Full Court Press

[chrissaran]

If the Huskies need to, they will be able to press full court with all the depth they have at guard. With MoJeff, Saniya, Sadie, Gabby, Kia and Courtney they can make life miserable for opposing team's back courts. With Bre and her length at the point and Kiah back to protect the basket, the full court press will be a nightmare for opposing teams. Defense is always the underrated part of UConn's game as many announcers have attested to.

 

[Kibitzer]

Defense is always the underrated part of UConn's game as many announcers have attested to.

If "many" announcers have attested to UConn's defense being underrated, how can it stay underrated?

Reminds me of Yogi Berra's comment about a popular restaurant:

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."​

 

[Vowelguy]

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said that UConn's depth would allow it to press the heck out of teams.

It rarely happens.

This coming year's team will have 6 upperclassmen -- 2 with question marks (Chong who didn't play a ton and Tuck b/c of the injury). I expect Geno to ride the frosh really hard, as they will be needed in March. I'm sure 1 or 2 of them, at least, will spend some quality time on the bench until their effort is where it needs to be. As a result, not enough depth for lots of full court pressure.

 

[jsloanjr]

IMO, there are 3 Frosh will play big minutes and maybe all..........Geno will manage this team like the USA team........Everybody plays the cream rises to the top.......

 

[Sonny44]

If the Huskies need to, they will be able to press full court with all the depth they have at guard. With MoJeff, Saniya, Sadie, Gabby, Kia and Courtney they can make life miserable for opposing team's back courts. With Bre and her length at the point and Kiah back to protect the basket, the full court press will be a nightmare for opposing teams. Defense is always the underrated part of UConn's game as many announcers have attested to.

I think you may be right, at least for parts of the game. We may see something different and exciting.

 

[j66kicker]

It's sorta comical to think about Geno throwing platoons of fresh young HS All-America guards at our typical AAC opponents, to continue to press them full court when it's 62-9 to begin the 2nd half. How does he justify that?

"We don't look at the score - we play the game the right way for 40 minutes"?

"We're practicing for our out-of conference games"?

"The girls need the practice for international play next summer"?

 

[xHunt3r]

umm... Moriah puts as much pressure on the ballhandler as a full court press all by herself... don't need the freshman for that...

 

[reno tony]

I absolutely love watching a team with a good full court press. But I don't think it is necessary against 90% of the teams UCONN plays. They already win by a gazillion points per game, is it good sportsmanship to try to win each game by a megagazillion points. Geno seems to use it when needed. But, the thought of UCONN reloading with three sets of guards might give some of the opposing coaches nightmares.

 

[rvwsleep]

I absolutely love watching a team with a good full court press. But I don't think it is necessary against 90% of the teams UCONN plays. They already win by a gazillion points per game, is it good sportsmanship to try to win each game by a megagazillion points. Geno seems to use it when needed. But, the thought of UCONN reloading with three sets of guards might give some of the opposing coaches nightmares.

I agree. Against AAC teams, it would border on sadism. The problem is, if you don't use it in conference play, how good will it be when you might need it ? All the more reason for a change of conference.

 

[reno tony]

I agree. Against AAC teams, it would border on sadism. The problem is, if you don't use it in conference play, how good will it be when you might need it ? All the more reason for a change of conference.

I wondered the same thing. The only solution I could come up with is that UCONN will have some great full court sessions during practices.

 

[Kevin G]

I love the athleticism of this team. But, UCONN has always been an average to good pressing team, IMO. I think UCONN is a much better man-to-man defensive team. If Geno goes with the press, then it would help to wear down opponents quicker than they normally do. I think their man-to-man defense is the best in the nation over the past few years.

 

[chrissaran]

I guess those of you who read my post missed the first four words, "If they need to . . ." Most people think of UConn as an offensive juggernaut with names like Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Rebecca Lobo, Kara Wolters and Breanna Stewart. Most people outside of UConn's fans don't know how truly exceptional the Huskies' defense is, which is why the announcers mention it. How many people pay attention to women's sports let alone which teams are the best defensive teams? Not long ago the steroid era in baseball had everyone's attention because of all the home runs, the records being broken. Then the truth came to light and it was a complete embarrassment to the sport. Defense isn't easy or glamorous, which is why you don't see athletes getting paid tens of millions of dollars for their defense, unless you're a goalie.

 

[slimmer56]

I think our defense last year was one of the, if not THE best defense UCONN has ever put on the floor.
The shot blocking I thought was the key. If the opposing team penetrated, and looked as if they had a layup
here comes Stewie, Stef, or Kiah. Not to mention the gretest defensive play I have ever seen. When Stewie
chased down the opposing player after running full tilt from end to end. I can't remember what team we were playing, but I remember the play vividly.

I do not see us missing a step this year defensively. We do not have Stef, but we do have Kiah who is quite a
shot blocker herself. Kaleena hit the boards better than she ever did this past year. It is not the pure block, but the intimidation factor. I cannot count the number of times when opposing players would short arm their shots, so fearful of getting it blocked.

I don't know how much Geno will press this year, but he has enough bodies so everyone can rest. We may even go small a lot this year, depending on how fast the Freshies come along.

 

[Tonyc]

Really lets think about it. This season most top opponents have lost key players. South Carolina is on our schedule and will be good but imo not tuff enough to beat UConn. ND is good, RU is good UCLA is talented but not one of them can really give UConn a game. So as far as full court presses go I think Geno will be calling the dogs off early in almost every game. Yes UConn lost two key starters but they dont lose much with who they will replace them with. Its just the changing of the guard.

 

[Kibitzer]

Geno will most likely stick to the formula that has worked so well for a very long time.

Start most games with full-court pressure zone, switch (usually, not always) to man-to-man with lots of trapping in half court. Assert the strength of UConn to control the tempo and the score.

At halftime or thereabouts (assuming a commanding lead against an overmatched opponent (most of them)), call off the dogs. No more full court pressure, concentrate instead on transition and half-court offense.

Against competitive teams, limit their leader, rely on a suffocating defense at one end and crisp passing and deadly shooting at the other end.

Seems to work about 92% of the time -- or better!

The only change, last season to next? He may expand the rotation from six to eight. He might even go hog-wild and play nine!

Stop right there.

 

[NVUConnFan]

(snip) Not to mention the gretest [sic] defensive play I have ever seen. When Stewie chased down the opposing player after running full tilt from end to end. I can't remember what team we were playing, but I remember the play vividly. (snip)

I agree. The opponent was Rutgers, UConn was up 30-9 at the time...and Stewie still puts out that kind of effort! Amazing.

Big Mama, Kiah and MoJett had some awesome plays of their own at various times.

 

[Sonny44]

If they can play half court defense this year like they did last year ...no need for extensive use of the press.One other comment...A press defense can be either man or multiple zones.

I don't agree. It's best to be facile with a variety of styles. You never know when you might need them. For example, we had a devil of a time getting our offense going against several of our opponents in the NCAA's last year. Changing to a press may have helped us get some momentum to overcome our slow starts. It's called versatility.

 

[Biff]

INot to mention the gretest defensive play I have ever seen. When Stewie
chased down the opposing player after running full tilt from end to end. I can't remember what team we were playing, but I remember the play vividly.

I agree. The opponent was Rutgers, UConn was up 30-9 at the time...and Stewie still puts out that kind of effort! Amazing.

Worth re-watching....

 

[OneTrickPony]

Kind of explains KLS playing herself to exhaustion in pursuit of a world championship in spite of the challenging summer she's had...she's gotta be able to hold her head up when she looks Breanna in the eye...

 

[HoopsFan21]

I think Mo's blocks were the most exciting. Shortest kid on the court timing a great big leap from a stationary position to emphatically block a shot. Granted she didn't do it often, but they sure were great! I hear we have someone coming in that's a pretty good jumper too. Mo's 3 pointer at the halftime buzzer while falling on her backside was pretty awesome too.

 

[TroyHouse66]

66kick:
<<...think about Geno ... (continuing) to press them full court when it's 62-9 to begin the 2nd half. How does he justify that?>>

"Their only Fresh(wo)men & don't know how to count, yet."
****************************************
This may be the year that UConn unveils its secret "Eddie Feigner- King & His Court" defense.
One by one, the team peels off and sit in the center-jump circle.... until only the MoJet is left... to surround/herd the opponents on defense & run her famous one on five fast break.
[We need to get to get Calvin Murphy on staff to teach MsJet the legendary 5'-8" two hand stuff (Norwalk High/Niagara U)]

 

[j66kicker]

66kick:
<<...think about Geno ... (continuing) to press them full court when it's 62-9 to begin the 2nd half. How does he justify that?>>

"Their only Fresh(wo)men & don't know how to count, yet."
****************************************
This may be the year that UConn unveils its secret "Eddie Feigner- King & His Court" defense.
One by one, the team peels off and sit in the center-jump circle.... until only the MoJet is left... to surround/herd the opponents on defense & run her famous one on five fast break.
[We need to get to get Calvin Murphy on staff to teach MsJet the legendary 5'-8" two hand stuff (Norwalk High/Niagara U)]

Ya forgot about that freshman/counting thing...

 

[hoophuskee]

Geno will most likely stick to the formula that has worked so well for a very long time.

Start most games with full-court pressure zone, switch (usually, not always) to man-to-man with lots of trapping in half court. Assert the strength of UConn to control the tempo and the score.

At halftime or thereabouts (assuming a commanding lead against an overmatched opponent (most of them)), call off the dogs. No more full court pressure, concentrate instead on transition and half-court offense.

Against competitive teams, limit their leader, rely on a suffocating defense at one end and crisp passing and deadly shooting at the other end.

Seems to work about 92% of the time -- or better!

The only change, last season to next? He may expand the rotation from six to eight. He might even go hog-wild and play nine!

Stop right there.

Greatpost. great great post.

 

[j66kicker]

Worth re-watching....

Great job on the video!

 

[reno tony]

Why even play defense. It just gives the UCONN guys less time with the ball. This may be a little off the topic but I see one problem with UCONN next year when it comes to beating opponents by a gazillion points. When the scrubs come in, they want to make the starting team so they won't take their foot off the gas unless Geno takes the ball away from them.

Do you think SMU is going to want to see a team of Kia, Gabby, Saniya, Kiah and Courtney take the floor when they are down 36 to start the second half? Especially when they want to impress Geno for starting time, UCONN will just have too many offensive weapons so I think this year they should run NO defense. Why not? Run and gun the whole game.... full steam ahead.

When KML gets tired of launching threes then bring in Courtney. When MoJeff gets tired(if that's possible) let Gabby run the floor. Kia and Saniya can keep the team organized and Kiah will provide some outlet passes to start the charge. I guess Sadie goes with the starters. Just tooooooo much talent for one team. Only two teams stand a chance staying within 15 points and they are SC and ND. It just isn't fair.

45 TO GO​