Kara Wolters criticism

[TeamFirst!]

And CW impressed me with her effort during the NC game. Her shot wasn't falling but she was clearly trying.

 

[EricLA]

Not sure what the issue is. Kara was super mild. She said she was "disappointed" in Williams' play. That she had been inconsistent all year. That she did not score until the last 2 minutes, and that in a NC game, you need more from your seniors. That Ducharme came and gave a lot more than Williams did. She did say that ONO battled. And that she played a little better than Williams.

So what about her assessment is incorrect? It's all 100% spot on. I don't think she knew ONO was playing with a groin injury. We know Evina rolled her ankle and did not come back. We know Dorka was out. We know Azzi was sick and could barely play - but managed 16 minutes. Frankly I'm shocked the game was as close as it was.

 

[uconnever]

I said all of these things and also got criticized on here. I said I was happy to see them go but not from a team perspective and a people perspective but a basketball standpoint. I love them both, they are our girls and great people and helped us have great chemistry. But In big games, most of the time, they just weren’t aggressive or just flat out disappeared. CW should have gone out shooting the other night. She hardly took any shots. She’s too good of a player to give in so easily. Go out with a bang win or lose and I do t think either of them did. I don’t wanna hear it’s Boston excuse for Liv either. Maybe the injury limited her ok, but I don’t care who we are playing, you fight like there is no tomorrow and I just didn’t see that. I guarantee you, we won’t see that lack of fight from the group we have now. The seniors were in my opinion holding us back. It will show starting next year.

 

[ccwarrior]

Probably because PG is not and may never be a regular player at the UConn level, and DeBerry, as Geno mentioned, wasn't ready. He's said before he's not willing to put players, particularly freshmen out there to make their bad habits permanent. DeBerry is very talented but anyone who watched her in high school knew there were motor and effort issues. She needs a different mindset and Geno sounds confident that will come.

As for her minutes in the SC game, well, it was the title game and he was desperate. I think desperation played into her court time at Georgia Tech as well.

I thought that the coaches don't teach effort at UConn? Why recruit a player with this as an issue? Talent is one thing, but......

 

[Pharos]

this really gets swiped under the rug a lot. Paige is a great player, but if she wants to be one of those greats such as Maya and Diana she has to improve defensively and get more physical and intense on the defensive side. A few have suggested she put on muscle, but I don't think it's a strength issue. Henderson didn't look muscular and she was a lockdown defender.

Henderson kinda did look muscular.

 

[CL82]

She should have stuck with how good South Carolina was and left the criticism inside her head. She's been digging at those two seniors for the last two years. Glad they are leaving so they can find peace.

No, her job was to comment on the game thoroughly and honestly. That is the beauty of Kara Wolters in the studio. No one “bleeds blue“ more than Kara. She is incredibly knowledgeable as to basketball in general, college basketball in particular, and Connecticut women’s basketball especially. She’s been there and so has credibility when she talks about the level of effort, commitment, and intensity that is required.

I will say this in Christyn’s defense, a big part of her game is driving to the basket. South Carolina was able to pack the paint, so easy opportunities weren’t there. If we had a healthy Azzi Fudd, maybe things are easier, but Christyn needed to drive into the paint and, if not get to the hoop, at least draw fouls. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Christyn. She is extraordinarily talented, but she doesn’t have a that seem Paige, Sue Bird, Taurasi intensity. That’s fine, few do. She needed to reach down inside and find that in her self, however, in the championship game in her senior year if she wanted to be accounted for among the best at UConn.

I’m still a fan, of course, and I will follow the rest of her career and wish her the best for it, but she needed to show up for this game end Kara was right to point out that she did not.

 

[sivad40]

Here is a video of Henderson’s shots.



Only one was on Paige, and that was on a fast break.

Sorry, but the anti-Paige sentiment of some people on this board makes me sick. She played good defense and led the team in rebounds. No one is perfect, but Paige is here for only two more years, and we’ll unlikely see another player like her again. As we’ll unlikely see another Stewie.

I see two on Paige. The fast break one and the one which Henderson rolled on the pick by Boston and blew past Paige and scored on Edwards.

 

[Geesworld]

I disagree with you ! She did her job correctly and said it in a way that was plain and simple. The seniors disappeared in this game. It was sad to see because this game is not going to help them in the draft. I love Kara because she speaks the truth. Some people on this board don't like it when the truth is told. This is div 1 .

Exactly it is division one. So fair observations are made on all parties including Paige. By the way...I'm not saying anything she hasn't said about her own game.

 

[Carnac]

Please stop it. Most Bigs are not “college ready” their freshmen year, and in Amari’s case her entire senior year in HS was cancelled due to the pandemic. She is a very skilled player who I absolutely expect to develop into a talented college player in UConn’s system.

It was mentioned in a recent video that Amari is staying on campus over the summer to work on her game and conditioning. That sounds real good to me. I like Amari. I want to see her reach her FULL potential at UConn. Next year, I'd like to see her average 18-24 minutes a game.

 

[Hayven]

no point in beating a dead horse. I’m sure CW is aware that she played an awful game and she is probably beating herself up for it. And that’s enough

 

[Geesworld]

I really do. But again apologize.

 

[UConn990411]

kara is a clown. im surprised that they led her out to graze without that little bell around her neck.
yeah, i said it, cuz that is what her crapola deserves.

Some of you get offended by literally anything.

There was nothing unfair or out of line with Kara’s criticism. Pointing out Williams’ and Nelson-Ododa’s flaws as basketball players does not mean you think they’re bad people or won’t root for their future success.

 

[dibster]

I think she was right on.

 

[Happydad745]

Why is saying it so bad, most of us were thinking "were is CW" in the Championship game....I hope UConn makes some future adjustments to take on the teams who are better equipped than them. We don't want to hear about Staley's divine winning again.

 

[Conquistador]

The reaction of my wife (not me) to the inadequate play (she's a toughie)
It's time for him to retire.

Believe me, I do my fair share of screaming at the TV at Geno thinking “Dude, change it up, motivate someone, work the refs!…” but when it comes down to it - I want the GOAT to coach until he’s 100!!

 

[ClifSpliffy]

not letting this go. went to her webpage, where i find every reference to her 'specialness' is from the last century, which is a looong, loong time ago. then comes her pitch as a motivational speaker for cash, along with her pitch to give lessons privately, also for cash. a veritable world burner. not.
her talent in life was just being bigger than everyone else at the beginning of lady hoops. period.
anyone, anywhere, at anytime, harshin on this years teams 'only' coming out number 2, gets whacked. cuz, you know, fun-o-meter results.
and iffn ur just a garden variety fan like me, and ur doing this for sumthing other than fun, well,

got this from a website that sells 'demotivational posters.'
appropo.
not on my watch, lady. not on mine.

 

[ballerfan]

I see two on Paige. The fast break one and the one which Henderson rolled on the pick by Boston and blew past Paige and scored on Edwards.

I’m glad you brought that up. I wasn’t sure how to judge it. Paige’s back was to Boston. But let’s count that. Now Paige is involved in 4 of Henderson’s 26 points. Paige still doesn’t seem responsible for not containing Henderson and for keeping UConn from having « a fighting chance. »

 

[tower1]

And CW impressed me with her effort during the NC game. Her shot wasn't falling but she was clearly trying.

What are you talking about ? We all love CW and have watched her play all year. Her effort was not there that is what the complaining is about. She is a better player than she showed.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Some of you get offended by literally anything.

There was nothing unfair or out of line with Kara’s criticism. Pointing out Williams’ and Nelson-Ododa’s flaws as basketball players does not mean you think they’re bad people or won’t root for their future success.

the season is over, the book is closed. big fun. thank you, team. a truly fine effort, worthy of respect.
and oh, u spelt 'youse' wrong.

 

[meyers7]

The rigid starting the same 5 probably cost them also in a FF loss to ND in I think 2018

This stupid idea that people keep putting out there.

They were undefeated doing it "rigidly", they were ahead at half-time doing it "rigidly". Why in gods name would he all of a sudden change everything?? He'd have been an idiot to change up what had been working for the entire year.

If something had worked 36 times in a row, and was working the 37th time, all of sudden, "eh let's change it up" see what happens. Stuuupid.

 

[meyers7]

Think about this for a minute, all the championships except the first have one common factor. There has been an all time great player on the championship team. The 2000, Sue Bird, 2002-2004, Diana, 2009-2010, Maya, 2013-2016 Stewie.
There seems to be a pattern there.

HOF coach on each of those too.

 

[Redux]

not letting this go.

Well. We have Geno bashing, check. Outgoing Seniors bashing, check. Paige bashing, check. Now Kara Wolters bashing, now that was special.

I think it's what we call the "off-season" (others call it baseball).

 

[DrummerDee]

If reports are correct, this injury to Liv was new from the Stanford game and not a re-aggravation of her previous one.

What reports?