I really like ONO. Although her post moves and interior shooting are really raw, she's mobile and moves and passes fairly well from the high post. Unfortunately, she's never been taught any defensive fundamentals. Defense is played primarily by moving the feet but she reaches, grabs, and swings her arms to block shots. All habits that must be broken while learning positioning and foot movement. If Auriemma plans to play her often and early it's going to be hard for her to stay on the floor because of foul trouble. Along with getting much stronger, she has a lot of work to do but she seems like a good kid who will work so the sooner the better.
BINGO!!! You hit the nail on the head!!! Over the last 7 days, we saw (as one poster put it) a "raw" ONO. A player that has not yet had opportunity of being coached and toutored by Geno and staff. You can bet, ALL of her bad habits will be broken, as she goes through Geno's "Boot camp for freshmen", a car wash if you will guaranteed to "cleanse"
all of their bad habits to date. I'm sure that Geno and staff watched (and took notes)
every game team USA played in this tournament.
UConn will need ONO's presence on the floor this year, and as you said, she must remain available by staying out of foul trouble. Learning how to do that at this level may take awhile. Knowing how to guard someone closely, like blocking shots
without fouling, is an art. Shot blocking is: leaping ability, spacing and timing.
Everyone she will be guarding this season will be older, stronger and more mature/experienced.
Olivia like Christyn, will be on the fast track to learning the system and how to play UConn basketball. It's a track they'll be on all season. Of their 4 years in Storrs, this first one will be their most difficult. This time next year, they'll know what they are suppose to do, and will completely understnad all phases of the system. Right now like all freshmen, they don't have a clue.
They are both intelligent and willing subjects that say they are excited to be a Husky, and learn at the feet of the master. They have both said they're up for the challenge. Not only will the coaches be teaching and coaching them, but their teammates will be pouring into them daily as well. I'll be looking to see where they are at the Christmas break, when the majority of the games with ranked teams on the schedule will be behind them. Don't forget, there's that "freshman wall" that will be waiting for them around the first of the year. They'll have to cope with that dynamic also.
