John A.: With Doty Out, UConn Expects More From KML & Banks

[pap49cba]

LINK

 

[VAMike23]

"[Banks] should be one of our best defenders, no question. But she just doesn't have the maturity yet to be our best defender. But she could be."

Geno spot on with that assessment. She isn't yet where I hoped--or thought--she might be from a defensive standpoint.... but in time, in time..... Once she gets more experience in the UCONN defensive system, and once she can sustain her intensity, she should be an awesome defensive stopper. Physically, she has the main tools b/c she is explosive both laterally and vertically. She needs to have the confidence to get an 'edge' about her, which isn't there yet at this early stage. I have my fingers crossed that by March she will have taken a few more steps forward....

 

[rington]

I would love to see Banks get more time. I feel she is the one player on this team who would inprove the most with more playing time.

 

[EricLA]

i haven't seen the depaul game yet (waiting for the tape) but it's interesting the article said the main defensive assignment on Depaul's top scorer, Martin, fell to Kelly and Brianna. i was a little surprised Tiff didn't cover Anna when Kelly was out. that seems to be good news and reflective of Geno's growing confidence in Banks...

 

[easttexastrash]

I assume that KML is starting in Doty's absence? Will this be the transition into a permanent starting position for KML?

 

[DEK1234]

I think Banks will get there. One moment struck me during the North Carolina game. In the later minutes of the game, Lauren was kinda just dribbling the ball around the perimeter. Brianna stood up, pointed to an area on the court, and shouted out the play to Lauren. She was the only one to do so. It was almost as if she was mad that the play wasn't going the way it was supposed to. Or maybe she was just upset that she wasn't able to play . But I thought it showed some guts and maturity to do so. I think she'll be fine.

 

[pap49cba]

I assume that KML is starting in Doty's absence? Will this be the transition into a permanent starting position for KML?

No.

 

[Icebear]

I assume that KML is starting in Doty's absence? Will this be the transition into a permanent starting position for KML?

Only in games when Doty is unavailable or badly unsuited. Doty needs to start when warmed up and loose.

 

[HuskyNan]

I assume that KML is starting in Doty's absence? Will this be the transition into a permanent starting position for KML?

Per Geno in the last Geno Show on local TV:

Megan (interviewer): Kaleena is averaging 28 minutes a game off the bench.
Geno: Yeah.
Megan: Some people are calling for her to start...
Geno: Why? What difference does it make?

 

[easttexastrash]

Per Geno in the last Geno Show on local TV:

Megan (interviewer): Kaleena is averaging 28 minutes a game off the bench.
Geno: Yeah.
Megan: Some people are calling for her to start...
Geno: Why? What difference does it make?

Gotta love Geno. He is so direct and honest. I disagree that starting is not important. But I haven't won any national championships as a coach.

Having your best players on the floor to start the game and set the tone and maybe knock a team on their heals early on can be very valuable. Some teams will never recover. I say hit 'em with your best shot right off the bat and keep putting it to 'em until you beat them into submission.

The only way that I would not have my best players on the court to start the game is if one of the players has proven that they perform better coming off the bench than they do starting the game. But that is just my layman's opinion.

 

[Icebear]

Gotta love Geno. He is so direct and honest. I disagree that starting is not important. But I haven't won any national championships as a coach.

Having your best players on the floor to start the game and set the tone and maybe knock a team on their heals early on can be very valuable. Some teams will never recover. I say hit 'em with your best shot right off the bat and keeping putting it to 'em until the beat them into submission.

That theory is similar to Geno's but he puts the emphasis at the first substitution and believes pinning the opposition ear's back when they are already gasping from UConn's pace and pressure and then like Emiril "Bam, turn it up a notch." It seems to work well since teams stay with us for a bit and then steadily slide as they are worn down.

 

[sarals24]

I think Banks will get there. One moment struck me during the North Carolina game. In the later minutes of the game, Lauren was kinda just dribbling the ball around the perimeter. Brianna stood up, pointed to an area on the court, and shouted out the play to Lauren. She was the only one to do so. It was almost as if she was mad that the play wasn't going the way it was supposed to. Or maybe she was just upset that she wasn't able to play . But I thought it showed some guts and maturity to do so. I think she'll be fine.

I have noticed that Lauren has a tendency to do this. She is the only one who consistently puts the ball on the floor before checking her options. It often slows the offense down. It's a tough habit to break, my 5th grade team does it constantly. OT, sorry.

 

[alexrgct]

Gotta love Geno. He is so direct and honest. I disagree that starting is not important. But I haven't won any national championships as a coach.

Having your best players on the floor to start the game and set the tone and maybe knock a team on their heals early on can be very valuable. Some teams will never recover. I say hit 'em with your best shot right off the bat and keeping putting it to 'em until the beat them into submission.

The only way that I would not have my best players on the court to start the game is if one of the players has proven that they perform better coming off the bench than they do starting the game. But that is just my layman's opinion.

Geno's stubborn that way. Doesn't like starting freshmen unless he has no choice like last season. I'm not sure if he thinks freshmen play better if they have a few minutes to survey what's going on before getting thrown in, but he did it with Nykesha, Shea, and Diana too. And with Doty, there's the extra consideration regarding care for her knee and not want to warm her up just to have her sit on the bench.

I do wonder about next season, when Breanna is able to fill a major void in this season's team. My suspicion is that, even assuming Doty starts next season, the Bria/KML/Kelly/Breanna/Stef lineup will be on the floor late in games.

 

[HuskyNan]

Geno's stubborn that way. Doesn't like starting freshmen unless he has no choice like last season. I'm not sure if he thinks freshmen play better if they have a few minutes to survey what's going on before getting thrown in, but he did it with Nykesha, Shea, and Diana too. And with Doty, there's the extra consideration regarding care for her knee and not want to warm her up just to have her sit on the bench.

In the past, Geno has said he doesn't want to put pressure on the freshmen by starting them. He said that they often feel they need to win the game in the first 5 minutes. He also likes bringing a tempo-changing or strong offensive player off the bench at the 5 minute mark as that's the time that the opponent's defenses have begun to adjust to the starters.

 

[MarieM]

isnt KML averaging more minutes than a couple starters i think i read that somewhere

 

[alexrgct]

isnt KML averaging more minutes than a couple starters i think i read that somewhere

Yes, she's third on the team in minutes played.

 

[MarieM]

KML for big east 6th man of the year ?

 

[HuskyNan]

isnt KML averaging more minutes than a couple starters i think i read that somewhere

Bria - 31.8 mpg
Tiff - 28.4
Kaleena - 27.5
Kelly - 27.2
Stef - 21.3
Caroline - 20.4
Brianna - 14.2 (and climbing)
Kiah - 12.6 (and climbing)
Heather - 11.3
Lauren - 8.4 (and climbing)
Michala - 5.8

 

[Phil]

Having your best players on the floor to start the game and set the tone and maybe knock a team on their heals early on can be very valuable. Some teams will never recover. I say hit 'em with your best shot right off the bat and keep putting it to 'em until you beat them into submission.

Geno talks about the advantage of bringing in a player off the bench and turning it up a notch, but I don’t think that’s the main reason he does it. She still a freshman, and I think he likes to see what the other team is doing in the first few minutes, and point it out to her so she can exploit it when she goes in. As she learns more, she can do it herself on the fly, but when he has th luxury, I think he likes to use it as a teaching moment.

 

[easttexastrash]

Thanks for the explanations of Geno's theories. I can certainly see all of those points as being very valid.