Kaleena

[DaddyChoc]

C'mon, DC - It's not a question of having to debating anything -- who's better, who's up, who's down, who's better in this situation, against this team, against that team, who should start, who shouldn't start -- it's just part and parcel of the BY madness. I haven't seen anyone slamming any of our players, Bria included. If anything, there are several posters who, like a couple weeks ago, seem to take umbrage if everybody doesn't just outright agree that Bria is our best player period, end of story, like it's not even open to question. This is crazy. We are blessed with a ton of guard talent, and if someone doesn't line up and say "Bria is the best", that is not at all the same thing as trashing or underappreciating Bria. I can say that Kelly still sometimes looks like she's shooting bricks, or that Bria's defense is not always great, or whatever, and I still love both these players and appreciate everything they do.

IMHO we don't have a clear "best" player at this point. There is no Maya. Each of the players-not-named-Stef that get talked about the most on this subject has their relative strengths and weaknesses. People are going to go back and forth on this kind of thing. Let's not confuse people's varying opinions on the relative s&w of players with their absolute level of support for all who play for Connecticut.

ok...

all bring something to the table so I just dont get the "who should start" crap... everyone thats any good will get between 20-30 minutes whether they start or finish. I just dont see the point of this while Bria is playing well.

I understand folks enjoy a good debate so I wont stick my nose in this one(I actually held out but could resist)

 

[intlzncster]

ok...

all bring something to the table so I just dont get the "who should start" crap... everyone thats any good will get between 20-30 minutes whether they start or finish. I just dont see the point of this while Bria is playing well.

I understand folks enjoy a good debate so I wont stick my nose in this one(I actually held out but could resist)

The problem is that we have too many good players. With the kids coming next year, we will field two Top 3-5 teams. Not even an exaggeration. It's ridiculous.

 

[DaddyChoc]

The problem is that we have too many good players. With the kids coming next year, we will field two Top 3-5 teams. Not even an exaggeration. It's ridiculous.

I agree

 

[Icebear]

Better talent or upside than Doty, yes, better leader not yet. At the moment Caroline is the only player on the team that can fulfill her role well. Next closest and emerging maybe Dolson.

Bria's biggest challenge right now is to know how and where to rein it in and not make excessively reckless or low percentage passes.

 

[HiDribble]

KML needs to start against Stanford. The extra offense she provides will keep us from getting into an early hole. I would bring Kelly off the bench.

 

[Icebear]

It is all Geno and CD's fault. Every year Geno complains that our expectations as fans are to high and then he and Chris go out and raise them higher than ever.

 

[Kibitzer]

The discussion (I am avoiding the term "argument") about who should start is one that is not as important as the one about who should get the most (or least) playing time. In my view (neither cloyingly humble nor deliberately confrontational) the most important issue is Who Should Finish, i.e., who the "crunch time" players should be.

Let me give all three a try.

First, starters. Stef and Caroline and Tiffany are no-brainers. The "big girl" is the essential dominant post; Tiffany is an excellent player, the only senior and a co-captain; and Caroline is, well, Caroline. Finally, two of three players named Kelly, Bria and Kaleena will start and I simply defer to Geno as to which two answer the opening bell.

Next, playing time. In competitive games, Dolson should log about 30 minutes, Caroline 20 and the other four about 25 apiece. The remaining 50 or so minutes split among Kiah, Brianna, Heather, Michala and Lauren with priority to the first two.

Who finishes? Up to Geno with consideration to factors like match-ups, foul trouble, and who's hot/who's not. I think Stef and Kaleena must be on the court at crunch time. Geno pick three more from game to game.

Let's watch closely to see how Geno manages this vs. Stanford on Monday so we are sure to have lots to talk about on Tuesday.

 

[Biff]

Who finishes? Up to Geno with consideration to factors like match-ups, foul trouble, and who's hot/who's not. I think Stef and Kaleena must be on the court at crunch time. Geno pick three more from game to game.
.

I'll add that my non-confrontational view says you need to add Kelly to your crunch time roster. At crunch time you need good solid defense on the opposition's scorer, you need good rebounding and you need good decision making. That spells Kelly to me. Other opinions may vary.

 

[Tonyc]

I dont think it really matters who starts. Kibitzer makes a very good point. Yes we have alot of very good players and we will have some great ones come in next season and the season after and the season after. Our second group could be a top 4 team. Are starting lineup is a lineup of experience and has chemistry. I like starting that group to maintain and set the chemistry for the game. Starting a freshman at this point especially againest a top team could hurt that chemistry. Maybe as the season progresses that will change but for now leave it alone. Coming off the bench isnt a sin.

As far as Stanford goes, Im not worried and would be very surprised if we lose. We score more points this season then last season and Stanford lose imo the heart of their team, their team leader in Polen. Pederson is a huge void to fill and their team chemistry imo cant be what it was last season.

The game isnt all about talent. Its about team chemistry and leadership on the court and UConn has that. Having Stef at 6'5 in the middle is huge. She can pass and score and is difficult to stop. Stanford imo isnt as good as they were last season. Neka is very good but cant do it alone. Chiney is very good to but going up againest Stef Heather and Kiah aint gonna be easy so who picks up the slack. You see UConn has alot of scorers not only from deep but from all over and UConns guards play sufficating defense. UConn will win by 10+ and dont be surprised if it turns into a rout. This is a very good team with one flaw. They have to rebound better. Did you notice how rebounds were down the last game? That was because we shot around 70% and there werent many rebounds. We will get a better indication on Monday who well we rebound.

 

[UConnCat]

I'm a huge fan of Bria Hartley. She needs to improve defensively and she's not the leader Doty is (yet). But I like players who are not afraid of the big moments and Bria is one of those players. She'll take and make big shots and make big plays. She did that not only against Baylor last year, but also against GTown in the Sweet 16 game and in other games as well (reg season games against ND). She became overwhelmed as a freshman in her first FF and started making plays too late in that game, but she's not the first UConn player to experience that. She's a pretty good rebounder for her size as well. I'll make a premature observation that with the game on the line I want the ball in the hands of either Bria or Kaleena.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

.
Actually Kelly "accounts" for many points with her defense. She defensively starts many fastbreaks. Other get the layups but without Kelly they don't. Same with her rebounding. If she averages 1o or so points and does everything else well, then she is the one.
.

What you say about Kelly is certainly valid, although she could stand to be more of a threat to score on the "o" side, there are times on offense that we are playing four against five, in that teams know kelly won't shoot the ball very often and can play off of her. This does not matter against lesser talent as much but when we play teams such as the Cardinal, Baylor, ND etc it is a liability.

 

[Icebear]

Many great teams have played four against five on the offensive end from the POV of scoring. It is not unusual. The UConn men largely did it when the won the national championship twice.

 

[sarals24]

Kelly was high scorer last year against Stanford! Maybe she will be our instant offense this year also...

 

[Kibitzer]

I liked Biff's comments about Kelly's importance at crunch time. (Who am I to confront a moderator?)

But I did suggest that match-ups and who's hot/who's not are among deciding factors when considering who is on the court with the game on the line. So, if an opponent is lighting it up, Geno will surely sic Kelly on her. But if we are down and need points, Bria is more likely to step up than anyone except Kaleena. And I never thought or said that both Kelly and Bria couldn't be out there at once. With Kaleena and Stef and whomever.

This may change soon, if Briana has a couple more of those eight-points-in-eight-minutes streaks. Talk about game changers!

 

[Moose]

Are we really imagining Kelly matched up with C. Ogwumike? Is that really the best way to utilize Kelly's strengths as a defender?

Zone, you say? That still doesn't change the fact that someone undersized and is going to be matched up with an Ogwumike.

 

[Olde Coach]

For one thing I believe she was considerably younger than everyone on the team except Breanna. She was trying out for the U19 team.

+! Icebear.

That is exactly the reason that was given by people who were close to the selection process at the time.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

Many great teams have played four against five on the offensive end from the POV of scoring. It is not unusual. The UConn men largely did it when the won the national championship twice.

Sure but it is not the preferred way to to it. If Kelly where known to shoot the ball when left more open then it would be a better situation and not so easy to play off her when she is on the offensive end, this alone would keep KML or Tiff etc from being doubled more easily.

 

[Icebear]

Yes, but would not have the potential to shut down the opponent's best player nearly as well nor will they contribute to the defensive rotation and help D nearly as well. Plus Kelly is already demonstrating a willingness to attempt to score this year. IN every game to date she has made aggressive cuts to the hoop and I think has shot at least one 3 in every game. It will take time for that to emerge reliably, however, even now I always want Kelly on the court at crunch time.

We would all prefer to have 5-20 point scorers, too, but what is necessary is putting the team on the floor giving one the best chance of winning.

 

[Kibitzer]

Shorter (or less tall) defenders have often done well defending against taller and highly talented offensive players. Bill Russell gave three or four inches to Wilt Chamberlain and I recall he more than held his own. Similar situation with their successors, Dave Cowens vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Dennis Rodman outrebounded many bigger guys. Charles Barkley was wide, but not tall (NBA tall). Kelly's tenaciousness makes her seem taller. (And here comes Stokes to the rescue.)

 

[VAMike23]

Are we really imagining Kelly matched up with C. Ogwumike? Is that really the best way to utilize Kelly's strengths as a defender?

Zone, you say? That still doesn't change the fact that someone undersized and is going to be matched up with an Ogwumike.

So far when Geno has gone to the 2-3, it's with either Buck or Kiah on one side of the baseline. Stef in the middle of course. With the teams we've faced so far, there's obviously no particular need to go zone in order to win the game; he's doing it so the team can work on it in game situations.

To me it's instructive that for the most part, the zone has not been run with "Stef + 4 guards". It has generally been run with Stef and another big on the floor at the same time.

 

[pap49cba]

So far when Geno has gone to the 2-3, it's with either Buck or Kiah on one side of the baseline. Stef in the middle of course. With the teams we've faced so far, there's obviously no particular need to go zone in order to win the game; he's doing it so the team can work on it in game situations.

To me it's instructive that for the most part, the zone has not been run with "Stef + 4 guards". It has generally been run with Stef and another big on the floor at the same time.

During the first Geno Show he was asked about playing zone. He believes a team needs to have a big front line in order to play an effective zone. He gave the example of the Syracuse men. Geno said the team would play zone occasionally but would mainly be a man-to-man team.

 

[AboutWeston]

ok...

all bring something to the table so I just dont get the "who should start" crap... everyone thats any good will get between 20-30 minutes whether they start or finish. I just dont see the point of this while Bria is playing well.

I understand folks enjoy a good debate so I wont stick my nose in this one(I actually held out but could resist)

I'm with DC.

 

[winlots]

Ding Ding Ding.

We only lose Tiffany next year, so the returning starters are Dolson, Faris, Hartley and Doty. My best guess is Lewis joins them and off the bench would be Stewart, Banks, Jefferson, Stokes, Johnson, Buck (if she comes back) and Engeln.

Whew.

DOGGY - How about yet another Ding and another big "whew' --- you don't have anything against Tuck being in this mix, do ya??? I'm thinking you don't. Like the rest of us, almost overwhelmed by the embarrassment of riches perhaps?

Fantastic recruiting going on by this staff...........and, to a degree, by the kids of the current squad and the past squads, even if just by virtue of all they have achieved and thier personalities.

 

[doggydaddy]

DOGGY - How about yet another Ding and another big "whew' --- you don't have anything against Tuck being in this mix, do ya??? I'm thinking you don't. Like the rest of us, almost overwhelmed by the embarrassment of riches perhaps?

Fantastic recruiting going on by this staff...........and, to a degree, by the kids of the current squad and the past squads, even if just by virtue of all they have achieved and thier personalities.

Dingaling for me forgeting Morgan Tuck. Wow.....it is an embarressment of riches.

 

[John Fryer]

DT may be the best player ever, and even for those who disagree, she is in that conversation. She didn't start as a freshman. Geno doesn't like to start frosh, when he does, it isn't so much that they are so darned good they deserve it, but lack of alternatives. Moriah might turn out to be the best basketball player in the history of the universe, but I predict she won't start early in her frosh year.

Wow! It amazes me that there appears to be a lot of BYs who feel that since coach A has done some things in a certain way, i.e., not starting freshmen, in the past that he will not change his approach to freshmen.

Flash! Flash! Flash! IMO, freshmen today are a whole lot better prepared to play, and start, than they were a decade ago!

Oh, by-the-way, as I recall DT had a few issues that may have contributed to coach A's reluctance to put her in the starting lineup.

Peace,

John Fryer

 

[Icebear]

Wow! It amazes me that there appears to be a lot of BYs who feel that since coach A has done some things in a certain way, i.e., not starting freshmen, in the past that he will not change his approach to freshmen.

Flash! Flash! Flash! IMO, freshmen today are a whole lot better prepared to play, and start, than they were a decade ago!

Oh, by-the-way, as I recall DT had a few issues that may have contributed to coach A's reluctance to put her in the starting lineup.

Peace,

John Fryer

The only way he does that is if he thinks upper class men are slacking off because they are "entitled." Fortunately, we do not get that type of kid at UConn very often. Geno is very consistent in using approaches that have worked in the past. I expect he will only abandon them when he sees a better alternative and/or necessity. One doesn't mess with successful formulas just for the heck of it. That is the definition of reckless.

As many have said don't worry about who starts worry about who you will have on the floor a crunch time.

 

[Moose]

Wow! It amazes me that there appears to be a lot of BYs who feel that since coach A has done some things in a certain way, i.e., not starting freshmen, in the past that he will not change his approach to freshmen.

Stability, cohesion, team ball, and respect are the cornerstones of Uconn ball. I don't think freshman will ever start - except in the absence of a loyal, dependable, established upperclassman. And it doesn't really matter who starts - minutes matter a lot more - who starts is partly symbolic, and that's why its given out somewhat as an honor for sustained excellence.

Just my two cents.

 

[ladybears4eva]

Geno had an explanation that I thought summed it up nicely. Moriah was just too young. Young in actual age, but also physically, mentally, and emotionally. She has some growing up to do, but it worth waiting on that maturity because of her talent and competitiveness.

well thats a good way of looking at it, geno knows player development.

 

[ladybears4eva]

.
Actually Kelly "accounts" for many points with her defense. She defensively starts many fastbreaks. Other get the layups but without Kelly they don't. Same with her rebounding. If she averages 1o or so points and does everything else well, then she is the one.
.

Totally true, i do take her defense for granted. After Mulk's post game comments yesterday about defensive abilities making way for offensive ooportunities i have to agree that Kelly is crucial to your line up in that sense. Kudos!

 

[blackbird]

I'll make a prediction.

Tiffany will be the player that sits at the end of a close game.