I'm not getting all this anger directed at Bria

[HuskyNan]

People are acting like she's not making shots on purpose. Do you think she wants to be a shooting slump? I especially don't understand the mocking "All American" stuff which seems very Middle School, imo. Bria has played at a very high level for more than two years but since she's been slow to recover from her injury, mentally, and her confidence in her shot is wavering, she's somehow not worthy of our support. To quote our friend doggydaddy - unbelievable.

The kid is a shooter. The only way she's going to get her confidence back is to keep shooting. I hope she ignores all the nay-sayers and just keeps shooting until she's out of her slump.

 

[psconn]

That kind of mocking BS turns my stomach... fine to make factual observations but that kind nonsense is hurtful and immature. Middle school? Thats an insult to middle schools.

Bria was an amazing, clutch player for us and earned all the accolades she got. I think she will be that player again. No reason to think she won't.

 

[blackbird]

Bria Hartley has never gotten the recognition and support she deserves on this forum. Not quite sure why. Other than she doesn't get it from Meg either.

 

[luckyhusky7]

I agree, Geno seems to believe in her even in her shooting slump....I dont know why some bash and make fun of her in the process.

 

[dtbtbtb]

I guess it because if Bria would have her AA form from last season together with the amazing play of KML and Dolson, UConn would be unbeatable. IMO as great as KML and Dolson have been this season, there is no chance for UConn to win the NC this season without Bria being on top of her game.

 

[Icebear]

I guess it because if Bria would have her AA form from last season together with the amazing play of KML and Dolson, UConn would be unbeatable. IMO as great as KML and Dolson have been this season, there is no chance for UConn to win the NC this season without Bria being on top of her game.

We need a trio of players all performing at the top of their game to have the best chance at success.

 

[HuskyNan]

I guess it because if Bria would have her AA form from last season together with the amazing play of KML and Dolson, UConn would be unbeatable. IMO as great as KML and Dolson have been this season, there is no chance for UConn to win the NC this season without Bria being on top of her game.

And so what happens if UConn doesn't win a National Championship? Do we blame Bria for that? Why is no one pissed at Kelly for not scoring in double figures more consistently or at Breanna for being human rather than Superwoman? Blaming Bria for struggling with her confidence makes no more sense than being angry at the other two.

 

[HuskyPup]

I think Bria will be huge on Monday. She loves the big stage and the big games. 0-11 in a 30 point blowout means nothing. She'll get extra shots up in the next couple of days and be there when we need her on Monday. So everyone just relax.

 

[ThisJustIn]

I think people enjoy expecting more from college women who play basketball and less from themselves when they're at their daily work.

Few would dare to have the same standards for themselves as they have for Bria.

 

[DEK1234]

I've seen posters on this forum bash players who were more productive than Bria currently is, so I'm not surprised by these reactions one bit. I'm glad she's getting extended minutes to work through her slump and is finding other ways to contribute. Her shots just didn't fall today. I still have faith in her.

 

[Icebear]

I've seen posters on this forum bash players who were more productive than Bria currently is, so I'm not surprised by these reactions one bit. I'm glad she's getting extended minutes to work through her slump and is finding other ways to contribute. Her shots just didn't fall today. I still have faith in her.

The question at the moment isn't whether any of us have faith in Bria, it is does Bria have faith in herself. I can only hope that she find a way to answer that with a resounding, "YES."

 

[msf22b]

This is a very devoted kid who's going through a terrible time.

Year's ago in the Army Band, a very ambitious, good friend of mine was involved a parallel situ. Frantically practicing his clarinet, bass clarinet and saxophone for hours every afternoon, and by his own admission getting worse every day.

I took him aside and suggested a ski vacation on our little ski hill that I regularly frequented, no touching his instruments for 5 days, out on the slopes every afternoon and fun in the evenings.
Well, it sure worked for Jim, who had a successful career in the St. Louis Symphony.

Wish there was some similar way to help Bria; time off unfortunately not being an option.

 

[Zorro]

I seem to remember a certain player going 1/15 in the national semi-finals, and she pulled out of it ok. Sheesh! I also seem to remember another pretty good player once going 0/31 on 3s, but she just kept shooting and everything came up roses. (And she was short and slow.)As Archie would say, a lot of folks need to stifle!

 

[pppggg]

I would be surprised if the people bashing Brea aren't the same people who bash other players for not prefoming up to their "standards."

Afterall, small minds are amused by small things.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'm not a fan of Bria's shot selection, as I wasn't with Renee for 3 years and even Diana for 2+ years. She also dribbles too high. But I am a fan of hers. I like the way she knifes into the lane and how she raises her game against the best teams, starting in the second game of her career. She also seems like a good kid and good teammate.

I think last year's AA selection was debatable. Bria's key was playing well in tough (and televised) games, which was exactly where Tiffany struggled. Over the course of the season, I thought Tiff and Kaleena were more deserving of the AA recognition. But Bria definitely had a good year.

Clearly, Bria is a very good player who is struggling with her shot, and I feel for her. As Geno taught Tiffany, and Tiff really took to heart last year, if your shot is not working, do the other things you can control better: make the right pass, play good defense, hit the boards, get to the FT line, keep hustling. Bria needs to do the same, and she usually does. The shot will come back in time. Kaleena, arguably our best shooter ever, had a slump last year. It happens,

 

[Bigpetunia]

Well, Nan, while I respect your posts enormously, I find this thread a little bewildering. Maybe I'm not reading the Board carefully enough, but I don't see much in the way of bashing Bria or anyone else here. Missing shots on purpose? Are you kidding? Can we posters not lament the obvious, that Bria's diminished production this year, for whatever reason, constitutes a huge disappointment, and a major concern insofar as our post-season prospects are concerned, without fear of being labeled "bashers" or a bullies? Her case speaks for itself, and it's hard to see what is gained by not mentioning the obvious. I see very little mean-spirited commentary...just lots of expressions of disappointment, some of which are mine....for which I make no apology. No one is rooting for Bria to regain her lost form more than I. But if the rules of the Board suggest that subjects such as these ought not even be broached, and that our role here is just to play Pollyanna, we can certainly comply...just won't be a very interesting forum.

 

[Blueballer]

As someone who frequents the other UCONN Boards and some Pro Sports Boards this is pretty mild stuff by comparison. I usually come here to get away from "Bashing". Too bad that there are a few who are hammering her on here but I do understand the frustration from a team success standpoint.

 

[Tonyc]

Watching Bria today and knowing how hard she works at her game made me feel for her. Any of us who have played sports have had our slumps. One positive that comes out of this is as poorly as Bria shot the ball, I dont think it can get any worse, it can only get better. There will come a time when the game is on the line whether early in the game of late when Bria needs to make something happen and she will, and she will break this slump, until then we can only wait and hope. GO Bria

 

[CONNFAN23]

I think Bria will be huge on Monday. She loves the big stage and the big games. 0-11 in a 30 point blowout means nothing. She'll get extra shots up in the next couple of days and be there when we need her on Monday. So everyone just relax.

If it was just one bad game I agree with you but the fact is that in her last 4 games going back to the Baylor game she is 9 for 39 shooting, has 16 rebs, 26 pts, 18 assists, 13 tos. I hope she finds her game but right now it looks preety bleak but you never know stranger things have happened.

 

[doggydaddy]

Well, Nan, while I respect your posts enormously, I find this thread a little bewildering. Maybe I'm not reading the Board carefully enough, but I don't see much in the way of bashing Bria or anyone else here. Missing shots on purpose? Are you kidding? Can we posters not lament the obvious, that Bria's diminished production this year, for whatever reason, constitutes a huge disappointment, and a major concern insofar as our post-season prospects are concerned, without fear of being labeled "bashers" or a bullies? Her case speaks for itself, and it's hard to see what is gained by not mentioning the obvious. I see very little mean-spirited commentary...just lots of expressions of disappointment, some of which are mine....for which I make no apology. No one is rooting for Bria to regain her lost form more than I. But if the rules of the Board suggest that subjects such as these ought not even be broached, and that our role here is just to play Pollyanna, we can certainly comply...just won't be a very interesting forum.

You say " it's hard to see what is gained by not mentioning the obvious."

I say " it's hard to see what is gained by mentioning the obvious."

 

[blackbird]

I'm not a fan of Bria's shot selection, as I wasn't with Renee for 3 years and even Diana for 2+ years. She also dribbles too high. But I am a fan of hers. I like the way she knifes into the lane and how she raises her game against the best teams, starting in the second game of her career. She also seems like a good kid and good teammate.

I think last year's AA selection was debatable. Bria's key was playing well in tough (and televised) games, which was exactly where Tiffany struggled. Over the course of the season, I thought Tiff and Kaleena were more deserving of the AA recognition. But Bria definitely had a good year.

Clearly, Bria is a very good player who is struggling with her shot, and I feel for her. As Geno taught Tiffany, and Tiff really took to heart last year, if your shot is not working, do the other things you can control better: make the right pass, play good defense, hit the boards, get to the FT line, keep hustling. Bria needs to do the same, and she usually does. The shot will come back in time. Kaleena, arguably our best shooter ever, had a slump last year. It happens,

The fact that Bria was huge in huge games is exactly why she deserved to be an AA. Who cares if you score 30 against a team you beat by 40. The fact that quite often it was Bria keeping us in games and winning games, meant she deserved it. It wasn't debatable. Bria was our best player because she was our best player in big games..and that's what matters.

 

[doggydaddy]

As someone who frequents the other UCONN Boards and some Pro Sports Boards this is pretty mild stuff by comparison. I usually come here to get away from "Bashing". Too bad that there are a few who are hammering her on here but I do understand the frustration from a team success standpoint.

They are 27-2 and just beat a team that took ND to OT by 35 points.

You think we might be expecting a WEEEEEE bit too much from the team? Is only perfection ok? Geno is the coach, so that is what he coaches for. Why, in heaven's name, is that what the fans expect?

Unbelievable.

 

[UConnCat]

Her case speaks for itself, and it's hard to see what is gained by not mentioning the obvious.

Then I guess you won't mind if we call you Captain Obvious.

 

[UConnCat]

They are 27-2 and just beat a team that took ND to OT by 35 points.

You think we might be expecting a WEEEEEE bit too much from the team? Is only perfection ok? Geno is the coach, so that is what he coaches for. Why, in heaven's name, is that what the fans expect?

Unbelievable.

Like I've said before, if one wants to know what it means to make perfection the enemy of the good, read this board after a 30-point win.

 

[doggydaddy]

If it was just one bad game I agree with you but the fact is that in her last 4 games going back to the Baylor game she is 9 for 39 shooting, has 16 rebs, 26 pts, 18 assists, 13 tos. I hope she finds her game but right now it looks preety bleak but you never know stranger things have happened.

All these comments were made ealier in the season. She then had a stretch of 3 games where she averaged 16.5 point and looked great doing it. Clearly, that great play didn't stick.

It wouldn't be strange for her to play at her former AA level. Bleak? Not a word I would use with her or this team.