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Message: [QUOTE="JoePgh, post: 4422146, member: 1131"] If you haven't yet looked at the teaser for tomorrow night's "Geno Auriemma Show" (clipped in another thread), I suggest that you do it ASAP. It quotes Geno making (as usual) an astute point that may surprise some followers of UConn WBB. He uses Paige (in her "Coach P" role) as a willing foil -- Paige says what I suspect many long-time fans will be thinking as they react to Geno's statement. His statement, while watching practice, is that UConn isn't doing enough one-on-one play -- that UConn players, if they see a play or a drive to the basket, should "just go". rather than trying to run set plays that they practice. The reason, Geno says, is that any play that you practice may work in November or December, but by March it isn't going to work. Other good teams, he implies, will learn to defend any set offense that he or any other coach might conceive or prepare. Therefore, successful offense in big games will be found by exploiting the natural talent of the players to beat their match-ups with individual skills. When Geno said this (that UConn doesn't do enough 1-on-1), "Coach P" replied that it is because "we move the ball so much". Of course, that's true, but it's still November. I don't think Geno (of all people) wants to abandon crisp ball movement, but he wants to tilt the needle slightly away from that towards individual play. I think Geno's view on this subject may be very influenced by last year's NC game, where the South Carolina defense was jumping screens and anticipating UConn's movements because they had done their homework on UConn's offense. Many Boneyarders disparage the NBA and WNBA for having too much individual play and too much reliance on "show time" athleticism of individual stars. These leagues certainly don't feature the Princeton offense, but the best teams still move the ball quite well on offense, and they get a number of backdoor layups and similar plays in every game. Pro players (especially in the W) aren't selfish, but they recognize that individual talent counts, and may count for more than clever passing. I'm really glad that Geno isn't being dogmatic about the kind of offense that brought him 11 National Championships, and can see the need to change. It would be good for all of WCBB if all the coaches were so free of dogmatism and so ready to change their minds when the circumstances warrant that. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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