First it was three, then four and now five

[Icebear]

Best player?? I don't know! But she is for sure the only player on the team that can (and did) take over games--and alone can move a stagnant score from 50 tie to a 20 point advantage--simply by willing her self to do it--and puking between shots.
That was one of the most amazing and encouraging performance i have ever witnessed in watching and playing basketball.
Nan said she was channeling DT. (or words to that effect). High praise indeed~!!

Gabby was the one who took over the ND game.

 

[Icebear]

Often it is the quality of the pass she receives that slightly alters the rhythm - it is a shot she should be taking, but the pass is low or off center and that puts just a small kink in the process. Happens with everyone and it is one area that Uconn is generally really good at, but this year more than they recent past their are a few more 'errant' passes each game that mess with the rhythm of the shooter.

Ball delivery to the shooter is an art and really important. No one today is better at it than Lebron. He has talked about his effort to deliver the ball not just to the position each different player receives it but, also, how the seams are when they arrive in the players hands. Yes, he was serious.

 

[Buzzyboy]

What I liked about Chong's game was, though she missed her first two 3's, she contributed with assists and defense: and, later, took open 3's and made them.

Danger being out will definitely help her, and Molly.

Sounds like maturity. If she were to mope and get down on herself and not do what Geno expects, she's not playing. As a senior, does anyone expect anything different from her???

 

[Buzzyboy]

Gabby was the one who took over the ND game.

Don't quite agree. Gabby was great but KLS was a monster and when you take into account her illness, it was beyond great. Don't you think that her teammates knew what she was dealing with and if one of your teammates is playing inspired ball while physically ill, don't you think that's a bit of additional motivation?????

 

[Buzzyboy]

Often it is the quality of the pass she receives that slightly alters the rhythm - it is a shot she should be taking, but the pass is low or off center and that puts just a small kink in the process. Happens with everyone and it is one area that Uconn is generally really good at, but this year more than they recent past their are a few more 'errant' passes each game that mess with the rhythm of the shooter.

I'm not privy to a lot of games, being in Florida, but I've read some comments that suggested that Kia periodically mistimes getting passes to shooters (KLS in particular) at the most opportune time. That might explain why KLS occasionally has issues with the rhythm of her shot. When someone shoots the ball like KLS, you never want them to be inhibited in putting up a shot. You want her to always have a shooter's mentality.

 

[Buzzyboy]

And for every time a player has blown by Saniya this year, there have been two or three times when she stopped someone who certainly would have gotten by her last year. The block yesterday and that one steal when she somehow kept the ball in bounds were really entertaining.

Saniya will never be a great defender but she is surely much improved in that area over her time in Storrs. She's no longer a big liability like she was as a freshman. Her overall game has improved a great amount and she seems so much more comfortable and confident when she's out there. Great for her and great for the team.

 

[Phillyconn]

Don't quite agree. Gabby was great but KLS was a monster and when you take into account her illness, it was beyond great. Don't you think that her teammates knew what she was dealing with and if one of your teammates is playing inspired ball while physically ill, don't you think that's a bit of additional motivation?????

GW had 19pts, 12reb, 6asst, 5stls and 2blks...She set the tone with her defense, rebounding, scoring and as facilitator in the ND game. Lou scored 18, with 3reb and 2asst. A significant contribution but GW led the team in assists, rebounds, steals and blocks.
KLS, is the man, but GW is the straw...u know the rest.

 

[chrissaran]

You can't separate Katie Lou, Gabby and Napheesa. Without one they have no chance of winning the National Championship because they do so many things. They are intertwined. You can't have one without the others.

 

[Phillyconn]

You can't separate Katie Lou, Gabby and Napheesa. Without one they have no chance of winning the National Championship because they do so many things. They are intertwined. You can't have one without the others.

True, but every game has 1 or 2 players that stand above the rest.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Gabby was the one who took over the ND game.

I didn't know Katie Lou vomited during the ND game too!! Is she great or what--such dedication. Thanks for the information.
Yes Gabby played too in the ND game.
As my original post said: I'm not certain Katie Lou was/is the best player on this team. The reason is : on any day/night any one of the starting five (and one bench sitter) has stepped up and lead the scoring and or the defense.
Every time I think one of those six is amazing--another one does amazing things on the court. That's why my Avatar went from Molly to the TEAM and staff.

 

[BroadwayVa]

This group in rounding into one of the very best "TEAMS" ever. Perhaps the most unselfish group of players to have played the game at such a high level. Gabby Williams is simply all-world, Napheesa Collier seemly is always in the right spot for easy put backs time and time again, and Katie Lou Samuelson is capable of taking over any game at any time. Kia Nurse has come on strong in all aspects of the game (although she still doesn't pass the ball to Lou when she's in a position to score). Saniya Chong has made a believer out of me. She has a complete game and is beginning to show it consistently.

I began watching UC womens BB , in earnest (a very small gym in there) when Sue, Swin, Ajsia(sp), Tamika, Walter (injured) came to town. Add Dt and they were amazing in scoring--but the real pleasure for me was to watch Globe Trotter accurate and effective passing from all over the floor. The baseball pass--largely unused by many men and women's teams then, was on target. A (usually not always) trade mark of Geno's teams has been great passing and Defense.
You are right---only a careful game watcher will see all that Saniya and Kia do to help the other 3 score and win--not that either Chong or Nurse don't score or can't.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I'm not privy to a lot of games, being in Florida, but I've read some comments that suggested that Kia periodically mistimes getting passes to shooters (KLS in particular) at the most opportune time. That might explain why KLS occasionally has issues with the rhythm of her shot. When someone shoots the ball like KLS, you never want them to be inhibited in putting up a shot. You want her to always have a shooter's mentality.

I'm not defending Kia, she needs no defense BUT she sometimes sees plays developing others don't see. After playing with Tuck, Moriah, Stew whom she could throw the ball into the rafters and they'd get it--she has to re-learn who she is passing to and where to throw that pass . Good guards learn where their scoring teammates 'need' the ball to be to score.
I have seen enough of Uconn games to see shooters who were cold and couldn't hit their foot with the ball--then next game hit 70 percent from down town. Katie Lou is a paradox--she'll hit 4 3's in a row --then clunk 6 and in the second half another 3 or 4 in a row---but score she does. Geno is an exception in the coaching world--his shooter are required to shoot ---hit or miss--keep shooting. DT missed 14 shots--with another coach she would have been pulled after 4 misses in a row. She never missed 3 in a row--again.

 

[Los24]

Maybe, but I noticed that when ever GW was on the bench, the team looked flat and out of rhythm.

I think when Pheese is out you can say the same. The thing about Lou is that she seems to be the one Geno wants in the game all the time until it's over or end of bench play time. Even when she is sick and throwing up he knows she can take over when the team's offense starts to struggle. Pheese is a great option #2. Gabby is a good compliment since she gets points during the flow of the game without demanding the ball. Kia further's the right mix because she is great getting out ahead of most on fast breaks and hit big outside shots when needed. If Soniya can play as she has and is capable of, it will force defenses to not cheat and that puts everyone else in a better position.

What is crazy is if younwatched Soniya in high school she would hit from anywhere anytime. Also, during her freshman year Geno said on camera, "she is going to be a good one defensively." I do not understand why things have not clicked for her, but if it does then it's #5 in a row for sure.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Also, during her freshman year Geno said on camera, "she is going to be a good one defensively."

I was thinking about this the other day. I remember that scene. It looks like she has the techniques down, just has lapses.