I am feeling very positive

[CTisballers]

When Paige gets back and if she’s her self I feel UConn can still win it because we’ll be a low seeds that can upset a lot of teams that will shake the bracket. But TBH I thought our seniors was gonna come out balling this year. And CD is for real can’t wait til she start knocking the 3 down consistently

 

[JellyBean]

We should be very positive about the team, the coaching staff, and the direction that the team is headed. Each player that is healthy is gaining valuable playing time, gaining confidence, and learning to trust each other. Players not healthy are getting better, resting, and learning from their healthy teammates; trust, playing style, and leadership. Going forward, this helps the program become even more dangerous, if they are trusting each other and building and supporting each other.

UConn vs Everybody should be the mindset going forward. We ain't got to like every team. We just have to respect you.

 

[Vowelguy]

No, stats don't lie. They're just facts. They may be misinterpreted,

AMEN !

 

[baggerbob]

Only if EVERYONE that's injured can return at or near 100%, AND...........everyone of our players plays every tournament game at or near their full potential. Everyone MUST make plays when they're in the game. To win it all, and right now, I'm not sure they can, they will have to become "GIANT KILLERS." Remember, none of the top 10 teams fear UConn anymore.

They're going to have to take down at least 3 top 5 teams. Stanford, Arizona, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Baylor, NC State, Louisville, South Carolina (the elephant in the room), Texas and probably Georgia will all be buzzing around that second weekend vying for one of the coveted final four tickets. That's potentially 12 teams vying for 4 spots. Some of them will be peaking, and playing their best basketball of the season.

UConn out of women's basketball AP top 10 for 1st time in 16 years. It's been that kind of year so far.​

​

​

I made a statement in another thread, this team needs to get better on defense. The Championship Uconn teams could make the great plays on that end to WI championships.
Getting stops on defense, rebounding, and pushing the ball upcourt.
Steals which lead to easy baskets.
That is a winning recipe.

 

[Cuango]

In the Evina vs. Nika starting debate, remember Evina was a point guard for two years, pretty bad her first year, and more average the next, but with a high usage rate, quite a few turnovers, and so so shooting percentages. She went thru a major transformation to a lower usage rate more efficient player, moving mostly to the 3, but also playing at the 4 quite a bit. Personally I believe her best positions in order would be 2, 3, 1, then 4. With CW there was not much time at the 2 and she settled in as the 3, and did an admiral job when pushed into the 4. Her versatility can fit many places, but I see her as the third option at point guard.

With Nika she had a rough start last year, which was partly injuries, but also she sometimes was miscast as a wing when in the game with Paige. Standing in the corner waiting for an open three is certainly not what she does best. Then Geno decided to switch the roles and when Nika and Paige were in the game together, Nika was at the point and Paige off the ball. That worked better for both players, particularly Nika and the team as well. Paige could be a great player at several positions, Nika is a point guard that has far less value at other positions. She could be a defensive spark for a few minutes a game, but if she is to play significant minutes effectively, they need to be at point guard. Evina and others can be moved around more.

I have no statistics to prove this but I think Evina is basically a first half player. It seems to me that even when she’s not playing too many minutes, she plays well early, then fades. In fact, I think once Azzi and Caroline are solid, it might be best to bring E off the bench in short (6-8 minute) bursts. (I’ll go cringe in the corner now)

 

[Cuango]

I agree with some of your points, but not all. They are not my stats. Stats can be used anyway you wish to illustrate a point(s). I maintain the starters DID do their job which was to score more points than their opponents. They did that. If you take away the bench scoring from both teams, who wins? UConn. They were out there as a unit, not individuals. You win or lose as a team.

Foul shots win games. Those 10 extra points helped Louisville win this one. It doesn't make any difference how you get to the line, just get there. They got there! If the other team puts you there out of last minute desperation, that's their problem. The reverse is also true. Louisville scored 10 more points from the line than UConn did. That is a fact, no lie there. You can't argue those numbers. 17 vs 7. If it had been 17 vs 7 the other way, UConn wins.

If one player scores 40, or two players score 25, or three players score 15, they're still part of a unit. One starter can go scoreless, but do other things that help the team win. I agree that the other members of that unit did not contribute that much to the over all bottom line, but they did contribute something. UConn's starters got zero support from their bench as far as contributing additional points or providing periods of rest breaks. That is not an excuse, that's a fact. And it's one Geno should be very concerned about.

You said: "As for being out-manned, I disagree, just an excuse." No excuse, fact. Walz used 10 players, Geno used 7. Six if you don't count the 3 minutes that Amari played. 10 vs 7 to me is being out-manned. If you're in a street fight, and one side has 10 roughnecks, and the other side only has 7, which side would you say had the better chance of winning the fight? You don't consider those 7 being out numbered? Out manned? At least three of those 7 are going to get double teamed, and probably go down faster than the other four. If you choose not to recognize 10 being more than 7, ok. All of the math classes I ever had recognized 10 having a greater value than 7.

As for the rest of your narrative, your points are valid, i.e., "they also just don’t get it done." Until they turn it around, UConn will continue to be on that roller coaster. We agree on some points:

"With the money on the line this group has not been able to rise up and it is a consistent theme. Having said that, I am not for a second saying anyone quit(s), they don’t, but they also just don’t get it done. You come to Uconn to get it done, not lay eggs in the 4th quarter, that is the expectation. Is it the end of the world you don’t, of course not, but here’s the other side of the coin; IMO, Westbrook and Williams would not be considered top 10 draft picks if they didn’t play for Uconn, so you have to take the bad with the good."

It would be interesting to see how many Final Four games UConn has won while playing a smaller roster than their opponents. I’d bet there would be a lot of them!