Providence Post Game Thread

[jazz]

I hate when that shot blocking rim comes into to play for only Nika! I've already posted about UCONN missing 14 layups in the Providence game from 6 different players. Nika is unique in this regard though, the only UCONN player to miss ALL her layups this season. When you say "soon" how soon are we talking? It's been 4 games already.

We all hope it comes next game...

 

[CocoHusky]

Yes the main question as Bigboote points out, is if you have both on the floor, who should be the primary point and who should be the SG. If on a scale of 1-10, Paige is a 10 at PG and 9 at SG, and say Nika was a 7 at PG and 3 at SG, then it is obvious. The argument of whether Nika should be in the game with Paige at all is another one. I think the answer to that is yes if Geno lets her play the point, but in the future that could change.

Right now Nika is the third guard somewhat by default. Someday I expect Aailyah or Aubrey to settle in as the starting PF. Don't know when but Aaliyah starting in the long run I consider pretty much a given. If that happens there will still be plenty of depth there, with one of those two plus Mir competing for backup minutes. There will be little need to use wings there any longer.

At that point Evina and Aubrey are likely fighting for the SF start, which probably would be Evina, but the point would be the same if it was Anna. The loser of that battle becomes a very good backup candidate not just at SF, but at SG as well. That means if Nika and Paige together is not working, Evina or Anna could eat up the minutes behind Christyn, and Nika becomes mostly Paige's backup with 5-10 minutes a game.

I think Nika will show that she would have warranted a top 10 ranking in this class if she was not a foreign player, and Aaliyah would have warranted a top 5, with both having significant roles during their careers here. I don't necessarily expect this level, but CD has compared Nika to Jen Rizzotti, perhaps more for toughness and grit than ability, and Geno has not dismissed comparisons of Aaliyah to Pheesa.

Then the ranking would have been wrong and I'm sure you would be complaining about that also.
Here are freshman guards that are playing significantly better than NIka.

Caitlin Clark (Iowa)
Hailey Van Lith (Louisville)
Diamond Johnson (Rutgers)
Deja Kelly (UNC)
Lexi Donarski (Iowa State)
Kateri Poole. (Ohio State)

Here are freshman forwards that are playing better than Aaliyah Edwards.
Cameron Brink ( Stanford)
Kamilla Cardoso ( Syracuse)
Madison Scott (Ole Miss)
Madeline Westbeld (ND)
Olivia Cochran (Louisville)

Not that it matters but I think Aaliyah Edwards was appropriately ranked at 23 by ESPN just ahead of Mir and Nika would have been ranked a top 40 player in this class. Neither player was deserving of a top 10 ranking.

 

[jazz]

We must all be good fans of UCONN WBB if we can spend so much time talking about the back-up guard....

just trying to put a positive spin on things....

I guess I am higher on NM than many. I am projecting obviously. At minimum, she will be a heck of a player to have off the bench. But come next year, it gets tougher, but even if she doesn't play much, I still think she will be a good role player if we ever need her. I think this year we might need her at some point.

and one more thing....GO NIKA!

 

[CocoHusky]

We must all be good fans of UCONN WBB if we can spend so much time talking about the back-up guard....

just trying to put a positive spin on things....

I guess I am higher on NM than many. I am projecting obviously. At minimum, she will be a heck of a player to have off the bench. But come next year, it gets tougher, but even if she doesn't play much, I still think she will be a good role player if we ever need her. I think this year we might need her at some point.

and one more thing....GO NIKA!

We are not good fans we are great fans. If you think Nika is getting a lot of press do a search on Molly Bent and I guarantee there was more.

 

[jazz]

Then the ranking would have been wrong and I'm sure you would be complaining about that also.
Here are freshman guards that are playing significantly better than NIka.

Caitlin Clark (Iowa)
Hailey Van Lith (Louisville)
Diamond Johnson (Rutgers)
Deja Kelly (UNC)
Lexi Donarski (Iowa State)
Kateri Poole. (Ohio State)

Here are freshman forwards that are playing better than Aaliyah Edwards.
Cameron Brink ( Stanford)
Kamilla Cardoso ( Syracuse)
Madison Scott (Ole Miss)
Madeline Westbeld (ND)
Olivia Cochran (Louisville)

Not that it matters but I think Aaliyah Edwards was appropriately ranked at 23 by ESPN just ahead of Mir and Nika would have been ranked a top 40 player in this class. Neither player was deserving of a top 10 ranking.

I think AE will be better than some on your list when it is all said and done although I haven't seen Kamill or Madison play. AE is scratching the surface and I expect a breakout game from her soon. Forgetting about comparisons for a moment, I am thrilled we have AE. I think she plays huge down the stretch. She's quick and powerful and has skill in the low post.

Mir and Nika a bit less. Mir is a lesser version of AG but I still love her energy. You know how I feel about NM - I think she has very good play making potential, even if she never masters the art of making a layup....

 

[eebmg]

The main issue with Nika is and has always been outside shooting. She is just not good from the perimeter and no matter how good she is in play making, defense and energy, this will always plague her minutes and importance to the team. Look what happened with Coombs. I understand Nika at least has decent form on her shots and maybe she can get it turned around but if not, it eats at your your own confidence to do other things well

On a side note, Coombs seems to be doing pretty well at GA as a significant energy / defense contributor off the bench who is actually a good playmaker. Her shooting is still subpar but in the SEC, that is probably a plus.

 

[jazz]

We are not good fans we are great fans. If you think Nika is getting a lot of press do a search on Molly Bent and I guarantee there was more.

Yes, I remember reading them a few years ago.

 

[jazz]

The main issue with Nika is and has always been outside shooting. She is just not good from the perimeter and no matter how good she is in play making, defense and energy, this will always plague her minutes and importance to the team. Look what happened with Coombs. I understand Nika at least has decent form on her shots and maybe she can get it turned around but if not, it eats at your your own confidence to do other things well

On a side note, Coombs seems to be doing pretty well at GA as a significant energy / defense contributor of the bench who is actually a good playmaker. Her shooting is still subpar but in the SEC, that is probably a plus.

Let's compare Combs with NM as freshman after 30 minutes of playing.... I remember liking Combs on defense but she really looked out of control and lost on offense.

NM is composed on offense, runs the pick and roll, makes excellent passes and yes, struggles thus far to hit the broad side of a barn. But, I still think she will make an impact with her passing skills and with PB at the 2. I like that line-up....

 

[jazz]

Man, it is going to be great when Nika makes her first layup and it will be epic when she makes a three.....

 

[MooseJaw]

While we see her defensive potential in an opposite light, I do think the staff believes she is capable of filling a role that benefits the team. Defensively I don’t feel that the staff wants PB to have to defend the other team’s best small, even though her on ball defense is improving each game, and I am also not sure EW, after her physical issues, is capable of that role either. That leaves CW and Nika to handle that unenviable chore. PB is obviously the key offensive player, will be the straw that stirs the drink for the team, and would be the player you would least like to see in foul trouble. Time will tell if I am completely off base here, because I have no inside information, and is complete conjecture on my part, but I can see her filling a role much like Kia Nurse did a few seasons back. She will need to perform in a similar manner since her offense isn’t going to earn her more minutes. Nika had offers from Oregon and Louisville, who were in her final four, so they also saw a lot of potential in her play, and it would be interesting to have their coaches ”scout”, along with Geno’s, on the exact role they saw her filling in their program.

Bingo.

 

[MSGRET]

The rim blocked her shot? Is that really what we are going with? Listen, the only potential I'm interested in the "potential" of Nika actually making a layup.

Were any of those 10 points the result of a layup by any chance?

We get you don't like Nika! I give you facts of what she has done in a European league and you still rag her even though she's been trying to get back to her type of basketball after a foot injury. Don't know why but this will end my discussion with you on the subject.

 

[HuskylnSC]

As I sit here reading all the Nika posts. I continue to have one thought. One on One Nika will kick my butt (and maybe yours too). While I expected more of Nika. I am not at all disappointed in a freshman Croatian learning what is probably the most difficult position in WCBB, Geno Auriemma's point guard. 'Read and react' just rolls of the tongue. But for the newcomer trying to make the maestro happy, it sometimes rolls off your foot or smacks into the rim. Relax, you're going to love this kid and in a few years you're going to say of another freshman, "She needs to have some of Nika's fire in her."

 

[Dokey]

NM is a freshman playing in a foreign country. Let’s defer this discussion until March.

 

[jabstep]

Man, it is going to be great when Nika makes her first layup and it will be epic when she makes a three.....

It took a year plus for Aubrey to hit an outside shot. I don't think it will take Nika that long for a layup. She will find a role as she plays more. Geno is only playing Liv 20 + minutes to give Aaliyah some minutes. Nika can give Evina, Paige, and Christyn some rest. Give her a couple more games.

 

[jazz]

It took a year plus for Aubrey to hit an outside shot. I don't think it will take Nika that long for a layup. She will find a role as she plays more. Geno is only playing Liv 20 + minutes to give Aaliyah some minutes. Nika can give Evina, Paige, and Christyn some rest. Give her a couple more games.

It was a bit tongue in cheek jabstep.

I actually think NM will breakout with lets say 8pts and 4 assists soon. If she can give us 15 positive minutes with minimal turnovers and a few assists and maybe a bucket or two with some solid to good defense, that would be a huge lift off the bench. Not many teams have that in a backup point.

I think she is capable of all of this and hopefully she can give us a bit more.

 

[CocoHusky]

We get you don't like Nika! I give you facts of what she has done in a European league and you still rag her even though she's been trying to get back to her type of basketball after a foot injury. Don't know why but this will end my discussion with you on the subject.

I don't understand why you keep accusing me of not liking UCONN players. I guess that is your go to move right before waving a white flag. Did you think really think I was going to let you have the last word?
This is you.

 

[CocoHusky]

It took a year plus for Aubrey to hit an outside shot. I don't think it will take Nika that long for a layup. She will find a role as she plays more. Geno is only playing Liv 20 + minutes to give Aaliyah some minutes. Nika can give Evina, Paige, and Christyn some rest. Give her a couple more games.

That is not correct! Aubrey hit a 3Pt shot as part of her 25 point game against Seton hall last year. It was UCONN's 7th game of the season.

 

[hart2hart]

So except for the beginning of the game......rusty as Iike to call it, I thought the players played hard, most of them. Evina in particular for me is the steady hand. I love how she calms the gals down. She’s improving each and every game. I hope she stays next year and hopefully she will. E will get to have a full UCONN year if she stays vs this crazy, disjointed one!

 

[Carnac]

Do you really think she can't make a layup? We can say that about a lot of players on the team who have been there for almost 3 full years and still missing multiple layups. She will over-come the challenge of the 'shot blocking rim' and make her layups soon enough - probably by the next game. I don't think a player could play for any coach, never mind Geno, if they couldn't make a layup.....

Not only do I think NM can make a layup, I bet she is really proficient at the FT line and the mid-range. I have a feeling she isn't as good from three point range however.

I tell you what, how much you want to wager that we miss at least half a dozen layups in the next game and it will not be all on NM?

By the way, AE missed some as well. She missed one so bad, I thought she was trying to break the backboard with it. If AG could hit the layup the first time, she wouldn't have 8 or 9 offensive rebounds either.

I don't get it either why they miss so many layups, but I have every confidence that they will start to make them soon.

Layups are missed because of a player's lack of concentration, and their failure to put the ball off the glass at a the correct angle. Often they rush their shot in fear of having it blocked. They have to be coached to not worry about getting it blocked. Some times it's going to happen. 90% of the time it won't.

EVERYBODY that plays basketball is going to have their shot blocked at some point. 7 foot post players in the NBA got/get their shots blocked, some times by players smaller than them. Wes Unseld at 6'6" blocked a lot of shots by opposing post players during his career, most whom were taller than he. However, most of the time, he didn't.

Very very seldom will a player block a lay up/put back and not foul the shooter. That's where Liv has picked up a lot of her fouls the past 2 years (fly swatting). When going up for a lay up, you have to put EVERYTHING out of your mind for 3-4 seconds, and concentrate on where you're going to put the ball off the glass. If it gets blocked, so be it. But if it doesn't, its got to go in.

It's NOT hard to miss a put back because of the traffic or number of opposing players around you ALL trying to block your shot. Many times, rushed shots will not go in. You're just trying to get the shot off without getting it blocked, especially if there's someone 3-5 inches taller than you (in a different colored jersey) in close proximity.

Aaliyah missed a put back Saturday that didn't draw iron. She rushed the shot. That's one of the many things I like about Aaliyah, she makes her bunnies, free throws and put backs.

 

[jazz]

That is not correct! Aubrey hit a 3Pt shot as part of her 25 point game against Seton hall last year. It was UCONN's 7th game of the season.

I'm impressed Coco...you know your stuff. But did she miss any layups???

just messing with ya.....

 

[jazz]

it will not take a full year. she will help us this year....

 

[jazz]

Layups are missed because of a player's lack of concentration, and their failure to put the ball off the glass at a the correct angle. Often they rush their shot in fear of having it blocked. They have to be coached to not worry about getting it blocked. Some times it's going to happen. 90% of the time it won't.

EVERYBODY that plays basketball is going to have their shot blocked at some point. 7 foot post players in the NBA got/get their shots blocked, some times by players smaller than them. Wes Unseld at 6'6" blocked a lot of shots by opposing post players during his career, most whom were taller than he. However, most of the time, he didn't.

Very very seldom will a player block a lay up/put back and not foul the shooter. That's where Liv has picked up a lot of her fouls the past 2 years (fly swatting). When going up for a lay up, you have to put EVERYTHING out of your mind for 3-4 seconds, and concentrate on where you're going to put the ball off the glass. If it gets blocked, so be it. But if it doesn't, its got to go in.

It's NOT hard to miss a put back because of the traffic or number of opposing players around you ALL trying to block your shot. Many times, rushed shots will not go in. You're just trying to get the shot off without getting it blocked, especially if there's someone 3-5 inches taller than you (in a different colored jersey) in close proximity.

Aaliyah missed a put back Saturday that didn't draw iron. She rushed the shot. That's one of the many things I like about Aaliyah, she makes her bunnies, free throws and put backs.

gotcha Carnac!

I think most of the time, NM is just rushing it, fearful of the block. It really is the only part of her game thus far that she is not composed at. Unfortunately, it is an important part but yet an easy part to fix.

I'm really impressed with her composure in this last game, which is why I'm not concerned about the missed layups....that's the easy part. making nice pin-point passes in traffic is a lot more difficult and NM makes that look easy...

 

[jazz]

So except for the beginning of the game......rusty as Iike to call it, I thought the players played hard, most of them. Evina in particular for me is the steady hand. I love how she calms the gals down. She’s improving each and every game. I hope she stays next year and hopefully she will. E will get to have a full UCONN year if she stays vs this crazy, disjointed one!

She's looking better and I'm starting to appreciate her game more. I'm worried about her at the defensive end since, in general, she will probably defend one of the opposing team's most gifted scorers.

 

[Longtime fan]

I don't get the game and was just checking the box score...
Indicates Christyn took zero shots???

She got in Geno's dog house early. It wasn't clear to me what she did or did not do that angered him. But you are right; no shots and no points. Geno limited her minutes big time. First time in her UCONN career that she had those zeros. And no one dared asked him at the post game press conference; " what did Christyn do (or not do ) that caused you to bench her? Reporters are not known for boldness or confronting stories that people want to know. Just marshmallows.

 

[Longtime fan]

I'm wondering if the only reason that Aaliyah started was because of Providence's "twin towers" that started. She did good but just seemed a little overwhelmed in the beginning. I don't recall her being like that in any of her previous games.

She needs a lot of time to develop. At the moment, she is playing too fast and her only game is blasting people out of the way. She has shown good footwork under the basket, from time to time, but not consistently. She always prefers out-muscling an opponent, to outsmarting them. So far, we have seen little propensity to shoot from 8-12 feet. But she hustles like crazy and is a "force" in there. Penalties will accumulate quickly against quality opponents. Needs time and experience. Pressure of starting may be too much right now.

 

[Carnac]

Aubrey doesn’t do a great job of answering multi-part questions. That could be because she’s not a fan of the process, or because after answering the part that stuck out, she kind of forgets there was more.

With that being said, listening to the media ask the questions is also frustrating. You don’t need to word a question like you’re writing the article. No one wins a Pulitzer for how eloquent their interview questions are. Ask what you want to know!

Our media has been spoiled by years coaches and players who will give them a novel whenever they’re asked a question, so they can extract good quotes from those lengthy sound bites.

If they are interested in knowing what was different about practice this week, ASK THAT! What did you do better this week than you’ve been doing at other points this season? How do you plan on trying to keep that up going forward? The answers for Aubrey probably won’t be long, but they’ll be more specific and more helpful when trying to put together a story about her good game.

Ask vague questions and, mostly, you’ll get vague answers.

I often marvel at some of the questions that the media asks athletes. They think the question is thoughtful and relevant, but it doesn't always come out that way, or is perceived that way by others. Sometimes I cringe at the questions put to Geno during his post game pressers.

One of the worst questions I’ve heard asked to an NBA coach was "who is to blame for tonight's loss?" That sounds to me like a writer looking for fodder, ammunition and validation to put someone (a fall guy/scapegoat) in their sights for their pending column.

How can you single out one player in a team sport, and put the blame on their shoulders? Any coach worth his/her salt will always take the blame for a loss. Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan was always good at that.

He ALWAYS said "put this loss on me". You NEVER hear a coach or a player throw a player(s) under the bus, unless it's Brenda Frese (Maryland). She's thrown her players under the bus numerous times, then put in reverse.

 

[Longtime fan]

Some thoughts on the Providence game:

• Raggedy start after 11 days without a game. The challenge for UConn will be to maintain continuity and continue to improve during a season of starts and stops.
• When UConn went to a small lineup, Aubrey & Mir’s energy immediately changed the tempo and complexion of the game.
• Evina was moving as well as I’ve seen her move all season. She showed some really explosive moves to the basket.
• Paige scored 23 points on 8 for 10 shooting. She still needs to take more shots. As Geno says, “The person who makes the most shots, needs to take the most shots.”
• While Aaliyah earned the start today, I was anxious to see how Anna reacted to coming off the bench. When Anna is knocking down 3’s, like today, the entire court opens up for UConn’s offense
• Aubrey was all over the court making plays today, defending 1 through 5 and even knocking down a 15 footer. Does she start next game?

I think Aubrey has , for sure, earned a starting role. And she plays not only fast, but she plays " big." Her leaping ability and athleticism gives us superior rebounding in that starting five. Hitting that outside shot was huge. If that element is in her game ( which I assume it was in high school) she cannot be stopped. It is the first one I have seen her convert. But she has started to look more confident at the foul line, which is an indicator of shooting accuracy. And Anna may be more of a force off the bench anyway. A big key is to get Christyn going.......to remember why she was high school player of the year. Lots of talent on this team.

 

[Longtime fan]

I often marvel at some of the questions that the media asks athletes some times. They think the question is thoughtful and relevant, but it doesn't come out that way, or is perceived that way by others. Sometimes I cringe at the questions put to Geno during his post game pressers.

One of the worst questions I heard asked was "who is to blame for tonight's loss?" That sounds to me like a writer looking for fodder and ammunition to use for their column. How can you single out a single player in a team sport, and put the blame on their shoulders? Any coach worth his/her salt will take the blame for a loss. You'll NEVER hear them throw a player(s) under the bus, unless it's Brenda Frese (Maryland). She's thrown her players under the bus, then put in reverse.

I think all interviews with players and coaches, at every level of sport, is a waste of energy. And often embarrassing. No one answers a question with honesty....not in season, and not after a player is long gone. It is waste of time. Every one is trained to give generic, team-focused answers.

 

[Carnac]

She got in Geno's dog house early. It wasn't clear to me what she did or did not do that angered him. But you are right; no shots and no points. Geno limited her minutes big time. First time in her UCONN career that she had those zeros. And no one dared asked him at the post game press conference; " what did Christyn do (or not do ) that caused you to bench her? Reporters are not known for boldness or confronting stories that people want to know. Just marshmallows.

EVERYONE has a bad game once in a while.....including Christyn. It happens and there's nothing you can do about it other than try and help your team in other ways. It's one game. Let's see what happens Wednesday against Seton Hall. If she comes out and has a 20/10 game with 4-5 assists, and a couple of steals, the Providence game will be forgotten. Let's see what see does Wednesday night before we start throwing rocks at her.

 

[Longtime fan]

I feel sorry for Autumn. With such a big lead, she was the only player who did not get into the game.

Yes. I thought that was unnecessarily "mean" of Geno. I'm sure he simply regarded it as a higher priority to get more court time for someone else than the walk-on. Autumn must not have shown enough yet.