More than a couple of thoughts on tonights game.

[doggydaddy]

Had great seats. 3 rows from the floor, right behind the cheerleaders. Thankfully, I had enough willpower to concentrate on the game.

CFerraro noted some great things in his thread. His summary was spot on. The versitility of this team is something I have never seen. Geno went big several times with Dolson, Stokes and Stewart, and at times Stokes, Stewart and Buck. At one time the team went 6'5, 6'4,6'3, 6' and 5'11. At other times he went quick with Banks, Jefferson, Faris, Stewart and Tuck. Just so many options and Geno used them.

Overall the team looks pretty darn good for the first exhibition game. I know what Geno means when he said this team looked ahead of last years team at this time. Good ball movement and lots of talking. The shooting was terrific and clearly Lewis, Jefferson, Tuck, Stewart will be players you can't leave open and if Faris can pull a Donny Marshall her senior season that makes five. Oh year, add in Hartley and Doty and that makes seven. S E V E N!!!!! This team has the potential to be the best long range team in UConn history.

Here are a few comments about the players

Lewis - I will personally smack the next person that comments about her size/weight/conditioning. She is who she is. And she is certainly in shape. Constant running on offense rubbing off screens, offensive rebounding, defending, diving on the floor. She will be an all american THIS year. And no one will question any poster that says she is the best shooter in the country.

Dolson - It was great to see the new Dolson, up close and personal. I was afraid that her weight loss would take away from her best ASSet, making space for herself in the paint. No worries now. She just looked terrific. In great shape, she ran the court well, and the big-to-big high/low passes were wonderful. She and Stewart are going to be unstoppable at times this year.

Faris - Kelly was great. Vocal, leading by example as well with her hustle. 8 assists and ZERO TO's says it all. Looked good on her 3's even at 1-3. I'll take 33% all day long from her. Her defense was incredible.

Jefferson - I have nothing to report as she was too quick for me to follow. From what I heard, she hit some nice shots, made several nice passes. I did see her charge a couple of times, but I love the agressiveness. Took down a couple of rebounds as well. She can jump!

Tuck - Solid overall game. I think it will be like this all year. You will know she is having a good game, but when you look at the stats, you will wonder how she did that. Loved the confidence on the 3 point shots. She just doesn't miss much when open and she looks to take only open ones. Great post moves. She has to be more careful with the ball. Couple of sloppy TO's in the paint. She will learn from this.

Stewart - Stewart looked comfortable handling the ball, shooting deep, posting up and most impressively, block shots. I don't know is anyone heard Dailey's comment on Stewarts defense, but to paraphrase, she said "good thing she blocks shots because she is never in the right place". Love the never happy attitude of the coaches. She was just fun to watch.

Banks - Holy improvement, batman. She really looked like a player. The steals were great, but 6 assists and 1 to? Fantastic. Still a little worried against better competition, but she really was much improved from last year in every way.

Stokes - Shoulders like a linebacker. Nice baseline jumper. She will get plenty of minutes this year. Looks confident and strong out there.

Buck - More of the same, which is ok. Smart player, plays hard, won't look for her shot. But there will be times she will contribute some important minutes.

UConn fans, you are seeing something special coming together this year. It will be a game by game progression, but the talent is unmistakable.

Can't wait to see them again on Wednesday.

 

[msf22b]

If you think about it Doggy, its what every coach dreams for:

-mobile size, with one or more superstars, but not prissy, willing to bang for boards
-excellent ball handling guards
-multi 3-point options in all sizes and shapes
-no drop-off 1-10
-defensive-minded players at all positions
-quickness
-unselfish team players on a mission

I'm sure I've left a few things out but that seems to be the essence...anticipated by us all off-season
Apparently realized in the first exhibition.

 

[UConnCat]

Stewart - Stewart looked comfortable handling the ball, shooting deep, posting up and most impressively, block shots. I don't know is anyone heard Dailey's comment on Stewarts defense, but to paraphrase, she said "good thing she blocks shots because she is never in the right place". Love the never happy attitude of the coaches. She was just fun to watch.

Geno compared Breanna to the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz (from Rich's blog):

“We’ve got to get the referees caught up to speed a little bit,’’ Auriemma said. “Like I’m not sure that they realize that when Breanna Stewart is on the floor … It’s like having the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. You turn him loose. At some point you’re just going to have to like lay him on the floor and put him back together again. Because like she’s all over the place. So they called a foul on her after shooting the ball. She falls down. Seriously, she falls down … Do you see how much she falls down? She knocks our guys down. She just runs around and then gets every rebound and makes shots and goes in the lane and just makes plays that nobody else can make. Like you watch her and then the next time you look over she fell down. You go, `What the hell happened?’ And I think we need to let the refs know that that’s just who she is and you need to get used to that. You guys have not seen anything yet. You have not seen anything yet.’’

Stewart only put her head down and smiled when she was informed of Auriemma’s comparison.

“My response to that is that I don’t fall down that much,’’ Stewart said. “I fell down a lot tonight because I was trying to move around in the defense and then I would hit someone and then be on the ground. But I’m going to change that. Hopefully, I won’t be on the ground as much next game unless it’s for (drawing) a charge.

 

[winlots]

DOGGY: NOW THAT I'VE LEARNED HOW TO STICK CAPS INTO A LONG POST BY DOING SO WITH CF/S WORDS OF WISDOM, I'LL ADD SOME TO YOUR MOST INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS

Had great seats. 3 rows from the floor, right behind the cheerleaders. WAS NOT SO FORTUNATE, BUT WE FOUR HAD A GOOD VANTAGE POINT AND COMPARED NOTES FROM UNDER THE UCONN OFFENSIVE BASKET FOR MUCH OF THE GAME. Thankfully, I had enough willpower to concentrate on the game. NOW THAT WAS A CHALLENGE

CFerraro noted some great things in his thread. His summary was spot on. The versitility of this team is something I have never seen. Geno went big several times with Dolson, Stokes and Stewart, and at times Stokes, Stewart and Buck. At one time the team went 6'5, 6'4,6'3, 6' and 5'11. At other times he went quick with Banks, Jefferson, Faris, Stewart and Tuck. Just so many options and Geno used them.

Overall the team looks pretty darn good I'LL GO WITH VERY DARN GOOD....OR AS GENO MIGHT SAY, "VERY, VERY , VERY DARN GOOD" for the first exhibition game. I know what Geno means when he said this team looked ahead of last years team at this time. Good ball movement and lots of talking. The shooting was terrific and clearly Lewis, Jefferson, Tuck, Stewart will be players you can't leave open and if Faris can pull a Donny Marshall her senior season that makes five. Oh year, add in Hartley and Doty and that makes seven. S E V E N!!!!! This team has the potential to be the best long range team in UConn history. AGREED

Here are a few comments about the players LOVE THIS STUFF, DOGGY

Lewis - I will personally smack the next person that comments about her size/weight/conditioning. She is who she is. And she is certainly in shape. Constant running on offense rubbing off screens, offensive rebounding, defending, diving on the floor. She will be an all american THIS year. And no one will question any poster that says she is the best shooter in the country. DESPITE LOOKING A BIT FLABBY AROUND THE WAIST, AT THE RISK OF GETTING SMACKED i WILL HASTEN TO ADD THAT ALL HE DESCRIBES HER AS DOING, SHE DID! AND, IF I WERE NOT COMPARING HER TO THE AMAZINGLY TRIM DOGGY HIMSELF, I MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN TAKEN NOTICE OF THAT WAIST-LINE THING ON LEWIS. AND HER SHOT WAS INDEED AS ADVERTISED COMING OUT OF CALI.....LAUNCHED, YOU WERE JUST WAITING FOR IT TO GO IN. IT DID.

Dolson - It was great to see the new Dolson, up close and personal. FRANKLY, I WAS MY USUAL SKEPTICAL SELF....I WAS AMAZED...THIS KID TRANSFORMED HERSELF! DIFF-ER-ENT BODY, FOLKS!! YOU'LL SOON SEE. I was afraid that her weight loss would take away from her best ASSet, HIS CAPS....AND CLEVER making space for herself in the paint. No worries now. She just looked terrific. In great shape, she ran the court well, and the big-to-big high/low passes were wonderful. She and Stewart are going to be unstoppable at times this year. THE MAIN NEGATIVES i CAUGHT, AND i DEFINITELY LOOK FOR THEM: SOMETIMES VERY SLOW TO HUSTLE BACK ON DEFENSE......SOMETIMES INVOLVING THE UCONN-TAKING-TIME-TO-TUG-ON-THE -PANTS THING....YOU'VE SEEN IT. GET SOME PANTS THAT FIT!!! AND, DID NOT KEEP THE PEDAL TO THE METAL WHEN THE LEAD WENT UP. MAIN NEW POSITIVES: SPENT MORE TIME UNDER THE BASKET WHERE SHE WAS ABLE TO SCORE QUITE EFFECTIVELY......WAS WAY, WAY, WAY BETTER AT CHALLENGING PEOPLE ON DEFENSE....GOING OUT AFTER THE THREE LIKE SHE REALLY WANTED TO MAYBE BLOCK THE DAMN THING RATHER THAN SOME UCONN-MATADOR FAKE MOTION....................SIMILARLY SERIOUS ALOT UNDER THE BASKET ON D, THOUGH STILL WAY TOO TIMID (WITH ALL THE OTHER BIGS NOW AVAILABLE) ABOUT GETTING A POSSIBLE FOUL................MUCH, MUCH MORE ACTIVE GOING AFTER A POSSIBLE REBOUND RATHR THAN JUST WATCHING THE FREAKIN BALL WITH AN ANGUISHED LOOK ON HER FACE...........MUCH OF THIS GREAT STUFF PROB A FUNCTION OF THE CONDITIONING....AND SOME GROWING UP.

Faris - Kelly was great. GREAT PLUS . THE ABSOLUTE GLUE. Vocal, leading by example as well with her hustle. 8 assists and ZERO TO's says it all GREAT OBSERVATION , DD. HADN'T SEEN THAT (OR ANY) GAME STAT YET. . Looked good on her 3's even at 1-3. I'll take 33% all day long from her. DOUBLE FIGURES i'M SURE. Her defense AND HER OVRALL GAME was incredible. BETTEER THAN LAST YEAR!! AND SHE LOOKS EVEN STRONGER.....AND EVEN WITH ALL OUR BIGS, WAS IN THE MIX FOR SOME TOUGH REBOUNDS.

Jefferson - I have nothing to report as she was too quick for me to follow. WELL SAID. From what I heard, she hit some nice shots, DOUBLE FIGURES WORTH.....INCLUDING POISE AND ACCURACY FROM THE FOUL LINE, WHICH WILL BE HUGE IN TIGHT GAMES!! made several nice passes. I did see her charge a couple of times, YES SHE DID....BUT ACTUALLY LESS THAN I FEARED....AND WAY , WAY LESS THAN HARTLEY, HAYES, MONTGOMERY but I love the agressiveness. Took down a couple of rebounds as well. She can jump! WROTE ALOT MORE ABOUT HER, ALL POSITIVE, IN THE FERRARO THREAD A GEM!!! THAT ENDEARING SMILE SELDOM ON DISPLAY, IN LINE WITH CF'S OBSERVATION.....SHE WAS PLAYING WITH HER OWN MONEY!

Tuck - Solid overall game. TO ME, FOR A FROSH, EVEN MUCH BEYOND SOLID.....ALSO WROTE MORE ABOUT HER IN THE CF THREAD. I think it will be like this all year. INDEED.....You will know she is having a good game, but when you look at the stats, you will wonder how she did that. I REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT CONCEPT, DOGGY, AND HAVE A SENSE OF WHY YOU WOULD PLUG IT IN THERE, AS SHE WAS NOT SHOWY OR FLASHY.....BUT, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T LEFT WITH THT SAME REACTION.....SOMEHOW, I WAS VERY AWARE OF ALL SHE WAS DOING THRUOUT BEC IS SEEMED SO SUBSTANTIAL, SO VARIED, SOFOCUSED, SO MATURE....JUST HARD FOR ME NOT TO BE WITNESS TO WHAT SHE WAS DISPLAYING Loved the confidence on the 3 point shots. ABSOLUTELY She just doesn't miss much when open and she looks to take only open ones. Great post moves. She has to be more careful with the ball. Couple of sloppy TO's in the paint MY SENSE WAS THATA MOST OF THIS WAS IN THE VRY FIRST FEW MINUTES OF HER FIRST COLLEGE TIME ON THE FLOOR, AND AS A "SURPRISE" STARTER TO MANY, AT THAT. SETTLED WAY DOWN, AS DID MO, PRETTY QUICKLY THRU THIS PARTICULAR SET OF WOBBLY EYES. She will learn from this.

Stewart - Stewart looked comfortable handling the ball, shooting deep, posting up and most impressively, block shots. AM NOT ONE TO HEAP PRAISE WITHOUT VERY AMPLY CAUSE (( REALLY, SOME OF YOU HAD NOTICED THAT??? I'M ASTONISHED. )) BUT THIS GAL'S PERFORMACNE SEEMED WAY BEYOND COMFORTABLE IN ALL FACETS OF THE GAME. AND GIVEN HER FIRST NIGHT OUT, I WOULD NOT SHRINK FROM GOING WITH "FANTASTIC." I don't know is anyone heard Dailey's comment on Stewarts defense, but to paraphrase, she said "good thing she blocks shots because she is never in the right place". MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE "RIGHT" PLACE (WHATEVER THAT IS IN A GAME, SUCH AS BASKETBALL, WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN FLUX MUCH OF THE TIME), BUT I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING SHE SEEMED TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE.....AND AT BOTH ENDS. Love the never happy attitude of the coaches. She was just fun to watch.

Banks - Holy improvement, batman. She really looked like a player. The steals were great, but 6 assists and 1 to? Fantastic. Still a little worried against better competition, but she really was much improved from last year in every way. I AM, AS IS KNOWN , A BIG BOOSTER OF THIS KID.....WAS NOT QUITE AS IMPRESSED AS DOGGY HERE...BUT DO AGREE WITH SIGNIF IMPROVEMENT. IF SHE GETS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND IS, THEREFORE, ABLE TO GROW A BIT IN CONFIDENCE AND RELAX AND JUST PLAY BASKETBALL AS IT FLOWS WITHOUT THIS BS ABOUT THE "EXACT RIGHT PLACE" AND "THE EXACT RIGHT PASS" AT THE "EXACT RIGHT TIME," SHE WILL SURELY HAVE A VERY CONTRIBUTORY CAREER AS A HUSKY.

Stokes - Shoulders like a linebacker. LOOKED VERY STRONG FOR SURE Nice baseline jumper. She will get plenty of minutes this year. HOPE SO.....EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT DEMEANOR ON THE COURT, BUT I'D LIKE TO FEEL A BIT MORE CERTAIN ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS TO BUST HER BUTT. AM NOT SAYING IT ISNT THERE.....JSUT NOT REALLY CONVINCED YET. TOOLS GALORE!!!! Looks confident and strong out there.

Buck - More of the same, which is ok. HAD EXPECTED AND HOPED FOR MORE.....WANTED TO SEE HER CHALLENGE SHOTS MORE, GO AFTET THE DAMN BALL ON REBOUNDS AS IF SHE REALLY WANTED TO GET THE FREAKIN THING. MADE A SIMILAR COMMENT RE THAT DIMENSION ON DOLSON, BUT WITH A POSITIVE SLANT RE THIS YEAR. WITH THREE COACHES RELATING TO POST PLAYERS, HOW IN THE HELL DOES IT TAKE SO LONG FOR SOMEONE TO SHOW THEM HOW TO GO AFTER THE DAMN BAL???????? WHY IS THE ABSENCE OF THAT CONDONED????? IT TOOK WHAT, OVER TWO YEARS, FOR CHARLES TO GET IT?? AND BUCK HAS BEEN HER FOR ABOUT FIVE. REBOUND!!!! Smart player, plays hard, won't look for her shot. But there will be times she will contribute some important minutes.

IF HE LEFT ANYONE OUT, I DID TOO...NOT DELIBERATELY. OUR GAME AND "AFTER" COMPANY WAS HERE BEYOUND MIDNIGHT AND I'M POOPED. i CAN ADD JUST A FEW MORE THINGS THOUGH: THAT AMAZING DOGGY DADDY HAS ONLY TWO HEADS, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN CONFESSION (AND I WAS SURE HE HAD THREE). TALKED TO DOTY AND SHE SAYS SHE IS "GREAT....DOING GREAT...FEELING GREAT"....BUT I CANT EVALUATE THAT.....THOUGH I DID OBSERVE SHE WAS VERY SPRY GETTING OFF THE BENCH TO GREET THE PLAYERS AT TIME OUTS.....USUALLY ON THE EDGE OF HER SEAT OBSERVING AND ENCOURAGING (VS HARTLEY OFTEN BACK IN HER CHAIR, LAST OFF BENCH AT TIMEOUTS, HEAD SOMETIMES HANGING DOWN)......SEEMING PART OF AND WITH THE TEAM AND KINDA READY TO BE OUT THERE WITH THEM, DESPITE ALL THE SETBACKS. "THE LURKER" KNOWS HIS STUFF AND MERITS A GREETING RIGHT HERE. AND, IN BLESSED CLOSING, TONYC IS
CO----NEK----TED!!!!! (AS WELL AS PERSONALBE, AFFABLE, AND ON THE BALL) AND HE MIGHT HAVE SOME INTERESTING GOOD NEWS FOR US SOMETIME DOWN THE LINE.
UConn fans, you are seeing something special coming together this year. It will be a game by game progression, but the talent is unmistakable.

Can't wait to see them again on Wednesday.

KUDOS ALSO TO THE BIG WHEELS: FROM THE TICKET PRICES TO THE FAN-FRIENDLY USHERS ETC, THERE WAS A NEW SENSE THAT WE FANS ACTUALLY MATTERED. IF YOU CAN GET THERE WED, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU.

 

[nan linds]

DoggyDaddy-
Do they have cheerleaders again? I was thinking they went to a Sprit Group that did not fit the stereotype of shapely but physically fit and scantily clad.
Thanks for great summary.

 

[CTGirl15]

They did go to a "spirit squad" about 2 or 3 years ago, but it only lasted one year before returning to "cheerleading". The dance team is also now present at all games and usually performs during a timeout or halftime.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Stewart only put her head down and smiled when she was informed of Auriemma’s comparison.

“My response to that is that I don’t fall down that much,’’ Stewart said. “I fell down a lot tonight because I was trying to move around in the defense and then I would hit someone and then be on the ground. But I’m going to change that. Hopefully, I won’t be on the ground as much next game unless it’s for (drawing) a charge.

You just have to love this young lady's attitude!

 

[ChicagoGG]

Win - I am sure even with her "waistline" issues KML could run your Asset out of the gym toute suite. That was a pretty shabby personal remark about a very talented young player.

 

[Icebear]

Win - I am sure even with her "waistline" issues KML could run your Asset out of the gym toute suite. That was a pretty shabby personal remark about a very talented young player.

And a silly one too since Geno commented last last that she was one player who never stopped moving.

 

[bruinbball]

I am sure if she trained with Kelly, conditioning will NOT be an issue.

 

[meyers7]

Dolson - It was great to see the new Dolson, up close and personal. I was afraid that her weight loss would take away from her best ASSet, making space for herself in the paint. No worries now. She just looked terrific. In great shape, she ran the court well, and the big-to-big high/low passes were wonderful. She and Stewart are going to be unstoppable at times this year.

They said last night she had done "Insanity" this last year to get in shape. She looked and moved a lot, lot better.

 

[OneTrickPony]

They said last night she had done "Insanity" this last year to get in shape. She looked and moved a lot, lot better.

No question...she's always been a gifted basketball player, but last night we saw an athlete...sweet!