There is zero evidence that Azzi — an AA three-level scorer—cannot create her own shot.
Im sorry but....
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CL82
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It was funny. I saw Hannah next to the two presenters for the Naismith awards and I thought "wow, she's actually pretty tall." then, I saw Sarah towering over them and I thought "Oh".
cabbie191
Jonathan Husky on a date with Holi
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I think our perspective on who should be starting sometimes suffers from "recency" bias, especially when it comes to scoring metrics. "Player X has had two great games in a row so therefore she must start the next couple of games. Player Q has missed 90% of her outside shots so sit her on the bench."
I'm guilty of this at time. Players can be streaky for good or bad. Right now I'm shuddering slightly when I see Ash setting up for a three because her production is down the past few weeks. But then I recall her hitting 7 of 8 3's against Iowa State and maybe tonight's the night the switch turns back on.
And I also keep in mind that offense is only a part of a player's contribution, and often it's not as important as the ability to stifle the other's team's offense, the ability to hunt down rebounds, and the ability to make great assists.
I'm guilty of this at time. Players can be streaky for good or bad. Right now I'm shuddering slightly when I see Ash setting up for a three because her production is down the past few weeks. But then I recall her hitting 7 of 8 3's against Iowa State and maybe tonight's the night the switch turns back on.
And I also keep in mind that offense is only a part of a player's contribution, and often it's not as important as the ability to stifle the other's team's offense, the ability to hunt down rebounds, and the ability to make great assists.
I have been very happy with the rotation as is, regardless of what I think of individual talent. When Blanca and Kayleigh come in, the team loses nothing on offense or defense. It’s just a different look, which often provides a necessary spark. UConn has a team chemistry and the other team has to adapt. Agree Allie often provides some needed offense.
@HuskyNan this is more that just "pushback" or "disagreement". I don't agree with OP but I get where they are coming from. I think the argument is valid, if done earlier in the year. I don't know who the OP would have replaced in the starting lineup but, for me, it would have been Shade. She absolutely contributes but I think Blanca brings more to the table. And I wouldn't start without Serah because of the tip, among other things. I am shocked that people still think Jana is a better option. She played well in the last game but, generally, she is too slow to close out on shooters and too slow to recover after a hedge. However, IF we end up playing UCLA, Jana might need more PT as she would probably be more effective against Betts. I would have wanted her to play more if we played Oklahoma or Iowa State too.
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Even Azzi is 5 inches taller than Hildago too.
I honestly think Hildago might be the best point guard I ever saw. She is the perfect Uconn Husky and Geno type player. Except she wears a Notre Dame uniform lol.
She is the one that got away.
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cabbie191
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After watching the game and the ND post-game press conference, I came away with the feeling that not only is she one hecka of a player, she's a genuinely special person. I'd be proud to have her as my daughter, despite her obvious poor taste in uniform selection. 😀
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Call it the Aubrey Griffin Gambit on steroids
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Seriously, would Stewart/Diana and Maya have won any championships without Geno? So, maybe the greatest coach in history (and teammates) does have something to do with this. Just a thought.
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Yes, SC is much better than Notre Dame (or Texas) but they don’t have Hannah Hidalgo, we’re not playing in Fort Worth, and we are likely going to play better than we did against ND! I think people are still underestimating the effect that HH has on a game when she is really motivated. Couple that with the fact that we couldn’t throw it in the ocean from three, and you have an 18 point win vs a 30+ point win!
CL82
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She is a complete lunatic when she plays, and I mean that in the best sense. I'm not sure if you follow the UConn men's team as well, but Hildago reminds me of Cam Spencer. He was an absolute lunatic on the court, and still is in the NBA. Both are the kinds of players that you love if they're on your team, but hate if they're on someone else's.
I think it's hysterical that Geno asked her if she was going pro and she said no I think I want another crack at you guys. I may be reading into it, but I like the humor, affection, and mutual respect that seems to be lurking between the lines of that exchange.
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So do I. Part of the fun of competitive sports when there's mutual respect between rivals.
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Maya would have gone to Tennessee. She might have won 4 championships under Pat.
The real question is would Tina and Renee have won a championship without Maya?
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A big point is that the initial post is from someone that probably panicked as fans can do at times because f the realization that they will be probably be playing tight games going forward and that can make some uncomfortable. So, a post gets thrown out there to change the starting lineup implying that the greatest coach in wcbb history has been making a mistake. And despite evidence that so many players and even people deal in structure, the post wants to throw all that out. It just shows a lot of bravado and complete lack of accountability. The poster knows this because it’s even brought up “I know Geno won’t od it.” So, it’s easy to throw things out there like that. It’s nothing more than a Disney fantasy movie.
Same with these comments being brought up about fantasy “if Pat Summitt had . . . she would have won . . .” This is all Disney Fantasy and imo more fun to discuss after the season is over. If some want to post it now, okay, but it has no reality. Anybody can make a fantasy post but this has no bearing on reality. Maya chose UCONN, chose to play for Geno, not Tennessee Paat Summit. It’s fantasy to imply otherwise just like the original post has done but t least the original post I possible. The best coach in wcbb history might do what’s suggested. But it wouldn’t be a mistake early on if he didn’t Because we live in reality- and reality is that no one since Michigan has come close to UCONN thus far.
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Azzi can absolutely get her own shot. You must not watch many games.
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I did the same thing with Nika her senior year. I thought she was short. Not MY size of short but short. Then i saw her in person and she looked HUGE. Not just tall but HUGE!
Exactly. Phil was a "genius", Jordan could not win one before being coached by him. Same for Kobe.
But Phil's "genius" wasn't the triangle offense - that was brought by Tex Winter, his assistant (well, perfected by Tex, originally devised by HoF Sam Barry) - it was his psychological prowess in getting some super-gifted, super-competitive, super-stubborn athletes transcend their individual abilities and buy into a system.
And Geno is in that regard is the Phil Jackson of WCBB. He is a master of forging diamonds by finding the right buttons to push for each player and maximizing their potential. And I don't mean to diminish the role of recruiting (in which CD played a major role from the beginning), where it all actually started with local talent (Bascom, Lobo) of not quite the caliber of DT, Maya, Stewie, but going all the way to the first FF and the first NC.
One more note about the often-quoted "not so great" record of Geno in the SF. Bringing the team now 17 out of 18 consecutive tournaments to the FF is absurd, irrespective of the talent across these two decades. Many of those SF losses came during this incredible stretch. Why? Because (to Geno's own admission) many of those teams had "no business being in the FF" - i.e. they were overachievers to get that far. He made them overachieve to get farther than they "belonged". The teams that did "belong" in the FF generally won the SF game as well as the NC (some exceptions, of course).
Maya didn't win without Tina either. The closest they've ever come to a one person team was Taurasi in 2003 and 2004, and even there her supporting cast was underrated.
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In particular her reverse layup is a work of art.
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I agree with most of what you said except the part about "Jordan not winning until Phil got there"
Or maybe Jordan couldn't win until Pippen got there.
Same with Kobe needing Shaq.
Re: The Triangle
The Triangle also requires the absolute best and most athletic players to operate efficiently.
Both Geno and Phil had those types of players.
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Her supporting cast never even made 2nd team All Big East
JoePgh
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I'm not sure what your point is in your various posts on this thread.
Is it that neither Geno, Phil Jackson, or any other coach would have been very successful without great players? I think everyone here would agree with that.
Or are you claiming that anyone on the Boneyard, if they had the rosters that those coaches had, could have coached them to the same success? I'm not sure that you are claiming that, but if you are, it is manifestly absurd.
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My point was your first statement.
"That Geno, Phil Jackson or any other coach would not have been very successful without great players"
They would still be good coaches but the players they had elevated their status.
Sometimes when you have the best players on the planet the coach looks great.
This goes for K.C. Jones (Bird, McHale and Parrish)
And Pat Riley (Magic, Worthy and Kareem)
"That Geno, Phil Jackson or any other coach would not have been very successful without great players"
They would still be good coaches but the players they had elevated their status.
Sometimes when you have the best players on the planet the coach looks great.
This goes for K.C. Jones (Bird, McHale and Parrish)
And Pat Riley (Magic, Worthy and Kareem)
I don't think we disagree much. I specifically mentioned the role of recruitment for UConn. Yes, Pippen, and Rodman, and Kerr, etc. - but what is often forgotten in discussions about the Zen Master is that unlike many other coaches, he had the ear of the owners and GMs in Chicago and LA, when it came to player signings. Many a good coach in the NBA had poor results because the team brought in good players who didn't fit together or with the coaching staff. After Jackson, Popovic, Riley, etc., coaches influence has grown.
Getting back to UConn, what I find interesting that in college ball things may be changing in the opposite direction. Geno and CD had pretty much unfettered power who to offer the scholarships to. Coaches "owned" almost all decisions.
Now cometh the portal and NIL... First, this further confirmed Geno's skill at assembling the right team: bringing in Dorka, Lou, Kaitlyn, Heckel from the portal and not loosing anybody significant to the portal - whoa! But then cometh the cost share... so now coaches may want a player, who may want to come, but the school can say we don't have the money to afford that player
Interesting times ahead. .-.
Agreed, I don’t get this narrative about Azzi. It may have been true when she was younger, but she’s obviously put in a lot of work to score in many ways. The fact that the ball is often in her hands during the last possession of the quarter also shows that Geno knows she can get her own shot.
Azzi is not just a catch and shoot player (although she is very good at that). She can score anywhere on the court, drive to the basket, dribble in traffic—she’s very well rounded. This kid approaches basketball meticulously.
Alright. I've decided. I'm going to do it. I will root, from now on, only for which ever team wins whatever game it is. That way I won't be nervous or frustrated beforehand. And certainly not disappointed afterwards. There. I've done it. Over and out.
Players, in any sport, don't show up as freshmen/rookies and are already great. Talented and full of potential, certainly. The best coaches certainly are more successful at identifying and attracting talented players who fit their system, and continued success attracts better players more easily. But they are also superior at teaching the subtleties of the game and developing that talent. It's plain silly to say that coach X or manager Y was successful just because they had player A, B, or C.
I'm nobody, but Geno steals 4-5 minutes at the start of each game where Blanca is on the bench, not picking up 1 or 2 early fouls. I think its so smart to have her come off the bench. She immediately changes the game, the porations, and we bring a lot of scoring off the bench with her. No other team can match her off the bench and by the time she gets in, she can change whatever is happening.
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One factor to consider as to keeping a continuity of the starting 5 is the effect an unexpected change in the line-up might have on every player on the team … this is a team game, and unless the reason for a change is obvious (i.e., injury, illness, etc.), you would not want players to become unnerved if they don’t know an understandable reason … this is a team game … emotions are tied to team confidence … I wonder? …
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This is why the proposal is crazy unless Geno has inside information that he needs to do it. As UCONN fans we should know this because we have seen it.
First off these are 20 year old kids - changes affect them more due to lack of experience. For example do we recall the story Sue Bird gave when in 19-20 semis at halftime they went into locker-room thinking they were pretty good? Then Geno came in and started screaming at them for giving up that end of half 3 to Ratay? Bird said the team was in shock and resulted in partially having them play scared to start the 2nd half.
Second, look at what happened when Geno pulled Tina Chales from the starting lineup as a sophomore. She was 3rd team A/A and was on all Big East Tourney team. Then see what happened in NCAA T? She massively under-performed. She was a 20 year old kid. Her routine was broken.
Third - even adults. All we have to do is look at Dan Hurley. What do we think would happen if his routine was broken? Maybe he might become more looney than the character Jack Nicholson played in "As good as it gets" if that character ever stepped on the sidewalk crack.
So now to have Blanca exposed to such a radical move as a freshman when you can just put her in after 2 minutes instead? UCONN is going to lose the game because of the 1st 2 minutes?
Let's go Huskies!!!
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