Rave reviews from Shea

[EricLA]

Shea has some great comments on many of the players so far during the preseason. Gives you even more reason to be excited about this year.

Things are looking really good

 

[Vowelguy]

Wow.
But let's not get TOO excited. (I just hope we're not being set up for a fall!)

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/shea-ralphs-assessment-things-are-looking-really-good/

 

[Phil]

That sounds great.

 

[MilfordHusky]

"Bria Hartley is on a mission now." I like the sound of that.

On Kaleena: "But her shooting hasn’t changed. She’s really good." Yeah!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Wow.
But let's not get TOO excited. (I just hope we're not being set up for a fall!)

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/shea-ralphs-assessment-things-are-looking-really-good/

Actually, we are being set up for the Fall. As in the autumnal beginning to a great season.

 

[EricLA]

She also echoes the comments regarding Banks that we've read from others. Of course, Shea does say that once practices start with Geno, things can change. Let's hope they just get better...

 

[alexrgct]

Couple comments about Shea:

-She and Geno get along because they are both very direct and never satisfied. If you watch the two of them on the sideline, Geno's signature blank state of disbelief will be matched one-for-one with Shea's signature scowl. As attractive as she is with as great a smile as she has, she can definitely make her face look scary. Thus, when she says positive things, I tend to take it at face value.

-She put enough caveats and disclaimers in there to indicate she certainly has her initial positive impressions in their proper perspective. Whether fans will is another matter. However, I don't think it'll surprise anyone if the Huskies are really, really good this year.

 

[Blakeon18]

A repeat here but it seems a bit relevant: When I saw the kids scrimmage in early September Brianna was very aggressive on offense. She didn't hit the outside shot but finished a
couple of drives with very athletic moves and hoops. She also hit the 'bigs' for a couple of lay-ups off bullet-type passes off drives. She played with
a lot of confidence and a bit of a 'tude [in a good way]. I expected her to be a force in the regular rotation last year but that didn't happen on a consistent basis....THIS is the year for BB to shine.

 

[VAMike23]

.................

 

[doggydaddy]

A repeat here but it seems a bit relevant: When I saw the kids scrimmage in early September Brianna was very aggressive on offense. She didn't hit the outside shot but finished a
couple of drives with very athletic moves and hoops. She also hit the 'bigs' for a couple of lay-ups off bullet-type passes off drives. She played with
a lot of confidence and a bit of a 'tude [in a good way]. I expected her to be a force in the regular rotation last year but that didn't happen on a consistent basis....THIS is the year for BB to shine.

I'm looking for a big impact on defense from Banks. Physically, she is quick enough and strong enough to cover most guards. I think you will see her impact both the Baylor game and Duke game with her defense on Sims and Gray.

 

[Icebear]

Wow.
But let's not get TOO excited. (I just hope we're not being set up for a fall!)

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/shea-ralphs-assessment-things-are-looking-really-good/

Personally, I hope we are set up for the Fall and the Winter and the Spring and the next three years.

 

[VAMike23]

I'm looking for a big impact on defense from Banks. Physically, she is quicks enough and strong enough to cover most guards. I think you will see her impact both the Baylor game and Duke game with her defense on Sims and Gray.

She certainly has the tools - I will be delighted if she has figured out what to do with them, especially on the defensive end. She has the potential to be a devastating defender on the perimeter.....

The first few games should actually tell us a lot, because last year--even against less than stellar competition--she would routinely let opposing guards go by her, sort of riding them as they penetrated the lane...to Geno's chagrin. (The horde relayed a few of the funny digs he took at her last year, but I can't recall any of them right now.) She did not come to Storrs with the Tiff's mentality of 'get to the spot and take the charge.' The scary thing is, she is even quicker than Tiff and *could* be a great charge-drawer.

My guess is we see a solid jump in her effectiveness this year, but with much better performance to look forward to in her JR/SR years. In other words, while Geno usually believes that you know what you're gonna get by the time a player becomes a Junior (barring injury issues), I think that with Brianna we will actually see more improvement in the back half of her career than usual.

 

[Vowelguy]

My guess is we see a solid jump in her effectiveness this year, but with much better performance to look forward to in her JR/SR years.

The playing time will certainly be there next year.

 

[sarals24]

Geno said something on his show to the effect of "She looks GREAT out there in her stance, probably the best on the team. Very intimidating. And then as she's sitting there appreciating her stance, she watches her player go right by her."

 

[meyers7]

.......

..........

But not in an "evil" way.

 

[winlots]

Shea has some great comments on many of the players so far during the preseason. Gives you even more reason to be excited about this year.

Things are looking really good

ERIC: am sure we all have our own take-aways on John's good report. One of mine involves my tinge of paranoia rearing it's ugly head, as I found myself wondering why he (and/or she) didn't say anything about Jefferson's PLAY. It was all about her as a person....and all of that was great to read.

Thought it was a helpful and informative article, and very welcome as I thirst for that kind of feedback on various individuals. (Also wondered as another poster did, why the "omitted" players were omitted....perhaps John will get to them, I hope. Or, are they not performing??? Can't simply be that they aren't guards, bec the article dealt with DOlson)

But the main reason I am sending this is because, given my great respect and enjoyment of your take on things, wanted to ask if you would elaborate on what observations in the article got YOU even more excited than you had been about the season. Thanks.

 

[slimmer56]

I do think Shea and Geno are a lot alike in many ways. After playing for him and coaching with him all these years she would have to of picked up a lot his traits, good and bad. I think she and Geno are on the same page when giving out complements to individual players.

I think she has a very soft place in her heart for Caroline. The knee injuries, and the way they both play(ed) the game. She wants to see Caroline succeed in the worst / best possible way.

I do think Shea is so right about the confidence issue. All the players that come to UCONN could play anywhere in the country. I remember Maya doing some guest commentary on one of our early TV games this year, and she was talking about how Kaleena had the confidence to make her own name at UCONN.
On the other side was Lauren Engeln. I thought she had the abillity to get a lot of minutes at UCONN, but she seemed to afraid to make a mistake. You have to get beyond that, but I can understand the thinking....If I make a bad play, or make a bad pass Coach won't ever put me in again. Geno has always said he does not want kids hiding from their shots.

Ya'll know we will probably meet Baylor for the Nat Championship, and if we do I think we have a great chance of winning a title for Caroline, Kelly, and Heather !

 

[Kibitzer]

I was impressed with Shea's comment about Bria, Kelly and Caroline taking over "ownership" of the team. Leaders asserting themselves.

I was curious about "emotional issues" holding Kaleena back last year. As a freshman she led this excellent Final Four team in scoring, so the sky is the limit now. I have made some bold predictions about her because I consider her to be the best shooter in wcbb today. And that's a bold evaluation. And I stand by it.

 

[Vowelguy]

I do think Shea and Geno are a lot alike in many ways. After playing for him and coaching with him all these years she would have to of picked up a lot his traits, good and bad. I think she and Geno are on the same page when giving out complements to individual players.

That's why it's gotta be her and Rizz as the top two contenders to succeed him.

I think she's the head coach at UConn or UNC within 10 years.

 

[speedoo]

That's why it's gotta be her and Rizz as the top two contenders to succeed him.

I think she's the head coach at UConn or UNC within 10 years.

I think Shea needs to be a HC somewhere before she can take over for Geno. And maybe Jen needs to be HC somewhere much more high profile than Hartford, to show she can recruit elite players. Emphasis on MAYBE.

So if one or both make a move in the next year or two, it could be a signal.

 

[Vowelguy]

I think Shea needs to be a HC somewhere before she can take over for Geno. And maybe Jen needs to be HC somewhere much more high profile than Hartford, to show she can recruit elite players. Emphasis on MAYBE.

Perhaps, but prominent assistant coaches can get major jobs.

Coquese Washington at Penn St, Kim Mulkey at Baylor, Holly Warlick at Tenn, Jeff Walz at Louisville, Nikki Caldwell at UCLA

and Kevin Ollie at UConn

 

[MilfordHusky]

I was impressed with Shea's comment about Bria, Kelly and Caroline taking over "ownership" of the team. Leaders asserting themselves.

I was curious about "emotional issues" holding Kaleena back last year. As a freshman she led this excellent Final Four team in scoring, so the sky is the limit now. I have made some bold predictions about her because I consider her to be the best shooter in wcbb today. And that's a bold evaluation. And I stand by it.

Per Geno, Kaleena "pouted" when things didn't go her way. That was likely a factor in her mid-season "slump." She was really good last year. She could be a top 10 player nationally this year.

 

[Phil]

Perhaps, but prominent assistant coaches can get major jobs.

Coquese Washington at Penn St, Kim Mulkey at Baylor, Holly Warlick at Tenn, Jeff Walz at Louisville, Nikki Caldwell at UCLA

and Kevin Ollie at UConn

Interesting question. Might be worth making a list of top programs, (suggested metric - At-large NCAA bid, or automatic from top n conferences), and see whether the latest coach, while in that category (excludes UConn women) was an outside head coach, and outside assistant, or an inside assistant.

 

[pppggg]

I think Shea needs to be a HC somewhere before she can take over for Geno. And maybe Jen needs to be HC somewhere much more high profile than Hartford, to show she can recruit elite players. Emphasis on MAYBE.

So if one or both make a move in the next year or two, it could be a signal.

Unlikely Shea would leave for a job unless it was high profile. Other than headcoach, what's more high profile than an assistant at UCONN. CD hasn't done to bad being there and and she has chances to leave.

 

[alexrgct]

Unlikely Shea would leave for a job unless it was high profile. Other than headcoach, what's more high profile than an assistant at UCONN. CD hasn't done to bad being there and and she has chances to leave.

CD clearly doesn't want to be a head coach anywhere. Shea, however, very likely will take a HC opportunity if one presents itself, a la Tonya and Jamelle.