Holy Cross Postgame Thread

[RedStickHusky]

This team continues to completely underwhelm while beating the dregs of college basketball. Will the Husky's ever snap out of it and give a complete effort? Can anyone honestly say this team has put 4 good quarters in a row together yet this season?

I am adequately whelmed. Not overwhelmed, to be certain, but definitely whelmed.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Nice win, but slow starts aren’t going to cut moving forward.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I’m still hoping that point production from bigs will improve and become a real strength. I know it takes longer for bigs to develop, and I’m liking what I see from Ice, but I’m hoping to see more aggressiveness going to the basket. Besides extra points, it’ll get other team’s bigs in foul trouble.

I think it's going to be mostly down to put backs for Jana and Ice. We're not running a lot of back-to-the-basket post ups.

 

[Stagnant]

Great analysis. KK of course needs a mid range pull up which will transform her into an impossible defend. She always gets the first step but often she can't finish due to post defenders underneath.

As far as I am concerned, the most important words came in the post game show by Gary Apple: "They are as good as anyone else in the country". He is right. When this "immature team" becomes "mature", and it will be come March, we should all savor the moments of watching it.

i hope KK is practicing her three point shooting the way Nika did. Geno was talking about how much Chen worked on her three point shooting. And Geno stressed the importance of being a threat from behind the arc in the modern game. And what he said definitely applies to KK as well.

Right now when she attempts a three pointer; I never believe it is going in.

 

[Zonepress]

One of my favorite players, Ashlynn Shade, did not have a good game. Did you see her get yanked, "Jim Calhoun style" after being on the court for all of 15 seconds? I don't recall Geno ever doing that in the past. To her credit she took it well and played better when she did get back in the game.

Yeah, she got beat badly on a drive to the basket
Unlike the last few years, if you don’t play well you’re coming out
Agree she came back in and played well
She wasn’t the only one who got pulled for bad play It was just very obvious with her.

 

[Zonepress]

In addition to the great drive described above by Q I thought she played some
energetic defense.

Ice has continued to make progress...late last year...and another jump this year.
She is headed toward 'solid'. Wonder if at some point in Geno's juggling [which will continue to
happen...especially in conference games] he will put both Ice and Jana on
the court at the same time in prep for rebounding troubles against elite teams?

Don’t see that combination this year anyway
If Aubrey returns to form that will help rebounding
I don’t think giving off offensive rebounds. Does he use issue but we get very few offensive rebounds ourselves.
That’s something Aubrey has historically, been very good at

 

[ConnManFan]

Ah, it’s like the good ol’ days on here. By that I mean the days when the BY stressed over lapses in performance while we won every game against ranked opponents by double digits and unranked opponents by 30 or more. Some of these responses could have been copied and pasted from 2010 or 2014.

The 2009 - 2010 team that beat Holy Cross 87-34 or the 2010 - 2011 team that beat Holy Cross 117 - 37? Teams from previous years had a "not nice" aspect to them that this team does not possess. They do not ever play with a chip on their shoulder. Is Geno too nice in his later years? Has society in general become too nice to vanquish an opponent without regard for their feelings? Despite having a loss, I think that's how Dawn's Carolina team plays. The Gamecocks go petal to the metal for 40 minutes. It's not about record, it's about attitude. UConn has not ever shown that you can win a championship by being the good guys.

 

[Stagnant]

The 2009 - 2010 team that beat Holy Cross 87-34 or the 2010 - 2011 team that beat Holy Cross 117 - 37? Teams from previous years had a "not nice" aspect to them that this team does not possess. They do not ever play with a chip on their shoulder. Is Geno too nice in his later years? Has society in general become too nice to vanquish an opponent without regard for their feelings? Despite having a loss, I think that's how Dawn's Carolina team plays. The Gamecocks go petal to the metal for 40 minutes. It's not about record, it's about attitude. UConn has not ever shown that you can win a championship by being the good guys.

I think this is an interesting perspective.

 

[Majic Hands]

I feel like I got to observe an honest to goodness UConn Women’s Basketball practice.

An inside peek at what Geno & CD do to have the best team possible for Conference & NCAA tournament at the end of the season

CooL!

 

[Zarathustra]

Sarah 22 and Kaitlyn 14 total of 36 pts..

Two very nice additions to a NCAA FINAL FOUR team!!

 

[Zarathustra]

I get the sense that Morgan is playing her way into the regular rotation...against
all teams including the elite ones.

AND... IMHO... Morgan looks even better being viewed in "live action" beyond
what any stats reveal... The Hustle, the "visual" little and big things that
are best seen in "live action".

 

[rubymae4]

What a luxury for Geno to be able to “bench” some players for lack of (whatever he was looking for—in the first quarter, I suspect defense). I enjoyed watching everyone get some minutes.

The game was played quickly. Holy Cross played with a good pace and didn’t allow UConn to get set up in their half court plays. Good for them. Also another reason I’m happy we have a bench this year. It allowed everyone to get breaks. I’m also sure the first half will provide some good film to watch.

Kaitlyn started the game with two ill advised drives to the basket—a tendency many of us have noticed. I thought, Oh NO!, not a good start. But she improved over the course of the game. It seems some Boneyarders are frustrated with her as point guard. Best to remember that she is taking on the hardest role in Geno’s system and she is a first-year player in that sense. Each game she is improving in decision making. She’s likely never going to look like a “UConn point guard” that has 4 years in the system. She brings her own strengths though, and Geno clearly trusts her over KK.

Speaking of KK (who also sometimes fall back on ill-advised drives), I thought she was very smart in her drives in the second half.

Shade (my favorite player at the moment) seemed to struggle coming off the bench for the first time in a long time. It’s a different role for her, and it will take a few games to learn how to quickly get up to speed in the middle of a quarter. She’ll figure it out.

 

[diggerfoot]

The 2009 - 2010 team that beat Holy Cross 87-34 or the 2010 - 2011 team that beat Holy Cross 117 - 37? Teams from previous years had a "not nice" aspect to them that this team does not possess. They do not ever play with a chip on their shoulder. Is Geno too nice in his later years? Has society in general become too nice to vanquish an opponent without regard for their feelings? Despite having a loss, I think that's how Dawn's Carolina team plays. The Gamecocks go petal to the metal for 40 minutes. It's not about record, it's about attitude. UConn has not ever shown that you can win a championship by being the good guys.

Whether we were nice or not in 2010, this very type of post was made that year when performance lapsed. In 2011 we lost in the FF, or are you just concerned about how much the team beats up on overmatched opponents? Or let’s bring up 2002, who Auriemma viewed as the best team ever, but ”only” beat Virginia Tech by single digits that year. Yessir, the team’s performance was questioned then.

The character of teams may differ from year to year, but the reliability of some posters to complain about lapses in performance no matter the season never waivers.

 

[BBallF]

i hope KK is practicing her three point shooting the way Nika did. Geno was talking about how much Chen worked on her three point shooting. And Geno stressed the importance of being a threat from behind the arc in the modern game. And what he said definitely applies to KK as well.

Right now when she attempts a three pointer; I never believe it is going in.

Me too. That's why she is open often on the 3. She is 0-7 this year from the arc. If I am the opposing coach, let her shoot them all day. Her strength is her quickness and handle. She can beat the defender but then what? Against HC she could finish, probably not going to happen much in the next string of games.

The pull up is the one devastating move in basketball. You the offensive player know when you are pulling up, the defender usually doesn't. With her speed she can get open after one or two dribbles. It takes strength and beaucoup muscle memory but when Paige, Azzi or Sarah does it, it looks like an easy wide open shot, because it is.

 

[Dugway]

I think it fair to say the UConn played "Overwhelming" at points throughout the game. It is also fair to say that we were also very "Underwhelming" at points throughout the game!

The first item I have been listing in the "List 3 things you want to see in the upcoming game" thread that goes around: A total team wide, 40-min effort, no let downs or slip ups. Continuous solid defense every trip down the court, and efficient offense. Well, we are 7 & 0, but thus far, this UConn team has not been close to achieving this '40-minute' effort.

Here is what Auriemma had to say about that point after the game:
"So yeah, an effort like this, against those teams ('really, really good teams' - four of the next six games on the schedule), and we won't be in the Top 25," he continued. "Holy Cross played in the first half like they were No. 5 in the country, and we played like we were unranked, which may be the case come December 21."

 

[HuskyNan]

The 2009 - 2010 team that beat Holy Cross 87-34 or the 2010 - 2011 team that beat Holy Cross 117 - 37? Teams from previous years had a "not nice" aspect to them that this team does not possess. They do not ever play with a chip on their shoulder. Is Geno too nice in his later years? Has society in general become too nice to vanquish an opponent without regard for their feelings? Despite having a loss, I think that's how Dawn's Carolina team plays. The Gamecocks go petal to the metal for 40 minutes. It's not about record, it's about attitude. UConn has not ever shown that you can win a championship by being the good guys.

Even excellent teams like South Carolina and UCLA can let up for a quarter. In the So Carolina vs Iowa State game, the Gamecocks beat a ranked team by 40 while playing a so-so Q3. The #1 ranked UCLA team actually lost Q2 to Hawaii in their last game. Do you think less of the Gamecocks and Bruins for that or is UConn the only one that earns your scorn?

 

[rt bb fan]

-Holy Cross was bound and determined like many opponents so far, the away the transition game by sending no one to the offensive boards.

-I didn’t think they were bad shots in the first half, they were just weren’t going in.

-Geno should patent that half time speech. The increased ball pressure intensity broke the game open.

-Paige was being close guarded meaning her defender was not playing any help d. Even as good as she is, it is tough getting shots.

-teams are getting away with letting KK shoot from outside. It is the only advantage Chen has over her. Chen is a better outside shooter.

-speaking of KK, 3 TOs in 7 games. Yikes.

A fabulous second half on both ends.

But Chen has not really scored a lot of points with her outside shooting. I am not sure i like how the offemse is running with her as point guard.

 

[rt bb fan]

What a luxury for Geno to be able to “bench” some players for lack of (whatever he was looking for—in the first quarter, I suspect defense). I enjoyed watching everyone get some minutes.

The game was played quickly. Holy Cross played with a good pace and didn’t allow UConn to get set up in their half court plays. Good for them. Also another reason I’m happy we have a bench this year. It allowed everyone to get breaks. I’m also sure the first half will provide some good film to watch.

Kaitlyn started the game with two ill advised drives to the basket—a tendency many of us have noticed. I thought, Oh NO!, not a good start. But she improved over the course of the game. It seems some Boneyarders are frustrated with her as point guard. Best to remember that she is taking on the hardest role in Geno’s system and she is a first-year player in that sense. Each game she is improving in decision making. She’s likely never going to look like a “UConn point guard” that has 4 years in the system. She brings her own strengths though, and Geno clearly trusts her over KK.

Speaking of KK (who also sometimes fall back on ill-advised drives), I thought she was very smart in her drives in the second half.

Shade (my favorite player at the moment) seemed to struggle coming off the bench for the first time in a long time. It’s a different role for her, and it will take a few games to learn how to quickly get up to speed in the middle of a quarter. She’ll figure it out.

Shade looks like she has lost confidence in her shooting!

 

[rt bb fan]

But Chen has not really scored a lot of points with her outside shooting. I am not sure i like how the offemse is running with her as point guard.

JUst checked box scoe and Chen had a decent game.

 

[hoophuskee]

I think it fair to say the UConn played "Overwhelming" at points throughout the game. It is also fair to say that we were also very "Underwhelming" at points throughout the game!

The first item I have been listing in the "List 3 things you want to see in the upcoming game" thread that goes around: A total team wide, 40-min effort, no let downs or slip ups. Continuous solid defense every trip down the court, and efficient offense. Well, we are 7 & 0, but thus far, this UConn team has not been close to achieving this '40-minute' effort.

Here is what Auriemma had to say about that point after the game:
"So yeah, an effort like this, against those teams ('really, really good teams' - four of the next six games on the schedule), and we won't be in the Top 25," he continued. "Holy Cross played in the first half like they were No. 5 in the country, and we played like we were unranked, which may be the case come December 21."

Geno is also the coach. His job is to find fault and demand perfection. As a fan, that's not mine. I don't have to pretend to be him to enjoy the game. I don't know why I'd watch if I mostly felt miserable.

And in his postgame he also spoke highly of Sarah, Chen, KK and Morgan. And is he really worrying about Paige and Azzi?

And he said his team is immature. We know that. Therefore there should be expectation this team will be. He doesn't have to accept it but we can acknowledge that we know it is.

At a later date when we play SoCal, it is possible Kiki will outplay Sarah. We can accept that but Geno won’t. As he said at halftime there are many things she can do better. He can pick her apart while at the same time he praised her play and what she does especially for a freshman. I'm not a coach, I don't feel as a fan I need to demand perfection or near it the same way he does. Thus, I take some of his comments in the manner that I want to see and enjoy watching as a fan.

 

[Performance]

Only UConn fans can be this sour after a 36 point beatdown

The drumbeat of criticism for Ice and Kaitlyn is astounding. Kaitlyn had 7 assists and was leading scorer at one point in the first half when the rest of the team couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean from a boat. And Ice - I thought she had a great game especially in the second half. I thought her confidence grew noticeably last night

I know people have their favorites but there’s no need to tear down one player to make another look better

It's the start of the season with a very young team, they are going to be fine once they get used to playing with each other and start to gel. No need to bash players at all. I for one really like this group and will continue to enjoy watching them even if there are some bumps in the road along the way. Please people calm down and enjoy!!!

 

[Bone Dog]

The "B" team experiment

UConn led 55-37 with 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, and Geno sat the Big 4 -- Paige Azzi Sarah and Ice. The "B" team floundered a little and Paige re-entered in the 4th and you could see the difference she made, not primarily by scoring, but mainly by settling them down on O & D. This is one of the reasons Paige's +/- is always so high. Sarah re-entered a couple minutes later, didn't score at all, but the others seemed to hustle a bit more than the already were. Ice replaced Jana 2 minutes later and scored 6 quick points and energized the rebounding. Allie came in and Paige and Sarah sat down at the 5 minute mark and didn't re-enter. Q came in at the 3 minute mark and Jana and Ice played a two-big set for the rest of the way.

In this 12 minute stretch Morgan and Ash were on the floor the most and both played really well. This is what this installment of the "B" team experiment showed. At least one or another of the "Big 4" has to be out there with the youngsters. But Morgan Ash KK can play well together. They outscored HC 33-15 in this stretch and built the lead to 36 by the end. I hope to see more experiments like this.

 

[cgshuskie]

I was very happy with Morgan. I think that she will be a solid part of the rotation. Also, count on Jana to improve, improve and improve more. Her desire to be great is palpable. Go Huskies

 

[ConnManFan]

is UConn the only one that earns your scorn?

I find the use of the word "scorn" to be unfair and incorrect. I would replace that negative characterization with "analysis." I love UConn women's basketball. That does not mean, however, that I don't think there hasn't been some fundamental changes in approach since the 2015-2016 season. It is easy to just chalk it all up to unlucky injuries and mischance. But maybe there has been a funadmental change from the last championship to now. Isn't it slightly possible that there could be factors that are in the coaches and players control to improve or make better to enhance the chances to win championship number 12? It's not scorn. It's a rational, objective look to see if a different approach might produce a more desired outcome. I will also admit, that there is a possibility that maybe nothing is wrong and my theory could be off base. A dialougue is certainly worth having.

 

[Zonepress]

It's the start of the season with a very young team, they are going to be fine once they get used to playing with each other and start to gel. No need to bash players at all. I for one really like this group and will continue to enjoy watching them even if there are some bumps in the road along the way. Please people calm down and enjoy!!!

I don’t know how you can say. This is a very young team.
I have 2 fifth year players starting
Fourth-year player in azzi
Ice was a six man last year and started a number of games and played very well in the final four game
Do you have two players in Ashland and KK who are starters last year coming off the bench
And a freshman starter who seems completely unaffected by the rivers of college basketball
This is a very experienced team

 

[Zonepress]

It's the start of the season with a very young team, they are going to be fine once they get used to playing with each other and start to gel. No need to bash players at all. I for one really like this group and will continue to enjoy watching them even if there are some bumps in the road along the way. Please people calm down and enjoy!!!

I don’t know how you can say. This is a very young team.
I have 2 fifth year players starting
Fourth-year player in azzi
Ice was a six man last year and started a number of games and played very well in the final four game
Do you have two players in Ashland and KK who are starters last year coming off the bench
And a freshman starter who seems completely unaffected by the rivers of college basketball
This is a very experienced team

 

[PacoSwede]

I find the use of the word "scorn" to be unfair and incorrect. I would replace that negative characterization with "analysis." I love UConn women's basketball. That does not mean, however, that I don't think there hasn't been some fundamental changes in approach since the 2015-2016 season. It is easy to just chalk it all up to unlucky injuries and mischance. But maybe there has been a funadmental change from the last championship to now. Isn't it slightly possible that there could be factors that are in the coaches and players control to improve or make better to enhance the chances to win championship number 12? It's not scorn. It's a rational, objective look to see if a different approach might produce a more desired outcome. I will also admit, that there is a possibility that maybe nothing is wrong and my theory could be off base. A dialougue is certainly worth having.

well, what is it? what's your theory and how is it fixed?

 

[TRest]

well, what is it? what's your theory and how is it fixed?

Failing to recruit the best big in each class since then is the likely cause. That hopefully has been rectified.

 

[Patty Bailey]

Sarah was great....

What stood out to me was a lack of offensive rebounding. Too many one and dones. Sure, one can have a night when the shots aren't falling so it's important to get second chances.

Oh, I don't know....I remember one sequence where Sarah got about 3 rebounds right in a row within about 3 seconds.

 

[Longtime fan]

My guess is that the team was cold and off their game last year, at the same time ( just returned from Bahama tournament, Thanksgiving, etc ). The first half was kind of embarassing and chaotic, except for Sarah. P.S. I hope everyone ( team and coaches ) loves her and that she loves them. Because she is the UCONN " force" this season. And it would be sad to see any jealousies emerge. Against the Cross, she was simply the best Uconn player on the court.

Paige had a scramble day for her. Shot was off and she was harassed closely. The folks to whom she dished off were also having trouble finding the hoop ( except for you know who ), so the usual assists didn't materialize. UCONN gave up a few too many open threes in the first half, and HC did a pretty good job converting them. Our defense seemed discombobulated in first two periods. Some of that was due to massive substituting ( with I loved, by the way ).

I agree with Geno the that KK and Morgan were the two most impactful players off the bench yesterday. I sometimes noted Jana in the game without even realizing she had come in. She was fine ( ish ), but not as evident as she was against Mississippi. Quietly, ICE Brady was pretty good...offense and rebounding. Not sure how to rate her on defense and passing for assists. She plays, sometimes, as if she is afraid to take over the game, but feels like she could. But she doesn't ( she kind of did last year in the Big East tournament ). At least not yet. But this confidence is good.

ASH is having a tough time adjusting to new role ( off the bench ). Like everyone else, her shot was slow to get on target, but eventually she looked smoother. I think it is clear that UCONN is best with Paige and AZZI on the floor at the same time, and Sarah must always be there. Also, either ICE or Jana has to be there. So the " swing " spot is really the Chen, ASH, KK, and Maybe even Morgan spot.

I think Q and Allie are going to be the deeper bench, unless there is a breakout for one or both practice ( getting late for that ).

Match-ups will likely make the line-up choice easier on any given day. Although coach does like to have a starting five for the first and third quarters.

We'll see who emerges as the competition ramps up. This should be a demanding week of practice