Providence Postgame Thread

[HuskyNan]

Geno says he knows who the 5 are. Good, I think. Then play them as a complete unit for more than 5 to 6 minutes. However, the subbing to get others minutes to see where they fit is the opposite of the old Geno. The semblence of team chemistry is missing.

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

 

[Happydad745]

I could have taken a nap in the second half and not missed a thing...We need lots more assists and a post game that is in the land of the living. I expect more out of this team than they are giving, and if Paige and Sarah were not on the team, UConn would be lucky to be in the top 25.

 

[UConnCat]

He's got this right. Indecisiveness, slow feet, and fragile confidence is a bad combination and they've both got it.

His leash would be longer with Jana and/or Ice if they stayed mentally present after mistakes. That's the problem he has with them. They make a mistake, lose their focus and then a mental mistake follows. Geno has no patience for that. He'll tolerate physical mistakes by his players as long as they keep their head in the game.

 

[HopJim]

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.

KK=brilliant defense but minimal offense. Its tough pairing her up with Jana since we then have 2 defenders that can sag onto the other 3 shooters. Geno may know who he wants as his primary 5 in the future, but I'm still confused.

 

[Dogdude]

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

Pretty much this. You know what you get with Paige and Sarah, and even Ash (at least as far as hustle, defensive intensity, as with 4 steals, and the occasional scoring burst) but everyone else is a cipher right now. You won't know unless you play the heck out of them and let the cream rise. There's a lot of talent there, they just need the work. Most will make it just fine, and a few won't, just like every season and every team.

 

[oldude]

His leash would be longer with Jana and/or Ice if they stayed mentally present after mistakes. That's the problem he has with them. They make a mistake, lose their focus and then a mental mistake follows. Geno has no patience for that. He'll tolerate physical mistakes by his players as long as they keep their head in the game.

Yes, both Jana & Ice appear to be extremely fragile. Whenever they make a mistake, they seem to disappear from the game. I’ve always believed that Jamelle, “the post whisperer,” had the ability to build up the confidence of UConn’s Bigs. She’s really going to have to earn her salary this year.

 

[JSB60]

I understand the bigs aren’t playing well, but this small, smaller, smallest lineup isn’t going to work consistently against top teams.

 

[TAK]

22 points in the second half and we should have easily scored into the 80s, no matter which 5 players were on the court. Fans here on the BY consistently post about how good the bench players are at scoring. This afternoon was the time where every one of them had the chance to shine. Maybe it was due to the score or coming off the break, but no one seized upon it. I think that Geno was kinda disappointed by it based on his postgame comments to Meg.
But the team did play great defense throughout the whole game. KK was terrific on D!

I was at the game. Kk’s defense was excellent!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Some thoughts on the Providence game;

• It’s always good for a team to get back on the court in order to flush a loss out of its system. UConn did that this afternoon vs Providence before a sellout holiday crowd at XL.
• Jana gets her 1st start, which is both a message and a challenge to Ice and Jana. Geno started the lineup today with the hope and expectation that this unit can jell together to carry this team to the promised land. I had high hopes after Jana posted up and scored on UConn’s 2nd possession, but clearly this is going to be a work in progress….
• As many of us predicted based on the 2nd half success vs USC, UConn rolled out a full court, man-to-man, trapping press, 3 minutes into the 1st qtr (I’m patting myself on the back ). Against an experienced team, UConn forced 31 turnovers with 17 steals. Here is another prediction. UConn will employ some form of pressure defense in every game for the rest of the season, particularly once Aubrey is back in the lineup.
• Great to see Azzi back and draining a couple of 3’s. She is nowhere near her top form yet. But it will come.
• Paige is a complete basketball player to be sure. But I must say, she is absolutely at her most effective from midrange. One or two quick dribbles off a high screen, pull up, elevate, bury the J. It’s truly a thing of beauty.
• I thought the Huskies had gotten over the “Ugly 3rd Qtr disease” that had been plaguing them earlier in the season. But apparently not....
• I really like Kaitlyn, but if KK can ever find her shot, I think she starts for UConn.
• Somewhat ugly win that I will chalk up to the post-Christmas funk the Huskies seem to catch just about every season.
• Bring on the Golden Eagles on New Years Day!!!

If Kaitlyn keeps this up, KK is starting point guard whether she finds her shot or not.

 

[Husky fanatic]

Overall a disappointment

 

[UConnCat]

Yes, both Jana & Ice appear to be extremely fragile. Whenever they make a mistake, they seem to disappear from the game. I’ve always believed that Jamelle, “the post whisperer,” had the ability to build up the confidence of UConn’s Bigs. She’s really going to have to earn her salary this year.

Indeed.

 

[WiseWillie]

A win is a win but against a struggling BE opponent holiday sluggishness or not we're now moving into January and the chess pieces still are moving around on Geno's chessboard. He's moving pieces around because it is clear our offense sputters whenever Paige isn't on the floor. Unfortunately, today's game raised more questions than answers and seems we are still trying to find that right combination. January is all BE play and should be a replay of today so could be good time to establish all of the right pieces in the right places. Let's hope by the time February comes around and TN and SC are the opponents that the pieces on the chessboard are solidly established and productive.

 

[victor64]

To me, the only way for Jana to begin to get out of her own head is to leave her on the floor and try to figure it out during a 30 point blowout. It might be ugly for a while but only for a while.

From my coaching experience, talented kids like Jana are trying so hard not to screw up they end up play tight expecting a quick hook for a mistake.

I believe that the team needs an effective post besides Sarah to compete with teams like UCLA or USC.

 

[UConnCat]

KK made 33% of her three-pointers last season (30/91). That's not terrible. She needs to shoot the 3 when she's open.

 

[hoophuskee]

I understand what you're saying but the team doesn't have enough guards who can make plays against the pressure perimeter defense that results from not having to respect the post game. The perimeter defenders on better teams are bigger and faster than what Providence throws out there. The team has to get enough from the post players to take a little bit of the pressure off the perimeter players feeling like they have to make shots.

So you think the shots were mostly missed were caused because of the others team's "in your face defense" rather than UCONN just not exuctuing along with missing open shots?

Don't agree.

They execute their offense, between Paige/Sarah/Azzi - they will get open looks. Whether they hit is another question. Additionally, Sarah can take any Big off the dribble.

 

[hoophuskee]

If Kaitlyn keeps this up, KK is starting point guard whether she finds her shot or not.

Don't agree. She is being left beyond being wide open.

 

[Chet71]

Some thoughts on the Providence game;

• It’s always good for a team to get back on the court in order to flush a loss out of its system. UConn did that this afternoon vs Providence before a sellout holiday crowd at XL.
• Jana gets her 1st start, which is both a message and a challenge to Ice and Jana. Geno started the lineup today with the hope and expectation that this unit can jell together to carry this team to the promised land. I had high hopes after Jana posted up and scored on UConn’s 2nd possession, but clearly this is going to be a work in progress….
• As many of us predicted based on the 2nd half success vs USC, UConn rolled out a full court, man-to-man, trapping press, 3 minutes into the 1st qtr (I’m patting myself on the back ). Against an experienced team, UConn forced 31 turnovers with 17 steals. Here is another prediction. UConn will employ some form of pressure defense in every game for the rest of the season, particularly once Aubrey is back in the lineup.
• Great to see Azzi back and draining a couple of 3’s. She is nowhere near her top form yet. But it will come.
• Paige is a complete basketball player to be sure. But I must say, she is absolutely at her most effective from midrange. One or two quick dribbles off a high screen, pull up, elevate, bury the J. It’s truly a thing of beauty.
• I thought the Huskies had gotten over the “Ugly 3rd Qtr disease” that had been plaguing them earlier in the season. But apparently not....
• I really like Kaitlyn, but if KK can ever find her shot, I think she starts for UConn.
• Somewhat ugly win that I will chalk up to the post-Christmas funk the Huskies seem to catch just about every season.
• Bring on the Golden Eagles on New Years Day!!!

My wife & I will be there at Marquette to cheer on the Huskies!

 

[Zonepress]

In some ways the big east games are hard. There is no way really for UConn to win. A 20/30/40 point win and the discussion afterwards is that they should have played better. And that is what they have to look forward to for the next two months tbh.

Unfortunately, true

 

[Zonepress]

I thought they did get a lot of good shots but just missed. Particularly Azzi.
I liked that AZ got some minutes. I feel like I know what she's going to do. Every shot/drive makes sense. I'd love if she got ten minutes a game especially if we continue to shoot so poorly from the outside.
I don't like that Jana only played 10 minutes and basically didn't play after the first minute of the second half. Geno got frustrated and subbed of her for Ice but I can't recall the mistake. I get that's what this time of the year is for but I don't think it's fair to blame her on the flip side for limited productivity or lack of rhythm.
Nevertheless always enjoy watching the team play.

Her defense would need to improve to get minutes in a meaningful game

 

[hoophuskee]

Unfortunately, true

No it isn't.

As a fan you (not you specifically) don't have to pretend on here that you are also coaching the team.

Not one poster on here as far as I know is a coach of this UCONN team. As a result, sometimes it's okay to stop pretending that one is a coach and just enjoy some positives realizing that many of the negatives are going to be worked on by a pretty good coaching staff.

 

[HuskieDawg]

Yes, both Jana & Ice appear to be extremely fragile. Whenever they make a mistake, they seem to disappear from the game. I’ve always believed that Jamelle, “the post whisperer,” had the ability to build up the confidence of UConn’s Bigs. She’s really going to have to earn her salary this year.

It would help if Geno didn’t pull them instantly after a mistake was made. I understand that’s how he teaches and the kids know what they are signing up for, but in this case letting them work through it on the court against those inferior teams might be more beneficial long term for the team, as a whole.

 

[HuskyNan]

No it isn't.

As a fan you (not you specifically) don't have to pretend on here that you are also coaching the team.

Not one poster on here as far as I know is a coach of this UCONN team. As a result, sometimes it's okay to stop pretending that one is a coach and just enjoy some positives realizing that many of the negatives are going to be worked on by a pretty good coaching staff.

@Zonepress was commenting about the fans, not the coaches/team. He essentially said fans will complain regardless of the final margin in score. I agree

 

[hoophuskee]

It would help if Geno didn’t pull them instantly after a mistake was made. I understand that’s how he teaches and the kids know what they are signing up for, but in this case letting them work through it on the court against those inferior teams might be more beneficial long term for the team, as a whole.

Why not let the others that are playing better play more?

 

[hoophuskee]

@Zonepress was commenting about the fans, not the coaches/team. He essentially said fans will complain regardless of the final margin in score. I agree

I was reacting to "can't win." Can't win is untrue. That was my response too. To the fans that will be hard on the team after 20/30/40 point wins. They are pretending to be coaches. You can win if you stop pretending.

 

[UConnCat]

So you think the shots were mostly missed were caused because of the others team's "in your face defense" rather than UCONN just not exuctuing along with missing open shots?

Don't agree.

They execute their offense, between Paige/Sarah/Azzi - they will get open looks. Whether they hit is another question. Additionally, Sarah can take any Big off the dribble.

Here's what I think. This team lives and dies by the perimeter jump shot. The guards are just not great at taking defenders off the dribble. Strong can do it but she tends to shoot more perimeter shots. What's worse, if the perimeter shots don't go in, there is zero chance of an offensive rebound. That's a lot of pressure to put on jump shooters. Ratchet up the pressure (defensively and mentally) in March, that's a tough way to win against good teams. Also worth pointing out that this team doesn't shoot many free throws and doesn't shoot those it does take very well.

There are 3 ways to score: jump shots, at the rim or free throws. Right now this team seems to score one way, That's a problem now and will be a bigger problem in March.

Nothing I've said in this thread hasn't been said by Geno over the years or during this season.

 

[Zonepress]

KK made 33% of her three-pointers last season (30/91). That's not terrible. She needs to shoot the 3 when she's open.

And made what was the game winner in the 2nd
Round against Syracuse

 

[Zonepress]

No it isn't.

As a fan you (not you specifically) don't have to pretend on here that you are also coaching the team.

Not one poster on here as far as I know is a coach of this UCONN team. As a result, sometimes it's okay to stop pretending that one is a coach and just enjoy some positives realizing that many of the negatives are going to be worked on by a pretty good coaching staff.

It’s a forum for comments and opinions

 

[HuskieDawg]

Why not let the others that are playing better play more?

I guess it depends on what you think the team is going to need to beat the NDs and better teams of the world. If you feel that a post player isn’t important then you have a short leash with them. If you feel you are going to need at least one of them then you have to give them some rope. My personal opinion would be we’ll have more of a need for Jana or Ice than Q or Allie.

You hear coaches all the time across a variety of sports talk about how sometimes you just have to let a player figure it out on their own in the game. In these games against inferior big east teams that may be the time to do it.

I can just about promise you both Ice and Jana are playing tight right now knowing if they make a mistake they could be pulled and that is a tough way to play when you are trying to get better, still a young player, and most likely may be struggling with some confidence.

JMO.

 

[Zarathustra]

Brilliant 1st quarter. Pretty ragged in the second half. Shooting was very cold for everyone not named Paige. The bright side: lots of tough defense. Also, Morgan Allie and Q got minutes and looked pretty good.

Paige gave up a LOT of shots to give passes to her teammates ...
the shots wouldn't go IN!!!

 

[HuskyNan]

I was reacting to "can't win." Can't win is untrue. That was my response too. To the fans that will be hard on the team after 20/30/40 point wins. They are pretending to be coaches. You can win if you stop pretending.

It’s ok. Fans have been armchair coaches for as long as there’s been organized competition. It’s what fans DO