Gabby

[JoePgh]

He made a comment to her father in Florida that was somehow quoted in the newspaper, to the effect that she is still learning the game of basketball, but that by her senior year she will be able to score in any way that is needed. I think that the "still learning" comment applies to her playing in the front court, as well as playing within a team-oriented offense and defense rather than freelancing with her athletic ability.

There is no indication at all that Geno is "down" on her, just that he sees her as too raw to play major minutes in competitive games at this time. By the end of the season, that may be different.

I don't sense that Gabby has any problem with how the coaches are handling her. She and her parents seem (based on casual observation in the hotel in Florida) total comfortable with her situation at UConn.

 

[mrmojack]

This kid is going to really be something. You just have to watch her move on
the court and you can tell she is different. I think she we improve leaps
and bounds as the season goes on. Every practice she will learn something
new and gain more confidence as the season progresses. Her defense is
improving also. Just watch her.

 

[Biff]

The snippet on Gabby from the All Access show....Geno's comment to Rosemary is most pertinent to this discussion.

 

[vtinct]

The snippet on Gabby from the All Access show....Geno's comment to Rosemary is most pertinent to this discussion.

Hey Biff, this is great! Where did you find this video? I don't get SNY and would love to see the parts of the all-access show. Thanks!

 

[boontonbomber]

This kid is going to really be something. You just have to watch her move on
the court and you can tell she is different. I think she we improve leaps
and bounds as the season goes on. Every practice she will learn something
new and gain more confidence as the season progresses. Her defense is
improving also. Just watch her.

I find myself really focused on her when she gets on the court. Yes, just watching her move you can tell that she is different. Apparently has great confidence in herself, which would have to be true of someone who did as well as she did competing against the best high jumpers in this country. Not likely that she is going to be intimidated by anything or anybody even though she is a first-year. Just like Nurse.

 

[WildEagle]

Thanx for the input Mr. Williams!

 

[hoophuskee]

I don't want to hear that she doen't practice hard. I am sure Diana wasn't always great in practice.

IMO you are taking his comments and unitentionally misrepresenting them. I am near 100% certain that DT got crticized BIG TIME regarding her practice habits as a frosh.

But DT was known in her sr year high school as a player than only comes around every ten years or so. You don't thinks she showed that in some practices? Is Gabby in that DT category - a "once in every 10+ year" type of player (ofc we know DT is way above that- but just sayin. . .)?

For any of you that think Gabby deserves big minutes in big games - to start with please tell me why Stewie and KML don't deserve 35 minttues each and Tuck just under that - say 32. Doesn't Stokes deserve at least 20? Doesn't MoJeff and Nurse deserve about 60 between them? That's 182 minutes. In the ND game there were 17 minutes left over.

So you have Chong mixed in there -- where is Gabby going to get big minutes in big games?

 

[sarals24]

I think Gabby is getting valuable minutes and Geno obviously wants her to get some experience. She's going to be a big part of the team the next three years. He put her in the ND game when it was definitely still in question - in the first half, I think UConn was up by 4. He wasn't putting Edwards in at that time, that's for sure. And he didn't need to put her in - no one was in foul trouble, Stokes and Tuck were both playing great. So clearly he wants to work her in.

I think we forget what a luxury it is to actually have a bench, because it's been so long since there's been more than a one or two player bench. I think in Geno's ideal world he would use freshmen exactly how he is this year with Williams...get her experience in big games, play her more minutes in blowouts, and get her ready to contribute for three years. What he had to do out of necessity with Bria and Stef is out of the norm for him.

Look at how he used Maria Conlon as a freshman...she got into a lot of games, but definitely wasn't a key player as a freshman (or a sophomore). But she earned her time and played a ton as a junior and senior.

 

[NewCorn]

I expect Gabby to be AA as a junior. For now she is getting the minutes she needs to be a factor in March.

 

[mysticmajor]

I have found it interesting to see how Gabby has responded. I think her 'world class' experience as a high jumper helps her keep perspective about the level of her own performance. It is interesting to see these young ladies figure out how to perform at a high enough level consistently in order to earn minutes. I expect that Courtney will respond as well when she gets back from her injury.

There was another thread recently with an older game when DT and Swin came off the bench as freshmen. THAT put it all in perspective for me. Given that sight, I have lost a bit of patience with the angst about losing people by not playing them or when others don't sign up for this fear.

 

[Bestiarius]

Funny story...

Geno was talking about Gabby with someone from the press and was talking about her skills. He asked her what position she played in high school and she said "Point Guard". Now keep in mind she's not played for 2 years due to injuries. He said something like "She can't dribble, pass, or shoot the ball. No idea how she could ever play the PG position"...

I'm sure my quotes aren't quite right, but that's why she won't ever play guard at UCONN, or at least not any time soon...

What this Geno quote says to me is he really, really likes Gabby!

 

[MeteT]

The snippet on Gabby from the All Access show....Geno's comment to Rosemary is most pertinent to this discussion.

Great post. Geno's comments about Gabby are very revealing. What little I have seen of her she is the best athlete on the team. As mentioned in previous posts several rebounds that I thought were made by Stokes were in fact made by Gabby. Not too many players can make the basket that she made at the end of the ND game.

 

[OldAlum]

So what is the Geno Scale?
How does "Unbelievable" rank with "Really good" and "Really, really good"?

 

[j66kicker]

So what is the Geno Scale?
How does "Unbelievable" rank with "Really good" and "Really, really good"?

"Unbelievable" is just a tad higher than "really, really good", but somewhat lower than the hypothetical "really, really, REALLY good." Of course then there's "really unbelievable", "really, really unbelievable", etc....

 

[MeteT]

Watching Gabby play I could tell there was something unusual about the way she runs and especially the way she goes for a shot near the basket but I could not put my finger on exactly what it was. After watching the rerun of the DePaul game It dawned on me that her runs are just like a high jumper's approach run to the high jump bar, knees high, long gait, elbows pumping. Her background in high jump is helping her basketball career. If she continues to improve at the rate I have seen so far she will be a great player. She made the right choice coming to UCONN. where she will be coached to reach her potential.

 

[semper]

I noticed right away that both she and K. Nurse run heads up, surveying the floor, ready for anything. They have beautiful stances.

 

[HuskiesU]

Once she can hit the mid range jumper than teams have to play her close so she can pump fake and blow by the defender is going to be special to watch. She's getting better each game. I can't wait to see what our other freshman Ekmark brings. This class is fearless

 

[Sonny44]

Once she can hit the mid range jumper than teams have to play her close so she can pump fake and blow by the defender is going to be special to watch. She's getting better each game. I can't wait to see what our other freshman Ekmark brings. This class is fearless

I think she made one today.
So did MoJett.

 

[CCinCT]

Was wondering if the kinesio tape on Gabby's shoulder was a by product of one of her injuries the last 2 years, then I happened to catch a segment of a "Geno Auriemma" show. There's Gabby in the back of a huddle with no tape and some "visible" tattoos on the shoulder in question.

Mystery solved. UCONN women do not have "visible tattoos" on the court !

 

[BigBird]

Once she can hit the mid range jumper than teams have to play her close so she can pump fake and blow by the defender is going to be special to watch. She's getting better each game. I can't wait to see what our other freshman Ekmark brings. This class is fearless

I am wondering how Ek is progressing. Anyone have info?

 

[Geno-ista]

Assuming the starting lineup of Butler, Tuck, Stewie, MJ and Nurse next year we could very well see Gabby as the first player off the bench at either the 2 or as a wing. Her versatility will make her incredibly valuable and add minutes of playing time. The best part for all of us as fans is that she is so much fun to watch!

Once she gets her ball handling skills back, she is a potential 2-3 or 4!!!! Her versatility is incredible!

 

[CTyankee]

I don't believe I have seen a(n undersized) freshman go into the middle like she does and make such an impression. She has steadily improved game by game. Tonight, 6-10 with 7 rebounds... She will continue to improve this year. Next year, she will work inside and outside, just like Geno wants, any position or all positions, mix it up....

 

[Geno-ista]

excuse my being picky, but South Carolina does have at least one other pretty fair player in junior Tiffany Mitchell, a pre-season All American.

They have a few other very high quality players. Freshman Bianca Cuevas looks awesome. Coates is no slouch. And I think It's Welch? That looked like a real gamer. They have enormous talent- whether they can put it together as a team- is the question.

 

[Geno-ista]

Yes indeed, and other pretty good players as well.

I would have loved to have had A'ja at UConn.

Yes indeed, and other pretty good players as well.

I would have loved to have had A'ja at UConn.

She is already showing why she was the #1 pick. She can score from anywhere on the floor.

 

[Geno-ista]

LOL. What a ridiculous post. SC has 5 future WNBA players, possibly 6 if White develops at the post. She certainly has the body.

They are loaded with talent- and veteran talent. And if Cuevas comes along fast- by March/April they have the Chess Pieces to be formidable.

 

[Geno-ista]

So what is the Geno Scale?
How does "Unbelievable" rank with "Really good" and "Really, really good"?

It's Really Really hard to explain the difference- really!

 

[Geno-ista]

Once she can hit the mid range jumper than teams have to play her close so she can pump fake and blow by the defender is going to be special to watch. She's getting better each game. I can't wait to see what our other freshman Ekmark brings. This class is fearless

HU- you just hit the nail on the head. The second she begins to pop 12-18 ft shots, it's all over. Look at what that has done for Morgan, who is extremely quick for a big. Gabby then becomes a totally impossible match up nightmare from the 4 spot!!! Been 3 rows from the court today and in Bridgeport. When you see what she does close up and at eye level, it is really impressive. And as Doris Burke would say- "she hasn't even come close to figuring it out yet!" she is the last piece of our puzzle that makes very very very difficult to beat. She shows signs of improvement every new trip on the court. She's as strong as an ox, and is a real thorobred. When we add next year's 3 thorobreds, no one is going to be able to keep up with our up tempo game.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

New long piece on Gabby from Jeff Jacobs:

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...-ucla-column-1222-20141221-column.html#page=1

 

[Bestiarius]

Gabby - Appropriately named, because a lot of people are going to be talking about her many talents.

 

[iri10]

From the Jacobs article, there's Gabby talking about the leg she injured:

"I think I can jump even higher now," Williams said. "My right leg, I never really used it before I got hurt. Rehabbing, using it, using it, using it, I focused so much on making it stronger."

The motive force for high jumping comes heavily from the takeoff leg; Gabby injured her other leg. Thinking about it, I do wonder if the lopsided development of her legs contributed to her injuries. I believe it's thought that women are more apt to let the knee joint absorb the impact of landing instead of the muscles, and this is one of the reasons why they get more ACL tears. Perhaps the muscles of her right leg weren't as well conditioned to tense and absorb the impact.

This is all academic though, because we will never know what exactly was the primary cause of this particular knee tear. Going forward, we can just hope the knees hold up; Gabby could be something else if they do.