Impressions after EX season

[winlots]

We were at both games from the beginning of stretching thru the Alma Mater, and here are some observations and vignettes:
Tonight, it seemed like the only shot LEWIS missed during warm ups was when someone else's shot hit the hoop just as hers did. Though she didn't shoot lights out when the game lights came on, she did have ten in first half tonight. Played a nice overall game tonight and was tremendous in first game in all facets of the game. Looks very, very confident.
When STOKES was in for long minutes tonight with our Smurfs, I wondered if Coach had deliberately created a situation in which she was almost forced to assert herself. After a first half performance that left us feeling rather let down in terms of our hopeful anticipations for Stokes this season, she became a force during the second half....a significant force....and she seemed to sustain it when surrounded most of the time by our smaller players; she rebounded, defended, hustled, passed, and scored a bit as well. Overall, not sure what to expect from her against the tougher teams.
Our expectations for STEWART are so outlandishly high that it seemed like she wasn't particularly hot in either game, even though she was putting up big numbers
both nights.....and was especially devastating on put-backs. Also, she showed plenty of hustle and had another text book swat of a three tonight......an area (aggressively challenging the three) where I continue to think we don't look particularly strong as a team. On a hot night, look out.
DOLSON, after disappointing effort defending a three early on (she wasn't alone in that) , she really went after one later and snuffed it. She looks to be even more well conditioned than last year. Didn't seem to be on the floor a whole lot either night against these two smaller squads, though I don't have the time data on that.
TUCK doing it all and with consistency....both nights (which reinforces my expectation that she might well see more minutes and more points than some expect). If I had to pick a single star for the two-game set, it would probably be Tuck. Looks like a pretty significant wrap on one leg.
JEFFERSON like a different person (other than still being adorable). A young woman now rather than a teen.....confident and aggressive yet under control. We were very sorry not to be able to see her on the floor tonight. Think she will have a fine season.
BANKS looked terrific in game one especially with defense and hustle....determination....aggressiveness. Took more dives for loose balls than any other four players, though Lewis got the ink for that dramatic one over the table. So, looks like the surgery and rehab were superb. Still not seem really comfortable with her outside shot, yet I somehow have the feeling that could turn on a dime with one good shooting game.
HARTLEY could be poised for her best year. Maybe one crazy drive per game thus far ...outside shots look very relaxed. Getting assists.....on defense, not like Faris, but will get her steals and will stop people when she puts her mind to it. Looks confident and healthy.
CHONG in person looks like I expected from high school tapes; my wife thought she was almost dainty in some of her movements and manner. Thin arms, small feet. I am highly enthused by what I saw on the high school tapes, but less so based on these two games. We all know she is a freshman, but so was Johnny Football with the Aggies. I had expected great passing from her and did see some nice ones but also too many that seemed to lack zip......a strength issue? She is clearly working at her defense....and she has to. Can leap and is quick. My hopes continue to be very high. She did get double figures tonight with a lot of minutes, but did very little damage from outside. Can't wait to see her pop two or three in a row from out there.
LAWLER - works really hard....terrific focus.....you can tell she has played. Has pulled even with her running mate for points by 2013-14 walk-ons.
PULIDO - also hustles - late in game two, Stokes snared three or four rebounds in a row and fed her every time for shots she didn't hesitate to make. But missed em all after her game one debut shot which put us over the century mark. The crowd gave her a really nice round of applause after that fourth miss....in a very supportive way. She'll make some more.
THE PEP BAND: a tip of the cap to that group. Having a ball, making some noise, generating some badly needed cheers. Wish the "cheer leaders" would do the same rather than just shaking their pom poms and doing dance steps. Nothing against shaking one's pom poms, mind you, but I'd love to see the crowd be more consistently expressive, and I've always thought the cheerleaders should focus on that.
In closing, are you aware that tonights opponent just came off an 85-87 effort against Little East's Seton Hall???? Makes this edition of the Huskies look pretty good!

 

[DavidinNaples]

win...great stuff..! Thanks for the update..

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I came on to the Yard this morning expecting to start a thread on this, but since you winlots brought up the subject, here it is - a comment that is more a question about Saniya's passing. On at least several occasions with her on the right side of the floor passing back to the middle Saniya appeared to have a hesitation/hitch/wind up in her pass and , maybe, as winlots suggests, it is a strength issue. It is a bit of a tell and slows the release somewhat. Anyone else pick up on this or have a different view?

 

[Phil]

In closing, are you aware that tonights opponent just came off an 85-87 effort against Little East's Seton Hall???? Makes this edition of the Huskies look pretty good!

Yes, Philadelphis was up eight or nine late, but SH closed to force OT, the SH with the close call win.

 

[winlots]

I came on to the Yard this morning expecting to start a thread on this, but since you winlots brought up the subject, here it is - a comment that is more a question about Saniya's passing. On at least several occasions with her on the right side of the floor passing back to the middle Saniya appeared to have a hesitation/hitch/wind up in her pass and , maybe, as winlots suggests, it is a strength issue. It is a bit of a tell and slows the release somewhat. Anyone else pick up on this or have a different view?

ROCK: Appreciated your observations. Interesting that you pick up on this particular point from the post, as I woke up this morning thinking about last night's game and about Chong in particular. My wife and I talked about it in bed, and I'm left wondering if another part of the problem could be the frequent over-thinking/worrying that our freshmen do? Especially (but not only) UCONN frosh point guards?
I think of recent comments from Jefferson about high school and this year vs. last year; she is back to playing and having fun and not over-thinking about everything. Sometimes the game can be made a bit more complicated than need be, perhaps.
At the same time, Barbara (wife), who is lean and in shape herself, pointed out again how slight and wispy (some might say "diminutive" ) Chong seems to be, even to her. Maybe more than one factor at play here. In any event, between the evident very high motivation of this young lady and the talents of the coaching staff, lots of reason to think that good things are ahead for the player and the team. She can certainly drive and leap and draw fouls and make them already.

 

[winlots]

win...great stuff..! Thanks for the update..

DAV: thank you Hard to keep pace with the likes of you though. Keep em coming. Bet you can't wait for some Saturday TV, eh?? Stay well.

 

[UcMiami]

I came on to the Yard this morning expecting to start a thread on this, but since you winlots brought up the subject, here it is - a comment that is more a question about Saniya's passing. On at least several occasions with her on the right side of the floor passing back to the middle Saniya appeared to have a hesitation/hitch/wind up in her pass and , maybe, as winlots suggests, it is a strength issue. It is a bit of a tell and slows the release somewhat. Anyone else pick up on this or have a different view?

Not sure about that - but I do think like all freshman she is adjusting to the speed of the game which has led to a number of turnovers where a defender has gotten into the passing lane faster than she anticipated. The hitch you notice may be a result of a few things - like being uncertain of the offensive movement and not trusting her first instinct. I also think she like MoJef have moments where their movements look odd/awkward but are actually normal for them - same could be said for TBS as well. I think it is that all three are long for their body mass and that as they get older they are likely to fill in more.

 

[UcMiami]

ROCK: Appreciated your observations. Interesting that you pick up on this particular point from the post, as I woke up this morning thinking about last night's game and about Chong in particular. My wife and I talked about it in bed, and I'm left wondering if another part of the problem could be the frequent over-thinking/worrying that our freshmen do? Especially (but not only) UCONN frosh point guards?
I think of recent comments from Jefferson about high school and this year vs. last year; she is back to playing and having fun and not over-thinking about everything. Sometimes the game can be made a bit more complicated than need be, perhaps.
At the same time, Barbara (wife), who is lean and in shape herself, pointed out again how slight and wispy (some might say "diminutive" ) Chong seems to be, even to her. Maybe more than one factor at play here. In any event, between the evident very high motivation of this young lady and the talents of the coaching staff, lots of reason to think that good things are ahead for the player and the team. She can certainly drive and leap and draw fouls and make them already.

Posted before I saw this and we had similar thoughts - sort of like a classic double take in reverse - make that pass, oops is it the right pass?

 

[Icebear]

Not sure about that - but I do think like all freshman she is adjusting to the speed of the game which has led to a number of turnovers where a defender has gotten into the passing lane faster than she anticipated. The hitch you notice may be a result of a few things - like being uncertain of the offensive movement and not trusting her first instinct. I also think she like MoJef have moments where their movements look odd/awkward but are actually normal for them - same could be said for TBS as well. I think it is that all three are long for their body mass and that as they get older they are likely to fill in more.

I do not think it is a strength issue at all. Saniya is lean and cut vs diminuitive or slight. We will see more of that frame type with Gabby next season.

I think you have hit it on the head. It is about the pace of the game and knowing intuitively the movement of the players within the offense. She is still thinking her way through things much a MoJeff did early in the season last year. When you play by thinking instead of knowing things have small hesitations as you look for what you expect to find when you expect to find it.

Saniya was not the only one having trouble with her passes last night. KML had several problematic passes, as well. I am not as enamored of the execution in the half court early in the game as some are because it was very mechanical and not fluid. Early 3 ptrs were not necessarily taken in rhythm and the results reflected that. Nor was it strong late with the bench cleared at the end but I expect that because it is always that way.

This team is still a work in progress. It is extremely early in the season. We will know more about it a week from this coming Monday when three games have been played against tough competition.

Philadelphia's play against Seton Hall was meaningless since we would likely beat them by the same score with Geno limiting the pace of scoring in the second half.

 

[meyers7]

as I woke up this morning thinking about last night's game and about Chong in particular. My wife and I talked about it in bed,

Really? That's your "pillow talk"? I assuming you don't have a lot of kids.

 

[Bestiarius]

While physically, Chong is no Danielle Adams, I don't get the impression that she is weak or delicate. Standing next to her at First Night, I felt she is bigger than she appears from a distance. She is certainly bigger than MoJet. If we remember back to Jefferson's first few games and compare her to Chong at the same point, my feeling is that developmentally, Chong is ahead. (Not implying she is better than Mo). Yes she's made several freshman mistakes but had done much that is good, particularly penetrating to the basket and confidence. She seems to be able to contort her body while driving and get close to the basket without fouling and get off an accurate layup a few feet further from the basket than normal.

IMO, her biggest need for improvement is with her outside shot. She shoots from under her chin rather than up high. That will be difficult to correct, but Tiffany Hayes did OK with a similar shot.

 

[Icebear]

If we remember back to Jefferson's first few games and compare her to Chong at the same point, my feeling is that developmentally, Chong is ahead.

I agree.

 

[VAMike23]

While physically, Chong is no Danielle Adams, I don't get the impression that she is weak or delicate. Standing next to her at First Night, I felt she is bigger than she appears from a distance. She is certainly bigger than MoJet. If we remember back to Jefferson's first few games and compare her to Chong at the same point, my feeling is that developmentally, Chong is ahead. (Not implying she is better than Mo). Yes she's made several freshman mistakes but had done much that is good, particularly penetrating to the basket and confidence. She seems to be able to contort her body while driving and get close to the basket without fouling and get off an accurate layup a few feet further from the basket than normal.

IMO, her biggest need for improvement is with her outside shot. She shoots from under her chin rather than up high. That will be difficult to correct, but Tiffany Hayes did OK with a similar shot.

And actually, it can be better to go out and make a lot of mistakes that are the result of trying to do something (pass/score/shoot/switch) as opposed to going out there and playing passively, disappearing etc., out of a overly-strong desire to avoid mistakes. Banks would do this at times in her freshman season and I think it can result in slower progress.

 

[winlots]

Posted before I saw this and we had similar thoughts - sort of like a classic double take in reverse - make that pass, oops is it the right pass?

UcM - I replied to this note just after you wrote it, but appears I forgot to press the "Post Reply" button. Ye gads. Yesterday I was roaring around looking for my socks, and Barbara pointed out that they were draped over my shoulder.
Anyhow, what I said to you was that we were evidently busy typing at the same time and with the same thoughts. And, surely we both cannot be wrong, right??

 

[winlots]

Really? That's your "pillow talk"? I assuming you don't have a lot of kids.

MYER: I know you know what they say about assume and assumptions.........and .especially YOURS? Ahh...ha ha ha ha haaaa....sometimes I just kill myself....whoooo....hoo hoo hoo hoooo haaa. (Hey parts of that might not be a bad cheer for the Huskies. Beats the hell out of some of the stuff I hear for cheers in the stadiums these days. )

 

[EricLA]

Very fun read Win. Just one housekeeping suggestion - when you finish with a paragraph, hit <enter> twice. This will give a line space between your paragraphs and not make your post feel like one giant run on sentence. For me, with my slightly below average eyesight, it's harder to read an entire post like that. Just a suggestion!!

 

[winlots]

BEST: very interesting observations, especially about the relative developmental stages of Jeff and Chong. Provocative point and I think you might well be right. ( Think I did note somewhere above how Saniya is already finding her way to the hoop, getting up, and either scoring or drawing the foul and making them. And I don't recall Jefferson doing a lot of that during the EX season last year....though I'm not sure about that?)

Re the physique issue, it's pretty hard for me to say anything really definitive there, as I no longer have one! (But I was close to Chong both nights during early warm ups, though she had her sweats on, and we were seated near the court on second night.) Re the physiognomy, regardless of size or physical strength, from her high school history of lighting it up when feeling very ill, she certainly has the guts to perform , whether she is strong and cut as some perceive her to be or on the slight side as others perceive. It is what it is.

ALso very interesting observation about her launch on longer shots and the comparison to Hayes - hadn't noticed that or made that connection. Thanks.

 

[winlots]

ICE - certainly agree with you on the "work in progress" and others having trouble with their passes last night. Could readily see the Lewis frustration over a couple of things out there.

MIKE - nifty point, as always re getting out there and getting involved vs. being passive. Always like to read what you have to say.

ERIC - Glad you enjoyed it. And, thanks for the straightforward feedback on the paragraphing. Got a similar thing a few years back and tried to improve. I do have a stream of consciousness style of writing for sure. Will keep trying to clean up format. And I share your vision issues. Stay well. Gotta get up on the roof and caulk while we have some warmer air today.