I Guess Sooner or Later This Would Happen

[RockyMTblue2]

Is it fair? It's a question I've been asking myself for quite a while.

 

[yhun89]

This dude is a pessimist. Last year, before the USC game, his entire video was all about how UCONN's run is over, we're gonna lose to Juju because she scores 30 PTS a night, etc. Pretty sure he was praising Brady weeks back. Don't trust him.

 

[oldude]

I expect Ice and Jana to get big minutes tonight, banging in the low blocks against Audi Crooks. There is no way Geno will play Sarah or Morgan at the 5 so long as Crooks is in the game. In fact, I suspect that Geno was sending a message to both Ice and Jana last game with upcoming games against Iowa St (Crooks) and USC (Iriafen).

 

[ERWUC65]

I expect Ice and Jana to get big minutes tonight, banging in the low blocks against Audi Crooks. There is no way Geno will play Sarah or Morgan at the 5 so long as Crooks is in the game. In fact, I suspect that Geno was sending a message to both Ice and Jana last game with upcoming games against Iowa St (Crooks) and USC (Iriafen).

Agreed, this game is a must play well for Ice and Jana, especially Ice. If they cannot hang with Crooks and increase the rebounds and 2nd chance points, I see Geno going small for the rest of the year.

 

[HuskyNan]

Agreed, this game is a must play well for Ice and Jana, especially Ice. If they cannot hang with Crooks and increase the rebounds and 2nd chance points, I see Geno going small for the rest of the year.

??

I don’t ever remember Geno making a personnel decision that will affect the entire season based on one game. He knows the regular season is for building chemistry, finding the right player lineups, and learning how to play other defenses in preparation for the postseason. He also know putting pressure to “perform or else I’ll bench you “ is not a good way to build confidence

 

[uconnever]

This dude is a pessimist. Last year, before the USC game, his entire video was all about how UCONN's run is over, we're gonna lose to Juju because she scores 30 PTS a night, etc. Pretty sure he was praising Brady weeks back. Don't trust him.

Trust your eyes, you’ve seen the games. We get nothing from that position. Jana is a freshman who’s never played until now so she is still getting her feet wet and she’s aggressive by nature, so I would start her. Ice comes off the bench if at all if I were the coach.

 

[Cuango]

The problem here is that Ice is not Sarah! People look at Sarah, then wonder why Ice can’t be like that! Well, that is unreasonable and unfair, imo! She will continue to get better and will eventually be a solid contributor for us. Probably not a superstar, but solid! She just needs more time, not minutes but longterm. This is a tempest in a teakettle and Geno is simply trying to light a fire under Ice! Of course, he is also rewarding Morgan. This guy tried to compare Ice and DeBerry! That does not fly at all! At least Ice makes an effort! Ice will be fine! Just don’t expect Sarah just becausej she’s big!

 

[ERWUC65]

??

I don’t ever remember Geno making a personnel decision that will affect the entire season based on one game. He knows the regular season is for building chemistry, finding the right player lineups, and learning how to play other defenses in preparation for the postseason. He also know putting pressure to “perform or else I’ll bench you “ is not a good way to build confidence

The Iowa State game represents the best test for the bigs so far this season. And then Geno will have an 11 game sample to go by which is approx a third of the season. This and the USC game are the last real competitive games for a while. Then 11 games against BE competition, another third of the season, might not provide enough of a game environment to further test the bigs. I hope I am wrong, but I see Jana as next year and Ice staying at her current level of play.

 

[PacoSwede]

Agreed, this game is a must play well for Ice and Jana, especially Ice. If they cannot hang with Crooks and increase the rebounds and 2nd chance points, I see Geno going small for the rest of the year.

that might be an issue, but if the No. 1 goal is winning what this team most needs is to put the ball through the hoop consistently when they get clean open perimeter shots --- and they get plenty of them. poor shooting is the first priority issue. it's that simple.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

that might be an issue, but if the No. 1 goal is winning what this team most needs is to put the ball through the hoop consistently when they get clean open perimeter shots --- and they get plenty of them. poor shooting is the first priority issue. it's that simple.

Ice has developed a nice outside jumper since last season. She will be dangerous if left open.

 

[snowkot]

Seems to me, Ms. Brady is best suited as the motion 4, functioning away from the basket at the high post, on the perimeter angle or wings. Seems challenged on offense, back-to-the basket, in the low blocks.

Ms. El-Alfy seems the opposite, classic back-to-the-basket low post player, just needs time to adjust to the speed, contact sensitivity of and lateral quickness demanded by the college game at this level.

For me, seems, given time and work with this staff, Ms. El-Alfy could well develop into a dominant, game-changing presence. Given time...

 

[Longtime fan]

??

I don’t ever remember Geno making a personnel decision that will affect the entire season based on one game. He knows the regular season is for building chemistry, finding the right player lineups, and learning how to play other defenses in preparation for the postseason. He also know putting pressure to “perform or else I’ll bench you “ is not a good way to build confidence

I agree with you, Nan. Excellent point.

 

[cancontent]

Ugh.....this video just feels wrong. It's too soon to write Ice off at all. This is her redshirt sophomore season and she's a starter. What the heck is this guy seeing to think this?

 

[MooseJaw]

The problem here is that Ice is not Sarah! People look at Sarah, then wonder why Ice can’t be like that! Well, that is unreasonable and unfair, imo! She will continue to get better and will eventually be a solid contributor for us. Probably not a superstar, but solid! She just needs more time, not minutes but longterm. This is a tempest in a teakettle and Geno is simply trying to light a fire under Ice! Of course, he is also rewarding Morgan. This guy tried to compare Ice and DeBerry! That does not fly at all! At least Ice makes an effort! Ice will be fine! Just don’t expect Sarah just becausej she’s big!

Agree, well said, players lights come on at different times. It has been written time after time that Bigs generally take longer to mature their game. It appears that this is true. We are seeing Ice get better at certain things faster than others. She is making some very good passes; shots are starting to drop. Her natural position with her height and size is a 4, give her time to become a better than average 5.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

For me part of the situation is as a result of the very high expectations for Ice from the jump. But being staunchly loyal fans should not have us blind to negative situations in the development of players. Do some come here lacking confidence or do they develope it here. I don't remembeer confidence being an issue for any player until the last decade. Confidence is like heart, you can't teach it and you can't practice it and you can't catch it from a team mate, otherwise Nika's team would have torn the world up. You have to do some soul searching and decide who you are going to be.

 

[PacoSwede]

the loss of nika's heart has been terribly apparent so far this year. this team clearly has much superior talent to last season but it's been missing something: nika's leadership.

paige hasn't replaced it, though she is an incredible player and person. neither have kaitlyn and kk, who have assumed nika's role -- and exceeded her in some ways but don't provide her inspiration and spirit.

the most promising chance for an approximation of nika is morgan. she has got the spark, i think, even though she is just beginning her college career. nika did far less when she first arrived.

if i'm right about morgan, she'll make an enormous contribution to husky glory as the season progresses. BTW, the importance of that contribution seems to be badly overlooked by fans. i think geno's well aware of it -- but you cannot teach it. it's innate. he only can encourage it and thank god he had/has such a kid.

 

[Crossover]

Ugh.....this video just feels wrong. It's too soon to write Ice off at all. This is her redshirt sophomore season and she's a starter. What the heck is this guy seeing to think this?

He's "seeing" that if he posts provocative content it will lead to lots of clicks from UConn's large fan base, the OP being a prime example. For his purposes, it does not matter whether what he is saying is true or warranted. All that matters is that people click on his site and the YouTube algorithm takes note.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I think many here would agree that Geno, CD & Company are better at preparing their team for the important 6 game tourney at the end of the season than UT's Pat Summit, so let's go back in time to 1996-1997 where that version of the Lady Vols lost twice in a row TWO times during the regular season, and lost in the Semi-finals of the SEC tourney to an unranked Auburn by 2 (UT having entered the tourney in 5th place in the SEC, with the other four teams ahead of them ranked #6-9, with UT ranked tenth), after needing OT to beat #9 LSU in the quarter finals, which means they had excellent competition in their conference, and they lost two of their conference games to unranked teams.

Although, UT beat Geno's #1 seeded Huskies in the Elite Eight (1997), the point that I am trying to make is that Geno, CD & Company still have 24 games to get the experience, line-ups, chemistry, etc. right before making the all important 6 game run to the NC #12. High performing self-starters only need a little positive encouragement to keep "climbing that mountain" that many think is NOT possible, so I, for one, desire to keep my comments positive.

Yes, there are many more competitive teams now than in 1996-1997 women's college basketball. However, currently there are no more experienced coaches than Geno & CD at preparing one's team, and I believe that their 11 NCs are equal to all the other active coaches combined (I may have lost count in the record books).

This is not the time to "lock in" a singular line-up, but rather a range of line-ups that work against the likely teams that will need to be faced in the final six match-ups to the NC #12, without over-looking the numerous upsets possible in the early rounds of the NCAA tourney. It may be that the most important pieces to find is a starting line-up that can "get out of the gate" quickest to a 10 point lead (hopefully by 5 minutes into the game), and then a line-up that can maintain the lead and push it to >20 points before half-time, as well as creating the mindset that "we are down by four" while significantly ahead to focus on "winning the play in front of them" (whether on defense or offense).

Sometimes it takes a team through the conference tourney to figure all of that out. Remember, Pat Summit's team was the defending National Champions with a 23-10 record when they made that 6 game run in 1996-97.

Go Huskies!!!

 

[DeepThreat]

Trust your eyes, you’ve seen the games. We get nothing from that position. Jana is a freshman who’s never played until now so she is still getting her feet wet and she’s aggressive by nature, so I would start her. Ice comes off the bench if at all if I were the coach.

UCONN get 12.1ppg, 9.3 rpg and 2.9 assists combined from Ice and Jana, so not exactly nothing. At this point in the season I'll take that. When Aubrey returns the team will have more flexibility, with hopefully no drop off in production. The larger issue as I see it is the duo's defensive abilities. Together they only average 1 bpg. Against teams with aggressive guards like ND, that number needs to improve. Again Aubrey will help that situation a lot.

 

[Stagnant]

Clever video title he came up with.

Aaliyah Edwards slumped as a sophomore. And dorka was not great her first year here. So a bad stretch now does not mean Ice is done at UConn. I just want to point that out.

As far as short term contributions are concerned. I do think Geno is looking for more out of the frontcourt. One thought I have had about ice her whole career happens every time I look at the box scores. “Boy, I wish she had grabbed a few more rebounds.” If we have to rotate Jana and ice to improve our rebound numbers; I would potentially be all for it.

I like the small ball lineup which Cheli at the 4. But there are limitations to that lineup.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

??

I don’t ever remember Geno making a personnel decision that will affect the entire season based on one game. He knows the regular season is for building chemistry, finding the right player lineups, and learning how to play other defenses in preparation for the postseason. He also know putting pressure to “perform or else I’ll bench you “ is not a good way to build confidence

I'm pretty sure that "preform or else..." speech of Sylvia Hatchell [at half-time] ended her career at UNC.

[Actual words spoken not quoted here on purpose...}

Remain positive to keep improving!

Go Huskies!!!

 

[cancontent]

He's "seeing" that if he posts provocative content it will lead to lots of clicks from UConn's large fan base, the OP being a prime example. For his purposes, it does not matter whether what he is saying is true or warranted. All that matters is that people click on his site and the YouTube algorithm takes note.

Sigh ...so true. Goes to prove my comment about falling for clickbait in another thread. Just did it myself.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

They literally let anyone start a channel. That's what I'll get my dog for a present. Fits the budget too.

 

[Stagnant]

I think It’s a fair video. We are one of the most high profile teams and programs in the country. Even in the Georgetown post game reporters asked about Ice.

Ice not going out with the starters at the beginning of the third quarter was an eyebrow raiser. Geno never makes that change. I can’t remember the last time a healthy starter did not come out with the rest of the starters to start the third. I know there were times when Caroline was a freshman; I was pulling my hair out because he was starting the second half with a player that was struggling (imo) instead of inserting her.

 

[MSGRET]

I think many here would agree that Geno, CD & Company are better at preparing their team for the important 6 game tourney at the end of the season than UT's Pat Summit, so let's go back in time to 1996-1997 where that version of the Lady Vols lost twice in a row TWO times during the regular season, and lost in the Semi-finals of the SEC tourney to an unranked Auburn by 2 (UT having entered the tourney in 5th place in the SEC, with the other four teams ahead of them ranked #6-9, with UT ranked tenth), after needing OT to beat #9 LSU in the quarter finals, which means they had excellent competition in their conference, and they lost two of their conference games to unranked teams.

Although, UT beat Geno's #1 seeded Huskies in the Elite Eight (1997), the point that I am trying to make is that Geno, CD & Company still have 24 games to get the experience, line-ups, chemistry, etc. right before making the all important 6 game run to the NC #12. High performing self-starters only need a little positive encouragement to keep "climbing that mountain" that many think is NOT possible, so I, for one, desire to keep my comments positive.

Yes, there are many more competitive teams now than in 1996-1997 women's college basketball. However, currently there are no more experienced coaches than Geno & CD at preparing one's team, and I believe that their 11 NCs are equal to all the other active coaches combined (I may have lost count in the record books).

This is not the time to "lock in" a singular line-up, but rather a range of line-ups that work against the likely teams that will need to be faced in the final six match-ups to the NC #12, without over-looking the numerous upsets possible in the early rounds of the NCAA tourney. It may be that the most important pieces to find is a starting line-up that can "get out of the gate" quickest to a 10 point lead (hopefully by 5 minutes into the game), and then a line-up that can maintain the lead and push it to >20 points before half-time, as well as creating the mindset that "we are down by four" while significantly ahead to focus on "winning the play in front of them" (whether on defense or offense).

Sometimes it takes a team through the conference tourney to figure all of that out. Remember, Pat Summit's team was the defending National Champions with a 23-10 record when they made that 6 game run in 1996-97.

Go Huskies!!!

I believe that they have 3 more NC than the combined list of active coaches

Kim Mulkey - 4 Baylor - 2005, 2012 & 2019, LSU 2023

Dawn Staley - 3 South Carolina - 2017, 2022 & 2024

Brenda Freese - 1 Maryland - 2006