It all starts with defense

[Tonyc]

From the games Ive been watching I not real concerned about UConn loosing. Now they could loose and that would be a very big surprise to me, but I doubt they lose. UConn is at a different level in many ways, and no other team is at that level. Other teams have great athletes but they dont have what UConn has as a team. Remember basketball is a team game which requires you play as a team. The objective is to score more points than your opponent and keep your opponent from scoring more points than you. I dont see a team that could keep UConn from scoring 70 pts and I dont see a team that could score 70+ pts against UConns defense. I am prefacing this with being healthy and not being in foul trouble.

There are top teams with good players that lack team chemistry. UConn has grown up together and played together for a while now. They operate as a unit and are mentally tuff. UConn was built into a machine with various parts that operate like most machines. Some other teams relied on the portal which imo is a Band-Aid. Bringing a player in that doesnt know the system to try to fill in a gap is like buying a part to a machine that may not fit or was made by a different manufacturer and may not work as well. There are teams with talent and athleticism that dont seem to gel because they dont know how to play together. Indiviaually they are very good but as a team not so good. You can out talent teams but a team that can execute is much better off than a team that just dribbles the ball to death trying to find a shot and then passes it off to teammate who does the same thing and then takes an off balance or rushed shot. You must be able to design plays to make your scorers effective. From what Ive seen there arent many players who can make a shot on the run. They need to get set. Geno runs plays for his team to get players involved so they can take a good shot.

UConn has been a guard-oriented team. UConn is not a slow team theyre quick and aggressive. UConn knows how to run their plays. They dont depend on the athleticism, they depend on their execution. They are very very disciplined and focused on what they need to do, which correlates into team chemistry. I dont see other top teams that have great team chemistry. When a team needs a basket, they go to their go to player. UConns defense knows that and, in most cases, keep their go to player in check forcing them into a bad shot or pass to someone else to shoot. UConns advantage is they have Azzi and Sarah, and both can create their own shots because opponent's defenses dont know how to execute a defense to keep them from scoring. UConn does and does it effectively. If you disagree just look at opponents' top scorers and how they do against UConns defense.

The reason UConn is a machine is because they know how to execute. When the pressure is on, they think about executing which eliminates doubt and fear. They run their stuff and usually get a good shot. Think about it. If you know how to execute and run a play thats your only thought. There are no distractions or negative thoughts. Again, its like a machine. Think about it. Your in a manufacturing company operating a machine and it continues to do what its supposed to do and if something goes wrong with the machine you get another part to replace it. If that part is from the manufacturer who made the machine if most likely will work fine, if its not and its a part that is from some other manufacturer then it may not work a smooth.

Geno has the game down to a science. He knows how to win and he knows what he needs his team to do to win. Each player has an assignment and all they have to do is execute what theyve been taught in practice. When you need a basket its Azzi or Sarah in most cases. When Azzi and Sarah are not scoring Geno runs plays to get them their shot.

We saw against Marquette a few things we can learn from. This is the part of the season when all the practice and teaching is just about done. Each player knows what they have to do. If they dont they get pulled and sit and hopefully get it. UConn had an off game yesterday. Sarah was not herself and missing shots, so Geno went to Azzi and she kept us going. Serah and Jana werent having good games so Geno pulled them which is a wakeup call. He will get them on the same page or else they will see limited minutes. This is the time of the season where you tweak players. Again the teaching for the most part is over now the time to produce and show what youve got.

Some of our UConn fans panic when we dont win big. Well, yesterday we had Blanca out, Sarah sick, and had a 20 pt lead when Geno cleared the bench. Yes, we struggled. That happens to every team. We lost focus at times. I can almost guarantee against a top team in the tournament with this team thats not gonna happen. Let me say this how many teams who's top player is having an , and has another top player/scorer on the bench can beat an opponent handily? The game for me was never in doubt.

What separates UConn apart from every other team is they are a disciplined, focused, unselfish, and a confident team that operates as a unit. Their defense is turbo charged. They have 2 superstars who can play effectively on both sides of the ball and they're go to players. They have Blanca KK and Allie who have emerged as scorers. There are no "What Ifs" with UConn. They have absolutely run over opponents like no other team in WCBB. It all starts with defense, and the rest takes care of itself.

 

[Bedford fan]

I watched the SC/LSU game last night. It looks nothing like Geno's teams. Very static. But, lots of big, skilled players. Poor three-point shooting. And very formidable offensive rebounding. Okot is a beast, good hands and can finish. Sereh is not really a 5 against these teams. Jana will be tested. Blanca can deal with their wings but her rebound stats are not impressive. Don't you think Ice would have been nice to have on the bench? That said uconn is the reason I still like to watch basketball. Win or lose, they are really something.

 

[Bone Dog]

I watched the SC/LSU game last night. It looks nothing like Geno's teams. Very static. But, lots of big, skilled players. Poor three-point shooting. And very formidable offensive rebounding. Okot is a beast, good hands and can finish. Sereh is not really a 5 against these teams. Jana will be tested. Blanca can deal with their wings but her rebound stats are not impressive. Don't you think Ice would have been nice to have on the bench? That said uconn is the reason I still like to watch basketball. Win or lose, they are really something.

This is exactly what I see in most of the top 25 teams. SC is one of the most dynamic teams in the country and even they have looked static on offense for long stretches. tOSU looked stagnant (relatively) against an equally stagnant MD. Same for TCU, OU, UNC. Louisville and Vandy are interesting exceptions. And maybe LSU as well.

I suspect part of the issue is the time of year: teams are just worn out and need to recharge. But part of it is that not all teams focus on defense as much as UConn. Playing a motion offense and an aggressive switching team defense is grueling and requires a lot of stamina. This is why so many teams collapse against us in the 3rd and 4th quarters, at least until Geno clears the bench, which tends to happen earlier for UConn than other teams. They aren’t in the same shape UConn is. It’s also why several opponents have been competitive in the first quarter only to fade later. They often are initially hot from the perimeter until their legs tire and then their shots stop falling.

Team defense is more than just a tactic. It’s almost a philosophy of life, a regimen of self discipline. It builds character. And character is an important element of what Geno recruits for. And interestingly that discipline and character is what makes so much possible on the offensive end. The ‘extra pass’ mentality is only part of it. There’s also the midrange jumper that many teams have lost interest in, but Geno favors: a quick effortless 2 from Azzi or Ash can be demoralizing to teams that struggle to get a shot off within 30 secs. There’s the ruthless post game Sarah brings as well as the slashing drives that so many on the team can unleash. And there’s the perimeter snipers. It’s an offense that can score in many ways.

But maybe most important in my view is the transition game that doesn’t require a steal at the top of the key to break out. Even an ordinary rebound can turn into a fast break layup two quick passes later. And this transition game requires stamina and mutual trust — you don’t start sprinting the floor unless you believe your teammates will find you with a long pass. This is practically a UConn signature play. Again, an opponent struggles to get off a shot in time and then UConn blitzes down the court to score in a few seconds.

I associate this sort of discipline and dynamic passing game with SC, though in the last season and a half they’ve been less well equipped for it. It’s not about quick feet. It’s mainly about mental discipline and quick decision making. This is the core of UConn basketball, and has been a hallmark of Dawn’s teams over the years. But injuries have taken their toll on them recently as it did to Geno’s teams for a few years.