End of second half subs

[UcMiami]

There were some comments about this on the game thread but that has gotten so long and wanted to discuss this more.
I was wondering about Geno's subbing once the game was well in hand - at first I thought he might be running the score but ... I think it comes down to a couple of things:
1. In the Geno show he did mention that the end of the bench has not been playing good basketball and he is a bit frustrated with them.
2. With CD out this game, the 'bench' is shorter.
3. Kiah and BB need to get some good time playing with starters - the offense gets so off track if at least two of the starters are not on the floor with them, that it really stunts their growth.
4. He was rotating a lot from like 10 minutes to 4 minutes with those seven (starters and 2) and he actually had more of the bench waiting at the scorers table for about 2 minutes before there was a stoppage.
5. I think he is still being careful with Heather and her wrist, especially in physical games like this.

So - my conclusion is that it was not his intention to 'run up the score'. The only real surprise to me was when Tiff came back in after he took her out when she had 4 fouls - she already had a new career high. Again - I think this was just getting the 7 used to each other in different combos.

 

[Olde Coach]

There were some comments about this on the game thread but that has gotten so long and wanted to discuss this more.
I was wondering about Geno's subbing once the game was well in hand - at first I thought he might be running the score but ... I think it comes down to a couple of things:
1. In the Geno show he did mention that the end of the bench has not been playing good basketball and he is a bit frustrated with them.
2. With CD out this game, the 'bench' is shorter.
3. Kiah and BB need to get some good time playing with starters - the offense gets so off track if at least two of the starters are not on the floor with them, that it really stunts their growth.
4. He was rotating a lot from like 10 minutes to 4 minutes with those seven (starters and 2) and he actually had more of the bench waiting at the scorers table for about 2 minutes before there was a stoppage.
5. I think he is still being careful with Heather and her wrist, especially in physical games like this.

So - my conclusion is that it was not his intention to 'run up the score'. The only real surprise to me was when Tiff came back in after he took her out when she had 4 fouls - she already had a new career high. Again - I think this was just getting the 7 used to each other in different combos.

I think you are right on target, Miami.

I think, in particular, that Geno was trying to give Stef and Kiah some time together -- the old "twin towers" approach. It sure worked with Cara and Rebecca. And with the progress Kiah is making, that approach is now available to Geno.

I have not read the game thread yet -- but I expect there will be some big kudos there for Kiah. She is rebounding and blocking better than Stef; and she is shooting quickly and with lots of confidence. We are going to need her the rest of the year.

Good insights.

 

[sarals24]

He might have wanted Tiff to have to play with 4 fouls to see how she would handle it. Not that fouling out in a game like this mattered, but it would against a team like ND. Good thing to practice.

 

[VAUConnFan]

Excuses, Excuses!

 

[vtcwbuff]

I was curious about the last second shot by Johnson. Normally the last few seconds are drilbbed out and it looked like that was happening last night - until
Johnson pout up a shot with 0.5 left on the clock and a 41 point lead.
Bad sportsmanship or possibly a holdover from the thugfest of a couple of years ago.

 

[CTyankee]

That last shot was quite surprising. Geno usually calls off the dogs when the game is settled and less than a minute or so. It could be that they did not see any signals he was trying to give them as a result of the basket being at the other end from the bench... or a holdover from the free-for-all of 2 years ago...

 

[rington]

It seemed to me that they just wanted Johnson to score her only basket of the game.

 

[Olde Coach]

That last shot was quite surprising. Geno usually calls off the dogs when the game is settled and less than a minute or so. It could be that they did not see any signals he was trying to give them as a result of the basket being at the other end from the bench... or a holdover from the free-for-all of 2 years ago...

I thought the Huskies tried 2 or 3 times to stand still and dribble out the clock; but the 'Cuse players kept hassling them.

So the only smart response to that was to go ahead and take the ball to the basket.

Bottom Line: UConn offered Syracuse the traditional "cease fire" or truce. Syracuse didn't accept it. So UConn said "OK, then we will keep fighting."