Geno on Next Year's Roster - Interesting Comments RE: Liv

[Waquoit]

At a minimum she should nail that 3 pointer from the top of the arc. All players should master that shot, the benefits are so great.

 

[huskiemaniac]

At a minimum she should nail that 3 pointer from the top of the arc. All players should master that shot, the benefits are so great.

Personally, I was happy to see her not attempt a 3 (IIRC) in the tournament. I assumed Geno gave her the red light. Nothing drove me nuts more than an Ono 3 as our first shot of a game, or taken early in the shot clock. (By early, I mean anything before 5 seconds)

 

[DEpup]

How I wish Pheesa got to play with AE.

Actually I would have liked to see Pheesa play with Stef Dolson. I think they would have been the perfect high low combo. Dolson at the high post and Pheesa down low.

I don't think Pheesa and AE would work because they want to occupy the same space.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I honestly don’t think Liv will lose her starting role (could be wrong), but I do think if she doesn’t fix the things he’s talking about her minutes will be significantly reduced. I think he won’t give her as many chances in game and will just pull her instead.

I believe Geno believes he has the pieces (UCONN are all better) that he saw work effectively for Tara & Stanford. Now to just get to the National Finals.....

 

[oldhusky]

I think we are looking to change this or add that, when after three years to a large extent it is what it is. Her personality or drive will probably the same, and it is unlikely she develops a brand new skill. She doesn't react well in traffic or against physical players. Fairly modest contact throws her off.

She still can dominate much smaller players, but we need someone who can succeed against the Baylor's, South Carolina's, Stanford etc. Geno will have two more options next year in Dorka and Amari that might work better in certain match-ups, but Amari seems pretty similar in build and style.

Now there is one thing that would make me think Liv could improve her weak areas, but that would be if she returned to school 20-25 pounds heavier. Since that hasn't happened in three years, I don't think it will this time either.

 

[Crossover]

Under what scenario do you not see Paige starting? I ask because that is not a question that I ever entertained

Did you not notice all the sarcasm emojis in the post. He was pulling your leg, and apparently successful in doing so.

 

[Fossil]

What I don’t understand is how can someone be 6 foot five and not have a hook shot. Liv has good footwork long arms and can elevate so a shot like this could be devastating. She gets good deep penetration in the lane but only has her three options hook around the defender to the right or left for a close in layup ( often missed) or step away baby jump shot. Have her sit down and watch Kareem’s highlights and learn how to take that shot she could be a different player next year. And in watching all the games I can’t tell you how many times I see a shot go up and she stands there and watches it instead of breaking toward the basket I don’t know if that is the plan or if she just doesn’t look to rebound. With her height and quickness she should be a rebounding machine maybe 15 a game especially in the Big East. She definitely battled the other Biggs well defensively but she just has no offensive game against them. Liv has gotten stronger each year and I expect next year will be no different I just hope she works on her offense. The potential is there he just needs to be realized.

 

[Redux]

Nothing drove me nuts more than an Ono 3 as our first shot of a game, or taken early in the shot clock. (By early, I mean anything before 5 seconds)

By early (in her case) I mean anything before 40 minutes. Sorry to be snarky.

My wife always laughs when I call out "no" when anyone takes a 3 point shot I don't agree with and makes it, or even just a long jumper, but it's an inside joke: I always stand with my call. I like the points but an ill-advised shot is still a mistake.

She maintains (and she's probably right) that sometimes players just feel it, or the odds of getting somebody a better look before the shot clock starts pressuring are low. To me a shot outside someone's range, particularly when contested, is wrong if there's still time for better. But I'm set in my ways.

 

[Calbysdad]

I wasn't sure what I was looking for when I grabbed Liv's stats for last season - I just wanted to look for trends. With the exception of UMass (the first game), Liv was exceptionally efficient in every game but 6 (I have put those in Red Bold). Those were, arguably, our six toughest games going in and our toughest defenses faced. Take a peek for yourself and see if you can pick up any trends...

My takeaway is Liv feasts on the weaker to medium competition but struggles against the elite.

Date	Opponent	PTS	MIN	FGM-FGA	3PM-3PA	FTM-FTA	REB	AST	BLK	STL	TO	PF
12/12/2020	UMass Lowell	12	19	5-14	0-0	2-6	9	1	3	1	0	0
12/15/2020	Seton Hall	16	25	7-9	0-1	2-4	10	2	1	1	3	3
12/17/2020	Creighton	24	22	9-9	1-1	5-6	2	2	2	0	1	2
12/19/2020	Xavier	16	24	7-10	0-0	2-2	11	3	2	0	4	3
12/22/2020	Villanova	19	22	7-9	0-0	5-6	6	3	3	1	2	4
12/29/2020	DePaul	16	27	7-11	0-0	2-6	14	3	1	0	4	3
1/9/2021	Providence	11	15	5-10	0-0	1-2	2	3	2	0	2	1
1/19/2021	Butler	18	21	7-9	0-0	4-6	3	0	2	0	2	1
1/21/2021	Tennessee	7	31	2-7	0-4	3-6	11	1	3	1	0	2
1/23/2021	Georgetown	19	24	8-12	2-2	1-2	9	0	1	0	1	3
1/28/2021	Arkansas	2	19	1-2	0-0	0-0	2	2	3	1	3	2
1/31/2021	DePaul	10	26	5-7	0-0	0-0	7	2	1	0	3	3
2/3/2021	St. John's (NY)	11	34	5-10	0-2	1-1	5	3	1	3	2	4
2/5/2021	Marquette	8	36	4-9	0-1	0-0	8	7	0	1	2	3
2/8/2021	South Carolina	6	30	3-10	0-1	0-0	7	6	1	0	1	4
2/10/2021	Seton Hall	15	34	7-12	0-1	1-1	13	3	2	1	2	2
2/12/2021	Georgetown	6	21	2-3	0-0	2-2	5	2	1	1	1	3
2/17/2021	St. John's (NY)	17	24	8-11	1-1	0-2	7	0	2	2	1	0
2/20/2021	Xavier	11	24	4-7	0-1	3-4	8	6	2	0	2	0
2/25/2021	Creighton	11	27	4-7	0-0	3-3	11	4	1	0	0	0
2/27/2021	Butler	11	24	5-9	0-0	1-3	9	2	0	0	5	3
3/1/2021	Marquette	19	35	9-18	0-0	1-2	10	3	6	0	2	4
3/6/2021	St. John's (NY)	10	25	5-9	0-0	0-0	11	2	1	1	3	2
3/7/2021	Villanova	13	22	5-9	0-0	3-4	7	5	0	0	0	1
3/8/2021	Marquette	5	23	2-5	0-0	1-2	7	5	4	1	1	2
3/21/2021	High Point	22	32	9-17	0-0	4-5	7	4	0	0	3	3
3/23/2021	Syracuse	17	31	7-11	0-0	3-5	8	2	1	1	0	4
3/27/2021	Iowa	4	36	2-6	0-0	0-0	11	7	1	2	4	2
3/29/2021	Baylor	3	29	1-3	0-0	1-2	8	4	5	0	2	4
4/2/2021	Arizona	1	21	0-7	0-0	1-4	6	0	1	1	1	3

 

[DEpup]

Great visual!!! Tells the story. No words necessay.

 

[UcMiami]

Great visual!!! Tells the story. No words necessay.

Except it really doesn't tell the story unless you consider efficiency to be just scoring points. I consider it a whole lot more. Iowa: 11 rebounds, seven assists; Baylor 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks; SC 7 rebounds 6 assists; TN 11 rebounds, 3 blocks. And against Arkansas she shot 50%.

Talk about inefficiency:
TN - Paige: 38 minutes, 9 pts, 3-14 shooting, 1-6 three, 2-2 FT, 8 rebounds, 0 PF, 7 assists, 2 TOs, 0 blocks, 3 steals.

Uconn lost against Arkansas because of terrible defense - they shot 52% overall and 57% from 3. Last time I checked Liv isn't usually defending at the arc.
And they lost against AZ because they weren't ready to win and didn't rise to the challenge - you can scapegoat Liv all you want but that was a team loss as well.

 

[oldhusky]

I wasn't sure what I was looking for when I grabbed Liv's stats for last season - I just wanted to look for trends. With the exception of UMass (the first game), Liv was exceptionally efficient in every game but 6 (I have put those in Red Bold). Those were, arguably, our six toughest games going in and our toughest defenses faced. Take a peek for yourself and see if you can pick up any trends...

My takeaway is Liv feasts on the weaker to medium competition but struggles against the elite.

Date	Opponent	PTS	MIN	FGM-FGA	3PM-3PA	FTM-FTA	REB	AST	BLK	STL	TO	PF
12/12/2020	UMass Lowell	12	19	5-14	0-0	2-6	9	1	3	1	0	0
12/15/2020	Seton Hall	16	25	7-9	0-1	2-4	10	2	1	1	3	3
12/17/2020	Creighton	24	22	9-9	1-1	5-6	2	2	2	0	1	2
12/19/2020	Xavier	16	24	7-10	0-0	2-2	11	3	2	0	4	3
12/22/2020	Villanova	19	22	7-9	0-0	5-6	6	3	3	1	2	4
12/29/2020	DePaul	16	27	7-11	0-0	2-6	14	3	1	0	4	3
1/9/2021	Providence	11	15	5-10	0-0	1-2	2	3	2	0	2	1
1/19/2021	Butler	18	21	7-9	0-0	4-6	3	0	2	0	2	1
1/21/2021	Tennessee	7	31	2-7	0-4	3-6	11	1	3	1	0	2
1/23/2021	Georgetown	19	24	8-12	2-2	1-2	9	0	1	0	1	3
1/28/2021	Arkansas	2	19	1-2	0-0	0-0	2	2	3	1	3	2
1/31/2021	DePaul	10	26	5-7	0-0	0-0	7	2	1	0	3	3
2/3/2021	St. John's (NY)	11	34	5-10	0-2	1-1	5	3	1	3	2	4
2/5/2021	Marquette	8	36	4-9	0-1	0-0	8	7	0	1	2	3
2/8/2021	South Carolina	6	30	3-10	0-1	0-0	7	6	1	0	1	4
2/10/2021	Seton Hall	15	34	7-12	0-1	1-1	13	3	2	1	2	2
2/12/2021	Georgetown	6	21	2-3	0-0	2-2	5	2	1	1	1	3
2/17/2021	St. John's (NY)	17	24	8-11	1-1	0-2	7	0	2	2	1	0
2/20/2021	Xavier	11	24	4-7	0-1	3-4	8	6	2	0	2	0
2/25/2021	Creighton	11	27	4-7	0-0	3-3	11	4	1	0	0	0
2/27/2021	Butler	11	24	5-9	0-0	1-3	9	2	0	0	5	3
3/1/2021	Marquette	19	35	9-18	0-0	1-2	10	3	6	0	2	4
3/6/2021	St. John's (NY)	10	25	5-9	0-0	0-0	11	2	1	1	3	2
3/7/2021	Villanova	13	22	5-9	0-0	3-4	7	5	0	0	0	1
3/8/2021	Marquette	5	23	2-5	0-0	1-2	7	5	4	1	1	2
3/21/2021	High Point	22	32	9-17	0-0	4-5	7	4	0	0	3	3
3/23/2021	Syracuse	17	31	7-11	0-0	3-5	8	2	1	1	0	4
3/27/2021	Iowa	4	36	2-6	0-0	0-0	11	7	1	2	4	2
3/29/2021	Baylor	3	29	1-3	0-0	1-2	8	4	5	0	2	4
4/2/2021	Arizona	1	21	0-7	0-0	1-4	6	0	1	1	1	3

You just documented very precisely what many of us were feeling. Since her season wide FG% is pretty good, and these results are so bad, the difference is way to large to be a statistical fluke. There clearly is a relationship there.

 

[cferraro04]

Except it really doesn't tell the story unless you consider efficiency to be just scoring points. I consider it a whole lot more. Iowa: 11 rebounds, seven assists; Baylor 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks; SC 7 rebounds 6 assists; TN 11 rebounds, 3 blocks. And against Arkansas she shot 50%.

Talk about inefficiency:
TN - Paige: 38 minutes, 9 pts, 3-14 shooting, 1-6 three, 2-2 FT, 8 rebounds, 0 PF, 7 assists, 2 TOs, 0 blocks, 3 steals.

Uconn lost against Arkansas because of terrible defense - they shot 52% overall and 57% from 3. Last time I checked Liv isn't usually defending at the arc.
And they lost against AZ because they weren't ready to win and didn't rise to the challenge - you can scapegoat Liv all you want but that was a team loss as well.

I willing to bet that conversations like these will be "far and in between" next season. I think we are going to have to calm down the exuberance in order to not offend the basketball gods and maintain the mojo.

 

[Calbysdad]

Except it really doesn't tell the story unless you consider efficiency to be just scoring points. I consider it a whole lot more. Iowa: 11 rebounds, seven assists; Baylor 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks; SC 7 rebounds 6 assists; TN 11 rebounds, 3 blocks. And against Arkansas she shot 50%.

Talk about inefficiency:
TN - Paige: 38 minutes, 9 pts, 3-14 shooting, 1-6 three, 2-2 FT, 8 rebounds, 0 PF, 7 assists, 2 TOs, 0 blocks, 3 steals.

Uconn lost against Arkansas because of terrible defense - they shot 52% overall and 57% from 3. Last time I checked Liv isn't usually defending at the arc.
And they lost against AZ because they weren't ready to win and didn't rise to the challenge - you can scapegoat Liv all you want but that was a team loss as well.

I couldn't agree more. Most of the complaints seem to not take defense, rebounding and passing into account - only offense. You can also say that playing better team defenses should come with an expected decrease in offensive efficiency...

 

[Heytherego]

I couldn't agree more. Most of the complaints seem to not take defense, rebounding and passing into account - only offense. You can also say that playing better team defenses should come with an expected decrease in offensive efficiency...

People forget there’s more to basketball than making shots. Liv impacts the game in a ton of other ways, at an elite level, that others don’t.

 

[phil sampieri]

Great article indeed. This was a great end to the article:

Auriemma toyed with the idea of extending the Huskies’ style of play during the season, going more full court, but decided against it. Westbrook, who announced after the Final Four that she will return for her final season of eligibility, wasn’t 100 percent for much of the season after missing the summer while recovering from knee surgery. Also, Anna Makurat, the sophomore guard who has announced plans to transfer, missed 13 games with a stress fracture in her leg.

“Next year,” Auriemma said. “I won't have that problem. I hope. We're going to have an opportunity to play differently.”

So he's already planning a more active and intense defense starting when the opponents inbound the ball. That will be so fun to watch.

And in a way, gauntlet thrown for Liv. Add to her game and fix the thing she needs to fix. To me that means a baby hook. and continue to work on getting stronger. Not sure what Geno means, but I have no doubt he discussed it with Liv.

Add in Juhasz as a post player and Liv may well be pushed out. No more missed bunnies and scoring 5 points in a game. Produce, or someone else will replace you. Can Liv do it? Absolutely. Will she? We will see!!

You hit the nail on the head baby hook, more arc on her foul shots and for me release her layups at the height of her leap .I think this young lady
knows what she needs to do. Look how much she improved her shot blocking and rebounding.

 

[DEpup]

So I gotta add my 2 cents since one of my posts was used in the defending Liv string.

I actually think Liv did a great defensive job against Baylor and was mentally and or physically spent for AZ.

If Liv was a freshman or even sophomore, I would be right there with you all and have been there in the past.

However, as a junior knowing you are playing for the best program ever where pressure is a privilege and have a freshman backing you up, in big games you gotta put the big girl pants on and get at least 10 pts to go with the assists and rebounds. It is what it is. No apologies.

Truth be told, Aaliyah also lost her nerve as the tournament went on but she was a freshman so it's somewhat expected. If you are a coach, you gotta be able to depend on your upperclassmen to have your back and also realize the freshman will need support and go out and take care of business in big games. I thought Chrystin really did her part in the tournament. With Dorka, Geno is not only sending a message to Liv but also doing his job and trying to find the front court upperclassman he can depend on in big games. If this move leads to both of them being that person then he'll be laughing all the way to a championship as the crazy like a fox button pusher that he is.

Its not nice, pretty, or fair but it's UConn and I reiterate where pressure is a privilege.

 

[FanFromMaine]

So I gotta add my 2 cents since one of my posts was used in the defending Liv string.

I actually think Liv did a great defensive job against Baylor and was mentally and or physically spent for AZ.

If Liv was a freshman or even sophomore, I would be right there with you all and have been there in the past.

However, as a junior knowing you are playing for the best program ever where pressure is a privilege and have a freshman backing you up, in big games you gotta put the big girl pants on and get at least 10 pts to go with the assists and rebounds. It is what it is. No apologies.

Truth be told, Aaliyah also lost her nerve as the tournament went on but she was a freshman so it's somewhat expected. If you are a coach, you gotta be able to depend on your upperclassmen to have your back and also realize the freshman will need support and go out and take care of business in big games. I thought Chrystin really did her part in the tournament. With Dorka, Geno is not only sending a message to Liv but also doing his job and trying to find the front court upperclassman he can depend on in big games. If this move leads to both of them being that person then he'll be laughing all the way to a championship as the crazy like a fox button pusher that he is.

Its not nice, pretty, or fair but it's UConn and I reiterate where pressure is a privilege.

About a third of the way into the season, Geno moved Liv to the high post more often. IMHO it was a good idea as, to me, Liv will never be a great back-to-basket player.

So it was disappointing but not surprising to see Liv so sped up in the Baylor game. She doesn’t yet have the reps evidently to act without thinking. Hopefully, Liv can learn that position more in the coming season because it appears to me where she can have the best success at UConn and in the pros.

 

[Monty]

I really liked this year's team. I loved watching their progress. They started to move the ball and find the open "person". but that seemed to dissipate a little in the later games. yes, I know the defense was tougher but....
I must say I liked Arizona's very crisp passing that was a hallmark of UCONN in the past. JIMO
Ok, I am an old "TEAM" offense/defense kind of guy you loved to watch Bradley and Havilcek (knicks and celtics... find the open man...person) chase each other around and that is why I watch women's college basketball today and the Huskies style!!!
Oh, I am so looking forward to next year Kick butt (I can't say the other word) Go Huskies!

 

[UcMiami]

So I gotta add my 2 cents since one of my posts was used in the defending Liv string.

I actually think Liv did a great defensive job against Baylor and was mentally and or physically spent for AZ.

If Liv was a freshman or even sophomore, I would be right there with you all and have been there in the past.

However, as a junior knowing you are playing for the best program ever where pressure is a privilege and have a freshman backing you up, in big games you gotta put the big girl pants on and get at least 10 pts to go with the assists and rebounds. It is what it is. No apologies.

Truth be told, Aaliyah also lost her nerve as the tournament went on but she was a freshman so it's somewhat expected. If you are a coach, you gotta be able to depend on your upperclassmen to have your back and also realize the freshman will need support and go out and take care of business in big games. I thought Chrystin really did her part in the tournament. With Dorka, Geno is not only sending a message to Liv but also doing his job and trying to find the front court upperclassman he can depend on in big games. If this move leads to both of them being that person then he'll be laughing all the way to a championship as the crazy like a fox button pusher that he is.

Its not nice, pretty, or fair but it's UConn and I reiterate where pressure is a privilege.

I know ONO is a Junior and Uconn always plays in the Regionals and FF, but do you actual realize how many minutes ONO has played in regional games and the FF? 2019 as a freshman she played 21 total minutes in S16 and E8 games with a stat line of 1-2 shooting and 2 pts, 2 PF, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. She was the only player to see minutes off the bench. In the one FF game she had 15 minutes, shot 2-4 for 4 points and 5 rebounds, 1 PF and 1 block. And she only played those minutes because Megan Walker was picking up 4 fouls. Christyn Williams her classmate played 118 minutes in those three games scoring 49 pts. She actually has experience.

And of course neither played an NCAA in 2020. ONO may be a junior, but she doesn't actually have much experience preparing or playing in NCAA tournaments, having been the only alternative on Uconn's bench for a player in foul trouble in her freshman year. When fouls weren't an issue in those critical games (all decided by single digits) the starters all played 40 minutes.

 

[CocoHusky]

I know ONO is a Junior and Uconn always plays in the Regionals and FF, but do you actual realize how many minutes ONO has played in regional games and the FF? 2019 as a freshman she played 21 total minutes in S16 and E8 games with a stat line of 1-2 shooting and 2 pts, 2 PF, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. She was the only player to see minutes off the bench. In the one FF game she had 15 minutes, shot 2-4 for 4 points and 5 rebounds, 1 PF and 1 block. And she only played those minutes because Megan Walker was picking up 4 fouls. Christyn Williams her classmate played 118 minutes in those three games scoring 49 pts. She actually has experience.

And of course neither played an NCAA in 2020. ONO may be a junior, but she doesn't actually have much experience preparing or playing in NCAA tournaments, having been the only alternative on Uconn's bench for a player in foul trouble in her freshman year. When fouls weren't an issue in those critical games (all decided by single digits) the starters all played 40 minutes.

21 minutes of tournament experience sure doesn't sound like a lot of experience until you compare it to zero which was the total amount of experience that the Arizona players had. ONO is also a junior and had played in plenty of big games for UCONN so that nerves should not have been an issue.

 

[warbler1055]

I hope we can all agree that ONO is a very good teammate and has a very nice personality. One only have to look at her during huddle and/or timeouts. As UCMiami so eloquently put it, it was a team loss because of defense and rebounding and other things. But it was offence that lost the AZ game. Unhappily ONO was a big part of that. May be she will fix what she knows must be fixed this year.