I can reliably say Mikayla did not excel because I watch very closely and chart every game. She got plenty of chances. For example, Mikayla was given 1/2 half minutes against Memphis to work with 4 of the starters and was awful. UCONN was up by 20 points when she came into the game. She started off well rebound & assist but then things turned quickly. In this video sequence (6:55 -2:00 Q2) you can see 1) Foul at the basket because she was late on a rotation 2) turn over, 3) air ball on corner three, 4) getting beat down court on defense as well as 5) compounding getting beat by fouling again. You can also see Geno with his head down in disbelief during her play followed by a long "talking" to after she came out of the game. Sorry but if Mikayla can't play well against Memphis with 4 other starters on the floor what is Geno supposed to do. give her more chances?
I've posted before that she is really key. This squad needs depth not just in the post, but in the backcourt. A third guard is desperately needed.
What other talent in the back court after the starters? Coco, yes Geno should give a player more chances. If a player makes mistakes and never see's the floor again it does not help her confidence. Freshmen at UConn will make mistakes and so do juniors and seniors. Tell me one player who has not missed an assignment and made the same kind of mistakes the freshmen make.
Comparable size & quickness for sure. Banks was a better shooter (50% as a Freshmen) and had much better defensive techniques than I have seen from Mikayla thus far. Specifically Mikayla is too upright in her defensive stance and that impacts her ability to move laterally defensively. Banks had no problem getting low which is where you want to be. Banks also played meaningful minutes as a freshmen guard on a team that included Bria Hartley, Kelly Faris, Caroline Doty & Tiffany Hayes.
Think I am going to put this on a bumper sticker because some keep getting it twisted:
The bolded part is interesting conjecture on your part, entirely wrong but interesting. Once again UCONN players are not given anything-they earn it!
I hear Rutgers WBB is on the come up and that's right there in @Charliebball home state.
I hear Rutgers WBB is on the come up and that's right there in @Charliebball home state.
Also instate and "Ivy League" is the program Courtney is running at Princeton.
I do have "this" market cornered. Here are the facts which make you so........wrong: 1) UCONN bench last year consisted of not only Megan Walker but also Azura Stevens. If KLS needed a breather Azura would have been the one to provide it as she did all season long. 2) No other NCAA team had a player of the quality of Azura Stevens coming off the bench last year=6th player picked in WNBA draft.
Good call. Having a combination of an awkward and inconsistent outside shot and poor defensive techniques does not normally gain minutes for those on a Geno team.
Entirely possible that the DVT was impacting her but Mikayla recovered from this Memphis game to play her best stretch of basketball during conference play. During this time Geno tried a strategy of having at least two starters on the floor with Lexi, Mikayla, or Megan. It was also at this time that Megan's game began to suffer-in conference play against lesser competition.
The same is true of @Charliebball "pleading" to:
Not gonna happen!it's already too late now but as I've pleaded over and over again.....please offer a couple more really good players.........if Boston and Jones end up elsewhere and you are already losing KLS and NC, you're now beyond thin.....your down right anorexic....
