Has a Late Season Transformation Already Happened?

[BBallF]

After two days off, then two days of practice and then two games thereafter, we are a different team. Much more energetic and animated defense, superb and unselfish passing, increased movement and cutting on the half court offense, getting out in front on transition and key individual developments.

CW is a different player, using her speed and driving ability, running on the breaks, bearing down on defense, playing with confidence and having fun again. Her focus is different and away from the onus of having to score a lot by her own admission and the result is that she is both playing better overall and scoring a lot.

AE is coming into her own as a potentially dominant inside player with her first career double double last night and continuing to play without fear or hesitation.

Nika is playing with more confidence, had 5 steals last night with 8 boards and ran the offense well.

The combined passing of the guards, Paige, Nika and Evina was at times crisp and unselfish and at other times simply spectacular.

Evina is playing like Evina again. The last piece of the puzzle is the 3 ball which will return for both her and Nika.

ONO has suddenly become a solid post passer as well.

Aubrey is Aubrey and a solid contributor. Great Aubrey style block last night.

And then there is Paige.

The team chemistry is both obvious and uplifting.

Was this just two games on fresh legs or something much bigger? Tell you what, this team looks more and more like it went through a metamorphosis very recently and emerged as, well, late season UCONN. Hopefully, we will continue to evolve even more through April 5.

 

[nutmegger]

After two days off, then two days of practice and then two games thereafter, we are a different team. Much more energetic and animated defense, superb and unselfish passing, increased movement and cutting on the half court offense, getting out in front on transition and key individual developments.

CW is a different player, using her speed and driving ability, running on the breaks, bearing down on defense, playing with confidence and having fun again. Her focus is different and away from the onus of having to score a lot by her own admission and the result is that she is both playing better overall and scoring a lot.

AE is coming into her own as a potentially dominant inside player with her first career double double last night and continuing to play without fear or hesitation.

Nika is playing with more confidence, had 5 steals last night with 8 boards and ran the offense well.

The combined passing of the guards, Paige, Nika and Evina was at times crisp and unselfish and at other times simply spectacular.

Evina is playing like Evina again. The last piece of the puzzle is the 3 ball which will return for both her and Nika.

ONO has suddenly become a solid post passer as well.

Aubrey is Aubrey and a solid contributor. Great Aubrey style block last night.

And then there is Paige.

The team chemistry is both obvious and uplifting.

Was this just two games on fresh legs or something much bigger? Tell you what, this team looks more and more like it went through a metamorphosis very recently and emerged as, well, late season UCONN. Hopefully, we will continue to evolve even more through April 5.

The metamorphosis occurred because they began a stretch of games against bottom-dwellers. Let's see what happens the next time they play a good team. I expect them to prevail but certainly not look so dominant.

 

[jazz]

After two days off, then two days of practice and then two games thereafter, we are a different team. Much more energetic and animated defense, superb and unselfish passing, increased movement and cutting on the half court offense, getting out in front on transition and key individual developments.

CW is a different player, using her speed and driving ability, running on the breaks, bearing down on defense, playing with confidence and having fun again. Her focus is different and away from the onus of having to score a lot by her own admission and the result is that she is both playing better overall and scoring a lot.

AE is coming into her own as a potentially dominant inside player with her first career double double last night and continuing to play without fear or hesitation.

Nika is playing with more confidence, had 5 steals last night with 8 boards and ran the offense well.

The combined passing of the guards, Paige, Nika and Evina was at times crisp and unselfish and at other times simply spectacular.

Evina is playing like Evina again. The last piece of the puzzle is the 3 ball which will return for both her and Nika.

ONO has suddenly become a solid post passer as well.

Aubrey is Aubrey and a solid contributor. Great Aubrey style block last night.

And then there is Paige.

The team chemistry is both obvious and uplifting.

Was this just two games on fresh legs or something much bigger? Tell you what, this team looks more and more like it went through a metamorphosis very recently and emerged as, well, late season UCONN. Hopefully, we will continue to evolve even more through April 5.

Things seem to be coming together. Too bad we don't have a top 5-10 team on the schedule and then we would know for sure.

 

[jdubct]

Be patient. The NCAA tournment elite 8 is not that far off. In any event, the team should win its way easily until then and probably, I think, to the championship game.

 

[JonathanXIV]

The metamorphosis occurred because they began a stretch of games against bottom-dwellers. Let's see what happens the next time they play a good team. I expect them to prevail but certainly not look so dominant.

I don't think that's entirely fair. To me, there seems to be little question that UConn is playing much better defense than it did earlier in the season. More organized, more energetic.

 

[jcoton56]

Change is permanent. If it has been deeply ingrained throughout the team is another question. Are they at the point where ‘they can’t do it wrong’? We’ll soon find out.

 

[UcMiami]

I think the changes truly came about because they had 5 days off and Geno et al had a chance to practice/teach for the first time in a month. The defense is certainly looking a lot better - better communication. The offense is still a work in progress. Evina is looking a little gun shy on shooting and she needs to get her confidence back. Agree the AE is looking strong - she has finally adjusted to NCAA refs and college floppers and isn't picking up two offensive fouls each outing.

 

[hart2hart]

Defense looked so spot-on the last couple of games! Bravo to the team! Combination of rest, teach and play hard with fresh legs! Improving leaps and bounds. Just love this team!

 

[NormanDale]

I am not sure why some of you are surprised by the better play late in the season, this has been a hallmark for virtually every UConn team under Auriemma. Coach is a solid X's and O's coach, but where he really differentiates himself among other coaches is because he is a master motivator and understands the human psyche amazingly well. Every jab he takes at a player in interviews is done intentionally, every time he shows up to practice dressed in a headband is done intentionally, he knows when a team needs a kick in the butt and when they need a pat on the back. He breaks the team down, and then builds them back so they are hitting their peak and full of confidence come tournament time. Do I think they will blow teams out by 40 in the second round and on of the tournament? No, but I bet they play their best basketball of the year and think they have a good shot at winning the whole damn thing, just like they have done 11 other times.

 

[huskeynut]

It's the evolution of this team. The basis was there is the beginning. It needed time to grow and mature.

 

[PJCLaw]

The metamorphosis occurred because they began a stretch of games against bottom-dwellers. Let's see what happens the next time they play a good team. I expect them to prevail but certainly not look so dominant.

Don't be such "Debbie Doubter"! It can equally be because the team has had time to practice after a stretch of games that prevented more than a day of practice and is maturing. If you recall, we ran through the AAC, won 3 Nattys and beat several bottom feeder teams along the way, so there has to be something to just winning regardless of the competition level. We have to embrace the idea that this season is very different than any previous in Geno's career and we have just as much chance as any other P5 team to win it all. I am just tired of all the negativity on this Board when we still have a Ferrari team. Critiquing is one thing, but having a doom and gloom mentality dims the beauty of one of most exciting teams we've had in several years. In other words, enjoy the beauty and stop complaining about the flaws because no one's perfect this year.

 

[Bigboote]

Geno has them peaking at the right time. As usual.

 

[BBallF]

Agreed. Now they are in the middle of a 4 day hiatus until Thursday. That means more practice and more tightening of both the offense and defense and hopefully some more rest for their legs as they enter a 3 game in 5 day stretch and then a probable respite of another 4 days before the BE tourney.

 

[oldude]

In this season like no others, this may be one of Geno’s best coaching jobs, if not his best ever. Look around the country and you will see one top team after another stumbling.

With one of the youngest teams in the country, UConn is hitting their stride at the right time. The offensive flow looks good and the defense is suffocating.

For his part, Geno appears far more subdued than ever before. I think he recognizes the pressure his players already feel to restrict their activities during this pandemic in order to keep each other safe.

If UConn ends up winning #12 this season, it will be a testament to the extraordinary discipline and motivation of the players, as well as the steady and encouraging hand of the Master.

 

[PacoSwede]

.... UConn is hitting their stride at the right time. The offensive flow looks good
and the defense is suffocating. ...

only thing they have to work on is the free throws

 

[LETTERL]

If UConn ends up winning #12 this season, it will be a testament to the extraordinary discipline and motivation of the players, as well as the steady and encouraging hand of the Master.

If UCONN wins #12, they will have earned it, for sure...considering all of the challenges presented this season. The same could be said if another team besides UCONN cuts down the nets at the end of the season.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

No question, as Coach Geno pointed out on Saturday, that these kids needed rest. They were exhausted, and it showed.

Having said that, however, this team has transformed. Paige is Paige is Paige. But the rest of the team is dramatically different.

I am most struck by how Coach Geno has recreated the front court. ONO has finally seemed to accept that she's not a guard, and also accepted a unique role in which she passes constantly, while rolling to the basket. Those lame 15 foot jump shots that the defense has been begging her to take are rare now. And she seems, perhaps because she's been paired far more often with the Bull of the Basket, Aaliyah Edwards, much more motivated to rebound aggressively as well. The pairing of Edwards and ONO, which Coach Geno tried out early in the season, but to little benefit, now appears to be working beautifully. The two together, as he stated in post-game comments, gives the team tremendous options.

Muhl is much better as well. She started off the year an awful shooter and a mystified passer. Now she seems vastly more confident.

Evina has not blossomed into the shooter we had hoped. That could be a consequence of her injuries and surgeries. Having said that, she's dishing extremely well, and doing everything else needed, and with supreme poise.

Cristyn has been up and down all year, though she appears to be more in tune with what she needs to do. Perhaps those rough games were a wake up call. Or perhaps her coach woke her up.

And Griffin has been the powerhouse she has always been.

And perhaps along with clued-in Cristyn and ONO, Mir has gotten herself together, making it back into good graces.

All in all, Coach Geno Auriemma is demonstrating to the WCBB world once again why he is the best coach in the history of the game, and why he has earned the "Coach of the Year" award for 2020-21. This graceful team, constructed of seven freshmen, no seniors, and three juniors whose previous performances have never been consistent, is now rated first in the nation. And that is with potentially just one All American candidate, and that one a freshman, no returning All Americans, and in their first year in their new conference.

That's the stuff of national awards. Coach Geno has earned his. Perhaps the team will capture one of their own!

 

[Florida Fan]

The metamorphosis occurred because they began a stretch of games against bottom-dwellers. Let's see what happens the next time they play a good team. I expect them to prevail but certainly not look so dominant.

Had to be said.

 

[Teacherdeb]

In this season like no others, this may be one of Geno’s best coaching jobs, if not his best ever. Look around the country and you will see one top team after another stumbling.

With one of the youngest teams in the country, UConn is hitting their stride at the right time. The offensive flow looks good and the defense is suffocating.

For his part, Geno appears far more subdued than ever before. I think he recognizes the pressure his players already feel to restrict their activities during this pandemic in order to keep each other safe.

If UConn ends up winning #12 this season, it will be a testament to the extraordinary discipline and motivation of the players, as well as the steady and encouraging hand of the Master.

Yes! Exactly.
Geno has been more subdued and seemingly pleased with things lately. He is undoubtedly a master at understanding how to coach humans. I am so enjoying this season.

 

[rford53]

only thing they have to work on is the free throws

And turn-overs

 

[hoophuskee]

only thing they have to work on is the free throws

Very important and underrated part of the game. Our 3 "bigs" can't shoot them. You can't build much of an inside attack offensive plan around them against good quality teams because of it.

 

[BBallF]

Echoing old dude's comments on the job that Geno has done this year, it is important to remember that going into this season there was a combined 6 years of experience in a UCONN uniform on the whole team, including Anna. We have two freshmen starting, joining a first year UCONN player in Evina, with a frosh and soph as 6th and 7th man and our 8th man is either a frosh or a second semester senior in high school depending on the day. Still and all, they have emerged and are taking flight as a recognizably synchronized UCONN team much earlier than to be expected considering a covid season with less games and more interruptions. Just a steady hand knowing exactly where he wanted to go all along with this team and a pleasure for BYers to root for .

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

UCONN even with their 7 freshmen are playing as good a defense as the best UCONN teams from the past!
Their talking, switching, aggression, working together, has been awesome to watch!
Even with the youth the players perform as all juniors and seniors, unselfish and on a mission!
I have never seen a group of freshmen play as mature as this group!
If they can keep this focus the rest of the season nothing is impossible!

 

[Cuango]

Had to be said.

These aren’t the first poor teams we’ve played this season. If what you are saying is true then we should have played like this in those earlier games against poor teams but we did not. Therefore I don’t think it’s a stretch to think that he has coached this team up over the course of the season (as he always has) and should get some credit for that instead of the doubtful Thomas drivel. He has clearly done a magnificent job, maybe his best ever job of coaching!

 

[huskeynut]

Watched the replay of the Xavier game. As many have noted, the defense is playing very well. The talking, switching are paying huge dividends. We are controlling the boards.

But did you watch the offense. The directing players on the floor to specific positions has stopped. It's now eye contact and familiarity with each other that is directing things. Players now know each others moves. That one pass from Liv up top to a backdoor cutting Paige was a thing of beauty. Xavier could not stop it. They had no chance. And there are other examples. Reminds me a little of the national championship game in Philly against Tennessee. UConn ran backdoor cuts all night and Tennessee couldn't stop it.

Kudos to the team and the fantastic job Geno, CD, Shea and Jamelle are doing.