string.....the minute she made a mistake she was pulled with no idea when she would get back in a game...from my perspective it led to an up and down season for a player that could have been so much more helpful to the team in a game like last night......I'm sure I could find many freshmen that played in meaningful games for their teams who learned a lot and are ready to go next season.....if I were Walker I simply wouldn't know what to think about the future at UConn......

Yes MW would have played and accomplished a lot more at most other schools. But this is not some other school, it's U Conn and it's not some other coach, it's Geno.
What drives me nuts here is everyone loves and wants the excellence, the culture, everything that thirty plus years of success brings but then they want Geno, CD and the other coaches to essentially pamper or make special rules and exceptions for certain players. You either get one or you get the other. It is or should be damn clear that you follow the rules, expectations, efforts or you don't play. If you can't then this isn't the place for you to thrive.
Yes, anyone can be critiqued and criticized, and should be but this issue which I hear over and over and over again about MW and occasional other players, just doesn't make sense.
Geno I feel got out coached in both the last two semifinals and actually may well have cost his team the game. Especially regarding staying so long with CD and the smaller lineup when it was as clear as day, that AZ and the zone was what brought them back into the game and then an 11 point lead which became 7 at half time. He also doesn't seem to have his teams well prepared for overtime games as the record is so darn stark.
I won't now go on and on, but the MW talk (which I'm sure won't stop) and how he hampered her development is not anywhere near the major problem.
Again, this was a great team and season and for the second year in a row they lost to a team almost everyone thought they should beat. Some of course is in the players but the head of the ship , sure gets much of the credit and then deserved much of the blame. And yes, ND deserves a huge amount of credit for there following MM's game plan and even after losing two five point leads in regulation and in overtime still did what they needed to do. The credit for that goes to MM and the players.
Bronx23

 

[ttizzle999]

Many astute observations here, none the least of which is the evaluation of KLS’ performance.

Care to elaborate? KLS seems to be the media darling and fan favorite, and she’s a killer shooter don’t get me wrong, but I made a point that she disappeared down the stretch in key moments and wasn’t looking for her shot as the team’s best offensive player and one of the best in the country. I’m not sure what wasn’t astute or inaccurate about that observation but your rebuttal leaves something to desire, i.e. an actual argument.

 

[WLT1717]

Care to elaborate? KLS seems to be the media darling and fan favorite, and she’s a killer shooter don’t get me wrong, but I made a point that she disappeared down the stretch in key moments and wasn’t looking for her shot as the team’s best offensive player and one of the best in the country. I’m not sure what wasn’t astute or inaccurate about that observation but your rebuttal leaves something to desire, i.e. an actual argument.

Perhaps you misunderstood. I agreed with your comments, labeling them "astute". Happy Easter.

 

[ttizzle999]

Perhaps you misunderstood. I agreed with your comments, labeling them "astute". Happy Easter.

Whoops I completely misread that thanks for the compliments. Happy Easter to you too!