It was a surprise. We saw Kyla and then Makayla and Ono early, but only for about 2 minutes. No one contributed a thing, so Geno most have decided; "this will be a test for our starting five." And that was it.
He started the game in a 2-3 zone and Robertson torched it with 3s and he had to go man because they couldn't rebound out of the zone. Then his man defense showed their vulnerability to drive penetration right down the gut. Their lack of bulk and a shot blocker makes their margin of error razor thin against a team smart enough to take it right at them.
I was thinking that too. May in the 'front' of their minds tho, and reinforced by Geno...?
The only saving grace in watching the video replay of the game will be that you already know the result, so it shouldn't be as "stressful" as it was for those of us who watched last night. You could save the time and just watch the ND game again.
I'm not superstitious. I don't believe in poking the BB gods however= I agree.
It would have been nice if AEH, or Dt or Gabby was playing--it ain't what it ain't, AS the man once said you can only dance with the girls that can dance or will dance with you.
I certainly agree: If OU for 30 minutes wasn't a really good team then Uconn was really bad--and they ain't.
The first 2 min were vintage UConn going up 6-0, then the impatience set in as you noted. Way too many sloppy passes that resulted in TOs and not enough crashing the boards as shots were taken without anyone underneath. Meg tried but was rusty with the 2 week layoff. I now want to point out the issue of depth that Geno refuses to address- put the players in and give them so time. Stop with the “they need to earn it with practice” statements, if you brought them here, play them like you used to in 1999-2009, when you had 10 players get 10 min a game In close games, not the 10 min of garbage time. I know he can develop them, so please modify your approach as you are burning out our main 5.
I agree with every thing up to : UConn DECIDED not to play----. OU DECIDED UConn Wouldn't play pretty ball.
Save your time typing it. If in his mind the game is in doubt, Auriemma is never going to sacrifice a game to develop bench players. Right or wrong, just not gonna do it.
Some strange calls... typical Dee Kantner night.
Does anyone truly feel that Batouly will ever be healthy enough to play? And to play consistently? She seems like a player with a damaged body that simply cannot hold up to demanding, regular work. I think her role will be limited to a few minutes, at best, against selected AAC opponents, late in the 4th quarter. When I saw her on the bench in the OU game, it reminded me that she has now been hurt for about 3 weeks...maybe more. Which reminded me that she always seems to be recovering from an injury. Which reminded me that she is never 100% healthy, and ready to go. Of course I want her to emerge as an unexpected force. But I have no optimism on the subject.
I'm hopeful because I think she could be a real nice addition to the team on the court, but feel that she will follow in Doty's footsteps. Her body is betraying her basketball abilities, and if she can't stay on the floor for very long this season, she may hang 'em up for good in April to focus on her off court endeavors.
