End the grand experiment - Please? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

End the grand experiment - Please?

Have you ever played the game, coach, scouted or worked out players?
Yes.
Does that allow me to continually harp on the things that I know Geno is doing wrong, game in and game out. Don't know, but being on the BY allows me to do that, because that is what the BY is for.

And I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express while doing them. :rolleyes:
 
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Megan NEVER passes to Kyla no matter how open.

Really? NEVER? You must be channeling Geno and exaggerate to make a point or I guess I must have been watching a different team yesterday during this play

 
Really? NEVER? You must be channeling Geno and exaggerate to make a point or I guess I must have been watching a different team yesterday during this play


One of those, guess which one
 
Geno, in one post game interview said, it's not fair that Kyla has to play 30 minutes. She is not a 30 minute player. But Geno believes no one else is stepping up. I thought that was kinda a left handed compliment for Kyla. She is trying as hard as she can. Any way, this is how Geno sees it, and he is around his players a lot more than we are. Plus he has input from his assistants, who I'm sure would offer their advice if they felt someone else should be playing instead of Kyla.
 
Not to pick on Irwin; but, the numbers from these last 3 games
1) Baylor................. Minutes 32 Points 0 Rebounds 2
2) Houston............ Minutes 18 Points 0 Rebounds 3
3) Memphis.......... Minutes 24 Points 0 Rebounds 4

Running around setting picks only disrupts ball movement, which is UCONN's bread and butter.

Were you pondering why everyone seems to be standing around? Well, they they are watching the ball handler trying desperately to use these multiple picks that never seem to quite work and the clock runs down.....

Anyone seriously disagreeing, do tell.
No assists?
 
Not to pick on Irwin; but, the numbers from these last 3 games
1) Baylor................. Minutes 32 Points 0 Rebounds 2
2) Houston............ Minutes 18 Points 0 Rebounds 3
3) Memphis.......... Minutes 24 Points 0 Rebounds 4

Running around setting picks only disrupts ball movement, which is UCONN's bread and butter.

Were you pondering why everyone seems to be standing around? Well, they they are watching the ball handler trying desperately to use these multiple picks that never seem to quite work and the clock runs down.....

Anyone seriously disagreeing, do tell.
I have been saying that for awhile ! Irwin must be Geno's favorite player. We are playing 4 on 5.
 
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Agreed. If one remembers, one of the prettiest teams we ever had (for running offense) was the 13-14 season (40-0) with the second highest Assists ever (850). That team had a player who was known for setting picks (arguably illegal on occasion), one Ms. Stephanie Dolson.

Yea, you need picks to run this offense. Maybe @Big Mick wasn't around then.
There’s a difference between Dolson setting licks and Irwin. Yes they are setting picks but the big in the high post also can roll and be an option for a mid range or slide to the basket. What Irwin does now is less effective because teams can scout that away by going harder around the screens and not worrying about Kyla as an offensive threat.
 
Let me try this "one" :) last time:

UCONN's game is based on continuous movement. Within that movement they try to pick-off their defender using any player (teammate or opponent) on the floor. Until recently, they were not a team that dribbles back and forth around the 3 point line trying to use one of those picks to get a shot. Noooo, previously they created open shots with ball movement. For Christ sake, Geno wants them to "READ" and "REACT".

And so, what happens: When Irwin is in the game, all of the above goes out the window as the ball handler (be it Dangerfield, Williams or Walker) works diligently to use those picks; meanwhile, the other three stand around waiting for something to react to. And then, as the clocks runs down (sometimes out) we end up with a not very good shot.

Bad idea, get rid of.
I’m seeing the same thing BigMick. In my other lost I also point out that Kyla and Dolson setting picks is not the same. If Kyla cannot make the perfect pass each time or be a good enough offensive threat, setting picks isnt good enough to warrant a starting spot IMHO.
 
Geno has said a million times he won’t play someone unless he knows what he’ll get from her, presumably what she’s been showing him in practice. Geno knows what he’s getting from Kyla. Other players, especially streaky freshmen? Not so much
 
Yes.
Does that allow me to continually harp on the things that I know Geno is doing wrong, game in and game out. Don't know, but being on the BY allows me to do that, because that is what the BY is for.

And I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express while doing them. :rolleyes:
No you dont have to but who are you to question what other people say on here! Sure question what there saying or disagree with them but dont put them down!

I only stay in Hiltons!
 
Geno has said a million times he won’t play someone unless he knows what he’l Get from him, presumably what she’s been showing him in practice. Geno knows what he’s getting from Kyla. Other players, especially streaky freshmen? Not so much
In the last three games, Kyla took 7 shots in 74 minutes played. She has taken a total of 4 free throws this season in 306 minutes. She has taken a total of 10 shots inside the three-point line in all those minutes and presumably some of the those were probably put-backs off of missed shots. She cannot create and she rarely shoots. In those 306 minutes she has 1 block and 3 steals. It baffles me why she (and Molly, too) won't shoot the ball.
 
Thanks @meyers7 for saving me the trouble of typing this all out.

One addition, You play the best team. Anna has abilities, Aubrey has abilities, Kyla makes the team better than either of them. I didn't say that, Geno did.
Geno said Irwin made the team move more in an interview in previous days before the game. Geno said after the game that Irwin hasn’t played as well in the last 2 to 3 weeks. Geno said he’s very happy with Ania now in the last two pressers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a change in the lineup for UCF.
 
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Geno, won't do this and probably if I was the Coach I wouldn't do it either. However, I would like to see Evelyn Adebayo get the start for three or four games to see if she can be the player she was last year. She would score at least as many points as Kyla does and IMO get more rebounds. This team needs more rebounding. I would start Evelyn against AAC teams and let her get 20+ minutes. The passing offense would probably suffer, but would get better the more Evelyn plays. Perhaps Evelyn is not a practice player, but if she got minutes she would get back to last years level.

When and If Batouly Camara is healthy, I immediately get her playing time to see if she can provide productive minutes. Highly unlikely that Camara will be a 20+ minute player, but if she can provide 8-10 minutes that would help.
 
My eyes see Aubrey as ultimately the best player on the team. 5 Aubreys would win the super bowl!!!
 
There’s a difference between Dolson setting licks and Irwin.
Yes. Big difference. (hence why the offense ran so well during Dolson's reign). She is bigger, better shooter, better screener, better passer. She was an AA. However, that has nothing to do with my point for Mickey. He seems to think we don't need anyone to set picks to run offense. In fact, he has stated setting picks is detrimental to running UCONN's offense. Which is about the dumbest thing I've read on here in quite some time. I do hope you don't subscribe to Mickey's warped view.

Yes they are setting picks but the big in the high post also can roll and be an option for a mid range or slide to the basket. What Irwin does now is less effective because teams can scout that away by going harder around the screens and not worrying about Kyla as an offensive threat.
Yes, I stated as much (if you read what I wrote). Except I added in the caveat that Irwin should probably flare instead of roll since shooting 3's is more in her wheelhouse. But either way, she does need to be more of an offensive threat.

Still has nothing to do with the fact the half court offense runs better with Irwin than with Makurat or Griffin at this point.
 
Geno, won't do this and probably if I was the Coach I wouldn't do it either. However, I would like to see Evelyn Adebayo get the start for three or four games to see if she can be the player she was last year. She would score at least as many points as Kyla does and IMO get more rebounds. This team needs more rebounding. I would start Evelyn against AAC teams and let her get 20+ minutes. The passing offense would probably suffer, but would get better the more Evelyn plays. Perhaps Evelyn is not a practice player, but if she got minutes she would get back to last years level.

When and If Batouly Camara is healthy, I immediately get her playing time to see if she can provide productive minutes. Highly unlikely that Camara will be a 20+ minute player, but if she can provide 8-10 minutes that would help.

Geno won't do this and I probably wouldn't either, however I'd like to see someone jump out of a plane without a parachute. They'd probably splat on the ground, but maybe if we gave them enough time and they flapped their arms enough, they would fly.

Head bang

Damn people, some of ya'll do make my head hurt.
 
My eyes see Aubrey as ultimately the best player on the team. 5 Aubreys would win the super bowl!!!
At present, 5 Aubrey’s would look like a fire drill on the court. If you don’t know where to go in the offense you can’t run offense.
 
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At present, 5 Aubrey’s would look like a Chinese fire drill on the court. If you don’t know where to go in the offense you can’t run offense.
I always enjoy the Chinese fire drill in the movies, I laugh and chuckle and chortle. :D
 
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Off-topic but since it's here - careful mates - there's nothing "Chinese" about the "fire drill" - it's based on a stereotype and its offensive (no I'm not Chinese and I'm not especially PC).

Check this piece from NPR.
 
Geno won't do this and I probably wouldn't either, however I'd like to see someone jump out of a plane without a parachute. They'd probably splat on the ground, but maybe if we gave them enough time and they flapped their arms enough, they would fly.

Head bang

Damn people, some of ya'll do make my head hurt.
Well stated but I am sure that many will continue to disagree with you.
 
No you dont have to but who are you to question what other people say on here! Sure question what there saying or disagree with them but dont put them down!

I only stay in Hiltons!
Fine.
 
...caveat that Irwin should probably flare instead of roll since shooting 3's is more in her wheelhouse...
...the fact the half court offense runs better with Irwin than with Makurat or Griffin.....


A starter that averaged 24 minutes these past 3 games; and, produced ZERO points in those 74 minutes.

Slow of foot, can't defend down low (no hops), can't defend at the perimeter (immobile), no offensive game.

BTW - she doesn't roll nor flare as she simply turns around and sets the pick for the reverse dribble. Which is the prime reason why the motion offense bogs down.

Given all those negatives, you think she should get those minutes because she sets a bunch of picks.

Respectfully; BUT, Seriously?
 
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Mark my words-- the proof is not always in the pudding. People should sit back and find reasons to enjoy the games. I have chosen a long time ago not to second a coach- and Geno in particular. If I were to make a guess, I would argue that this is not a championship team. And were they to lose at S. Carolina, it is hard to see where the improvement would come to bring forth another outcome in the Tour. For one, the field has improved so much that none of the top teams can win by relying or playing 4/3 against 5. Teams like Baylor are not only athletic (more than Uconn) but are well skilled, and they have replacements of various status. I really doubt that the Uconn coaches were caught off guard-- although they have never been a football hold kind of program.
Secondly, in some strange way the current player-type do not fit what I would take to be the typical Uconn player. As players, I do not have the sense that they can play faster than what we are seeing. I think this might be the reason so many have talked-up Aubrey. She moves and do not mind playing in traffic. CW can too, but prefers to have the ball. Megan is, in my view, a player that does not "hunt" shots and do not run-a-around. She is very competent, but she does not or cannot create for others. She has an outside shot, can put the ball on the floor and drive, she needs to play as KLS did in opening the defense. Instead, she holds the ball and survey then act.
It will be interesting to see how things get fleshed out. Crystal and Irwin are seniors with ambition to play further. For Crystal, he will have to find rest for her, and extend her playing time into the tourney to improve her lottery. For Irwin, starting or substantial playing time will help her find a spot over seas. Geno has been dedicated to his players in putting them in a position to reach their goal.
 
My eyes see Aubrey as ultimately the best player on the team. 5 Aubreys would win the super bowl!!!


Welcome to the funny farm, buzzsaw.

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A starter that averaged 24 minutes these past 3 games; and, produced ZERO points in those 74 minutes.
And the 3 games before that she had 17 points and 7 assists in 66 minutes. Yea, she's in a bit of a slump right now, that she needs to get out of.

BTW - she doesn't roll nor flare as she simply turns around and sets the pick for the reverse dribble. Which is the prime reason why the motion offense bogs down.
True she needs to roll or flare more (or at all). And shoot when she's open. But her setting picks is NOT (repeat NOT, cause you don't seem to be able to understand) why the offense is bogging down. In fact when she is in there setting picks the offense runs better than when she is not in there. That's just the way it IS right now.

Given all those negatives, you think she should get those minutes because she sets a bunch of picks.
I (and Geno seems to agree) think she should get those minutes because the offense (which we're having lots of trouble with this year) runs better when she is in the game. I'm sure Geno wishes he had other options or that the offense would run better with a player who can score or rebound more. But at this point in the season, this is what he's got.

Both Makurat and Griffin would seem to have a lot more upside. Unfortunately at this present time, the offense isn't working as well with them in the game. Especially ( and this is important) in slow down, beat 'em up, half court games. Like Memphis was and UCF is probably gonna be.
 
That's a pretty harsh assessment and quite frankly it's wrong. Kyla has played some fine games this season. Of late, she has struggled somewhat. As far as the 5th starter is concerned, there is no other player on the team that has demonstrated a level of consistency that clearly justifies playing them over Kyla. Anna is close, and the time may be at hand to insert her back in the lineup. But Anna will also make mistakes as freshmen do. This will be a season long challenge for Geno and the team.
I hate to join in this sometimes overly emotional conversation, but....Dude captures my thoughts as well. Today, Geno is able to build a game plan that includes Kyla as a starter. Her level of consistent play today is also at her upside, skill wise. Anna has been inconsistent but seems limited today more by confidence As he has done in many seasons, likely Geno has a better idea of what he needs for the season's success and will begin making changes.
 

Look meyers7, you make some valid points. I don't "usually" get into a back and forth - simply giving my take on some aspects of a game or trends.

Anyway, in contested games (Baylor, Tennessee, S Car, NCAA Tournament) Kyla Irwin will get walk on minutes, that's a given. Although, possibly not in the big OOC games vs S. Car and Tennessee.

In this moment, Geno is dangling those non productive Irwin minutes to entice:
1) Anna to win some of those minutes by dropping 7+ points a game.
2) Aubrey to win some of those minutes by either getting put-back points or kicking the ball out, as she has been winning some offensive boards, impressively.

Sans neither of those happening, goodbye even elite 8....

Sooo - it's a waiting/balancing game for Geno....luckily he has all of the remaining AAC games to extract what he can from those two. Either way - come NCAA tournament time there will be big changes in minutes played by Kyla, Anna and Aubrey. Take that to the bank, as it were :)
 
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