Moving Forward

[Tonyc]

This was an exhibition game. Geno and the coaches get to look at what they have in a real game and what adjustments they need to make and what they need to work on. It was obvious the chemistry was off and that was due to all the newbies learning to adjust and getting over the jitters. Its gonna take time for everybody to learn, and develop which means we as fans will need patience as we move through the beginning of the season. With that said thank goodness we have Paige to bail us out.

I would expect Chen and Shade step up and take over some of the scoring. I think with the lack of experience we will be going through some growing pains until we gain the confidence needed to play as a team. Our talent will help us against alot of teams as we will out talent them and again we have Paige. I would expect when KK and Azzi get back the flow will be much better. Until then we will lack consistency and that is to be expected with a young and inexperienced team.

A couple of things that haven't changed. One we need to get healthy and this season we are on our way. The question mark of will Caroline and whether she will be able to play hasn't changed.

Thursdays game will be a little more of the same. Trying to iron out some if not all of the mistakes we saw and getting the girls ready for the next game. I expect to see some improvement as well as some mistakes. The learning process is nothing more then stumbling forward until you get it right.

Our expectations are high this season. Our team is still recovering from injuries. Our newbies are learning the system. It takes time and we're moving forward. As we get healthy, one by one our injured reserves will return and we will look more proficient and like the UConn teams we are expecting. Until then we have Paige to take over when needed and we will lean on her to a W.

 

[Centerstream]

I think that the game against BU will need a different approach. It didn't look like Fort Hays State had much height and we struggled with the inside game, including our "bigs". In looking at the BU roster, they appear to have a few players above 6'1 and I have no idea how good they are but just being in the paint could cause a problem.
We need for Jana to settle in a little more and stay away from fouls. She should be drawing them, not committing them.
Ice needs to use her athleticism down inside and score a few points, hopefully double digits. We all know she is capable of it.
However if the rest of the players play at the same level as they did yesterday, that should help the inside game.
I can see using the same starters and jumping out from the opening tip.
And if KK is available, so much the better for us.

 

[Charliebball]

In addition to Azzi, I'm anxiously awaiting the return of Aubrey Griffin who may be UConn's most disruptive two-way player........hopefully she will be healthy enough to suit up for the second half of the season and most importantly tournament play.....

 

[uconnfan68]

In addition to Azzi, I'm anxiously awaiting the return of Aubrey Griffin who may be UConn's most disruptive two-way player........hopefully she will be healthy enough to suit up for the second half of the season and most importantly tournament play.....

Hopefully AG and KK can help bring some speed to the team, who I thought looked pretty slow overall yesterday. PB was in mid-season POY form, and I hope she doesn't get burned out. The bigs need to figure a few things out. Fouling was mostly slow reactions.

 

[Zarathustra]

I think that the game against BU will need a different approach. It didn't look like Fort Hays State had much height and we struggled with the inside game, including our "bigs". In looking at the BU roster, they appear to have a few players above 6'1 and I have no idea how good they are but just being in the paint could cause a problem.
We need for Jana to settle in a little more and stay away from fouls. She should be drawing them, not committing them.
Ice needs to use her athleticism down inside and score a few points, hopefully double digits. We all know she is capable of it.
However if the rest of the players play at the same level as they did yesterday, that should help the inside game.
I can see using the same starters and jumping out from the opening tip.
And if KK is available, so much the better for us.

I had to look twice to appreciate the new ICE.... svelte! With her height and
strength and passing skills I anticipate a great combination, high > low, between
her and Jana and her and Sarah = I had good vibes watching them work together on
the replay this AM. Kudos to Sarah for diving to the floor for those loose balls!

 

[Happydad745]

KK, Shade and Azzi will all be there to help Paige.....so will Shade and Chen while the other develop more.

 

[yhun89]

We had solid contribution from Ash, Chen, and Paige. Ash and Paige look more than ready to take on the season. Chen is getting there. Sarah coming along nicely as well. Allie could've had 9-10 points had those 3's fallen, they were all really good looks.

BU lost their main center to NC State, I have no idea if she was replaced. Last year I watched them play Harvard, a pretty mid-low tier team. They won, but just barely. Harvard was also missing its star point guard and main scorer/defender, Harmoni Turner, so for them to nearly lose to a weakened Harvard team isn't great.

Am I worried about the BU game? Maybe a bit. But given that I saw them play live last year, I wasn't too impressed with what I saw from them.

 

[Jim]

It didn't look like Fort Hays State had much height and we struggled with the inside game, including our "bigs".

I am going to disagree a bit with the first part of that statement. The Fort Hays center was listed at 6'3", but when standing near our other players she looked closer to 6'4" or even 6'5". She had a Stewie-like build with long arms, and she was a 4th year senior going against a sophomore and a freshman. Heightwise she matched up pretty well against Ice and Jana, but Jana certainly had a bigger build. That I think that was offset by experience leading to our "bigs" difficulty. Jana in particular needs to learn how to use her size advantage without getting called for fouls. Lots of potential, just needs more experience to get there.

 

[hoophuskee]

Am I worried about the BU game? Maybe a bit. But given that I saw them play live last year, I wasn't too impressed with what I saw from them.

You are worred that UCONN will only win by 30 instead of 40?

 

[Rowdy831]

I expect they will ratchet up the defense on Thursday and get the energy going early. Paige played like a veteran but the other players all looked tight. The younger players though will break through that nervousness very quickly and when they do I think everything else will look smooth. As a team they have a bunch of ladies who can score and that pretty much ensures you will have the points every night even if it comes from different people.

The beginning of this season is extremely exciting for me and hopefully this team will be as good as I expect them to be.

 

[yhun89]

You are worred that UCONN will only win by 30 instead of 40?

No, more about whether our rotations look better during the game.

 

[Bone Dog]

Everything is still fluid, which means new faces can find more playing time. It’s a time of possibilities. By January, there will be a lot less flexibility in the rotation. I love this about November games.

Q is going to get her shot, and Allie too. If they settle in and find their game faces, it could make a big difference later in the season. It’s a shame Morgan isn’t ready to show what she can do yet. There won’t be as many chances a month from now.

Ash and KK will bring their mid season form against BU. Ash already showed she’s settled in yesterday after some early jitters. Kaitlyn is close to being ready for the season.

Sarah is ready. Ice and Jana are still projects. But I expect Ice will settle in against BU. The big question is whether Jana can find her confidence soon. I’m optimistic. The 5 position is hers for the taking, and I’m sure Geno would love to reshape the half court offense around her as soon as she shows she’s ready.

 

[Skeets]

Hopefully AG and KK can help bring some speed to the team, who I thought looked pretty slow overall yesterday. PB was in mid-season POY form, and I hope she doesn't get burned out. The bigs need to figure a few things out. Fouling was mostly slow reactions.

I thought Paige played several minutes too many in a "means nothing" game. I think back to her original knee injury with about two minutes to go in a game that was already won. No need to play her 3.5 quarters against Ft Hays. No reason to play her that much against those awesome terriers on Thursday.

 

[uconnfan68]

I thought Paige played several minutes too many in a "means nothing" game. I think back to her original knee injury with about two minutes to go in a game that was already won. No need to play her 3.5 quarters against Ft Hays. No reason to play her that much against those awesome terriers on Thursday.

I hear you, but I’m sure both Paige and Geno were fine with her minutes. She needs some work too, although she looks 100%.

 

[Bone Dog]

I thought Paige played several minutes too many in a "means nothing" game. I think back to her original knee injury with about two minutes to go in a game that was already won. No need to play her 3.5 quarters against Ft Hays. No reason to play her that much against those awesome terriers on Thursday.

27 minutes is more like 2.7 quarters than 3.5

 

[Alydar]

I think that the game against BU will need a different approach. It didn't look like Fort Hays State had much height and we struggled with the inside game, including our "bigs". In looking at the BU roster, they appear to have a few players above 6'1 and I have no idea how good they are but just being in the paint could cause a problem.
We need for Jana to settle in a little more and stay away from fouls. She should be drawing them, not committing them.
Ice needs to use her athleticism down inside and score a few points, hopefully double digits. We all know she is capable of it.
However if the rest of the players play at the same level as they did yesterday, that should help the inside game.
I can see using the same starters and jumping out from the opening tip.
And if KK is available, so much the better for us.

If Geno plays Arnold, Shade Bueckers, Brady & XXX the play would look a lot better but I think Geno is force-feeding his new players and as long as the opponents are being beaten he will live with miss-timed passes and defensive confusion that comes with the new players as they learn.

 

[Cuango]

I have no doubt we will see big improvement across the board on Thursday. The “vets” Chen, KK, Ash, & Ice will all play better, though Ash & Chen did pretty well on Monday. I expect similar, if perhaps somewhat less improvement from Jana and Allie. I would not be surprised at all to see Sarah produce her first (of many) double double. Paige will do whatever is needed and as for Q, I’m hoping she has improved enough on defense to earn regular minutes as well! Finally, I believe we could begin to see Azzi any time now. I think she is very close and it is simply a matter of her deciding that she is ready. I am so excited!

 

[Skeets]

27 minutes is more like 2.7 quarters than 3.5

Picky, picky Mr. Dog. Paige did finally sit for good with something like 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. Hence my comment. Prior to that she was in the game or knew she would shortly be going back in the game.

 

[Ace565]

I thought Paige played several minutes too many in a "means nothing" game. I think back to her original knee injury with about two minutes to go in a game that was already won. No need to play her 3.5 quarters against Ft Hays. No reason to play her that much against those awesome terriers on Thursday.

There is always a reason why Geno plays Paige. He may be getting the underclass players more time to play with her and get the players on the same page. He did take her out later. Just like the behind the back pass she did that went around the arc ending in a 3 pt play while Fort Hays players stood and watched knowing they had no chance to stop that play. Her teammates responded to that pass and were ready....because she was still on the court. Otherwise that lesson would not been taught. Can't teach that sitting on the bench. Btw injuries happen and you can stop them by taking a player out...only delaying the possibility.

 

[reelfan]

In GENO we trust.

 

[meyers7]

Picky, picky Mr. Dog. Paige did finally sit for good with something like 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. Hence my comment. Prior to that she was in the game or knew she would shortly be going back in the game.

It's not picky, it's accurate. You're complaining about her playing too much, yet she didn't play near as much as you suggested.

 

[PJCLaw]

I thought Paige played several minutes too many in a "means nothing" game. I think back to her original knee injury with about two minutes to go in a game that was already won. No need to play her 3.5 quarters against Ft Hays. No reason to play her that much against those awesome terriers on Thursday.

Paige played only 27 minutes, which I hope will be her average this season to keep her fresh for the tournament.

 

[JellyBean]

Much like last year and heck probably previous years, the first few games of the season, everyone is looking rusty or "sloppy". It will happen. Players and coaches are adjusting to different roles, styles of play, and requests. Heck last year folks were all up in arms about the small lineup. "It will never work". Well we see how that turned out. The Boston game will be just another game. Players and coaches will figure things out. I just hope that if we get up by 25-30 points on Boston and we are in the 3rd and especially the 4th quarter, Paige ain't on the court, I cringe every time I see her out there and we are up 30 plus points in the 3rd & especially the 4th quarter with 7-8 minutes left in the game.

 

[Bone Dog]

I just hope that if we get up by 25-30 points on Boston and we are in the 3rd and especially the 4th quarter, Paige ain't on the court, I cringe every time I see her out there and we are up 30 plus points in the 3rd & especially the 4th quarter with 7-8 minutes left in the game.

I share your sentiment, though not out of fear of injury. I just think it’s okay to fritter away a big lead in the 4th quarter and win by single digits if it means there’s more chances for the roster to get experience and to compete for playing time. This is how the first half or 3/4s of the season should go.

As March draws near, a shorter rotation will emerge and the powerhouse Geno knows how to build will take shape. And Paige and whoever else has earned it will see their minutes grow. It’s okay for Paige to play 35 minutes in March if she hasn’t had to do so in January.

And maybe the best part will be that the rest of the world will look at the data and conclude that UConn doesn’t know how to hold big leads. That’s an illusion I think we should live with.

 

[hoophuskee]

I thought Paige played several minutes too many in a "means nothing" game. I think back to her original knee injury with about two minutes to go in a game that was already won. No need to play her 3.5 quarters against Ft Hays. No reason to play her that much against those awesome terriers on Thursday.

Don't agree. Glad coaching staff played her 27. I think her avg this year should be near 30. Out for an avergae of 25% of a game overall in terms of total minutes for a season should be fine for an extremely fit 22 yo to handle.