Obviously The Nattie Is A Lock

[Next 12]

Onto the 12th National Title…who’s with me?

I have been a Jana EL Alfy fan since the first time she said she was coming to UCONN. After she said that I looked up her playing in the FifA games and she was a beast. In one game she had 37 points and another she had 20 rebounds. JANA also has a 3 point shot that is consistent. In most games she was the high scorer and top rebounder. She can also go to the basket with ease because of her size. My confidence in her is so high that I believe she will start from day one and stay there. Another attribute she has is her excitement and go-go attitude. JANA is what Uconn has been missing the last 3 years and now she is here and with this team I can really feel N.O.12 which is my sign. GO JANA!!!! GO SOPHPMORES!!!!!!GO HUSKIES!!!!

 

[Steelerone]

Omigosh. Can we wait until the first time we see her on the court to make any decisions on her abilities?

 

[BobbyJ]

This is from Aug. 2016. Since GA had also coached Moore and Stewart by this time and they hadn't been enough to get him to change his mind, I guess it's safe to assume he's sticking with DT for now until he tells his trusted media crew differently.

Geno Auriemma Lauds Diana Taurasi as His Greatest Pupil - Phoenix Mercury

Geno Auriemma has won 11 NCAA championships and a trio of Olympic gold medals while coaching many of the greatest players in the history of the sport. But when asked who is the best player he has coached over his four-decade career, the Hall of Famer doesn’t hesitate to answer Diana Taurasi...

mercury.wnba.com

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Geno creates tremendous interest in his program via his comments. It's illegal? Rather he listens to you and repeats your wisdoms? Shirley you jest......

Opinions are like .... In this case I would prefer he say nothing. Even the interpretation advocated for by some hear is inappropriate and slights a lot of alums. Geno does this now and then because he has a tendency to ramble. He's a great coach, but he's human.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Even more, "I've never coached anybody better" isn't the same as "She's the best player I've ever coached". Geno would never call someone his best player ever before she's played a game.

It sounds like Geno has done his best coaching job with Jana. Might mean that Jana responds immediately and keeps the lessons learned....
Can't wait for the replay Sunday night after working the early voting here in INDIANA.

Go Huskies!

 

[CL82]

Omigosh. Can we wait until the first time we see her on the court to make any decisions on her abilities?

Why limit ourselves to facts when imagination offers unlimited possibilities?

 

[meyers7]

Omigosh. Can we wait until the first time we see her on the court to make any decisions on her abilities?

Ummm, this is the BY.

 

[CL82]

Ummm, this is the BY.

It's like he doesn't know us at all.

 

[Crossover]

One of Geno's jobs is to speak with clarity. " I've never coached anybody better at Connecticut." Seems to be talking about his observations of her on the court. So we can agree to disagree. He's coached her and no one has been better. Did he mean that? Who knows, but he sure as heck said it.

Neither Geno nor anyone else can guard against people taking a sentence out of context.

 

[Mandoo]

I feel like this is the time of the year that you can get a lot of hyperbole out of Geno.

Greatest quote I've ever heard on the Boneyard.......

 

[Ozimoto]

I want to see if Jana can stay on the court and not be a foul machine.

 

[triaddukefan]

BTW, has anyone sent a UConn WCBB t-shirt or hat (along with a quart of the Dairy bar Husky tracks-vanilla, fudge swirl, peanut butter cups) to @triaddukefan to wear in Greensboro on Nov 15 to represent our interests?

I still have a classic UCONN hat that I bought in 1997, but I haven't received any New Haven Pizza or Steamed Cheeseburgers that would entice me to find it.

 

[Bald Husky]

I want to see if Jana can stay on the court and not be a foul machine.

That is my biggest fear. I am so looking forward to seeing what Jana can bring to the table, but as with the history of our "Bigs", foul trouble usually follows them until they learn what they can and what they cannot do. Since it is reported that she likes to bang I'm hoping that it's not as bad as it sounds. Still, having that tall, big body presence on the floor excites me to no end. Her battles with Kiki and Audie should be epic.

 

[Woof 101]

One of Geno's jobs is to speak with clarity. " I've never coached anybody better at Connecticut." Seems to be talking about his observations of her on the court. So we can agree to disagree. He's coached her and no one has been better. Did he mean that? Who knows, but he sure as heck said it.

No attack, Rocky but in Geno we here trust. He uses lip lashing to prod and push others. With watch lists of players he has his way of using his hard love methods. With the long list of All Americans that have been here I doubt he meant the statement the way it was it has been portrayed. . But as you say he said it. Geno being Geno! Nothing new. That and one of the most successful programs in the country.

 

[visitingcock]

That is my biggest fear. I am so looking forward to seeing what Jana can bring to the table, but as with the history of our "Bigs", foul trouble usually follows them until they learn what they can and what they cannot do. Since it is reported that she likes to bang I'm hoping that it's not as bad as it sounds. Still, having that tall, big body presence on the floor excites me to no end. Her battles with Kiki and Audie should be epic.

She may require a season to adjust to how differently US refs call the game on bigs than international refs.

 

[Bald Husky]

She may require a season to adjust to how differently US refs call the game on bigs than international refs.

Let's hope not, we need to get Paige her NC, and a lot will depend on our post play.

 

[HuskyNan]

Let's hope not, we need to get Paige her NC, and a lot will depend on our post play.

You know the regular season doesn't decide who wins the championship, right?

 

[visitingcock]

You know the regular season doesn't decide who wins the championship, right?

Correct, but it is the time to accumulate building blocks ( and excuse me, I’m just engaging in pre-game nervous chatter today)

 

[HuskyNan]

Correct, but it is the time to accumulate building blocks ( and excuse me, I’m just engaging in pre-game nervous chatter today)

The regular season hasn't actually started yet. Preseason games are just to get the new guys over their nervousness, get used to the crowds, the court, a higher level of opponent and such. It's really a reach to extrapolate what will happen in April from the first exhibition game, especially with half the team sitting on the bench.

 

[huskeynut]

Pre-season/ exhibition games are also a time to see what needs to be worked on for the team and each player. Practice is one thing. Game experience is another thing.

Geno now has what he and his staff need to go forward and develop the team. He had the opportunity to see who works well together on the court. He most likely knew what was going to happen on the court.

Next up is Thursday with Boston University. This is when we start to get a picture of what will happen.

 

[PacoSwede]

Pre-season/ exhibition games are also a time to see what needs to be worked on for the team and each player.

may not be a priority but i think it was obvious that most who played need remedial work -- maybe first-ever work -- on boxing out and being aware that rebounding is an important component of winning basketball. ... exceptions were paige, ash, kaitlyn, q.

 

[donalddoowop]

If some of the comments I read on this message board are made after five or six games they would make more sense. But, after one exhibition game? Comments on the positive things seen would make more sense as long as they are realistic. UConn is going to be fine.

 

[tchalla1]

The Mirror article in Nan's Oct. 31 list quotes Geno as saying he has never coached anyone at UConn better than Jana.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma has admitted he has never coached "anybody better at Connecticut" than Jana El Alfy as the highly-tipped center prepares to make her Huskies debut.

Geno Auriemma ready to unleash 'best player he's ever coached at UConn'

After missing her freshman campaign, one UConn prodigy is determined to put her injury woes behind her after receiving a major vote of confidence from Huskies coach Geno Auriemma

www.themirror.com

It may turn out to be true, but it might have been better to let her play a couple three games in a UConn uniform before appearing to anoint her. Did he give consideration to the fact that the former NPOY is expected to lead this team as far as it will go; a player that just might earn as much as he does. To me it is weird and unnecessary, bordering on gratuitous.

We all know he's given to saying things, typically in press conferences, which are messages to one player or another and occasionally the team. What is this statement meant to accomplish? If you were the player what would you be thinking? Would you feel more or less pressure as your first Husky game approaches? Is this an effort to build her up so she will not press and foul as much? It's a total puzzzle to me.

Good comments... I am still shocked after reading Geno's quote about Jana being the best he's ever had! I read it several times to make sure. Never heard him make a quote about an unproven freshmen. Wow... From what I've seen of Jana, she does have excellent skills, but to hear Geno say this, is absolutely astonishing.. I will continue to say "WOW" about this for the entire season.!

 

[Cuango]

Good comments... I am still shocked after reading Geno's quote about Jana being the best he's ever had! I read it several times to make sure. Never heard him make a quote about an unproven freshmen. Wow... From what I've seen of Jana, she does have excellent skills, but to hear Geno say this, is absolutely astonishing.. I will continue to say "WOW" about this for the entire season.!

While I have little doubt that Jana will indeed become an All-American here at UConn, I personally believe Geno was referring to her as a “whole person” rather than strictly as a player. This would include character, personality, desire, effort, eagerness to learn, kindness, generosity, etc. Also, as I recall, the quote was that he had never coached anyone better!

 

[meyers7]

may not be a priority but i think it was obvious that most who played need remedial work -- maybe first-ever work -- on boxing out and being aware that rebounding is an important component of winning basketball. ... exceptions were paige, ash, kaitlyn, q.

Huh? What game did you watch? UCONN outrebounded Fort Hayes 53-33. El Alfy, Strong and Ice had 9/8/5 respectively.