- Joined
- Jan 5, 2016
- Messages
- 5,306
- Reaction Score
- 28,416
Z was "coached" one way at Duke. I say "coached," because she was basically allowed to do what she wanted. And what she wanted to do was to hang out outside, because she didn't think she was strong enough underneath (see below video). And it took a bit of time this year for the coaches to get her to mix it up underneath. But she's completely bought in now. She realizes that her future pro life depends on converting her size into finishing underneath. Not just those layups last night, but how about her playing intimidating defense underneath! Wow! As the announcer said, Stewie light light. A bit of a ways to go, but maybe by the end of the year, she'll be Stewie light and next year, just Stewie.
In the DePaul game you could see the successful transition to a post, and all the great passing and underneath buckets that eventuated from it. This is just the beginning stages of this transition, as she works on footwork and her teammates coordinate better with her. But this may well reshape UConn's offense, since they haven't had a real post since Stef. This gives UConn frightening versatility, going from a open lane, motion 5-0 offense when Z's on the bench, to a true post motion 4-1 when she's in. It will take time to develop, but it will be a powerful thing over the next two years, as UConn's definitely got the passers and shooters to make this happen. Crystal will feast off this with assists aplenty; Gabby, Pheesa, Lou, and Meg will slash off of her, and Lou and Crystal will have wide-open 3s. Z, being so mobile, will get a zillion baskets underneath. And on D, she will be the eraser underneath.
Not every player can change their game so much, especially as it involves a psychological change to getting more physical. So: huge props to Z!!!
In the DePaul game you could see the successful transition to a post, and all the great passing and underneath buckets that eventuated from it. This is just the beginning stages of this transition, as she works on footwork and her teammates coordinate better with her. But this may well reshape UConn's offense, since they haven't had a real post since Stef. This gives UConn frightening versatility, going from a open lane, motion 5-0 offense when Z's on the bench, to a true post motion 4-1 when she's in. It will take time to develop, but it will be a powerful thing over the next two years, as UConn's definitely got the passers and shooters to make this happen. Crystal will feast off this with assists aplenty; Gabby, Pheesa, Lou, and Meg will slash off of her, and Lou and Crystal will have wide-open 3s. Z, being so mobile, will get a zillion baskets underneath. And on D, she will be the eraser underneath.
Not every player can change their game so much, especially as it involves a psychological change to getting more physical. So: huge props to Z!!!
