Tonyc
Optimus Prime
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 5,472
- Reaction Score
- 35,169
This isnt what we all expected this season and now there is frustration and disappointment not only amongst the fans but the coaches and team too. The positives many of the non starters are getting some experience and will be better for it. As of right now I expect Caroline not to play this season and if she comes back thats great. No disappointments for feeling that way. I mentioned this in other threads, that we have the weapons to win a NC however theyre sitting on the bench. Hopefully they will be back next season and ready to go. Now all Geno and his coaches can do is teach train and develop the kids that can play. They will improve and they will get better. For now we should cheer them on for their accomplishments and encourage them while they take on this difficult task. We can complain about everything that doesnt go the way we expect. I see posts about other freshman playing so good and why didnt UConn get them. Thats an easy question to answer. They went elsewhere for many reasons and why not UConn because they would be playing behind Paige Azzi and Caroline. Another question is about why doesnt UConn get more bigs? Thats an easy question too. Jana is injured, Dorka graduated, Yanna and Caroline are out hurt. How many good bigs are there out there 6'5 and over. We have two Jana and Amari. Jana is injured and Amari is not ready. We can talk about Amari all we want and how she needs to play but the coaching staff isnt playing her and they know the reasons and we dont. Geno went overseas to get Jana because there werent many top bigs in the US. Personally I thought we had Boston and Cardoso and why they went to SC I dont know for sure. Another question why cant Griff and Aaliyah score more points. Thats another easy question. Our shooters are on the bench and defenses pack it in so they cant score inside. Bottom line everything we're not this season is due to our injuries. We correct that by getting our freshman up to speed and thats what the coaching staff is doing now. It takes time.
In the Texas game when Paige came out and Q came in and hit a couple of shots and the team seemed to respond. We erased a huge deficit and were down 6 pts before the no calls and the ticky tac calls. What happened with Paige on the bench? The Texas defense didnt adjust to Paige not being in the game and UConn started to play BB without looking for Paige. Our team took it upon themselves to play their game and with Paige out we looked like a different team. We will learn from this. Having our girls step up with Paige out might have been a step on the right direction.
The rest of the season could be trying times as we grow and learn as a team. We and the coaching staff arent used to this. On paper we are a top 2 team thats what makes it so hard. This is our third year of key injuries to top players especially our top scorers. With all the injuries will we ever be what we thought we would be when everybody gets back? We now have to play players without college experience and they are learning on the go. We have some players on the floor that are not scorers which makes it harder on Paige and Aaliyah because defenses can over play them. Understand with the developing of our newbies its gonna get worse before it gets better. Once are newbies begin to take it upon themselves to score like they did in high school things will begin to look better. Anytime you have to change the way you do things to the way you should be doing them and learning a new system it takes time before it becomes reflexive and you dont have to think about what your doing or what your suppose to do.
Over the next few games we will be going through growing pains. It wont be easy but in the end it will be worth it. Change is difficult sometimes, but we cant keep doin what were doin and think the results will change, they wont. We have to change and thats what Geno and the coaching staff will be working on with the team. Right now its about getting the players we have to play as a team. We still have great talent we just need to all get on the same page.
In the Texas game when Paige came out and Q came in and hit a couple of shots and the team seemed to respond. We erased a huge deficit and were down 6 pts before the no calls and the ticky tac calls. What happened with Paige on the bench? The Texas defense didnt adjust to Paige not being in the game and UConn started to play BB without looking for Paige. Our team took it upon themselves to play their game and with Paige out we looked like a different team. We will learn from this. Having our girls step up with Paige out might have been a step on the right direction.
The rest of the season could be trying times as we grow and learn as a team. We and the coaching staff arent used to this. On paper we are a top 2 team thats what makes it so hard. This is our third year of key injuries to top players especially our top scorers. With all the injuries will we ever be what we thought we would be when everybody gets back? We now have to play players without college experience and they are learning on the go. We have some players on the floor that are not scorers which makes it harder on Paige and Aaliyah because defenses can over play them. Understand with the developing of our newbies its gonna get worse before it gets better. Once are newbies begin to take it upon themselves to score like they did in high school things will begin to look better. Anytime you have to change the way you do things to the way you should be doing them and learning a new system it takes time before it becomes reflexive and you dont have to think about what your doing or what your suppose to do.
Over the next few games we will be going through growing pains. It wont be easy but in the end it will be worth it. Change is difficult sometimes, but we cant keep doin what were doin and think the results will change, they wont. We have to change and thats what Geno and the coaching staff will be working on with the team. Right now its about getting the players we have to play as a team. We still have great talent we just need to all get on the same page.