Natalie Butler and Saniya Chong

[EricLA]

Wanted to devote a thread to these 2 ladies - both injured for most of the year and both finally playing tonight. This was the 2nd very good game in a row for Chong.

First on Butler - how does 11 points and 8 rebounds sound in her UCONN debut in limited (15) minutes? Also 2 blocks and 2 steals. Cinci is simply a bad team but, a great game to get her feet wet and get into the flow with nothing "needed" from her. No idea how she will grow and develop, but what a tremendous start.

Now for Chong - 22 minutes, time-wise only behind Collier, Nurse and Jefferson. 13 points, 4 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and NO turnovers. It may be too soon to say she's turned the corner but 2nd game in a row with a really solid performance - and I'm sure no one is happier than her, but so great to see her go out and play with confidence the way we all knew/hoped she could.

A few other observations - lots of PT for Collier who logs another double double. Interesting that she led the team with 29 minutes to Samuleson's 12. Is KLS injured or sick?

And how awesome is it to see UCONN with 8 players in double figures for scoring? Any other team woulda played Stewie 30 minutes so she could score 30 or more points. Not Geno. 22 minutes in a modest but effective 7-11 shooting night. This is one reason why UCONN wins championships.

 

[BobbyJ]

Good observations. Samuelson isn't hurt or sick. She just got a message that good coaches have given players since forever. "You're either going to play hard, sell out, and make body contact or you'll sit and cheer". She's got skills but by themselves they're only good in an empty gym. And I REALLY like Collier. She GETS IT.

 

[JoePgh]

Are you only looking at the box score or did you see the game on TV?

KLS was making a visit to Chateau Bow-wow tonight. She didn't enter the game until about a minute was left in the third quarter, with UConn up by about 35 or 40 points. The announcers showed her on the bench in the first half, looking puzzled but not overly upset. The announcers said that she had been a full participant in the morning shoot-around and in the pregame warmups, so they did not attribute her benching to either injury or illnss. After the game, Geno was asked about this and said (basically) that she needs to work harder and play with more intensity. When she finally got in, she seemed to try to do that, going for several steals (usually not successfully).

On the other hand, Natalie Butler came into the game in the first quarter and played short minutes frequently throughout the game. She really impacted the game while she was in and generated excellent stats for her limited minutes.

Running the court, she seemed slow -- the last UConn player down the court in transition when I noticed her. She will have trouble guarding other posts who can run the floor. But I think she will be able to play effectively against opponents like Alaina Coates, who is not known for her gazelle-like floor play either.

 

[Kaizen]

Chong has a solid game tonight. Butler is much better than I expect. Thanks God.

 

[jcoton56]

It seemed that Saniya and Natalie are treating their game miutess as precious andit showed. Never saw Saniya so happy.

 

[alexrgct]

If Chong and Butler add value, and with the inevitable development of KLS and Collier, UConn will actualize with all of the depth that we predicted and expected preseason...

 

[johnnyc]

Love the way Butler runs the floor. That was one of the things I noticed when I saw her play as a freshman. She has a bigger body now but with more game time her condition will improve. Chong looks great out there. Geno said she is going to be needed and she is ready.

 

[Kaizen]

If Chong and Butler add value, and with the inevitable development of KLS and Collier, UConn will actualize with all of the depth that we predicted and expected preseason...

Then with Tuck, Kia and Gabby return, plus 3 freshs we will be in very good shape in 2016-2017.

 

[Millenial23]

KLS was making a visit to Chateau Bow-wow tonight.

lol good one

 

[UcMiami]

I actually thought Natalie was doing a good job up and down the court - she isn't beating the guards, but didn't really expect that, did you? She was doing fine in terms of being back on defense before the Cinci post players.

My observations - Natalie has a really sweet touch from the foul line and a very quick turnaround quick/high release shot. She is not a great leaper to say the least, and seems a little slow footed on defense - but she is tall with a good nose for the rebounds. I am hoping that the foot speed picks up with more games played. She certainly looked comfortable on the floor and in the offensive and defensive sets. She got most of her minutes with the bench players, so it will be interesting to see her integration with Stewart and Tuck - she seems to make good decisions with the ball. Her first action was a nice two man game with Chong - entry pass in and a quick double team from changes player so she passed back out to Chong, repositioned, got an quick return and turned for a 5 foot baseline swish.

Chong looked great! Good defense, great energy, and sweet shooting. She is very important as that third guard with Moriah and Kia.

 

[UcMiami]

KLS was making a visit to Chateau Bow-wow tonight.

With the Kib thread shouldn't that be Chateau Chien!

 

[msf22b]

Bow-wow is much more illuminating.

 

[meyers7]

Nice game by both players tonight. Really really liked Butler's shots from FT line.

 

[Tonyc]

Look what we found. Nat and Saniya. For the past 2 games Saniya looks like she did in high school. Playing with a lot of confidence. Hey all those people talking about another 3 pt shooter well how bout from 20ft+. Saniya drained 3. Nat is Back. What a great performance and how smart is Geno for playing her in this game with out any pressure. How bout her turn around jumper from 15ft. This is just what the doctor ordered. I am so happy for both of them. Now looking into next season ...... looks a lot better, doesn't it.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Look out ol' Nat is back!! [from the obscure song "Nat the Knife"]

 

[TitleTown]

The really scary thing is that Chong and Butler are only going to get better(as long as they stay healthy) the more they play!

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I loved the play of both Saniya and Natalie! 2 games in a row that Saniya has played inspired BB and her defense has improved by the ton compared to her Stanford game of last year!
I think that considering this was Natalie's 1st competition in over a year she was great! I disagree with JoePgh above that "Natalie was slow going up and down the court and will have trouble guarding other posts that run the floor." I thought she moved really good for a big girl and considering this was her 1st competition in 1+ years I think she hustled and moved pretty good! You compare her to two 6'6"s TN's Russell, or Oregon's Hamblin and she'll lap them going down & back! With more games under her belt she'll move 100% better! This was just her 1st time out, so please cut her some slack!
She showed great hands, quick feet, and fought in the lane on offense and defense for positioning! I think her weakness will be her jumping ability, but even that may improve with game experience!
With both Saniya & Natalie back hopefully for the rest of the season, boy does that strengthen UCONN in the backcourt and front line!

 

[wire chief]

A Natalie footnote. No fouls in 15 minutes. Very good for the newcomer.

 

[uconnever]

If Chong and Butler add value, and with the inevitable development of KLS and Collier, UConn will actualize with all of the depth that we predicted and expected preseason...

If this all continues as it looks, then the title will be easily theirs. These 2 and the freshman development are the only things keeping certain games close.

 

[Sonny44]

Are you only looking at the box score or did you see the game on TV?

KLS was making a visit to Chateau Bow-wow tonight. She didn't enter the game until about a minute was left in the third quarter, with UConn up by about 35 or 40 points. The announcers showed her on the bench in the first half, looking puzzled but not overly upset. The announcers said that she had been a full participant in the morning shoot-around and in the pregame warmups, so they did not attribute her benching to either injury or illnss. After the game, Geno was asked about this and said (basically) that she needs to work harder and play with more intensity. When she finally got in, she seemed to try to do that, going for several steals (usually not successfully).

On the other hand, Natalie Butler came into the game in the first quarter and played short minutes frequently throughout the game. She really impacted the game while she was in and generated excellent stats for her limited minutes.

Running the court, she seemed slow -- the last UConn player down the court in transition when I noticed her. She will have trouble guarding other posts who can run the floor. But I think she will be able to play effectively against opponents like Alaina Coates, who is not known for her gazelle-like floor play either.

No, just not in game shape yet.

 

[Sonny44]

Look out ol' Nat is back!! [from the obscure song "Nat the Knife"]

Did you mean?

 

[rugbymate]

Last night allowed one to breathe a sigh of relief for next year.....based on what we saw of Butler its clear she takes up a lot of space underneath and rebounds will find her. She also has that UCONN work ethic as she busted her hump up and down the floor and positioned herself quickly on both ends. We just might be a better rebounding team next year with Gabby, NC, Butler and Tuck controlling the boards and all capable of starting the fast break and being involved in the transition game. Second, as other posters have pointed out we have now seen the real Saniya....can't tell you how happy I am for her as she must have been extremely frustrated. Although I suspect Kia will be the starting point next year we clearly have red meat for a debate. We can all agree that our depth with a healthy Saniya improves dramatically.
Last comment....what surprised me most about Butler was her jump shot(although maybe jump is not the right word). She has great technique, a swift release and a very repeatable, fluid motion. If she can hit that shot from 15-18 with regularity it will force the opposing big to step out and open up a lot of space underneath for our great athletes to do their thing. Very exciting prospects indeed.

 

[Blakeon18]

My guess is that Natalie runs the floor better than Stef Dolson as a senior.

Saniya Chong [aka the Sing Sing Assasin..g]: her trey daggers take no prisoners. Whatever new treatment is receiving from Rosemary...keep it going. She was fabulous.

 

[Dougie]

A Natalie footnote. No fouls in 15 minutes. Very good for the newcomer.

Yes, no fouls is a great sign. I think that one of the things that the coaching staff really stresses is body control on defense. When you go up on defense, go straight up. Don't leave your feet unnecessarily. So often you'll see UCONN players in the low post with their arms straight up and their bodies vertical and not jumping at all. It's hard to be called for a foul this way. As for Natalie's jumping ability, that may just not be one of her God given talents. I disagree with the poster who suggested that this may improve with game experience. Body control and positioning will all be strengths for her. Foot speed and quickness will continue to improve and she will be a great deterrent to those who dare drive the lane. Plus she appears to have a very high basketball IQ. I'm thrilled to see her in action.

 

[cohenzone]

A Natalie footnote. No fouls in 15 minutes. Very good for the newcomer.

True. She does have experience and it showed. Let's see in the couple of games where we have better competition, but it was easy to see why she was ROY in the BE. She is more than just big.