Kaleena

[NCorBust]

My guess (ok, hope) is that by Tourney time 2012,

Starting lineup:
Doty
Mosqueda-Lewis
Hayes
Stokes
Dolson

Second Unit:
Hartley
Faris
Banks
Buck
Johnson

I think Bria should come off the bench, and I'm not knocking Bria by saying that. She would play as many minutes as the starters.

However, a lineup of Caroline, Tiff, Kelly, KML, and Stef creates more matchup problems. Bria could come in and spell anyone not named Stef.

My guess is that by Tourney time 2013, the lineup is:

Caroline
KML
Kelly
Breanna
Stef

With a second unit of:

Kiah/Heather
Morgan/Heather
Banks
Bria
Moriah

That is going to be a terrifying lineup.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Me! No room for improvement! Geno likes his players to show continued steady improvement. What is she to do?

Next game, 6-6. After that, 7-7. Then 8-8.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I'm curious. Who do you remove from the starting lineup to insert KML?

I say she should come in at the 1st official TO

 

[NCorBust]

Oooo! Very good! I am no longer ill at ease for Kaleena.

Next game, 6-6. After that, 7-7. Then 8-8.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I caught that too. Seems like whoever inputs the data is so used to seeing #23 with a 25 pts, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block stat line, they just assumed Maya was back for her 5th year. I think this may be a good omen. Thought I'd capture it for posterity before it got corrected:

# Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF Tyler Phommachanh A TO BLK S MIN
31 Dolson, Stefanie.... c 4-5 0-1 0-0 0 5 5 0 8 4 1 1 2 17
03 Hayes, Tiffany...... g 4-7 0-1 3-4 0 0 0 4 11 1 1 0 1 22
05 Doty, Caroline...... g 3-5 2-3 3-4 1 1 2 1 11 6 1 0 3 18
14 Hartley, Bria........ g 5-11 2-5 6-6 0 1 1 0 18 2 0 0 0 22
34 Faris, Kelly........... g 4-4 1-1 2-2 1 2 3 0 11 3 1 1 6 18
12 Engeln, Lauren.. .... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 12
13 Banks, Brianna.... .. 5-7 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 1 12 1 4 0 2 23
23 Moore, Maya........ 10-12 5-6 0-0 1 6 7 2 25 1 2 0 1 25
25 Johnson, Michala.... 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 0 2 2 0 1 0 7
32 Buck, Heather.......... 2-2 0-0 0-0 3 3 6 1 4 1 2 0 1 13
41 Stokes, Kiah.............. 2-3 0-0 4-4 0 4 4 1 8 2 2 2 1 23

corrected but link isnt clickable lol
HOME TEAM: Connecticut 2-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF Tyler Phommachanh A TO BLK S MIN
31 Dolson, Stefanie.... c 4-5 0-1 0-0 0 5 5 0 8 4 1 1 2 17
03 Hayes, Tiffany...... g 4-7 0-1 3-4 0 0 0 4 11 1 1 0 1 22
05 Doty, Caroline...... g 3-5 2-3 3-4 1 1 2 1 11 6 1 0 3 18
14 Hartley, Bria....... g 5-11 2-5 6-6 0 1 1 0 18 2 0 0 0 22
34 Faris, Kelly........ g 4-4 1-1 2-2 1 2 3 0 11 3 1 1 6 18
12 Engeln, Lauren...... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 12
13 Banks, Brianna...... 5-7 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 1 12 1 4 0 2 23
23 MOSQUEDA-LEWIS, K... 10-12 5-6 0-0 1 6 7 2 25 1 2 0 1 25
25 Johnson, Michala.... 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 0 2 2 0 1 0 7
32 Buck, Heather....... 2-2 0-0 0-0 3 3 6 1 4 1 2 0 1 13
41 Stokes, Kiah........ 2-3 0-0 4-4 0 4 4 1 8 2 2 2 1 23
TEAM................ 1 1 1
Totals.............. 41-58 10-18 20-22 7 27 34 10 112 27 15 5 17 200

 

[EricLA]

well i agree KML is as good as advertised. i agree that technically its' only one game, but she's been doing this all thru high school, AAU ball, and on various US national teams. but i doubt she shoots 10-12 on most nights. still, even CD said she's better than she thought. that's saying something indeed.

 

[Icebear]

The original discussion was as much Kaleena vs Caroline as a starter as it was Kaleena starting. It is clear that if healthy Caroline is the starter in that match up. Kaleena may well start by mid December but I expect more with DC for her to come in at the first break.

I still have to love Kib's Havlicek analogy for KML. I will, also, add that last year bringing Maggie Lucas off the bench worked well for PSU as defenses invariably lost her for two or three quick quality shots and instant baskets. The same applies to Kaleena a couple or three open looks becomes a quick 6-9 points.

 

[wire chief]

To be successful, Kaleena does not need to start. The freshmen trio coming in early may continue to be to Geno's liking.

 

[Kibitzer]

I value the thoughts and opinions of my fellow Boneyarders, even when I am not in complete agreement with them. The one I really want to hear from is that writer who predicted 6-8 losses for this "flawed" team.

I should be so flawed.

 

[Zorro]

I'm guessing that the starters will continue to start and the frosh to come off the bench as shock troops. Geno has always preferred to start the vets. And the frosh work very well as a unit, if last night's game is an indication.

 

[Tonyc]

First let me start by saying Breanna Stewart is the best player in WCBB and she aint here yet. At 6'4 she handles the ball like a guard, and can handle it like a guard on the break, she is a great ballhandler, a very good outside shooter and can shoot on the run, has a wing span of 6'10, is quick and versatile, can use either hand, has great instincts and reactions to the ball, can rebound and finish underneath and is a very good foul shooter. Really Breanna can do everything. She is far beyond her years. Any of you who think Im over the top on that prediction, better watch her videos. I have heard the reports on her since she was in junior high. One parent told me she was better then Kia Vaughn, Tina Charles and Danielle Wilson. Shes better then anything we've seen in WCBB...ever and when she arrives next season, you can bet that . Now back to this year.

Watching last night we really got it going with our defense. We've done that the past few seasons. To answer the question who will replace Maya. Well with the improvement of so many players and with a bench that can score everybody will replace Maya in some way or form, it wont be one individual player. Caroline is the leader of this team and must stay healthly. I believe she will be rested when UConn is in a blow out only because she is coming back and we need her 100% late in the season. I am so happy to see MJ Heather and Lauren play so well. We are very good from 1 to the last player on the bench. Stef is almost automatic as is KML and Caroline and Bria is a very good scorer. KML is instant offense off the bench along with great rebounding and passing skills. KML may be the best shooter Ive ever seen.

So who starts for who? Good question. It even becomes more difficult the next 3 seasons. I will let Geno make that decision.

Againest Baylor we may need more height but then again we may need more outside shooters to open things up. There is no doubt in my mind that Stef can score againest Griner and that Stef /Kiah / Heather can keep Griner away from the basket. Our defensive pressure is something I want to see Baylor handle .

Againest Stanford I see the O sisters as their top scorers. Is there anybody else who can put up big numbers for Stanford, or will they look to the O sisters to handle most of the scoring? Im sure Geno has a defensive plan to key on the O's. I think the O sisters will have to score from 10+ ft out before they can go inside. If there is a mismatch with height in comes Kiah/Heather. What is really nice this season is we dont lose anything with our outside shooters because we have so many and opponets will have to play perimiter defense to stop us which will open up the middle. I dont know how good Stanfords perimiter defense is but I do know they havent replaced Polen and Pederson.

Againest TAM I think we have a battle, a battle of defenses. I think TAM is underrated and better then most think. With that said Stef is better then Bone and our guards will handle TAMs pressure better then most teams. How do they counter our guards will be the difference.

Weve seen two teams the past 2 games. The one last night showed that they are over the first game jitters. Monday night UConn will surprise WCBB.... because without Maya just like in the past without Renee, and without Tina this UConn team can flat out play.

 

[HuskyNan]

Anyone still wondering who's gonna replace Maya?

Could we please add "eventually" to the end of that sentence? I don't think it's fair to Kaleena to put that expectation on her freshman shoulders just yet. She will have great games and not so great games this season; I hope people will remember she's still learning and not expect her to play like an upperclassman all the time.

 

[semper]

I think M-L will take her minutes from Tiff and Kelly. Not saying M-L will start in the stead of either, but it could happen. I can't see M-L starting in place of our 1 or 2. It will depend on whether or not Tiff and Kelly can shoot the lights out on a night when that kind of play is required.

 

[AboutWeston]

For what it is worth, I think my joking reference to hockey "lines" is about to come true! Well, almost - shuffling all the players in and out as was done yesterday is a modification of the hockey analogy.

 

[Kibitzer]

Based on Tony's comments, I am persuaded to say that I like our chances vs. Stanford on Monday.

(I might have said that anyhow, but Tony is a tough act to follow.)

 

[Wbbfan1]

IMHO Bria doesn't have the personality to come off the bench. While Kelly provides more intangibles then Bria, I think she would be more receptive to coming off the bench to provide the spark the team needs and do whatever the team needs.

 

[alexrgct]

Whether she starts or not, Kaleena is going to have to play huge minutes against Stanford. We need our best rebounders on the floor against Stanford, and she's already one of them.

 

[connboy77]

If UCONN plays like they did yesterday I like our chances against Stanford. Yes, I know Stanford is at a different level then Pacific, but I really believe that we have the talent to defeat them. It would be nice to win by double didgits, but at this time I would take a one point win.

 

[Icebear]

Could we please add "eventually" to the end of that sentence? I don't think it's fair to Kaleena to put that expectation on her freshman shoulders just yet. She will have great games and not so great games this season; I hope people will remember she's still learning and not expect her to play like an upperclassman all the time.

I'll take her playing like a freshman Maya all the time.

 

[VAMike23]

Based on Tony's comments, I am persuaded to say that I like our chances vs. Stanford on Monday.

(I might have said that anyhow, but Tony is a tough act to follow.)

Based on Tony's comments we would never lose

 

[MilfordHusky]

Whether she starts or not, Kaleena is going to have to play huge minutes against Stanford. We need our best rebounders on the floor against Stanford, and she's already one of them.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[johnnyc]

112 points? I'd go with the last night's lineup at least for awhile. That's some firepower coming off the bench. Also Bria scored 18 in 22...not too shabby.

 

[Replicant]

I think Bria should come off the bench, and I'm not knocking Bria by saying that. She would play as many minutes as the starters.

However, a lineup of Caroline, Tiff, Kelly, KML, and Stef creates more matchup problems. Bria could come in and spell anyone not named Stef.

My guess is that by Tourney time 2013, the lineup is:

Caroline
KML
Kelly
Breanna
Stef

With a second unit of:

Kiah/Heather
Morgan/Heather
Banks
Bria
Moriah

That is going to be a terrifying lineup.

What a luxury for us to be able to debate who should start or come off the bench, because all our options are so attractive. I think back to something Geno mentioned a few months ago, about finding a way to replace Maya's 23 ppg and 8 rpg. One game against Pacific may say very little, or it may possibly auger well for our new norm. But from what I've seen of the frosh to date, Kaleena will be delivering most of those replacement points, a combo of Kiah and Heather will be delivering most of those replacement boards, and everything Brianna "Flash" Banks brings will be spectacular icing on the cake and make Caroline that much healthier and more effective as the long season grinds on.

Damn it feels good to be a UConn fan!

 

[John Fryer]

I believe it is the 98, but they explicitly said she graded out higher than any other PG for as long as they have been doing this.

Given that Moriah is the highest rated point guard, since forever, to play for UConn.

How is it possible, if she is as advertised, that she doesn't start?

Welcome to the decade of change Coach A.

IMHO, Breanna and Moriah, barring injuries, will both start.

Peace,

John Fryer

 

[NCorBust]

I value the thoughts and opinions of my fellow Boneyarders, even when I am not in complete agreement with them. The one I really want to hear from is that writer who predicted 6-8 losses for this "flawed" team.

I should be so flawed.

.
Ask again after these games.
11/21/11 Stanford
12/18/11 Baylor
01/07/12 Notre Dame
01/30/12 Duke
---------- Big East Upset (Georgetown or Louisville)
02/27/12 Notre Dame
---------- Big East Tournament (Notre Dame probably)
---------- NCAA Tournament