Providence Postgame Thread

[hookshot]

I think you're replying to the incorrect post...

yeah, thanks, I moved it

 

[JellyBean]

These types of games are always tough for fans and for the players, especially our UConn squad. On paper you see who you are playing, and you get to thinking "Oh we played them before and blew them out of the water. I don't have to give 100% effort. I can give 70% and we will win." That is where that discipline comes into play and play up to your ability level and not down. The goal is you play to win the game. I wonder if that is what Azzi said to herself at halftime or with the coaches help, she realized that "I am not playing up to my ability right now." Who knows but I am glad that she got it going in the 2nd half.

Thoughts on the game:

Kaitlyn- She came out the gate on fire! She was not playing around. She was on a mission. Well done, KC!

Sarah- Not her best shooting game but she can rebound! Her quick reaction time is sweet! She had some nice putbacks.

Jana- She had some sweet post positions and some decent screen and roll actions. Her confidence is growing. She has a lot quickness for a Big. She is going to be a problem down the stretch. Hopefully the coaches are in her ear letting her know that all she needs to develop now is one or two go to moves and one or two counters and then build on those, when she is in the post. She did well out there. Proud of her.

Paige/Azzi- I include them together. Everytime I watch them, I think of the great Bruce Lee quote "Be Like Water." Where everyone is like "they need to do X, Y, and Z" but they are like water making their way through cracks. Think about it. They don't have to be assertive. They know their game better than anyone, even Coach. Those two are smooth. They adapt and adjust and find a way to get things done. I love that about those two.

Ash/KK-What a nice 1-2 punch off the bench. Today it was Ashlynn's time to shine. She came out the gate on fire. Her shot was on and that does well for her confidence. She is a heck of a defensive and rebounding bonus as well. KK is a defensive pest as well.

Morgan/Allie/Q-They are going to be fine. Allie's shot was off today but that happens to shooters sometimes. You have those games. Just gotta get back in the gym and get shots up. Morgan, she is going to be nice. I had my doubts about her at the start of the season, but she sees the game at an elite level. Watch her on defense and how she is playing the angles. Not sure if that is what she learned on her own, something Coach Sue Phillips (high school coach) teaches, or what Coach G is teaching, but Morgan playing those defensive angles well! Q just has to make the best of the few minutes she gets out there and build on that. Keep making positive noise in practice and playing time will come, Q.

Hey, I am happy for this win. Like I said, the toughest part is overlooking the so-called "easy" game and playing down to the competition. I am glad that we have not done that and hopefully we won't. Great win, UConn.

 

[Skeets]

I especially like when Geno deploys Ashlyn and KK together against an unsuspecting offense. My husband and I call them the Chaos Twins, with their constant deflections, tips, diving on the floor, and batting the ball away. They seem to be everywhere at once. It must be so annoying to play against them, which is why I love having them on our team.

Thoughts:

1. Started out as the Kaitlyn Chen show. Why can't she play 25+ minutes like that?
2. Not a good game for Morgan, but I'll cut her some slack.
3. Very good game for Ash, I'd like to see her get more minutes, but from where?
4. Jana is getting better every game, but slower than the average BY'er would like to see,
5. Every time Paige misses a shot, I say to myself "what's wrong with Paige"? She's supposed to make every shot.
6. If Q had a little more basketball skills she would be fantastic.
7. The "Chaos Twins", I like that
8. The BE sucks.

 

[HuskyNan]

Thoughts:

4. Jana is getting better every game, but slower than the average BY'er would like to see,

I agree that there are Boneyarders that are impatiently waiting for Jana to play like a junior NOW but she is progressing along a typical freshman post’s learning curve nicely. Yes, I know there were/are freshman posts that were great from day 1 but they aren’t Jana nor she them. As Obi Wan Kenobe said, “She must follow her own path”.

 

[yhun89]

I agree that there are Boneyarders that are impatiently waiting for Jana to play like a junior NOW but she is progressing along a typical freshman post’s learning curve nicely. Yes, I know there were/are freshman posts that were great from day 1 but they aren’t Jana nor she them. As Obi Wan Kenobe said, “She must follow her own path”.

I personally think that from what I’ve seen, all she needs is a bit more muscle to bang around in the post. She was stopped a bit by the stronger, more experienced big on PC, and couldn’t seem to force her way into the paint, but towards the end she managed to get a few buckets. I fully expect during the off season when she gains a bit more muscle, she can be a real threat in the post.

 

[oldhusky]

I agree that there are Boneyarders that are impatiently waiting for Jana to play like a junior NOW but she is progressing along a typical freshman post’s learning curve nicely. Yes, I know there were/are freshman posts that were great from day 1 but they aren’t Jana nor she them. As Obi Wan Kenobe said, “She must follow her own path”.

I agree that players have different development timelines and paces. Some have a mature game and great basketball instincts like Sarah, and others need to have the game slow down for them a little, and have enough repetition that sound decisions become more like muscle memory.

In Jana's case I am reminded of how differently she played for her teams in Egypt. There the competition was pretty weak, she was the number 1 scoring option on her team, she was surrounded by defenders down low, her point guards didn't have a clue how to feed the post even when she wasn't doubled, she rarely faced talent her size, and to get the ball she had to come out to get it or offensive rebound.

She occasionally shot threes, and frequently drove to the basket from the perimeter to get close. In many ways her game here at Uconn is completely different. Now she is not the first option, will not be doubled as much down low, has plenty of other scorers on the team and great passers to get her the ball in the post, and some defenders can block her shots. Being a player that camps out and is fed in the low post is a major transition for her, so from that perspective it is probably a much bigger change than for a top US high school big going to a top program.

 

[Puppy Love]

UConn played some really tough defense, but something is missing on offense...slow starts, missed bunnies, or maybe it is just me, but I am not feeling like we are running on all cylinders. Hopefully something comes together before we play S. Carolina, who lost to Texas, so they might have a chip on their shoulders.

I was at the game yesterday, and I have to agree that something seems missing. In order to try to find that something, I went back and watched a game against Temple (similar mismatch) from Stewie’s senior year. The number one thing that I noticed is team speed. A lot of the time, three passes, and the ball was in the basket. It wasn’t necessarily a big putting the ball in the basket, because the scoring was coming from all over the floor. This team has really good passers. But they don’t have is the experience of playing consistently together. For the past three years, at least one cog in the wheel has been out with an injury. I think that consistency at the point guard position is particularly important. This year’s iteration of the Huskies just doesn’t seem to have a take charge point guard and I think they are being hurt by it.

 

[Bone Dog]

Being a player that camps out and is fed in the low post is a major transition for her, so from that perspective it is probably a much bigger change than for a top US high school big going to a top program.

Yes, exactly this! Your entire post is right, and to the point. So few BYers have taken the trouble to watch any of Jana’s HS games. I get it, they’re not easy to find, and once found they’re difficult to watch because the camera work is not great and the PA announcer speaks in Arabic. But everything @oldhusky says here is clear in those videos. The FIBA games tell a similar story. Add to the mix that she suffered a catastrophic injury before day 1 at Storrs and I’d be cautious criticizing anything about her development. Compare her to Ciera Toomey on UNC to get a sense of what a similar trajectory might look like. Of course, Toomey has the advantage of being surrounded by other capable bigs. Also, picture what Koval’s development would look like had she suffered a similar injury. I had hoped Jana could have progressed more quickly, but I’m not surprised by what has transpired.

I went back and watched a game against Temple (similar mismatch) from Stewie’s senior year. The number one thing that I noticed is team speed. A lot of the time, three passes, and the ball was in the basket. It wasn’t necessarily a big putting the ball in the basket, because the scoring was coming from all over the floor. This team has really good passers. But they don’t have is the experience of playing consistently together. For the past three years, at least one cog in the wheel has been out with an injury. I think that consistency at the point guard position is particularly important. This year’s iteration of the Huskies just doesn’t seem to have a take charge point guard and I think they are being hurt by it.

I’ve seen the same thing as you have, @Puppy Love, and not just looking at games from Stewie’s senior year. Gabby’s final two seasons were similar. I don’t think the primary problem this year is the lack of a PG. The problem is lack of experience playing together everywhere, which is what Geno has said several times in the course of the season.

The ball just doesn’t move as quickly this season as it did in those storied seasons. You can see the ball getting stuck because someone misses a spot or bumps into a teammate or in some other way distorts the motion offense and it’s spacing. And it’s not just Morgan or Allie. Kaitlyn and KK sometimes also do this. Paige and Azzi are the ones who mainly move the ball consistently well, Sarah and Ash are closest to them in this respect. Some have said making Paige the full time PG is the solution. But I don’t think this would solve the problem and the fact is Paige already has the ball in her hands a ton.

I’d compare this team to either of the teams from 2016-17 and 2017-18, both of which went 36-1 and fell short of the NC at the end of storybook runs. They were packed with ball handlers and shooters like now, ran in transition really well and lacked a major post presence. But above all else they had tons of experience with each other.

Last season, Paige Nika and Aaliyah carried 4 freshman teammates to the final four. But that was as far as they could go with that configuration, as their freshmen gradually wilted under the pressure. This season, we’re looking at a similar situation with even less experience as a team. Geno has lost two seniors to the W and replaced them with a very good senior transfer, a once great shooting guard who may yet recover her greatness, 4 still evolving sophomores, and 4 promising freshmen. Similar injuries still beset the team as more than half the possible frontcourt is either out or struggling to return, and that doesn’t even count Ice’s injury.

My point in this comparison is that the teams Paige has been carrying over the past two seasons are not nearly as experienced as the two teams led by Gabby-Phee-Katie Lou teams. Paige came close to replicating what they did in their best season last year.

And I wonder what we think even the 2015-16 team would have been able to accomplish minus Morgan, Katie Lou and Moriah, and Geno having to play Brianna Pulido for 10 mins/g. Because that’s what we’re looking at this season.

 

[Vancat]

I agree that there are Boneyarders that are impatiently waiting for Jana to play like a junior NOW but she is progressing along a typical freshman post’s learning curve nicely. Yes, I know there were/are freshman posts that were great from day 1 but they aren’t Jana nor she them. As Obi Wan Kenobe said, “She must follow her own path”.

and as Kara Walters reminds us often, it takes bigs longer

 

[Bigboote]

FYI, something I just noticed: The three point guards had 13 assists and TWO turnovers among them.

 

[HuskyNan]

Yes, exactly this! Your entire post is right, and to the point. So few BYers have taken the trouble to watch any of Jana’s HS games. I get it, they’re not easy to find, and once found they’re difficult to watch because the camera work is not great and the PA announcer speaks in Arabic. But everything @oldhusky says here is clear in those videos. The FIBA games tell a similar story. Add to the mix that she suffered a catastrophic injury before day 1 at Storrs and I’d be cautious criticizing anything about her development. Compare her to Ciera Toomey on UNC to get a sense of what a similar trajectory might look like. Of course, Toomey has the advantage of being surrounded by other capable bigs. Also, picture what Koval’s development would look like had she suffered a similar injury. I had hoped Jana could have progressed more quickly, but I’m not surprised by what has transpired.


I’ve seen the same thing as you have, @Puppy Love, and not just looking at games from Stewie’s senior year. Gabby’s final two seasons were similar. I don’t think the primary problem this year is the lack of a PG. The problem is lack of experience playing together everywhere, which is what Geno has said several times in the course of the season.

The ball just doesn’t move as quickly this season as it did in those storied seasons. You can see the ball getting stuck because someone misses a spot or bumps into a teammate or in some other way distorts the motion offense and it’s spacing. And it’s not just Morgan. Kaitlyn and KK sometimes also do this. Paige and Azzi are the ones who mainly move the ball consistently well, Sarah and Ash are closest to them in this respect. Some have said making Paige the full time PG is the solution. But I don’t think this would solve the problem and the fact is Paige already has the ball in her hands a ton.

I’d compare this team to either of the teams from 2016-17 and 2017-18, both of which went 36-1 and fell short of the NC at the end of storybook runs. They were packed with ball handlers and shooters like now, ran in transition really well and lacked a major post presence. But above all else they had tons of experience with each other.

Last season, Paige Nika and Aaliyah carried 4 freshman teammates to the final four. But that was as far as they could go with that configuration, as their freshmen gradually wilted under the pressure. This season, we’re looking at a similar situation with even less experience as a team. Geno has lost two seniors to the W and replaced them with a very good senior transfer, 4 still evolving sophomores, and 4 promising freshmen. Similar injuries still beset the team as more than half the possible frontcourt is either out or struggling to return, and that doesn’t even count Ice’s injury.

My point in this comparison is that the teams Paige has been carrying over the past two seasons are not nearly as experienced as the two teams led by Gabby-Phee-Katie Lou teams. Paige came close to replicating what they did in their best season last year.

And I wonder what we think even the 2015-16 team would have been able to accomplish minus Morgan, Katie Lou and Moriah, and Geno having to play Brianna Pulido for 10 mins/g. Because that’s what we’re looking at this season.

An apt comparison might be Jess Moore.

 

[Bone Dog]

An apt comparison might be Jess Moore.

Indeed, but I’m also thinking of Caroline, whom this team is definitely missing. She’s a little like Katie Lou.

Edit: I may have missed your reference. Jana may develop more along the lines of Jess Moore. That seems right to me. I have very high hopes for her if she can string together a few injury-free years. All those skills she had to develop on a weak HS team and that seem to hinder her low post play now may return as impressive virtues in another year or two.

 

[ERWUC65]

Yes, exactly this! Your entire post is right, and to the point. So few BYers have taken the trouble to watch any of Jana’s HS games. I get it, they’re not easy to find, and once found they’re difficult to watch because the camera work is not great and the PA announcer speaks in Arabic. But everything @oldhusky says here is clear in those videos. The FIBA games tell a similar story. Add to the mix that she suffered a catastrophic injury before day 1 at Storrs and I’d be cautious criticizing anything about her development. Compare her to Ciera Toomey on UNC to get a sense of what a similar trajectory might look like. Of course, Toomey has the advantage of being surrounded by other capable bigs. Also, picture what Koval’s development would look like had she suffered a similar injury. I had hoped Jana could have progressed more quickly, but I’m not surprised by what has transpired.


I’ve seen the same thing as you have, @Puppy Love, and not just looking at games from Stewie’s senior year. Gabby’s final two seasons were similar. I don’t think the primary problem this year is the lack of a PG. The problem is lack of experience playing together everywhere, which is what Geno has said several times in the course of the season.

The ball just doesn’t move as quickly this season as it did in those storied seasons. You can see the ball getting stuck because someone misses a spot or bumps into a teammate or in some other way distorts the motion offense and it’s spacing. And it’s not just Morgan or Allie. Kaitlyn and KK sometimes also do this. Paige and Azzi are the ones who mainly move the ball consistently well, Sarah and Ash are closest to them in this respect. Some have said making Paige the full time PG is the solution. But I don’t think this would solve the problem and the fact is Paige already has the ball in her hands a ton.

I’d compare this team to either of the teams from 2016-17 and 2017-18, both of which went 36-1 and fell short of the NC at the end of storybook runs. They were packed with ball handlers and shooters like now, ran in transition really well and lacked a major post presence. But above all else they had tons of experience with each other.

Last season, Paige Nika and Aaliyah carried 4 freshman teammates to the final four. But that was as far as they could go with that configuration, as their freshmen gradually wilted under the pressure. This season, we’re looking at a similar situation with even less experience as a team. Geno has lost two seniors to the W and replaced them with a very good senior transfer, a once great shooting guard who may yet recover her greatness, 4 still evolving sophomores, and 4 promising freshmen. Similar injuries still beset the team as more than half the possible frontcourt is either out or struggling to return, and that doesn’t even count Ice’s injury.

My point in this comparison is that the teams Paige has been carrying over the past two seasons are not nearly as experienced as the two teams led by Gabby-Phee-Katie Lou teams. Paige came close to replicating what they did in their best season last year.

And I wonder what we think even the 2015-16 team would have been able to accomplish minus Morgan, Katie Lou and Moriah, and Geno having to play Brianna Pulido for 10 mins/g. Because that’s what we’re looking at this season.

Here it is in perspective. The past years have been UConn and a few other good teams. This year it is UConn, a few great teams and several good teams. NIL, the portal and the relative strength and weakness of conferences has changed the landscape forever. If you want a good program then the status quo is for you. If you want to win then you have to adapt.