any word on the foot of our other frosh? Status of return??
They said the boot comes off today and then she goes through a whole series of protocols building to full weight bearing activities, and that they can get derailed if she at any point starts feeling discomfort during the process. The earliest she would complete the protocols is for the Temple game.any word on the foot of our other frosh? Status of return??
I thought both Freshman played their best games in terms of having confidence to attack. While Molly missed 2 jumpers, she looked confident and some of her passes were really very good. Kyla showed some really nice footwork and some good offensive moves.
Keep it up.
Hard to evaluate when playing against the 2nd or 3rd string of a poor team. Practice likely a better source of input.I thought both Freshman played their best games in terms of having confidence to attack. While Molly missed 2 jumpers, she looked confident and some of her passes were really very good. Kyla showed some really nice footwork and some good offensive moves.
Keep it up.
Hard to evaluate when playing against the 2nd or 3rd string of a poor team. Practice likely a better source of input.
I think you need to raise the bar as to what is, " a good game," for Kyla and Molly. Molly did make a couple of excellent passes, and she does run around a lot. But I did not see any confidence, whatsoever, in her shots. I think she is saying to herself, " coach wants me to score," when she launches a shot. By contrast, for example, when Crystal put up those threes against Baylor, she showed total confidence and, proved it, by hitting several, including back-to back shots. The feeling I get with Molly is, if ( when ) she makes a shot ( and we are talking 10 foot jump shots ), she won't make two in a row. Maybe someday....hopefully...but she isn't close yet, in my view. It is hard to imagine her fear ( lack of confidence ), because she was a " go-to" star in High school. And, let's be honest, East Carolina is no power.The three Bench players --did extremely well considering the intensity of the ECU Defense (to put it mildly)
I like the two Jumpers Molly put up--each bounced off the inner rim--shows she is accurate--shows she has the confidence to take them--shows she is not afraid of Geno pulling her--If she ever hits them consistently--will that open up the world for Uconn.
Kyla--I was impressed by her play--absolutely her best game--good catch on the run scoring, she wasn't stuffed, I was so busy watching Molly's really good defense (not great yet) I didn't see how Kyla did on D.
Butler--scored well --only put the ball , near the basket, on the floor once. Pretty good D--got a couple of bad calls--i think she is called because of her size.
All in all a good level of improvement to build on---Molly keep shooting--UC--needs that extra scorer.
I think you need to raise the bar as to what is, " a good game," for Kyla and Molly. Molly did make a couple of excellent passes, and she does run around a lot. But I did not see any confidence, whatsoever, in her shots. I think she is saying to herself, " coach wants me to score," when she launches a shot. By contrast, for example, when Crystal put up those threes against Baylor, she showed total confidence and, proved it, by hitting several, including back-to back shots. The feeling I get with Molly is, if ( when ) she makes a shot ( and we are talking 10 foot jump shots ), she won't make two in a row. Maybe someday....hopefully...but she isn't close yet, in my view. It is hard to imagine her fear ( lack of confidence ), because she was a " go-to" star in High school. And, let's be honest, East Carolina is no power.
As for Kyla, she is improving around the basket, but has a long way to go. And that last second shot ( open ) from the corner was lame. If she wanted to make a statement, she needed to drain that one. Nonetheless, there may be an athlete there whereas, there just isn't much of one with Natalie. Though I applaud her effort and grit. I do not share your enthusiasm that these two freshman will help this team, meaningfully, in March. I think we have the starting five, a bit of Natalie to " hold the fort" while others get a breather, and hopefully Crystal.
As for Crystal, her injury is beginning to sound a lot like a serious problem. This is unfortunate, because she will be crucial when March begins. She has already missed a significant amount of playing/practice time, and more time out of action is forecast.
I really like the freshmen. Few freshmen are getting the education UConn's freshmen are getting in practice. Think about it. Day in day out you are Kyla Irwin going up against Gabby, Nat, AZ, and Pheesa. You are Molly and are going up against KLS, Kia, Saniya or Crystal? Wow. One reason our super sophomores and Gabby are so far ahead is because the practices against the big three they experienced last year. There is a perpetual talent baton that is being passed between the graduating classes and the remaining players.
I really like Kyla's game. She will be a valued contributor by her junior year, no doubt about it. She must be having a tough time in practice since she is second to last off the bench, but aside from some freshman lapses and some bad fortune, she is playing very well in games, IMO. Normally, you are in a game, what you are in practice. But there are exceptions. Geno himself alluded to KLS having a bad shoot around then going off in a game. He has also indicated that the team as a whole plays better in games than they do in practices. I believe Kyla is one of these exceptions. She has upside.
Molly is also on the right track. I notice her game is better with her peers than when she is with starters. This indicates she still plays in a reserved role with the starters and tight. She will be fine and also has a big upside and will contribute greatly.
Chrystal is "wow" in waiting. Not much to say. She will dominate and has AA written all over her future.
It's your problem--I didn't do it! BUtler --isn't Napheesa (who is??), She's not even Stewie (who is??) her job--knowing the quantity she is--is to give relief for Gabby and or Napheesa for 2 to 5 minutes ( depending the fouls and the opponent) and she is doing a much better of limiting her "errors", she is hitting baskets, she is doing a bit of rebounding--again you can't compare her to the big 2 (both smaller than she) to Natalie. She has talent, but limited mobility, limited lateral mobility, limited speed--all were known before she transferred in.In reality, we have 5 suited players for the UConn women's team. Should Crystal be cleared to play, and regains her conditioning, she has the opportunity to be the 6th person or that may be Nat. The only reason that this will occur is 2 fouls on one or more of the key players. And, then production will go down. The embedded team work of the starting five cannot be sustained by interjecting one of the bench players unless one of them is touched by the hand of God as was Crystal during the Baylor game.
However, all of the five starters have significantly improved as have other teams. Right now, I do not see Kyla coming in for Collier in the 2nd quarter during a game with Baylor. It is less of a risk to keep Collier in play but then you have the "hesitant" factor clicking in because she does not want to foul out. Too bad, Batouly Comara could not be a substitute because this team would not miss a beat.
I am glad that Geno is the coach. As he said to KLS during the the Florida State Game when she said that she has 4 fouls: "It's your problem", or something like that.
I like what you say---thanks, these kids need some positives. You are correct about the practices and the baton being passed-
Molly is more comfy with her "peers'--it's how she was raised and educated--a bit of reverence to adults and those even 1 year older--that too shall change--but probably not this year. She's just your plain ordinary NICE kid--and when the skin is peeled back--you find a very good Basketball player and decent shooter.
You earned the award for the most correct posting of the day. And there are few things ORDINARY about Molly!!There is nothing ordinary about a "nice kid".
I keep hearing "stress reaction." Google result for "Athletic injury-stress reaction":Does Crystal have a stress fracture, sprained ligament, something else? Or, none of our business?
My $.02 FWIW...
I'm thrilled Molly and Kyla are getting more PT. I know that in Crystal's absence, it's almost essential that Molly be able to step up, but even tho she doesn't get starter's minutes PT, it seems that she may have hit the freshman wall. I recall reading recently that she's lacking in confidence. I don't think she's so much worried that Geno will pull her, as she doesn't want to make a mistake and isn't confident in her play yet. Of course I really have no idea since I'm not psychic, but it's my impression based on quotes and observations.
Kyla does not seem to lack confidence, which is a great thing for her as she's the last off the bench before the Lawlor, the former walk-on. I hope these 2 contribute and improve as much as possible this year and over the summer because PT will be VERY hard to come by for them next year with the addition of 6 new players, even tho we are losing Saniya, a guard.
It seems that in big games, Geno has settled on a rotation of 6 for now. Hopefully 7 when Crystal comes back. In yesterday's game, Nat played 19 minutes, Molly 15 and Kyla 10. Those are excellent minutes for the reserves, especially given the uber aggressive defense that ECU played with.
I know we all want them to succeed, and while they may get some minutes in the first 2 rounds of the NCAA's, after that, I think it's doubtful they will see the court unless it's a blowout and it's the end of the game. Crystal hasn't been the same since her first injury - even after she came back from that (her concussion), so I have a feeling her contributions will be limited (however, she will be a solid ball handler to spell Kia and Saniya as the season progresses). Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst...