Morgan

[wire chief]

I did not see the game, and in reading all you wrote, I find that effusiveness on Gabby and Mo and Stewie results in quietness about our red-shirter. How does Morgan qualify for All-American, if we don't include her in our chattiness.
Would those who watched the game kindly note some stuff about her 15 points and 6 rebounds etc? Thank you.

 

[Sonny44]

Morgan was Morgan, deadly around the basket.

 

[rugbymate]

She spent a good deal of her playing time in the low post. She has that quick first step and spin move and takes it up with strength. Stewie found her a couple of times and vice versa for nifty assists. They have terrific chemistry. Small forwards have trouble covering her and it seems the bigs covering her lack her quickness.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I did not see the game, and in reading all you wrote, I find that effusiveness on Gabby and Mo and Stewie results in quietness about our red-shirter. How does Morgan qualify for All-American, if we don't include her in our chattiness.
Would those who watched the game kindly note some stuff about her 15 points and 6 rebounds etc? Thank you.

Not much to add to this---it was the Ms Tuck being the Ms Tuck. Going among the trees and scoring and rebounding. Quietly, efficiently, being a Basketball journeyman, blue collar, hard nosed player.
Quiet kids do the hard work. Quiet kids are sometimes missed in the hoopla. But not Ms Tuck thanks to Fans like you.
To add to this Ms Tuck plays in pain. Her knee isn't ever going to be back to "normal". So she sucks it up, ices it, and plays hard.
Thank you for this--we all love her, but sometimes she's missed in the headlines.

 

[msf22b]

She did miss a couple Bunnies, would have had even more.
She quietly goes about her business watching the game, I thought she was out a lot of the time
But the minutes say otherwise.
Stewie went on a tear last night; other than FT, you thought she would never miss.
Gabby is just so spectacular, you can't stop talking about her or watching her
My wife leaned over and said she even takes her thoughts from Moriah
(Almost as if she heard; Mo went on a little tear herself with a couple of pull-ups that brought the crowd to its feet).
Gabby is working on that shot too. Saw it in warm-ups
When it's perfected, she will be unstoppable.

 

[BroadwayVa]

4 Uconn kids get my total attention---Collier, Gabby, Katie Lou, Ekmark.
Gabby and Collier are instant winners.
Katie Lou is still finding her way, but played decent defense, made one 3--it was pure poetry.
Ekmark--I wish her well, but!!!! She need to shoot the 3 when open!!! ***
Chong came in a lead the team well and the lead increased.

**** Geno once accused a Freshman Maria Conlon of getting autographs when she should be practicing. I.E> awe of her successful teammates. I feel a bit of that with Courtney--confidence is wonderful if you have it--terrible if you don't.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Morgan played her usual solid game and was the vocal leader in huddles. She may be less flashy than Gabby, but she's equally effective.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Chief- your point is excellent. Unfortunately, when you play on a team with the greatest player and the greatest point guard in America, too often other player's excellent play can go virtually unnoticed and fly below the publicity radar. Knowledgeable UConn fans who see the game in its totality and pick up the finer nuances of the games (screens, box outs, passing, defense- things NOT in the box score) that don't make headlines but are so essential to winning...well, we know how critical Morgan is to this team's success, and how deserving she is of All-America status.

Another example. Last night vs. K-State, I heard very little talk about the outstanding play of Kia Nurse. She was simply dynamic. 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 1 turnover. And her usual physical, aggressive defense. What a fantastic game she played- and with no hoopla and little acknowledgement..

These kids are not concerned about individual accolades, although I would like to see the less-written-about stars (Morgan, Kia) appropriately honored. They certainly deserve it. And we UConn fans DO honor them and recognize their incredible contributions. However, to their credit, their goals are not about individual statistics or press ink, but rather to do whatever is needed to help their team win.

And they do that job magnificently.

 

[WestCoastFan]

4 Uconn kids get my total attention---Collier, Gabby, Katie Lou, Ekmark.
Gabby and Collier are instant winners.
Katie Lou is still finding her way, but played decent defense, made one 3--it was pure poetry.
Ekmark--I wish her well, but!!!! She need to shoot the 3 when open!!! ***
Chong came in a lead the team well and the lead increased.

**** Geno once accused a Freshman Maria Conlon of getting autographs when she should be practicing. I.E> awe of her successful teammates. I feel a bit of that with Courtney--confidence is wonderful if you have it--terrible if you don't.

Good observations. I think Collier is Morgan's little sister. So much fun to watch.
I said it last summer a couple of times, but Lou will take some time and patience. I am encouraged that she looks involved in the game and is willing to keep jackin' up the 3. She'll get there.
Chong is gonna be on the outside looking in, I think. She's trying, but still looks jittery. She did have a nice 3 at the end though. I hope she stays aggressive.
Poor Courtney; if she doesn't start sinking the 3's, she's gonna be a mostly garbage time player. She's just too slow. Of course, most players look slow on that team.

 

[wire chief]

Thank you all.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Good observations. I think Collier is Morgan's little sister. So much fun to watch.
I said it last summer a couple of times, but Lou will take some time and patience. I am encouraged that she looks involved in the game and is willing to keep jackin' up the 3. She'll get there.
Chong is gonna be on the outside looking in, I think. She's trying, but still looks jittery. She did have a nice 3 at the end though. I hope she stays aggressive.
Poor Courtney; if she doesn't start sinking the 3's, she's gonna be a mostly garbage time player. She's just too slow. Of course, most players look slow on that team.

Geno has many "uncommon" coaching techniques. Old time coaches would pull a "shooter" if she misses a few. But Geno, to his credit, has believed a shooter will gain her "touch" again if she keeps shooting. Shots will come in time. Geno speaks of Confidence--he has it in certain players Collier and Katie Lou appear to be two of those he has Confidence in.
How about Lawlor---hitting the 3, think Kansas St didn't expect...

 

[HGN]

Morgan was like a ships Captain saying........." steady as she goes" . Like many have already said , she is not flashy but you know you are going to get a solid game from her.

As far as AA status , I would say Yes......Being flashy and attention getting does not a AA make. Morgan is our GLUE. And glue should count. Many baskets that others get is because Morgan has set a solid screen , or gotten a key rebound , or done some dirty work in the low post paint. All the things needed to secure a win.

So if STEADINESS and GLUE counts for anything Morgan should be in the conversation. AND IF NOTHING ELSE SHE CERTAINLY IS MY ALL AMERICAN.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I thought Pulido looked good on her 3-ball attempt from the corner, it just didn't go in.

Stating the obvious on Kia's nine points: That point was the difference from having all five starters in double figures.

 

[Gus Mahler]

4 Uconn kids get my total attention---Collier, Gabby, Katie Lou, Ekmark.
Gabby and Collier are instant winners.
Katie Lou is still finding her way, but played decent defense, made one 3--it was pure poetry.
Ekmark--I wish her well, but!!!! She need to shoot the 3 when open!!! ***
Chong came in a lead the team well and the lead increased.

**** Geno once accused a Freshman Maria Conlon of getting autographs when she should be practicing. I.E> awe of her successful teammates. I feel a bit of that with Courtney--confidence is wonderful if you have it--terrible if you don't.

You're right--I don't disagree with you at all. But I will say I'm pleased that she doesn't seem to feel compelled to force a three, as she did a lot last year. I hope it's because she has confidence in her overall game and is determined to show the rest of her game. I'm going to call that maturity.

 

[BroadwayVa]

You're right--I don't disagree with you at all. But I will say I'm pleased that she doesn't seem to feel compelled to force a three, as she did a lot last year. I hope it's because she has confidence in her overall game and is determined to show the rest of her game. I'm going to call that maturity.

In terms of Courtney---she is a hard worker, good teammate from all I see. I don't what her just throwing the ball at the basket--that does her nor the team any good. I believe, I hope, she will see lots of PT during the AAC run and develop the game she has hidden from us so far. Geno likes kids who when they enter the game makes something happen--Courtney CAN do it, much like Gabby and Collier has done. I want this kid to succeed --one of the Proud, one of the Few!!!

 

[donalddoowop]

Courtney played good defense yesterday. There were times when she was open in a position to shoot, but the player with the ball did not look for her. I've saw that a number of times last season. Usually when she passed the ball she was not in a position to shoot. If she gains confidence, she will be a big help.

 

[chrissaran]

Morgan's game is so efficient, so quiet, and she's not out there patting herself on the back that if you didn't know better, you would hardly notice her. Husky fans know what Morgan is all about. Let's just hope those who vote on the All-American team notice.

 

[hoopsdiva]

Morgan played her usual solid game and was the vocal leader in huddles. She may be less flashy than Gabby, but she's equally effective.

I was saying the same thing to the hubby during the game - of our 5 starters there's not a weak link in the bunch. 4 flashy players and Morgan, but they all get the job done in their own way.

 

[Fiftyish]

Flashy or not, Morgan is going to be a steady, dependable, rock on this team. She will be the one that comes up big in the games that matter. Count on it.

 

[donalddoowop]

When Butler is on the floor the other teams bigs will have to guard her and Stewart, leaving a player Morgan's size to guard Morgan. No player her size can successfully guard her, imo. She will play at an AA level.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Geno has many "uncommon" coaching techniques. Old time coaches would pull a "shooter" if she misses a few. But Geno, to his credit, has believed a shooter will gain her "touch" again if she keeps shooting. Shots will come in time. Geno speaks of Confidence--he has it in certain players Collier and Katie Lou appear to be two of those he has Confidence in.
How about Lawlor---hitting the 3, think Kansas St didn't expect...

Absolutely agree. Geno's okay with missed shots as long as they're not dumb shots. He will, however, yank a kid in a split-second if she commits a dumb foul or doesn't play great defense.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Morgan Tuck's game reminds me of another "quiet assassin", Jamelle Elliott! Jamelle was under-sized at about 5'11" but could rebound with anyone and was deadly near the basket as our Ms. Tuck is! As Jamelle, Morgan is under-appreciated by the talking suits but the coaches & players in WCBB know she's an AA! As Teddy Roosevelt said "Walk softly and carry a big stick." Morgan walks softly and carries a club!

 

[Buzzyboy]

Not much to add to this---it was the Ms Tuck being the Ms Tuck. Going among the trees and scoring and rebounding. Quietly, efficiently, being a Basketball journeyman, blue collar, hard nosed player.
Quiet kids do the hard work. Quiet kids are sometimes missed in the hoopla. But not Ms Tuck thanks to Fans like you.
To add to this Ms Tuck plays in pain. Her knee isn't ever going to be back to "normal". So she sucks it up, ices it, and plays hard.
Thank you for this--we all love her, but sometimes she's missed in the headlines.

I have never read anything that suggested that her knee is "never going to get back to normal" so I'm curious as to whether you have insider information or you're just presuming this. I've actually heard of athletes that swear their damaged extremities can actually be better after their respective injuries though it obviously varies from person to person and in the majority of cases it's probably not going to ever again be 100%. The few times I've ever heard her interviewed regarding her injury or injuries, I've never heard her suggest that she was having issues. At least not at the end of her rehabilitation.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Morgan Tuck's game reminds me of another "quiet assassin", Jamelle Elliott! Jamelle was under-sized at about 5'11" but could rebound with anyone and was deadly near the basket as our Ms. Tuck is! As Jamelle, Morgan is under-appreciated by the talking suits but the coaches & players in WCBB know she's an AA! As Teddy Roosevelt said "Walk softly and carry a big stick." Morgan walks softly and carries a club!

I know Jamelle was a relentless rebound but I never felt she was even close to being the offensive threat that Morgan is. Morgan has a potential to be an All-American and I never felt that way about Jamelle though her ferocity on the boards and toughness defensively made her a key asset to the Huskies.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Buzzyboy, I agree to a point but Jamelle did what was necessary for her team to win! Scoring on those teams was not needed, she rebounded and scored when she could but she was always the ENFORCER who kept the opponents honest! I always felt she could ring up the numbers if it was called for!

 

[watanabe]

Morgan's steadiness and strength is what is allowing us to go "wow" about the others.
She allows the others to define themselves.