Playing Time

[Bone Dog]

Perhaps not typically, Bone Dog, but do you think Morgan Cheli and Allie Ziebell wouldn't want to play vs. ND, et al? I believe in their minds, and probably justifiably, they're exceptional players with exceptional collegiate potential. I believe they would want to show Geno what they can do, at risk.

I disagree when it comes to Allie, and it’s probably also true of Morgan. They are not arrogant egotists who think they can do anything. You may not have noticed but Geno tends not to recruit those types. I only express a caveat about Morgan because she seems to me, at least, to be a bit closer to entering the rotation than Allie is. I will not be surprised to see Morgan get some minutes against ND and USC, and not just in garbage time. Her conditioning and foot speed is better than Allie’s and she tends to hit her shots on defense better than Allie does, so far.

Another thing to remember is that these girls play against each other in practice all the time. They see how they measure up against their heroes, Paige and Azzi. The bar those two set is really high, and you’d have to think these kids are fools not to recognize this. They also see the difference between what they are capable of and what Sarah can do. This is surely not lost on them.

Maybe if I frame it in terms of your hero, Caitlin, you’ll understand: there wasn’t more resentment of her as a freshman at Iowa because she proved herself in practice every day. Allie and Morgan didn’t become top recruits because they lacked self-knowledge.

 

[Cuango]

I think both would want to play but are also smart enough not to be resentful if they don’t play in the “big” games right now! I would guess they are looking at getting their playing time during the conference games while at the same time hoping to demonstrate to Geno that they are capable of being in the rotation for March!

 

[boontonbomber]

When we start to play real teams, not the fill-in's scheduled every November, at that point we will begin to see which players Geno wants on the floor. And right now he's probably pondering on putting Paige at Center because I don't think he's seen any other player on the floor capable of playing the position against top teams.

Sarah can play anywhere on the floor.

 

[sun]

I'd like to see UConn win some tipoffs.

 

[MooseJaw]

When we start to play real teams, not the fill-in's scheduled every November, at that point we will begin to see which players Geno wants on the floor. And right now he's probably pondering on putting Paige at Center because I don't think he's seen any other player on the floor capable of playing the position against top teams.

Your post would have validity if all great teams were center driven. Truth is that there are very few teams with dominate centers. Look at the top 25, how many have better 5's then UCONN, I'll name one, UCLA I'd like to see Others on the BY list who they think have a better center situation than we do. Does ND? I don't think so. I also think we are better suited at the 5 than SC, either one.
If we are so insufficient at center we are doomed.

 

[oldude]

I'd like to see UConn win some tipoffs.

Bring back Gabby Williams who almost never lost an opening tip, even against players up to 6’6” tall.

 

[MooseJaw]

I disagree when it comes to Allie, and it’s probably also true of Morgan. They are not arrogant egotists who think they can do anything. You may not have noticed but Geno tends not to recruit those types. I only express a caveat about Morgan because she seems to me, at least, to be a bit closer to entering the rotation than Allie is. I will not be surprised to see Morgan get some minutes against ND and USC, and not just in garbage time. Her conditioning and foot speed is better than Allie’s and she tends to hit her shots on defense better than Allie does, so far.

Another thing to remember is that these girls play against each other in practice all the time. They see how they measure up against their heroes, Paige and Azzi. The bar those two set is really high, and you’d have to think these kids are fools not to recognize this. They also see the difference between what they are capable of and what Sarah can do. This is surely not lost on them.

Maybe if I frame it in terms of your hero, Caitlin, you’ll understand: there wasn’t more resentment of her as a freshman at Iowa because she proved herself in practice every day. Allie and Morgan didn’t become top recruits because they lacked self-knowledge.

Another post right to the point, nice post Bone Dog, you get it.

 

[Steelerone]

Your post would have validity if all great teams were center driven. Truth is that there are very few teams with dominate centers. Look at the top 25, how many have better 5's then UCONN, I'll name one, UCLA I'd like to see Others on the BY list who they think have a better center situation than we do. Does ND? I don't think so. I also think we are better suited at the 5 than SC, either one.
If we are so insufficient at center we are doomed.

If you check the listing of the past four or five National Champions you will find their strength was in the paint at center and forward.

 

[Steelerone]

Sarah can play anywhere on the floor.

You are absolutely right, but she is one player out of five on the floor. Do you think she can do all of the work in the paint??

 

[hoophuskee]

If you check the listing of the past four or five National Champions you will find their strength was in the paint at center and forward.

In Paige's frosh year - Stanford won the title and Arizona was right there to win it all. They were not "low post" teams.

The next 3 years, the greatest guards have either been on non-power teams (Clark), or their team was ripped apart by injury (Paige/Azzi).

If the top 3 posts these past several years, Boston, Reese, and Cardoso were to have been hurt or played on non-power teams or their teams were ripped apart by injures vs healthy power teams, while Paige and Clark for example were healthy and played for high powered teams, that they wouldn’t have been the ones with titles?

 

[boontonbomber]

You are absolutely right, but she is one player out of five on the floor. Do you think she can do all of the work in the paint??

Don't want her doing all the work in the paint. Just saying she could be effective down there ;she is so very talented. I think Ice and Jana can also be effective , but hasn't looked to me like getting the ball down low has been much of a focus(forever) for these coaches. Why have this size if you're not going to get the ball in their hands 1 step away from the basket? If for no other reason might help to get the opponents' big people in some foul trouble.

 

[MooseJaw]

Don't want her doing all the work in the paint. Just saying she could be effective down there ;she is so very talented. I think Ice and Jana can also be effective , but hasn't looked to me like getting the ball down low has been much of a focus(forever) for these coaches. Why have this size if you're not going to get the ball in their hands 1 step away from the basket? If for no other reason might help to get the opponents' big people in some foul trouble.

How about defense, or rebounding, or facilitating others. Oh, oh maybe just for clogging the lane. Let's face it UCONN is different than most teams, yes, they have a point guard bring the ball up court, once that's done in most cases it's positionless ball. As such no player is always in one spot, the rest should be obvious.

 

[hoophuskee]

Don't want her doing all the work in the paint. Just saying she could be effective down there ;she is so very talented. I think Ice and Jana can also be effective , but hasn't looked to me like getting the ball down low has been much of a focus(forever) for these coaches. Why have this size if you're not going to get the ball in their hands 1 step away from the basket? If for no other reason might help to get the opponents' big people in some foul trouble.

Because other teams have scholarship players too. They arent going to let you get the ball 1 foot from the basket very often.
Also, why is it good to slow the game down while at this moment UCONN has been undefeated?
Third why take the shots away from Paige and Azzi for less efficient players (Jana and Ice)?
Fourth, why is it good for UCONN to have Jana get fouled and be put at the free throw line? How is that beneficial for UCONN at the moment?

 

[boontonbomber]

How about defense, or rebounding, or facilitating others. Oh, oh maybe just for clogging the lane. Let's face it UCONN is different than most teams, yes, they have a point guard bring the ball up court, once that's done in most cases it's positionless ball. As such no player is always in one spot, the rest should be obvious. :

"As such" , Sarah will not be in one spot all the time, and another spot she could be in might be down low. And she would be very effective there. Hey, if she's passing thru there, throw the ball to her. Only good things will happen. That much is obvious to me.