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Message: [QUOTE="oldhusky, post: 4332353, member: 9844"] In Nika's pre Uconn videos, you could see several traits that translated to her Uconn career and some that didn't. The defense, rebounding, steals off the dribble, and immediately pushing the ball up the court off a defensive rebound, all those abilities came with her. Even against that weaker competition she was not a volume scorer or a very efficient shooter. The offense was mostly one of two things, a wide open 3, or she would put her head down and drive to the hoop. Very few pull up jumpers, a standstill 3, or take it to the hoop. Of course when she did drive she was pass first, but got a ton of very creative assists. She was not just an asset on the defensive end, but offensively as well, with far more drives to the hoop, more easy baskets for teammates coming off those drives, and many more assists off a fast breaking offense. With that offensively more aggressive style she usually led her league in assists, but also had a few too many turnovers. It seems to me a couple of things have changed at Uconn and the high Division 1 level of competition. First Nika's ability to finish herself against bigger better players is greatly reduced. Geno has probably toned down her drives to where they almost never happen anymore. Probably because if she was caught without an available pass, she had trouble scoring herself and she was turnover prone. We also don't run that much unless it is off a defensive turnover. Few fast breaks and limited driving doesn't allow Nika to show her exceptional passing ability. Geno certainly doesn't like turnovers or stupid fouls and Nika tests his patience on both. Geno has said she has no problem getting to the basket. He knows that, but this year he sounds like he is willing to let her try more. I think if he does he may have to cringe occasionally at a failed attempt at the rim, or a turnover, but the trade off will be many easy baskets off her passes, passes to open players that will not happen if she is just a spot up 3 point shooter in a half court offense. I hope they give that approach a try, along with pushing more fast breaks. There is a slow it down and run the offense Nika, and a push the pace and penetrate whenever you can Nika. Those are two completely different offensive players. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach