I never said "a bust" nor would I. The call have always been for improvement. Specifically for ONO to get stronger, avoid silly perimeter fouls when hedging and setting screens, to stop chopping down when blocking shots, to finish at the basket more consistently through contact, and to be an impact player in meaningful UCONN games. Have you seen an improvement in any of these areas of her game?
That is way too much pressure to put on one kid IMO. If this team were to win a national Championship next year several things will have gone right for the team. UCONN is also bringing in the #1 recruiting class and another "generational" player. This team needed better post play -improve post play could just as easily come from an improved AE or ONO or the new additions of Amari of DJ.
Azura Stevens "helped our chemistry in the past." It's a shame we only got a year of her service (she marinated on the bench for a year), but she was a big plus. However, most transfers to UConn have not been particularly helpful.
she's greatly improved as a high post passer/screener, her fouling on attempted shot blocks is somewhat better, and her mid range shot which she really only showcased this season is improving though not consistent.........the one area where everybody agrees she needs to step up is in those big games.........so I guess the coach has two choices, he can bench her in those games and loose her going forward or preferably he shows confidence in her and she pulls a Christyn Williams and snaps out of it.........I think she has all the talent necessary to play in the WNBA......... now if she'd only agree with me then perhaps we'll see it next season........BTW the addition of DJ may in fact help ONO as a motivating factor in practice which hopefully will lead to additional improvement in games.....
Thank you for your voice of reason.
Natalie Butler, Batouly Camara and Evina Westbrook buy all accounts were great "chemistry" additions to UCONN. In fact I struggle to think of any UCONN recruit or transfer that has had "chemistry" issues because it is such an integral part of the vetting process for the program. I anticipate ZERO chemistry issues for DJ.
One thing we know for sure, the addition of Dorka will work itself out, it may not work out the way members of the BY, fans or all team members want it to. I trust that what is best for the team is what Geno will provide. We know that talent will prevail, the most gifted team players will get the most pt. I believe Geno will be fair and as always let the players talent dictate who starts, rotations and ultimately playing time.
That would be a positive byproduct but it's Occam's Razor. He brought in Dorka because the status quo down low wasn't good enough.
Here is some insight into Geno relative to your point from 15 years ago.
www.courant.com
It was necessary for tourney time. Deberry is going to be good but underclassmen get nervous and tentative in big games so you need more mature seasoned college players on the team too. Dorka serves that role along with Liv. Aaliyah showed her nerves in the tourney. If I was Geno, I wouldnt want to have to depend on a freshman Deberry to get a championship. I'd want freshman contributions to be a bonus if you get it. Aaliyah is great and will be an anchor next year as a sophomore but her freshman came out in this year's tourney in addition to Liv's drama. I still can't believe why there is still a debate about whether Dorka is a good move. Wake up folks. The new norm with transfer rules just changed the fundamentals of the game moving forward and Geno recognizes it and he is stacking his roster in reaction to it. Smart!
???? She was an example of just the opposite! Collier had her second worst season that year (freshman being worst), and Stevens was a major reason why. Stevens joined a roster that exceeded expectations the year before, having just lost the Big Three. Her presence led pundits to consider us heavy favorites, unlike the year before. That roster had five starters besides Stevens that are all doing well in the pros now, yet we lost to a depleted Notre Dame. Stevens was a good talent, but to say she helped the chemistry, the way the team played or did not play to their potential, just does not jive with the evidence.
Mouth guard
Everything stated is all so right and reasonable. I really don't see the negatives of bringing in DJ. She'll have negative impact on the guards and wings. The impact she'll have, and that's over the course of 2 years if she stays that long, is on the posts Liv, AE, Amari, and Piath. From what everyone can see, Piath is still a project, so that leaves just AE, Liv, and Amari. Liv and Amari seem to be (and with Amari that really is seem to be) high post players that will work better as passers and screeners. DJ works really well under the basket and in the high post, as well as shooting as the opposite in the triangle. Now who here hasn't noted that both Liv and AE have trouble staying on the court because of fouls? With DJ Geno has just purchased insurance, keeping two bigs in the game when Liv or AE sits, and he'll always have a post presence in the game and loads of flexibility. Amari is a freshman, and we've yet to know how raw or how well she adapts to Geno's system. What's the down side in this?
Often, podcasters and journalists need to be outrageous in order to attract any readers. That has to be the case here. There is no argument against acquiring the Ohio State talent that makes sense.,
I’d say it’s a big part of the reason. For the last two years GA’s had no experienced inside depth and there’s been no threat to Ono’s PT other than foul trouble. She’s been at least 80% of his interior defense and he knew without her they weren’t getting past the 2nd round of the tournament. All he could do was encourage her and hope she’d improve. Now he’s got depth and he’s ready to go, with or without her. I don’t see her changing much at all before this fall but at least GA has alternatives now with DJ and Edwards’ development plus possibly some help from DeBerry.
Geno may hope that a byproduct of bringing in DJ is a motivating factor for certain players but that’s not why she’s here. And, it doesn’t say much of a coach who would need to do it.
Do you know "those guys" ?
I believe that he championed Heliocentric theory (Sun at center of solar system). Earth as round was well appreciated among the academic class from Greek antiquity but may have been degraded during the Dark Ages.
Sir Isaac Newton
Dude named Galileo. Sentenced to the dungeon due to the intolerance of the new view by the Church. Play about it by Bertolt Brecht.