No Blanca for Tenn

[Cuango]

Sure, I agree. I just think she may be a big factor against Tennessee!

 

[Topsail]

According to Maggie Vanoni, Geno said that Blanca will not be available tomorrow and "still needs a few days".

So hopefully she will be back for the upcoming home games against Butler and Creighton.

She has been wearing a harness on her left shoulder for the entire season. Whatever is going on there will need to be addressed at the end of the season, hopefully just rest and rehab. (Napheesa had shoulder labrum surgery after her first year.)

I watched her tossing passes to teammates during the warmups before the Xavier game and she was only using her right hand/arm.

I believe collier s surgery was for hip labrum not shoulder after freshmen year

 

[HuskyNan]

I believe collier s surgery was for hip labrum not shoulder after freshmen year

Tamika Williams and Tina Charles both came to UConn with shoulder issues that were attended to at the end of their freshman seasons

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[CONNCAN]

Big Time "Huge" Opportunity for Jana El Alfy to produce today vs. Tennessee

 

[huskeynut]

This team is talented enough and smart enough to deal with the Vols without Blanca.

First is our defense. Can the Vols withstand the onslaught on continual pressure? Though we are down one on the front line, our guards our will reak havoc led by KK and Azzi.

Our offense is going to be difficult for the Vols. Passing ability, continual movement and the ability of 4 or 5 players to score in double figures.

 

[Vowelguy]

I hope people don't get on her if she does not shoot as well tomorrow.

I can guarantee she won’t shoot as well.

 

[Blue Huskie]

We definitely missed her speed and athleticism today although we recovered well . She may have had a bunch of turnovers though. Hopefully the shoulder thing resolves with some rest.

 

[Nolefan]

We definitely missed her speed and athleticism today although we recovered well . She may have had a bunch of turnovers though. Hopefully the shoulder thing resolves with some rest.

Her height and speed alone would have gotten a few turnovers a few easy bunnies and few more rebounds ..

 

[HopJim]

Concerning issue. From personal experience, shoulders are tough to heal, particularly for a big who constantly is getting hammered (and doing alot of hammering on her own).

 

[Charliebball]

I'd keep Blanca out of the line up until she is as close to 100% as possible......I think the team can handle the remaining games without her risking further injury........

 

[Vowelguy]

Did Geno have his pregame media scrum yet? That would be the first chance to get an update on BQ

She’s not needed against DePaul but would like to hear that the recovery is going well

 

[Bone Dog]

Tennessee proved that we can win without Blanca, decisively. This also means getting her back is likely to supercharge an already loaded roster. I have a feeling this game will be a similar landmark in this season's schedule to what the same game did last season. There was some struggle, almost a stumble without a key player... and then everyone pulled together to recover their dominance, to flex a depth of power perhaps unsuspected before. All the celebrations around Kayleigh and Allie really shows something about this group.

 

[Charliebball]

Tennessee proved that we can win without Blanca, decisively. This also means getting her back is likely to supercharge an already loaded roster. I have a feeling this game will be a similar landmark in this season's schedule to what the same game did last season. There was some struggle, almost a stumble without a key player... and then everyone pulled together to recover their dominance, to flex a depth of power perhaps unsuspected before. All the celebrations around Kayleigh and Allie really shows something about this group.

I think it proved they could win against an athletic but inept Tennessee team but I'm pretty sure she's going to be needed against South Carolina, UCLA, Texas or LSU......

 

[Bone Dog]

I think it proved they could win against an athletic but inept Tennessee team but I'm pretty sure she's going to be needed against South Carolina, UCLA, Texas or LSU......

That's fair. But I think it's a mistake to underestimate Tennessee. They play a messy swarming chaotic game. But it's not inept. Their problem is that they can't sustain it over 4 quarters. Against us, they looked inept in the 4th quarter, but we also know they were spent by then.

 

[EricSD]

That's fair. But I think it's a mistake to underestimate Tennessee. They play a messy swarming chaotic game. But it's not inept. Their problem is that they can't sustain it over 4 quarters. Against us, they looked inept in the 4th quarter, but we also know they were spent by then.

Fair enough, but on the flip side, from the time the lead was 21-5 to UConn being down 4 a few minutes before the half - much of that +20 swing was about UConn not playing well. Look at the halftime adjustments and about 4 minutes into Q3 then BOOM. it was off to the races and we outscored them by 30 over the final 16 minutes.

My point is Tennessee was still playing hard for the final 16 minutes - full court press, physical play, lots of uncalled fouls, but UConn managed to continue to methodically extend the lead by playing great team defense and attacking with a wide array of offensive moves and offensive precision we didn't display during their run back the end of Q1 and in Q2.

I admit this is a more prolific 3 point shooting team than the ones in Pat's era, or even Holly, but they still rely on defense, physical play, and crashing the O-boards. If Texas, LSU, SC, Vandy, etc. are smart, they look at the last 2 Tennessee losses and see what disrupts them.

We outplayed them significantly for about 21-22 minutes, played them even for about 10 minutes, and got outplayed for about 8 minutes. Again, even Geno said some of the mess was self inflicted wounds...

 

[Charliebball]

That's fair. But I think it's a mistake to underestimate Tennessee. They play a messy swarming chaotic game. But it's not inept. Their problem is that they can't sustain it over 4 quarters. Against us, they looked inept in the 4th quarter, but we also know they were spent by then.

They've got height and athleticism but they are not a really good basketball team.......their offense is an abomination..... if they aren't hitting their three's they are done against a good opponent..........South Carolina, UCLA and especially Texas don't depend on the three point shot in order to win.........if Blanca is not available against any of those teams, I think it's fair to say that Geno will not be a happy guy......