Playing big

[doggydaddy]

I thought UConn looked very comfortable with both Dolson and Stokes in the game.

Looked to me that Geno wanted to really work that combination. I think they got around 14 minutes together.

 

[HuskyNan]

I was surprised to see Dolson and Buck in together, too. Interesting combo that had its moments.

 

[ChicagoGG]

I enjoyed watching all the Bigs combos last night.

Though the Kiah/Stef combo was quite effective...and loved that they both got production from it.

Heather can not be ignored when she is on a mission...may not score, but the other team will have the bruises to show for her tenacity on rebounds and passing.

My favorite moment (cue Becca laughing) was when Stef was literally holding a KS player off by manual strangulation with her right arm. And then gave the ref a look of total "who me - foul??" shock. Gave me the giggles. She is a trip.

 

[Icebear]

I thought UConn looked very comfortable with both Dolson and Stokes in the game.

Looked to me that Geno wanted to really work that combination. I think they got around 14 minutes together.

They looked the best they have all year.

 

[Sonny44]

Yes, good to see Steph developing a little bit of a mean streak. Good example for Kiah also. Also noticed KML active around the net too.

 

[alexrgct]

The two-big look is one Geno's tinkered with on and off all year. Yesterday was the best it's looked. I'd give anything for it to keep being effective against better competition. It allows UConn to give Stanford multiple looks, to have more hope of containing Griner, and to pose a significant mismatch against Notre Dame.

 

[justML]

They looked the best they have all year.

+1000

 

[Scotter]

The big lineup looked better, but UConn still bogs down too much offensively with it against better teams. There is a time and place for it, but it isn't any kind of grand solution.

I don't think it will be all that beneficial against Baylor because the team needs four long range shooters on the floor to space things out. And I don't think it matters that much against Notre Dame either because Peters and Achonwa don't play that much together for the same reasons Dolson and Stokes don't. It bogs down Notre Dame's offense as well. It is too hard to score with the way the game is played today without having 4 players on the floor that can handle the ball and put it on the floor. Next year with Stewart and Tuck both being able to put the ball on the floor as well as having shooting range out to the 3-point line UConn can play some bigger lineups, but for the rest of this year I don't expect to see Dolson and Stokes start to play a significant number of minutes together. There will be a time and place for it, but I think its impact keeps getting way overstated.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

The two-big look is one Geno's tinkered with on and off all year. Yesterday was the best it's looked. I'd give anything for it to keep being effective against better competition. It allows UConn to give Stanford multiple looks, to have more hope of containing Griner, and to pose a significant mismatch against Notre Dame.

I just hope they can get it and stay hyped without getting psyched!

PS. Where is the spell checker???

 

[RockyMTblue2]

ESPN right now O'Kay Kansas needs a plan against EDD coach...er, scuse me just told have to capitalize Coach....what what you do? Ah, cut to commercial. Why be more that a talking head when it ain't in your contract to actually analyse anything! Barf.

 

[speedoo]

The big lineup looked better, but UConn still bogs down too much offensively with it against better teams. There is a time and place for it, but it isn't any kind of grand solution.

I don't think it will be all that beneficial against Baylor because the team needs four long range shooters on the floor to space things out. And I don't think it matters that much against Notre Dame either because Peters and Achonwa don't play that much together for the same reasons Dolson and Stokes don't. It bogs down Notre Dame's offense as well. It is too hard to score with the way the game is played today without having 4 players on the floor that can handle the ball and put it on the floor. Next year with Stewart and Tuck both being able to put the ball on the floor as well as having shooting range out to the 3-point line UConn can play some bigger lineups, but for the rest of this year I don't expect to see Dolson and Stokes start to play a significant number of minutes together. There will be a time and place for it, but I think its impact keeps getting way overstated.

Another problem for ND is that Achonwa simply has not been that effective this year.

 

[doggydaddy]

Another problem for ND is that Achonwa simply has not been that effective this year.

And she the only post player returning next year. Not good.

 

[DaddyChoc]

The big lineup looked better, but UConn still bogs down too much offensively with it against better teams. There is a time and place for it, but it isn't any kind of grand solution.

I don't think it will be all that beneficial against Baylor because the team needs four long range shooters on the floor to space things out. And I don't think it matters that much against Notre Dame either because Peters and Achonwa don't play that much together for the same reasons Dolson and Stokes don't. It bogs down Notre Dame's offense as well. It is too hard to score with the way the game is played today without having 4 players on the floor that can handle the ball and put it on the floor. Next year with Stewart and Tuck both being able to put the ball on the floor as well as having shooting range out to the 3-point line UConn can play some bigger lineups, but for the rest of this year I don't expect to see Dolson and Stokes start to play a significant number of minutes together. There will be a time and place for it, but I think its impact keeps getting way overstated.

totally agree

 

[alexrgct]

The big lineup looked better, but UConn still bogs down too much offensively with it against better teams. There is a time and place for it, but it isn't any kind of grand solution.

I don't think it will be all that beneficial against Baylor because the team needs four long range shooters on the floor to space things out. And I don't think it matters that much against Notre Dame either because Peters and Achonwa don't play that much together for the same reasons Dolson and Stokes don't. It bogs down Notre Dame's offense as well. It is too hard to score with the way the game is played today without having 4 players on the floor that can handle the ball and put it on the floor. Next year with Stewart and Tuck both being able to put the ball on the floor as well as having shooting range out to the 3-point line UConn can play some bigger lineups, but for the rest of this year I don't expect to see Dolson and Stokes start to play a significant number of minutes together. There will be a time and place for it, but I think its impact keeps getting way overstated.

The obvious question then: why does Geno keep trying to employ it?

 

[Scotter]

The obvious question then: why does Geno keep trying to employ it?

Because he has a 7 player rotation. A 7 player rotation has been pretty good to him when it comes to winning national championships, but it doesn't work as well when a backup is only backing up one position. And because as I said twice there is a time and place for it. That time and place is just much more limited than I see a lot of people assuming. If it is so important why doesn't Geno use it more? Why does he have such a quick hook with it if it so important? Geno has pretty consistently only used it for about 5 minutes per game in games that were contested for 40 minutes. That's about right.

 

[alexrgct]

Because he has a 7 player rotation. A 7 player rotation has been pretty good to him when it comes to winning national championships, but it doesn't work as well when a backup is only backing up one position. And because as I said twice there is a time and place for it. That time and place is just much more limited than I see a lot of people assuming. If it is so important why doesn't Geno use it more? Why does he have such a quick hook with it if it so important? Geno has pretty consistently only used it for about 5 minutes per game in games that were contested for 40 minutes. That's about right.

Well that's the question, isn't it? Does the lineup fundamentally not work that well, hence its limited use, or is it more that he hasn't used it as much because it hasn't worked the way he's wanted it to when he's tried (but that he believes it could)?

My perception is that he sure keeps trying it out a lot, including these past two games, for something he doesn't consider especially important.

 

[speedoo]

There does not have to be an analytically sound reason for everything. One reason for having Stef and Kiah in the game at the same time could simply be to give Kelly and/or Tiff a break from playing the 4. Another could be just to give Kiah some playing time to continue her progress.

 

[Sonny44]

And she the only post player returning next year. Not good.

Agree, I anticipated much more from her.

 

[Icebear]

Time and the place might be against a team that is big inside or who drives the lane well but doesn't consistently shoot the three well from more than one position. Or late in a game with a lead and defending the lane and needing every board.

 

[Wonkster]

... PS. Where is the spell checker???

Spll cHeckr? What spel cHekrr?
.

Sent from my 'RRHOIDS COLONIC using Crapatalk
.

 

[magic]

Because he has a 7 player rotation. A 7 player rotation has been pretty good to him when it comes to winning national championships, but it doesn't work as well when a backup is only backing up one position. And because as I said twice there is a time and place for it. That time and place is just much more limited than I see a lot of people assuming. If it is so important why doesn't Geno use it more? Why does he have such a quick hook with it if it so important? Geno has pretty consistently only used it for about 5 minutes per game in games that were contested for 40 minutes. That's about right.

Having both SD and KS on the floor at the same time is still a work in progress. GA is experimenting a lot with them. They look much better when SD is playing the high post and KS is down lower. It takes batter advantage of their natural abilities right now. Having the right guard combination on the floor with them has different impacts also. So far the best combination I've seen with them both has been KS-low post, SD high post, KF, KML, BH.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Spll cHeckr? What spel cHekrr?
.

Sent from my 'RRHOIDS COLONIC using Crapatalk
.

Obviously not an iPhone.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Having both SD and KS on the floor at the same time is still a work in progress. GA is experimenting a lot with them. They look much better when SD is playing the high post and KS is down lower. It takes batter advantage of their natural abilities right now. Having the right guard combination on the floor with them has different impacts also. So far the best combination I've seen with them both has been KS-low post, SD high post, KF, KML, BH.

Good point. You have to gradually play through these scenarios and build them up during the season and early rounds of the tourney, so perhaps Geno is finer tuning a 5 that could work well against certain teams. Though Stef is no Kailie McClaren from the high post yet, she has had 8 assists in the 3 games against ND and it could certainly have its moments if she's looking to lob the ball in to Kiah or passing to the perimeter for a 3. And with the pressing defense this year that is working at a record pace, Geno may be more willing to more with 8 players to keep the legs a bit fresher. And yes, it could even be 9 for some of the last 4 games if UConn has a decent lead and Geno thinks Heather can do some defensive damage.

 

[UConnCat]

Well that's the question, isn't it? Does the lineup fundamentally not work that well, hence its limited use, or is it more that he hasn't used it as much because it hasn't worked the way he's wanted it to when he's tried (but that he believes it could)?

My perception is that he sure keeps trying it out a lot, including these past two games, for something he doesn't consider especially important.

Geno has talked a lot about the importance of Stokes to UConn's success in the NCAAs, starting early in the season and again in the post-season. Is he talking about Stokes because it's important to have a capable back-up to spell Dolson (particularly if she gets in foul difficulty), or because he wants to play them together against certain opponents? I think it's both.

 

[Icebear]

Geno has talked a lot about the importance of Stokes to UConn's success in the NCAAs, starting early in the season and again in the post-season. Is he talking about Stokes because it's important to have a capable back-up to spell Dolson (particularly if she gets in foul difficulty), or because he wants to play them together against certain opponents? I think it's both.

I agree it is both.