True.....Very true statement. No one ever questioned the offensive talent and skill. But defense may have been the weakness. But sounds like that hole is being addressed. I just can't imagine that there's any other deficiency.
+1 Ding Ding Ding... We have a winner!
I am with those who think that Geno is playing mind games, and that Azura will be in the starting lineup, though the others, including Dangerfield will see significant minutes. We all know that last year's team had two major deficiencies.... depth and height in the post. To compensate for the height deficiency, Gabby and Pheesa were deployed in the paint to guard bigger, stronger players. Though they performed admirably during the season, they were badly exposed in the Mississippi State game . Fast forward to this year's team, and Geno is now oozing with depth and a very intriguing height in Azura to offset the deficiencies from last year. Why would he put a starting five on the court that would even be shorter (height-wise) than last year's team (replacing Saniya at 5'8" with Dangerfield at 5'5"-ish)? Don't you think that Morgan Williams' buzzer beater would have been a little more difficult to make over the outstretched arm of a 6'6" Azura than the 5'11" Gabby (no offense to Gabby's leaping ability). Also, why would he again expose Gabby to bigger, stronger players in the paint knowing very well that she will not play that position at the next level, and this is the last opportunity for her to work on the skills that she will need, all the while having a 6'6" "center", albeit not Stewie-like defensively, sitting on the bench. Not only does this not make sense to me, it would be utterly unfair to Gabby, who will then be required to play out of position in her senior year. If there is anything that we can all agree on, it is that UCONN prepares its players for the next level. And there is no way in Heaven for Geno to think that playing Gabby at Center in her senior year and not allowing her to work on her outside game and ball handling skills is going to prepare her for the next level. Now, regarding Azura's reported defensive shortcomings, we all know that UCONN's defensive philosophy rest on communication, switching, covering for one another, etc. In other words, the players work in unison. Granted a player who is slow afoot or out of position affects the defensive cohesion (ala Azura if the reports of her shortcomings are true), but that has not affected the team's ability to defend well in the past. In fact I would say that last year's team had players who had individual defensive shortcomings (e.g., Saniya & KLS - though they were much improved over previous years, and Dangerfield, who I think we can agree was not "there" defensively), but they defended well because they worked as a unit and covered for one another.
Yeah, the frosh may need to bide their time a little. But Coach will play them if they bust their butts and learn the system. Geno doesn't want any biding per se.
I think we have our answer from the article. Azura and Batouly observed practices and participated when appropriate, but the priority was given to those who could actually play last year. There are different degrees of being exposed to or part of the UConn system. The eligible players, who are the focus of practices and actually play in games, are more immersed in the system than are transfers.
Like guessing players minutes???
PUHLEEZE! Math and logic being used in tandem on the BY to make a point? Hogwash! LOL...
Seriously, that's a great point that is easy to misunderstand. Good stuff Mil!
