Geno on minutes and early impression of the team

[Sluconn Husky]

“The minutes part is going to be a little bit dicey,” Auriemma said, “One of the good things is that … everything is up for grabs. Let’s see how it goes. Obviously, [Stevens] is going to get a lot of minutes, but then everybody else is competing. If you deserve it, you’ll get it. If you don’t deserve it, you won’t get it.”

...

Camara recently bruised her knee, Auriemma said, and will miss some practice this week.

Auriemma also said Stevens is still adjusting to the program’s defensive demands. At 6-6, Stevens could be shot-blocking presence in the paint, but she is still making the transition from practice player last year.

“It’s going to take her a little bit of time to get caught up,” Auriemma said.

Stevens figured to slide into the starting lineup as Chong’s replacement, adding size to a team that was forced to use the 5-11 Williams at the post. But the most impressive player all summer and into the fall is Dangerfield, who struggled at times during her freshman season.

“Crystal is like a different person,” Auriemma said. “Night and day, 180 [degrees] from last year at this time. She’s playing with a lot of confidence, just doing a lot of things that she didn’t do before. She’s aggressive, she’s trying to take a little bit of control over what’s going on. Pretty good so far.”


UConn Insider: Geno Auriemma Says Dividing Minutes Will Be 'Dicey' But So Far, So Good

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Stevens is still adjusting to the program’s defensive demands

We have heard before how being in practice doesn't really get you there, but I honestly don't get it.

 

[Intpseeker]

We have heard before how being in practice doesn't really get you there, but I honestly don't get it.

I guess I'm as clueless. How do you run with a team for a season and not be 'there'. I get that practice is not game minutes, but this is an elite player.

 

[Nuyoika]

I guess I'm as clueless. How do you run with a team for a season and not be 'there'. I get that practice is not game minutes, but this is an elite player.

I would guess he means in UConn's world. She is likely already there by the standards of the rest of WCBB. I wonder if he is making this team guard 4 on 5 yet? She might not be there in that respect.

 

[Charliebball]

We have heard before how being in practice doesn't really get you there, but I honestly don't get it.

she's an elite offensive player............the rest is to be determined........Geno isn't satisfied with players that trade baskets on defense.............she's going to get there defensively or only get minutes coming off of the bench when he needs some points

 

[Alydar]

I guess I'm as clueless. How do you run with a team for a season and not be 'there'. I get that practice is not game minutes, but this is an elite player.

We have no idea how much practice time Stevens spent playing with the players in the game rotation. My guess is she spent a lot of scrimmage time playing on the scout team. On a team like UConn that relies on pinpoint passes and anticipating your teammates' next 2 moves on both offense and defense you don't become adept at it just from drills. I expect to see Stevens make mistakes, especially on defense, for quite a while.

 

[hoophuskee]

We have heard before how being in practice doesn't really get you there, but I honestly don't get it.

You mean you don't get the comment coming from the guy who frequently says he has the worst post players in america? Or the one that benched Stewie and Tuck because of body language or something like that just 1 game before playing USC? Geno is just being Geno. He's going to throw his top tier players out there and evaluate just as he did several years ago - and Stanford forced him to alter his lineup by starting with Nurse and Tuck. Who he starts game 1 not important. It will be fun to see this team emerge. I predict he's going to be extremely tough on this team. Threatening with minutes.

 

[JustinesGuy]

I hope Crystal continues to impress, I think its crucial she starts and crucial she is trusted to drive this team at PG. If Crystal can drive this team A la Moriah this team is unbeatable if injury free.

 

[EricSD]

We have heard before how being in practice doesn't really get you there, but I honestly don't get it.

We have no idea how much practice time Stevens spent playing with the players in the game rotation. My guess is she spent a lot of scrimmage time playing on the scout team. On a team like UConn that relies on pinpoint passes and anticipating your teammates' next 2 moves on both offense and defense you don't become adept at it just from drills. I expect to see Stevens make mistakes, especially on defense, for quite a while.

It's funny, I was just talking with Milford about that the other day. We thought that maybe there were lots of times where the starters would be on the court practicing against the male practice players. Or subs off the bench would be in there practicing against whoever.

Point being, like you said, with Azura and Batouly not being able to play last year, it's possible that they ONLY participated in drills, etc, and not in scrimmages and what not. Just a thought...

 

[Vowelguy]

But the most impressive player all summer and into the fall is Dangerfield, who struggled at times during her freshman season.

“Crystal is like a different person,” Auriemma said. “Night and day, 180 [degrees] from last year at this time. She’s playing with a lot of confidence, just doing a lot of things that she didn’t do before. She’s aggressive, she’s trying to take a little bit of control over what’s going on. Pretty good so far.”

spectacular news

 

[bballnut90]

So what do people think the lineup and minutes breakdown will be in more competitive games? Based on reports regarding Dangerfield, I'm guessing she starts over Stevens and I'd imagine it'll be along the lines of:
F-Collier, 28 mpg
F-Williams, 30 mpg
G-Samuelson, 28 mpg
G-Dangerfield, 25 mpg
G-Nurse, 25 mpg
Bench:
Stevens, 24 mpg
Walker, 18 mpg
Camara, 10 mpg
Coombs, 8 mpg
Everyone else, 5 spot minutes at the end

 

[MilfordHusky]

So what do people think the lineup and minutes breakdown will be in more competitive games? Based on reports regarding Dangerfield, I'm guessing she starts over Stevens and I'd imagine it'll be along the lines of:
Collier, 28 mpg
Williams, 30 mpg
G-Samuelson, 28 mpg
G-Dangerfield, 25 mpg
G-Nurse, 25 mpg
Bench:
Stevens, 24 mpg
Walker, 18 mpg
Camara, 10 mpg
Coombs, 8 mpg
Everyone else, 5 spot minutes at the end

In the very competitive games, I think he goes 6 deep if possible for 35 minutes.

If a game is semi-competitive and we stretch a 15- point lead at halftime to 25 after 3Q, I like your numbers, though I’d bump Nurse up to 28.

Coombs may catch Batouly or Meg.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

it's possible that they ONLY participated in drills, etc, and not in scrimmages and what not. Just a thought...

Would you do that if you were Geno? I wouldn't.

 

[HoopsFan21]

What about Kyla, Molly, AEH, and Lexi???

 

[TWG236]

I remember an article when Butler joined the team and had to sit out a year. She mentioned in the article that she never practiced the entire year with any of the starters on either offense or defense and was always practiced against them. According to Geno he utilized his practice time to benefit the players who could play in games. I imagine it was the same for Azura and Batouly last year. So now they are into the mix and may be experiencing some of the "same" issues that the freshman are. Not as many nor as bad as the freshman, but still learning the UCONN way, defense, defense & more defense.

 

[EricSD]

Would you do that if you were Geno? I wouldn't.

See TWG's post above...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

See TWG's post above...

Yeah, but practice for a basketball year against UConn's starters (on the White Team) and need to acclimate to the intensity the next season? I get it and I don't.

 

[Vowelguy]

Collier, 32
Williams, 32 mpg
G-Samuelson, 28 mpg
G-Dangerfield, 30 mpg
G-Nurse, 34 mpg
Bench:
Stevens, 24 mpg
Walker, 10 mpg
Everyone else, 10

 

[01Neaggrad02]

Collier, 32
Williams, 32 mpg
G-Samuelson, 28 mpg
G-Dangerfield, 30 mpg
G-Nurse, 34 mpg
Bench:
Stevens, 24 mpg
Walker, 10 mpg
Everyone else, 10

What makes you think Lou will have less minutes then the other starters? Seriously?

 

[HGN]

I guess I'm as clueless. How do you run with a team for a season and not be 'there'. I get that practice is not game minutes, but this is an elite player.

Intp, don't be clueless. The clue here is Geno is saying that Crystal is ahead of Azura for that 5th starting spot. And as long as Crystal keeps impressing she is starting.

Sounds to me like Azura is an excellent player on the offensive side of the floor but not playing up to Geno's standards on the defensive end. And at 6'6 Geno is expecting more from her defensively.

JMHO.

 

[Charliebball]

Intp, don't be clueless. The clue here is Geno is saying that Crystal is ahead of Azura for that 5th starting spot. And as long as Crystal keeps impressing she is starting.

Sounds to me like Azura is an excellent player on the offensive side of the floor but not playing up to Geno's standards on the defensive end. And at 6'6 Geno is expecting more from her defensively.

JMHO.

not sure where he's playing her on the defensive end..............no matter where it is........ it's a hell of a lot different then what she experienced at Duke...............now she knows what she signed up for

 

[HuskyBandDad]

Geno just playing mind games with the fans.

 

[hoophuskee]

Minutes: About 213 - 216.

Collier/Gabby/Lou= 84 - 86
Nurse/Danger/AZ = 80
Walker/Boutaly = 28-30
Coombs = 8
Lexi/Kyla/Molly = 12

 

[Alydar]

Intp, don't be clueless. The clue here is Geno is saying that Crystal is ahead of Azura for that 5th starting spot. And as long as Crystal keeps impressing she is starting.

Sounds to me like Azura is an excellent player on the offensive side of the floor but not playing up to Geno's standards on the defensive end. And at 6'6 Geno is expecting more from her defensively.

JMHO.

It isn't necessarily a battle between CD & AZ to see who deserves to start. It may be that there are better alternatives in the front court than at pg. Maybe a pg is needed more than a front court player to start a game.

 

[Bigpetunia]

One never knows, but let's assume that we can take Geno's comments strictly at face value. If that is the case, his observations should come as outstanding news to all of us. Z is going to get her minutes, and will, inevitably, be a significant contributor to this team. But if Crystal is truly making the Moriah-like transformation we've eagerly anticipated, and that many of us expected, and she is really ready to have "the keys" handed to her, the positive impact on this team far supersedes any concerns about Z's defensive adjustments. The overall talent on the team is off the charts...but for every fine-tuned machine, a Mighty-Mo-type elite driver is an irreplaceable commodity...can't wait!

 

[HGN]

not sure where he's playing her on the defensive end....no matter where it is... it's a hell of a lot different then what she experienced at Duke.....now she knows what she signed up for

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.

But if UConn brings her off the bench she can sub for the 3/4/5 and be the best player on the floor at any time.....No team can matchup with her.

 

[JustinesGuy]

So what do people think the lineup and minutes breakdown will be in more competitive games? Based on reports regarding Dangerfield, I'm guessing she starts over Stevens and I'd imagine it'll be along the lines of:
Collier, 28 mpg
Williams, 30 mpg
G-Samuelson, 28 mpg
G-Dangerfield, 25 mpg
G-Nurse, 25 mpg
Bench:
Stevens, 24 mpg
Walker, 18 mpg
Camara, 10 mpg
Coombs, 8 mpg
Everyone else, 5 spot minutes at the end

I feel badly for Irwin. On most other teams she'd get more opportunity and grow into a solid player. So much talent here.
I really think Irwin can play.

 

[JustinesGuy]

What about Kyla, Molly, AEH, and Lexi???

Kyla can be so good. Please don't sleep on her.
Molly. Please.

I think Lexi is going to be solid. Maybe not a ton of PT early for obvious reasons but she's going to be a player.

 

[YellwJcket999]

Geno just playing mind games with the fans.

+1 Ding Ding Ding... We have a winner!
I think he is playing mind games with the fans and the players. Geno doesn't want Azura to think she has a starting spot in the bag. He wants her to go all out and work for it. The same is for Dangerfield.

I believe in one of the interviews KLS said that Azura put up 50pts against the team last year. That's a helluva weapon to unleash on the rest of WCBB.

 

[Carnac]

I hope Crystal continues to impress, I think its crucial she starts and crucial she is trusted to drive this team at PG. If Crystal can drive this team A la Moriah this team is unbeatable if injury free.

Geno sounds as if he's ready to hand Crystal the keys to the Ferrari, if he hasn't already.