Katie Lou to the Rescue

[UcMiami]

Geno-ista - agree. I don't see any line-up changes in the foreseeable future - Williams has slowed down after a torrid start and last night was her worst game to date, but it was still pretty good. That being said ...
I do still feel that the starting five is a little imbalanced from a skills perspective - the post defense is a little 'light' while the post offense is a little crowded. Samuelson with her greater range would spread the floor more for Tuck and Stewart and Butler with her size and strength would offer a stronger post defense. It may end up that Geno keeps both those options on the bench throughout the season, allowing him to alter the team in either direction with his first substitutions, or maybe sometime in January he feels he needs one or the other at the start of games and likely Williams become one of the two options for first sub in.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Imagine getting into a pick up game and looking at your fellow team mates and seeing, Stewie, Tuck, MoJett and Ms. Nurse.
I think I'd miss my first few shots too. Maybe even look like a deer in the headlites. then they'd tell me to go sit down!

For a while a while back I suspected that that is what happened in a June pick-up game with Elena Delle Donne.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Geno-ista - agree. I don't see any line-up changes in the foreseeable future - Williams has slowed down after a torrid start and last night was her worst game to date, but it was still pretty good. That being said ...
I do still feel that the starting five is a little imbalanced from a skills perspective - the post defense is a little 'light' while the post offense is a little crowded. Samuelson with her greater range would spread the floor more for Tuck and Stewart and Butler with her size and strength would offer a stronger post defense. It may end up that Geno keeps both those options on the bench throughout the season, allowing him to alter the team in either direction with his first substitutions, or maybe sometime in January he feels he needs one or the other at the start of games and likely Williams become one of the two options for first sub in.

It is great to have the options we do. I cannot wait for Geno to add the Butler Did It to our options.

 

[billnaples]

It is great to have the options we do. I cannot wait for Geno to add the Butler Did It to our options.

The blending of chemistry for this team may be Geno's biggest challenge since the 2000/01 I think roster. That team was also very deep. I think they went 9 and maybe 10 at times. Look at the results thus far. +38 margin, + 20% FG Pct. 3X as many FT, + 18 rebounds, 2X assists and steals. So if Butler and Boykin emerge from their injuries (Butler more likely it seems) GA would then have BS, MJ, MT, KN, GW as the current starters and KLS, SC, NC, CE, NB, DB, TL, BP, available off the bench. Not sure of the mix but what I see is a fantasticly flexible collection of players. In fact maybe only Butler is not an interchangeable piece. Remember I said maybe. A lot of these gals can play point or 2, clearly 5 or 6 can fill the wing roles and at least 2 in the post. Who gets how any minutes and when they get them will be the magic that GA and staff will have to figure out. Probably 100 and more Div. 1 coaches would love to have the UConn problem.

 

[iri10]

It's nice to see that Geno can still launch the zingers. Seems like it's been a little while since the last one.

But we're upset with her when she doesn't do all the other things she's capable of doing. You're not in California anymore. You're allowed to get in a defensive stance in this part of the country. You won't get arrested. You can put your hand up and no one will say a bad thing about you.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Absolutely agree. CD said a while back that they had hoped for one of those Thanksgiving Tourneys but could not find one.

I think that may be why we are playing only 38 games, at most, this year.

 

[UcMiami]

I think that may be why we are playing only 38 games, at most, this year.

I think what happened is they ended up committed to 28 games scheduled (too many to allow an in season tourney so they were trying to get one of the OOC teams to change that game to a tournament they both went to - it all got too complicated and they gave up the idea.

 

[hjoerring]

"She is too good to not start."

I posted that early and often, and more recently noted that she is transitioning into an honest-to-God Badass. (I offer the 4th quarter vs. DePaul as evidence.)

So, we all want to male KLS as the second coming of ....? The Saver! I for one won't be hopping onto this train before knowing its destination. Yes, she played very well during the final minutes. Yet, it wouldn't be taking anything away from her in pointing out that for all the others (including her fellow freshman) there were a lot of minutes played. Add to the latter that Depaul was bringing in a new team every 10-15 minutes to keep the game pace very high, we should double or triple the minutes for the Uconn players. A little tireness can set off errant fouls, passes and missed layups. If she becomes a starter it will be, in my novice view, because the team needs a 3-point scorer (and she is not yet dependable), which I cannot see right now. Not if it means sending a 'healthy' Tuck to the bench So, who else would be headed to the bench: Gabby? Brings too many things to the team and; she is not required to score from longrange. Nurse? Well, she isn't tearing it up right now- perhaps a liitle bb tired. But really, her to the bench! Maybe Jefferson? Yes, a lot more turnovers then usual. Probably senior year jits- better have them now then later. No way. She is the show. OK, we have Stewart. Why not? Does she need a rest. Does she have anything to prove? And we all know she is Lady March. Why not send her to the Caribbean to one of the many conferences on teamwork. Just ask Duke how these things work or how to work around or on the margins of the (intended) Rules. And what about Collier? I have seen her break the press, go to the basketball from half court, rebound, played good defence, and take shots where and when she should. Not a bad looking player on a Uconn team for a freshman. Should she start?

 

[Sonny44]

But there was so much more to the end of that game than that....

Nice, thanks.

 

[magic]

After watching the game again for the 4th time, it might be difficult to keep KLS out of the starting lineup by the end of this year. And I mean the end of December. She has great basketball instincts, and a lot of skills. She is a great passer into the post because of her size and length, which gives her great angles. She can rebound, and handle the ball. I think she might be quicker than we think as she becomes more comfortable after a few more games. Her follow thru seemed straight on to the basket as opposed to the right a few games ago.
MoJeff, Nurse, KLS, tuck, and Stewie.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

She is a great passer into the post because of her size and length, which gives her great angles. She can rebound, and handle the ball.

Geno said the coaching staff were disappointed that she wasn't doing these things. It's one thing to have the ability to do them, now she has to give the effort.

 

[Geno-ista]

Geno-ista - agree. I don't see any line-up changes in the foreseeable future - Williams has slowed down after a torrid start and last night was her worst game to date, but it was still pretty good. That being said ...
I do still feel that the starting five is a little imbalanced from a skills perspective - the post defense is a little 'light' while the post offense is a little crowded. Samuelson with her greater range would spread the floor more for Tuck and Stewart and Butler with her size and strength would offer a stronger post defense. It may end up that Geno keeps both those options on the bench throughout the season, allowing him to alter the team in either direction with his first substitutions, or maybe sometime in January he feels he needs one or the other at the start of games and likely Williams become one of the two options for first sub in.

Great observations UC!

 

[Geno-ista]

After watching the game again for the 4th time, it might be difficult to keep KLS out of the starting lineup by the end of this year. And I mean the end of December. She has great basketball instincts, and a lot of skills. She is a great passer into the post because of her size and length, which gives her great angles. She can rebound, and handle the ball. I think she might be quicker than we think as she becomes more comfortable after a few more games. Her follow thru seemed straight on to the basket as opposed to the right a few games ago.
MoJeff, Nurse, KLS, tuck, and Stewie.

Time will tell. I think she'll come off the bench because she's a freshman. I think he would love to have Gabby off the bench because of what she brings in speed and athleticism on both ends. Tuck remains a definite starter IMO with Nuse, Stewie and Mo. I think their minutes will be the same whether they start or come off the bench.

 

[magic]

Geno said the coaching staff were disappointed that she wasn't doing these things. It's one thing to have the ability to do them, now she has to give the effort.

After saturday's game , I expect to see her in the starting lineup sooner . Her skill set is way better than Gabby's. Gabby will be a good sixth man off the bench soon. And then we still don't know what kind of impact Natalie will have yet. As the season progresses it will become more important to keep Stewie , the most talented player in the country safe from foul trouble.