Dorka Should Start

[CocoHusky]

it is astounding for me to read the many years long attempt by some here to continually blather on aboot what both liv, and tyler at the other board, will be. when?
they are who they are. ya know, based upon the years of data in evidence.
i am quite confident that both coaches are more focused on winning, not on feelings, and will use both where reasonably expected to do what they actually can do.

I agree with you for the most part- I think. I just don't know who Tyler is? What team does Tyler suit up for and what position does Tyler play?

 

[MD#12Fan]

She has?? I think most on this thread would disagree (if there is an anonymous survey). Her post moves has not improved one bit in the games I've watched. Same bad habits.

getting back to the main message of this thread, I dont think posters are piling on as much as being very, very excited to see Dorka's talent being leveraged. IMO, cant have enough Bigs/post players to wear out the competition in March.

Which is why I presented another point of view. BTW who cares what this thread says. That's your opinion. Check some old tapes from freshman, sophomore year. Post play is difficult. Not many master it. Plus big people are unique personalities generally. It's difficult being tall and gawky, even for a beautiful young lady like Liv. The best posts are often the ones that start out as wings/guards and get a late growth spurt. Ex. David Robinson, Candace Parker
Another point I made, was that everyone is excited about Dorka dominating a team of 6'0" bigs. I asked if people remember playing against smaller players. And I encouraged people to re-evaluate after Sunday's game.

 

[Dynastic]

I’m surprised this thread took so long to start. It’s been 2 hrs since UConn beat up on a much smaller DII team.

Dorka may become a starter at some point this season. But I will guarantee that Geno will not make that decision based on her performance in an exhibition game against an overmatched opponent.

Not much precedent for this I believe… Geno is loyal to past work, so I believe the young lady has made it to the starting lineup (Olivia) she will stay. Dorka is a force though.

 

[Zanzman]

I agree with you for the most part- I think. I just don't know who Tyler is? What team does Tyler suit up for and what position does Tyler play?

Tyler Polley on the men’s team

 

[DefenseBB]

Good grief. CD should be head coach!

well, now that you mention it, she does have a significantly better winning percentage....she's undefeated at something like 9-0....

 

[Mdoggie]

well, now that you mention it, she does have a significantly better winning percentage....she's undefeated at something like 9-0....

I know.

 

[BBallF]

Time will tell. But there is one thing that Liv is absolutely better at than any Big on this team, and that’s passing the ball. She understands the offense and works particularly well with Paige from the high post. Throughout the game, Paige made one hard backdoor cut after another and she didn’t get the ball because someone other than Liv had the ball, and didn’t anticipate Paige’s off ball movement.

I agree. I think Dorka was used to being the final resting place of the ball on offense even if it was just one pass. It's different here. The 5 position is also a passing position with an offense that has cuts wherever the ball is. Of course, Liv is much more mechanical on offense than Dorka who is a very smooth offensive player and that is what people are seeing. The BY is always fixated on who starts. Let's see who finishes in the games against UCLA, SC, Louisville assuming they are close. I think the team only cares about #12.

 

[boontonbomber]

Have just been reading the annointing of Dorka as the next Tina. I mean, in the words of the legendary McEnroe , " you can't be serious"! I really would expect more from such a knowledgeable group. Ft. Hays had two 6'1" and one 6'3", 2 freshman and a sophomore! 2 frosh and a soph, and not even that big! C'mon Boneyard! Next thing ya know we'll be reading that CW, at some point, will become a bench player. Oh, wait a minute.....

 

[cbraarj]

I believe that Geno will start all three seniors, CW, Evina, and Olivia, all season, unless they are hurt. He does that most of the time. Now does that mean that they will get more minutes than some other players... NO!!

No in 2000 he sat 2 Sr. Captains/Starters for underclassmen. Liv is overrated and it will show in the OC schedule.

 

[Rb335]

I wrote this on the board a few years ago, and nothing has been shown to make me think otherwise. Olivia seems to lack the coordination to be an elite player. She does things on the floor that just look incredibly unnatural. I don't think there is much you can do to change that. She has worked really hard to get better, and I do believe she has made many strides from her freshman season. But she definitely has come close to reaching her ceiling at this point. IMO.

Dorka seems to have that natural athleticism and coordination. A smoother offensive player at first glance. I don't really care who starts. I've always liked the idea of having a game changing type player come off the bench because it throws a new look at the opposition. Especially if the starters come out flat. For that reason, I am fine with Dorka coming off the bench. In either scenario, she is going to play a lot. And in either scenario, we will greatly benefit from them both providing productive minutes.

Also, these preseason and initial games really don't mean a heck of a lot. For instance, Mir scored 10 points against UMass Lowell, and the board was praising this new freshman. She went on to have a very small impact on our in game success last year. I always try to wait to form opinions on who is going to provide what until we play our first quality opponent.

 

[CocoHusky]

Have just been reading the annointing of Dorka as the next Tina. I mean, in the words of the legendary McEnroe , " you can't be serious"! I really would expect more from such a knowledgeable group. Ft. Hays had two 6'1" and one 6'3", 2 freshman and a sophomore! 2 frosh and a soph, and not even that big! C'mon Boneyard! Next thing ya know we'll be reading that CW, at some point, will become a bench player. Oh, wait a minute.....

There was no anointing and yours was the first post to invoke Tina as a comparison for Dorka. The BY is a very knowledge group and just in case we were to forget we have 3 years of mostly forgettable performances by Liv in big games. I believe Dorka and Liv both played against the same Ft. Hays team so I'm not sure what point you are trying to make by pointing out the height of the Ft. Hays fron line. You and many others have a very valid point: Dorka or Liv starting should not be based on who played better in a Ft. Hays exhibition game. So let's not based in on that, let's base it on who has accomplished more since both players have played roughly the same amount of NCAA D1 games.

 

[donalddoowop]

She has?? I think most on this thread would disagree (if there is an anonymous survey). Her post moves has not improved one bit in the games I've watched. Same bad habits.

getting back to the main message of this thread, I dont think posters are piling on as much as being very, very excited to see Dorka's talent being leveraged. IMO, cant have enough Bigs/post players to wear out the competition in March.

You have watched one exhibition game this season and say her post moves have not improved. You won't know if she has improved until she has played a few games. Maybe they have not but it is too early to say.

 

[oldude]

It’s amazing how these threads start to create an alternate version of the game. Liv was 4/7 from the floor, scoring on all of her post moves. Her misses included 2 mid-range jumpers and one “alley-oop” pass from I believe Christyn that was a little bit of a floater, forcing Liv to make an awkward catch and shoot on the way down.

If Liv continues to miss open jumpers and Dorka continues to make open jumpers, Geno will have a decision to make. But I’m not all that concerned about Liv’s 3 misses in one exhibition game or Caroline’s 0/4 from the arc or Azzi’s 0/5 in the second half.

The Arkansas game will be a real test against a good DI team with an excellent coach. Let’s pump the breaks on this discussion and see how everyone performs when it counts on Sunday.

 

[jchusky]

It’s amazing how these threads start to create an alternate version of the game. Liv was 4/7 from the floor, scoring on all of her post moves. Her misses included 2 mid-range jumpers and one “alley-oop” pass from I believe Christyn that was a little bit of a floater, forcing Liv to make an awkward catch and shoot on the way down.

If Liv continues to miss open jumpers and Dorka continues to make open jumpers, Geno will have a decision to make. But I’m not all that concerned about Liv’s 3 misses in one exhibition game or Caroline’s 0/4 from the arc or Azzi’s 0/5 in the second half.

The Arkansas game will be a real test against a good DI team with an excellent coach. Let’s pump the breaks on this discussion and see how everyone performs when it counts on Sunday.

she had the best play of the game imo. She was TRIPLE TEAMED yes triple teamed, and somehow got the pass off to Bueckers for the layup.

 

[Heytherego]

she had the best play of the game imo. She was TRIPLE TEAMED yes triple teamed, and somehow got the pass off to Bueckers for the layup.

And I thought she made some nice post moves, (I think) at least two were through double teams. Dorka is the “new toy” everyone is excited about. They just play a lot different, Dorka is much quicker in the post and Liv is really patient.
I agree with everything @oldude said. Let’s see how next Sunday goes.

 

[WBBSUperFan]

Ark. Posts Jersey Wolfenbarger 6' 5" and Maryam Dauda 6' 4" are both Freshman and Ark has never been a Defensive team so our Posts should have a big advantage but a nice test to see who handles big games better..

 

[WBBSUperFan]

Ark. Posts Jersey Wolfenbarger 6' 5" and Maryam Dauda 6' 4" are both Freshman and Ark has never been a Defensive team so our Posts should have a big advantage but a nice test to see who handles big games better.

did you watch last years game. We should have dominated the inside and it was awful. Dorka is a better all around player, but liv will continue to start until she loses the spot. It’s her to keep or lose. Time will tell

 

[MSGRET]

No in 2000 he sat 2 Sr. Captains/Starters for underclassmen. Liv is overrated and it will show in the OC schedule.

You do understand what the phrase "most of the time" means?

 

[oldhusky]

Regardless of what happens this year I think Dorka is the odds on favorite to be the starting C next year, and believing that will make it very very likely she returns next year.

 

[CocoHusky]

Regardless of what happens this year I think Dorka is the odds on favorite to be the starting C next year, and believing that will make it very very likely she returns next year.

Right. That kind of thinking (wait until next year) usually works out pretty well for UCONN- Morgan Tuck, Natalie Butler, Azura Stevens, & Megan Walker didn't.

 

[Carnac]

I disagree-While I think Dorka is light years ahead of Liv on offense, ONO is such a good passer and facilitator from the high post. She will work perfectly with Alliyah on the low block and her ability to hit the guards on the wing or when they slash to teh basket.

Dorka is perfect off the bench. She is GOOD. Can you imagine preparing for us when Dorka and Azzi are bench players?

Right now, I believe Liv should start the next game. I agree with something Oldude said prior to the Fort Hays State game: No one should lose or gain a starting spot based on their play in this exhibition game.

If Dorka out plays her again in this game, then you have to start her against Minnesota. You’re supposed to put your best 5 on the floor to begin the game. If that happens, Liv can still help coming off the bench.

 

[Carnac]

Right. That kind of thinking (wait until next year) usually works out pretty well for UCONN- Morgan Tuck, Natalie Butler, Azura Stevens, & Megan Walker didn't.

Point well taken. Play for THIS year. Next year will take care of itself.

 

[Inthepaint]

I know.

N

well, now that you mention it, she does have a significantly better winning percentage....she's undefeated at something like 9-0....

Not to nitpick, but CD is 12-0 after two wins in the tourney last year.

 

[Carnac]

Liv started the last 3 years because Geno didn’t have a choice. This year he does. As he said in a presser at the Big East media day: I won’t have to figure out who should start, the players will. It makes perfect sense.

 

[CocoHusky]

And I thought she made some nice post moves, (I think) at least two were through double teams. Dorka is the “new toy” everyone is excited about. They just play a lot different, Dorka is much quicker in the post and Liv is really patient.
I agree with everything @oldude said. Let’s see how next Sunday goes.

A "new toy" would not have been necessary if the old one was serviceable, so perhaps this excitement is justified.

 

[oldhusky]

Right. That kind of thinking (wait until next year) usually works out pretty well for UCONN- Morgan Tuck, Natalie Butler, Azura Stevens, & Megan Walker didn't.

Morgan Tuck and Megan Walker were already starters when they left. Natalie Butler probably was never going to be a starter here, and went to a school where she could be a star. Azura Stevens however is a good example, because she probably would have started the next year if she had stayed, but was still drafted pretty high as a great sub on a great program.

If Dorka is the best player this year, go ahead and start her. Geno seems to grant seniors and incumbents an advantage that is probably more than I would give, but if it is decisive I think he will make the change. But I think Dorka is likely to return for other reasons.

I think both Liv and Dorka are possible long term WNBA players, but far from locks, more like marginal prospects that may not be picked in the first round, but are very likely to be able to play for pay in Europe as their floor. A Uconn pedigree as a star player on the bench or as a starter helps your chances of employment there.

A player who is fairly certain they have a WNBA future is more likely to jump into the draft. Morgan, Megan, and Azura were all in that category. Dorka is not considered at that level, at least yet. In addition she is in grad school this year, not starting next year, so presumably she is only one additional year from a master's degree, which makes staying another year (probably as a starter) much more logical.

But that doesn't mean I think she shouldn't start this year if she is better. I just think the burden of proof for Geno when bumping a senior incumbent is high but that either way, next year she is the probable starter, and probable to return.

 

[Carnac]

I’m surprised this thread took so long to start. It’s been 2 hrs since UConn beat up on a much smaller DII team.

Dorka may become a starter at some point this season. But I will guarantee that Geno will not make that decision based on her performance in an exhibition game against an overmatched opponent.

The Arkansas game, and the 3 games in the Bahamas will give Geno a large enough sample size to make evaluations relative to potential changes in the starting line up as well as bench rotation. We’ll see the same things he does.

 

[willtalk]

I don't have a dog in this fight so perhaps that makes me more objective. Just watching the game it seems to me that Dorka is much more athletic than liv. I watch how a player moves and Dorka is so flued. She makes Liv seem mechanical by comparison. Frankly just watching her in that game elevated my opinion as to Uconns potiential. Their weak spot was the center position and Dorka not only adds depth but she is better than Liv. She certainly covers more ground defensively. I think her impact for Uconn for this season is being highly underrated. I believe she might have the greatest impact of all the new additions being that it is at a position that needed it the most.

 

[meyers7]

No in 2000 he sat 2 Sr. Captains/Starters for underclassmen. Liv is overrated and it will show in the OC schedule.

1999-2000 season or 2000-2001 season??? And which two Captain/Starters??

 

[SLY63]

I think Geno is very cognizant of not damaging anyone's confidence (keeping the team's goals in mind), and will stick with the current lineup, but just allocate playing time based on performance. I would assume that if Dorka continues to impress, she may not immediately start, but take more playing time.