Geno has to have a short leash on Williams

[meyers7]

She looked pretty happy tonight though.

She probably doesn't read the BY.

 

[HopJim]

It boggles the mind how a player so physically strong and gifted can have some invisible games. But she is playing so well now and her defense has been the best it has ever been and boy did she fight hard on the boards. Time to make others feel your pain Christyn.

Some of us at times forget that UConn is not the only team with exceptional defensive minded athletes. When these assets are targeted on CW or Megan, they will not always have their best games. With all due respect to Kyla, her lack of offense also gave other teams the ability to double on our shooters. Now that we have Anna passing, shooting 3's and cutting, suspect things will be different.

 

[BBallF]

You really think a freshman is going to start over a junior? Man please

I agree. It will be CW, Evina ( assuming no further knee issues), MW. AM, and Liv. Coming in first will be Paige, AG, and Edwards and don't underestimate Nika or Mir. He can also play Piath for the big body. Let's not get crazy about Paige though. Remember the GOAT's freshman year? Geno said the only freshman who came in like a returning upper classmen ready to play was Maya. Also, look at the Evina films. She is top shelf and a scoring point and she has the eye of the tiger. Many of us are overlooking her. Next year's team could turn out to be the greatest passing team ever in the history of womens college BBall....... except for the year after next..........and if Azzi comes there will have to new words invented.

 

[Jingo]

I agree. It will be CW, Evina ( assuming no further knee issues), MW. AM, and Liv. Coming in first will be Paige, AG, and Edwards and don't underestimate Nika or Mir. He can also play Piath for the big body. Let's not get crazy about Paige though. Remember the GOAT's freshman year? Geno said the only freshman who came in like a returning upper classmen ready to play was Maya. Also, look at the Evina films. She is top shelf and a scoring point and she has the eye of the tiger. Many of us are overlooking her. Next year's team could turn out to be the greatest passing team ever in the history of womens college BBall....... except for the year after next..........and if Azzi comes there will have to new words invented.

"You really think a freshman is going to start over a junior?" Well now, three freshman 'start' at #1 S Carolina. Say what?

 

[BBallF]

"You really think a freshman is going to start over a junior?" Well now, three freshman 'start' at #1 S Carolina. Say what?

Who are they starting over at SC? Players as good as Anna, Evina or CW?

 

[Argonaut]

By starting Kyla over Anna or Aubrey for that stretch this year, Geno showed that experience with the program can outweigh pure talent.

Next year, we'll have both experience and talent to come off of the bench, and then more talent on top of it.

If Paige was a freshman this year, I think she would likely be our fifth starter. But with Evina and Anna having a year of program experience under their belts, as you're trying to set the pace of the game, it seems like that experience will mean a lot.

As we saw this year before Geno made the switch back to Anna, pay attention to when players are subbing into the game more so than who is on the floor when the first whistle blows. When Anna started coming in a few minutes after the game started, we saw the change was on the horizon.

 

[ccwarrior]

Her game last night was more of what we expect - effort all night. I am going to disagree with folks who say that she has "turned a corner." Her effort (on paper) looks decent in the last third of the season, but let's face it the teams were sub-par or many points came after the result had been decided. When she consistently plays well in the big games (OR, SC, Baylor, etc) I might agree with her strong supporters.

 

[peace & love]

"You really think a freshman is going to start over a junior?" Well now, three freshman 'start' at #1 S Carolina. Say what?

I am referring to UConn’s system and how long it takes freshman to get acclimated to. I suppose CW is just going to go home and eat all summer and not work on her game or progress? Lol

 

[eebmg]

Her game last night was more of what we expect - effort all night. I am going to disagree with folks who say that she has "turned a corner." Her effort (on paper) looks decent in the last third of the season, but let's face it the teams were sub-par or many points came after the result had been decided. When she consistently plays well in the big games (OR, SC, Baylor, etc) I might agree with her strong supporters.

might?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

By starting Kyla over Anna or Aubrey for that stretch this year, Geno showed that experience with the program can outweigh pure talent.

Next year, we'll have both experience and talent to come off of the bench, and then more talent on top of it.

If Paige was a freshman this year, I think she would likely be our fifth starter. But with Evina and Anna having a year of program experience under their belts, as you're trying to set the pace of the game, it seems like that experience will mean a lot.

As we saw this year before Geno made the switch back to Anna, pay attention to when players are subbing into the game more so than who is on the floor when the first whistle blows. When Anna started coming in a few minutes after the game started, we saw the change was on the horizon.

When I saw Evina's name and the year of experience I was reminded of Z. You may recall as she struggled somewhat in the early part of the year Geno remonstrating that practicing with the team and playing are 2 different animals.

 

[Argonaut]

When I saw Evina's name and the year of experience I was reminded of Z. You may recall as she struggled somewhat in the early part of the year Geno remonstrating that practicing with the team and playing are 2 different animals.

I think Z’s struggles had a lot to do with the fact that she really wanted to be a 6’6” guard and Geno wanted her banging in the paint.

And the fact that she didn’t start, I would argue, goes back to the fact that there wasn’t room in the lineup for her. It’s not like an incoming player got more PT, but that year we were starting Kia, Gabby, Phee, Lou, and Crystal — all proven starters in the UConn system. Geno would have had to bench Gabby or Phee.

Next year, there is an opening in the starting guard rotation and we have one guard who has spent a year in our system. Unless Paige shows up with the maturity and poise that Maya brought in addition to her natural talent, barring injury, Evina will start and Paige will be the first guard off the bench.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I think Z’s struggles had a lot to do with the fact that she really wanted to be a 6’6” guard and Geno wanted her banging in the paint.

And the fact that she didn’t start, I would argue, goes back to the fact that there wasn’t room in the lineup for her. It’s not like an incoming player got more PT, but that year we were starting Kia, Gabby, Phee, Lou, and Crystal — all proven starters in the UConn system. Geno would have had to bench Gabby or Phee.

Next year, there is an opening in the starting guard rotation and we have one guard who has spent a year in our system. Unless Paige shows up with the maturity and poise that Maya brought in addition to her natural talent, barring injury, Evina will start and Paige will be the first guard off the bench.

Ah, @Argonaut , this question shall occupy us for many months. You have hit on the key question "poise" but if Paige comes in with swagger and maturity, things she appears to have now, and does not get freshman syndrome, I see her starting at least before the turn of the year and perhaps earlier. Otherwise, how is Geno going to be thanking her for bringing the NCAA championship home to Storrs?

 

[Argonaut]

Ah, @Argonaut , this question shall occupy us for many months. You have hit on the key question "poise" but if Paige comes in with swagger and maturity, things she appears to have now, and does not get freshman syndrome, I see her starting at least before the turn of the year and perhaps earlier. Otherwise, how is Geno going to be thanking her for bringing the NCAA championship home to Storrs?

If we win the NC next year, Paige will play a huge roll regardless of whether or not she’s in the starting lineup. The sixth (wo)man should never be overlooked.