Giving Saniya her due

[Icebear]

I thought Saniya's play last night deserved her own thread.

When the team was struggling to get anything to fall at the beginning of the game she came in and hit two huge 3s. She did some very important things with her time throughout the game, not perfect but really good and was critical to righting the USS Husky early. As Geno mention she is improving rapidly, I would say even an amazing rate.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I thought Saniya's play last night deserved her own thread.

When the team was struggling to get anything to fall at the beginning of the game she came in and hit two huge 3s. She did some very important things with her time throughout the game, not perfect but really good and was critical to righting the USS Husky early. As Geno mention she is improving rapidly, I would say even an amazing rate.

Exactly...

 

[caramel]

Another example,of how Geno and company recruit special players that no one or few see as potential future stars.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Another example,of how Geno and company recruit special players that no one or few see as potential future stars.

Indeed...yet, she has two National Player Of The Year Awards.

 

[Icebear]

Saniya would seem to be an example of a weak spot in the recruiting system that now depends on elite teams and kids playing at big time AAU events. I believe that Saniya was late to that world.

 

[FairView]

Wait.
Isn't this the UConn team that is threatened by its lack of depth?

 

[DavidinNaples]

Ice...nicely put...Saniya also had 3 assists and 2 steals....best of all, 17 minutes w/ zero turnovers..!! Seemed very composed and under control. Gave a spark when it was needed. acted like a junior, not a freshman...

 

[Sonny44]

She certainly caught Geno's eye. No matter how well a freshman doew in practise it's another thing to do it against a quality opponent and at a time when your team is struggling.

 

[Geno-ista]

And in front of 9-10,000 people and national television'

 

[msf22b]

Aside from her enormous gifts:
There is a certain inner serenity about this young woman.
Geno has noted her passing ability and BB IQ.
More difficult to gauge is calmness under fire.

This kid is a total winner.

 

[Geno-ista]

Other than the obvious possible catastrophe w/ kml, there were so many positives to pull from this game it's incredible. It would have been 30-40 points if not for constant stoppages of touch fouls. Our depth will be critical with the new officiating- seams they need a little more discretion in some of those calls.
Our bottom 4 carried us thru the first half and much of the game. Offense was running well- missing some open shots but getting them. Stokes Chong Tuck played great. Tuck started draining 3's. Hartley was all over it- on defense as well. She is a great player- period. She was brilliant in tmt last yearand is playing as well as anyone right now!!!

 

[Icebear]

Making our foul shots is now at a greater premium than ever.

 

[UcMiami]

She caught his eye enough to make it to the podium according to the 'quotes' which is not a frequent occurrence for a freshman. I thought it was a nice game by her - the 3s were huge thought that was about it for scoring, but her defense has gotten so much better in a very short time which is what impresses me.

 

[Aluminny69]

Wait.
Isn't this the UConn team that is threatened by its lack of depth?

I believe the "lack of depth" refers to quantity, not quality. Think back to the time people were worried about lack of depth (numbers.) UConn had nine players which included one untested freshman, and several coming back from injuries (some season ending), and at least needed to get back in game condition. Today, with KML injured, UConn has an 8 player rotation, another injury would bring it down to 7. I have even seen UConn "wear down" in the past, so the "lack of depth" concern was very plausible.

 

[UConnCat]

Geno gave Saniya her due:

Chong and has not committed a turnover in 40 minutes through the first two games.

“When Saniya came in and knocked those two in, she’s been doing that in practice,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She’s not really afraid of anything. I really admire the way she approaches playing games and in practice. She made a bunch of really good plays (Monday).’’

 

[cohenzone]

If someone unfamiliar with the team were asked to identify the lone frosh on the team, she wouldn't be an obvious choice. She just seems to fit and to play with maturity. I don't think her lack of turnovers is a sign of being cautious, but a sign of how well she understands team play.

 

[VAMike23]

I think Morgan and Saniya actually share the same demeanor.

Both play with great composure, and both show little hesitation when they see an opportunity to score, assist, shoot, cut, drive, etc. When they don't succeed, you get the impression that it's lesson learned on that play and they promptly move on. The demeanor doesn't change. They don't appear to be "emotional" players.

Neither looks as though they are lost on the court, and neither looks like they are overthinking the game when they're out there.

Highly unusual to see this with such young players. (Morgan had it last year, too.)

 

[Tonyc]

I was told about Saniya by a couple of buddies and when I saw her at the CTK game she shined. She had a tummy virus and wasn't feeling good. MSG did the game and it was billed Sierra Calhoun and Saniya Chong. Sierra scored something like 30 pts and looked really good. Saniya was over the top and at a whole different level then any player on the court. Her perfromance reminded me of the old movie One on One when Robby Benson came in and took over the game. Saniya did that and with the most unbelievable 4th qtr Ive ever seen scoreing something like 24-29 pts in the final qtr and made a bunch of steals. Shes the real deal. She will be an AA imo and maybe FOY this season. She has tremendous trust in herself, no fears, and is a great passer. I compared her passing and court vision to Diana. Before the season is over she will be the talk of WCBB. Yes UConn has got another gem.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Wait.
Isn't this the UConn team that is threatened by its lack of depth?

I think that most of the lack of depth comments were earlier in the year before the walk-ons made the team. However, last night we saw how quickly an injury can affect depth. While we are all holding our breath until we get the official status for Mosqueda-Lewis, if you have been a UConn fan for long you have to be aware how injuries can and have impacted the team. IMO if not for injuries UConn would be working on at least #10 this year.

BTW - I think that some posters here consider "walk on" as a disparaging way to identify the team's newest members. I think it's just the opposite. Kudo's to them for having the guts to try out for the team and even more praise for making the roster of the number one WCBB team in the country.

 

[EricLA]

Indeed...yet, she has two National Player Of The Year Awards.

Correct but early on in the recruiting process, most recruiting "experts" had her ranked in the 75+ range. Hoopgurlz left her ranked there for the remainder of her senior year of HS. Yet in spite of that, UCONN saw a Husky in her and she earned 2 NPOY awards. But I believe those awards came after Geno recruited her and she verbaled...

 

[EricLA]

To the main point, totally agree with Ice and several others who echoed the maturity and skill she already possesses. So often we remember players who were great by their junior or senior years, and struggle to remember their "early years" where they were still learning and growing, sometimes painfully so (metaphorically speaking). I think it's far too early to say Saniya does not play like a true freshman, but she certainly hasn't in her first two games.

Compare her to the "big 3" from the class - Kaela Davis so far has the most consistent stats - averaging 20 PPG thru 2 games, and shooting almost 50% from beyond the arc. We all got to see why DD chose UNC - do whatever you want regardless of whether or not it helps your team. And Russell was pretty much a non factor last night scoring 2 points, grabbing 4 boards and going 2-9 from the charity stripe in 20 minutes of play.

But there is steadie eddie Saniya averaging 8.5 PPG, 2 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, knocking down 55% of her shots, 40% on 3's, and 100% on FT's. She has earned a spot as one of the first off the bench, and is already ahead of Banks on the depth chart. Love this kid. And Geno says she's getting better every day? Yikes - watch out!!

 

[xHunt3r]

If someone unfamiliar with the team were asked to identify the lone frosh on the team, she wouldn't be an obvious choice. She just seems to fit and to play with maturity. I don't think her lack of turnovers is a sign of being cautious, but a sign of how well she understands team play.

there are 2 freshman on the team... just saying

 

[cohenzone]

there are 2 freshman on the team... just saying

Just sayin', who played in the game yesterday?

 

[xHunt3r]

Just sayin', who played in the game yesterday?

1 of the 2 freshman on the team...

 

[cohenzone]

1 of the 2 freshman on the team...

Context is all. We're talking about the game on the floor, not the team on the bus.