I liked what I saw short and sweet

[Bone Dog]

Discussion of Amari’s play is a valid basketball topic and can continue

Some posts have struck me as excessive. But I’ll be guided by you.

 

[Alydar]

OK I'll be that person.............a fun game to watch especially with that three-point barrage and total control of the boards and the fastbreak.............let me see some of that play against Texas and I'll be convinced this team can compete successfully at the highest level......

After endless straight FF's I think the burden of proof is on you to convince me that they can't "compete at the highest level"

 

[Alydar]

To be honest, I don't think we can read anything from that exhibition. It is like the Houston Astros playing an exhibition game against the West Point baseball team, as a tribute to military service. But one significant thing was the absence of any contribution from DeBerry. She should be able to score every time she has the ball against K-town. If she remains a non factor, the team's future is limited. Dorka and Williams are very good, but they will be burned out by March. Ice Brady was their safety net, and DeBerry their hope of last
resort ( in case she found her game, and decided to play ). I already feel that DeBerry has established her place at the end of the bench, holding a broom. this is hugely disappointing. Did she do nothing all summer in Storrs? Please prove me wrong. We need her to be a force.

Looks like you read a lot into that exhibition.

 

[CocoHusky]

Strength isn’t her weakness. She needs to develop a variety of shots around the paint, she’s not just jumping over 5-10 kids in there anymore.

Ayanna needs to make a transition from power to finesse when she is at the basket. Right now everything is with full force including the shot-too much force actually. Gabby Williams had a similar issue in her first two seasons where everything was too explosive. She does all the hard work and just has to gently lay the ball in the basket after securing it.

 

[HuskyNan]

Ayanna needs to make a transition from power to finesse when she is at the basket. Right now everything is with full force including the shot-too much force actually. Gabby Williams had a similar issue in her first two seasons where everything was too explosive. She does all the hard work and just has to gently lay the ball in the basket after securing it.

Too much energy and aggressiveness is a good problem to have. It’s easier to dial it back than to have to dig it out

 

[fomalhaut]

I’m not even worried about our defense. Yes, they were some mistakes made yesterday. But we are Team-Energy. That will make up for it until we’ve perfected that side of the game.

It took one quarter for them to figure out how to play defense.

 

[BobbyJ]

Ayanna needs to make a transition from power to finesse when she is at the basket. Right now everything is with full force including the shot-too much force actually. Gabby Williams had a similar issue in her first two seasons where everything was too explosive. She does all the hard work and just has to gently lay the ball in the basket after securing it.

I think I follow you here. She has a bad habit of immediately putting the ball on the floor and trying to power up through the arms. The dribble locks her in place limiting her ability to pivot and move to free herself for a shot. Just give her some video of Tuck and say do some of this. Or better yet, get Tuck to spend a couple hours with her.

 

[Zinethar]

I've seen all the preseason videos and knew Yanna was strong but was kind of shocked when I saw her on the court. That girl is huge, fast, and powerful. Another track star like Gabby. I loved Geno's comment (one he used for Z) paraphrasing "She grabs all her misses then finally puts it in so she can get an easy double double").

 

[Charliebball]

After endless straight FF's I think the burden of proof is on you to convince me that they can't "compete at the highest level"

When you lose three important seniors, arguably the best player in women's college basketball and an ultra-versatile freshman post with a huge future, bring in a graduate student from a lesser league, along with a Portuguese guard who was scheduled to go to a junior college, have two important players coming back from major surgeries, I think we are all entitled to question what kind of team this will be............

 

[itsasport]

I agree with Carnac that UConn will be a high scoring team- against everyone. I think that they could average in the high 80's or even more.

And I think that the front court is a lot stronger than last year- especially with Dorka being able to put an opposing player out to defend the three-pointer.

The two combined will make UConn hard to beat.

 

[ShmiCO]

I've seen all the preseason videos and knew Yanna was strong but was kind of shocked when I saw her on the court. That girl is huge, fast, and powerful. Another track star like Gabby. I loved Geno's comment (one he used for Z) paraphrasing "She grabs all her misses then finally puts it in so she can get an easy double double").

I was surprised by her speed down the court. I guess I was thinking she'd be "fast for a big" when it turns out she's just plain fast.

 

[WFFL]

Ill wait til after the texas game before i decide how many PPG the team averages.

 

[Alydar]

When you lose three important seniors, arguably the best player in women's college basketball and an ultra-versatile freshman post with a huge future, bring in a graduate student from a lesser league, along with a Portuguese guard who was scheduled to go to a junior college, have two important players coming back from major surgeries, I think we are all entitled to question what kind of team this will be............

Everyone says that. It's not who you lost that matters. If it did matter then UConn wouldn't have gone to 14 straight FF's. What matters is who you got and UConn's got a lot. See, I think they still have the best player in wcbb playing for them.

 

[Zarathustra]

Amari started the 4th quarter and played the entire period. She had plenty of chances to show what she can do

My impression was that particular " mix" of players has not had a lot of time together to get
their timing down. Not that I did not see some clear errors. I just believe that with a little
more " togetherness" things will look better in the future. Recheck the lineup during the
fourth quarter, except for Azzi (before she came out) IMO you will rarely see that combination
except in mop up time. Still love that behind the back pass from INEZ to Yanna in the closing
seconds of the game!!

 

[ccwarrior]

Some posts have struck me as excessive. But I’ll be guided by you.

I hope you don't mean the realists providing opinions different from the hopelessly optimistic fans.

 

[Cuango]

Tony, please help me with something. I was unable to see any of the exhibition yesterday, so I only had access to the box score. What I saw there was disturbing. Specifically, I saw no stats for De Berry. I read that she entered the game in the fourth period. So she stayed in Storrs all Sumer to gain strength and work on her game, and what she earned was, " garbage time against a Division II opponent, during which she did nothing?" I seriously believe that she is a key to this season. If she is no better than last year, we won't make the sweet sixteen. Please tell me I have no cause for concern here. But I expected she would have put up some easy good numbers.

You have no cause for concern as long as everyone stays healthy! Amari could be a difference maker if she were to suddenly start playing up to her perceived potential but that would be gravy on top of an already outstanding roast! This team is plenty capable even without Amari.

 

[Going4Natty]

A little cloud on Yanna's double double. Half her rebounds were her own misses.

 

[CB360]

Ok, Not sure if I missed it but did anyone notice and is anyone excited to see that Aubrey played pretty well? She appeared to play with NO hesitation or concern of reinjuring her back. I for one felt that was the BIGGEST takeaway from the game!

 

[Charliebball]

Everyone says that. It's not who you lost that matters. If it did matter then UConn wouldn't have gone to 14 straight FF's. What matters is who you got and UConn's got a lot. See, I think they still have the best player in wcbb playing for them.

You never know but it's going to take a full schedule of games to find out.........

 

[MSGRET]

A little cloud on Yanna's double double. Half her rebounds were her own misses.

She must have been watching replays of Swin Cash and Tina Charles when they played at UConn. According to Geno, that's how those two got many of their rebounds by rebounding their misses.

 

[cgshuskie]

MSGRET is funny. Tina and Swin rebounding their misses. Aren't they among the greats?

 

[TeamFirst!]

I'm a little concerned about the depth of our bigs. Ayanna is going to get into foul trouble some. We are going to need both Aubrey and Caroline down low before the season is through. Amari is the last person off the bench to me as of last year. Aubrey is going to be a very important contributor for sure. Especially in matching up with some teams which have fast bigs.

 

[TCC Kid]

I’m not even worried about our defense. Yes, they were some mistakes made yesterday. But we are Team-Energy. That will make up for it until we’ve perfected that side of the game.

Game ONE, is not to see perfect. It is to see how the player fits the roles intended. For all intents, I was pleased with each and every one. Ines will see more and more PT as the season and she progresses. Azzi wasn't a shock, Lou was. Nika was the Nika I expected, Dorka was better than I hoped. Edwards didn't lose abilities, she's on her way to Uconn history. Griffin, Wow oh Wow, not in my wildest dreams did I expect her game to become so good. @oldude did.
Defense will show itself on Texas and NC, or not. To me, you win game with scoring--keep it within range with Defense. Both will be needed with the Long Horns and NC

 

[jabstep]

It was great to see the girls play again. I saw some definite improvements in Aaliyah post moves with fakes and spins. Much better and she can be a force for us inside. Ayanna can learn a lot from her. Nika really pushed the ball all game and on ocassion attacked the basket which is an improvement over last year. Aubrey seemed extremely explosive and will help us a lot by getting to balls with her quickness and desire. The shooting improvement would only be a bonus. Azzi and Lou as expected by me that they can and will score in many ways. Add Caroline as the other scorer and we will be hard to shut down. Inez looks like a under control PG who could help us. Dorka played well and hit her outside shots. She is comfortable on the outside. Final 4 or bust. Go Huskies!!!!

 

[Bone Dog]

Texas is the first one. I'm elated that this game was scheduled at the beginning of the season. I don't want to wait 10-12 games into the season for a real test. I want to know right away. Texas is ranked #3 in the preseason polls. A top 5 team for sure. The question is can they run with us?? No doubt Geno is going to take the leash off, and let 'em run long hard and fast.

Me, too. I think Harmon and Morris will definitely be able to run with us. Gonzalez may be able to run with us for a whole game if her knee is up to it. But that's just not enough to hold us back.

On the defensive end, we shouldn't focus on Harmon. I say we pack the paint and let Nika and Azzi focus on Morris or Gonzalez. Harmon will score some, but it won't matter if she can't pass to the perimeter shooters and we crowd their posts in the paint. But we don't need to tire out Nika or Azzi trying to contain her.

Vic's typical game plan is to slow the game down, use their entire shot clock, and if possible get an O-board to run even more clock. The point is to reduce our shot opportunities and tire out our guards. Let's not play into their hands. Give them perimeter shots (but not Morris or Gonzalez) and nothing else.

 

[MSGRET]

MSGRET is funny. Tina and Swin rebounding their misses. Aren't they among the greats?

Yes they are among the greats but, Geno did make those statements on both Swin & Tina during their times playing at UConn.

 

[Skeets]

Discussion of Amari’s play is a valid basketball topic and can continue

I tend to agree with Mr. Bone Dog. For years it was ONO. Last year it was Nika. It seems like every year 1 player takes an inordinate amount of criticism. I don't want to see Amari get the ONO treatment. It wouldn't be bad if everyone (including me) lightened up on her on her a little bit. Discussion, yes. Ragging on the girl, no.

 

[HuskyNan]

I tend to agree with Mr. Bone Dog. For years it was ONO. Last year it was Nika. It seems like every year 1 player takes an inordinate amount of criticism. I don't want to see Amari get the ONO treatment. It wouldn't be bad if everyone (including me) lightened up on her on her a little bit. Discussion, yes. Ragging on the girl, no.

Fair enough but moderators remove inappropriate posts, other posters don’t get to set the rules

 

[mbr33ct]

I tend to agree with Mr. Bone Dog. For years it was ONO. Last year it was Nika. It seems like every year 1 player takes an inordinate amount of criticism. I don't want to see Amari get the ONO treatment. It wouldn't be bad if everyone (including me) lightened up on her on her a little bit. Discussion, yes. Ragging on the girl, no.

Nika still not out of the dog house by some.

 

[oldude]

Nika still not out of the dog house by some.

Some folks refuse to admit they might have been mistaken. They made an initial assessment relative to Nika as a freshman and struggle to see beyond it. Nika surprised many Husky fans by earning a starting spot as a freshman. Last year she surprised many Husky fans by earning the BE DPOY honor. Maybe she’ll surprise Husky fans again this year by leading the team to a national championship at pg.