Question on Breanna

[Sonny44]

Do you think she will need to bulk up at some point?

 

[pinotbear]

I don't know as I'd use the term "bulk up", but it's almost inevitable that weight room work and physical maturity will make her stronger and a bit heavier. Players like Swin and Shuey were never bulky (which is why I'm picking nits with bulk up), but they sure were (and are) wiry strong and athletic.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yeah, a little. And she will. She's a hard worker. The regular routine in the weight room will help.

 

[alexrgct]

It's really a matter of how Geno wants to utilize her. She's tall enough to play the five, but with Stokes and Stef as teammates, she probably won't have to at Uconn (maybe her senior year, depending on a whole host of factors). It's not totally clear to me that she's going to play a ton of true PF either, what with bigger bodies like Morgan and KML.

I think she will gain some muscle mass over the course of her career, but it may just end up that she's an incredibly tall, disruptive, and unconventional small forward.

 

[VAMike23]

I think she will some, but she will probably gain more strength in her four years than is apparent to the naked eye re: muscle mass.

She is just a lean-built type - he bone structure doesn't look like the type that would easily add much bulk anyway. This is partly why I have commented that her best work is done with a little space. Her agility and length are her greatest assets. Tougher to use those when you're stuck under the basket between bodies. (Not that she's useless in that position....far from it!)

 

[UConnCat]

Geno said last week that Breanna is stronger than she looks.

"She's just a weirdo. She has a weird body type," Auriemma said. "Somebody made a comment at practice you can't speed her up. She plays at her pace. She never gets rushed. I remember Gervin like that. He was really long. When she's around the basket she rarely misses. She's stronger than she looks, too."

 

[Icebear]

I thought that Friday night she looked like she had added a few pounds. Her frame is that of an Olympic class high jumper and they are plenty strong.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Breanna was not being gentle with IUP players that I could see...I'm not sure how strong she is based on that game, but the international games made her look pretty tough...

 

[rocky rococo]

It's clear that at some point some opposing coach will put it to the test, can you shut her down by beating her up? She'll need to be tough enough to take that pounding. As others have mentioned, it needn't be bulky, but I don't see as of yet the sort of steel cable wiriness that her body type can readily take (the Swin reference above is on target). Let's remember Swin didn't have that wiry strength when she first showed up either.

 

[OneTrickPony]

It's clear that at some point some opposing coach will put it to the test, can you shut her down by beating her up? She'll need to be tough enough to take that pounding. As others have mentioned, it needn't be bulky, but I don't see as of yet the sort of steel cable wiriness that her body type can readily take (the Swin reference above is on target). Let's remember Swin didn't have that wiry strength when she first showed up either.

All of these players need to read the Tamika Catchings/Maya Moore workout book...Geno, I'm sure, also remembers how that nice old gentlemen, John Wooden, used Sven Nater when people tried that tactic with Bill Walton...

 

[jdubct]

It's clear that at some point some opposing coach will put it to the test, can you shut her down by beating her up? She'll need to be tough enough to take that pounding. As others have mentioned, it needn't be bulky, but I don't see as of yet the sort of steel cable wiriness that her body type can readily take (the Swin reference above is on target). Let's remember Swin didn't have that wiry strength when she first showed up either.

This year with all the players available on the team, Breanna does not have to dominate every game. She will have the regular season to make adjustments to physical play and the team will win. However, that might not be the case when/if we play Baylor in the NCAA tournament.

 

[UcMiami]

It all gets down to body type - current best player in WCBB Griner has a similar body type to Breanna, and Griner has not changed much in terms of 'look' but there is no question she is much stronger than her freshman year. BS is always going to look long and lean but she will get stronger as she matures and continues the training regime - but she will never look like Maya or Heather or Stef.
And with all her international experience and playing up in age groups she has already learned how to deal with physical play. And during practice you can be sure MT, KS, SD, and even KF are giving her plenty of additional experience!

 

[HuskyFan1125]

To me, she looked like she had but on some upper body strength already. I was expecting her to be much thinner! Just an observation.

 

[EricLA]

To me, she looked like she had but on some upper body strength already. I was expecting her to be much thinner! Just an observation.

I agree. granted i only caught the game on huskyvision, but both she and Moriah looked "stronger" than I expected. I thought both would be thin to skinny. the entire class is going to be such a treat to watch for the next 4 years...!!

 

[OneTrickPony]

I agree. granted i only caught the game on huskyvision, but both she and Moriah looked "stronger" than I expected. I thought both would be thin to skinny. the entire class is going to be such a treat to watch for the next 4 years...!!

Moriah must have 99% fast-twitch muscles...I'll be surprised if she isn't very strong for her size...

 

[DishNSwish]

She said she has a hard time putting on weight. We were joking with her that they didn't feed her.

 

[JRRRJ]

Do you think she will need to bulk up at some point?

2 words 4 u: Dewanna Bonner

 

[Icebear]

Moriah must have 99% fast-twitch muscles...I'll be surprised if she isn't very strong for her size...

Fast twitching is what she causes the opposition. And a little head jerking.

 

[Bestiarius]

Moriah must have 99% fast-twitch muscles...

I have a feeling that we're going to see a lot of, "Do you want to see it again?" moments.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Fast twitching is what she causes the opposition. And a little head jerking.

Yeah...if she's the Roadrunner, then I guess they're the roadkill!

 

[VAMike23]

I have a feeling that we're going to see a lot of, "Do you want to see it again?" moments.

Reminds me of Muhammed Ali's great gag.....