Do we have the horses to get back to the FF

[Bald Husky]

Well, of course we do. That is really optimistic, but since we have made it 15 out of the last 16 years, it's still a possibility.

I'm not going to go through line-ups, or rotation patterns as many of you, and me also, have offered to Geno in your posts.

By the end of next month, Azzi will be back, hopefully Aubrey will be back, and that is when Geno will get his line-up right, and his final rotation together for the BE schedule.

Right now, I don't know what our identity is, post play (has to improve), 3-point shooting team (also has to improve), running team, or how about a pressing team.

They have shown in the USC game that they can press and do a very good job at that. When the players are back, I am hoping that he will start pressing, because of our poor offensive performances lately (except Louisville) we will need more opportunities to score.

We haven't beaten a really good top 15 team during the regular season in about 3 years. These are the games that are nationally televised, and these are the games that are dragging down UConn's reputation.

During the BE games, he has to find a newer way to run his offence, to change something since we have the same offence for at least 10 years, maybe more. We don't always have the same personnel to run some of his sets. I think, no, I know we have enough of the players that we need to get the job done.

The question is, can Geno get them together to form the great team that they are capable of? The next month will have to be the "practice time" to form such a squad. BTW, I love Caroline, but I don't think we will ever see this girl on the floor again.

If they can't cure what she has by now, then it is probably too risky to put her out there and just pray nothing goes wrong. With the bad luck of this program the last few years, it will. A new season starts Sunday, and I will be there to see the demolition of the Friers.

During your Christmas dinner, raise a glass to our girls, and wish them a happy new year and a season for all of us to remember. Happy Holidays to my good friends on this Board.

 

[diggerfoot]

? So the offense with Wolters in the low post was the same as with Dolson in the high post? The same as the motion offense during the TASSK and Taurasi years? A particular characteristic of Auriemma, and strength, is how he adapts the offense to his players, not the other way around.

It would be more accurate to fault him for the wrong adaptation (I don’t, but still more accurate), than to fault him for not changing.

 

[CTBballfan243]

UConn will need everything to break their way perfectly to get back to the FF. Talent wise they’re a solid 2 seed. It will greatly depend on who the 1 seed is their bracket. If they end up the 2 seed in UCLA, ND, or South Carolina’s bracket then they will need a minor miracle.

 

[Bone Dog]

UConn will need everything to break their way perfectly to get back to the FF. Talent wise they’re a solid 2 seed. It will greatly depend on who the 1 seed is their bracket. If they end up the 2 seed in UCLA, ND, or South Carolina’s bracket then they will need a minor miracle.

Yes, without Azzi or Aubrey, they are a clear 2 seed. And who knows how those things will break for them this year. With Azzi and Aubrey, I think they’re a solid FF team.

 

[Tonyc]

If you look at the second half of the USC game we came back from 18 pts. That shows me what we are capable of. Juju was pretty much shut down. We made that comeback without height. Now Im not saying we dont need a big. We will especially against SC and if we face UCLA. We need to develop Jana and Ice and get them to score especially down low. Both have a pretty good outside shot too. Their development will take time and we have the BE schedule to work on that. Getting back to the second half of the USC game. We made that comeback without Azzi and Griff. Dont count out Allie or Q either. We need to bring them along. You saw 3 freshman on USC make play against us. We have been playing a tuff schedule early on. Most other top teams dont play as tuff of a schedule until they get into their conference games. I am confident we will be there in March.

 

[JellyBean]

First off, Merry Christmas everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying the day with family and friends. You pretty much answered your own question. Of course we have the horses to get back to the FF. Like you said, we have made it to 15/16 FF runs. We are 12 games into the season. I ain't to worry about what happens during November and December. Or if we go undefeated or lose a few games in December. I am worried what happens during Feb and March and if the players have improved, stayed the same, or went backwards. Right now, we got some studs out there. We have some solid players who understand their roles on the team. The key going forward will be how this roster of talented players develops, if they can stay healthy, and how they push and challenge each other to be one competitive unit.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

And beyond!

 

[Mandoo]

If you look at the second half of the USC game we came back from 18 pts. That shows me what we are capable of. Juju was pretty much shut down. We made that comeback without height. Now Im not saying we dont need a big. We will especially against SC and if we face UCLA. We need to develop Jana and Ice and get them to score especially down low. Both have a pretty good outside shot too. Their development will take time and we have the BE schedule to work on that. Getting back to the second half of the USC game. We made that comeback without Azzi and Griff. Dont count out Allie or Q either. We need to bring them along. You saw 3 freshman on USC make play against us. We have been playing a tuff schedule early on. Most other top teams dont play as tuff of a schedule until they get into their conference games. I am confident we will be there in March.

Teams laid off Nika because she would not shoot or shoot effectively. Does it appear now that they are laying off the 5's because they are reluctant to shoot and when they do, they shoot with stone fingers? It makes double/triple teaming far easier when teams don't have to worry about our having a functional center in the game. Stats from the USC game are simply dreadful. I'm amazed that neither center has played worth a hoot yet. It's like we have 2 Amari's that can't get it done. Can both 5's be that slow to get with it? Don't we have coaches that attend to those problems?

 

[ABCDFE]

Yes, but we are a National Championship contender only if Azzi is back to her old self. Otherwise.

Unfortunately, feel like this is every year for some time now. Hoping the stars align for us to have a healthy Azzi and Aubrey.

 

[Longtime fan]

Yes, but we are a National Championship contender only if Azzi is back to her old self. Otherwise.

Unfortunately, feel like this is every year for some time now. Hoping the stars align for us to have a healthy Azzi and Aubrey.

Having AZZI back in AA form will be a difference maker. But I don't think we can win it all unless something else happens; either one of ICE or Jana breaks out, or someone else breaks out ( ASH, KK, Morgan, Chen).

 

[Conndog]

They do have a Morgan horse on the team

 

[Bone Dog]

Having AZZI back in AA form will be a difference maker. But I don't think we can win it all unless something else happens; either one of ICE or Jana breaks out, or someone else breaks out ( ASH, KK, Morgan, Chen).

I don’t think it’s about one or another individual having a break out. It’s enough if Azzi and Aubrey come back strong and the others up their games incrementally. I don’t know what to say about Azzi and Aubrey — that‘s in the lap of the gods — but the rest looks to me to be more than likely.

And on a related subject, what would a good comeback for Azzi look like? We all know she has been able to drop 25+ on a given night against even ranked teams. But that’s not what success looks like to me. If she can regularly score in double figures and play solid D, and occasionally punish teams for keying too tightly on Paige and Sarah, she’ll have done enough. I’d say something similar about Aubrey: score 8-10 most nights, play solid D and grab a handful of rebounds every night.

 

[Stagnant]

The final four? Sure. Only like 8 teams are capable of making the final four.

Champions? I just don’t think we have enough in the interior to beat certain teams. It is like the year LSU won the championship. We just need to hang around in the tournament and hope someone else beats the unfavorable opponents for us.

 

[Bone Dog]

It is like the year LSU won the championship. We just need to hang around in the tournament and hope someone else beats the unfavorable opponents for us.

Interestingly, the team that beat the unfavorable opponent for LSU also lacked an interior presence.

 

[cohenzone]

UConn will need everything to break their way perfectly to get back to the FF. Talent wise they’re a solid 2 seed. It will greatly depend on who the 1 seed is their bracket. If they end up the 2 seed in UCLA, ND, or South Carolina’s bracket then they will need a minor miracle.

Miracle? Those teams are not indestructible. We aren’t exactly cannon fodder. I was at the UCLA/Socal game and you might have thought the Gamecocks were
D2. Match ups, lots of variables. There are way more capable teams than even 5 years ago.

 

[Galaxyshooter]

Not unless we get a consistent and reliable 3rd scorer..I was hoping Ice would step up but she's inconsistent same with Shade Azzi is too brittle to count on and Jana is to inexperience .If one of them can step up and become consistent with confidence we have a chance..on another note perhaps Uconn should consider moving to a more competitive conference so their players can develop by playing better competition. the BE is not as good as it once was and it shows when we step up in competition..there is no Notre Dame, Rutgers, Miami, DePaul like there was in the 1990's or 2000's when the BE Scheduled was a challenging gaunlet, a move to the ACC or SEC should be considered and the competition would be off the chain otherwise I fear we'll be perennial BE champs and that's it...I pray I'm wrong !!!

 

[BBallF]

I think the team you are looking at now will only vaguely look like the team you will see in March. There were a lot of conversations after the SoCal game to be sure with the coaches and you may see changes as soon as Sunday.

 

[Plebe]

Interestingly, the team that beat the unfavorable opponent for LSU also lacked an interior presence.

Are you talking about the Iowa team with Czinano, who averaged 17 points a game? That team lacked an interior presence?

 

[packwrap]

? So the offense with Wolters in the low post was the same as with Dolson in the high post? The same as the motion offense during the TASSK and Taurasi years? A particular characteristic of Auriemma, and strength, is how he adapts the offense to his players, not the other way around.

The offense doesn't have to change for the players. In Geno's offense the center has range from low post, to high post, to 3 PT line. The forward has range from low post to corner 3 PT.

Where the player is depends on play called, or their personal strengths. Most of our front court players learn to play both spots anyway, so become interchangable.

Ice played forward as a freshman, and has been at center as a soph. Sarah played forward against U$C with Ice/Jana and center with Morgan. Offense did not change though.

Horses for final 4? Of course.
This team is better than last year, and to make final 4, you only have to beat 1 of the good teams. The games against ND and USC were sadly losses, but also showed that even with a relatively poor performance, we are still quite competitive with these other top teams.

 

[packwrap]

Are you talking about the Iowa team with Czinano, who averaged 17 points a game? That team lacked an interior presence?

Czinano was considered a slow, non athletic, traditional, down low post by the pundits, who was going to get killed by the Big Bad SEC frontcourt players.

Funny thing was, if the SEC player moved to help with Clark, Czinano did not miss the resulting pass and layup. Similarly, the other slow Iowa teammates did not miss their wide open 3's.

Finesse teams often get crushed by athletic teams, but if they shoot a high %, they can still win these games.

 

[Cornell Lt]

My thoughts are that this years team has too many deficiencies to make a serious run at the National title. The defense is not up to their lofty normal standards and the team lacks athleticism in all positions. They are really good basketball players, but no one is an outstanding athletic presence. Now maybe this changes a bit if Aubrey comes back at 100%, but I'm not sure how close she will be to pre injury Aubrey.

 

[DallasDomer]

Well, of course we do. That is really optimistic, but since we have made it 15 out of the last 16 years, it's still a possibility. I'm not going to go through line-ups, or rotation patterns as many of you, and me also, have offered to Geno in your posts. By the end of next month, Azzi will be back, hopefully Aubrey will be back, and that is when Geno will get his line-up right, and his final rotation together for the BE schedule. Right now, I don't know what our identity is, post play (has to improve), 3-point shooting team (also has to improve), running team, or how about a pressing team. They have shown in the USC game that they can press and do a very good job at that. When the players are back, I am hoping that he will start pressing, because of our poor offensive performances lately (except Louisville) we will need more opportunities to score. We haven't beaten a really good top 15 team during the regular season in about 3 years. These are the games that are nationally televised, and these are the games that are dragging down UConn's reputation. During the BE games, he has to find a newer way to run his offence, to change something since we have the same offence for at least 10 years, maybe more. We don't always have the same personnel to run some of his sets. I think, no, I know we have enough of the players that we need to get the job done. The question is, can Geno get them together to form the great team that they are capable of? The next month will have to be the "practice time" to form such a squad. BTW, I love Caroline, but I don't think we will ever see this girl on the floor again. If they can't cure what she has by now, then it is probably too risky to put her out there and just pray nothing goes wrong. With the bad luck of this program the last few years, it will. A new season starts Sunday, and I will be there to see the demolition of the Friers. During your Christmas dinner, raise a glass to our girls, and wish them a happy new year and a season for all of us to remember. Happy Holidays to my good friends on this Board.

One thing I absolutely agree with you about it, "BTW, I love Caroline, but I don't think we will ever see this girl on the floor again. If they can't cure what she has by now, then it is probably too risky to put her out there and just pray nothing goes wrong."

Concussions are just too risky. She could end up with long term damage and she shouldn't risk her future for what is just a game. I hope she heals completely.

 

[HuskyNan]

Are you talking about the Iowa team with Czinano, who averaged 17 points a game? That team lacked an interior presence?

This Iowa team that beat LSU didn’t have Czinano. O’Grady, at 6-4, was Iowa’s biggest player

 

[diggerfoot]

The offense doesn't have to change for the players. In Geno's offense the center has range from low post, to high post, to 3 PT line. The forward has range from low post to corner 3 PT.

Where the player is depends on play called, or their personal strengths. Most of our front court players learn to play both spots anyway, so become interchangable.

Ice played forward as a freshman, and has been at center as a soph. Sarah played forward against U$C with Ice/Jana and center with Morgan. Offense did not change though.

Horses for final 4? Of course.
This team is better than last year, and to make final 4, you only have to beat 1 of the good teams. The games against ND and USC were sadly losses, but also showed that even with a relatively poor performance, we are still quite competitive with these other top teams.

? The best use of the center Wolters was in the low post, she was not used in the high post to run the team’s offense like Dolson. Different players, different skill sets, different offenses.

In the years when our tallest post was 6’2” or PF was 5’11” coincided with the years Auriemma studied the motion offense of the Bulls. There was neither a single post camped out down low like the surehanded Wolters, nor one camped in the high post like the savvy Dolson.

 

[msf22b]

If you look at the second half of the USC game we came back from 18 pts. That shows me what we are capable of. Juju was pretty much shut down. We made that comeback without height. Now Im not saying we dont need a big. We will especially against SC and if we face UCLA. We need to develop Jana and Ice and get them to score especially down low. Both have a pretty good outside shot too. Their development will take time and we have the BE schedule to work on that. Getting back to the second half of the USC game. We made that comeback without Azzi and Griff. Dont count out Allie or Q either. We need to bring them along. You saw 3 freshman on USC make play against us. We have been playing a tuff schedule early on. Most other top teams dont play as tuff of a schedule until they get into their conference games. I am confident we will be there in March.

Tony
You may not be saying it, but I am.
We can win w/o a dominant big
Things have to break right regarding the walking wounded
We have 2 superstars
The services of 1 more or a Demi-star will do it.
This team needs time to jell, find its identity
But it (somewhere between) will and can happen

 

[Bone Dog]

Are you talking about the Iowa team with Czinano, who averaged 17 points a game? That team lacked an interior presence?

Yes. Czinano was a good low post scorer, but not a super-big, and this is what I meant, and I’m sure you knew what I meant, too. With just Czinano (and a promising freshman in Steulke) in the front court they took out SC for LSU. Weren’t you even a little surprised by that result? Still, the point is, the team that LSU avoided thanks to Iowa, had 6-7, 6-5, 6-4 across the frontcourt. Heck, LSU was as big as Iowa.

 

[Plebe]

Interestingly, the team that beat the unfavorable opponent for LSU also lacked an interior presence.

This Iowa team that beat LSU didn’t have Czinano. O’Grady, at 6-4, was Iowa’s biggest player

The post I was replying to (see above) made reference to Iowa’s win over South Carolina in 2023, which according to some people eliminated an “unfavorable” opponent for LSU.

 

[Plebe]

Yes. Czinano was a good low post scorer, but not a super-big, and this is what I meant, and I’m sure you knew what I meant, too. With just Czinano (and a promising freshman in Steulke) in the front court they took out SC for LSU. Weren’t you even a little surprised by that result? Still, the point is, the team that LSU avoided thanks to Iowa, had 6-7, 6-5, 6-4 across the frontcourt. Heck, LSU was as big as Iowa.

I’m sure we would be over the moon if our team “lacked interior presence” to such a grave extent that Ice or Jana were averaging 17 points a game. Isn’t that why you brought it up? As some sort of hopeful parallel to UConn’s current shortcomings in the post?

 

[Bone Dog]

The post I was replying to (see above) made reference to Iowa’s win over South Carolina in 2023, which according to some people eliminated an “unfavorable” opponent for LSU.

And my point is that the obstacle UConn needs eliminated isn’t another team but the lingering shadow of injuries. I posted my original reply to suggest that even though it might be nice not to have to play the best teams to win, that is not the main issue of the season, as I see it. You’re right that Czinano was a very good post player, and when we had one (Aaliyah) like her, we all breathed easier. But in arguing this, you’re not really arguing against me.

 

[cgshuskie]

I don't think that Alijah Edwards was that great a post player but she could score down low and she would, in her senior year, get rebounds. IMO we don't need a super big to get #12. What we need most is an ultra confident Paige; Sarah and a strong and aggressive supporting caste. A little Azzi and Aubrey would help. IIHMC I would move Morgan up to starter to back up Paige.