Geno v Cori

[dogpause]

The game wasn't about what Close didn't do, but Geno's plan to push tempo was very effective. Truth is, there was also a huge talent disparity, and the same is true regarding experience.

 

[Zonepress]

yes, 'cause they felt she was so hot that her fellow players would feed the ball for a layup or a short jumper.

you miss the point you double from off the ball
other than is high school when i’ve seen a player
doubled without the ball have never seen this on the college level
perhaps I wasn’t clear
this has to be a player error not a coaching strategy

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

I believe that Uconn was just too good vs UCLA. UCLA could of played their most perfect and best basketball game in program history, but yesterday's outcome would of been the same. Uconn is on another level in this tournament and no team has looked or played like Uconn as of yet.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Reposting this for reference: I really appreciated the self-reflection and props given to UConn. Some of the analysis she made about "body language" echoes Geno's "You ain't gonna play if your body language sucks." comment.

 

[jaydee602]

Not sure if the best coaches in WBB could have strategized to beat UCONN last night. The Huskies had too many weapons at the top of their game.
When UCONN was defeating South Carolina this season, Ashlynn Shade hit a long three pointer. The camera panned to Dawn Staley, who had a resigned look that said, "We can't double team EVERYBODY."
The next possession, Kaitlyn Chen hit another 3 pointer. If Dawn had a white flag, she would have waved it.

 

[Pharos]

When the bulk of your offensive execution is to throw the ball down low, it makes playing defense a bit easier. I'd have to go back and look, but I don't recall Betts throwing the ball back outside once she was swarmed by the defense.

She did

 

[DefenseBB]

I mean, UConn starts three number one recruits (Bueckers, Fudd, and Strong), Jana would probably be at least a top 10 if she had been American, and Chen is easily one of the 5-10 best PGs in the country. Apart from Betts and Rice, the UCLA starters are very good recruits but not the top of their classes.

While I totally agree Geno out outcoached Cori, I think UConn has the most talented starting 5 in the country, to say nothing of their deep bench.

Huh? You realize Betts was #1,
Rice was #2 and Barker was #3 in the 2022 class. Add in Gardner at 6, Jacquez at 19 and London Jones at 22 and that is a pretty talented Junior class. Just because you’re ranked high is sort of moot, you need to prove it as well and both teams have talent to spare. Cori WAS out coached and despite her timeouts had no answer to what UConn was doing. Part of coaching is understanding plan A, B or C and when to invoke them and Cori clearly had no plan B or C… she was outcoached and that has been her Achilles her whole career.

 

[Soxx]

Here’s an element of coaching to consider. Close has developed an offense that practically forces the basketball into to low post, which is about all that UCLA did well last night.

Remember that Geno recruited Betts. Had she come to Storrs, UConn would never have put her in a similar offense. Geno runs a motion offense that spreads the floor and shares the ball.

That is not to suggest that Geno would never post up Betts and feed her the ball in the low post. It would be an option. But not an exclusive one.

What Geno knows, and Close has yet to understand, is that a one dimensional offense is much easier to stop than a multidimensional offense.

Pretty sure it was her first Final Four coaching experience.

 

[oldude]

Pretty sure it was her first Final Four coaching experience.

Yes. But the question posed by the OP was whether or not Geno outcoached Close. For many reasons, including experience, I would argue that answer to the OP’s question is yes.

 

[Conndog]

Yes. But the question posed by the OP was whether or not Geno outcoached Close. For many reasons, including experience, I would argue that answer to the OP’s question is yes.

Maybe not out-coached per se, but certainly out-prepared

 

[Soxx]

Yes. But the question posed by the OP was whether or not Geno outcoached Close. For many reasons, including experience, I would argue that answer to the OP’s question is yes.

I was responding to your wording about what Close “didn’t yet understand.” She is new to this stage.

 

[oldude]

Maybe not out-coached per se, but certainly out-prepared

???

Isn’t preparation a significant part of coaching as opposed to just showing up and winging it?

 

[oldude]

I was responding to your wording about what Close “didn’t yet understand.” She is new to this stage.

OK, and that’s a valid explanation of why Close was outcoached by an old guy who’s been at this for 40 years and is making his 24th visit to the final four.

 

[AnonChoice]

I believe Jana was blessed by revitalization following her fasting. Her energy levels were off the charts yesterday. Now, we will see whether consistency will stick for two games in a row.

So much for the question of not scoring at the 5 spot. Do we include just Jana, Ice & Aubrey (6+5+2 =13)? 13 is better than Stokes's average in the FF. That 3/4 fronting scheme worked amazingly to create turnovers! Yes, Betts got her 26 pts, but two of the starters did NOT score as they were concentrating on getting the ball to Betts and NOTHING else. When it was time for them to shoot they had no rhythm (like a breadstick (family joke )).

Tomorrow looks like an "Everybody eats day!" The Big 3: 15 - 25 pts, two more with 8 - 12 pts, and the rest all score 2 - 6 pts. Defense so dialed in that USC (East) scores 5 points below their NCAA round 2 - FF average, even though they play well.

Paige collects the Wooden award & Honda trophy, and for the first time a tie for the MOP on the UConn side (not saying whom), but one of them will be in the "W" soon.

Go Huskies!!! Win #12 while defeating your 18th #1 seed in the tournament!!!

The Wooden award has already gone to Watkins.

 

[Nyskier]

UCLA played anemic defense on our shooters. They did not adjust well in the second half