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Message: [QUOTE="NycUcWbbFan, post: 5166668, member: 13453"] When Aubrey was injured last year on January 3, 2024, UConn had [U]17 games left[/U] to the regular season. [LIST] [*]Geno challenged seniors Nika, Aaliyah and Paige and they responded; [*]UConn still lost 2 more games — to ND (7th game hence) (Nika fouls out) and to SC (11th game hence) — in the next 17 games; [*]But they became postseason ready — in as much as an effective 6-man rotation could that had to play within certain parameters to conserve energy and avoid foul trouble — reaching the final four and was two points and a questionable call away from the finals. [/LIST] Geno has had a 15-game training bandwidth this season, and this UConn team is on a [URL='https://the-boneyard.com/threads/guess-who%E2%80%99s-leading-the-country-in-assist-to-turnover-ratio.204704/post-5160919']remarkable virtuous cycle[/URL] to the postseason: [LIST] [*]like last year’s 6-man rotation in 17 regular season games, this year’s team lost 2 games in 15 games; [*]but Geno has a remarkable unparalleled record — [URL='https://the-boneyard.com/threads/marquette-postgame-thread.204634/post-5158600']all of it in the Big East/ AAC[/URL] — and still has 16 more regular season games with Azzi rounding to form, Aubrey waiting in the wings and the young roster developing remarkably. [/LIST] Some fans think that developing players is like turning carbon into diamond — best with a steady diet of tough January-March conference games: [LIST] [*]this past summer’s U18 FIBA Americup with Sarah Strong is a further cautionary tale; [*]there was some fan angst on whether Geno recruited the best incoming freshman in Sarah Strong based on her relative performance in this past summer’s U18 FIBA Americup where the U.S. coach’s chosen game play was that of a glorified HS game that got exposed in the finals; [*]Geno’s system has allowed the best in Sarah Strong to develop and shine. [/LIST] Imo, this UConn team has the potential to really eventually mirror the team that it looks very similar to on paper — [URL='https://the-boneyard.com/threads/the-last-solid-uconn-front-court.204712/post-5161116']the second year of TASSK[/URL] that won the national championship over the (athletic and rebounding) TN Superteam. The 1-loss 2nd year TASSK team: [LIST] [*]had a deep, talented roster; [*]had balanced minutes and scoring; [*]was a pick-your-poison team; [*]had an engine of Shea-Svet-Tamika; [*]had a Noah’s Ark (at least two-of-everything for positions (1)-(5)) roster &1; [*]played relentlessly for 40 minutes; [*]had an effective two point guard rotation of Sue and KJ. [/LIST] Re: Kaitlyn: Sue, who had an injury year to really study and catalogue her team’s proclivities, was tasked by Geno by saying that everything bad that happens to the team is her fault; [LIST] [*]Geno is not making any substantial complaints about Kaitlyn as the starting point guard because the team is mostly meeting or exceeding Geno’s expectations at this point for most aspects; [*]Kaitlyn is doing everything Geno requires of his point guards — including taking open shots as the designated 5th option on offense which have looked great but have not gone in — same thing that can be said thus far of every player not named Paige or Sarah; [*]As the 5th option, Kaitlyn’s responsibility is to get the Big 3 (Paige, Azzi and Sarah) going, so the press can get going, etc. and to spend energy guarding the opponent’s lead point guard; [*][U]KK’s most advanced particular type of defense and offense, imo, would not be as effective as the 5th option among the starters; her energy will not be put to the best use as it is now;[/U] [*]KK would really be extra lethal with Aubrey and energizer bunny Ash, as game changers from the bench; [*]Next year, Geno has Kellis to take on KK’s current responsibilities as game-changer from the bench; KK’s point guard honed capabilities and maturity wherewithal will be what Geno requires by then. [/LIST] &1 Geno has the luxury for strategic substitutions. If a player, say Azzi, is initially not playing well, he can sub in Ash to get Azzi a breather to eventually get going. With a stable of remarkably developing players, he has several [U]designated hitters[/U] that can come in with unique contributions from the bench at a particular time — and it doesn’t need to involve substantial scoring (e.g. Morgan). [LIST] [*]And [U]each[/U] designated hitter is capable of being the star/ badass performer on any given game. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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