Queen of the Nile

[Bald Husky]

Jana ElAlfy has been making a lot of progress during the last few games. With Ice out, and we don't know how long that will be, Jana has taken advantage of the increased playing time.

Now, with Geno alternating the "Big and Small lineups" during the games, Janas presence has taken on more importance in our teams' offence. Her rebounding has been better, she is playing much more physical without fouling, and has scored a few points along the way. This increased time on the court is extremely important as we will face a few pretty good post players in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

We need Jana to be aggressive, be physical, even call for the ball if she is in the right situation. She has done that recently, and we just need her to be the player Geno wants her to be, and although the road for a first year post player is tough, we need her to be that player that can turn the tide if our perimeter game is not working. Jana has shown that she can do the job, and her fierceness will help her if her own self doesn't get in the way. That may have been phrased wrong, but what I mean is that she gets upset if she is not playing well, and that makes her performance go in the wrong direction.

I think the key to Janas success this year is the faith that her teammates have in her has to be redirected to Jana herself, and if this girl can stay focused on the next play, she will give us the ability to run the table. Anyway, if the Queen of the Nile can get her head together, her emergence as a key player in our offence will make us pretty hard to beat.

 

[Tonyc]

Luv Queen of the Nile. With Janas progress UConn will have a district advantage against teams without a big and will compete with teams like UCLA Betts, TCU Prince and Texas Jones who are top ranked teams. Even going small against these teams UConn has more shooters/scorers then any other top team. ND is the closest with some great scorers and another ND UConn matchup would be imo a UConn win.

The biggest difference between UConn and other top teams is UConn has 3 go too players, plus Ash and Kaitlyn. KK has shown no hesitation to score when the opportunity presents itself. UConns defense has been devastating and their ability to not foul and their low turnover rate makes them a very tuff out.

It will be interesting to see how the NCAA handles the seedings. All this talk about the power conferences imo could create problems for seedings with so many ranked teams and their ability to knock each other out. Another point for the power conferences is getting a bye in their conference tournament. Some ranked teams will not which means they will not be rested because they have to play more games.

Over the next few days there are some big conference matchups that could have a major affect on seeding's. Whether UConn is a one seed which I have a good feeling they could be or a two seed we are going to be a very tuff team to handle. UConn has the ability to keep good teams from scoring and I dont believe good teams have enough defensive players to keep UConn from scoring because of all the scorers UConn has. We have been waiting for this team to get healthy and they should be with a few weeks left till the NCAAS. I am very confident and excited with all our options to perform at a very high level.

 

[Bone Dog]

I’m not sure the evidence for improvement is really visible in the statistics. Over the last 5 games Jana’s averaging a little more than 20 minutes 6 points and 5 rebounds. That’s roughly the same as her season averages.

I don’t think anyone’s been more of a cheerleader for Jana than me, and I think I’ve seen hints and clues suggesting improvement. For example, she receives passes better now than she has and finishes layups better in the low post. She has also passed more confidently from both the low and high post. But so far these are just hints and clues and aren't yet apparent in the box score.

I am looking forward to the moment Jana is able to put together a dominant game, something even the box score will reflect. I am confident we’ll see it next season, and I wish we could see the first few such games a lot sooner.

 

[oldude]

I am really conflicted about one important aspect of this discussion.

Queen of the Nile vs The Great Pyramid?

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Jana has an advanced skill set she showed in the Africa Tournament she got hurt in!
She just needs to relax and let the game come to her!
She's a very athletic post player that could dominate in the upcoming tournaments!

 

[BBallF]

We all know how important she is to this team this year and beyond. What she lost by not playing last year is really evident this year.

First, the experience that was lost shows itself regularly. Second, she has to improve and really change basic fundamental aspects of her game which may well have taken place over last summer had she played last year. I remember Aaliyah as a freshman and even beyond and there are several similarities. The first of course are screens. The refs love making those calls when they see them( not like in the Iowa-UCLA game) and you just can't move at all. Part of it is the feel of exactly where the screen has to be set.

Jana also always tries to put the ball on the floor after an offensive rebound. She rarely goes straight back up. She also does not shoot any form of a baby true jump shot where she stays in the air like Paige or Azzi on their pull ups. This would help immensely on layups or put backs. It's what Kiki Iriafen does so well. It also is usually either unblockable or a foul by the defender. I think a big part of it with her is just body control as well. If she is to become a dominant player I think these are a good start.

Having said this, none of these needed improvements will really matter if she plays like she did against SC. Once we get to the Sweet 16, she has to play like that every game and if she can, I like our chances.

 

[ERWUC65]

The upcoming game on Thursday vs Creighton will be competitive. Although we beat them away, they were without Lockett and since then they have gone undefeated. One of the key advantages we have is height in the post with Jana. It is critical for us to win this game at the BE title and Jana must get minutes and play at her best for us to be victorious.

 

[Skeets]

I’m not sure the evidence for improvement is really visible in the statistics. Over the last 5 games Jana’s averaging a little more than 20 minutes 6 points and 5 rebounds. That’s roughly the same as her season averages.

I don’t think anyone’s been more of a cheerleader for Jana than me, and I think I’ve seen hints and clues suggesting improvement. For example, she receives passes better now than she has and finishes layups better in the low post. She has also passed more confidently from both the low and high post. But so far these are just hints and clues and aren't yet apparent in the box score.

I am looking forward to the moment Jana is able to put together a dominant game, something even the box score will reflect. I am confident we’ll see it next season, and I wish we could see the first few such games a lot sooner.

I agree. In my opinion it's more of an eye test thing than a stats thing. Jana is playing better. Fewer fouls, fewer mistakes.

 

[Dugway]

I am really conflicted about one important aspect of this discussion.

Queen of the Nile vs The Great Pyramid?

The Great Pyramid!

 

[Bone Dog]

Jana also always tries to put the ball on the floor after an offensive rebound. She rarely goes straight back up.

She could learn a lot just by watching video of Taylor Jones, who is really good at just this. She's not deeply athletic, but she plays within herself really well, is a great shot blocker, and scores with great economy of movement in the low post.

 

[Dugway]

Luv Queen of the Nile. With Janas progress UConn will have a district advantage against teams without a big and will compete with teams like UCLA Betts, TCU Prince and Texas Jones who are top ranked teams. Even going small against these teams UConn has more shooters/scorers then any other top team. ND is the closest with some great scorers and another ND UConn matchup would be imo a UConn win.

I agree, and there is a likelihood that we will align earlier in the tournament with some team with a very talented big. Oklahoma has Beers, Kansas State has Lee, West Virginia has Arigbabu, etc. Those are all teams likely to be in the Sweet 16.

I’m not sure the evidence for improvement is really visible in the statistics. Over the last 5 games Jana’s averaging a little more than 20 minutes 6 points and 5 rebounds. That’s roughly the same as her season averages.

I don’t think anyone’s been more of a cheerleader for Jana than me, and I think I’ve seen hints and clues suggesting improvement. For example, she receives passes better now than she has and finishes layups better in the low post. She has also passed more confidently from both the low and high post. But so far these are just hints and clues and aren't yet apparent in the box score.

I am looking forward to the moment Jana is able to put together a dominant game, something even the box score will reflect. I am confident we’ll see it next season, and I wish we could see the first few such games a lot sooner.

I too have been a huge cheerleader! I wish she would not commit the moving screen violation; she simply has to get over that. We are going to get to the tournament, we are going to be assigned a referee crew from some obscure conference who may be very critical of this, and Jana is going to get rung up at the worst of all times. It is much better to just be ineffective all together on that screen play than to draw the whistle. Put the onus on our guards! If they can't cut the corner close enough to Jana that she is effective, while not striding into the defender, then that is on the guard.

 

[donalddoowop]

In the last two games I saw passes to Jana, including one from Paige, that were chest high, and they were tipped by the defense. When Jana's teammates start giving her passes above her head, she will start scoring more. That is what happened against SC. At 6'5", the passes should be high.

 

[Shenandoah]

I am really conflicted about one important aspect of this discussion.

Queen of the Nile vs The Great Pyramid?

I'd rather her be the "Queen of Denial"

 

[EricLA]

ok let's put it to a vote...

 

[Puppy Love]

I am really conflicted about one important aspect of this discussion.

Queen of the Nile vs The Great Pyramid?

My two cents (and not directed at you, personally): They are both offensive. I don’t think it adds anything to the discussion to refer to Jana by her race or national origin. Those things are not descriptors of her ability to play basketball.

 

[Conndog]

4 quarters of what she did against SC is what I want to see from her. Why was she able to score and produce? Because her teammates were able (willing?) to pass to her when she was open. My wish for Jana is to be this effective each time she is on the floor. If she can develop a little baby hook like Sarah showed, she would be even harder to guard. I loved how she kept going after rebounds a couple of times- that aggression shows confidence on her part.

 

[oldude]

My two cents (and not directed at you, personally): They are both offensive. I don’t think it adds anything to the discussion to refer to Jana by her race or national origin. Those things are not descriptors of her ability to play basketball.

I need to unpack your expressed concern. First and foremost, there are clear pejoratives that are ugly and unacceptable when it comes to people of middle-eastern, Arabic or Islamic descent. None have been used here.

Egypt was one of the great civilizations of the ancient world. The Great Pyramid of Giza, built for the Pharaoh Khufu is revered in Egypt, one of the eight wonders of the world and the only one still standing. Similarly, the ancient queens of Egypt, Cleopatra, Nefertiti and others are honored by the Egyptian people.

Nicknames for athletes in sports are as old as sports themselves. Many of those nicknames incorporate geographic or ethnic references which pertain to where the athletes come from or where they played.

Lasse Viren - The Flying Finn
Alexandr Karelin - The Russian Bear
Chloe Kim - Young Dragon (a reference to her Korean heritage)
Larry Bird - The Hick from French Lick
Shawn Bradley - The Enormous Mormon
Chuck Wepner - The Bayonne Bleeder
Joe Walcott - Jersey Joe
Joe Namath - Broadway Joe

In addition, there are numerous nicknames that directly refer to an athlete’s race:

Joe Louis - The Brown Bomber
Kobe Bryant - The Black Mamba
Dick Lane - Night Train
Jason Williams - White Chocolate
Daryl Dawkins - Chocolate Thunder
Allie Reynolds - Big Chief

All of these nicknames were embraced by the athletes they referred to. After giving your objection some thought, I do plan to stop using any of the nicknames that are currently being used on the BY for Jana, until such time as I know she’s OK with the nickname.