Geno has a Good Problem

[NycUcWbbFan]

I think more than a few Boneyarders on this thread are looking at the Jana situation and drawing erroneous conclusions. Specifically, that Jana is either regressing from where she was last year, or that she is not progressing fast enough per their expectations. They are using the fact that she has lost her starting spot as a redshirt freshman last year to a two-time All-Big Ten senior this year, and then pointing to her reduction in minutes as validation of their perceptions.

The reality is that we are just eight games into this season, and Geno and staff are having to make starting/rotation decisions based on having (at least) four very talented new players growing/developing/integrating with 6-8 returning national champions. Not only is the development and integration a factor of the number of rotational schemes Geno has put on the floor inside a constraint of 200 total minutes per game (which itself is a reflection of the wonderful luxury of now having 13 healthy, exceptional players) but it is also affected by the quality and styles of the opponents thus far. There is a LOT of development and integration that is ahead of this very talented team.

I recommend that Boneyarders think twice about applying previous paradigms about what Geno is thinking/doing in regards to individual player development at this point in the season. I believe, for all intents and purposes, this current team poses a new dynamic for Geno and the staff to wrestle with. Said differently, looking to the models/lessons of yesteryear's team rotations and integration of so many top players can only go so far. That applies to us fans as well.

Perhaps you are of the opinion - from what you have seen from ~80 minutes of game action thus far - that Jana has regressed. Or perhaps your eyeballs are telling you she will never be on the HoH wall which is contrary your hope at the start of the 2023-24 seaon. To both thoughts I say, chill out! Give it time.

I invite folks to go ahead and play a game of "what if". If Jana was to get just another five minutes of playing time per game, which player(s) would/should that be coming from? And however you choose to answer that question, how would the other player(s) reduction in minutes affect the rotational integration that Geno and staff are trying to achieve? What should be the priority at this point in the season - more emphasis on developing Jana, or more emphasis on jelling rotational combinations? The same question for folks who are thinking "(insert your targeted layer) needs more minutes".

The Queen of the Nile is an NCAA Champion. She was a starter the latter half of last season and throughout the NCAA tournament blitzkrieg. She played in all 40 games last year and all eight so far this season.

It is a long season. Jana has a lot of learning ahead of her as she adjusts to her new role as a non-starter, and integrates with a lot of new rotations. She will be fine.

Thanks, for the great post to segue from, for a post I have meant to write about impressions on Geno’s rotations and player development that can be gleaned from the per-game rotations for the first 8 games.

It can be inferred that Geno has established a winning-time rotations formula (he had a 6-player small ball rotations formula last year):

• Winning-time rotations have maximum spurtability (i.e. maximum +/-);
• The starting lineup this year is a winning-time rotation (last year’s was not &1);
• There is still a lot of room for improvement (see MI and Louisville games, and also maximizing the potential of incomers Serah, Blanca and Kayleigh);
• The formula, for now, is:

(Azzi, Sarah) + 2 or 3 or 1 of (Serah, Ash, Allie, Blanca) + 1 or 0 or 2 of (KK, Kayleigh).

This is NOT the rotation. It’s only been 8 games in a 31-game regular season.

• Geno is still developing players for his bridge rotations (other rotations in competitive minutes) as he still trying to get the most of his winning-time rotation players not named Azzi or Sarah;
• Geno has so far mostly used his starters and winning-time rotations for the first half and the start of the third quarter in order to build a comfortable lead;
• Once the lead is comfortable, but not insurmountable, Geno reserves the rest of the third quarter and on for player development, namely Jana, Caroline, and Kelis; (Ayanna and Gandy have so far been confined to the 4th quarter);
• In this player development time, Geno seldom has Azzi and Sarah in at the same time; he sometimes has both Azzi and Sarah out; but he almost always has either KK and Kayleigh in;
• In this player development time, Geno sometimes uses Allie, Blanca and Serah in lieu of Azzi and/or Sarah;
• For those that bicker about the toughness (or lack thereof) of the schedule, this is Geno’s workaround that maximizes player development of this deep quality roster;
• Geno is consciously managing Azzi and Sarah’s minutes for the long season as he also gives them pocket breathers at the end or start of a quarter.

As Jana, Caroline and Kelis (Morgan?, Ice?) further develop their games — and when he is sufficiently comfortable with his winning-time rotations development — Geno may insert these bridge rotation players when the lead is not yet comfortable so he can use them a la Aubrey as a rotation player in last year’s tournament run, but with more minutes. This way, depth is a weapon in a fast-paced full-bore efficient 40-minute mix-match game.

&1 Jana as a starter in last year’s tournament run was crucial even though her rotations were more to block/parry the opponents’ post strength to tire them out before Geno unleashed his small ball rotations. Geno could not have started with small ball as opponents will tire Sarah out.

 

[Topdawg]

The power of a deep bench is that in situations of foul trouble you have reliable 2nd and 3rd options. I am sure our coaches are preparing all 14 players to be game ready. That way, substitutions can keep the best players fully available for the most important games and critical needs.

 

[Bone Dog]

This is NOT the rotation. It’s only been 8 games in a 31-game regular season.

This is absolutely true, though it depends on a much more sophisticated sense of the term ‘rotation’ than many of us are used to. In most threads we seem content with a rough and ready sense of who the core players are, ie who will get double digit minutes in most games. This is the crude rotation. There’s a use for that sort of talk, but it isn’t helpful for early season critiques of player progress — and such critiques generally aren’t very helpful in any case. If we could rely on the manifold sense of ‘rotation’ you outline here, our threads could be quite a bit more interesting.

 

[Happydad745]

When it is really showtime, and Geno needs everyone going for peak performance, UConn will have 7 or 8 players seeing playing time. Right now I think that is the starters plus Blanca, K9, and Jana.....Maybe Allie.

 

[tchalla1]

I like your reasoning, however I will say that I'm a bit hesitant about playing a really good big physical team.

Which big, physical teams do you have in mind? UCLA? South Carolina? Oklahoma? If so, all of the above teams have significant weaknesses that UConn can exploit, and make up for any perceived advantage in physicality. I saw South Carolina squeeze by Louisville last night by 2 points, while Uconn easily blew out Louisville by some 15 points...

 

[1974yankees]

Love the enthusiasm Tony, but "far better"? I wouldn't count out Texas, SC, and even UCLA when they are fully healthy and firing on all cylinders. I do think those 4 teams seem to be heads (maybe not shoulders) above the other teams - LSU is a mystery as they've literally played no one in the top 100.

I also don't see a core 8-10 at this time - it's more a core 8. Jana seems to have been moved out of the core group and as it stands, KK, Ash, Azzi, Sarah, and Serah. Then Blanca, Allie, and Kayleigh off the bench.

I'm not sure if Jana can work herself out of the bottom group. I like what I've seen a LOT from Kelis. Would be interesting to bump her up to the core group. Even if Morgan comes back, she will have a long road IMHO to get into game shape and work her way in. Ice - not sure what's up with her, but the longer she stays out, the harder it will be.

BUT a core 8 is far better than what we've seen in the past and I'm really liking the chemistry between all of them. Geno seems to have found a good formula for grouping them. Now if they could only figure out how to work thru the lulls in offense (our Q3 seems to be a bit of an Achilles heel in several games this season).

My $.02

• Sarah - better than last year. Almost every analyst has called her the most complete player in the nation. She's just SPECIAL. We will need to make more room on Mount Rushmore - UConn version - as there is another that's going to need to be added.
• Azzi - Rebecca said the NPOY at this time is a 2-player race between Paige and Azzi. I think that for her position, Azzi is the most complete guard in the country so it's hard to argue with that (altho maybe a bit of homerism...) but... a healthy Azzi has suddenly launched herself into the discussion of #1 pick and also NPOY so wow.
• KK - she's really good. Much better with the 3, can drive whenever she sees an opening, and has really good court vision. Her A/TO ratio is 4/1. 32/8. And 22 steals to boot - 2nd on the team to Sarah.
• Ash - her scoring has been hit or miss, literally, but she's a blue collar work horse out there and a great complement to the other "stars"
• Serah - I have to be honest. Been a tad disappointed with her play. Yes she's getting better, but the positioning she carves out for herself in the post has been all over the map, and not something I expected from a player with her experience. BUT... you can see improvements almost every game so hopefully she keeps that trajectory.

The rest of the core:

• Blanca - one of the very best freshmen in the country. Geno compared her to Sveta - she's more a wing/forward version of her, if that makes sense - Sveta was a bit more guard IMHO, but I get the comparison. She's a future superstar.
• Kayleigh - sometimes plays quiet, then explodes for a steal, great pass, great drive, or shot. She's still finding her way, but she's a keeper for sure.
• Allie - SO happy for her - far and away the most improved from last season.

I'd love to see Kelis start to move up towards the core group. Every time I see her she impresses. Jana BATTLES out there. Rooting for her big time. Yanna is starting to look smooth. Carol is playing. Gandy needs work.

Our defense has been elite, even this early in the season. At times the offense looks fantastic. Every time will improve as the season progresses, but so will UConn. I like where we are and where we are headed.

It's funny that Geno compared Blanca to Svetlana because I was thinking the same thing....

I think Fisher is going to be really good....Geno is going to have 3 point guards next year. KK, Heckel and Fisher....

He might have to make a trade at the trade deadline lol.

 

[DemonDeac22]

When it is really showtime, and Geno needs everyone going for peak performance, UConn will have 7 or 8 players seeing playing time. Right now I think that is the starters plus Blanca, K9, and Jana.

No Allie?

 

[BBallF]

There were lapses last November and December as well. I don’t know about “best ever,” but there’s plenty of room for optimism. Besides, it’s the lapses where development happens. By March, picture this team with the same 40 minute focus and intensity as last season.

That's exactly my point. They are just beginning to form although they appear to be well advanced. That's why I am so high on them.

 

[uconnfan68]

Which big, physical teams do you have in mind? UCLA? South Carolina? Oklahoma? If so, all of the above teams have significant weaknesses that UConn can exploit, and make up for any perceived advantage in physicality. I saw South Carolina squeeze by Louisville last night by 2 points, while Uconn easily blew out Louisville by some 15 points...

The Louisville team we played wasn't the one that SC played. It was much better for SC. And SC looked very strong. Okot is who we wish we had, a 6'6" kid with a high motor, good hands, and speed.

 

[JellyBean]

I love what the flexibility of this team. We got size that we could use to balance the physical teams but to counter those "physical" teams, we can use our quickness with the small lineup with screens and speed. Turn the game into a track meet. Trap on defense. Get deflections and go. Don't settle for jump shots. Attack the basket and get foul calls and free-throws. Put the pressure on those so-called physical teams. Coach Auriemma has a well-balanced team 1-10.

 

[FanSince17]

The Louisville team we played wasn't the one that SC played. It was much better for SC. And SC looked very strong. Okot is who we wish we had, a 6'6" kid with a high motor, good hands, and speed.

There are many good women basketball players in the world. Geno has a few open spots every year. We know all about that and about how the program works.
Did something change regarding Louisville? I went to the Louisville game and like many games this year (knock on wood) UConn came out of the gate like a house on fire. Michigan game, peat repeat.
Louisville settled in and started hitting their threes. We've already analyzed those "letdowns" ad nauseum. There's history here: will UConn learn to play 40 minutes before March?

 

[Basingstoke]

The Louisville team we played wasn't the one that SC played. It was much better for SC. And SC looked very strong. Okot is who we wish we had, a 6'6" kid with a high motor, good hands, and speed.

I agree with your observations, but didn't mention that UCONN, also, is much better than they were vs Louisville (ie Blanca available and a bunch of players improving substantially).

 

[uconnfan68]

There are many good women basketball players in the world. Geno has a few open spots every year. We know all about that and about how the program works.
Did something change regarding Louisville? I went to the Louisville game and like many games this year (knock on wood) UConn came out of the gate like a house on fire. Michigan game, peat repeat.
Louisville settled in and started hitting their threes. We've already analyzed those "letdowns" ad nauseum. There's history here: will UConn learn to play 40 minutes before March?

I rechecked the box score, and 2 kids had few minutes (10 and 4), that started and played a lot of minutes against SC. They were a definite upgrade for Louisville.

 

[FanSince17]

I rechecked the box score, and 2 kids had few minutes (10 and 4), that started and played a lot of minutes against SC. They were a definite upgrade for Louisville.

He's a grinder. Gotta like him. I wonder why VanLith left.

 

[uconnfan68]

He's a grinder. Gotta like him. I wonder why VanLith left.

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