Napheesa or Katie Lou

[Kibitzer]

Best quote of the evening. Swin Cash: "It's always fun when you're kicking someone else's butt."

[Spoken like a true UConn Husky.

 

[ctfjr]

The only real bump in the road tonight was her drive to the bucket in the first half. She drove all the way in & instead of shooting made an ill advised pass (to Butler?) that was converted into a TO. Freshman mistake.

Other than that she had her mojo on tonight!

 

[uconnfan68]

Not that it will have any effect on outcome of the Temple game, but I'm getting vibes that Lou will soon be in the starting lineup in place of Napheesa.

Starter or starter's minutes ? Or both ?

What say you ?

I think its a moot point now. Lou it is.

 

[Kaizen]

Lou is excellent tonight, but Napheesa is also great, so does Butler, and Gabby.
I am really happy for them ~~~~

 

[Jimbo]

I agree with those who have said it may not matter much whether Lou starts or Napheesa starts. I love what I've seen so far from each of them, for different reasons, and it's exciting to think that they're only going to get better. Besides, there have been seasons when some of Geno's starters saw fewer minutes than some of the bench players.

That said, I wasn't terribly surprised to see Lou start the second half against Memphis or tonight's game against Temple. I think our offense has gone to a completely different level since she started finding her shot again over the past couple games, and not only because of her obvious ability to light up the scoreboard when she's hot. When she's out there, it becomes that much harder for an opposing defense to pack the lane against us, and (as Geno said after tonight's game) an extended defense leads to better offensive flow and gives Stewie a lot more room to move around and dominate. It remains to be seen how the rest of the season will play out (hopefully the dreaded "freshman wall" doesn't appear!), but it's hard to believe the starting job won't be hers for the foreseeable future.

 

[Kaizen]

I agree with those who have said it may not matter much whether Lou starts or Napheesa starts. I love what I've seen so far from each of them, for different reasons, and it's exciting to think that they're only going to get better. Besides, there have been seasons when some of Geno's starters saw fewer minutes than some of the bench players.

That said, I wasn't terribly surprised to see Lou start the second half against Memphis or tonight's game against Temple. I think our offense has gone to a completely different level since she started finding her shot again over the past couple games, and not only because of her obvious ability to light up the scoreboard when she's hot. When she's out there, it becomes that much harder for an opposing defense to pack the lane against us, and (as Geno said after tonight's game) an extended defense leads to better offensive flow and gives Stewie a lot more room to move around and dominate. It remains to be seen how the rest of the season will play out (hopefully the dreaded "freshman wall" doesn't appear!), but it's hard to believe the starting job won't be hers for the foreseeable future.

Let assume Gabby starts. Then we have:
KLS, Napheesa, Butler. Chong and Ekmark as benches.
This is a very very deep bench ....

 

[NewCorn]

It'

Let assume Gabby starts. Then we have:
KLS, Napheesa, Butler. Chong and Ekmark as benches.
This is a very very deep bench ....

It's hard to see how you keep Lou on the bench. WCBB be warned, Lou has discovered that the baskets in college work just like those in high school.

 

[Monte]

Not that it will have any effect on outcome of the Temple game, but I'm getting vibes that Lou will soon be in the starting lineup in place of Napheesa.

Starter or starter's minutes ? Or both ?

What say you ?

LOU: to start+finish

 

[johnnyc]

I have said in the past it did not matter who started with Stewart, Jefferson, Tuck and Nurse on the floor but I think we have to pay more attention to when Geno is interviewed. He may want Lou to be more than a three point shooter but make no mistake.....he wants that three point shot ability. He has mentioned many times how they need to replace KML (and Stokes defense). I think he recruited KLS with that in mind.....a replacement for KML. I think he intended KLS to start the whole time but had to send a message because that's all she was doing was throwing up threes. Pheese and Gabby are great players but they have not shown an ability to hit the three. They are slashing forwards who can also hit the pull up jumper and play great defense. They will both be starting next year.....along with Lou.

 

[Carnac]

Nothing would please me more than to see the Huskies come out of the gate against South Carolina on February 8 at the Colonial Life Arena, like they did against Memphis Wednesday and Temple tonight. Not only would a 10-15 point lead at the end of the 1st quarter shock the SC players and coaches, it would also quiet the crowd.

You know the arena will be sold out, all 18,000 seats. They've had this (revenge) game circled on their calendars since the schedule was announced. 18,000 screaming raucous fans can be very loud, and very intimidating. The atmosphere in the building that night will no doubt be similar to that of a post season tournament game. This will be the biggest game for both teams until the tournament begins. These two could very well meet again for the national championship in Indianapolis.

UConn sure looked like they were glad to be back in the friendly confines of Gampel tonight. Nothing stirs the soul (and your game), after a long road trip like sleeping in your own bed, and a little home cookin'. They looked scary good (and confident) tonight. It was also nice to see "Lou" have her "coming out" party.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I want to see Lou channeling her inner Kaleena.

And she did!!

 

[PhillyCoach]

If the game is close in the last 5 minutes, we all know that Geno will put in his 5 best crunch time players. It could be Gabby cause she can play great D, get steals, rebound, and score inside--with energy. Collier is a good defender, shot blocker & rebounder with a little less scoring. Lou plays decent D these days, but there are 3 things that she has that Geno would want in a close game. First, a 3 pt. shot. Next, great passing. (I think Geno realizes that Lou could be the passer that Dolson was). Third, less turnovers and less personal fouls. Geno has said many times this year that there will be games where UConn has to outscore the other team. That's Lou in spades!
Did you know that both Collier and Gabby have more turnovers than assists? Lou was at 33 assists with 15 turnovers. Also, Collier & Gabby have almost 30 personal fouls each and Lou has 15.
Final point - talking about starting vs finishing, etc. As with the Temple game, starting is important for Geno now because there are only 16 games left (give or take) before the NCAA tourney. The starters get to play almost, if not all of the first half and part of the 3rd quarter---to get that winning flow and chemistry. They had it again tonight. Yes, Lou is probably the piece to Geno's puzzle. These next 16 games will be fine-tuning the starting 5. This is the third game in a row where the timing and flow were obvious. With Lou in, all 5 starters can hit the three (Gabby & Collier can't.) Lou is the best passer of the three and IMHO, as good as any of the other starters (especially with her height to look over the floor.) IMO Lou will start most if not every game to keep the starting 5 sharp! Gabby comes in first, then Collier and Chong (if she is healthy.) Big games--UConn goes back down to 6 or 7 players.
The fun part is watching it all unfold.

 

[Boreifs]

If the game is close in the last 5 minutes, we all know that Geno will put in his 5 best crunch time players. It could be Gabby cause she can play great D, get steals, rebound, and score inside--with energy. Collier is a good defender, shot blocker & rebounder with a little less scoring. Lou plays decent D these days, but there are 3 things that she has that Geno would want in a close game. First, a 3 pt. shot. Next, great passing. (I think Geno realizes that Lou could be the passer that Dolson was). Third, less turnovers and less personal fouls. Geno has said many times this year that there will be games where UConn has to outscore the other team. That's Lou in spades!
Did you know that both Collier and Gabby have more turnovers than assists? Lou was at 33 assists with 15 turnovers. Also, Collier & Gabby have almost 30 personal fouls each and Lou has 15.
Final point - talking about starting vs finishing, etc. As with the Temple game, starting is important for Geno now because there are only 16 games left (give or take) before the NCAA tourney. The starters get to play almost, if not all of the first half and part of the 3rd quarter---to get that winning flow and chemistry. They had it again tonight. Yes, Lou is probably the piece to Geno's puzzle. These next 16 games will be fine-tuning the starting 5. This is the third game in a row where the timing and flow were obvious. With Lou in, all 5 starters can hit the three (Gabby & Collier can't.) Lou is the best passer of the three and IMHO, as good as any of the other starters (especially with her height to look over the floor.) IMO Lou will start most if not every game to keep the starting 5 sharp! Gabby comes in first, then Collier and Chong (if she is healthy.) Big games--UConn goes back down to 6 or 7 players.
The fun part is watching it all unfold.

I agree with that rotation analysis after seeing them in person again (which is light years better than on TV). One thing was very obvious; against a small and quick team like Temple, they did NOT switch on the pick and rolls when Natalie was playing. It may very well be that Geno left Mariah and Kia in for the second half of the third quarter to see if that would work; it did for the most part. Against top flight competition, though, they would have to switch to a zone with Natalie on the floor; given the incredible athleticism of the first eight, I doubt he will fool around with that once they are deep in the tournament.

 

[hjoerring]

Not that it will have any effect on outcome of the Temple game, but I'm getting vibes that Lou will soon be in the starting lineup in place of Napheesa.

Starter or starter's minutes ? Or both ?

What say you ?

Why do we insist on playing this parlour game? Uconn's future depends heavily on these two players developing. Napheesa to replace Morgan, and Samuel to give us what we had last year with KML. Come Tournament time, both of them will have to contribute as needed-- 3-point shooting and/or interior scoring/rebounding/defense. So, these two players are so critical for our success that I cannot reduce it/starting to window dressing.

 

[Sonny44]

If the game is close in the last 5 minutes, we all know that Geno will put in his 5 best crunch time players. It could be Gabby cause she can play great D, get steals, rebound, and score inside--with energy. Collier is a good defender, shot blocker & rebounder with a little less scoring. Lou plays decent D these days, but there are 3 things that she has that Geno would want in a close game. First, a 3 pt. shot. Next, great passing. (I think Geno realizes that Lou could be the passer that Dolson was). Third, less turnovers and less personal fouls. Geno has said many times this year that there will be games where UConn has to outscore the other team. That's Lou in spades!
Did you know that both Collier and Gabby have more turnovers than assists? Lou was at 33 assists with 15 turnovers. Also, Collier & Gabby have almost 30 personal fouls each and Lou has 15.
Final point - talking about starting vs finishing, etc. As with the Temple game, starting is important for Geno now because there are only 16 games left (give or take) before the NCAA tourney. The starters get to play almost, if not all of the first half and part of the 3rd quarter---to get that winning flow and chemistry. They had it again tonight. Yes, Lou is probably the piece to Geno's puzzle. These next 16 games will be fine-tuning the starting 5. This is the third game in a row where the timing and flow were obvious. With Lou in, all 5 starters can hit the three (Gabby & Collier can't.) Lou is the best passer of the three and IMHO, as good as any of the other starters (especially with her height to look over the floor.) IMO Lou will start most if not every game to keep the starting 5 sharp! Gabby comes in first, then Collier and Chong (if she is healthy.) Big games--UConn goes back down to 6 or 7 players.
The fun part is watching it all unfold.

Didn't know the numbers, but yes if Gabby could keep up her defense with less fouling she would get more minutes; you don't want fouls especially late in the game.
And when Napheesa embraces the importance of scoring, i.e. finishing under the basket she'll be hard to sit on the bench.
All of a sudden next year is not looking so bad, eh?

 

[UcMiami]

Nice post Coach!
One thing I will say is that Lou wasn't recruited to replace anyone - she was recruited because she was an incredibly talented basketball player with personal traits that Uconn prizes. She arrived the year after KML graduated and her distance shooting is certainly something that is welcome having lost KML's skills in that area, but they are very different players with very different body types and a different mixture of strengths.

I found Geno's comparison to Sveta interesting, and of the recent Uconn players I think she is more similar in skills to Stewart than KML and to some degree is following Stewarts development path as a freshman.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Nice post Coach!
One thing I will say is that Lou wasn't recruited to replace anyone - she was recruited because she was an incredibly talented basketball player with personal traits that Uconn prizes. She arrived the year after KML graduated and her distance shooting is certainly something that is welcome having lost KML's skills in that area, but they are very different players with very different body types and a different mixture of strengths.

I found Geno's comparison to Sveta interesting, and of the recent Uconn players I think she is more similar in skills to Stewart than KML and to some degree is following Stewarts development path as a freshman.

Hey Uc - I like how this board, at times, is the opposite of an onion. Posters build on and add layers of insight. I agree whole heartedly with your Lou and KML comparison. If you could do me a favor, I am just not that familiar with Sveta - her size, strengths weaknesses, personality, competitiveness, scoring, defense, relationship with Geno, etc. If you have time maybe you could bring me (and maybe some other posters) up to snuff.

 

[Farney]

If Katie Lou was a stock I'd be buying it up at any cost. Actually I would have done that a couple weeks ago when people were nervous. That kid has serious potential. Why did she have a slow start to the year? Because she's a freshman. Its what freshman do. Heck, I wasn't playing on national TV and I can tell you I got off a slow start at 18 in a new place too. She's finding her footing now and the sky is the limit.

If anyone is selling Katie Lou stock I'll take it off your hands. Its going to keep rising.

 

[NewCorn]

Katie Lou is channeling her inner Lou. In time, she will show that she in in a class with D and Maya.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

Geno espouses consistency in his lineup, so that the five on the floor have the familiarity necessary to play the kind of offense and defense that he coaches. I expect that he will solidify his starting lineup in the next few games. Moriah, Nurse, Stewie, Tuck, and a Wildcard will be that lineup. I suspect that he will continue to rotate the wildcard position in the lineup, based on physical condition, opponent, or game plan. Lou, Gabulous, Hoover, Tommy, and Ek all fit into that rotation.

It is sweet being deep!

 

[UcMiami]

Hey Uc - I like how this board, at times, is the opposite of an onion. Posters build on and add layers of insight. I agree whole heartedly with your Lou and KML comparison. If you could do me a favor, I am just not that familiar with Sveta - her size, strengths weaknesses, personality, competitiveness, scoring, defense, relationship with Geno, etc. If you have time maybe you could bring me (and maybe some other posters) up to snuff.

Sveta was the first player at Uconn on whom I had a 'crush'! (Still do, dirty old man that I am! ) So it is a pleasure to revisit her time at Uconn.
She remains in my memory as the smoothest player ever at Uconn - she seemed effortless in everything she did. She was fast without seeming to run hard, could elevate without seeming to jump, and had a very good handle without you every really noticing. Her injury in the 2001 season was devastating, and combined with Shea's cost the team a very real shot at an NC.

She had a sophistication which I associate with Europeans - they are generally raised in an environment where socialization occurs across ages and are expected from an very early age to participate in adult conversation in meaningful ways, so she seemed more grown up than typical college kids. She and Geno had a complicated relationship (surprise, surprise!) but I think one of mutual respect - she had a wicked sense of humor and a strong will, and the two bounced off each other but I don't remember her every being in the 'doghouse' but might just be forgetting. She certainly never got the nickname 'precious'. She sought out Uconn more than Uconn recruited her - and she greatly displeased her St. Petersburg coach by leaving for the US. Just making that choice says something about her.

As for her game - she was a point forward. With range out to the three point line (career .406 #5 at uconn), she was also a great passer (#14 career in assists) and slasher to the hoop. Defensively she was very good at playing passing lanes (#4 in steals career) and a very good rebounder., but not much of a shot blocker. She variously led her teams in points (1 year), assists (1 yr), rebounding (3 yrs), 3 point percentage (2 yrs), and steals (1 yr) If she had not lost half her senior year to injury she would have ended up with numbers around 2100 points, 550 assists, 950 rebounds, 350 steals, joining only Maya Moore in the 2000/500/300 points/assist/steals club. She twice scored more than 30 points in a game and twice dished out 10 or more assists. She is all over the best lists by freshman, sophomore, and juniors, and was voted first team all american three times including her senior year when she only played the first 19 games.

She was GREAT! And she is Beautiful!

Some nice links:
http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...ider-svet-abrosimova-0206-20150205-story.html


I was looking for a short documentary that was posted here a while ago that included interviews with her family and Russian HS coach but couldn't find it.

 

[UcMiami]

And another link to a story i don't remember every reading before.
http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol2no24svet.html

 

[donalddoowop]

Ill go out on a limb and predict Lou will start the rest of the year - could be wrong but that's my guess !

Some on here said that about Gabby at the beginning of the season. One good game should not get BY'ers to start predicting that Lou has arrived. If she starts missing a lot again some of you may start suggesting Geno replace her with someone else. Give her a few games before making a decision on whether she has found her game.

 

[UcMiami]

And another link to a story i don't remember every reading before.
http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol2no24svet.html

And another two:
http://www.si.com/vault/2000/11/20/...-svetlana-abrosimova-has-the-look-of-a-winner
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...ana-abrosimova-notre-dame-coach-geno-auriemma

 

[Gus Mahler]

And another link to a story i don't remember every reading before.
http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol2no24svet.html

Kind of touching the part about being made to feel like a traitor for not staying in Russia. Would be tough to handle for an 18-year-old. Or anybody else.