Providence Postgame Thread

[hoophuskee]

All good points, just different perspectives. I think you are looking at things quite literally and I am looking at a broader picture. Again all good and both have some substance.

I believe it was Pat Summit who said defense wins games but rebounding wins championship. In many games were we have lost we lose the rebounding battle. We were out rebounded today. In this case I do think height can help especially with the size other top teams have, but we’ll see how it all shakes out.

Yes! I felt since DT that Summitt's philosophy was highly flawed and more prevalent for past eras. This is in part why I always felt Geno was superior to Pat and why at the end of her coaching she was scrambling to talk with coaches like Harry frm Nova. Don't get me wrong Harry is was a fine coach. But Geno has embraced the 3pt shot. Embracing George Mikan baskteball is over.

Last year UCONN was seconds away from the Finals with skinny Paige as the PF. The team that beat them had a 2 year Finals run without stellar rebounding. The same team (which was Iowa) the prior year beat one of the biggest and most dominant reboudning teams in History. In today's era the Pat Summit's comment is obsolete.

 

[DennieEddy]

Weird game. Outstanding first quarter with fabulous pressure "D" and then shifted pretty much to cruise control for the rest of it.

Sometimes on Route 84, my cruise control sputters, especially on the hill near Tolland.

 

[Puppy Love]

My thoughts:
1. Nika graduating has disrupted both the offense and the defense. I think some floundering is to be expected with a new point guard, but if this team is going to go deep in March, then someone will have to step up and take leadership and accountability. I’m not talking about scoring. Someone has to set the tone of ‘this is who we are’. It could be Sarah, but it’s a lot to ask of a freshman. I really believe Nika set the tone last year. I was hoping it would be Ashlynn, but I haven’t seen it yet. I keep thinking that it should be Paige, but she doesn’t seem to have that kind of temperament.
2. I think Uconn needs Aubrey back. She’s experienced and a defensive spark.
3. I‘m hopeful that Azzi will settle in and start to consistently put up points. If other teams have to defend three consistent scorers, it will be easier for everyone to score points.

I think this team isn’t that far from being great, but some growing pains are inevitable in getting there.

 

[JellyBean]

Despite Geno's talk about needing to get more from the inside game, I thought he was just not patient enough to see it through judging by how many minutes Jana/Ice played and how he yanked them when they made a mistake. I can't see how they will get their confidence up for tougher remaining games.

Thank you! My take as well. I will have to watch the game later, but I usually track the Bigs and how many touches or looks they get during the game. In that 1st quarter, Jana posted well but only got two touches in the post (which she scored on both) and then nothing else. Same with Ice. She had some screen and roll action or pick and pop/fade and the guards didn't look her way. Folks can't say "they aren't being productive" when they are not being utilized properly.

Of course there is the issue with rebounding. Sure, they could get more rebounds, if they were in position to rebound. We don't want them picking up any unnecessary fouls on top of the bogus foul calls they pick up already. Ice and Jana are making progress. We just have to trust them out there.

 

[Centerstream]

He meant Anna Makurat, the 6-2 guard whose career at UConn was considered disappointing by some.

Makurat came to Storrs as part of the Huskies’ 2020 class. She had a strong freshman season where she averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 41.0 percent from three.

Makurat came into her second season in better shape after working with a nutritionist in Poland over the summer but didn’t translate that into production. Despite opening the year as a starter, she struggled to score and eventually lost her spot after the sixth game of the season. Makurat then missed 12 games due to a stress fracture before returning ahead of the Big East Tournament.

UConn women’s basketball: Anna Makurat to pursue professional career in Europe

With the Huskies expected to have a loaded backcourt next season, the sophomore guard will head to the pros.

www.theuconnblog.com

Thanks. I knew who he meant and decided not to correct the spelling of her last name. I just didn't know what his "turn into Anna Makurat" was referring to. Maybe because I wasn't disappointed by her playing career at UConn???

 

[Dugway]

In the postgame presser, Geno said that he used a lot of players in the press and that the press takes a lot of energy. He said the tired legs and energy spent on the press affected the offense

Geno also indicated that we “played to the score.” So, in the first quarter we produced enough to win; let’s just coast it on in from there!

 

[tomcat]

LOL. Sorry. You should pay attention to what he says and what he does. The two are related; there's often a cause and effect. The post game is terrible so he plays a smaller, perimeter-oriented lineup. He'd rather put a team out there that gives him solid, if unspectacular, post play than a team with all perimeter players.

The team faces two real tests before the NCAA tournament: Tennessee and South Carolina. Both teams are demons on the offensive boards. UConn has more than a month to develop some semblance of a post game or both games could be quite ugly.

One final point and then I'm calling it a night, or week as my schedule doesn't allow me to post much on weekdays. Three generational/elite players and their teammates managed 39 points over 3 quarters against Providence. Again, this team does not look right. I feel like they need a signature win during the regular season and it's tough to see that happening.

I agree with UConnCat's perspective on the two non-conference games. I've watched Tennessee and am very impressed by what they have become. That game will be really tough even if UConn's centers show improvement over the next few weeks. I understand that it takes many centers years to develop into stars, but the progression of, say, Tina Charles, is nothing like what these two have shown thus far. Ice shows the occasional good pass and rebound but very little in terms of scoring. Jana has intimidating height and sometimes shows a scoring touch but misses way too many bunnies and can look like she's not catching up with the others.

Right now, to me UConn looks like a team that is trying to put things together and not doing a very good job of it. Consider that Azzi is not much of a factor. This is a player with All-American potential, but there it is. With no inside presence to speak of, Paige is forced to me the everything player, which is probably why, even when she scores 25 points, it doesn't look like she is affecting the game that much. Strong is terrific and going to get better, But until Azzi shows up in form, they still need a third scorer. Sometimes, Ashlynn is it, sometimes (like tonight) not.

 

[JoePgh]

I was at the game, then watched the replay at home, and only then did I read all 132 posts in this thread (an accomplishment for which I definitely deserve an award!). There are some comments that were made and frequently repeated in this thread that I think are incorrect:

1. @UConnCat is the poster who primarily espouses the view that UConn's offense was almost totally focused on perimeter shooting, and hardly at all on driving to the rim (or presumably other inside scoring) or free throws. Visually, I did not think that UConn was avoiding drives to the rim, although certainly Paige is shooting short pull-up jumpers rather than "over-penetrating" in accordance with Geno's recent admonitions to her. If you look at the box score, UConn outscored Providence in the paint by 26-18, implying that over one third of UConn's points were scored in the paint. How could that happen if all the team did was take perimeter jump shots?
2. Much was made by several posters about the fact that Providence out-rebounded UConn by 37-27. Watching the game, it did not appear to me that UConn was being overmatched on the boards. And there is a simple explanation for the rebounding discrepancy, which is the huge disparity in turnovers (31 for Providence vs. 11 for UConn, which corresponds to a 63-40 UConn advantage in field goals attempted). UConn isn't going to get a rebound if its opponent doesn't take a shot on a particular possession, and that happened 20 more times on Providence possessions than on UConn possessions. In fact, the offensive rebounds were slightly in UConn's favor (9-8). Coincidentally (not really), the 37-27 edge in rebounds for Providence corresponds exactly to a 37-27 UConn edge in missed shots. That makes sense: more missed shots by UConn implies more defensive rebounding opportunities for Providence, and it was in defensive rebounding that Providence gained its overall rebounding edge.
3. The fact that Geno chose to start Jana over Ice for the first time this season (a lineup change that was not announced in advance, unlike the fact that Azzi would start) was momentous, and it suggests that he recognizes that Jana's ceiling is higher than Ice's. The fact that Jana only played 9 minutes (4 fewer than Ice) suggests that he perceived that Jana had become temporarily disabled by her emotional distress at missing those two layups. Some of you may recall that Stewie had a similar episode in the middle of her freshman year, which resulted in her playing only 7 minutes in a game against Baylor, and Geno subsequently saying that UConn might have won if she hadn't played at all (ouch!). Stewie worked her way out of mental sick bay by tournament time, and I believe Geno expects that Jana will do the same. I think he is right about that. Assuming that Jana shows a proper frame of mind in practices between now and Wednesday, I think she will retain her starting position against Marquette and keep it for the rest of the year. If Jana doesn't overcome her issues, then I think Geno is more likely to go small with Sarah, Morgan, and 3 guards than to return to Ice as a starter.

I think Geno may have decided not to abandon Jana/Ice at the center position, but to abandon the idea that either one of them is presently suited to playing at the high post on offense. Playing at the high post requires a lot of court vision and passing, which are skills that Jana doesn't currently possess at all and which Ice is learning. And since neither of them has a reliable 15-foot jump shot, they don't draw a defender when they are at the high post. Henceforth, I won't be surprised if he plays both of them at the low post (not simultaneously, of course), where they can receive passes and hopefully make layups, and only pass if they are doubled (which seems unlikely). That should simplify the mental aspect of the game for both of them.

 

[donalddoowop]

I am still trying to figure out how Jana is going to improve if she gets pulled after a mistake. She will not improve if she is not allowed to play through mistakes. Some players need to be on the court for more than five minutes. Put her out there and stay with her and let her play her way out of her funk.

 

[Centerstream]

I am still trying to figure out how Jana is going to improve if she gets pulled after a mistake. She will not improve if she is not allowed to play through mistakes. Some players need to be on the court for more than five minutes. Put her out there and stay with her and let her play her way out of her funk.

My opinion is that when Jana makes a mistake or two, she actually shows her emotions on the court. Maybe she does the same thing during practice, we don't know. So until this changes is why Geno takes her out.
Just an opinion...

 

[bballtalk]

Good thing championships aren’t decided in December. Like a lot of teams, Uconn will be a different team in March. The more games they play, you realize things you might have gloss over before.

This squad is a work in progress, but rightfully so. Think about the make up of the team. Paige is the only person with familiarity in her role. The Vets (upperclassmen) on this team are in an interesting role. Chen is a senior, but she’s a transfer from a mid major program and now has to run point at Uconn. Azzi just isn’t there YET. IMO She needs like 10 straight games under her belt to where I think she will be fully running on all cylinders. Totally comfort in herself. The only other vets are Aubrey and CD who unfortunately are out with injury. Imagine if we had a healthy Ducharme out there! I miss her so much lol. I can’t wait for Aubrey to come back. But those are important upperclassmen we are without.

Then you look at the underclassmen and all three of our sophomores are in different roles. KK and Shade was forced to start as freshman and had to play through mistakes, there was no other option. This year they have to figure out a different role. Ice doesn’t have AE anymore and now she’s the “veteran” in the post with another inexperienced post.

Nevertheless, there’s progression during the season. IMO the point guard role will eventually swing to KK. I think she is more comfortable in the roll of being starter. And I think Uconn needs the defensive pressure at the top of the defense. It would allow Chen to have a less stress role and find a true fitting in her spot on the team. Right now it feels forced a bit. Im confident in Shade coming off the bench once she gets comfortable with it. I really think she should embrace the 6th man position because Uconn needs her scoring and shooting. Every time she shoots a mid range shot, I think its going in. Her bench scoring will be huge for Uconn.

Front court wise, we just aren’t there yet. I love the move of starting Jana. We need her to get comfortable, only way we do that is by making her uncomfortable. Jana seems like when she makes a mistake it lingers in her head. That’s why I think Geno pulls her. Once Jana realizes she’s the beast that she is, she’ll be fine. Uconn needs her rebounding. That’s the one thing about Ice, I don’t really care much about her having to score, but the 3.7 RPG from your center can’t happen. I also think they need Aubrey Griffin. They so sorely need a vet they can lean on. Aubrey on the defensive end will make Uconn much more aggressive and physical. Im really interested in seeing a Paige-Azzi-Griffin-Strong-El Alfy grouping. Hopefully we’ll see that at a point this season.

Now on to Paige Bueckers. I think she is so gifted and can do anything on the court, but what truly unlocks her game is Azzi Fudd. There’s something about Paige when she plays with Azzi Fudd. There’s just a different feeling and energy. She wants to go to war with Fudd. A healthy Azzi Fudd completely changes the outlook of this team because I believe Paige wants to win a championship so bad for Azzi. Paige is her best when Azzi Is on the court next to her.

Big Picture, Uconn has 10 games until their matchup @Tennesee. Tennessee would have alreasy faced 9 Oklahoma, 6 LSU, 5 Texas, and 2 South Carolina in that same 10 game span. They will be battle tested and more than ready to face Uconn. Griffin is expected back mid January so i’ll say January 19th against Seton Hall. That will give her 5 games to get her feet wet before the Tennessee game. I think that will be the first true gauge of where our team is.

IMO hopefully we see something like
PG: Arnold
SG: Bueckers
SF: Fudd
PF: Strong
C: El Alfy

6th: Shade
7th: Griffin
8th: Brady
9th: Chen

 

[Zarathustra]

Is beating Providence by 40 points more important than developing young players?

I could not agree more, i.e. "develop young players". I had that idea
in my mind throughout the third and fourth quarters. Geno's
"playing time/minutes" for his future extended rotation is necessary.
It may look more like "chaos" rather than "havoc", but it is what it is.
And it "IS" still December!!!!!!! I am looking forward to how Geno puts the
pieces together.

 

[ucbart]

I thought the q3 offense was concerning. Not that we missed so many shots, but that we seem to be strictly a jump shooting team. No drives, no chance to get fouled and go to the line.

It's who we are. A jump shooting team that can get hot for one game and shoot lights out, but is more than inconsistent. We have good shooters who can't make shots and only two scorers on the entire team, Paige and Sarah.

As for KK, everything good she does on the floor is totally negated by the fact that she can't make layups, she bricks every shot she takes, and we're basically playing 4 on 5 when she's on the floor.

 

[BRS24]

We had a sportsball conflict yesterday and of course UConn was the priority

 

[HuskyNan]

I’m having a hard time getting upset about the game. Geno isn’t going to be tinkering with lineups, practicing offensive sets, getting the press perfected, and playing ineffective players against stronger teams. If he can’t experiment during a Providence game, when can he?

 

[REB1094]

Paige matched Providence's points alone in the first half, and we were able to sleepwalk after that for a 20+ point win. Can't complain about it too much, but this team is way too deep to just be Paige/Sarah..a lot of the time it looks like that

Azzi will need some time and grace to get fully back up to speed. We've seen great games this season as well as not so great games. As long as we have at least one of her or Ashlynn hitting shots, we should be fine on perimeter shooting

Agree with the takes on KK. She's a beast on defense but doesn't trust her shot. Imagine a version of KK Arnold who can hit 35% on open threes? That's a really strong player and probably a starting PG

We need Jana and Ice to be stronger. Our consistent issue been size/toughness in the paint. Now we have 2 real bigs and we need production from them

 

[BBallF]

I think we’d all care if KK went 1-10 because that is not helpful to the overall team offense or her confidence. She does need to shoot when wide open, but for whatever the reasons may be her shot has not improved at all since her frosh year.

That said she needs to find what she can do for us offensively similar To what we watched as Nika’s game evolved. KK is so darn quick she should be working her way towards the basket for layups, getting fouled or kicking to an open teammate. That I believe is where she can make her mark right now on the offensive side of the ball.

She actually can shoot a pull up J but she never does. She just has to shoot when open instead of then trying to force a drive. A drive is fine when you can get to the rim but counterproductive when you can't. Just take a lot 3s a day in practice like Nika did until you get your groove and confidence. I agree with Old Dude that if she gets her 3 she starts. She is quicker and a better defender than KC and will get 5 steals a game if she starts especially in this press.

 

[BBallF]

I also felt like Morgan was not looking for her shot, which I don't understand. She seems like she could be just like freshman Caroline or Ashlynn. She has shown this in previous games but today, not so much.

I didn't understand it either. This was the first game I saw her truly reticent. I hope it is the last.

 

[TAK]

She actually can shoot a pull up J but she never does. She just has to shoot when open instead of then trying to force a drive. A drive is fine when you can get to the rim but counterproductive when you can't. Just take a lot 3s a day in practice like Nika did until you get your groove and confidence. I agree with Old Dude that if she gets her 3 she starts. She is quicker and a better defender than KC and will get 5 steals a game if she starts especially in this press.

KK has improved from last year in that she keeps the offense moving. This year she has far, far fewer drives in the lane for a layup where she gets shut down by a big resulting in a turnover. Instead she drives and kicks the ball out. Occasionally she’ll drive all the way and score. Additionally, KK does not pick up her dribble. She does have to work on her mid range and 3 pointers. Her defense is excellent.

 

[Stinger92860]

Is beating Providence by 40 points more important than developing young players?

You want to beat Providence by 40 with the bench dilivering almost half of that 40. Taking out Sarah and Paige, the rest of the team shot 12 for 40, which is 30%. In addition we were out-rebounded 37 to 27. The top rebounders for us had 4! In these areas, we need consistency. On the plus side the effort was there for the other parts, as indicated by 17 steals.

 

[meyers7]

The Good - Defense. Racking up 31 turnovers. Providence only shot 33%/13%. Only gave up 41 points. Well done
Also Bueckers had a good game.
We won the game. That's good.

The Bad - Offense. Shooting 41%/24% is not good. And really bad against a poor team like Providence.
Rebounding - getting out rebounded 37-27 by a poor team like Providence is just ridiculous.

Geno and Co. got a lot of work to do with this team.

 

[Aluminny69]

Yes! I felt since DT that Summitt's philosophy was highly flawed and more prevalent for past eras. This is in part why I always felt Geno was superior to Pat and why at the end of her coaching she was scrambling to talk with coaches like Harry frm Nova. Don't get me wrong Harry is was a fine coach. But Geno has embraced the 3pt shot. Embracing George Mikan baskteball is over.

Last year UCONN was seconds away from the Finals with skinny Paige as the PF. The team that beat them had a 2 year Finals run without stellar rebounding. The same team (which was Iowa) the prior year beat one of the biggest and most dominant reboudning teams in History. In today's era the Pat Summit's comment is obsolete.

Don't tell that to Dawn Staley, who built a stellar record through Aja Wilson, Alileah Boston, and Camilla Cardoza.

 

[PacoSwede]

Maybe she'll convert me, but I like point guards who can see and pass over a defender. Something like that girl, what's her name now ... oh, Paigey!

or Morgan