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Message: [QUOTE="UConnCat, post: 4548489, member: 15"] Absolutely correct. The idea that Gabby's game was held back by Geno has to be one of the worst takes ever on this board, but not surprising considering the source. When she arrived at UConn Gabby told Geno she was a point guard. Geno had other ideas, primarily because back then she didn't handle the ball well enough or shoot well enough to play guard at UConn. Geno turned her into a point-center, put her at the elbow and, during her final 2 years, ran his offense through her. From a Courant story back then: [I]“We’re a good passing team,” Auriemma said, “and it’s not just our guards. Most times, if you look at basketball closely, when the guards have the ball good things happen. And a lot of times when they pass it to a big guy on the wing, or even on the high post, the offense dies unless that guy shoots it because they can only make plays for themselves. So we spend a lot of time looking for and recruiting wings, post players that can make a play, and not just for themselves. People who have been following our program know it has been like that for long, long time.” “I’ve always known how to pass,” Williams said, “it’s natural for me. It’s a lot of our offense, the way we run things. We run a lot of things through the middle, we play a lot of high-low. Our mentality requires big guys to want to distribute the ball. … I love being the ‘[B]point-center[/B].’ When coach told me my freshman year I was going to stay in the paint, I was like, ‘ohhh, this not what I do. But learning I can still handle the ball and make those decisions has been fun for me.”[/I] What did Gabby do during her final 2 years at UConn? As junior she averaged 14 ppg and led the entire team with 190 assists. She was given the ball and created for herself and her teammates (Lou and Napheesa). As a senior she once again led her team in assists with 191. She did all this while being the team's best defender and one of its leading rebounders. In 2017 she was a USBWA All American, AP 2nd team All American and WBCA Defensive POY. In many games, including big games, she was the best player on the floor and commentators and opposing coaches said as much. Geno continually encouraged her to expand her shooting range to make her even more difficult to guard. She became a pretty solid shooter from 12-15 feet but never felt confident taking 3s. I guess if you're going to blame Geno for an outstanding college career you're left no choice but to blame the WNBA coaches a less than outstanding WNBA career. Her game has not translated as well to the WNBA because at her size and given the style of play in the WNBA she has to play on the wing and has to make perimeter shots. The offense on her WNBA teams did not run through Gabby like it did at UConn. She still struggles with her perimeter shooting as evidenced by her time in Chicago and in Seattle last season. Gabby has become an excellent European professional. Why would we not expect a player as gifted as Gabby to improve and excel as a professional in an environment suitable to her style of play? Basketball is her job. Aren't professionals supposed to get better? Aren't they supposed to grow their games? Of course, if they are serious about their craft which we know Gabby is. Only on the Boneyard does a former UConn player doing well get turned into negativity towards Geno. Unbelievable. [/QUOTE]

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