Dorka out with broken thumb

[SqueaksFan]

And stand up tall. We go into the season with 3 post players, and lose two. SMH. I’m not Chicken Little, but only 2 games in, but it’s beginning to look like this may not be our year. Too many injuries. Two starters out.

The article indicated that she's going to miss 3 games, possibly a little more. She'll be back soon enough.

 

[tower1]

I'm real sorry to say that there is NO way Amari will start or play meaningful minutes. Believe me, I hope to hell I'm wrong but, she has shown nothing to me that gives me any reason to think she is anything but a 4 year bench warmer, unless this injury bug hits the rest of our Bigs, Geno will go small before he allows Amari to get much more then 10 mins or probably less.

How do you know all this about Amari when she has hardly played? I don't think we have seen her play enough to make that determination. Unless you go to all the practices and watch her .

 

[BobbyJ]

Exactly what other option in the post does Geno have?

Bettencourt is rested and ready. She plays bigger than 5-9.

 

[Inthepaint]

Just what we don’t need, at precisely the time we don’t need it.
I always thought that Amari has all the tools to make a real impact.
Her lack of progress had been a total enigma.
In order for our guards to have any reasonable shot at establishing a coherent, viable half court game, we were REALLY going to need our post players to step it up and use some tough play in the paint.
That hasn’t changed.
It’s just going to be incredibly difficult to get it done with what we have to work with.
I don’t enjoy saying that neither Amari or Ayanna Appear to be up to the task.
The game tomorrow might just be a case of too little talent and strength to beat NC State.
I would be absolutely thrilled to eat my words without salt.

 

[pk1234]

Bummer. May need to go small for much of tomorrow with AG or CD as the 4th guard/"4". AE will need to play close to 40 minutes and stay out of foul trouble. I expect Aubrey to start, with Caroline and Ayanna off the bench, and only 7 players to play, unless there's foul trouble.

 

[Conndog]

I think we play 8- Nika, Azzi, Lou, Aubrey, and Aaliyah to start. Caroline will get more minutes, and I think both Ayanna and Amari will see some time.

 

[Notyetready]

While Geno did not specify how many minutes Caroline would be permitted to play, he was pretty firm on the idea that he would limit her time on the court (Saturday pre game presser). Given that, I am guessing we will see 6 players with a lot of minutes and 3 off the bench with 10 to 15 minutes-, os even more- Caroline being one of those three. Foul troubles will determine some about who plays how many minutes. I wonder how much Geno will take into consideration that this is a non-conference game early in the season. He has at least three games for which he has to manage the line up sans Dorka. Full court press, maxing out player minutes are just a couple of issues he faces. Balancing tactics with risk assessment are going to be forefront.

 

[Majorthreat]

I'm real sorry to say that there is NO way Amari will start or play meaningful minutes. Believe me, I hope to hell I'm wrong but, she has shown nothing to me that gives me any reason to think she is anything but a 4 year bench warmer, unless this injury bug hits the rest of our Bigs, Geno will go small before he allows Amari to get much more then 10 mins or probably less.

True. She looks lost when she is in there. Really hesitant and reluctant. I think she needs to see a sport psychologist. She has the potential.

 

[uconnever]

As I read through this thread I just SMH over the number of references to Amari stepping up. I'm sure we all want the best for every member of the team and subscribing to the next woman up theory, what has anyone seen from Amari and her very brief minutes that would suggest she's the answer to Dorka's injury?

Again, I cast no aspersions or wish her any ill will. I just don't see her being Geno's "go to".

Definitely not a go to, but she’s gotta give us something. Eat up some minutes without any negative impact on the game, that’s all we need. Anything more great.

 

[Blakeon18]

The Marquette win over Texas [68-61] might put a bit of tarnish over our win against
the Longhorns...but it should pump up the overall strength of the Big East...which is a good thing...a very good thing.
Marquette is now 4-0. They should get our full attention when we play them...twice.

 

[CB360]

How do you know all this about Amari when she has hardly played? I don't think we have seen her play enough to make that determination. Unless you go to all the practices and watch her .

Exactly!! This is the most likely reason why she DOESN'T play. Simplest explanation is usually the right one.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Broke her thumb on Monday and not a word till now???

UConn has a problem with being forthcoming about injuries. Remember how they continued to characterize the injury to Decharmes as a "head injury"? It was a concussion, but they didn't want to admit it. Lots of failing to admit regarding injuries.

 

[CajunHusky]

Will there be a change in the starting group design: 4 Guards and a Forward. ?

they've done that before

 

[CajunHusky]

I’d start Aubrey but Ayanna would get a lot of PT, as well as Caroline. They could really spread the floor which should open up some Azzi/Lou/Caroline action.

I wouldn't count on a lot of pt for Caroline .... I think they are working her back slowly

 

[#12in21]

I rewatched the pregame pressers after reading of Dorka's injury, surely Geno, Nika and Caroline were aware of her not being available when those were taped, although they didn't hint of having to deal with her loss. Geno still stressed the need to tighten up the interior defense following the Texas game. NC State will surely try to exploit their height advantage down low and really go after Aaliyah and secondly our other bigs to put them in foul trouble.

I think if we can control the game, Geno will see a four guard one big lineup as our best potential approach to get separation and put NC State on their heels. With Caroline and Aubrey both being strong contributors and both capable of defending inside in a faster paced (rushed for NC State) game we could make that work. But we will need to be able to get our game established with a quick start and early lead in order to dictate the pace of the game.

I think both Amari and Ayanna will be needed at the onset to prevent NC State from conversely exploiting their advantage inside. If we can't get them on their heels it is going to be a long haul and we will need to use all the fouls we have available by our bigs in a grind it out game. Our guards are going to have to force theirs to the outside in that scenario as well so they aren't getting into the lane and drawing valuable fouls on our bigs. Aaliyah, Amari and Ayanna are going to have to all play strong defense without giving up bad fouls in the face of their bigs and guards focused on drawing them.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Woke up and saw this news. Speechless.

 

[HopJim]

I wouldn't count on a lot of pt for Caroline .... I think they are working her back slowly

Agree on Caroline playing limited minutes. While NC is an important game, its early in the season and Geno unlikely to risk long term success.

 

[Zanzman]

UConn has a problem with being forthcoming about injuries. Remember how they continued to characterize the injury to Decharmes as a "head injury"? It was a concussion, but they didn't want to admit it. Lots of failing to admit regarding injuries.

They don’t owe you anything

 

[Littlemin]

The Marquette win over Texas [68-61] might put a bit of tarnish over our win against
the Longhorns...but it should pump up the overall strength of the Big East...which is a good thing...a very good thing.
Marquette is now 4-0. They should get our full attention when we play them...twice.

I agree with your post but would add the only people who would diminish UConn’s win because of Marquette’s are people who don’t watch the games objectively but rather base their “analysis” on preconceived notions. Finally given the chance to have multiple teams in the tournament, the BE showed that the view of the conference nationally was just plain wrong. Marquette’s win yesterday was further proof.

 

[Stymie]

I speculate that Aubrey gets a start today.
First subs in will be Lou and Ayanna. Then Caroline in for Lou.
I really wish I could say Amari would be first big sub, but I need to see SOMETHING to warrant that.
I do not understand how someone with her size and pedigree cannot be a devastating defender and at least stay out of the way on the offensive end.
Today is her opportunity to give Coach a reason to play her.

 

[The deacon]

Agree on Caroline playing limited minutes. While NC is an important game, its early in the season and Geno unlikely to risk long term success.

Ha! I agree with your comment about Caroline, HopJim, but folks such as Triad and me know your reference to NC instead of NC State would go over about as well in ACC country as referring to UConn as UMass or URI

 

[Vancat]

Ok, you can stop now, Pat.

 

[Sifaka]

UConn has a problem with being forthcoming about injuries. Remember how they continued to characterize the injury to Decharmes as a "head injury"? It was a concussion, but they didn't want to admit it. Lots of failing to admit regarding injuries.

UConn has a problem? Yes, the team is dealing with multiple injuries.

Some fans have a problem. They believe, for reasons that defy logic and reason, that they have a legal and moral right to know
everything the coaches know just as soon as the coaches know it. They think that they should be part of the medical team and involved in family discussions about how to proceed.

Now, let's suppose these fans got their wishes, unlimited and immediate access to every detail of a player's medical issues.

Just how would this help the team?

 

[browns]

Just shook my head reading this news..I usually take injury news in stride but now it's getting ridiculous with this team...They could be in trouble this game..could really use Caroline but she wasn't moving at all against Texas..hopefully maybe she's gotten better..most of these posts are about Amari contributing and I don't see it..Geno and his staff see what she can and cannot do every day and I guess that's not much..Aubrey has to come up big and AE stay out of foul trouble and play tough
Geno has talked about them being a good shooting team well they better be today..I also thought Dorka played great besides leading the team in rebounds..this game was going to be tough anyways now it just got a whole lot tougher

 

[Littlemin]

UConn has a problem? Yes, the team is dealing with multiple injuries.

Some fans have a problem. They believe, for reasons that defy logic and reason, that they have a legal and moral right to know
everything the coaches know just as soon as the coaches know it. They think that they should be part of the medical team and involved in family discussions about how to proceed.

Now, let's suppose these fans got their wishes, unlimited and immediate access to every detail of a player's medical issues.

Just how would this help the team?

And more importantly, what business is it of any fan? A player is either playing or not, this sense of entitlement that injuries are anyone’s business but the team’s and more importantly, the family, as you say very nicely, defies “logic and reason”, not to mention just common decency and respect for other people’s privacy.

 

[Big Mick]

Amari, Stand Up!!!!!!!!!

Once standing: move your feet; play some defense; forget taking mid range jumpers.

 

[Blueconn]

And more importantly, what business is it of any fan? A player is either playing or not, this sense of entitlement that injuries are anyone’s business but the team’s and more importantly, the family, as you say very nicely, defies “logic and reason”, not to mention just common decency and respect for other people’s privacy.

This issue is older than Geno himself ! Nothing new at this point. This is the time to keep calm, carry on. UConn do it.

 

[hoopsfan22]

UConn has a problem with being forthcoming about injuries. Remember how they continued to characterize the injury to Decharmes as a "head injury"? It was a concussion, but they didn't want to admit it. Lots of failing to admit regarding injuries.

Maybe they should just say nothing? We have no right to know any of this stuff.

 

[Bills Fan]

UConn has a problem with being forthcoming about injuries. Remember how they continued to characterize the injury to Decharmes as a "head injury"? It was a concussion, but they didn't want to admit it. Lots of failing to admit regarding injuries.

Including what is really going on this year with Caroline. If she is not practicing or playing games due to a stiff neck, then I have some oceanfront property in Arkansas that I will be glad to sell you.
I don't blame Geno on being less than forthcoming regarding the actual CD injury. That's done in all sports nowadays. It's just that I think (personal opinion only) there is something else going on with her.

If she can give the team 20-25 minutes today and look like the CD of last year, that would be great. We certainly need it at this point.

Whatever is going on, get well quickly CD. We need you at 100% .

 

[Zarathustra]

@Zarathustra Could you elaborate?

FROM Zarathustra a (type of) elaboration: I watched the FIBA U 18 Women's
World Championship tournament ( in Part ) this summer. While watching the
Egypt vs Madagascar semi final and the Egypt vs Mali final I found that I was
not impressed by the caliber of the overall play. Jana was almost the MVP,
but her team, Egypt, lost convining to Mali in the final, so the Mali won the MVP.
My suggestion, in my previous post, was to watch those two games and judge for yourself ( google
the FIBA web page for U 18 WOMEN's Africia etc ). The ball handling, passing,
three point shooting ( some spurts of nice 3 point shooting, but not well defended), the
ability / inability of teams to break down the press, and the "style" of play ( a visual thing,
but this was more of a subjective issue for me ). Jana hit some nice threes , she was
effective in the paint, but then again, she got a lot of points in the second half of
the Madagascar game when the opponents were in EXTREME foul trouble. So I considered
Egypt's extra half points as less an indication of their "strength" but merely an
indication that Madagascar was forced to play the " end of the bench"!!
The semi final game was competitive in the first half. So beyond that elaboration,
I VERY glad to have JANA El Alfy! I just don't think she will be an immediate impact
player. Sincerely, Z GO UCONN beat NC State, Beat Duke, Beat IOWA!!
Be strong DORKA!!