FDU Postgame Thread (merged)

[reelfan]

Coach P & student, priceless !!

 

[caseyb7]

Single best sports experience of my life - surpasses national championship games, World Series, NFL playoffs, Bruins, Celtics.

I was super fortunate to buy a "day of event" ticket at the Window and sat 107 B 1 - 2 rows off the court. Been watching/attending UConn games since the early 1990s and I hope the FEELING in the arena translated to those watching on TV.

It was emotional. I sat next to the student section & band and their feeling/joy/celebration was contagious. Rebecca Lobo cheered them on prior to the game. Everywhere you turned there was basketball royalty in an expression of joy.

I believe they announced something like 60 former players were on hand - which is nuts as it is like 40% of everyone ever in the program. All have lives, responsibilities and are spread all over the land - yet they were here.

The post-game was unlike any I'd been part of (including 3 Natties). Everyone was so happy I just can't describe it. I sat with a couple & child from Montana viewing their first ever Div 1 game, when mascot Jonathan walked by they got a photo.

Maya, CD, Rebecca, Dianna, Sue, Meg - even Coach - touched everyone of us with their words as we all stayed for the after-game. All of us were dumb-struck with joy.

CD/Geno specifically commented on how the students/fans built the place, and from the sentiment in the crowd that was shared.

So cool, so special, people were so happy. I brought a hand-made sign, "Geno for the record - 1,217 - 11/20/24" and a couple fans helped me after the game for a photo against the court/ceremony backdrop. I'll put it up on a metallic print, enlarged to hang on my wall. Perhaps the best souvenir I'll ever have.

This was magical.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Geew1992]

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Thanks?

It’s a compliment for sure and a reflection on how my own attitude has changed.

Geno deserves the recognition and honors. He’s changed the sport for the better and no one will ever match his accomplishments.

 

[yhun89]

Decimate a team, and then five minutes later in the postgame conference they do this; they're so unserious

 

[HuskyNan]

It’s a compliment for sure and a reflection on how my own attitude has changed.

Geno deserves the recognition and honors. He’s changed the sport for the better and no one will ever match his accomplishments.

I hope you get a chance to talk to him some day. He could sometimes be a crazy man on the sideline, and it was worse when he was younger, but he’s the warmest, most charismatic person off the court. Diana Taurasi once said, "He's an Italian softy. He tries to come off with all this machoism, but he smokes his cigar, drinks a little wine and that's all he is."

 

[MSSportsGuy]

I hope you get a chance to talk to him some day. He could sometimes be a crazy man on the sideline, and it was worse when he was younger, but he’s the warmest, most charismatic person off the court. Diana Taurasi once said, "He's an Italian softy. He tries to come off with all this machoism, but he smokes his cigar, drinks a little wine and that's all he is."

I’d love to get the chance. I never got to meet Summitt or even Vic when he was at MSU. I did meet the prior coach Sharon Fanning Otis and she is a lovely person.

Most of these coaches are much different off the court than in the heat of a game.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Bone Dog]

OMG. I love this photo. Could Sarah have chosen a better program? I mean there she is surrounded by greats who have welcomed her into their august company, their sisterhood. Teammates at any school often become lifelong friends. But I suspect very few programs can foster friendships on this scale. This photo says it all.

Classic moment: in the second half when the blowout is in full swing, Paige is stalking the sideline and Sarah reaches out to pull her back because she’s blocking the view. One freshman phenom can pull her friend and teammate, a former freshman phenom and arguably the greatest player in D1, in to a seat by the back of her shorts, all overseen by her childhood hero, Maya, and Sue and Diana. Oh, the memories she’ll make here.

 

[Centerstream]

So glad that Nika "showed up." If there was any player that I thought would do their best to be there, it was her. But I also understand that she has other obligations too.

 

[Ozimoto]

What a wonderful evening. Personally, I thought the team played well. They were getting anything they wanted on offense. It's just that the shots weren't falling. They weren't missing by much, but the lid was on the basked for a number of players.

Other than one player for FDU (the freshman) who lit it up in the first half, the defense was stifling. Holding a team to 41 points is nothing to sneeze at.

I think the players were star struck and trying to live up to the former players who were in attendance. Sarah seemed to be the first to get past that and hit her shots. The others will follow. I expect much better shooting percentages in the upcoming tournament. I also liked that only two free throws were missed and the team assist to turnover ratio was almost four.

 

[jdote33]

Chen and Ice have been really solid thus far. There consistency alongside Strong and Paige is super encouraging.
I think kk has been super solid in her role too.
I was happy to see Azzi back. I really thought she'd wait until December.
Jana had a rough game but it's all good. It's game 4. It's interesting in international play I saw her be a versatile, stretch 5 type of player. At UConn she's like a traditional 5. There are moments on the perimeter where I expect her to shoot but she doesn't seem comfortable.
I like that Sarah Strong kept shooting 3s. She's struggled from the perimeter but the last one she hit was like a semi transition pull up 3. Really tough.

 

[yhun89]

Chen and Ice have been really solid thus far. There consistency alongside Strong and Paige is super encouraging.
I think kk has been super solid in her role too.
I was happy to see Azzi back. I really thought she'd wait until December.
Jana had a rough game but it's all good. It's game 4. It's interesting in international play I saw her be a versatile, stretch 5 type of player. At UConn she's like a traditional 5. There are moments on the perimeter where I expect her to shoot but she doesn't seem comfortable.
I like that Sarah Strong kept shooting 3s. She's struggled from the perimeter but the last one she hit was like a semi transition pull up 3. Really tough.

Slight disagree on Chen.

The problem I see with her is the scoring instinct, it's TOO prevalent. She drives into traffic when she shouldn't, gets stuck, and can't pass the ball back out because she gets crowded. A TO or a steal by the other team easily.

Last night she had a few of those drives where she was forced to circle under the basket to try again. It was a waste of about 5 seconds on the shot clock. She shouldn't have taken the drive, but she did, likely due to her Princeton "Primary scoring" instinct.
She did this at UNC where her shot was blocked. She should't have driven on Toomey in the first place, especially with Maria there as well.

Other than that, she's done fine I would say. Still growing into her role, but hey, it's game 4.

 

[hoophuskee]

Disclosure: I'm a big fan of shooting but I don't worry the overall 3pt shooting from the team. However, just 2 things I'm very interested in--

1--- Sarah's 3pt shooting. When Azzi is back to full health this team could be devastating. With their passing which should be elite, Sarah's 3pt shooting so critical. She is an enormous mismatch. If she hits 3's and we know she has fantastic handle Her ability to knock down the 3 can limit an opposing team's ability to play "bully ball" because their PF cannot guard her other than "hope she misses."

2--- Going forward ofc expect that Jana can hit layups. But Free Throws need to be converted at a much higher %. I know Rebecca Lobo mentioned Jana's free throw shooting being not good vs North Carolina but her free throws at that game looked very smooth - soft touch. But, in this past game they were bricks overall which surprised me. Her f/t shooting for seaosn right now is not good. I expect she will do better but if she is not a good f/t shooter throughout the year then in close games she will be a limited player that you really can't play her late very often for risk of being deliberately fouled even if under the cloud of going for the ball/ contesting her shot etc.

 

[Bone Dog]

2--- Going forward ofc expect that Jana can hit layups. But Free Throws need to be converted at a much higher %. I know Rebecca Lobo mentioned Jana's free throw shooting being not good vs North Carolina but her free throws at that game looked very smooth - soft touch. But, in this past game they were bricks overall which surprised me. Her f/t shooting for seaosn right now is not good. I expect she will do better but if she is not a good f/t shooter throughout the year then in close games she will be a limited player that you really can't play her late very often for risk of being deliberately fouled even if under the cloud of going for the ball/ contesting her shot etc.

True. I recall that in high school and FIBA games Jana was a very good FT shooter. In the game against China, she brought Egypt back from a huge deficit in the 4th q largely on free throws. To me, she's looked distracted at the FT line the last few games. I can only hope she settles herself and recovers her old form.

 

[HuskyNan]

True. I recall that in high school and FIBA games Jana was a very good FT shooter. In the game against China, she brought Egypt back from a huge deficit in the 4th q largely on free throws. To me, she's looked distracted at the FT line the last few games. I can only hope she settles herself and recovers her old form.

Jana appears annoyed with herself, letting the misses bother her, and she has the impatience of youth. She just needs to concentrate on other areas, maybe rebounds and blocks, and the other parts of her game will come.

 

[Centerstream]

I also liked that only two free throws were missed and the team assist to turnover ratio was almost four.

Nitpicking: we missed 3 FTs, all in the 4th quarter. For the game we were 11-14.
I was really impressed by the fact that we only committed 4 fouls, 1 by a starter.

 

[Ozimoto]

It's ok. Pick those nits. I was trying to read the box score last night while a very insistent dog was telling me it was time for his before bed walk.

 

[BRS24]

True. I recall that in high school and FIBA games Jana was a very good FT shooter. In the game against China, she brought Egypt back from a huge deficit in the 4th q largely on free throws. To me, she's looked distracted at the FT line the last few games. I can only hope she settles herself and recovers her old form.

Jana appears annoyed with herself, letting the misses bother her, and she has the impatience of youth. She just needs to concentrate on other areas, maybe rebounds and blocks, and the other parts of her game will come.

It looks like Jana is trying to make up almost 2 years of not playing in every single play. Once she settles into the routine, she'll be good.

 

[JellyBean]

What a game! One a special night with so many UConn legends. Well legends to me at least, the team played well. It was great to see Azzi and that awesome smile back out there. She will get her rhythm back and into game flow in time. I was just happy to see her out there. Sarah looks impressive. Her shooting stroke is only going to get better. She looks comfortable and her confidence continues to grow. She is going to be special. I will post more later. But great win.

 

[oldude]

Jana appears annoyed with herself, letting the misses bother her, and she has the impatience of youth. She just needs to concentrate on other areas, maybe rebounds and blocks, and the other parts of her game will come.

Jana will certainly spend some therapy time with Jamelle, the “Post Whisperer.”

 

[HuskyNan]

Nitpicking: we missed 3 FTs, all in the 4th quarter. For the game we were 11-14.
I was really impressed by the fact that we only committed 4 fouls, 1 by a starter.

All 3 misses were by Jana.

 

[MooseJaw]

Been watching Geno for 35 years, love his approach to games, practices and his love for his staff and mostly his players, past and present. Congratulations Geno and C.D.
Players have been mentioned in this thread and everyone disserved credit for this win. A player who is getting few minutes but going 100% every second on the court while making things happen, offensively and defensively, Morgan Cheli. Morgan so far has busted her butt every second while making things happen whenever she gets a chance. IMO she will leave a big mark at UCONN in her 4 years and be a rotation player soon. Big things to come for our Huskies and a few hundred more wins for Geno and CD.