Geno on minutes and early impression of the team

[VaConnFan11]

Last season 5 players averaged 29+ minutes per game. I predict this season that no one averages 30 minutes per game.

The reasoning is UConn is much deeper, so the "starters" know they can play more aggressive and committing fouls will not be as "bad" as they were last season.

 

[BroadwayVa]

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

A lot of space between those lines spoken by Geno; Innskeeper, voice my thoughts: how can Z play for a full practice season without learning a lot. If my magnifier is correct in line space looking, I'd say Geno's message to Z your practicing and defensive effort are not where they should be and Danger's efforts are. However, Geno would be near brain dead not to use the skill and season potential of Z.

 

[donalddoowop]

Last season 5 players averaged 29+ minutes per game. I predict this season that no one averages 30 minutes per game.

The reasoning is UConn is much deeper, so the "starters" know they can play more aggressive and committing fouls will not be as "bad" as they were last season.

To Geno and CD, committing fouls is always bad. However, committing fouls should not hurt as much this season as far as hurting the talent on the floor at any particular time.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

A lot of space between those lines spoken by Geno; Innskeeper, voice my thoughts: how can Z play for a full practice season without learning a lot. If my magnifier is correct in line space looking, I'd say Geno's message to Z your practicing and defensive effort are not where they should be and Danger's efforts are. However, Geno would be near brain dead not to use the skill and season potential of Z.

“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.”

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

 

[Coach]

Please refers too I don't think she is going to get meaningful minutes and I don't think she's a very good player. I think she's a very smart and wonderful person and clearly I rather be wrong and hope she's becomes an all American or reliable solid contributor.

Why do I think this?

A. From what I saw out of her last year. Can she greatly improve sure. Hope so.

B. The talent that returned from last year and incoming talent. I assume returning starters and bench will improve. I also think some of the incoming freshman are more talented than she is.

It would be disingenuous of me to respond to the post and say " ah there all going to be great". That's just not reality all the time. I think Irwin can be fantastic and I'm very high on Lexi. I don't see it from Molly on the court. It's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.

I hear what you're saying about Molly and can understand your opinion based on her performance last year. I don't think anyone doubts her work ethics and for whatever reason, the effort she put in during practice didn't translate on game day (nerves? intimidated by all the all stars?). I hope she can turn things around and get significant minutes. Maybe even transform herself to be a Kelly Faris clone this year.

 

[JustinesGuy]

I hear what you're saying about Molly and can understand your opinion based on her performance last year. I don't think anyone doubts her work ethics and for whatever reason, the effort she put in during practice didn't translate on game day (nerves? intimidated by all the all stars?). I hope she can turn things around and get significant minutes. Maybe even transform herself to be a Kelly Faris clone this year.

Sounds good too me I root for her just like all the girls.

 

[Carnac]

Gotta say that all this playing time arguing seems like navel gazing to me. There are minutes and then there are minutes and then there are minutes:
1. minutes in close games
2. garbage minutes, where Geno may or may not want to keep the MOV reasonable (depends on who the opposing coach is, etc)
3. minutes where Geno is readying the team for a big game or the tournament.

And then there are the variables, pointed out above, such as injuries. And Geno has already said that he doesn't know yet who the 5th starter is because it will affect the whole team's dynamics and that maybe he'll adjust the team to meet the opponent.

Can't we all agree that the top 6 will get lots of playing time? What is more interesting to me is who are the 7th and 8th: Does Batouly present a very workable big on the boards and does Megan work her way through her other talented freshmen and get some meaningful playing time? We won't know the answers to these questions until late winter, but that seems to me to be part of laying the foundation for the following years.

Bags, what you say is true. Please understand that since the season ended (with the exception of Collier's defection), there hasn't been a lot of "meat" for us to sink our teeth into. We've been dining on a steady diet of vegetables and soy products. We have to have something to talk and speculate about, or we risk losing our psychological and analytical edge to atrophy.

Good news...................come Wednesday evening after the Fort Hays State game, we'll have a myriad of things to talk about and debate. Right now, most of us are going stir crazy waiting for play to begin. Just 6 more days, then the "meat" wagons show up at the loading dock. Bon appetit.

 

[HumblePie]

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

This is absolutely ridiculous! If UCONN is as good as we all think, then none of the starters are going to average more than 30 mpg. Nurse getting 34 mpg is a total joke!

 

[BroadwayVa]

There are too many permutations, or is that the variables thing everyone is talking about? I think @JoePgh might be on to something.
Gabby will lead this team in minutes because she is the most indispensable to both the UCONN offense and Defense followed very closely by KLS.
It is beginning to look like Crystal will start joining the four starters from last year.
From there it's pretty straight forward IMO.
Azura will be first off the bench to replace Napheesa and Napheesa will rotate back into the game to spell Gabby.
Megan walker will rotate in to replace Kia Nurse when Kia is ready to return to the game she will replace Crystal at the point.
KLS is going to need a breather at some point so that sub is either going to be Kia or Megan. That is your rotation for meaningful games folks =7 Players with Geno having at least 4 starters in the game at all times.
Now since UCONN only has 8 or so meaningful games there still plenty of opportunity to pick up minutes for players that become trusted. If and when Batouly becomes trusted there should be so meaningful minutes for her in the post joining the Gabby, Napheesa and Azura rotation at the 4/5. Not to look too far ahead but it is critical that Batouly become trusted "this year" because she might be the starting 5 for UCONN next year. Because of the recruiting posture ( likely no Point Guard in 2018 ) the next position/role worth investing minutes in is the backup PG. That would mean no backup PG until Crystal is a Senior at the earliest. Saniya Chong got 17 MPG in that role as a freshmen (Brianna Banks got 14 that same season) and 19 MPG as a Sophomore was injured as a Junior and was able to start as a senior. I betting that Mikayla Coombs will become trusted in that role. My last point is that I don't these Kids come to UCONN expecting to start or a certain amount of minutes, defining and carving out a role and executing that role to the best of their ability is always the focus. I don't know, for example, how many minutes Molly is going to get but If her role was putting pressure on the ball and speeding the other team up for a few possessions every game up I'm sure that Geno could find a way to use that.
.

While the rotation of players in and out is subject to what Geno sees or feels---your rotation is as good as anyone on the BY. Also, the truism of those games not viewed as huge, shall be great training events. Also, your assessment of SOME kids come to UConn not expecting to start is true for SOME. I am fairly sure SOME come expecting to start as a Soph---Expectations and reality the Uconn type of kid can handle the reality. Other use ROTATION to mean rotate out.
I hope your betting on Touly and Molly becomes a reality. Both deserve a break.
I'm pretty sure the AAC type of games will peel away the layers and show who will be in what number off the bench.

 

[Vowelguy]

This is absolutely ridiculous! If UCONN is as good as we all think, then none of the starters are going to average more than 30 mpg. Nurse getting 34 mpg is a total joke!

Reread the thread.
Those are minutes IN KEY GAMES.

 

[HumblePie]

Reread the thread.
Those are minutes IN KEY GAMES.

I quoted your entire comment and nowhere in it says anything about "in key games."

 

[Vowelguy]

I quoted your entire comment and nowhere in it says anything about "in key games."

Again, read the thread.
The discussion of minutes came from this, which I was clearly responding to:

So what do people think the lineup and minutes breakdown will be in more competitive games?

 

[HumblePie]

Again, read the thread.
The discussion of minutes came from this, which I was clearly responding to:

WRONG! Your comment was simply one posted to the thread, which by the way had absolutely nothing to do with minutes in key games. It was NOT in reply to anyone! Perhaps you should follow your own suggestion to me ... REREAD what you actually posted.

 

[Vowelguy]

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