Disturbing tendencies

[trisailin]

I might recommend that people refer to the first few games of any WNBA team each season. Those first several games are NOT pretty basketball by any stretch of the imagination. And while those players are arguably a group of 12 out of the top 200 players in the WORLD, it still takes time to get pretty basketball. And I'd suggest, it takes longer with college kids than it does with Professionals.

 

[chrissaran]

If decisions are made on practice performance, then why can't Molly perform during the game? We know Andra can. Where are you Katie Lou? Napheesa, you need to get your mojo back.

 

[JoePgh]

Geno surely doesn't share your complacency. The slight worry is that 3 starters had to play 34 to 36 minutes(Z played 31 b/c of fouls) against a team like Nevada.

"Had to play"??? UConn won the game by 31 points, after all. I think it would be more accurate to say that Geno chose to play his starters for that length of time because he expected that they would have to play that much against Notre Dame, and because he wanted to see for himself how they would do under that level of fatigue. And the answer was that their play did deteriorate in the second half. Now, not only does he know that, but so do they. So that will have to be worked on, and it will be.

Before long (though maybe not by the time of the ND game), KLS and Batouly will be available, and the depth problem will diminish markedly. So what we saw last night (and what we may see on Sunday) is a "stress test", which revealed that stress had some negative effects that are undeniable.

I saw some uncharacteristic mistakes from the core players against Nevada, but I also saw some really good plays. And I saw Kia Nurse stepping up when the going was tough and hitting an amazing number of shots. She may not do that on Sunday, but probably someone else (Napheesa?) will be the hero of that game. I also saw Azura playing her position the way UConn needs her to play it, not flawlessly but well enough so that Muffitt is probably sweating about how to stop her.

 

[Sven18]

"Had to play"??? UConn won the game by 31 points, after all. I think it would be more accurate to say that Geno chose to play his starters for that length of time because he expected that they would have to play that much against Notre Dame, and because he wanted to see for himself how they would do under that level of fatigue. And the answer was that their play did deteriorate in the second half. Now, not only does he know that, but so do they. So that will have to be worked on, and it will be.

Before long (though maybe not be the time of the ND game), KLS and Batouly will be available, and the depth problem will diminish markedly. So what we saw last night (and what we may see on Sunday) is a "stress test", which revealed that stress had some negative effects that are undeniable.

I saw some uncharacteristic mistakes from the core players against Nevada, but I also saw some really good plays. And I saw Kia Nurse stepping up when the going was tough and hitting an amazing number of shots. She may not do that on Sunday, but probably someone else (Napheesa?) will be the hero of that game. I also saw Azura playing her position the way UConn needs her to play it, not flawlessly but well enough so that Muffitt is probably sweating about how to stop her.

The game was hovering around 20 most of the 2nd half playing the starters. They won the half by just 4 points. Geno's look most of the game was not good, he looked disgusted on them not doing things right and he knows his bench will do it worse. If Geno played the bench significant minutes the lead would have gone done rapidly. The notion it was a test of fatigue or stress test is just bizarre. Geno had all of them but Z last year and he knows how they play when tired b/c they did it last year. It's part of why they lost to Miss St. If Geno had confidence in the bench he would not have played the starters 34-36 minutes on the end of a long trip. He does not have belief in the bench and they are doing nothing really to change that.

 

[bags27]

• Geno chose to play his starters for that length of time because he expected that they would have to play that much against Notre Dame, and because he wanted to see for himself how they would do under that level of fatigue.
• I also saw Azura playing her position the way UConn needs her to play it, not flawlessly but well enough so that Muffitt is probably sweating about how to stop her.

+1

 

[oldude]

Lots of speculation on why Geno did what he did during the Nevada game, and I certainly don't have any greater insight into Geno's mindset than anyone else, but quite frankly, he looked tired last night. I don't know about everyone else, but if I was traveling around to multiple locations over 10 days, sleeping in hotel beds, trying to prepare for games on the fly, etc., I would be down right exhausted. Dare I say that Geno might not have been quite as sharp last night because he's 63 and he was fatigued?

 

[Golden Husky]

I 100% concur with many of the sentiments heretofore expressed on this thread. Being a fan of UConn WBB is even beginning to exact a toll on my personal life. For example, for the first 54 years of my marriage, my wife and I never had so much as an argument...not one! Now, with all this sloppy second half play, though she usually dozes off at halftime with another victory long-since secured, whenever I jostle her awake to express my justifiable frustration that the lead has slipped to under thirty, she, uncharacteristically, snaps at me. I mainly blame Megan Walker for this, though there are others who bear culpability. This must be cleaned up, and pronto!!

What's wrong with you? The Marriage Manual clearly states not to awaken your wife until the lead shrinks to under 20 and to do so, not with a jostle but with an offer to refill her wine glass. What's more, I warned you not to buy a TV.

 

[Blue Huskie]

More and more chicken littles show up every season it seems.

 

[my2cents]

One thing I meant to add to my original post is that I think it's too critical to say the bench is non existent as they play like "deer in the headlights". The freshmen are playing like... well... freshmen. That's because they are. Kyla and Molly are doing the absolute best they can and contribute to the best of their abilities, including being great teammates and mentors to the younger kids. UCONN has pretty much played a murder's row schedule thus far (Nevada was the only unranked team thus far - I thought MSU was ranked at the time we played them)... That's a brutal schedule against really good quality so it's not surprising the bench/freshmen saw limited time... I fully expect to see much more of them as the season progresses... giving them a chance to shine and our main players a chance to rest.

Lets be honest here. This team will go the final four for the 19th time. We really are only talking about whether we win our 12th national title.
Any observations about where we can improve, are met with negativity coming back at you.
So when Nevada's bench outscores us 16-5, its my observation that Geno will not be pleased with his bench players. I do not name any names as that is not fair to these young student athletes. However, lack of development by the bench could put numero 12 at risk with starters' foul trouble or God forbid injuries.

 

[paisan]

This team has not played 4 solid quarters yet. The bench play has been awful. No improvement from Molly n Kyla ...not much from freshmen..I believe all u have to do is look at Geno s patterns of players to see his displeasure with the team. Also I do not see the fire and grit and toughness from pheesa and gabby..I am shocked to be saying that about those two? I hope that they can find it???

 

[Blue Huskie]

This team has not played 4 solid quarters yet. The bench play has been awful. No improvement from Molly n Kyla ...not much from freshmen..I believe all u have to do is look at Geno s patterns of players to see his displeasure with the team. Also I do not see the fire and grit and toughness from pheesa and gabby..I am shocked to be saying that about those two? I hope that they can find it???

We ARE really terrible aren't we

 

[bags27]

Is this entire thread one giant troll? Or maybe it's a very bad and early April Fools joke? In every poll, UConn is the unanimous #1 team in the country. If you look on other boards, posters believe (rightly or wrongly) that the season is effectively over. No other top team's board expresses anything close to this anguish. They are hopeful for their team, while resigned to UConn's dominance. Only Boneyarders are in such despair over their own team. Are we just so bored by excellence; is that it? Or is it that some posters just don't really know how hard this game is to play, day in and night out at such a high level of expected excellence? Actually, as I think on it, I do just think there are trolls here, because no one can be that ignorant of the challenges of basketball.

 

[Stinger92860]

This team has not played 4 solid quarters yet. The bench play has been awful. No improvement from Molly n Kyla ...not much from freshmen..I believe all u have to do is look at Geno s patterns of players to see his displeasure with the team. Also I do not see the fire and grit and toughness from pheesa and gabby..I am shocked to be saying that about those two? I hope that they can find it???

We are doomed! No grit and fire from Gabby? Which game are you talking about?

 

[huskeynut]

I hate to say it, but this tread is the result of spoiled fans.

We can't wait for the "perfection" to set in. We don't want a work in progress. We want it all - right now. Last year we started out with a nail biter and just beat FSU. But that was ok. Look at who we graduated. Then another close one. Fans predicted we could lose maybe 5 or 6 games. After 6 games the train was rolling! We were so good, the offense was clicking, the defense was smothering. The talk of loosing games disappeared.

This team will be fine. The offense will not operate smoothly until Lou is back in full form and the rotation of 6 to 7 to 8 players is established. And the talk of Geno being / looking disinterested. REALLY!!!!!!!!

 

[JavaMan]

What @JRRRJ said in another thread. And said well as far as I'm concerned.

...
When I left the arena last nite, I was pretty unsettled. I go to see the women create beautiful basketball and I'm rarely disappointed. But, running through the game in my head as I was falling asleep, I saw some things I missed at the game because I was looking for the ad hoc choreography we'll no doubt see later in the year.

To wit:

• Geno had the team in zone for a lot of the game, which doesn't happen often. And the ladies' discomfort with that was evident, as was their friquent miscues.
• Geno had the team walk the ball up to the offensive end most of the time. Also not their usual style.
• There was a new offense in evidence, with the perimeter players not always certain about where the interior players were going to be.
• It also seemed that Napheesa was under orders to take more perimeter shots.
  
• Gabby was not herself. I watched in wonder as -- twice -- she was the last one back on defense. Obviously under the weather.

I did not miss that UNR played tenacious, unrelenting defense and ran their offense most of the time.

So, it was obvious that Geno was using this game to try things with the team. It's deep but unseasoned except for the starters and it seems he's looking to see what they can produce in different configurations. Don't forget, Geno doesn't consider it a crisis if the team loses a non-tournament game -- as many fans do -- he's pointing toward the post-season.

Originally, I thought that Kia was my player of the game because her points were most of the MOV and I was amazed at her confidence in the 3s, but, looking at the stats as I entered them, I realized she'd have to share with Azura, who really filled up her stat line and was the reason the team's A/TO ration was greater than 1.

Happy that Kyla got some tough game time, a rebound and an assist in the first 90 seconds on the floor played pretty good defense, passed well, and ended up with 5 points on unforced shots. With Batouly needing time to get into the swing of game play, it's good to have another forward available who's contributing.

 

[Eggman]

After the 5--adding Z, a needed post, and then Walker, AEH ---the chemistry developed last year--requires Geno to fill the vials from different beakers. With Katie Lou out --the defensive and offensive --mix loses it's typical characteristics and the adjustments adds confusion factors the team needs time to get into the Chemistry.
Z while mobile, isn't as athletic as KLS or as Familiar with the lob or catching a pass on the run, it's coming.

I've seen a number of passes Azure has saved from going out of bounds under the basket bent over backward and made a layup, saving a teammate from a turnover. The only problem i have with Azure so far is to many 3's.

 

[dtbtbtb]

Truth to be told is that we are spoiled rotten fans as we expect UConn to perform a concert every game as such, watching this game was disappointing to me...all respect to NV, their coach and hard working kids but UConn "should" win games like this by 50...what's troubling for me is that is a team like NV can basically play UConn to a stand still in the second half it showed a vulnerability in the aura of UConn and the intimidation factor...hopefully Geno can find some solutions (I'm sure that having KLS will help but how long will it take her to get back to top playing shape)!

 

[HuskyNan]

What @JRRRJ said in another thread. And said well as far as I'm concerned.

JR should know that it was Gabby's home game. Players are rarely "themselves" when playing in front of all their family and friends.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Uconn had a tough time in beating a team by 30? There was some sloppy play at times, but the game was never in doudt. Some are concerned about Notre Dame. I think UCLA is just as good as Notre Dame and UCONN beat them at their place. The Notre Dame game is a UCONN home game. Some are complaining about the defense and that has been a strong point this season. A lot of opinions on this board are formed after things that happened in one game. Some are asking why AEH did not play. I thought decisions on who plays are made at practice. Well, it's tough being UCONN fan.

19 points ?? The Nevada team battled back, with the starting five. Uconn was NEVER in danger of losing, make no mistake.\You are biting on the cupcake. Stale; because they are a bit harder than fresh. I didn't and don't think of Nevada as a cupcake. Had they been the garden variety of Cupcakes--50 point wins are easy. Lots of factors not winning by 50 or 30.
You know them as well as I, no point in listing them.
My comment was a play on the words presented: Cupcake.
I didn't question the absence or presence of any Uconn player. AEH, from the limited time seen has potential. Z from the time seen, is improving--if she were "there" I believe Geno would have rested her. These previous games including Nevada, I believe Geno is working Z into the line up--start some time--sometimes another start--he has the tools to rotate starters, he is teaching in these games. \
If you think it's tough being a UConn fan--try being a MD, Duke, etc fan--our greatest angst --is will the score be 19, 40 , or 60 and win the MOV contest.

 

[BroadwayVa]

This seems to be a yearly BY outcry regardless of how well the team is playing. Remember (post Stanford) when UCONN's "Achilles heal" was quick penetrating guards? Remember when Mabrey lit us up for a half & UCONN's "Achilles heal" changed to not being able to defend 3 point line. Remember just this past summer where Geno can't win a close game or recruit a good post player? The beat goes on.....

(
The Uconn weakness of defending quick penetrating guards didn't begin or end with Stanford, it goes back a bit past the Stanford streak breaker. In that game, Stanford's guard(s) created enough issues to aid in the loss. Then Fast forward Dayton aided by great 3 shooting and penetration, but a win. The real cause of the Stanford loss was Saniya--she only got 20 points--24 and it's a Uconn win.

I think the greatest complaint was Geno doesn't win in OT---Notre Dame--(Muffet has Geno's number)-series, 3OT's, and of Course the BIG ONE---Mississippi St's drubbing of Geno's Uconn--in OT. (only one this time)

 

[BroadwayVa]

I was one of those misguided soles that felt Nevada might be a cupcake, but they got my attention after beating SMU. While the Mustangs are middle of the pack in the AAC, under Travis Mays they’re building a competitive program that’s on an upward trajectory. I would not be surprised to see Nevada in the Big Dance this year.

Opinions after a win , close, or loss are just opinions, if they were facts---Geno would be out of a job.
The reason these boards exist is to allow experts, knowledgeables, ignorants and just plain fans to express themselves about their team. No harm no foul, and if it works right all have fun. (

 

[eebmg]

Disturbing Tendencies? Over critical impatient fans?

 

[BroadwayVa]

I've seen a number of passes Azure has saved from going out of bounds under the basket bent over backward and made a layup, saving a teammate from a turnover. The only problem i have with Azure so far is to many 3's.

Would that really bother you if she made 70 percent of them? She is settling into the Uconn chemistry and Geno is working to get what he expects from her. No a pleasant place to me for a hard working dedicated kid.

 

[cabbie191]

The Reno newspaper account of the game highlighted Gabby’s performance - not a surprise, of course. But they also mentioned something that I haven’t read elsewhere: that she was playing while not feeling well.

There’s plenty of sickness where I work and I imagine elsewhere. So perhaps some of the Huskies were feeling even more of the effects of being on such a long road trip?

 

[Blue Huskie]

Disturbing Tendencies?

Disturbing Tendencies? Over critical impatient fans?

Exactly. It's insane. The only disturding tendency is that more and more are negative. A sign of the times in everyday life perhaps spilling over?

 

[baggerbob]

I've seen a number of passes Azure has saved from going out of bounds under the basket bent over backward and made a layup, saving a teammate from a turnover. The only problem i have with Azure so far is to many 3's.

Stewie had, and still has times when she can't hit a 3 pt shot, but she keeps shooting, it opens up her overall game. Z needs to keep that part of her game, to keep other teams aware, so she has the opportunity to drive.

 

[tomcat]

What would have to happen, every game, for threads like this not to pop up periodically ?
Would the Huskies have to duplicate their first half margin (currently about 24 points per game against a very tough schedule) in the second half ?
That would result in 50 point wins against top 20 teams.
Would that do it ?

Well, since I started this, I probably should at least take a stab at an answer. We, all of us, are spoiled. We are used to a certain level of play, and we are used to seeing players push to achieve the unachievable -- perfection. Over the last two years, IIRC, BYers have come to agree that a major reason we like watching the team even when they win by 40 or 50 is because it's a sort of performance art. That the score is irrelevant, mostly, because what we want to see is a great level of play.

Well, they aren't at that level yet. That's really the main point I was making. And honestly, I think it's a normal thing to find that at least some observers are having this reaction. Not for years has this been a fan base that was simply happy with games that end 96-46, or whatever. We've tended to be folks who want to know HOW it happened, and to be assured that it happened because of a level of quality displayed by superior players coached superbly. I can speak for no one else, but for me, the margin isn't the point. The way they play is the point.

 

[HopJim]

Exactly. It's insane. The only disturding tendency is that more and more are negative. A sign of the times in everyday life perhaps spilling over?

Agree in part that many overreact. That being said, some minor tendencies that appear to be holdovers from last year that hurt in the Semi loss. Quick guards seem to be able to drive to basket for layups or kick outs for open 3's. In general, too many open 3's-Nevada proved that a good shooting team can score against UConn from behind the line. That being said, only 3-4 teams in US that have these skills and suspect after last year's loss Geno is working on this.

 

[CocoHusky]

Well, since I started this, I probably should at least take a stab at an answer. We, all of us, are spoiled. We are used to a certain level of play, and we are used to seeing players push to achieve the unachievable -- perfection. Over the last two years, IIRC, BYers have come to agree that a major reason we like watching the team even when they win by 40 or 50 is because it's a sort of performance art. That the score is irrelevant, mostly, because what we want to see is a great level of play.
Well, they aren't at that level yet. That's really the main point I was making. And honestly, I think it's a normal thing to find that at least some observers are having this reaction. Not for years has this been a fan base that was simply happy with games that end 96-46, or whatever. We've tended to be folks who want to know HOW it happened, and to be assured that it happened because of a level of quality displayed by superior players coached superbly. I can speak for no one else, but for me, the margin isn't the point. The way they play is the point.

Did I ever mention how much I hate instant coffee and can you guess why?
Try and enjoy the process of this team trying to achieve perfection instead of dwelling on the team not being perfect 6 games into the season.

 

[DaddyChoc]

the Notre Dame effect is kicking in