Tonyc
Optimus Prime
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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The tuff news today is that Azzi will be out 2 weeks then she will be re evaluated. Caroline and Yanna are still out. Ines is sick. Just when we thought things might get better with Azzi back on the floor we're right back to where we were and the team continues to deal with it and the team continues to win. The ole saying when the goin gets tuff the tuff get going. Well UConns resilience has been amazing. The keep on keepin on. So whats next??
The problems we are facing right now are TO's, we need more outside shooters, and our starters need a break during games. Well UConn is definitely going to need more outside shooters. We cant place the burden on Lou alone. What happens if Lou gets in foul trouble or has an off game? We need somebody else to take some of the pressure off Lou. Nika Aubrey Amari and Ines need to be developed. Nika and Aubrey are two that imo need pull up jumpers and to be a threat to hit some outside shots and they must be able to do it with confidence. If they dont then opponents will pack it in and put somebody on Lou to try and shut her down and leave Nika and Aubrey open. Ines needs more playtime and become a work in process. Meaning give her minutes and coach her while shes on the floor. Amari showed us against Seton Hall what she can do. She was given a chance and imo shined. Geno may have to stay on her case but after watching how she played against Seton Hall I think the coaches need to work on her to continue what she did against Seton Hall and work with her until she gets to another level with her game. We heard from the practice players last season that Amari has a great outside shot. We saw it against Seton Hall. Amari has length and can block shots as well as stand up top and facilitate/pass the ball. At this point we dont have anymore options. We are 7 deep. We need outside shooters and Amari can answer that call right now as Nika Aubrey and Ines are developed. Amari needs playtime and needs to gain experience while being coached in real games. Learn on the run if you will.
We all know that one more injury and UConn may be down to 6 players which presents problems and raises the question can UConn continue to play the games on their schedule?? We cant wish our way to the NC this season. Either we have to make changes with the players we have now right now or we will be in the same place we are today in March. My answer to that change is Nika and Aubrey need pull up jumpers and to be a threat from the outside as well as Amari needs more playtime and coaching to become the player she was against Seton Hall. We cant at this point wish and hope that our injured reserves will be back soon. We dont know when they will be back. We thought Azzi was back and a simple bump and shes out again.
What ever happens we have to continue to move forward as a team and work with what we've got. We cant continue with "what ifs" or I hope or I wish or wait for doctors to tell us where we are. We are what we are right now. I believe a healthy Azzi Caroline and Yanna will take UConn to the NC game this season, but they have to be healthy and there can not be any fear of them reinjuring themselves. From what we've seen and heard so far we dont know when that is.
We dont know what the future brings for this season. We have been through alot and as a team overcome alot. There are still alot of "If's" and questions with this team and dont know what the future holds for this team. I will repeat we need outside shooters and scorers. At this point we need to get ready for March. We only have what we know we have today and thats 7 healthy players. That to me means if we dont make changes with the team we have right now we are going to be in the same place we are today in March. Those changes have to come from the 7 players we have on the roster who can play right now. Those changes have to start with Nika, Aubrey Amari and Ines. Nika and Azzi need to become a threat from the outside and must develop pull up jumpers, Amari needs to be what she was against Seton Hall and Ines needs playtime and coached and developed playing in real games when the time permits it.
We cant count on anybody coming back right now because we dont know when they will be back. TOs have been a problem and with pull up jumpers from Nika and Aubrey I believe that will help. Fear or hesitation to take and outside shot has been a problem. Forcing fast breaks has been a problem. Pull up jumpers imo could solve that problem. Having enough scorers has been a problem. Having Amari in the game and having Aubrey and Nika shooting with confidence will solve that problem.
Amari playing up top and on the perimeter with Dorka and Aaliyah doing their thing could change UConns offense and defense. On Defense with Amari up top it makes if tuff for opponents to shoot over her. On offense Amari gives UConn a facilitator who can pass over opponents defenses as well as be a threat from the outside. Hey lets face it. With everybody who is out and with Azzi out for 2 more weeks before shes even evaluated we need to work with what we know we've got and make changes to be ready for March or else we could be the same team we are right now in March.
The problems we are facing right now are TO's, we need more outside shooters, and our starters need a break during games. Well UConn is definitely going to need more outside shooters. We cant place the burden on Lou alone. What happens if Lou gets in foul trouble or has an off game? We need somebody else to take some of the pressure off Lou. Nika Aubrey Amari and Ines need to be developed. Nika and Aubrey are two that imo need pull up jumpers and to be a threat to hit some outside shots and they must be able to do it with confidence. If they dont then opponents will pack it in and put somebody on Lou to try and shut her down and leave Nika and Aubrey open. Ines needs more playtime and become a work in process. Meaning give her minutes and coach her while shes on the floor. Amari showed us against Seton Hall what she can do. She was given a chance and imo shined. Geno may have to stay on her case but after watching how she played against Seton Hall I think the coaches need to work on her to continue what she did against Seton Hall and work with her until she gets to another level with her game. We heard from the practice players last season that Amari has a great outside shot. We saw it against Seton Hall. Amari has length and can block shots as well as stand up top and facilitate/pass the ball. At this point we dont have anymore options. We are 7 deep. We need outside shooters and Amari can answer that call right now as Nika Aubrey and Ines are developed. Amari needs playtime and needs to gain experience while being coached in real games. Learn on the run if you will.
We all know that one more injury and UConn may be down to 6 players which presents problems and raises the question can UConn continue to play the games on their schedule?? We cant wish our way to the NC this season. Either we have to make changes with the players we have now right now or we will be in the same place we are today in March. My answer to that change is Nika and Aubrey need pull up jumpers and to be a threat from the outside as well as Amari needs more playtime and coaching to become the player she was against Seton Hall. We cant at this point wish and hope that our injured reserves will be back soon. We dont know when they will be back. We thought Azzi was back and a simple bump and shes out again.
What ever happens we have to continue to move forward as a team and work with what we've got. We cant continue with "what ifs" or I hope or I wish or wait for doctors to tell us where we are. We are what we are right now. I believe a healthy Azzi Caroline and Yanna will take UConn to the NC game this season, but they have to be healthy and there can not be any fear of them reinjuring themselves. From what we've seen and heard so far we dont know when that is.
We dont know what the future brings for this season. We have been through alot and as a team overcome alot. There are still alot of "If's" and questions with this team and dont know what the future holds for this team. I will repeat we need outside shooters and scorers. At this point we need to get ready for March. We only have what we know we have today and thats 7 healthy players. That to me means if we dont make changes with the team we have right now we are going to be in the same place we are today in March. Those changes have to come from the 7 players we have on the roster who can play right now. Those changes have to start with Nika, Aubrey Amari and Ines. Nika and Azzi need to become a threat from the outside and must develop pull up jumpers, Amari needs to be what she was against Seton Hall and Ines needs playtime and coached and developed playing in real games when the time permits it.
We cant count on anybody coming back right now because we dont know when they will be back. TOs have been a problem and with pull up jumpers from Nika and Aubrey I believe that will help. Fear or hesitation to take and outside shot has been a problem. Forcing fast breaks has been a problem. Pull up jumpers imo could solve that problem. Having enough scorers has been a problem. Having Amari in the game and having Aubrey and Nika shooting with confidence will solve that problem.
Amari playing up top and on the perimeter with Dorka and Aaliyah doing their thing could change UConns offense and defense. On Defense with Amari up top it makes if tuff for opponents to shoot over her. On offense Amari gives UConn a facilitator who can pass over opponents defenses as well as be a threat from the outside. Hey lets face it. With everybody who is out and with Azzi out for 2 more weeks before shes even evaluated we need to work with what we know we've got and make changes to be ready for March or else we could be the same team we are right now in March.
