Oregon Postgame Thread

[Littlemin]

Not exactly. There are right (assigned) spots to start all the UCONN sets. There are definitely "right spots" which ensures the correct spacing on the floor and makes the defense have to guard the entire floor. There are also right spots that have to be synchronized with the movement of the players. The offense is not designed for "any" player just move to "any" open spot. It is designed to react to how you are being defended. That spot on the floor was open for a reason. If it still does make sense think about Aubrey's air ball last night. Aubrey was open middle of the lane, got the ball 8 feet from the basket and shot an air ball. That was not where Aubrey was suppose to be. Aubrey needed to be on the move to or closer to the basket as she was earlier in the game when she got a pass from ONO on the baseline side. Anna was not in the right spot on those plays because she is not used to set high ball screens in that part of the floor.

That’s all well and good but sorry, I don’t buy it for a second. This offense has little movement and almost no synchronization. I am not going to argue where a player should be to start a set because I don‘t know. Evidently you do. But the fact is Makurat moves without the ball more than any other Uconn player and doesn’t see the ball nearly as much as she should. She is by far the best passer on this team and the lack of trust it seems Dangerfield, Walker, and Williams have in her is to the detriment of this team in my opinion. I posted a while ago that I think Makurat should run this offense and I have seen nothing to change my mind. One of the obvious deficiencies of the Uconn offense is that the ball “stops” whenever Walker, Williams and to a lesser extent because they see it less, Ono and Griffin touch it. They are all players who do not have quick ball movement in their games and as a result the team does too much standing around. I have seenmore 30 second violations thus year than Uconn has had in the last decade total. So if you think it is a good reason to not move the ball to an open player because they are in the “wrong spot”, we just disagree.

 

[CocoHusky]

That’s all well and good but sorry, I don’t buy it for a second. This offense has little movement and almost no synchronization. I am not going to argue where a player should be to start a set because I don‘t know. Evidently you do. But the fact is Makurat moves without the ball more than any other Uconn player and doesn’t see the ball nearly as much as she should. She is by far the best passer on this team and the lack of trust it seems Dangerfield, Walker, and Williams have in her is to the detriment of this team in my opinion. I posted a while ago that I think Makurat should run this offense and I have seen nothing to change my mind. One of the obvious deficiencies of the Uconn offense is that the ball “stops” whenever Walker, Williams and to a lesser extent because they see it less, Ono and Griffin touch it. They are all players who do not have quick ball movement in their games and as a result the team does too much standing around. I have seenmore 30 second violations thus year than Uconn has had in the last decade total. So if you think it is a good reason to not move the ball to an open player because they are in the “wrong spot”, we just disagree.

I'm not sure from where you conjured this "lack of trust" issue but rest assured it does not exists at UCONN because Geno and CD would have corrected it. Go back and watch the tape the plays where Anna was in the wrong spot you can clearly see Geno motioning to her to get to her right spot. Crystal dangerfield is the best passer on the team and is the one making her way way up the UCONN assist board. Anna is shooting the lowest percentage among the players in the regular rotation so perhaps she should do less running around or get to her right spot on the floor.
I agree that the UCONN offense recently has been suffering from lack of ball & player movement. This is a reoccurrence of an issue the team had early in the season. I'm not sure why it is happening again and neither is Geno if you listen to his post game pressers. IMO the lack of movement has to do with the recent emphasis on Crystal being used as a shooting guard as opposed to being used as a facilitator.

 

[Jingo]

I understand the recent disappointment for UConn fans that Williams hasn't progressed more this season. However, don't give up on the hope that she will be a difference maker this season. She has the tools to lift the Huskies during the postseason.

Walker has not played big in the biggest games this season, but will likely be a Third Team All-American or better by year end.

Based on what I have seen, Danger should be MUCH higher than Walker, eh?

 

[uconnfan68]

I think the main reason Kyla is starting is to take pressure off of Makurat. Makurat is definitely more poised now, but I think Geno made the switch because Makurat was putting too much pressure on herself early on. Maybe come NCAAT time Makurat will be the start given Irwin's minutes have been on the decline in big games.

Who do you think does the most communicating on the floor? Hint, it’s Kyla. That’s why she plays. If our biggest problem is lack of communication, why take out your leader in that area? If she shot more it would make a huge difference. She already all the other things Geno wants.

 

[Reypl21]

I understand the recent disappointment for UConn fans that Williams hasn't progressed more this season. However, don't give up on the hope that she will be a difference maker this season. She has the tools to lift the Huskies during the postseason.

Walker has not played big in the biggest games this season, but will likely be a Third Team All-American or better by year end.

I anointed Walker with being a 1st team AA had the season ended at the new year. Now I agree that she will probably be a 3rd team AA. Which isn't high enough to get on the wall. Her marquee game was against ND, and that game is looking less impressive as the season continues.

 

[LOhunter]

Sabally is going nowhere imo. She wants to play with her sister, Nyara who is an amazing talent herself at post. So Boley and Satou return. Top subs Chavez, Shelley, and Giomi return. Sedona Prince will be a strong presence. Winterborn and 6’5” Cochran have a year under their belt. And here comes five 5* recruits, the top class in the nation. The cream of that group will rise through the ranks.

No tears for Kelly Graves. Stanford, UCLA, AZ, ASU, and OS will have their hands full trying to take the PAC 12 crown away from Oregon.

Agree with the above. Hard to replace Sabrina and Hebard but the Ducks will have a strong core of skill players and should be much larger, stronger upfront with Prince and Nyara Sabally and others. (Ducks have a real physical post in Kylee Watson joining who I think will play early. She is only 6'3"-6'4", but her film shows she loves to bang, and has a lot going for her in her offensive game.) Look for Satou to play some point forward. There should be 4-5 players competing for meaningful minutes in the back court. Most of them will be young and it will take some time to incorporate the incoming freshmen. Will be interesting to see which of the young guards emerges since Graves likes to employ an offense where both guards have to be able to play point and off the ball. Considering all, Oregon should be one of the favorites to win the PAC for the 4th year (assuming they win this year) in a row.

 

[hart2hart]

The players need to pass the ball to Mak more. Period. Botta-Bing,Botta-Boom!

 

[cbraarj]

But on Monday, Crystal was the best player on UConn and Sabrina didn't have to be the best Oregon player, she just did what was needed for her team to control the game and win, despite being the focus of Geno's game plan. The other 4 all outplayed their UConn counterparts and played well. Makurat contibuted well on offense off the bench as did Griffin on defense, but so did Oregon's Chavez in the 4th qtr helping keeping UConn to 7 points when Crystal was tired trying to carry her team. Oregon won every quarter with a strong start inthe 1st building up a 10 point lead (22-12).

I thought Moore played great for them.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I thought Moore played great for them.

She really had a nice career at USC. Many didn't notice because USC was fairly irrelevant. I've actually been surprised she hasn't scored a little more for Oregon, but she's playing nasty defense and has enjoyed having Hebard to dish the ball to almost as much as Ionescu does. I'm not really sure if it's a net loss or net gain compared to having Cazorla in a similar role, but it's close enough to not really be a set back.

 

[Jingo]

I thought Moore played great for them.

Yeah another graduate transfer that killed us just like Chloe Jackson did last year and yet Evina rides the pines...

 

[CocoHusky]

She really had a nice career at USC. Many didn't notice because USC was fairly irrelevant. I've actually been surprised she hasn't scored a little more for Oregon, but she's playing nasty defense and has enjoyed having Hebard to dish the ball to almost as much as Ionescu does. I'm not really sure if it's a net loss or net gain compared to having Cazorla in a similar role, but it's close enough to not really be a set back.

I didn't pay attention, was her career at USC better than her sister's at Louisville?
If Oregon wins the championship this season it will be the 4th consecutive year where a transfer has had a major impact in winning a championship.
South Carolina-Davis & Gray
ND-Shepard
Baylor-Chloe Jackson
Oregon-Moore or Baylor-Cooper

 

[CocoHusky]

Yeah another graduate transfer that killed us just like Chloe Jackson did last year and yet Evina rides the pines...

Evina was not a graduate transfer, Moore, Cooper, Jackson & Evelyn Adebayo were. That's a huge difference.

 

[WestCoast]

Moore played AAU basketball in 2015 on the same Cal Stars Nike Elite team with Ionescu, Tudor, Decosta, and McGuire that won the Nike EYBL national title. She knew what life would be like playing with Ionescu and understood that she would need to be a willing passer and offensive spacer in the Oregon offensive system. Credit Moore for being willing to change her game to seek a chance to win a national title as a grad transfer.

 

[Papa33]

This offense has little movement and almost no synchronization. I am not going to argue where a player should be to start a set because I don‘t know. ... But the fact is Makurat moves without the ball more than any other Uconn player and doesn’t see the ball nearly as much as she should. She is by far the best passer on this team and . . . I think Makurat should run this offense and I have seen nothing to change my mind. One of the obvious deficiencies of the Uconn offense is that the ball “stops” whenever Walker, Williams and to a lesser extent because they see it less, Ono and Griffin touch it. They are all players who do not have quick ball movement in their games.

In his post-game interview, and on many occasions before, Geno has been frustrated by the lack of movement of both ball and players. Littlemin's comments start from the same point. I, too, have noticed, especially as I replay games and can stop and rewind and re-view action, that yes, the ball does stop much more once its in Walker's or Williams' hands, much more so than when Crystal or Anna have the ball. Why?-- because both Crystal and Anna have better court vision and seem to know what to do with the ball before they get it. Megan gets a pass, and only then looks to see what or who is open. Christyn also does not seem to "read" the floor, the defense, or her teammates' locations "before" getting the ball. And she tends too often to start to dribble without any plan for what she's going to do with it. Megan seems to have a kind of tunnel vision that gets her dribbling into crowds without knowing where she might find a teammate open. Result: steals and held balls and shots in heavy traffic. And dribbling, btw, is the slowest way of moving the ball from place to place, player to player. For years, announcers marvelled at the way the UConn offense moved the ball without it once touching the floor.

A Boneyard poster (sorry, can't remember who) observed that Anna seems to know what to do with the ball before she gets it. That's court sense, that's court vision, and it's essential to swift ball movement, also a UConn hallmark.

Give credit to Megan for the way she dedicated herself to becoming a more powerful athlete, and that has paid off in her rebounding and strength on defense agains taller opponents. If she will refine and expand her court vision and awareness, she can help her teammates and find better openings for her shots. Christyn can make more efficient use of her physical skills at both ends of the court by building vision and awareness of where the ball and her teammates are; that will allow her to make quicker and more effective decisions.

This is not an easy game; the challenge for both of these young, promising players is to elevate their mental games to the same level as their physical skills. I think their lack of progress in that area is what has so frustrated Geno. I'm also sure that both Megan and Christyn feel frustrated and guilty about their 5 of 25 shooting. Move the ball, shots will open— for them and their teammates—and shooting percentages will rise, even agains the best teams.

 

[CocoHusky]

Moore played AAU basketball in 2015 on the same Cal Stars Nike Elite team with Ionescu, Tudor, Decosta, and McGuire that won the Nike EYBL national title. She knew what life would be like playing with Ionescu and understood that she would need to be a willing passer and offensive spacer in the Oregon offensive system. Credit Moore for being willing to change her game to seek a chance to win a national title as grad transfer.

I believe Evina Westbrook was on that team also. I saw them at Boo Williams that year.

 

[domerduck]

She really had a nice career at USC. Many didn't notice because USC was fairly irrelevant. I've actually been surprised she hasn't scored a little more for Oregon, but she's playing nasty defense and has enjoyed having Hebard to dish the ball to almost as much as Ionescu does. I'm not really sure if it's a net loss or net gain compared to having Cazorla in a similar role, but it's close enough to not really be a set back.

Maite was bigger, good on defense and passing, also quick, but had a more deadly 3. Chavez plays alot like Maite and is even taller. Minyon is very strong and took her a while to fit in, but has made an impact. The combination of Minyon and more Taylor (who missed the last 10 games being hurt) has more than compensated for the loss of Maite to the WNBA.

 

[domerduck]

Yeah another graduate transfer that killed us just like Chloe Jackson did last year and yet Evina rides the pines...

She didn't graduate from Tennessee, just South Salem High School, jus 30 miles north of where I live.

 

[southofnorth]

Who do you think does the most communicating on the floor? Hint, it’s Kyla. That’s why she plays. If our biggest problem is lack of communication, why take out your leader in that area? If she shot more it would make a huge difference. She already all the other things Geno wants.

And I wholeheartedly agree with this. However, Makurat has been coming in early off the bench and playing extended minutes in place of Kyla. I'm a huge Kyla Irwin fan so I'm hoping she gains the courage to be more aggressive on offense the rest of the season.

 

[Jingo]

In his post-game interview, and on many occasions before, Geno has been frustrated by the lack of movement of both ball and players. Littlemin's comments start from the same point. I, too, have noticed, especially as I replay games and can stop and rewind and re-view action, that yes, the ball does stop much more once its in Walker's or Williams' hands, much more so than when Crystal or Anna have the ball. Why?-- because both Crystal and Anna have better court vision and seem to know what to do with the ball before they get it. Megan gets a pass, and only then looks to see what or who is open. Christyn also does not seem to "read" the floor, the defense, or her teammates' locations "before" getting the ball. And she tends too often to start to dribble without any plan for what she's going to do with it. Megan seems to have a kind of tunnel vision that gets her dribbling into crowds without knowing where she might find a teammate open. Result: steals and held balls and shots in heavy traffic. And dribbling, btw, is the slowest way of moving the ball from place to place, player to player. For years, announcers marvelled at the way the UConn offense moved the ball without it once touching the floor.

A Boneyard poster (sorry, can't remember who) observed that Anna seems to know what to do with the ball before she gets it. That's court sense, that's court vision, and it's essential to swift ball movement, also a UConn hallmark.

Give credit to Megan for the way she dedicated herself to becoming a more powerful athlete, and that has paid off in her rebounding and strength on defense agains taller opponents. If she will refine and expand her court vision and awareness, she can help her teammates and find better openings for her shots. Christyn can make more efficient use of her physical skills at both ends of the court by building vision and awareness of where the ball and her teammates are; that will allow her to make quicker and more effective decisions.

This is not an easy game; the challenge for both of these young, promising players is to elevate their mental games to the same level as their physical skills. I think their lack of progress in that area is what has so frustrated Geno. I'm also sure that both Megan and Christyn feel frustrated and guilty about their 5 of 25 shooting. Move the ball, shots will open— for them and their teammates—and shooting percentages will rise, even agains the best teams.

Dribbling is certainly not Megan's strong suit...

 

[Jingo]

I didn't pay attention, was her career at USC better than her sister's at Louisville?
If Oregon wins the championship this season it will be the 4th consecutive year where a transfer has had a major impact in winning a championship.
South Carolina-Davis & Gray
ND-Shepard
Baylor-Chloe Jackson
Oregon-Moore or Baylor-Cooper

Exactly...

 

[Jingo]

Who do you think does the most communicating on the floor? Hint, it’s Kyla. That’s why she plays. If our biggest problem is lack of communication, why take out your leader in that area? If she shot more it would make a huge difference. She already all the other things Geno wants.

Yeah but Kyla doesn't play smart .. she hurts the team when she doesn't shoot when open and she doesn't jump for rebounds.. she can't play at this level, eh? .. for some unknown reason, she started against Oregon and we were quickly down 8 or 10 points..

 

[domerduck]

I didn't pay attention, was her career at USC better than her sister's at Louisville?
If Oregon wins the championship this season it will be the 4th consecutive year where a transfer has had a major impact in winning a championship.
South Carolina-Davis & Gray
ND-Shepard
Baylor-Chloe Jackson
Oregon-Moore or Baylor-Cooper

Minyon led USC in about every category last year and I thought that team should have made the NCAA tourney. Minyon was their leader, but the second best player was her older 6 ft sister Mariya, who transferred from Louisville and exhausted her eligibility last year. USC was better than Arizona but decided not to play the WNIT since they were pissed about the NCAA snub.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I didn't pay attention, was her career at USC better than her sister's at Louisville?

I didn't follow Mariya very closely at Louisville. Nearly identical scoring marks, Mariya more of 3 point shooter (higher volume and percentage), Minyon more of a playmaker and better overall shooting %.

If Oregon wins the championship this season it will be the 4th consecutive year where a transfer has had a major impact in winning a championship.

Yeah, this is definitely looking like a trend. Although there about a bazillion transfers each year, so it has to be the right player transferring into the right situation to tip the scales that dramatically.

 

[nwhoopfan]

but the second best player was her older 6 ft sister Mariya

Mazyck might've been their 2nd best player, although I think she also caused some chemistry issues and might've been more trouble than she was worth.

 

[BobbyJ]

In his post-game interview, and on many occasions before, Geno has been frustrated by the lack of movement of both ball and players. Littlemin's comments start from the same point. I, too, have noticed, especially as I replay games and can stop and rewind and re-view action, that yes, the ball does stop much more once its in Walker's or Williams' hands, much more so than when Crystal or Anna have the ball. Why?-- because both Crystal and Anna have better court vision and seem to know what to do with the ball before they get it. Megan gets a pass, and only then looks to see what or who is open. Christyn also does not seem to "read" the floor, the defense, or her teammates' locations "before" getting the ball. And she tends too often to start to dribble without any plan for what she's going to do with it. Megan seems to have a kind of tunnel vision that gets her dribbling into crowds without knowing where she might find a teammate open. Result: steals and held balls and shots in heavy traffic. And dribbling, btw, is the slowest way of moving the ball from place to place, player to player. For years, announcers marvelled at the way the UConn offense moved the ball without it once touching the floor.

A Boneyard poster (sorry, can't remember who) observed that Anna seems to know what to do with the ball before she gets it. That's court sense, that's court vision, and it's essential to swift ball movement, also a UConn hallmark.

Give credit to Megan for the way she dedicated herself to becoming a more powerful athlete, and that has paid off in her rebounding and strength on defense agains taller opponents. If she will refine and expand her court vision and awareness, she can help her teammates and find better openings for her shots. Christyn can make more efficient use of her physical skills at both ends of the court by building vision and awareness of where the ball and her teammates are; that will allow her to make quicker and more effective decisions.

This is not an easy game; the challenge for both of these young, promising players is to elevate their mental games to the same level as their physical skills. I think their lack of progress in that area is what has so frustrated Geno. I'm also sure that both Megan and Christyn feel frustrated and guilty about their 5 of 25 shooting. Move the ball, shots will open— for them and their teammates—and shooting percentages will rise, even agains the best teams.

Excellent analysis of both kids. Very surprised the coaches haven’t been able to correct Williams’ dribbling and dancing with the ball and Walker’s tunnel vision.

 

[WestCoast]

I believe Evina Westbrook was on that team also. I saw them at Boo Williams that year.

True. Quite a collection of talent. Cal Stars head coach Kelly Sopak subbed that team in two five-person units, similar to what CTT does at Arizona State. Moore was on the second unit. Ionescu, Tudor, Decosta, Westbrook, and McGuire were on the first unit. I believe that squad lost one game all summer. They lost to Cal Storm-Team Taurasi, another talented EYBL team that had Odom (Duke), McDonald (Arizona), Melgoza (Washington), and Campbell (Gonzaga), among others.

Moore had been overlooked by schools much of the summer before USC came calling.

 

[domerduck]

Mazyck might've been their 2nd best player, although I think she also caused some chemistry issues and might've been more trouble than she was worth.

Minyon was tops in points, minutes, free throws, rebounds, steals, and assists. Mariya was second in points, minutes, free throws, and assists, third in rebounds (to Tapley 2nd) and steals (to Mazcyk 2nd, but topped the team in 3 points with Mazcyk second. I'd say they were the best two.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Minyon was tops in points, minutes, free throws, rebounds, steals, and assists. Mariya was second in points, minutes, free throws, and assists, third in rebounds (to Tapley 2nd) and steals (to Mazcyk 2nd, but topped the team in 3 points with Mazcyk second. I'd say they were the best two.

Mazcyk had the highest scoring average. She played in 4 less games than Minyon and 6 less games than Mariya, so you have to take total stats with a grain of salt. Mazcyk hit 8 less 3's than Mariya but averaged a bit more than 2 per game, give her 6 more games and she would've topped them in that category as well at total points. It's kind of splitting hairs. They were a 3 headed monster with most of their production coming from the perimeter. Overbeck was barely adequate and it's shocking how little they got out of Tapley when you look at how good she's been for ASU this season.

 

[domerduck]

Mazcyk had the highest scoring average. She played in 4 less games than Minyon and 6 less games than Mariya, so you have to take total stats with a grain of salt. Mazcyk hit 8 less 3's than Mariya but averaged a bit more than 2 per game, give her 6 more games and she would've topped them in that category as well at total points. It's kind of splitting hairs. They were a 3 headed monster with most of their production coming from the perimeter. Overbeck was barely adequate and it's shocking how little they got out of Tapley when you look at how good she's been for ASU this season.

Either way Minyon scared me the most when they played the Ducks or Beavers. Good team.

 

[Rixxx]

My old brain may be working at half speed so forgive me. Does MW have a jump shot? I know her as a post up shooter. The last jump shot I saw from her was flat with little elevation. I see CW as a jump shooter.
If the WNBA is a career choice for MW, I know she can correct "tunnel vision", but she needs to handle the ball better, create her own shot, and have a viable jump shot. Her work this year under the boards is commendable and appreciated by Geno. To get a roster spot on an WNBA bench, her perimeter game has to pick up IMO. She has 14 months to develop as a top ten draft pick.
This year, big games MW is not Megatron.