Huskies Have A Little Break: What Needs To Change Before Texas?

[Notyetready]

Even so, and I don’t disagree that she’s been truly ineffectual when she’s been put in, I still think Geno needs to, not start her, but give her 15-20 minutes a game (except for the ranked teams at first) and do it consistently, followed by one on one coaching sessions with film! This at least, would have a possibility that she could improve enough by the end of the season to where she could actually contribute in the tournament.

She has basically never played any consistent minutes and I think, as unlikely as many would think, the possibility of even a mediocre contribution from a 6’6” big against the likes of Cardoso, Betts, Lee, and Kitley, is worth overlooking her reportedly poor practice habits. Who knows? Perhaps a fire can be lit under her if she actually feels that she could actually become a contributing member of the team! I know many will say she’s already been given lots of opportunities but I disagree!

There are some people, whether athletes or not, that simply dance to a different drum. All I know is that she is 6’6”, well liked (thus not a spoiled jerk) and has never (not saying she hasn’t brought this upon herself) been given real extended minutes on a consistent basis. We are going to have many games where letting her play 20 minutes will not change anything but perhaps the margin of victory!

Given that, I believe, unassailable fact, and also, given that our team is made up of high character, fairly mature individuals who are not likely to see this as a license for themselves to adopt poor practice habits, where is the harm in giving her potentially unearned minutes in the pursuit of a larger team goal? Geno could even meet privately with Paige, Nika, Aubrey, and Aaliyah to ask them to look out for and tamp down any grumbling among the younger players. (I don’t believe there would be any)

Again, it could be, that no matter what the coaching staff does, she simply does not have it in her! If that turns out to be the case, what have we lost? I think it’s worth a shot!

Totally agree. Good assessment. I don't know, nor does anybody else, what the lack of confidence in her has done to her but I suspect if Geno wants her to suddenly improve he needs to pump up her confidence.
One way to do that is just feed her into games early on a regular basis just to give her ego some footing.

 

[SEbluebood]

You have to know what you're running before you throw out a lineup. Geno has to scrap the four-out offense they've been working on for months - can't play four-out without willing and able shooters. One option is to just let Paige dominate the ball like Caitlin Clark and shoot, drive, or dish. Ideally you'd want to be bigger playing that way. We'll see, but I'm more worried about how than who...

Interesting point about scrapping the 4 out offense. Many coaches adjust their offenses to fit their personnel. Geno has always insisted on making his players fit into his offense. Not sure he is willing to change, but if ever there was a season for it and with PB’s talent this would be a reasonable time to consider it. That said, I won’t be holding my breath!

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I think Amari should PRACTICE more minutes with the starters and see if they can nudge her to be more aggressive and responsible!
I'm not saying start her in games but see if she gets more practice meaning full minutes helps her!
Invest some practice time on Amari and see what happens!

 

[Gordo]

I think Amari should PRACTICE more minutes with the starters and see if they can nudge her to be more aggressive and responsible!

How do you know that she doesn't? Do you have some inside information? Have you attended the practices?

 

[cohenzone]

We need a set starting five for sure. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Amari could step in and be a force in the paint? The reality is that she languishes on the bench because she doesn't impress in practice and what playing time she gets is underwhelming. If you must start a big along side AE, Ice would be the better choice. If you really want to start Amari, give her 30 minutes on the floor and see how that experiment works out, do it against a BE bottom feeder, not Texas. I just don't know what she has done to earn a starter role.

She has an interesting major

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

How do you know that she doesn't? Do you have some inside information? Have you attended the practices?

Gordo- - I just made a statement!
If Amari doesn't spend a lot of time with the starters now maybe it would help her to work more reps with them!
There is no need to go into attack mode!
CHILL Gordo!

 

[Gordo]

Gordo- - I just made a statement!
If Amari doesn't spend a lot of time with the starters now maybe it would help her to work more reps with them!
There is no need to go into attack mode!
CHILL Gordo!

I wasn't attacking you at all, I was simply asking a few questions. Your "statement" made it seem that perhaps you had knowledge regarding the situation. If so, I was very interested to see what you knew. Hence my questions! If you knew the answers to them, it would be very interesting. So you CHILL RSHERMVIKES, and learn to decipher the difference between questions and attacks.

 

[Rowdy831]

I agree. Everyone is so fixated on discussing her because she’s got the size we lack. I will give her this, she had some good defensive moments in the Cayman Islands, and her size is her biggest asset to us. But on the season she’s played 23 minutes and taken 0 field goal attempts, grabbed a single rebound, 3 blocks, and a single assist. Counter that with 5 fouls and 5 turnovers. At some point having a good game does positively impact a box score. (For everyone not stats focused) Being a big body isn’t enough, especially on a team who is offensively challenged thus far, and in need of a rebounder.

On this team being a big body is enough. The biggest factor when you have her in the game is you make the other team make a choice on who guards AE. Right now AE is being defended by players much taller than she is and she is having a difficult time inside scoring. You can't have a 10 guard rotation and compete.

 

[Gordo]

On this team being a big body is enough. The biggest factor when you have her in the game is you make the other team make a choice on who guards AE. Right now AE is being defended by players much taller than she is and she is having a difficult time inside scoring. You can't have a 10 guard rotation and compete.

Well that would be true if the "big body" in question can mainly score in this scenario, but also rebound. To date that's not been the case! So, if the defense doesn't have to guard the "big body", then they are free to slack off and help guard someone else (most likely Edwards).

 

[sun]

Well that would be true if the "big body" in question can mainly score in this scenario, but also rebound. To date that's not been the case! So, if the defense doesn't have to guard the "big body", then they are free to slack off and help guard someone else (most likely Edwards).

Last year Amari's FG% of .462 ranked 5th highest on the team of 10 players, by shooting 24 for 52.
Her 3 PT% was .294 based on 5 for 17 shooting which was slightly higher than Dorka, Aubrey & Ines.

Not every turnover & foul results in points for the other team.
Amari doesn't need to be a star, she only needs to contribute & follow instructions.

Women's Basketball Cumulative Statistics

@description

uconnhuskies.com

 

[Gordo]

You assumed that I was talking about Amari and I wasn't necessary. Ice has not set the world on fire either. However, since you want to rattle off stats, please tell me how many of the shots were made against the opponents starters or even their top 7-8 players. You can't, but we both know those stats were produced when the end of the bench subs were playing against each other.

 

[Notyetready]

Cherry picking some games for Amari in 22-23:

Providence: 13 min, 7 rbs. 6 pts, 1 asst, 1 blk
Maryland: 13 min, 4 rbs, 0 pts, 3 assts, 1 blk
Seton Hall: 21 min, 8 rbs, 13 pts, 2 assts, 2 blks

She also had a bunch of 0 days.

But the point is, she is capable of putting up more than a string of zeros. I didn't think she boxed out well last year but she seems to have improved in that. In several cases of the UCLA game, her boxing out let another UConn player get the rebound. I say Geno needs to get her in there more and let her make her mistakes. If by tournament time she is still zeroing out, okay back to the bench.

 

[sun]

You assumed that I was talking about Amari and I wasn't necessary. Ice has not set the world on fire either. However, since you want to rattle off stats, please tell me how many of the shots were made against the opponents starters or even their top 7-8 players. You can't, but we both know those stats were produced when the end of the bench subs were playing against each other.

Amari was a +11 in the UCLA game with Aubrey being the only other UConn player in the plus column with a +1.
Amari contributed to UConn's 1st half comeback to within 3 points.

 

[Bald Husky]

Nika said everybody was afraid of hurting feelings, but that will stop, and they will hold everyone accountable. Maybe a little of that should go Amaris way by the senior players. Maybe she will respond differently from a teammate.

 

[Gordo]

Amari was a +11 in the UCLA game with Aubrey being the only other UConn player in the plus column with a +1.
Amari contributed to UConn's 1st half comeback to within 3 points.

Give it a rest! If you've read many of my posts on the subject of Amari, you would know that I have suggested she be given starter minutes to see what she can do. She has not earned a starters position, but I do want her to be given 28-32 minutes per game for at least three straight games. Not because I think she will do well with them, 'cuz I don't. If she truly has talent that can be played at this level, then everyone will know it and we should be able to move on to something else. I truly hope Geno puts her out there as I've stated above beginning Sunday against Texas.

Now please do me a favor and never reply to me again, and I promise to do the same for you. I don't like people who continually try to make a mountain our of a mole hill. Thank you very much.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I wasn't attacking you at all, I was simply asking a few questions. Your "statement" made it seem that perhaps you had knowledge regarding the situation. If so, I was very interested to see what you knew. Hence my questions! If you knew the answers to them, it would be very interesting. So you CHILL RSHERMVIKES, and learn to decipher the difference between questions and attacks.

Gordo- - - to answer your ?,
I don't know if she does practice with the starters now, but I'd doubt it as it seems she's on the back burner on Geno's list!
I don't have any inside information!
No I haven't attended any practices! At 76 years old I'm lucky if I can go to the bathroom!, let alone drive to Storrs!

 

[Gordo]

Gordo- - - to answer your ?,
I don't know if she does practice with the starters now, but I'd doubt it as it seems she's on the back burner on Geno's list!
I don't have any inside information!
No I haven't attended any practices! At 76 years old I'm lucky if I can go to the bathroom!, let alone drive to Storrs!

Ah, you're still just a kid. I'll be 84 on December 10.

 

[Papa33]

And you did read, "...perhaps starting Amari would at least shut those up who think she can actually do something." Yes?

Not sure what your point is . . . .

 

[Gordo]

Not sure what your point is . . . .

Well, you were quoting me in what appeared to be disagreement, and yet you didn't quote my most significant statement, "...perhaps starting Amari would at least shut those up who think she can actually do something." If you don't get my point now, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[hoophuskee]

There are many games on our schedule that, even now, we will win comfortably! As for your insistence that allowing her to play would fracture the team, I have to say I doubt it. Some teams, sure, but I think, as I said in my post, you could likely get buy in from the rest of the team who can very likely see the potential benefit of having a contributing 6’6” player off the bench! I would expect, as she reportedly is universally well liked by the rest of the team, that this team could rise above petty jealousy, if there were any, which I doubt, and realize that not everyone is treated the same anyway!
The truth is, if we experience many more injuries, he will play her anyway! Wouldn’t it be better to have her (possibly) more capable/prepared if that eventuality were to come about? Obviously, all this would ultimately depend on the staff’s assessment on whether such a move would negatively affect the team. I’m just offering my opinion.
There are many instances in life where kids/people are treated differently.
The effect of those actions are dependent on a whole myriad of reasons, some reasoned and some completely unfair . I think this team is mature enough to recognize that if he did play her, it would be because everything their coach has tried, has not worked, and to understand that this is merely one last effort to help their teammate succeed!

I missed this before.

For sure there are games we can win comfortably. And that is the perfect reason and time to give the minutes to the players you know are your better players in tight games. This team has little experience playing together. Why wouldn't UCONN want to give their best player's more time on the floor together? Comments have been made how the team hasn't played enough together - so now we're go to take out better players that need as much time as they can get vs an inferior player?

And this has nothing to do with "fracture." In part it has to do with if the coach can't be taken for his word, then wouldn't it be plausible to assume a critical player might transfer afther the season is over? This isn't transferring speculation of a player but of a philosophy if a coach breaks his promise when tell players that Practices and Performances" matter when it's clear you play what some suggested Amari 25-30 minutes that it doesn't. Even 10 minutes if she isn't as good-- why? Why not give much of those last 10 minutes to Ice and better players especially if Patterson is better and she comes back?

We've seen very few minutes of Ice and Edwards playing together yet it's clear Geno thinks Ice is quite a bit better. And last year Patterson was better and she needs minutes., And we've seen how critical Aubrey has been at the 4. These 4 players haven’t played one reg season together yet it's smart to have 3 of them sit for an inferior player just because she is 6'6?

Height by itself is one of the most overrated points made on here. Last year how many 6'6 players did Iowa have when they beat SC? How many 6'6 players did LSU have when the won the title?

SO, bottom-line is that we’re supposed to put a worse player in the game instead of playing the better players that prove it day over day in practice in which those players are desperate for playing time together. However, when we struggle or lose then one of the comments universally accepted is that the team hasn’t played enough together and yet playing the lesser player is one of the causes.

So yes we lose a ton if playing Amari if she isn’t ready and not as good as the others .

 

[Cuango]

I missed this before.

For sure there are games we can win comfortably. And that is the perfect reason and time to give the minutes to the players you know are your better players in tight games. This team has little experience playing together. Why wouldn't UCONN want to give their best player's more time on the floor together? Comments have been made how the team hasn't played enough together - so now we're go to take out better players that need as much time as they can get vs an inferior player?

And this has nothing to do with "fracture." In part it has to do with if the coach can't be taken for his word, then wouldn't it be plausible to assume a critical player might transfer afther the season is over? This isn't transferring speculation of a player but of a philosophy if a coach breaks his promise when tell players that Practices and Performances" matter when it's clear you play what some suggested Amari 25-30 minutes that it doesn't. Even 10 minutes if she isn't as good-- why? Why not give much of those last 10 minutes to Ice and better players especially if Patterson is better and she comes back?

We've seen very few minutes of Ice and Edwards playing together yet it's clear Geno thinks Ice is quite a bit better. And last year Patterson was better and she needs minutes., And we've seen how critical Aubrey has been at the 4. These 4 players haven’t played one reg season together yet it's smart to have 3 of them sit for an inferior player just because she is 6'6?

Height by itself is one of the most overrated points made on here. Last year how many 6'6 players did Iowa have when they beat SC? How many 6'6 players did LSU have when the won the title?

SO, bottom-line is that we’re supposed to put a worse player in the game instead of playing the better players that prove it day over day in practice in which those players are desperate for playing time together. However, when we struggle or lose then one of the comments universally accepted is that the team hasn’t played enough together and yet playing the lesser player is one of the causes.

So yes we lose a ton if playing Amari if she isn’t ready and not as good as the others .

Let’s just agree to disagree.

 

[sun]

A superbig like Amari doesn't even need to actually block a shot.
Just by being in the right place can alter how an opponent will decide to move or to take a shot or not.
It's like having a queen on the board in chess.

 

[Geosfun]

Amari is a frustrating enigma. She obviously has the height the team desperately needs in the frontcourt, appears to have the skills, and is said to be very likeable, intelligent. Yet, when given the opportunity to play, she shows little energy, rarely boxes out, hardly ever fights for a contested rebound or drives hard to the basket, and gets beat on defense fairly easily.
I've heard she's a great teammate. If true, her team needs her to show it on the floor.

 

[RedStickHusky]

...Just by being in the right place ...

The crux of the biscuit. Both offense and defense require all five players to be connected to function as a unit. It's pretty late in the game to think the lights are going to come on for Amari.

 

[boscolino]

1 - Gordo, I just wanted to clear why imho Aaliyah is not playing so well. For now there is no solution, as you say, unless Ice steps up. She cannot keep on playing as the only big we have, but still......
2 - Amari has good potential, but she does not seem to care much about playing basketball.

 

[hoophuskee]

A superbig like Amari doesn't even need to actually block a shot.
Just by being in the right place can alter how an opponent will decide to move or to take a shot or not.
It's like having a queen on the board in chess.

Basketball is much more than blocked shots. The object of basketball is to score more points. An occasional blocked shot vs all the other bad things you get from a particular player is more important than just the focus on the single blocked shot. You also have the issue of all the times the blocked shot is missed or the player moves in position to block a shot and as a result took herself out of position to get the rebound or the next blocked shot.

You can't just continue to look at things in a vacuum and ignore things outside of the singular blocked shot. And even in that manner if you don't get possession it holds not much and in some cases no value for the blocked shot.

And to further this- What do you mean by "Queen of the Board?" Is this your way of calling her "The Queen" of jump balls too? .

The Queen of the chessboard is Paige. To suggest that the Knight is "Queen of the chessboard" because the Knight can jump would be a ridiculous point. As is referring to Amari "Quen" of something on this particular team.

She seems a great wonderful kid and let's hope in Practices she can begin to shine and then end up being very productive on the court.