Gary Blair on UConn | The Boneyard

Gary Blair on UConn

Status
Not open for further replies.

UConnCat

Wise Woman
Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Messages
13,770
Reaction Score
85,343
On the UConn offense:​

"I love their balance," Blair said. "I love the offense they run. They run a little bit of Princeton. They run a little bit of triangle. They run a little bit of motion. And they run a little bit of Geno.

"They handle the ball so much better than any team we play. And his best player [Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis] may be coming off the bench."

On how to beat UConn:​

"I think you've got to play small to be able to beat them," Blair said. "One big
Center and you might have to play four guards to stay with them or a 4 who can play like a guard."

On whether UConn can beat Baylor:​

"It depends on if they can keep Dolson out of foul trouble and are they going to send two people over on [Brittney] Griner," Blair said. "They weren't sending two on our post player tonight. I think that will be the key. And don't let Odyssey Sims set up in that left corner. She'll wear it out over there."
 

UConnCat

Wise Woman
Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Messages
13,770
Reaction Score
85,343
And Gary on what separates UConn and other teams: impact players.

“It’s the impact players. If you can get players like Mosqueda-Lewis, Taurasi or Maya Moore, they make everyone else around them better. And he’s had an impact player every year he’s been here.

“That’s the difference between UConn and the rest of us trying to get to that level.”
 

alexrgct

RIP, Alex
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
10,094
Reaction Score
15,650
1. He is right that UConn has had a high school #1 on the team every year since 1994-95, and that certainly helps increase the odds that you have impact kids on your team.

2. If he's right about having to go small against UConn, one of the biggest issues UConn has is non-existent. Size was a problem. The concern was that a long, talented team could present matchup issues. Instead, UConn has made going small the matchup issue for everyone else, and that's a testament to Geno and the girls in general (with a special nod to Kelly on D).
 

Icebear

Andlig Ledare
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
18,785
Reaction Score
19,227
1. He is right that UConn has had a high school #1 on the team every year since 1994-95, and that certainly helps increase the odds that you have impact kids on your team.

2. If he's right about having to go small against UConn, one of the biggest issues UConn has is non-existent. Size was a problem. The concern was that a long, talented team could present matchup issues. Instead, UConn has made going small the matchup issue for everyone else, and that's a testament to Geno and the girls in general (with a special nod to Kelly on D).
Shows the difference between Blair as a coach and Caroline Peck's observations.
 

pap49cba

The Supreme Linkster
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
8,082
Reaction Score
10,136
I've never bought in to the "undersized" argument.

The teams that won two NCs and went undefeated were:

Charles - 6'4"
Moore - 6'0"
Green - 5'10"
Hayes/Doty - 5'10"
Montgomery - 5'7"
Faris - 5'11"
 

Icebear

Andlig Ledare
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
18,785
Reaction Score
19,227
I've never bought in to the "undersized" argument.

The teams that won two NCs and went undefeated were:

Charles - 6'4"
Moore - 6'0"
Green - 5'10"
Hayes/Doty - 5'10"
Montgomery - 5'7"
Faris - 5'11"
Me neither.
 
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
607
Reaction Score
5,393
Shows the difference between Blair as a coach and Caroline Peck's observations.
what were Carolyn Peck's observations? Could make no sense of what she was saying.
 

Icebear

Andlig Ledare
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
18,785
Reaction Score
19,227
She kept saying that aTm had to pound it inside and exploit their post size against Kelly at the 4. Apparently she had not watched the match ups of Kelly with the O sisters. Kelly is so fundmaentally sound she can handle players much larger than her and may very well put them in foul trouble.
 

pinotbear

Silly Ol' Bear
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
3,781
Reaction Score
8,182
what were Carolyn Peck's observations? Could make no sense of what she was saying.
like I alluded to in another thread: for Carolyn Peck, English is a second language. I have no clue what her usual stuff is.
 

HuskyNan

You Know Who
Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
24,494
Reaction Score
194,062
She kept saying that aTm had to pound it inside and exploit their post size against Kelly at the 4. Apparently she had not watched the match ups of Kelly with the O sisters. Kelly is so fundmaentally sound she can handle players much larger than her and nay very well put them in foul trouble.
Every single game Peck says that the offense has to get the ball to the big girl. Wonder what position she played?
 
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
238
Reaction Score
234
I don't think it's as much that Kelly has special post defense skills as it is that our guards put good ball pressure on the Aggies, which made it hard for them to feed anyone in the post. We seemed to do it out of a variety of defenses too, which is impressive.
 

alexrgct

RIP, Alex
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
10,094
Reaction Score
15,650
I've never bought in to the "undersized" argument.

The teams that won two NCs and went undefeated were:

Charles - 6'4"
Moore - 6'0"
Green - 5'10"
Hayes/Doty - 5'10"
Montgomery - 5'7"
Faris - 5'11"
I see the 2009 and 2010 teams as apples and oranges vis a vis this one. When you have three of the five best players in the country (as was the case in 2009) or the two best players in the country period (2010), you don't worry about size and mismatches as much; you just go to war. This year's team doesn't have that kind of obvious first team AA talent, so the matchups were more of a concern...one that strong team D and terrific individual effort on D by Kelly in particular seem to be overcoming.
 

pap49cba

The Supreme Linkster
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
8,082
Reaction Score
10,136
I see the 2009 and 2010 teams as apples and oranges vis a vis this one. When you have three of the five best players in the country (as was the case in 2009) or the two best players in the country period (2010), you don't worry about size and mismatches as much; you just go to war. This year's team doesn't have that kind of obvious first team AA talent, so the matchups were more of a concern...one that strong team D and terrific individual effort on D by Kelly in particular seem to be overcoming.
We've got a couple of AA's.... they just haven't formally been recognized as such just yet.
 
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
1,144
Reaction Score
2,158
1. He is right that UConn has had a high school #1 on the team every year since 1994-95, and that certainly helps increase the odds that you have impact kids on your team.

2. If he's right about having to go small against UConn, one of the biggest issues UConn has is non-existent. Size was a problem. The concern was that a long, talented team could present matchup issues. Instead, UConn has made going small the matchup issue for everyone else, and that's a testament to Geno and the girls in general (with a special nod to Kelly on D).

I have to confess that I never fully appreciated Kelly Faris' defense until last night. I was at the Stanford game but pretty high up. Not a great perspective on interior defense. I was astonished last night watching Faris hold her ground among the bigs.
 

semper

Paleographer
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
2,223
Reaction Score
1,852
I just turn off the sound and keep reading the 'Yard as I watch. You guys should try it.
 

alexrgct

RIP, Alex
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
10,094
Reaction Score
15,650
In the Stanford game, Kelly went toe to toe with Boothe for some series. She was giving up six inches and a lot of weight (and obviously I don't mean that in a mean-spirited way), and she was just pushing Boothe put of position in the post. Kelly's legs are freakish. What she lacks in height she makes up for with effort and tremendous lower body strength.
 

doggydaddy

Grampysorus Rex
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
6,008
Reaction Score
8,970
We've got a couple of AA's.... they just haven't formally been recognized as such just yet.
Hartley is as good as any guard in the country. Dolson is as good as any center in the country not named Griner. Hayes is as good as any 3 in the country. And Lewis is the best 6th woman in the country.
 

bruinbball

@biglurp
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
1,408
Reaction Score
1,320
Hartley is as good as any guard in the country. Dolson is as good as any center in the country not named Griner. Hayes is as good as any 3 in the country. And Lewis is the best 6th woman in the country.
Faris is as good defensively (other than Griner) as anyone in the country.
 

doggydaddy

Grampysorus Rex
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
6,008
Reaction Score
8,970
Faris is as good defensively (other than Griner) as anyone in the country.
I taped the T&M game and have taken some time to watch with just focusing on defense and Faris in particular. I have never seen a player so good at in your face defending and without fouling. She is unbelievable.
 

bruinbball

@biglurp
Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
1,408
Reaction Score
1,320
I taped the T&M game and have taken some time to watch with just focusing on defense and Faris in particular. I have never seen a player so good at in your face defending and without fouling. She is unbelievable.
I didn't rewatch to see if she fouled White on the jumper at the top of the key...did she foul her? I know the call at midcourt was bogus.
 

doggydaddy

Grampysorus Rex
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
6,008
Reaction Score
8,970
I didn't rewatch to see if she fouled White on the jumper at the top of the key...did she foul her? I know the call at midcourt was bogus.
I'll look for that again tonight.
 

speedoo

Big Apple Big Dog
Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Messages
2,994
Reaction Score
1,314
what were Carolyn Peck's observations? Could make no sense of what she was saying.
Honestly, you are better off not understanding her. That way you don't waste any time trying to figure it out. She has never been worth listening to and she probably never will be.
 
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
607
Reaction Score
5,393
like I alluded to in another thread: for Carolyn Peck, English is a second language. I have no clue what her usual stuff is.
What is her first language? Perhaps she's speaking in Jabberwocky and we just can't tell.
 

speedoo

Big Apple Big Dog
Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Messages
2,994
Reaction Score
1,314
We've got a couple of AA's.... they just haven't formally been recognized as such just yet.
Counting Kelly, I think we have more than a couple.
 

pap49cba

The Supreme Linkster
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
8,082
Reaction Score
10,136
I swear, at times even Kara glances over at her with a 'What the ????' look on her face.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Online statistics

Members online
70
Guests online
2,087
Total visitors
2,157

Forum statistics

Threads
155,752
Messages
4,030,445
Members
9,864
Latest member
leepaul


Top Bottom