Aye!I could see Geno going small tomorrow with Azzi, Nika, & Lou and Caroline off the bench.
Alliyah & Aubrey will handle the boards. But Amari & Ayanna should contrbute under the basket as well.
Wow...that's a lot of A's!!
yes, he said it was lack of practice time. She had only practiced on Saturday and Sunday prior to the TX game.Did Geno ever elaborate on why CD only played 5 minutes? Was it lack of practice time leading up to the Texas game or was she in pain?
Paige was playing too lol!Hopefully the team knew there was a problem with her thumb very early in the week so the team could somehow make some adjustments. I hope they didn't just discover this in the last few days. Lets also remember, we did beat them without Dorka last year.
We don't need Amari to be Dorka. We need her to show up and play like we thought she could. Play some D, hit a few shots, maybe an assist or two. She will not play major minutes, just enough (I hope) to spell Aaliyah and Aubrey for a break. This game gives her the opportunity to show us, show Geno, and show her teammates that she can be the player that can make a difference for this program this year. As the old saying goes, @#$# or get off the pot.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".
Wow that's great work to figure out when it happened. Was that the same side where she broke her wrist? I thought maybe it was just her wrist being sensitive or sore.Terrible news. Dorka has been playing well and she’s also a leader on the court. The next several games are going to be challenging without her.
I went back and took a look at the film. The injury occurred with 7:41 left in the game. Dorka stole the ball and proceeded to lead a 2 on 1 break with Nika, who she passed to on the break. Nika returned the ball to Dorka for a would be layup. But Gonzales from TX swiped at the ball, fouling Dorka on her left hand.
Dorka grabbed her hand and shook it for a couple seconds, then proceeded to miss both foul shots. But there was no other indication that she had broken her thumb.
I like your optimism, but I think Caroline is still a tad too rusty to start. I will be happy if she gets at least 15+ minutes, more than enough for her to kick some booty.I think Caroline starts in place for Dorka and I also think Geno might move her down to wing. She had a lot of success last year when it came to sealing defenders in the paint.
Horrible. I remember that play and watched it again just now. The Texas defender whose pass was stolen by Dorka didn't want that beautiful 2 on 1 fast break with Nika to be a highlight so she just hacked down on Dorka. It was a nasty play and she knew exactly was she was doing. Was it an intentional, hard foul so she doesn't complete the play and make her look bad for the errant pass? 1000%. Was it directed to her previously injured wrist and with awareness of last year's injury? Who knows. I do know this. It was designed not to steal or block the ball but only to prevent the shot. You can tell by the defender's reaction after. I'm not suggesting it was flagrant except that if Dorka had reacted like it did break her thumb and not just momentarily injured it, they may have looked at it.Terrible news. Dorka has been playing well and she’s also a leader on the court. The next several games are going to be challenging without her.
I went back and took a look at the film. The injury occurred with 7:41 left in the game. Dorka stole the ball and proceeded to lead a 2 on 1 break with Nika, who she passed to on the break. Nika returned the ball to Dorka for a would be layup. But Gonzales from TX swiped at the ball, fouling Dorka on her left hand.
Dorka grabbed her hand and shook it for a couple seconds, then proceeded to miss both foul shots. But there was no other indication that she had broken her thumb.
My girl is about to show up & show out! Let's go, Amari!!Hope this is Amari’s “coming out” party.
Amari is the key to the season?I hope Amari surprises everyone. We need her to step up and give some minutes. She can score in the paint and outside better than others. Geno wants rebounds blocks and toughness. Lets put her out there and get her ready to help us. She is the key to our season.
However, tomorrow may prove to be a somewhat pivotal day in Amari’s collegiate career.We don't need Amari to be Dorka. We need her to show up and play like we thought she could. Play some D, hit a few shots, maybe an assist or two. She will not play major minutes, just enough (I hope) to spell Aaliyah and Aubrey for a break. This game gives her the opportunity to show us, show Geno, and show her teammates that she can be the player that can make a difference for this program this year. As the old saying goes, @#$# or get off the pot.
How about she earns getting out there? She may play based on sheer numbers and rooting for her to take advantage if the opportunity arises as I do for virtually all players but she has shown little to think she is remotely ready for this level of ball; this ain’t HS.I hope Amari surprises everyone. We need her to step up and give some minutes. She can score in the paint and outside better than others. Geno wants rebounds blocks and toughness. Lets put her out there and get her ready to help us. She is the key to our season.
Not sure you should start her.I would not be at all surprised if Ayanna is in tomorrow's starting lineup. She has already demonstrated that she can rebound against almost anybody. The only thing limiting her will be foul trouble.
If she can stay on the floor (highly dubious), she can fill in for Dorka with very little loss of team effectiveness. If she succeeds in that role in the next three games, UConn as a team will be much stronger in the front court than if Dorka's injury had not occurred.
I watched the entire TEXAS game. If you watch carefully, you can see a play, DorkaWas there any inkling that Dorka was injured? I'm gathering she must have just played through it on Monday?
Watch the FIBA U 18 African Women's Championship series.I sort of hope El Afy early enrolls and plays this season.
@Zarathustra Could you elaborate?There is a difference in the style and quality of
FIBA African WBB (compared to Europe and the USA H.S.
AAU teams ).