In Search of a 3rd Guard

[oldude]

Well said. This whole thread is a search for a solution to a non-existent problem.

You need to tell Geno that, because he very clearly stated on Wednesday that he’s looking to find a 3rd guard for his regular rotation.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I am hoping Mikalya can work her way into rotation. Mikayla is another player who is going to be special. I like what I have seen from Andy also, but Mikayla has my heart. I am also hoping for a 8-9 player rotation. The 8 - 9 player rotation would include Mikayla and Batouly.

I too like Coombs. However I believe all four Frosh will be very good before they are done.
I'm not an insider so I have no idea of who Andy is?? Who is he/she??
a 9 player rotation would please ME, the more the merrier that can play Uconn ball.
Only have seen Batouly in 2 clean up times--and honestly didn't see much there--what have you seen that I missed??

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm not an insider so I have no idea of who Andy is?? Who is he/she??

Uh, @BroadwayVa Andy is AEH, our freshman currently home on a personal matter.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

"Coombs seems to have an edge to try and earn Auriemma's trust to give him competent minutes behind Crystal Dangerfield and Kia Nurse. Following three good days of practice after the Christmas break, the Buford, Georgia, native did get a second-quarter call against Memphis last Sunday to play alongside the starters and saw 11 minutes of action total but had a tough outing. In workouts, though, she had been aggressive with the ball and playing the kind of defense the Huskies need.

"At first what was holding me back was the confidence thing because I wouldn't take the initiative to drive to the basket, and that's what he wants me to do," Coombs said. "Now in practice I'm being more confident in myself and I'm getting stops on defense, which he talked to me about doing. Hopefully that will put me in position to contribute.

"I've always been the player to say 'Whatever the team needs I'm going to do.' But coming in here, you don't necessarily know what the team needs you to do because we have so many elite players. Do they really need anything? So I have gone to talk to him, and he has basically told me that I have to drive to the basket and get stops on defense. At first that was what I wasn't doing, but now I have started to come into that. Once you understand your role, it's much easier to contribute in practice and in the games. That is where I am right now."

Huskies on the road again, visit USF

 

[NewCorn]

I am hoping Mikalya can work her way into rotation. Mikayla is another player who is going to be special. I like what I have seen from Andy also, but Mikayla has my heart. I am also hoping for a 8-9 player rotation. The 8 - 9 player rotation would include Mikayla and Batouly.

I firmly agree that Mikayla is about to make a big move up. Andra has so much promise. I hop she is back soon. I'm still for Touly to flash. Alexi seems comfortable when she gets her one minute on the court. Could it be that she is too comfortable?

 

[NewCorn]

I've been team Coombs for a while. She impressed during the McD's AA game. She has a very high BB I.Q. She reads the strengths and weaknesses of her team and the opposition very well. Having said that, I believe Coombs will be CD's backup and AEH is a replacement for KN. Geno never thinks this way but this is my read.

Geno has learned over the years that an injury or two can totally derail a team with specialist players. He emphasizes multipurpose players who can play several positions. This allows a significant margin to account for injuries. Last year Chong and Nurse played the 1 and 2. This year more or less CD and KN are doing the same. Gabby/NaPheesa/Azura can fill in at the 3-5. KLS/MW can fill in 2-4.

Andi and Mikayla are being groomed to also be multipurpose. I believe the race for the third guard is between the two of them. Bent puts in tons of effort but her in game mistakes are slowly taking her out of the running.

As far as next year and CW, as talented as she is, she will have to come in and instantly get it like MW in order to be same conversation as Coombs and Hunter. Not to mention if Coombs and Hunter make a sophomore leap like Dangerfield.

Olivia will have to compete with Irwin, and Batouly for p.t. and that's not going to be easy as both will have three years of college experience.

The best thing out of all of the scenarios is that Uconn has enough talent that we won't suffer like ND if injuries rears its ugly head. Multiple players able to play multiple positions is the thing of the future in WBB.

Olivia's potential is obvious. Like most freshmen, however, she is going to have a difficult time getting minutes. The first time she practices against Z, she will be in shock. If she wants to be a pro, she picked the right school.

 

[BroadwayVa]

"Coombs seems to have an edge to try and earn Auriemma's trust to give him competent minutes behind Crystal Dangerfield and Kia Nurse. Following three good days of practice after the Christmas break, the Buford, Georgia, native did get a second-quarter call against Memphis last Sunday to play alongside the starters and saw 11 minutes of action total but had a tough outing. In workouts, though, she had been aggressive with the ball and playing the kind of defense the Huskies need.

"At first what was holding me back was the confidence thing because I wouldn't take the initiative to drive to the basket, and that's what he wants me to do," Coombs said. "Now in practice I'm being more confident in myself and I'm getting stops on defense, which he talked to me about doing. Hopefully that will put me in position to contribute.

"I've always been the player to say 'Whatever the team needs I'm going to do.' But coming in here, you don't necessarily know what the team needs you to do because we have so many elite players. Do they really need anything? So I have gone to talk to him, and he has basically told me that I have to drive to the basket and get stops on defense. At first that was what I wasn't doing, but now I have started to come into that. Once you understand your role, it's much easier to contribute in practice and in the games. That is where I am right now."

Huskies on the road again, visit USF

Coombs just showed her intelligence along with BB skills. She went to talk to the boss---Hey, boss what exactly do you want me to do? Now she has it. Go do it young lady, 100000 Uconn fans are in your corner.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Coombs just showed her intelligence along with BB skills. She went to talk to the boss---Hey, boss what exactly do you want me to do? Now she has it. Go do it young lady, 100000 Uconn fans are in your corner.

'Course, USF has an easy scouting report on Mikayla.

 

[BroadwayVa]

'Course, USF has an easy scouting report on Mikayla.

With her speed she will have done it--while they are remembering the report.

 

[hoophuskee]

ga

Your last sentence is accurate--Geno can't and won't be teaching in BIG games. First Para--in terms of 3rd guard you listed the 3, say what you want--Gabby is an athletic guard--.
The need for back up at any position isn't needed in blowouts--they are needed in the unforseenyy, unexpected poorly called games where a post or 2 and a guard or 2 is in game changing (for the player) foul situation. Geno usually gambles on a few minutes out will shorten the game for that player and they will perform at the end. It works but at times the sitting cools off a hot player. It is always better to prepare you bench talent to be ready if and when needed.

Sure. They'll get most of their minutes in the AAC this year. Other than Walker, the others won't do much in big games. Thus as I stated there won't be any minutes in big games for these players other than Walker. He might put one of them in when they are up by 15 or something. The frosh class will come back stronger next year - and then next year we'll see many posts that Ono is struggling and "what are we going to do for post play after AZ and Pheesa leave?"

Per the youtube clip below - Chaos amongst fellow boneyarders will ensue thus adding to the great chain of chaotic posting of "what are we going to next year - the worrying as part of the Boneyard-life." If you agreed with my last sentence- then as Zorg (Gary Oldman) states at the end. "You and i are in the same business . . ." We won't worry about Coombs or AEH or Molly this year in big games nor will we fuel the chaos "that we NEED them THIS year" other than spot very, very few big game minutes. Some minutes (not a lot) in the AAC will suffice.

 

[Tonyc]

Coombs is a good defensive player, quick and a good ballhandler. She appears to be the 3rd guard but we will have to wait and see. Looking ahead to next season I dont see Geno starting a freshman and if he plays a wing at the guard position then I would expect good teams to apply alot of pressure on UConn bringing up the ball. We have good ballhandlers at most positions but we need a guard to assist CD next season with the ball. One guard handling the ball is a lot of pressure on the entire team.

 

[HopJim]

Coombs is a good defensive player, quick and a good ballhandler. She appears to be the 3rd guard but we will have to wait and see. Looking ahead to next season I dont see Geno starting a freshman and if he plays a wing at the guard position then I would expect good teams to apply alot of pressure on UConn bringing up the ball. We have good ballhandlers at most positions but we need a guard to assist CD next season with the ball. One guard handling the ball is a lot of pressure on the entire team.

In addition to ball handling, would add defense against the other team's point guard. Jefferson showed how disruptive it is to have a defensive player who can steal the ball at any time. Crystal has improved but could use some help keeping opposition from driving to basket.

 

[eebmg]

"Coombs seems to have an edge to try and earn Auriemma's trust to give him competent minutes behind Crystal Dangerfield and Kia Nurse. Following three good days of practice after the Christmas break, the Buford, Georgia, native did get a second-quarter call against Memphis last Sunday to play alongside the starters and saw 11 minutes of action total but had a tough outing. In workouts, though, she had been aggressive with the ball and playing the kind of defense the Huskies need.

"At first what was holding me back was the confidence thing because I wouldn't take the initiative to drive to the basket, and that's what he wants me to do," Coombs said. "Now in practice I'm being more confident in myself and I'm getting stops on defense, which he talked to me about doing. Hopefully that will put me in position to contribute.

"I've always been the player to say 'Whatever the team needs I'm going to do.' But coming in here, you don't necessarily know what the team needs you to do because we have so many elite players. Do they really need anything? So I have gone to talk to him, and he has basically told me that I have to drive to the basket and get stops on defense. At first that was what I wasn't doing, but now I have started to come into that. Once you understand your role, it's much easier to contribute in practice and in the games. That is where I am right now."

Huskies on the road again, visit USF

I very much appreciated how mature Mikayla is in handling her situation and how she seems to being getting her head around definitive steps she needs to accomplish to break into the rotation.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Sure. They'll get most of their minutes in the AAC this year. Other than Walker, the others won't do much in big games. Thus as I stated there won't be any minutes in big games for these players other than Walker. He might put one of them in when they are up by 15 or something. The frosh class will come back stronger next year - and then next year we'll see many posts that Ono is struggling and "what are we going to do for post play after AZ and Pheesa leave?"

Per the youtube clip below - Chaos amongst fellow boneyarders will ensue thus adding to the great chain of chaotic posting of "what are we going to next year - the worrying as part of the Boneyard-life." If you agreed with my last sentence- then as Zorg (Gary Oldman) states at the end. "You and i are in the same business . . ." We won't worry about Coombs or AEH or Molly this year in big games nor will we fuel the chaos "that we NEED them THIS year" other than spot very, very few big game minutes. Some minutes (not a lot) in the AAC will suffice.

Whether Coombs, AEH, Gordon get any important game exposure depends on how much Geno needs them, their status of certain games, how much they progressed at that time. I won't rule out any of them getting PT in a big game. I'll give you; as of today the probability of other than Walker getting PT in big game is tiny. But I'm willing to allow the year to playout with expectations.

There may be some who WORRY about playing time for Molly, AEH, Coombs, Gordon, Touly---as for me; that isn't in my range of authority so I don't worry about the things I can't control. That does not mean I won't discuss it.

If the PT afforded those players mentioned is insufficient for them, they have choices. I suspect as long as they are learning and play a few minutes in many games their desires will be properly covered.

AS a minimum Uconn this year NEEDS Walker --another player stepping up to Walkers level would be great. I'm of the camp the more the merrier contributing players is a good thing.

 

[hoophuskee]

Whether Coombs, AEH, Gordon get any important game exposure depends on how much Geno needs them, their status of certain games, how much they progressed at that time. I won't rule out any of them getting PT in a big game. I'll give you; as of today the probability of other than Walker getting PT in big game is tiny. But I'm willing to allow the year to playout with expectations.

I agree. The only point I was bringing up was that UCONN doesn't NEED them. And as you you say-- I too am willing to let the season play out. But I think we all have expectations, don't we? You even have suggested chances are tiny. That's your expectation. And I agree with that!!

 

[Longtime fan]

Who is Alexi?

Lexi Gordon ( Alexis )

 

[Gus Mahler]

--
She needs to just play as she knows how.

You nailed it.

 

[BroadwayVa]

You nailed it.

You have proved your kindness---but thanks for this.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I agree. The only point I was bringing up was that UCONN doesn't NEED them. And as you you say-- I too am willing to let the season play out. But I think we all have expectations, don't we? You even have suggested chances are tiny. That's your expectation. And I agree with that!!

I had no disagreement with your posting--just giving my slant on the kids---I think--like you I'd like to see them all succeed --but am a realist.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Uh, @BroadwayVa Andy is AEH, our freshman currently home on a personal matter.

I was just looking thru this thread and found multiple names for the new guys: AEH (Andy), Coombs (Olivea), Gordon (Lexi, Alexi, )---I'm easily confused, can you image what that's doing to my loosely connected brain cells? Enough to give me "rattled brain syndrome".
A connected/disconnected comment---what does this time, if much longer, do to her(Andy/AEH) PT in good competition games??

 

[JoePgh]

The problem will become less academic if (possibly as soon as the USF game tonight) it turns out that Crystal cannot play or can play only limited minutes, and AEH is out of action for a while. I presume that the first adjustment (as suggested above) would be to put Azura in the starting lineup and use Kia and Lou as the backcourt tandem. (That would be on offense; on defense, I think Kia and Gabby would function as the guards and Lou would guard the opponent's 3.) I don't agree that UConn would then be unduly vulnerable to pressing defenses -- Lou's ball handling is outstanding and has been since she arrived in Storrs. And Gabby can certainly function as a guard when necessary on both offense and defense.

If this situation arose during the NCAA tournament, that would probably be the one and only solution to the problem. But during the AAC schedule, Geno has the option to try to train a backup point guard through a baptism of fire. Even if means that a game is lost, it will be a worthwhile investment to get a backup PG truly ready for the tournament.

The question is whether that person would be Mikayla, Molly, or (assuming she returns to the team) AEH. He would have to choose one (I think) and focus his efforts on her unless and until she clearly demonstrates that she is not ready for the assignment. For reasons already noted in this thread, I think Mikayla will be the choice.