Edwards vs Morrow

[HuskyNan]

While I agree on Morrow's talent, I also believe Doug Bruno has some major issues to resolve. In rewatching the game, I noticed:

-While a great rebounder and inside player, Morrow chucked up 3's throughout the game even after Bruno yelling at her several times. In the second half, much of the DePaul team stood around, apparently knowing that after Morrow touched the ball, no one else would.
-The first time Bruno yelled at her, Morrow ignored him and ran down the court. While Bruno took her out of the game, she kept taking wild 3's and didn't seem to want to get in position underneath the basket for shots or rebounds.
-On DePaul turnovers, Morrow rarely chased down the UConn player. The most obvious example was when Edwards picked off her dribble, Morrow did not move/never got past halfcourt, leaving Edwards to dribble down most of the court for an uncontested layup.
-On defense, Morrow frequently went for the steals, usually leaving Dorka or Edwards for easy layups. Appeared she did not want to do the hard, physical work of defending a bigger player.

I agree with Nan's comments that Morrow is only a Soph and still is learning but this does not absolve her from having to hustle, listen to her coach, or do the dirty work under the basket. At times, she seemed intimidated by the equally physical UConn players. Doug Bruno has a lot of challenges if he intends to continue to build around her. Rarely does a team with a 25 point a game scorer lose this many games but after watching the recent DePaul game, I understand why this is happening.

Doug needs to get players other than Morrow or Rogers to do more than pass the ball to those two. His teams are usually well-coached but the supporting cast wasn’t prepared for their star players to be shut down.

I cut Doug Bruno, a truly good guy, some slack. He’s got some key injuries:
Keke Rimmer, 5-10 Sr guard
Jade Edwards, 5-9 Sr guard, a starter
Kiera Collier, 5-6 Sr guard
Nazlah Morrow, Aneesa’s sister, 6-1 Sr forward (a transfer)

Bruno had to play 4 freshmen last night and, except for three point artist Maeve McErlane, they were definitely shell-shocked by the UConn blitz. Only one non-freshman forward was available besides Morrow, Jorie Allen, a 6-0 senior, and she was ineffective against UConn’s frontcourt. The Blue Demons were undersized and inexperienced but that doesn’t excuse the upperclassmen’s lack of effort. That was ver unlike a Doug Bruno team.

 

[jabstep]

Morrow to me is trying to transition from a 6'0 Center to a 6'0 small forward. She is playing on a team without much help. Her physical style of play works on some teams but with Aaliyah, Dorka and Amari who stuffed her twice in her first minutes guarding she was no match inside. She is a decent 3 point shooter given some space but our bigs can get out on a player and have long arms. Other comments that Aaliyah has gone against Bigger players on the Canadian National team and now in practice against Dorka and Amari she has developed quick spins and turns and drives to the hoop. Her elbow jumper is money as well. Next year I bet she adds a 3 point shot because she will be a 3 in the Pros.

 

[JRRRJ]

Did you see where Aaliyah shoved a defender away from her? The physical play went both ways and UConn wasn’t always the innocent bystander

Shoving is far different from landing blows with the elbow, shoulder and hand. Morrow did much of that, to my eye.

 

[Littlemin]

You want Morrow...who is returning from injury...to bang in the paint during the second half of a 40 point blowout?? For what!?! In fact, why was she even out there. Considering how important she is to the team, I'd of rested her and let the freshmen get some reps.

She's a 6'1 sophomore who went against a 6'3 junior, 6'5 graduate senior, and 6'5 sophomore FOR 38 MINUTES. She more than held her own.

The fact there's a whole post dedicated to the fact that she ONLY had a 20 pt double double and scored 40% of her team's points would tend to suggest that she's a very good basketball player and deserves respect.

Respect is not garnered by stats, respect is earned via effort and the way one plays the game and comports themselves.
Just the fact that you wondered why she should continue to play hard and properly based on the score says it all. And were I her coach she would have been well rested for the next game, believe me.

 

[CL82]

I've said it before, Aaliyah has become the player everyone thought she would be and boy,Aaliyah has she become a beast on offense and defense. Aaliyah has become a complete BB player with no short comings What she did against Aneesah in holding her way below her norm shows me she should be able to handle Boston. I don't think Boston has faced a player that Aaliyah has become with the multiple means at her disposal to hold her own. It will be a historic confrontation, to say the least. GO HUSKIES!!!

in all honesty, she’s better than the player I expected her to be. I didn’t anticipate her having the handle that she does. Watching her go into end is really a pleasure. Also, the mid range game tends to be a lost art in college. Seeing Aaliyah use it so effectively and so consistently is a joy to watch as well.

 

[CL82]

Yeah, some of the play in the lane was pretty brutal. Literally twisting arms.
Aayleah’s physical presence down low in recent games has been stunning.
She could have a second career on Friday night Smackdown.
“The Masked Husky”?
Some of the wrestling moves she’s been forced to use to gain some respect under the basket would make The Fabulous Moolah proud.

Lol at “The Fabulous Moolah”. There’s a name I haven’t heard in years.

 

[MD#12Fan]

You want Morrow...who is returning from injury...to bang in the paint during the second half of a 40 point blowout?? For what!?! In fact, why was she even out there. Considering how important she is to the team, I'd of rested her and let the freshmen get some reps.

She's a 6'1 sophomore who went against a 6'3 junior, 6'5 graduate senior, and 6'5 sophomore FOR 38 MINUTES. She more than held her own.

The fact there's a whole post dedicated to the fact that she ONLY had a 20 pt double double and scored 40% of her team's points would tend to suggest that she's a very good basketball player and deserves respect.

Ugh. We’re supposed to feel sorry for her because she’s undersized. She was mentioned last year as an AA. She‘s strong and athletic and as of now she’s a post. Judge it for what it is.
I think she moves well inside, she has developed post moves, and a quick release on her shot. I didn’t see much defensively except for a couple of swipes at shooters inside which got her fouls. I loved the isolated camera shot of her moving inside with AE on her like a glove.
Regarding Morrow vs. AE. OMG. Game, set, match. Are you kidding me?
Morrow’s shot selection putrid. Her outside shot same. Wonder if Bruno is ok with it. Frankly, any player on the floor, including Inez could have gotten 20 the other night with 26 shots, at least half ill-advised and many of the points coming late.
I‘m curious if she stays at DePaul. She was obviously a huge get for Bruno. Is she defying him? I‘m curious. Will she want to move further out to improve her WNBA stock? I predict that she transfers. She would fit in at a power 5 school. Get her out of the post a little. I think DePaul’s going south. They look ragtag. They used to have a style about them, now they look like a rec-league team. Will be curious to see what happens.

 

[HuskyNan]

Ugh. We’re supposed to feel sorry for her because she’s undersized. She was mentioned last year as an AA. She‘s strong and athletic and as of now she’s a post. Judge it for what it is.
I think she moves well inside, she has developed post moves, and a quick release on her shot. I didn’t see much defensively except for a couple of swipes at shooters inside which got her fouls. I loved the isolated camera shot of her moving inside with AE on her like a glove.
Regarding Morrow vs. AE. OMG. Game, set, match. Are you kidding me?
Morrow’s shot selection putrid. Her outside shot same. Wonder if Bruno is ok with it. Frankly, any player on the floor, including Inez could have gotten 20 the other night with 26 shots, at least half ill-advised and many of the points coming late.
I‘m curious if she stays at DePaul. She was obviously a huge get for Bruno. Is she defying him? I‘m curious. Will she want to move further out to improve her WNBA stock? I predict that she transfers. She would fit in at a power 5 school. Get her out of the post a little. I think DePaul’s going south. They look ragtag. They used to have a style about them, now they look like a rec-league team. Will be curious to see what happens.

Morrow was an All American

Women's basketball: Aneesah Morrow named AP Second-Team All-American - The DePaulia

Since entering college, DePaul freshman forward Aneesah Morrow has set both program and Big East records that stood for decades. Morrow added to her growing list of accomplishments as she earned All-American honors from the Associated Press on Wednesday. The Chicago native was named to the...

depauliaonline.com

As I said elsewhere, she surprised people last year - Morrow is a unique talent - but teams are planning their defenses around stopping her this year. She’s getting the same treatment Diana/Maya/Tina/Breanna got and which Boston is probably getting - bump her hard, push her away from the basket, hold her (Lou is seeing this too). Some kids get stronger physically and mentally and play through, some flop and look for a foul. Until Bruno convinces Morrow to hit the weight room, she’s going to see a lot more of the same with the same results

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I bet if Morrow ended up in the portal...there would be a change of heart in evaluating her. Perhaps you couldn't appreciate her in this game, but she's an undeniable talent and her collective work speaks for itself. She was unknown and put herself on the map.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Morrow was an All American

Women's basketball: Aneesah Morrow named AP Second-Team All-American - The DePaulia

Since entering college, DePaul freshman forward Aneesah Morrow has set both program and Big East records that stood for decades. Morrow added to her growing list of accomplishments as she earned All-American honors from the Associated Press on Wednesday. The Chicago native was named to the...

depauliaonline.com

As I said elsewhere, she surprised people last year - Morrow is a unique talent - but teams are planning their defenses around stopping her this year. She’s getting the same treatment Diana/Maya/Tina/Breanna got and which Boston is probably getting - bump her hard, push her away from the basket, hold her (Lou is seeing this too). Some kids get stronger physically and mentally and play through, some flop and look for a foul. Until Bruno convinces Morrow to hit the weight room, she’s going to see a lot more of the same with the same results

That too! Sophomoreitis.
Can’t allow holding.
Unfair. Against the rules.
Talking about refs: ref the rules.
There are ways strategically to get Boston and Morrow for that matter out of the lane. Hope Geno stretches the pressure D to pull her further away from the basket. Otherwise she’s gunna just plant herself on the block like always. We can do it. Starts with Nika on the point. Advantage UConn.

 

[Nolefan]

I bet if Morrow ended up in the portal...there would be a change of heart in evaluating her. Perhaps you couldn't appreciate her in this game, but she's an undeniable talent and her collective work speaks for itself. She was unknown and put herself on the map.

Not sure she was a unknown wasn’t she a too 50 recruit and was injured her junior and senior years in HS I could be wrong but remember seeing that on this forum last year

 

[MD#12Fan]

I bet if Morrow ended up in the portal...there would be a change of heart in evaluating her. Perhaps you couldn't appreciate her in this game, but she's an undeniable talent and her collective work speaks for itself. She was unknown and put herself on the map.

You mean coming to UConn??

 

[hoophuskee]

I don’t agree with the backlash with Morrow. I thought the battle between her and Edwards was fantastic to watch, - yet I prefer perimeter play but I thought their battle was awesome which made this game extremely fun to watch.

For those that have played basketball, what Morrow was doing would happen to me when I was a guard trying to get inside rebounds at times. They give you a quick chuck in the back whether it be elbow or forearm just while the ball is hitting the rim. The chuck causes you to have to reset your body/legs before you could leap. By that time you reset and jump, you're too late going for the rebound. You could see Morrow doing something similar with arms and body constantly when going for contested rebounds when she is behind or lateral to the other player.

So what- she gets yelled at? Geno yells at everyone. And so what- she throws elbows. What's the expression? "Fight, scratch, and claw" for rebounds? That's the beauty of watching great competitive rebounders.

And how often do we hear that we want to see a deep bench? Well, with DePaul she is averaging 34.5 minutes vs 30.5 minutes last year with her team being a shell of past DePaul teams. What happens when you are a combination of worn down mentally and you’re a low post in which your team is overmatched all over the floor? A guard has it so much easier to look like they are "hustling" than a physical but smaller post competing against larger and very athletic players while she is the number 1 option, and also the number 1 defensive target in a hopeless situation.

Instead of any backlash on the terrific Morrow; how about an extra appreciation for UCONN? Because isn't this part of the reason why super players come to a powerhouse like UCONN? They come to UCONN so when they do play other teams that the opposing team will have a much, much harder time limiting your game vs what happened to a player like Morrow in this case.