Interesting Z comments

[Vowelguy]

Geno had a bunch to say about Z in the press conference, and without directly saying it, there were some damning comments about her previous coaching.

"Our offense is built on movement. Z doesnt like to move, because she's never had to."

"Z floats and we're trying to get her to move. 'Why?' (she says). 'Because it makes you easy to guard.' "

"Z has been too comfortable. We like to make her uncomfortable. 'Why?' (she says). 'Because it will make you a better player."

"At the end of the game we just ran the same play over and over to get her the ball because they couldn't stop her."
"She couldn't guard them, but they couldn't guard her."

"At the start of the 2nd half, she gets beat on a layup. WE HAD JUST SPENT ALL HALFTIME GOING OVER WITH HER HOW TO STOP THAT."

 

[UConnCat]

Geno should show Azura this quote:

 

[JordyG]

Geno had a bunch to say about Z in the press conference, and without directly saying it, there were some damning comments about her previous coaching.

"Our offense is built on movement. Z doesnt like to move, because she's never had to."

"Z floats and we're trying to get her to move. 'Why?' (she says). 'Because it makes you easy to guard.' "

"Z has been too comfortable. We like to make her uncomfortable. 'Why?' (she says). 'Because it will make you a better player."

"At the end of the game we just ran the same play over and over to get her the ball because they couldn't stop her."
"She couldn't guard them, but they couldn't guard her."

"At the start of the 2nd half, she gets beat on a layup. WE HAD JUST SPENT ALL HALFTIME GOING OVER WITH HER HOW TO STOP THAT."

My very reaction at the beginning of the 2nd half. I was screaming at the screen, "Didn't Geno just tell you how to stop that stuff?"

 

[bags27]

She knows what she has to do, but sometimes doesn't do it. There wasn't great movement from UConn generally tonight, so Z kinda went with the (no) flow.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Like Tina, only the player can will herself to use her talents to be great. Geno flat out said today what he has hinted at all fall. She has everything she needs to be great, but she to date has refused to push herself (my words) and he's pointing to his chest. She doesn't have it in there yet.

 

[Charliebball]

Learning how to move without the ball has always been an under appreciated skill..............it's amazing how many open looks become available when a player knows how to do it and then actually does it.............

 

[Kevin G]

Geno should show Azura this quote:

That is because she FINALLY HAS A REAL COACH and coaching staff who is teaching her how to play the game the right way.

 

[VAMike23]

I really loved how much 2-(wo)man action there was between Z and other players, especially in the 2nd half. Not just standard pick and rolls but a whole variety of different action. It was there when we needed it most!

She really is getting better game by game as Geno said

 

[BroadwayVa]

She knows what she has to do, but sometimes doesn't do it. There wasn't great movement from UConn generally tonight, so Z kinda went with the (no) flow.

v

Players who learned and played and played and played one louzy system that didn't demand much from them: float with that system and find it hard to adapt to a system with demands--but Z is learning each game--she will find few of these ND type games until the end of the season, but then I expect the REAL AZURA to stand up and be seen..

 

[MilfordHusky]

Like Tina, only the player can will herself to use her talents to be great. Geno flat out said today what he has hinted at all fall. She has everything she needs to be great, but she to date has refused to push herself (my words) and he's pointing to his chest. She doesn't have it in there yet.

I see the parallels between Z and Tina. Z can be great, not just very good. She needs to work harder and expect more of herself. Tina went through that at UConn and she is now All-World.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Well Z has demonstrated she is very good at celebrating:

But, as much fun as it is to see her this way, I wanna see her do more what's happening in the next message.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Viz:

 

[BroadwayVa]

Learning how to move without the ball has always been an under appreciated skill....it's amazing how many open looks become available when a player knows how to do it and then actually does it...

Notre Dame used the movement and opened up Uconn's first half defenses. ND misused the Uconn Defense to their advantage

Like Tina, only the player can will herself to use her talents to be great. Geno flat out said today what he has hinted at all fall. She has everything she needs to be great, but she to date has refused to push herself (my words) and he's pointing to his chest. She doesn't have it in there yet.

I like to disagree with you--but you make it difficult! I think, belief, that Azura will find what she needs to be greater--my guess' to be picked up as a WNBA superstar, Europe big buck type, she need ONE more year with Geno,et al. Ain't that a shame??

Muffet--got to hand it to her, she spoke the truth of Z in the ACC and Uconn. As I type, my cat called Muffet McGraw is crying and crying and demanding chicken. CD a sister cat died a couple of year ago, both pretty Hemi's.. Geno is my pitbull chained in the front yard---no one gets closer than 1000 yards, he has eaten a few seats in his time. (the hemi's are true, the bull is just bull)

.G

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I see the parallels between Z and Tina. Z can be great, not just very good. She needs to work harder and expect more of herself. Tina went through that at UConn and she is now All-World.

Precisely.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Well Z has demonstrated she is very good at celebrating:

View attachment 26686

But, as much fun as it is to see her this way, I wanna see her do more what's happening in the next message.

\

I saw a few of those (Lou type) pix of Z during the game, especially in the 4th each time she rebounded or scored---she is getting it--it's a lot more fun to score than be defended.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I think, belief, that Azura will find what she needs to be greater

Oh, I agree totally @BroadwayVa , but I share Geno's impatience because she has it all right now waiting for her heart to catch up. She's a bit of a delicate flower, or Geno would be noisier by far.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Oh, I agree totally @BroadwayVa , but I share Geno's impatience because she has it all right now waiting for her heart to catch up. She's a bit of a delicate flower, or Geno would be noisier by far.

I guess it is WHERE we think is holding Z back---She has a lot to "unlearn", bad habits to correct, etc. I ask MY SELF--she has been with Geno nearly 1.5 years--and she supposedly (from readings) that she practiced with the team most of this time. No She has not had REAL PT but I assume the practices, if they are as tough as has been reported, are close to real PT. \
So my question to me is: Why hasn't she progressed further from Duke, than we are seeing? I could answer myself in a dozen different ways--and get lost in my thoughts.
Andsomemuchasit'sworth--I do see her progressing in small leaps forward, and brightness in the tunnel is blinding, I hope the leap I saw in the ND was the real Azura leaping forward. When you own a flower that could be the franchise no need to squeeze it to hard or it may just fly out of your hand.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Andsomemuchasit'sworth

Who's he. A sports writer?

 

[CocoHusky]

Learning how to move without the ball has always been an under appreciated skill....it's amazing how many open looks become available when a player knows how to do it and then actually does it...

Very true. I also don't think people fully appreciate the differences in the UCONN & Duke offenses and the impact it has had on Azura's development. Duke calls set plays which are designed to get a designated player a shot from a designated spot therefore at any given time a maximum of 3 Duke players (Ball handler, Player setting the screen and shooter) are involved in an offensive play. UCONN offense spreads the floor, move the ball, and move players until you get an open shot, therefore ever player is involved in every play and all players MUST move to designated open spots on the floor.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Who's he. A sports writer?

My cousin brother of someofa-itch

 

[BroadwayVa]

Very true. I also don't think people fully appreciate the differences in --the UCONN & Duke offenses and the impact it has had on Azura's development. Duke calls set plays which are designed to get a designated player a shot from a designated spot therefore at any given time a maximum of 3 Duke players (Ball handler, Player setting the screen and shooter) are involved in an offensive play. UCONN offense spreads the floor, move the ball, and move players until you get an open shot, therefore ever player is involved in every play and all players MUST move to designated open spots on the floor.

Interesting, Geno does use set playes, he admits it in that he stole a play or 4 from opponents--the he speaks of SEEING the floor and "TAKING what the opponent will allow"--much of his offense STARTs with players distributed to set spots, then motion begins and the top 3 or so look for openings and screens as they run patterns to get a prescribed pass. Not fully scripted. That makes Uconn offense more dangerous than say---to pull a team out of the hat--Duke.

 

[Jaybird65]

It's going to take time for her to get to where folks including her coach want her to be. While she practiced with the team in her sit out year, the great bulk of her time was spend with the scout team in practices preparing the team for opponents.; she had minimal time with the 1st group. Skill development would be limited to individual drills & positional work. It takes some time to work off the rust when one has not really competed in a full year.; getting up to game speed is the hardest especially when we play at the speed we want to play at. Throw in learning a new system/role/expectations & it's going to be a work in progress. We need to pretend we are are rich doctors & have lots of patience.....

 

[eebmg]

It's going to take time for her to get to where folks including her coach want her to be. While she practiced with the team in her sit out year, the great bulk of her time was spend with the scout team in practices preparing the team for opponents.; she had minimal time with the 1st group. Skill development would be limited to individual drills & positional work. It takes some time to work off the rust when one has not really competed in a full year.; getting up to game speed is the hardest especially when we play at the speed we want to play at. Throw in learning a new system/role/expectations & it's going to be a work in progress. We need to pretend we are are rich doctors & have lots of patience.....

No pretending needed. We are very rich and very blessed with a very special program.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

I guess it is WHERE we think is holding Z back---She has a lot to "unlearn", bad habits to correct, etc. I ask MY SELF--she has been with Geno nearly 1.5 years--and she supposedly (from readings) that she practiced with the team most of this time. No She has not had REAL PT but I assume the practices, if they are as tough as has been reported, are close to real PT. \
So my question to me is: Why hasn't she progressed further from Duke, than we are seeing? I could answer myself in a dozen different ways--and get lost in my thoughts.
Andsomemuchasit'sworth--I do see her progressing in small leaps forward, and brightness in the tunnel is blinding, I hope the leap I saw in the ND was the real Azura leaping forward. When you own a flower that could be the franchise no need to squeeze it to hard or it may just fly out of your hand.

Let me ask you this...

Stevens participated in practices last year. But was she doing so on offense with Kia/Collier/Samuelson/Chong/Dangerfield? Or was she doing so DEFENDING those players?

There is a big difference in developing team chemistry when you play in practice WITH players as opposed to AGAINST them.

 

[Jaybird65]

Let me ask you this...

Stevens participated in practices last year. But was she doing so on offense with Kia/Collier/Samuelson/Chong/Dangerfield? Or was she doing so DEFENDING those players?

There is a big difference in developing team chemistry when you play in practice WITH players as opposed to AGAINST them.

Probably 80-85% of the time defending against those players using the defense the opponent would be using. He had to spend time last year on the present because of the task at hand. I don't believe we have any transfers sitting out this year; I'm guessing that those bench players not in the rotation right now are pretty much the scout team with limited time in the guys in the rotation.