Natalie Butler Not Playing until Christmas

[baggerbob]

Gabby may have a year of experience but remember that Geno didn't trust her in any games against the best competition they played last year. On the other hand, he did trust Nurse, certainly more so than Chong. I think it comes down to individual players and also who the alternatives are. I would be stunned if the coaching staff doesn't realize immediately that KLS and Collier can play with the big girls already. I think Boykin will be brought along a bit slower due to being more raw offensively.

Unless Gabby has come up with something outside of 10 feet, the offense will have a problem with her in the starting lineup. Moriah, Kia, and Stewie like to be able to drive into the paint, and with someone as limited as Gabby was, she might end up in the way.

 

[billnaples]

Auriemma hardly needs an apologist in his corner to protect his legacy or stroke his ego. But I've told many that I do love numbers. So here are a few to chew on. In his first 8 seasons Geno amassed a decent record with an average of just over 20 wins and and just under 10 losses per year. So often you will hear a coach or school having their successes measured by 20 win seasons. Now with the last 22 years under Geno the numbers are scarier than Nightmare on Eagleville Rd. 756 - 56, over 34 wins and barely 2.5 losses. 93% win percent. So when this coach makes some decisions about who is riding point or pine I'm giving him the benefit. Mistakes don't happen much.

 

[meyers7]

I won't argue pro or con about Geno's decision making--he is after all a Human being, and all make mistakes/errors.

As if...


You funny.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Unless Gabby has come up with something outside of 10 feet, the offense will have a problem with her in the starting lineup. Moriah, Kia, and Stewie like to be able to drive into the paint, and with someone as limited as Gabby was, she might end up in the way.

Yeah, but she's light on her feet, too. I remember during games asking myself this question involving Gabby a lot last year: Where the hell did she come from!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

As if...


You funny.

I thought everyone got that memo...or was it a stone tablet. Been some years since it came down off the mount.

 

[meyers7]

Unless Gabby has come up with something outside of 10 feet, the offense will have a problem with her in the starting lineup. Moriah, Kia, and Stewie like to be able to drive into the paint, and with someone as limited as Gabby was, she might end up in the way.

 

[UcMiami]

By her 5th season Doty was a shell of her former self and at times didn't look like she belonged out there with the better UConn players. She's not a good example.

This UConn team has too many good ball-handlers and passers with vision and high BBIQ to be bothered by traps which is why no team really traps them.

And yet, the specific roster change made to begin the push toward a successful championship campaign was Bria going to the bench and Doty being shifted into the starting line-up. Somehow the chemistry adjustment that the roster move made worked, though clearly Doty was no longer as good a player as Bria had become.

One of those mysteries of team dynamic and coaching. It didn't change the actual number of minutes being played in a noticeable way, but the team performed better.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

And yet, the specific roster change made to begin the push toward a successful championship campaign was Bria going to the bench and Doty being shifted into the starting line-up. Somehow the chemistry adjustment that the roster move made worked, though clearly Doty was no longer as good a player as Bria had become.

One of those mysteries of team dynamic and coaching. It didn't change the actual number of minutes being played in a noticeable way, but the team performed better.

The minutes did change though. Doty's starting role was mostly ceremonial later that year.

In the BE tourney she played 18 minutes against DePaul, 4 against Syracuse, and then didn't play at all against ND. In the NCAA tourney she played 4, 13, 3, and 13 minutes over the last 4 games. She struggled against the Kentucky press in the elite 8. After she was taken out UConn started to roll.

 

[Gabbyfan]

We have already read that Morgan Tuck said Gabby was the most improved player on the team this fall.....let's just wait to see what she can do before writing her off as a viable starter...Butler healthy or not.

 

[Bestiarius]

I thought everyone got that memo...or was it a stone tablet. Been some years since it came down off the mount.

Unfortunately we'll never know for sure. Photographic evidence:

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Unfortunately we'll never know for sure. Photographic evidence:

Clearly an imposter. He was wearing a kilt when he came down. At least that is how I remember it.

PS. I know, Bestiarius and Rocky are going to hell.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

And yet, the specific roster change made to begin the push toward a successful championship campaign was Bria going to the bench and Doty being shifted into the starting line-up. Somehow the chemistry adjustment that the roster move made worked, though clearly Doty was no longer as good a player as Bria had become.

One of those mysteries of team dynamic and coaching. It didn't change the actual number of minutes being played in a noticeable way, but the team performed better.

That's a bit of history that I forgot. I think Bria was having some real angst/nerves...and that is one thing the Doty never had. Of all our kids who suffered injury and forever after begged the question: What might have been? Yes, she is my number 1 on that question. Combative, impish, devil that she was with a superb sense of where the basket was.

 

[Intpseeker]

Unless Gabby has come up with something outside of 10 feet, the offense will have a problem with her in the starting lineup. Moriah, Kia, and Stewie like to be able to drive into the paint, and with someone as limited as Gabby was, she might end up in the way.

I must have been watching different games. Speed, ups, nose for the ball, nose for the hoop, and all this from someone who had not played the game in a few years, and was playing a new position. She changed games in a heartbeat.

While I thought NB would start, being a "true" 5, I have no problem with Gabby starting. That's a pretty fast crew with her in there

 

[HoopsFan21]

I must have been watching different games. Speed, ups, nose for the ball, nose for the hoop, and all this from someone who had not played the game in a few years, and was playing a new position. She changed games in a heartbeat.

While I thought NB would start, being a "true" 5, I have no problem with Gabby starting. That's a pretty fast crew with her in there

Chong is faster and a better shooter than Gabby.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm more worried for Butler than for the team. I'm afraid she could be left behind.

 

[Intpseeker]

Chong is faster and a better shooter than Gabby.

End to end, I'll take Gabby every single time.

Shooting. Long range or under the hoop? Gabby is one of the best at cleaning up garbage that we've had.

I'm still in for GW

 

[HoopsFan21]

I'm more worried for Butler than for the team. I'm afraid she could be left behind.

You can't teach height, so I doubt it. She's had a year of practicing with the team and 3 years of eligibility. Plenty of time.

 

[HoopsFan21]

End to end, I'll take Gabby every single time.

Shooting. Long range or under the hoop? Gabby is one of the best at cleaning up garbage that we've had.

I'm still in for GW

Chong is nearly as fast as Mo and we already have a couple of players in Tuck and Stewart that are better than Gabby around the hoop, so we're all set there. If Gabby learns to shoot free throws and can hit at least a midrange shot, then I'll be all in on Gabby too, but we can't have everyone playing in the paint.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Boykin may do time in there too, though if the Achilles is still the least bit tender I'd wait and I hope she wears some wrist support at least for a while. Gabby was a more than credible presence inside last year, so she can do duty inside if called on.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Chong is nearly as fast as Mo and we already have a couple of players in Tuck and Stewart that are better than Gabby around the hoop, so we're all set there. If Gabby learns to shoot free throws and can hit at least a midrange shot, then I'll be all in on Gabby too, but we can't have everyone playing in the paint.

Hey HoopsFan - Agree that Chong is in the same time zone as Mo on quickness. Chong also has a better outside shot than Gabby. Chong also has a sneaky quick drive to hoop at times too. However, I just read another article this week (on top of many articles this season and last season, and the season before) that defense is a PRIORITY. Remember, Chong started last year because of her offensive skills (and dedicated practice), but was quickly pulled because of her defense. *If your opponent can't score, they can't win! Hey look, that one player is being picked on because she can't stop their opponent. Let's feed the ball to that area.
A positive issue is what area of the court Gabby will be playing. Defensively she could play the 3 or wing area. With her size, jumping ability, and quickness she could handle any top scorer. (Remember, wing is usually a high scoring and leading scoring position.) Gabby was a top defender last year. Rebounding is another important factor. Gabby could crash the boards both offensively (and use her 65% shooting to put it back in) or defensively rebound and start the fast break using her AA track skills. And let's say--Oh Well, she doesn't have a great outside shot. Give me all her pluses and I will accept the lack of an outside shot.
Believe me, I like Chong a lot. I think she has the potential to be a very, very good player. However, her defense and her overall consistency has to improve if she wants to start.

 

[UcMiami]

That's a bit of history that I forgot. I think Bria was having some real angst/nerves...and that is one thing the Doty never had. Of all our kids who suffered injury and forever after begged the question: What might have been? Yes, she is my number 1 on that question. Combative, impish, devil that she was with a superb sense of where the basket was.

We at least saw a good portion of Doty playing well - my two 'what if' players are Nicole Wolf who played and started her first 10 games as a freshman and played 3 her sophomore season and was never the same player - and of course Brittany Hunter, who arrived injured after her freshman season and showed glimpses of the player she could have been.

 

[UcMiami]

Love Gabby's play last year - she is maybe the best player I have seen at Uconn in getting up shots from strange angles around the basket and hitting a very high percentage and her interior passing was brilliant at times. Defensively she was good when she didn't foul, but she did foul a lot given the minutes she was playing and with the changes to rules this year, (no 1 and 1) not fouling will be more critical.

I assume the areas of 'great improvement' for Gabby are with her mid-range shooting. With a true off season for the first time in three years, improvement in this area and in all aspects of her game should not be a surprise.

I do think the balance of the team offensively is better this year with either a good outside shooter or a good true post player in the starting line-up and I don't think Gabby is the best option on the team for either of those positions based on general expectations. Even with a good mid-range-and-in game from Gabby, that still duplicates Tuck's and Stewart's greatest strengths, without adding the bulk/strength necessary to be effective on the defensive end in the low post area. I would say the same about Collier and Boykin, though I think they are likely to be stronger defenders down low than Gabby.
Based on that it leaves Chong, Ekmark, and Lou, to my mind the more likely starters - they do not solve the low post defensive issues as Butler hopefully will in December, but on the offensive end they do not duplicate the areas of strength for Tuck and Stewart.
I suspect we will see a more balanced use of starters and bench than we have in years, because of the quality available on the bench, and I see Gabby as an integral part of that. I just find it hard to imagine quite as great a transformation in mid range/distance shooting from Gabby that would be required to make her the best 5th starter option.

 

[UcMiami]

Love Gabby's play last year - she is maybe the best player I have seen at Uconn in getting up shots from strange angles around the basket and hitting a very high percentage and her interior passing was brilliant at times. Defensively she was good when she didn't foul, but she did foul a lot given the minutes she was playing and with the changes to rules this year, (no 1 and 1) not fouling will be more critical.

I assume the areas of 'great improvement' for Gabby are with her mid-range shooting. With a true off season for the first time in three years, improvement in this area and in all aspects of her game should not be a surprise.

I do think the balance of the team offensively is better this year with either a good outside shooter or a good true post player in the starting line-up and I don't think Gabby is the best option on the team for either of those positions based on general expectations. Even with a good mid-range-and-in game from Gabby, that still duplicates Tuck's and Stewart's greatest strengths, without adding the bulk/strength necessary to be effective on the defensive end in the low post area. I would say the same about Collier and Boykin, though I think they are likely to be stronger defenders down low than Gabby.
Based on that it leaves Chong, Ekmark, and Lou, to my mind the more likely starters - they do not solve the low post defensive issues as Butler hopefully will in December, but on the offensive end they do not duplicate the areas of strength for Tuck and Stewart.
I suspect we will see a more balanced use of starters and bench than we have in years, because of the quality available on the bench, and I see Gabby as an integral part of that. I just find it hard to imagine quite as great a transformation in mid range/distance shooting from Gabby that would be required to make her the best 5th starter option.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Chong is faster and a better shooter than Gabby.

You would not put Saniya inside except for an occasional high speed slashing 2 would you?

 

[msf22b]

We have been down this road often (i.e., wondering how our Huskies will match up vs. a formidable foe). Permit me to flip the coin, so to speak and consider the challenge facing Miss Muffet: how to match up with UConn.

First, there is the 60-80 equation to deal with. Seldom do the Huskies surrender 60+ ppg and, second they normally score over 80. Somehow, we must try to reverse this equation - or at least alter the numbers in our favor.

Let's start with our defense. Four questions leap off the scouting report: How in Knute Rockne's hallowed name do we put a lid on Stewie? Moriah? Nurse? Tuck?

And who else? Williams, Collier, or a TBA? Even Butler after exposure to Raigle magic.

Hmmm. Maybe Allen on Jefferson, Turner on Tuck, Cable on Nurse, Boley on Stewie and Mabrey on Katie Lou/Collier/Williams.

Hmmm. Time for an adult drink or a bi-carb.

To be continued. . . .

I liked Mabrey coming out of high school and on the USA squad that summer but she sure is slow on D, her shot is relatively ineffective if you put a hand in her face and it will be post-up city if she is assigned the
trio you mentioned.