Lexi Gordon

[CocoHusky]

Maybe she only thought she was running. I experienced what is conditioning and what is CONDITIONING. In high school I played basketball, baseball, and football. every school day I jogged 2.5 miles down from the ridge we lived on. I alternated sprinting and jogging after sports practice back uphill to our house. Uphill in Pennsylvania is seriously uphill. I played baseball in college and participated in intramural softball, basketball, football, and wrestling. I also lifted weights. I considered myself to be in exception condition. In my sophomore year after I won my weight class in intramural wrestling for the second time; the wresting coach asked me to join the wrestling team. After my first practice I literally crawled to the locker room. I crawled into the showers pushed myself up the wall to turn on the water. Slid back down and remained there for 20 or so minutes before I could wash. About 4 weeks later the wrestling coach said since I could keep up practice I should just leave the team. And I thought I was making progress. There is another level of conditioning.

Exactly, and after that level of conditioning you are probably still two or so levels away from the conditioning that UCONN WBB requires TO START PRACTICEs.
Here is a Kate Fagan article from 2012 describing 6 4 6 conditioning test used by ND and PSU.
Fagan: Basketball players fear The Workout

 

[NewCorn]

I don't understand why you feel badly. She placed herself in this position. Yeah, I know she is just a kid. There has to be scores of articles discussing how hard UCONN program is. How tough the conditioning demands are. Etc. If she flunked the conditioning test once did she think it would get easier for 2nd, 3rd times? A pity party is not what she needs.

True. Somewhere I read, however, that athletes respond to conditioning exercises at various rates depending on their DNA. Two athletes may undergo the same training and put forth the same effort, and one will drop fat and gain muscle much faster than the other. If Lexi is a slow respond-er, this will take time, and nothing can change that. Of course, this is all speculation. We do not even know that this is the problem. From the little I've seen of her, my guess is that Lexi will become a significant contributor to UConn BB.

 

[SVCBeercats]

True. Somewhere I read, however, that athletes respond to conditioning exercises at various rates depending on their DNA. Two athletes may undergo the same training and put forth the same effort, and one will drop fat and gain muscle much faster than the other. If Lexi is a slow respond-er, this will take time, and nothing can change that. Of course, this is all speculation. We do not even know that this is the problem. From the little I've seen of her, my guess is that Lexi will become a significant contributor to UConn BB.

When did she orally commit to UCONN? At least a year ago? I would think in one year she should have been working very hard and irrespective of a DNA lag she should be in condition. Worst case is she shows up at UCONN this summer and Irwin and Molly were telling her it was HELL. Every other player on the team related the same horror stories. Dangerfield said I worked out and work on my game. But yet she is not in condition? Even with DNA as a factor she should have been ready. By now her reasons are probably excuses.

 

[NewCorn]

When did she orally commit to UCONN? At least a year ago? I would think in one year she should have been working very hard and irrespective of a DNA lag she should be in condition. Worst case is she shows up at UCONN this summer and Irwin and Molly were telling her it was HELL. Every other player on the team related the same horror stories. Dangerfield said I worked out and work on my game. But yet she is not in condition? Even with DNA as a factor she should have been ready. By now her reasons are probably excuses.

We are not aware that Lexi has used DNA as an excuse. This was simply my wild speculation, as I said in my post. We don't even know that conditioning is in fact the problem.

 

[stamfordhusky]

When did she orally commit to UCONN? At least a year ago? I would think in one year she should have been working very hard and irrespective of a DNA lag she should be in condition. Worst case is she shows up at UCONN this summer and Irwin and Molly were telling her it was HELL. Every other player on the team related the same horror stories. Dangerfield said I worked out and work on my game. But yet she is not in condition? Even with DNA as a factor she should have been ready. By now her reasons are probably excuses.

No one has provided any evidence that she is not in condition. If you have some, please share it. If not, please don't repeat rumors without evidence.

 

[CocoHusky]

It's nothing personal.
Why is it harsh?

Because Molly has been on a Division I (UCONN's) roster for two years now and was recruited by other division I schools. It was not only harsh but also insulting.

 

[SVCBeercats]

We are not aware that Lexi has used DNA as an excuse. This was simply my wild speculation, as I said in my post. We don't even know that conditioning is in fact the problem.

No kidding! I was just using your speculation as a worst case and still think she should have been in proper condition.

 

[SVCBeercats]

No one has provided any evidence that she is not in condition. If you have some, please share it. If not, please don't repeat rumors without evidence.

Actually you have me by the local loops. I assumed what I read about failing multiple conditioning tests was accurate and it is not:

LEXI = passed her Conditioning tests.
all the coaches were there. Coaches said they were impressed with her improvement, since coming back from home. word is All the Freshmen passed
MYRA = had a strong summer (AAU) . Grew almost a couple Inches and is now 6'0"
CoachBill, Aug 4, 2017
So she passed her conditioning test prior to 8/4/2017. Apparently worked on it while she was at home for part of the summer.

But then we have a Geno comment:
UConn's Exhibition Opener Should Show Geno Auriemma Plenty
Auriemma said Gordon is smart and she makes shots, but she can’t keep up with the pace. Coombs, he said, has the quickness to keep pace but she is tentative, reminding Auriemma of how Dangerfield practiced last season.
So what does quickness mean?

 

[YellwJcket999]

Actually you have me by the local loops. I assumed what I read about failing multiple conditioning tests was accurate and it is not:..................LEXI = passed her Conditioning tests................all the coaches were there. Coaches said they were impressed with her improvement, since coming back from home. word is All the Freshmen passed.......CoachBill, Aug 4, 2017So she passed her conditioning test prior to 8/4/2017. ..........

Gotta love facts!

 

[hoophuskee]

It's nothing personal.


Why is it harsh? There's nothing wrong with being a D2 athlete. I was responding to a poster that said MB will be recruited over. You can make the case to refute my post if you can. I hope I'm wrong and she kills it rest of the way.

I think she is a Div 1 player. I just think that when we compare (because we see the discrepancy between top 7 vs bench) her to the top 7 players she falls short. For example this stuff about hwo she doesn't look at the basket is overstated. Do you recall a few years ago - Ekmark's sophomore year- UCONN was blowing a team out and CE took an early 3? Right after that Geno yanked her. Geno didn't want her taking that shot imo because he didn't classify her as a scorer. IMO he felt UCONN can get that shot anytime they want. But CE can't open enough to get that shot consistently so why take the shot? It's almost like when you hear excerpts now from Geno in a practice in which he is yelling at Lou why she is taking the 3. He's telling her - "you can't get open enough" (IMO HE IS CHALLENGING LOU-- BY DIGGING INTO HER PRIDE - IE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO GET OPEN ENOUGH SO YOU DON'T DESERVE TO SHOOT AS MUCH. Though it's not to be taken literal regarding Lou - I'm sure. It's the coach being a coach. ) You want to run plays that are good vs near all opponents. Lou can actually get shots off vs near all with good chance to go in. CE couldn't.

CE was not going to be a big time scorer at UCONN. SO Gneo didn't want her in a halfcourt set taking a quick 3 without a few passes. She wasn't KML in terms of accuracy. And with Bent, her shot isn't that great to start with. There is NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY in a halfcourt set that she is looking at the rim with any seriousness to shoot unless she is 15 feet and in - and even then she'll be looking to pass because the team has so many more talented offensive scorers. Geo would hook her so fast if she does (unless the ball goes in but eventually it wouldn't if she were to continue. OFC if she hits them with high regularity . . . but she probably isn't that good yet as a shooter to "test" Geno. ) . Geno did the same thing years ago with Meghan Gardler. He has said on TV that he expects players to do things on the court in college that they were good at in h/s. Molly Bent was not recruited for her shooting scoring prowess. She'll defend, she'll pass and she'll dribble. The shooting will come last.

And as of right now, imo our team has blown out everyone - and many were top caliber teams. Those top caliber teams kept many of their starters/ top tier players in late. Well ofc Molly isn't going to look good vs them. She wasn't a top tier recruit that could break into a top 20 lineup. So ofc she is going to look bad early this year. Yet she was good enough to play 5 minutes vs FLa State last last year as a frosh. She'll improve. She can be a nice small fish in Div 1. She is just too young right now.

 

[JordyG]

So why did I start this by saying I believed that conditioning was Lexi's problem. Along with Geno's comments I heard Lexi in her interview on Huskies All Access. "It's been hard and I know it's going to continue to be hard. It's just trying to stay at the same pace as everybody else and just continue to try and perform at the same level that you do when you're not tired when you're tired". So maybe I heard 2+2 when it was really 1+1, but that's what I surmised.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Can we lock this thread?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Milford---

A year or 3 ago--Geno worked with Marines from R.I. who "trained/conditioned" his team, is he still doing that?? I still have a suspicion that Gordon's only issues are not Conditioning--it boggle my minicule mind that a kid who has run run run basketball for upteen years is out of condition--did she eat too many McD's between HS and college?? Not likely.

I recall the Huskies' work with the Marines, and I know that, in every year, the conditioning is rigorous. I'm just responding to the idea that there is some sort of quantifiable passing/failing score on conditioning tests, as suggested a few days ago.

 

[MilfordHusky]

What you are missing is the immense level of conditioning it takes to start basketball practice at UCONN. You are given a off season workout program. Even the very best HS players cannot even concieve of the level of conditioning required to play at UCONN. Lexi ( maybe it was Andi) was recently quoted as saying that you think is going to be hard but you have no idea until you actually get here- or something along those lines.

I think a similar statement has been made by Andi, Lexi, Meg, Mikayla, Crystal, Lou, Pheesa, Brianna Banks, et al.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'm curious as to what it means when we hear that "Lexi passed all her conditioning tests." What are the tests? Has anyone failed them this year or in other years? Is Geno saying that she "can't keep up" physically, mentally, or in some other way?

 

[BroadwayVa]

I recall the Huskies' work with the Marines, and I know that, in every year, the conditioning is rigorous. I'm just responding to the idea that there is some sort of quantifiable passing/failing score on conditioning tests, as suggested a few days ago.

We agreed on Gordon, I too would like to know more. I was wondering too about the Marine Conditioning unit. No disagreement.

 

[BroadwayVa]

That's not what we are talking about. What we are talking about is a conditioning test that is given BEFORE the start of official practices. When the players depart UCONN they are given a very regimented conditioning program that they must complete at home. You can't pass that conditioning test without doing the workout program at home. BTW doing the at home program DOES NOT gurantee that you can pass the conditioning test. If you can't pass the test you don't get to practice until you pass and therefore you fall behind.
What you are talking about is the conditioning program that the team goes through as a team once they get back to campus which involved the Marines two years ago.

No I was talking about the conditioning one gets naturally. Humans that work in physical occupations or walk long distances naturally, or play sports regularly either sand lot or HS or AAU--should gain a level of conditioning that allow them to pass the Uconn test.
The final Level of a UConn player can ONLY be obtained over a period of time. I would not expect Megan to be at her senior level as a frosh, nor for that matter-any other.
Nearly every year we hear and post on the riggers of the Conditioning and the test--nothing new to us long time fans.
The highlighted section above : are you saying NO Uconn kid ever passed this coming in--only MeganGardler may have known the contents of that test and prepared for it prior to Uconn. If in coming student's can't pass that--maybe the should give it to the Army or Marines for their Basic training.

Thanks great exchange without asking about a particular students conditioning. Milford Husky and I would like to know what is the content of that
test and is it pass fail.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Actually you have me by the local loops. I assumed what I read about failing multiple conditioning tests was accurate and it is not:

LEXI = passed her Conditioning tests.
all the coaches were there. Coaches said they were impressed with her improvement, since coming back from home. word is All the Freshmen passed
MYRA = had a strong summer (AAU) . Grew almost a couple Inches and is now 6'0"
CoachBill, Aug 4, 2017
So she passed her conditioning test prior to 8/4/2017. Apparently worked on it while she was at home for part of the summer.

But then we have a Geno comment:
UConn's Exhibition Opener Should Show Geno Auriemma Plenty
Auriemma said Gordon is smart and she makes shots, but she can’t keep up with the pace. Coombs, he said, has the quickness to keep pace but she is tentative, reminding Auriemma of how Dangerfield practiced last season.
So what does quickness mean?

Wheww----finally, FACTS. I agree with Stanford--we were , some unknowingly, to rumors, non-facts. Dangerous ground about any Uconn Kid

 

[CocoHusky]

No I was talking about the conditioning one gets naturally. Humans that work in physical occupations or walk long distances naturally, or play sports regularly either sand lot or HS or AAU--should gain a level of conditioning that allow them to pass the Uconn test.
The final Level of a UConn player can ONLY be obtained over a period of time. I would not expect Megan to be at her senior level as a frosh, nor for that matter-any other.
Nearly every year we hear and post on the riggers of the Conditioning and the test--nothing new to us long time fans.
The highlighted section above : are you saying NO Uconn kid ever passed this coming in--only MeganGardler may have known the contents of that test and prepared for it prior to Uconn. If in coming student's can't pass that--maybe the should give it to the Army or Marines for their Basic training.

Thanks great exchange without asking about a particular students conditioning. Milford Husky and I would like to know what is the content of that
test and is it pass fail.

I don't know the specifics of UCONN's conditioning test.
There are a few things I'm struggling to get across:
1) The normal exercise you describe or AAU pickup games is not going to get you to pass a UCONN conditioning test.
2) The only way to prepare for the test is to do the prescribed at home works out.
3) The test is given before you are allowed to start basketball practices.
4) Failure to pass the test is not necessarily the end of the world but it does put you behind because when your teammates are learning basketball related things like defense and offense you are probably working on conditioning. You are behind by not passing the test.
I am only familiar with the conditioning test that my Daughter had to pass each year again before the start of official practices.
One year it was a timed 2.5 mile run on the track I forget what the required time was but I know that the Guards got less time to complete it than post player.
One year is was a time sprint 6 4 6 X3 each completed in under 2 minutes. With a rest of 30 seconds between each.
Kate Fagan describes the drill in this article.
Fagan: Basketball players fear The Workout
One year is was a 3.5 mile timed cross country run designed to have as many up hill climbs as possible.
Vivian stringer at Rutgers does something somebody call Stations of the Cross because it was designed to inflict maximum punish with puking buckets provided.

 

[OldAlum]

I wonder if Lexi's "conditioning problem" is more about mental conditioning. I am thinking that right now she is second-guessing herself and not yet playing her game. More of a difficulty with her personality type in the face of all the challenges causing her to play slow. Perhaps she has not yet found her way out of "trying too hard to be great". I'm thinking somewhat similar to Chong's issues.

 

[JS]

Can we lock this thread?

Understandable sentiment. Perhaps the thread looks better to you now and has ongoing value.

Problem started with a Boneyard Rules violation IMO. We don't trash the players, and a snide or flip comment that someone is a D-2 player does just that. Another rules violation -- personal name-calling or attack -- occurred during the fall-out.

The violation and its progeny have been removed. Apologies to those whose posts are gone because they quoted deleted posts.

As far as the substance of "keeping up with the pace," now revealed as unsubstantiated in the conditioning context, all freshmen, and most opponents, are shocked at the pace of UConn's play.

Conditioning may or may not play a part for some players, mainly opponents. A coach has to deal with that, if at all, through substitutions.

But the UConn pace is mainly a wrenching change -- in terms of thought process -- from all of a player's long past experience. UConn freshmen take varying times to adjust to it. Most opponents don't have the time, ability, and/or coaching to do it.

 

[HGN]

Ok guys we get the picture..........Let's stop beating a dead horse. Maybe the answer is to just give it
time and take a 'wait and see' approach before passing judgment of any type.

 

[CocoHusky]

Ok guys we get the picture.....Let's stop beating a dead horse. Maybe the answer is to just give it
time and take a 'wait and see' approach before passing judgment of any type.

Specific to Lexi's situation I fully agree. As it relates to conditioning in general and UCONN specifically, I think it is very worthwhile to continue the discussion. Just amazed that so few seem to realize that conditioning is such a big positive discriminator for the UCONN program and fail to appreciate the tremendous hard work it takes to get there.

 

[boontonbomber]

I have never understood why the coaches can't share a bit more info about players like Gordon and Coombs, if for no other reason but to squash some of the wild rumors that always swirl around. I still wonder what happened to Sadie Edwards, who has shown talent at both ends of the court at USC. There was the usual speculation, but never anything definitive. And Banks leaving was certainly a mystery, and I was very sad to see her go. She went from being very productive in many games, to playing very few minutes. I expect many here don't think that we fans NEED to know this stuff, but seems like the most supportive fan base in women's basketball could be "let in" on a bit of info. I think Coombs and Gordon playing so little in blowouts doesn't make sense, if you want to bring players along, but , of course, what do I know. Ah ,yes, I know nothing. And that's my point. Excuse my ranting but, finally, I would expect that that is not going to change as long as Geno is there.

 

[HuskyNan]

I have never understood why the coaches can't share a bit more info about players like Gordon and Coombs, if for no other reason but to squash some of the wild rumors that always swirl around. I still wonder what happened to Sadie Edwards, who has shown talent at both ends of the court at USC. There was the usual speculation, but never anything definitive. And Banks leaving was certainly a mystery, and I was very sad to see her go. She went from being very productive in many games, to playing very few minutes. I expect many here don't think that we fans NEED to know this stuff, but seems like the most supportive fan base in women's basketball could be "let in" on a bit of info. I think Coombs and Gordon playing so little in blowouts doesn't make sense, if you want to bring players along, but , of course, what do I know. Ah ,yes, I know nothing. And that's my point. Excuse my ranting but, finally, I would expect that that is not going to change as long as Geno is there.

The players are still people with a right to privacy. A bunch of folks squabbling on a fan forum dont have a right to violate their privacy to satisfy their curiosity or quash the wild-eyed speculation that goes on here.

 

[JustinesGuy]

Because Molly has been on a Division I (UCONN's) roster for two years now and was recruited by other division I schools. It was not only harsh but also insulting.

I'm sorry if you were insulted. I truly hope she has a wonderful year.

 

[CocoHusky]

I'm sorry if you were insulted. I truly hope she has a wonderful year.

I was insulted and reacted poorly, for which I apologize. We now both share the same hope not just for Molly but all the UCONN players.

 

[JustinesGuy]

I was insulted and reacted poorly, for which I apologize. We now both share the same hope not just for Molly but all the UCONN players.

100% agreed!

Let's grab a big win tonight, then I have 8th row for ND. can't wait to get to my first game of the year. All good.

 

[boontonbomber]

The players are still people with a right to privacy. A bunch of folks squabbling on a fan forum dont have a right to violate their privacy to satisfy their curiosity or quash the wild-eyed speculation that goes on here.

But they are , to a degree, public people. And an argument can be made that their coaches do have some responsibility to protect them from the squabbling and wild-eyed speculation, which is not going to stop otherwise.

 

[JordyG]

100% agreed!

Let's grab a big win tonight, then I have 8th row for ND. can't wait to get to my first game of the year. All good.

8th row huh? Now I'm insulted. Not only that, I find the fact that you continue to find terrific avatars immensely insulting. You and HuskyNan. Go on the both of you, just keep it up.