Please don't overlook Dorka!

[PhillyCoach]

Yes, AE was doing a number on the small Vermont center/forward and Caroline was hot. Nika had her assists and defense. Everyone was concerned about Azzi as she play good team ball, but her shot was off. However, Dorka was kind of overlooked. Dorka had a top notch line of stats. Dorka had: the most rebounds, the only double-double, the most blocks, & NO turnovers, Dorka was 2nd to Nika in assists and 2nd to Nika in minutes played. Six keys areas where she was the top BIG. Dorka was also 2nd in steals and 2nd in scoring.
Lots of discussion on this thread and Dorka was an after thought on too many posts-- IMHO.

As a throw in---I think Vermont played an honorable game. They hustled, were aggressive, played smart, moved without the ball, had some nice plays that surprised UConn, and shot the three ball well. I also thought they were a well coached team. I like coaches who have played the game. Vermont was a winning basketball team in their league because they were the best in fundamentals, IQ, defense and shooting. They lost because UCONN has the same fundamentals, IQ, etc. but are 6 inches taller and 25 pounds stronger than Vermont (and most teams.) I believe that coaching has improved immensely in the women's game and players at all levels are working very hard. As some smart coach stated years ago-- a good big player will usually win against a good small player. Lots of good skills BUT SIZE MATTERS! Finally, UConn, South Carolina, and maybe Stanford are the only teams who have 7 or 8 players with STARTER TALENT. Vermont and the other 300 teams out there usually only have one --maybe two very good players. That's at least 3 weak links to attack.

 

[azfan]

Yes, AE was doing a number on the small Vermont center/forward and Caroline was hot. Nika had her assists and defense. Everyone was concerned about Azzi as she play good team ball, but her shot was off. However, Dorka was kind of overlooked. Dorka had a top notch line of stats. Dorka had: the most rebounds, the only double-double, the most blocks, & NO turnovers, Dorka was 2nd to Nika in assists and 2nd to Nika in minutes played. Six keys areas where she was the top BIG. Dorka was also 2nd in steals and 2nd in scoring.
Lots of discussion on this thread and Dorka was an after thought on too many posts-- IMHO.

As a throw in---I think Vermont played an honorable game. They hustled, were aggressive, played smart, moved without the ball, had some nice plays that surprised UConn, and shot the three ball well. I also thought they were a well coached team. I like coaches who have played the game. Vermont was a winning basketball team in their league because they were the best in fundamentals, IQ, defense and shooting. They lost because UCONN has the same fundamentals, IQ, etc. but are 6 inches taller and 25 pounds stronger than Vermont (and most teams.) I believe that coaching has improved immensely in the women's game and players at all levels are working very hard. As some smart coach stated years ago-- a good big player will usually win against a good small player. Lots of good skills BUT SIZE MATTERS! Finally, UConn, South Carolina, and maybe Stanford are the only teams who have 7 or 8 players with STARTER TALENT. Vermont and the other 300 teams out there usually only have one --maybe two very good players. That's at least 3 weak links to attack.

I would be stunned if any Husky fan was overlooking Dorka. I'd be stunned if any opposing coach in preparing to play the Huskies would be overlooking Dorka.

 

[cabbie191]

There's no way I could overlook her - she's got 6" height on me!

 

[The deacon]

I would be stunned if any Husky fan was overlooking Dorka. I'd be stunned if any opposing coach in preparing to play the Huskies would be overlooking Dorka.

If fans have time to think about it, perhaps, but I believe BYers tend to focus first on Nika, Aaliyah and Azzi, not necessarily in that order. We all like and appreciate everyone else, too, but Dorka should be front and center for all she gives to the team every game. (For the moment, I'm not including Paige in the conversation).

As for coaches, I have no doubt how to deal with Dorka is among their foremost concerns. If not, they're not long for their occupation.

 

[MSGRET]

Dorka is my second favorite player on this year's ACTIVE roster. She's a person that almost always has a smile and a HUG for her teammates. She is well spoken and a Husky through and through. I just hope that they win that 12th NC after all the heck that she has had to put up with since she broke her wrist last year, she still has that smile.

 

[azfan]

Dorka is my second favorite player on this year's ACTIVE roster. She's a person that almost always has a smile and a HUG for her teammates. She is well spoken and a Husky through and through. I just hope that they win that 12th NC after all the heck that she has had to put up with since she broke her wrist last year, she still has that smile.

Ditto! Great teammate and player. I suspect you and I share the most favorite Husky.

 

[Hist-teacher]

I never have. She's been awesome!

 

[BigU]

Agree !! A great player and a great teammate!!

 

[Inthepaint]

There's no way I could overlook her - she's got 6" height on me!

Dorka always hustles, always works hard ever minute she’s on the floor.
She combines size, effort and talent.
Taking her from the portal is paying big dividends now.

 

[JBK]

If fans have time to think about it, perhaps, but I believe BYers tend to focus first on Nika, Aaliyah and Azzi, not necessarily in that order. We all like and appreciate everyone else, too, but Dorka should be front and center for all she gives to the team every game. (For the moment, I'm not including Paige in the conversation).

As for coaches, I have no doubt how to deal with Dorka is among their foremost concerns. If not, they're not long for their occupation.

Your are right. If we get to the final foul it will be because Dorka was able to rebound and guard other teams big. Starting with Baylor tomorrow night - their big gets to a lot of loose balls and rebounds

 

[browns]

Love watching Dorka play..a walking double double..I think they definitely would have beaten ND and Maryland if she hadn't broken her thumb..going to be missed next year ..hopefully have 5 more games to see her play

 

[Gus Mahler]

I love Dorka. She will always be one of my favorite UConn players. I miss her already, but I feel blessed to have been able to watch her play for two years.

 

[cabbie191]

I think it’s pretty unanimous that we all love Dorka.

Does anyone know her plans after graduation? I haven’t heard any speculation as to if she’s likely to be drafted into the WNBA.

 

[Geew1992]

I think it’s pretty unanimous that we all love Dorka.

Does anyone know her plans after graduation? I haven’t heard any speculation as to if she’s likely to be drafted into the WNBA.

She’s def on the draft board

 

[jdubct]

I think it’s pretty unanimous that we all love Dorka.

Does anyone know her plans after graduation? I haven’t heard any speculation as to if she’s likely to be drafted into the WNBA.

She's projected to be drafted somewhere in the bottom half of the upcoming WNBA draft.

 

[sno-cat]

I am still trying to find out if I have any relatives in common with Dorka since my mother and grandparents are from Pécs, Hungary. Juhsaz, Jurcso, and Toth are known Hungarian names.

 

[Rowdy831]

Dorka had a good game and a solid season for sure. Yesterday though AE was dominant and her play more than anyone else will dictate how far the Huskies go in the tournament. UCONN has a great option for every player except AE and when they play the likes of VaTech and SC that will be the difference between winning and losing.

So when you see certain players getting recognized it shouldn't be seen as slighting any other player. Dorka has a chance in the next game to dominate the person guarding her on offense and I fully expect her to do that. She will score her points, get her rebounds and most likely be on the podium after the game just like she was in game one.

 

[Pilot B52]

The absence of Dorka due to injury in the final last year against SC was critical. Her presence going forward is essential. Absolutely essential if we are fortunate to play SC in the final.

 

[RedStickHusky]

To me, it's the combination of Aaliyah & Dorka that causes so many problems, both in running a high-low offense and in pounding the glass. Neither would be as effective without the other. I also believe that if Dorka doesn't break her wrist last year, we would have been competitive in the final.

 

[MSGRET]

Your are right. If we get to the final foul it will be because Dorka was able to rebound and guard other teams big. Starting with Baylor tomorrow night - their big gets to a lot of loose balls and rebounds

What big, their tallest player is a 6'3" Freshman that played 5 minutes with a total of 1 rebound. Baylor is no bigger than Vermont. UConn had more defensive rebounds than Baylor had in total.

 

[JBK]

What big, their tallest player is a 6'3" Freshman that played 5 minutes with a total of 1 rebound. Baylor is no bigger than Vermont. UConn had more defensive rebounds than Baylor had in total.

Bickle. She is not athletic but plays tough

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Dorka is a breath of fresh air and is always the adult in the room.

 

[fomalhaut]

She's been so wonderfully consistent that maybe she gets overlooked; we almost don't notice when she quietly gets 14 points, 10 rebounds, and a block or two. She's also one of the best passers on the team.

 

[MSGRET]

Bickle. She is not athletic but plays tough

She is 6'1" and will not challenge either AE or Dorka. If she is the one guarding AE she will have 3 fouls on her before the end of the first quarter.

 

[JBK]

She is 6'1" and will not challenge either AE or Dorka. If she is the one guarding AE she will have 3 fouls on her before the end of the first quarter.

Big is not always defined by height. She is very wide and plays tough. I do not think she will be an issue, but is the type of player we struggled with in the past.
Hope you are right.

 

[HuskyNan]

Big is not always defined by height. She is very wide and plays tough. I do not think she will be an issue, but is the type of player we struggled with in the past.
Hope you are right.

I watched some replays of Bickle and didn’t see a single post move. She plays more like a wing than a post and so Aubrey may get the assignment on Bickle.

Bickle took a lot of mid-range and three point jumpers, seeming to avoid the paint. I was kind of surprised to see flops as part of her highlight video I hope the refs don’t call those

 

[JBK]

I watched some replays of Bickle and didn’t see a single post move. She plays more like a wing than a post and so Aubrey may get the assignment on Bickle.

Bickle took a lot of mid-range and three point jumpers, seeming to avoid the paint. I was kind of surprised to see flops as part of her highlight video I hope the refs don’t call those

Good to hear. I just watched her vs South Florida and she was getting to the line a lot and grabbing loose balls.
Your scouting reports are dead on and takes that worry away.
Just do not want her getting offensive rebounds.

 

[HuskyNan]

Good to hear. I just watched her vs South Florida and she was getting to the line a lot and grabbing loose balls.
Your scouting reports are dead on and takes that worry away.
Just do not want her getting offensive rebounds.

Bickle averages a little over 2 offensive rebounds a game, 7.1 overall. Fontleroy and, especially, Littlepage-Buggs are actually more active on the offensive glass, statistically. On paper and looking at some replays, Bickle strikes me as Maddy Siegrist-lite

 

[topogigio]

When Dorka transferred to UConn. (and it was a transfer, not a portal player) she still had a couple of years left to play at Ohio State. She did graduate OSU in 3 years. Now that is pretty impressive in itself, especially for someone enrolling in a US college from Hungary. I watched her highlight films from Ohio State and was very impressed with her shooting, driving and overall mobility for a "big girl". It took her a while to learn the UConn system, and she has had a couple of major injuries. She appears now injury free and able to showcase all of her skills, and we are all very impressed!

 

[tchalla1]

Yes, AE was doing a number on the small Vermont center/forward and Caroline was hot. Nika had her assists and defense. Everyone was concerned about Azzi as she play good team ball, but her shot was off. However, Dorka was kind of overlooked. Dorka had a top notch line of stats. Dorka had: the most rebounds, the only double-double, the most blocks, & NO turnovers, Dorka was 2nd to Nika in assists and 2nd to Nika in minutes played. Six keys areas where she was the top BIG. Dorka was also 2nd in steals and 2nd in scoring.
Lots of discussion on this thread and Dorka was an after thought on too many posts-- IMHO.

As a throw in---I think Vermont played an honorable game. They hustled, were aggressive, played smart, moved without the ball, had some nice plays that surprised UConn, and shot the three ball well. I also thought they were a well coached team. I like coaches who have played the game. Vermont was a winning basketball team in their league because they were the best in fundamentals, IQ, defense and shooting. They lost because UCONN has the same fundamentals, IQ, etc. but are 6 inches taller and 25 pounds stronger than Vermont (and most teams.) I believe that coaching has improved immensely in the women's game and players at all levels are working very hard. As some smart coach stated years ago-- a good big player will usually win against a good small player. Lots of good skills BUT SIZE MATTERS! Finally, UConn, South Carolina, and maybe Stanford are the only teams who have 7 or 8 players with STARTER TALENT. Vermont and the other 300 teams out there usually only have one --maybe two very good players. That's at least 3 weak links to attack.

Very astute analysis for a lot of reasons-- you're right, Dorka had one of those yeoman's steady type of a game that was overlooked until you check the stats. And what you stated as far as talent and height is so very true in the women's game, as unlike the men's game, it still is a vertical game where talent and height are almost indistinguishable.

'I've seen this with a few relatives of mine--both of my nieces were almost 6 footers in elementary school and one averaged about 35 points a game. Then her scoring average in middle school dipped to around 24 points a game, and then in high school, as there were a few other girls who were almost as tall, her average dipped to around 18. By the time, she graduated, this can't miss sure fire All-American was simply a good player, but nothing great. This is the procession that will be the same with some of the bigs in WBB--those like Cardoso, when they move to the WNBA where their height advantage isn't so pronounced, and they become average players, much like what happened to McCowan at MSU and the big at Baylor a few years back, because in the WNBA sheer height just doesn't cut it, and there height and talent become distinguishable.

Even the much-heralded Boston, will come down to earth in the WNBA--the volleyball game that she and Cardoso play on the offensive boards will not be afforded her in the pros, and so her shooting must improve, her foot work and ability to drive to the basket. Boston does have a motor and has a willingness to improve as she did so greatly between her sophomore and junior year. I know some will find this heresy what I say, but remember Britney Griner?--people thought she would just dominate the WNBA--she has done well, but she hasn't been dominant.

Starter talent that you mention and the dearth thereof, is what fueled the UConn dynasty for all those years--take those 2013 and 2014 teams--those teams had four and five bona fide first-team All-Americans as starters! and height and size to go along with talent.

Interestingly, this present UConn team is not far off the beat--with everyone healthy, they would probably have three first team All-Americans--Paige, Azzi and AE-- and two honorable mentions, Lou and Nika--(Sorry, I simply refuse to put AE on any third team when no big in the country has been as dominant.) The notable difference, aside from the injuries, is that the competitive talent and size of athletes across the country has grown to offset the tremendous talent that UConn has....


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