Enough of starters being tired

[browns]

Maybe after posters watched a completley outmaned Mizzo team playing only 7 people and beat the best team in the country they will stop complaining how Geno needs to sub more often so his players aren't gassed in the last quarter. Many times in the past Geno has had a 7-8 rotation and won championships that way.Uconn used to pride itself with being the best conditioned team in the country.What happened to that did they hire a new strength and condition coach if so maybe they should hire a new one.

 

[Twolf]

Maybe after posters watched a completley outmaned Mizzo team playing only 7 people and beat the best team in the country they will stop complaining how Geno needs to sub more often so his players aren't gassed in the last quarter. Many times in the past Geno has had a 7-8 rotation and won championships that way.Uconn used to pride itself with being the best conditioned team in the country.What happened to that did they hire a new strength and condition coach if so maybe they should hire a new one.

Andrea Hudy is the Director of sports performance for women’s basketball, a position she took over in May of 2021. Hudy was the primary director of sports performance for the UConn women’s program previously from 1995-2004, a period that saw UConn win 5 national championships, so she obviously has a track record of success in her field. She also served as the head S&C coach for men’s basketball at the University of Kansas for 15 years, and was recognized by coaches in Big 12 country as one of top people in her field. She spent the past 2 seasons in the same position at the University of Texas, before coming back to UConn. Having seen the results she produced at KU, I feel confident in saying the UConn women have one of the elite sports performance coaches at the NCAA level.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Virtually every team uses a 7 to 8 player rotation when "the going gets tough". I'm sure there are exceptions, but it is typical. Rutgers did it, Arizona does it, and I am shocked anyone is criticizing Geno in the matter (I don't typically read UConn team centric threads).

What is cool against weaker competition is that you can play a large number of players (as Arizona has done in most of the OOC) which not only gives them experience but also is part of the decision process for who are the players in the rotation and who might be a spot sub.

 

[Monte]

I am sure that most of you who have played basketball will agree with this statement: Team practices are more tiring and drain more out of you than playing in a game. ( Of course, this depends how a coach runs the workouts. ) Over the years, I have seen many more players showing extreme fatigue after a practice than after a game.

 

[Littlemin]

Nerves and overthinking have a thousand times more a 4th quarter effect than fatigue.

 

[diggerfoot]

In most cases the fatigue felt late in the game is mental, not physical. While there are things that can be done in practice to train against mental fatigue, it still can occur depending on the player and the game.

while a large rotation could, in theory, protect against mental fatigue as well, better still to have players like the recent ND championship team for which mental fatigue will not occur regardless. The value of a large rotation instead is to provide options and insurance, we are witnessing the insurance value this year. The drawback is that the more involved the offense or defense the harder it is to build chemistry with a large rotation.

 

[HuskyNan]

Have any of you guys ever been pushed, grabbed, and bumped around for 40 minutes? Teams are very physical with the Huskies and that is very demanding on their bodies. I personally feel it’s a contributing factor to the injuries the players are suffering.

Some of the tough guys on this board should get a clue.

 

[ucbart]

Maybe after posters watched a completley outmaned Mizzo team playing only 7 people and beat the best team in the country they will stop complaining how Geno needs to sub more often so his players aren't gassed in the last quarter. Many times in the past Geno has had a 7-8 rotation and won championships that way.Uconn used to pride itself with being the best conditioned team in the country.What happened to that did they hire a new strength and condition coach if so maybe they should hire a new one.

The only problem with this logic is that all teams are not built the same. If you play 7-8 players and a few of those can play multiple positions, it's easy to change them out and such. Our problem is that Evina, who is our 3rd PG on the depth chart, has to play that position the entire game. So, not only is she in a position that at UCONN, is totally foreign to her, she exclusively has to be there for 40 minutes, which has to be mentally draining for her....which leads to being tired physically. Our frontcourt has a little more depth and versatility at this point, so they can be interchanged.

Plenty of UCONN teams have gone 7 deep and never been tired, but those teams and players played in their positions. I mean, look at 2017. We basically played 6 players, the starters and Crystal. Natalie Butler sometimes played in big games, but not a lot. That team was never tired, but they were also perfectly balanced. If Lou needed a break, Crystal came in, Saniya played the 2, and Kia slid to the 3, and so on.... There were just a lot of different lineups you could play with 6 players.

This year, right now, in this moment, it's Evina and CW for 40 minutes...and against good teams, that's a grind while playing with a lineup that's been together for three weeks and played 3 games.

To bring this full circle, this isn't a conditioning problem, this is a we have our PG, the National POY and best player in WBB by a country mile sitting on the bench, the backup PG and probably the most passionate player on our team on the bench, the best shooter on our team, who is a future NPOY candidate, on the bench, and our best defender, most athletic player.....also sitting on the bench. Our bench, with DeBarry, could be the starting lineup next year-think about that. I mean, it probably won't be, but it very well could be.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

In most cases the fatigue felt late in the game is mental, not physical. While there are things that can be done in practice to train against mental fatigue, it still can occur depending on the player and the game.

while a large rotation could, in theory, protect against mental fatigue as well, better still to have players like the recent ND championship team for which mental fatigue will not occur regardless. The value of a large rotation instead is to provide options and insurance, we are witnessing the insurance value this year. The drawback is that the more involved the offense or defense the harder it is to build chemistry with a large rotation.

Lot of truth here, but physical fatigue, specifically oxygen deprivation, definitely impacts mental performance. And just because someone has a Ferrari motor doesn't necessarily equate to being a good driver. The truth is we're dealing with a formula with a lot of variables, the most important one being the individual players. My personal observation is that general conditioning seems to have taken a hit. The irony is that it could be the result of working out too much. I forget (shame on me) the name of the coach who trained FloJo, but I read where he emphasized her elevating her performances in fractions of seconds so she wouldn't crash and burn and prematurely wear out her body and career....permanently. I think one of the reasons why there are so many injuries these days is because of the AAU circuit. It's too many games added to already busy HS schedules, invitationals, the Olympics, national teams, etc....on still-developing bodies. Asia Wilson was smart.

 

[Centerstream]

Have any of you guys ever been pushed, grabbed, and bumped around for 40 minutes? Teams are very physical with the Huskies and that is very demanding on their bodies. I personally feel it’s a contributing factor to the injuries the players are suffering.

Some of the tough guys on this board should get a clue.

Gee, I thought being clueless was a prerequisite for some of us BYers.

 

[Littlemin]

In most cases the fatigue felt late in the game is mental, not physical. While there are things that can be done in practice to train against mental fatigue, it still can occur depending on the player and the game.

while a large rotation could, in theory, protect against mental fatigue as well, better still to have players like the recent ND championship team for which mental fatigue will not occur regardless. The value of a large rotation instead is to provide options and insurance, we are witnessing the insurance value this year. The drawback is that the more involved the offense or defense the harder it is to build chemistry with a large rotation.

Have any of you guys ever been pushed, grabbed, and bumped around for 40 minutes? Teams are very physical with the Huskies and that is very demanding on their bodies. I personally feel it’s a contributing factor to the injuries the players are suffering.

Some of the tough guys on this board should get a clue.

Not sure who you are addressing but WCBB in general is played that way for whatever reasons, it is not a uniquely Uconn experience. So if that were an overriding criteria for poor late play, virtually every team should be affected.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Have any of you guys ever been pushed, grabbed, and bumped around for 40 minutes? Teams are very physical with the Huskies and that is very demanding on their bodies. I personally feel it’s a contributing factor to the injuries the players are suffering.

Some of the tough guys on this board should get a clue.

UConn games are no more or no less physical than any other team in the country. UConn’s woes have nothing to do with being and tired or being bumped so pushed. At the end of the day, It all comes down to talent. UConn’s talent, excluding Paige Bueckers, has been over rated.

 

[HuskyNan]

UConn games are no more or no less physical than any other team in the country. UConn’s woes have nothing to do with being and tired or being bumped so pushed.

You know this how?

 

[HopJim]

Asking if the posters comparing this year's UConn team to others that play 7-8 have watched any games. Huskies only playing 6 with the one point guard, Evina, playing entire game on bad knee.

 

[Littlemin]

Asking if the posters comparing this year's UConn team to others that play 7-8 have watched any games. Huskies only playing 6 with the one point guard, Evina, playing entire game on bad knee.

I have watched every game and do not even begin to subscribe to the theory that athletes in their late teens to early 20’s get fatigued playing a 40 minute game of basketball. Obviously, all who think they do are more than entitled to disagree.
And if it were the case, then shame on the coaching staff for not buying minutes to give them a blow. I coached for many years and there are a multitude of ways to manage it, especially with 4 TV timeouts a game.

 

[baggerbob]

Maybe after posters watched a completley outmaned Mizzo team playing only 7 people and beat the best team in the country they will stop complaining how Geno needs to sub more often so his players aren't gassed in the last quarter. Many times in the past Geno has had a 7-8 rotation and won championships that way.Uconn used to pride itself with being the best conditioned team in the country.What happened to that did they hire a new strength and condition coach if so maybe they should hire a new one.

2012-2013 basically played 7, Doty played very few minutes. KLM, Ferris, Dolson, Stewart, Hartley, Jefferson, Tuck.
2013-2014 basically played 6, Dolson, KLM, Hartley, Jefferson, Stewart, Stokes.
Those teams had no problem being tired, instead they wore other teams out.

 

[oldude]

It’s been a very long time since I played competitive basketball. But I can honestly say that I can never remember being tired in a game, ever, even playing the entire game without a rest. I do remember plenty of brutal practices, running suicides until my lungs felt like they were about to collapse and my legs felt like rubber. I agree with those who suggest that at this level, with young, fit players, it’s far more about mental fatigue than physical fatigue.

 

[sun]

This article describes increased overuse injuries among female basketball players compared to men due to known differences between men and women.
This may not be directly related to fatigue although there has been injury research done on that too.
One article that I recall reading mentioned that more injures occur among high school athletes later in games when fatigue or overuse begins to occur.
It was a topic after Paige was injured because of what many thought was possibly due to fatigue or overuse.
I believe that players do get fatigued and that it can be a factor, and because some women may have looser ligaments as explained in the article, that they may suffer more injuries as a result.
It doesn't necessarily mean that a player will suffer injury, it only means that the chances are greater.

Another question is how fatigue can affect performance.
Each player may be affected differently depending on the specific game.
People aren't machines, they're only human.

Why are there more injuries in the WNBA?

Female basketball players compete constantly and are suffering overuse injuries to lower extremities because of physiology and lack of recovery period.

globalsportmatters.com

 

[TeamFirst!]

Many of the top teams play waves of players and if they have the personnel it is a strategic advantage. Stanford, SC ...etc. No one averaged more than 28 minutes on SC last time I checked. Even Boston. There is a difference between "good" and "excellent". It may be that in today's game it is real tough to be "excellent" for 40 minutes. It requires lots of pushing and shoving in the paint. It requires lots of player movement and intense defense. The reality of today's game is that the top teams have deep rosters generally.

 

[oldude]

In 2015 UConn went 38-1, winning their 3rd straight championship with what was basically a 6 player rotation: Stewie, Mo, Tuck, KML, Kia & Kiah. In a physical championship game vs ND, UConn won 63-53, playing only 7 players against 8 Irish players.

In fact, UConn really played 6 players with Gabby’s stat line of only 3 minutes & 1 pf. Tuck, KML & Mo played all 40 minutes. Stewie played 39 minutes. Kia played 28 minutes and Kiah contributed a solid 10 minutes off the bench.

You don’t need a deep bench to win if you have the right 5-6 players on the court.

 

[LoboDays]

While other coaches use their OOC schedule to determine what the entire roster can or cannot do, Geno determines who will play or not play based on the practices. With the growing talent level in this sport, we see very good players deep into the roster. Some of them, for unexplained reasons, just don’t shine in practices but shine when it’s game time. Geno needs to make some changes or the portal will look like the Lincoln Tunnel at rush hour.

 

[Wilderness]

Brain runs on same fuel as muscles. If you want great decision making late in the game...don't be glycogen-depleted. Could be the high energy defense we play with extended minutes for the starters contributes to our too often weak fourth quarters.

 

[TeamFirst!]

It seems like every major women's soccer player gets an ACL at some point in their career, and often several. Studies have shown it's at a 2x to 8x rate compared to men. It may be that women are more susceptible to at least some injuries than men.

 

[Cuango]

Lincoln Tunnel response (Somehow the post I was responding to, didn’t come along.)

If that is true (doubtful imo) we/he will see it at the end of this season for sure and he will adjust (or not) accordingly. Some transfers are actually beneficial for both sides. Saylor and Mir will now (hopefully) be able to showcase their skills on teams that actually need them, teams where they won’t be buried behind better players.

Meanwhile, this opens two roster spots for the staff to fill with potentially better players more suited to the current style of play. A cynic might say, “those two replacements may transfer too”. That is true, but they may also become part of a 12th, 13th, 14th championship. “You pays your money, you takes your chances”!

 

[Twolf]

While other coaches use their OOC schedule to determine what the entire roster can or cannot do, Geno determines who will play or not play based on the practices. With the growing talent level in this sport, we see very good players deep into the roster. Some of them, for unexplained reasons, just don’t shine in practices but shine when it’s game time. Geno needs to make some changes or the portal will look like the Lincoln Tunnel at rush hour.

If a player has the ability to shine in a D-1 game there is no explanation for why that same ability wouldn’t shine in practice. There are only 2 logical reasons why a player doesn’t execute a given assignment: they don’t have the ability to do it, or they choose not to. Do different players play better under game pressure, absolutely, but given how the UConn program was built under GA, if you don’t shine in practice there’s a pretty slim chance that player would get the opportunity to shine in a game. Personally, I don’t see a coach with a .885 winning % being the one who needs to change.

JMO