Paige and Nika - Shooting after game

[Rings R Us]

Absolutely love this. We already knew Paige was special, and this is what the great ones do. Putting in the extra work. Love that Nika is with her too being injured and all.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Nice! I love stuff like this.
I think I saw her youth a tad tonight. She got perturbed with the turnovers and the missed shots.
I want her to be less worried about single plays and just be ready for the next play or next shot. She’ll do that. No doubt. Just had an “ok” night tonight.
I think she’s figuring out when she should shoot on her new team. She’s not a scorer like Maya or Stevie. She also a playmaker, more like Diana.
I bet she’ll get it and she’ll get it quick.

 

[victor64]

Nice! I love stuff like this.
I think I saw her youth a tad tonight. She got perturbed with the turnovers and the missed shots.
I want her to be less worried about single plays and just be ready for the next play or next shot. She’ll do that. No doubt. Just had an “ok” night tonight.
I think she’s figuring out when she should shoot on her new team. She’s not a scorer like Maya or Stevie. She also a playmaker, more like Diana.
I bet she’ll get it and she’ll get it quick.

Good observations. The traveling needs to be fixed rather than assuming the refs missed it.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

And...if you zoom in on the picture in the tweet, you will see Nika is doing it while in her boot. Dedication while also protecting the injury.

 

[uconnfan68]

Good observations. The traveling needs to be fixed rather than assuming the refs missed it.

Meh, some were quick whistles. Maybe they haven’t seen that caliber of player very often.

 

[hoophuskee]

This team has a nice 7 player rotation. There is the possibility that Nika can get healthy enough to be a contributor and Mir get out of the doghouse. But even if they don't - we have

1 finesse center and 1 power center.
1- skilled stretch Power Forward, and 1 very athletic power forward.
4 wings (Yes Paige can play wing vs small teams - can play off the ball as well as a sg) of which two are pg's.

I don't think they can ever have a set lineup of both Liv and Edwards but certainly in one game they cna do it if other team has two big very good players.

 

[JordyG]

I said in the chat that I think Paige was a little thrown off by Geno insisting that she shoot more. Once her early shots were all short I think her whole game went south. She's a smart kid. She'll figure out a nice balance. I for one am very, very happy that those early games with Louisville and MSS were cancelled. This yyoung team still has a lot to figure out on the court.

 

[ScottCT]

I can't wait for the day they take that ugly brown color off the court.

 

[donalddoowop]

I don't understand why anyone would be surprised or disappointed at the way Paige played today. She will not be razor sharp every game. What UConn freshman player has? Expectations should be more realistic for her and the other freshmen. There will be some games in which she will not play well. She may even get benched sometime. However, I believe she will have a lot more success than struggles.

 

[Littlemin]

I said in the chat that I think Paige was a little thrown off by Geno insisting that she shoot more. Once her early shots were all short I think her whole game went south. She's a smart kid. She'll figure out a nice balance. I for one am very, very happy that those early games with Louisville and MSS were cancelled. This yyoung team still has a lot to figure out on the court.

Good point and one I thought of while watching the game. Then again, no one is going to keep shooting 76%.

 

[soxfan23]

I said in the chat that I think Paige was a little thrown off by Geno insisting that she shoot more. Once her early shots were all short I think her whole game went south. She's a smart kid. She'll figure out a nice balance. I for one am very, very happy that those early games with Louisville and MSS were cancelled. This yyoung team still has a lot to figure out on the court.

Not me! I am a firm believer in playing ANYBODY, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, the only way you get better is by playing better competition.

 

[Florida Fan]

Good point and one I thought of while watching the game. Then again, no one is going to keep shooting 76%.

I agree, Geno's demands might have thrown her off, rather than letting the game come to her, maybe forcing some shots. It's still early; She's a point guard, doing what the PG is supposed to do, finding the open players, then taking her opportunities when they appear. Paige knows she can't be a gunner and keep the rest happy.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I was impressed that Paige and Nika were out there. Geno, not so much, saying, "Maybe we started the game too early."

 

[Longtime fan]

Good observations. The traveling needs to be fixed rather than assuming the refs missed it.

There were lots of travel calls on Anna as well...and Nika when she played. Also, I think Olivia drew one or two. Maybe Edwards, as well. What a minute? I think they need some team drills on
" taking that first step."

 

[BostonBay]

"Do it again. Again. Again. Again. Again..." - some of you will get the sports movie reference.

 

[Patty Bailey]

"Do it again. Again. Again. Again. Again..." - some of you will get the sports movie reference.

It'll be a miracle if anyone figures it out ;-)

 

[Huskee11]

As a former gym rat, I love to see another one.

Seeing two, even better.

Especially in UConn gear.

Hope Nika is back in action soon. Love her intensity.

 

[JoePgh]

I don't think they can ever have a set lineup of both Liv and Edwards but certainly in one game they cna do it if other team has two big very good players.

I don't see the problem with Olivia and Aaliyah playing at the same time. In fact, I think that is the optimal lineup, with Anna and/or Aubrey coming off the bench. Just because other Big East teams don't have two bigs doesn't mean that UConn will be at a disadvantage if they play with two bigs. Olivia and Aaliyah are both agile and quick enough to guard on the perimeter, unlike some bigs that UConn has had in the past (Natalie Butler, Kyla Irwin, Kaili McLaren, Stef Dolson). It would set up high-low action and give UConn a huge advantage on the boards.

Perhaps the reason why Geno is reluctant to do that is that he is worried about their tendency to foul. If so, I can understand -- if both of them have two fouls after the first quarter, then UConn has to play small ball for a long period of time. But if they can get that problem under control, then two bigs seems to me like the right approach for UConn.

 

[MD#12Fan]

I don't see the problem with Olivia and Aaliyah playing at the same time. In fact, I think that is the optimal lineup, with Anna and/or Aubrey coming off the bench. Just because other Big East teams don't have two bigs doesn't mean that UConn will be at a disadvantage if they play with two bigs. Olivia and Aaliyah are both agile and quick enough to guard on the perimeter, unlike some bigs that UConn has had in the past (Natalie Butler, Kyla Irwin, Kaili McLaren, Stef Dolson). It would set up high-low action and give UConn a huge advantage on the boards.

Perhaps the reason why Geno is reluctant to do that is that he is worried about their tendency to foul. If so, I can understand -- if both of them have two fouls after the first quarter, then UConn has to play small ball for a long period of time. But if they can get that problem under control, then two bigs seems to me like the right approach for UConn.

100%
Here's a "glass half full" thought about fouls. That's 10 fouls and Aaliyah's fouls are worth more. (Ha Ha)
Another point: they are both excellent at running the floor. Could they beat Anna and/or Evina in practice sprints?

 

[MooseJaw]

This team has a nice 7 player rotation. There is the possibility that Nika can get healthy enough to be a contributor and Mir get out of the doghouse. But even if they don't - we have

1 finesse center and 1 power center.
1- skilled stretch Power Forward, and 1 very athletic power forward.
4 wings (Yes Paige can play wing vs small teams - can play off the ball as well as a sg) of which two are pg's.

I don't think they can ever have a set lineup of both Liv and Edwards but certainly in one game they cna do it if other team has two big very good players.

Having watched Stanford IMO they better
have both of them ready to play together, some freaky long bods and arms out west

 

[AmeriConn]

I don't see the problem with Olivia and Aaliyah playing at the same time. In fact, I think that is the optimal lineup, with Anna and/or Aubrey coming off the bench. Just because other Big East teams don't have two bigs doesn't mean that UConn will be at a disadvantage if they play with two bigs. Olivia and Aaliyah are both agile and quick enough to guard on the perimeter, unlike some bigs that UConn has had in the past (Natalie Butler, Kyla Irwin, Kaili McLaren, Stef Dolson). It would set up high-low action and give UConn a huge advantage on the boards.

Perhaps the reason why Geno is reluctant to do that is that he is worried about their tendency to foul. If so, I can understand -- if both of them have two fouls after the first quarter, then UConn has to play small ball for a long period of time. But if they can get that problem under control, then two bigs seems to me like the right approach for UConn.

It would be interesting for sure, but I also thought right away about the fouling concerns.

 

[Watchdog]

I don't understand why anyone would be surprised or disappointed at the way Paige played today. She will not be razor sharp every game. What UConn freshman player has? Expectations should be more realistic for her and the other freshmen. There will be some games in which she will not play well. She may even get benched sometime. However, I believe she will have a lot more success than struggles.

People need to think back to Stewie's freshman year. She was not the player we all remember...........until the tournament. Then she washed away the inconsistency.

 

[Littlemin]

"Do it again. Again. Again. Again. Again..." - some of you will get the sports movie reference.

Love the Christmas scene where they start busting Brooks’ chops with “again”....

 

[JordyG]

Am I late to this party and has everyone seen this?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I stumbled into her "movie" yesterday @JordyG and was underwhelmed by the talent they attracted. The crew was having a great time though and in our Covid year that is a blessing. Olivia's face mask was certainly precisely applied too.
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