It's All About Paige On Thursday Night and From Here On In

[Alydar]

I read your post a few times and I think I understand it now. I'm not suggesting that the scoring is everything. It's how she starts the game that matters, aggressively, fearlessly. This isn't my idea, Geno has been preaching this for years and said it most recently in the post game interview after the Butler game. Diana and Paige are very different players on very different teams. Paige is a much more prolific and gifted scorer to be sure but Diana had that air of invincibility. She did go 1-15 in the FF when she was a freshman. She learned. As a sophomore in the FF on the greatest team ever in women's college basketball Geno gave her, a sophomore, the ball on clear out to beat Oklahoma. He knew. He also knows now that Paige has to assert herself early and often for us to beat the best teams.

Bueckers' high school coach had the same complaint as Geno has been voicing, wishing she shot more, especially early in games. Fearlessly yes, aggressively sure. Forcing shots when doubled? Ignoring open team mates? When players focus on finding their own shots there's a price to pay. I prefer that Bueckers save her one-man shows for the 4th period and OT.
This year's UConn team has Strong and Fudd. Bueckers hasn't had 2 team mates of their caliber ever and if she can find them early in games I have no problem with her passing to them. In fact I could see those two leading the scoring on the way to a title. In the U19's in 2019 Bueckers won the MOP award despite a few team mates scoring more.

 

[Skeets]

If Paige gets P.O'ed. and gets in her mind that she is going to score, then she is going to score. There's not much anyone can do about it. We've seen this before. We (hopefully) will see it again. Remember we have Paige and no one else has Paige. That ladies and gentlemen is a big advantage.

 

[jabstep]

I saw a different Paige on Sunday. She had her game face on, was determined, aggressive and most importantly, looking to score on every possession. This is a hard thing to say because it creates nothing but pressure but it is all about her from here on in. The best analogy given was by oldude comparing her now to Diana in 2002. It think it is the same. She has to put this team on her shoulders now because Thursday, despite what Geno and Kara Wolters said after the game, is important for seedings in the Big Dance and moreover for team confidence. It will always be a big game. Tennessee is still Tennessee, just like the Yankees will always be the Yankees to the Red Sox and vice versa, just like the Lakers will always be the Lakers to the Celts and vice versa.

If Paige plays like she played against Butler in the first half, our team just became better, more difficult to defend, more self- assured, and a well oiled machine with many moving parts. When she leads, great things happen. Geno has been saying it for years now. When she is aggressive offensively from the beginning and plays like she knows that she has to win the game, it energizes everyone else and most importantly, uplifts them. One thing they always said about MJ that was certainly true was that he made everyone around him better. You would not remember John Paxson or Steve Kerr as players if the Jordan confidence hadn't infused them. It's what Diana did also. It's a hallmark of greatness.

Simply put it's Paige time. You will have any questions about her answered on Thursday night. I think she will answer the bell big time.

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I agree with you to a point. Most good teams can take a player off there usual point production just like we do to others except Hildago so far. We need all of the others on the team to step up their game and help us win. I know we have them on this team. I have seen Sarah, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Jana,Ash,KK and Aubrey do it at the Highest levels. Q, Allie and Morgan have yet to get the chance yet to do that not saying they couldn't. It will take our whole team to play well to win it. I think we can!!!!!

 

[BBallF]

Bueckers' high school coach had the same complaint as Geno has been voicing, wishing she shot more, especially early in games. Fearlessly yes, aggressively sure. Forcing shots when doubled? Ignoring open team mates? When players focus on finding their own shots there's a price to pay. I prefer that Bueckers save her one-man shows for the 4th period and OT.
This year's UConn team has Strong and Fudd. Bueckers hasn't had 2 team mates of their caliber ever and if she can find them early in games I have no problem with her passing to them. In fact I could see those two leading the scoring on the way to a title. In the U19's in 2019 Bueckers won the MOP award despite a few team mates scoring more.

If Paige starts agressively on offense and then starts to get doubled, she will not force shots, she will pass to the open man who could be Azzi, not likely in my mind if they are smart on defense, Sarah, also not likely, but then to KC or Ash, who are likely. The point is that starting out that way on offense by Paige will force double teaming on her. This is not last year when the open players might be freshmen Ash and KK or Nika. Who do you leave open on this team? Not Azzi or Sarah. I see nothing bad at all with Paige starting out strongly, especially against Tennessee, which will neutralize the press if Paige gets open in transition for her pull ups or 3s. Expect an early barrage and some pressing.

 

[BBallF]

I agree with you to a point. Most good teams can take a player off there usual point production just like we do to others except Hildago so far. We need all of the others on the team to step up their game and help us win. I know we have them on this team. I have seen Sarah, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Jana,Ash,KK and Aubrey do it at the Highest levels. Q, Allie and Morgan have yet to get the chance yet to do that not saying they couldn't. It will take our whole team to play well to win it. I think we can!!!!!

Yes for sure but Geno is of the opinion that Paige has to lead the way and when she does we are that team you are talking about. She elevates everyone else's game when she starts out strong.