Providence Postgame Thread

[NycUcWbbFan]

On Nan's post, interesting to note that Ash is not shooting as well both inside and outside the arc as she did last season. Maybe her confidence is a little down. Be nice if she stepped up a little more. The rest of her game has not suffered though.

This small tizzy (about a Geno interview which supposedly purports to Geno replacing Ash and KK in the starting lineup) helps to put into perspective what Geno appreciates most in Ash’s game. It’s not scoring.

I suspect the tizzy had to do with Ash pressing &1 and calling her own number multiple times in an (3-10) offensive showing against MI, with a few of them bunched up in the 3rd and 4th quarters. In those quarters, UConn played ineffective half-court that led to MI racing to make buckets on their end against a scrambling UConn defense.

&1 Bold text relates to the underlined.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Ashlynn had 5 points and has 4 straight games of not scoring in double figures.

What do you guys make of her season so far?

Blanca has performed at a #1-recruit level and probably makes both traditional and small ball rotations better than with Ash.

That said, Geno probably sees great value in preserving the status quo.

The marginal increase in effectiveness of Blanca in the starting lineup (replacing Ash) is probably not enough to compensate for a tired Blanca in small ball with a fresh Ash.

• Equivalently stated, a better sequencing of rotations in a 40-minute onslaught is arguably more certain with Blanca coming off the bench.

Ash is a great complementary 4/5-scoring option player in the starting lineup who can have the occasional very hot hand and her stats (see Roster Advanced and Roster Value) are to be expected given her usage.

• I don’t think Ash can increase her production/ efficiency to replicate Blanca’s as a first period bolt of lightning when the opponent’s tiring starters/ weaker bench are playing.
• And it’s not as if Geno can’t quickly substitute in Blanca for Ash in the starting traditional lineup if needed;
• Last year, when the game was on the line, Geno deployed his small ball winning time rotations with Ash subbing for Jana; Geno has more versatility this year with Blanca.

Next year, we’ll probably have the same discussions with Jovana and hopefully Sarah Okeke (assuming Olivia is in the starting rotation).

Note: There was a 3:54-minute appearance of a Big Lineup.

 

[RoadMaster]

Nice Highlight Clip..

 

[hoophuskee]

No doubt. People can point out all the good things Ash does on the court. But Geno 100% wants her to be a scorer on the court. The points have to come from somewhere. Ash averaged double figures as a freshman; don’t forget about that guys.

But that team wasn't as strong as last year's or this year's which is why she got those minutes. That team she was the 3rd most reliable "scorer." This team she is anywhere from 5th to 7th. Right now the team has 3-pro-ready players in Serah, Sarah, and Azzi. And a very gifted scorer in Blanca. Potentialy on given nights excluding the pg, Allie and even Jana could be a bit better.

There are only so many minutes and only one ball and with her minutes drop due to more overall talent from the bench, she's not going to approach what she did as a freshman. But her points per 40 was close last year to her freshman year (14 vs 13.8). This year she is just missing more. When she is on the floor she is mostly the 4th option unlike her forsh year when she was 3rd. And any break Paige or Edwards got, she was 2nd.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't 67-41 a 26 point difference?

Let him go, he's on a roll...

 

[HuskyNan]

Along this line the radio guys commented during one possession on how Geno was angry with Ash for not shooting when she got a pass open in the corner.

On Nan's post, interesting to note that Ash is not shooting as well both inside and outside the arc as she did last season. Maybe her confidence is a little down. Be nice if she stepped up a little more. The rest of her game has not suffered though.

Early season shooting woes