Rebounding

[jerseyguy68]

This was the first game I’ve watched in quite a while due to Medical issues and I have a few observations. First, Page needs to get herself going first, then she can become a facilitator. She’s too unselfish if that’s possible. I’m talking specifically about her shot which looks off and sometimes rushed. Her rythym and form is not smooth. It’s going to bite us against a good team, which UL is not. Lastly, we gave up multiple offensive rebounds on several possessions and that has to change to become a truly elite team. Rebounding has become a lost art in all levels of basketball, just as bunting and hitting for average in baseball has all but disappeared from the sport. It doesn’t make the highlights. I know many folks on here are gonna disagree with my thoughts but I’m thinking about number 12.

 

[HuskyNan]

This was the first game I’ve watched in quite a while due to Medical issues and I have a few observations. First, Page needs to get herself going first, then she can become a facilitator. She’s too unselfish if that’s possible. I’m talking specifically about her shot which looks off and sometimes rushed. Her rythym and form is not smooth. It’s going to bite us against a good team, which UL is not. Lastly, we gave up multiple offensive rebounds on several possessions and that has to change to become a truly elite team. Rebounding has become a lost art in all levels of basketball, just as bunting and hitting for average in baseball has all but disappeared from the sport. It doesn’t make the highlights. I know many folks on here are gonna disagree with my thoughts but I’m thinking about number 12.

UConn outrebounded Louisville 52-28

 

[oldude]

Louisville’s defensive game plan was based on stopping Paige. She was doubled on every high pick and roll and swarmed on whenever she tried to penetrate. That creates a lot of room for other Huskies to operate. Last night Sarah, Azzi & Ashlynn all came up big, and oh by the way, Paige led the team in assists.

Teams that play UConn have to pick their poison. You want to stop Paige from scoring? Fine. Sarah & Azzi will have a field day on offense.

 

[cohenzone]

Every good shooting player who ever lived has off games.

 

[jerseyguy68]

UConn outrebounded Louisville 52-28

Rewatch the game and see Geno’s reaction to those sequences. When he critiques a game the stat sheet is not as important as the eye test. He has a perfect image of a game in mind, something that in reality can’t be achieved. He wants to know if they can get that rebound at a critical moment in a big game, as his past Champion teams did. Don’t mean to be argumentative, just one guy’s opinion.

UConn outrebounded Louisville 52-28

 

[Centerstream]

IMO UConn is truly an elite team...we have Geno and CD.

 

[HuskyNan]

Rewatch the game and see Geno’s reaction to those sequences. When he critiques a game the stat sheet is not as important as the eye test. He has a perfect image of a game in mind, something that in reality can’t be achieved. He wants to know if they can get that rebound at a critical moment in a big game, as his past Champion teams did. Don’t mean to be argumentative, just one guy’s opinion.

Louisville had 15 offensive rebounds and only 8 second chance points. The defense was terrific last night

The Huskies had a 46 point lead against a ranked team before Geno called off the dogs. It could have been a 50+ point destruction. I dunno why UConn fans have to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[pvdoggy]

There was a possession when L got something like 4 O boards and finally scored. Sometimes the ball just bounces a certain way, nothing you can do about it even if you had boxed out perfectly, does not make them a bad rebounding team.

 

[diggerfoot]

M. Moore leads UConn with most shot attempts per game for her career at 18. Stewart was second at 16. Bueckers averaged around 16 her freshman year, though she is more of a facilitator than either Moore or Stewart. We needed that many from her that year.

Bueckers was credited with 11 shot attempts last night. Probably the most she will have in a game this year will still be less than 20. One reason is she loves to facilitate, another is that she has teammates she can count on to deliver, a third is she is more savvy than any BY pundit in knowing when to do what.

So she’ll have her 2 for 11shooting days, just as she has had her 8 for 11 shooting days. In any case, she will know when to shoot more or less better than us folks here (though the wisdom of the BY is no doubt unparalleled). To be honest I trust her decision making in the moment on the court even more than I do Auriemma’s from the sidelines, even though I think Auriemma is the greatest coach in the game.

 

[DEpup]

Paige led team in assists and rebounds. I think they made some changes at half and got her going in the third. Then the game was over and she was on the bench. Lesson was learned and Geno smartly got her out of there.

 

[Zarathustra]

Louisville’s defensive game plan was based on stopping Paige. She was doubled on every high pick and roll and swarmed on whenever she tried to penetrate. That creates a lot of room for other Huskies to operate. Last night Sarah, Azzi & Ashlynn all came up big, and oh by the way, Paige led the team in assists.

Teams that play UConn have to pick their poison. You want to stop Paige from scoring? Fine. Sarah & Azzi will have a field day on offense.

Another " by the way"... Paige led the team in rebounds 10.

 

[huskeynut]

One sequence of Louisville getting 3 or 4 straight offensive rebounds and then scoring does not make a problem as the OP assumes. UConn got plenty of rebounds last night as Sarah, Paige, Ice and Jana fought as Louisville crashed the boards with 3 or 4 players most of the night.

Paige will adjust her game to the double teams. While she did not score her usual, she led the team in rebounds (10) and assists (7). Sarah, Azzi and Ash picked her up with their scoring.

 

[ucbart]

Louisville had 15 offensive rebounds and only 8 second chance points. The defense was terrific last night

The Huskies had a 46 point lead against a ranked team before Geno called off the dogs. It could have been a 50+ point destruction. I dunno why UConn fans have to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I want to know how many of those 15 O-boards came from horrible misses? Louisville really bricked some shots that were so badly missed that the o-board sort of found it's way to a Louisville player more than they worked for a rebound.

 

[Spaceman213J]

There were a few sequence where Louisville got multiple offensive rebounds, but a few of them were 'funky' and awful shots that caromed off the rim in a weird way. I'm not too concerned about it.
I was more concerned with how 'physical' they were with Paige. I put physical in quotes because it seemed like she got kneed a few times, but luckily escaped anything too solid like Azzi. Even on the first shot she hit, a player came down and gave her a little shoulder in the back after the ball went through the net.
Hope Fudd is fine. She has looked healthy, quicker and stronger than at any point I remember since her arrival to the team. A healthy Fudd could give them the "3-headed monster" formula with Paige and Strong that seems to work so good in basketball. If those 3 are healthy and you add Shade, Chen, Arnold... etc. they are going to be really good on both ends of the floor.

 

[hoophuskee]

Rewatch the game and see Geno’s reaction to those sequences. When he critiques a game the stat sheet is not as important as the eye test. He has a perfect image of a game in mind, something that in reality can’t be achieved. He wants to know if they can get that rebound at a critical moment in a big game, as his past Champion teams did. Don’t mean to be argumentative, just one guy’s opinion.

First off very glad you are doing well that you are able to join.. We have one helluva team this year --enjoy. And it's okay to have disagreements as long as we are all civil. We get into many.

First off in regard pt Geno’s reactions and his critiques of the game-- you aren't the coach. He is. He demands perfection as a coach that which can never be achieved. For example he had said during Tina Charles time that in her soph year she should be averaging a double-double -- at halftime. That's what a coach says to drive the player even if the goal is unrealistic. IMO you are being unrealistic about the rebounding. His reaction was on certain plys but no way would it be how you are impyling for this particular game. They are frosh and soph - and will be competing against more experienced players throughout the year. To disparage in any way the rebounding effort other than if the coach is using for motivation in some manner just isn't realistic. Other teams have scholarship player's too. IMO the eye test would show Geno just what the stats showed- Domination.

Secondly, there is no way Paige should be put in a box as you are stating that she must look to score first beofre facilitating. This team is not built like last year's Iowa - a one-player led offensive team. They had to play that way. Yet on this team for example, there are potentially two other all-Americans in the lineup to start the game. Not only that but one or both might rival being top 5 or so in the country. Why then would you think it would be better for Paige to be selfish and not pass the ball early to other all-Americans early on now that we/and certainly she sees how good they are? The whole idea behind the motion offense is for a certain point of sharing for everyone. If there are other very elite players then why should they get frozen out?

Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong didn't come to UCONN so they could just sit in the corner and wait for one player to do their thing then once that player is satisfied then it would be okay for them to play. This isn't a one player team in that one is soooo far superior than the rest. Other than Paige, UCONN has two potential superstar 1st team a/a's prolific offensively, and someone like Chen is a potential pro player and if she gets in largely due to her offensive skills. There is no way shoudl Piage be put in a box as a steadfast rule that she "must" be a scocer first especially when she has such great talent surrounding her. This game highlights how team basketball works like a well-oiled machine. And when shared in the manner it was last night with other supreme talent - we can all see a potential juggernaut.

 

[my2cents]

We have 3 great offensive players Strong, Fudd and Bueckers. Throw in Shade and the up and coming freshman and this team looks loaded.
Ask Jeff Walz if he thinks this UConn team is any good.

 

[HuskyNan]

We have 3 great offensive players Strong, Fudd and Bueckers. Throw in Shade and the up and coming freshman and this team looks loaded.
Ask Tim Walz if he thinks this UConn team is any good.

Jana has clearly been frustrated and is letting it affect her game but as soon as she gets past that, I expect her to have an important offensive presence

 

[oldude]

Jana has clearly been frustrated and is letting it affect her game but as soon as she gets past that, I expect her to have an important offensive presence

Jana has really soft hands around the basket, with the ability to score with either hand. She demonstrated some of that last night. She is also a big, strong bull in the low blocks, capable of establishing position and receiving the ball in position to score.

That combination will ultimately make UConn undefendable as Jana masters her low post moves. Teams will either have to swarm Jana in the post, leaving UConn’s shooters open, or they can chase UConn’s shooters around the perimeter, leaving Jana one on one in the low blocks.

 

[MSGRET]

Jana was fouled almost every time she got the ball yesterday and only a few were called.

 

[MooseJaw]

I want to know how many of those 15 O-boards came from horrible misses? Louisville really bricked some shots that were so badly missed that the o-board sort of found it's way to a Louisville player more than they worked for a rebound.

Easy, rewatch the game and count the rebounds. Happy to help you out.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I predicted that Jana's biggest challenge would be adjusting her physicality to NCAA officiating. I think she's done that... almost to the point of sacrificing her offensive identity. At times you can see her thinking instead of utilizing instinct. Ironically, it's the ridiculous touch fouls she's tagged with on defense that adds to her hesitation on offense. Verticality use to mean something. Still think she's a few weeks away from returning to pre injury cardio conditioning.

 

[Dogdude]

Jana definitely got the short end of the stick on some of those calls, but she'll adjust and be just fine. She's physical, unafraid, has great hands and a superb attitude. She's got this.

 

[Longtime fan]

Louisville had 15 offensive rebounds and only 8 second chance points. The defense was terrific last night

The Huskies had a 46 point lead against a ranked team before Geno called off the dogs. It could have been a 50+ point destruction. I dunno why UConn fans have to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

ANd I think Jana had some phantom fouls called on her. When a rookie makes a fine play in the paint, the refs tend to assume there had to have been a foul. Frustrating.

 

[HuskyNan]

ANd I think Jana had some phantom fouls called on her. When a rookie makes a fine play in the paint, the refs tend to assume there had to have been a foul. Frustrating.

I thought there were a couple make up calls since Cochran, Louisville’s most important offensive player, was called for phantom fouls too

 

[donalddoowop]

With the exception of one game in which Jana scored in double figures, I have yet to see UConn make a strong effort to get her the ball in the position she likes., Until she starts shooting her jumper, keep her down low so she will have more opportunities to score inside. She already has the moves.

 

[ucbart]

With the exception of one game in which Jana scored in double figures, I have yet to see UConn make a strong effort to get her the ball in the position she likes., Until she starts shooting her jumper, keep her down low so she will have more opportunities to score inside. She already has the moves.

Yup! I think Jana will be a completely different player next year. You can tell she has all the skills, but she spent a lonnnnng time sitting on the bench.

 

[tomcat]

Louisville had 15 offensive rebounds and only 8 second chance points. The defense was terrific last night

The Huskies had a 46 point lead against a ranked team before Geno called off the dogs. It could have been a 50+ point destruction. I dunno why UConn fans have to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Here's why, aside from pure masochism: I'm sure you remember (though newer BYers may not) the days when fans went to most games -- which were 40-point destructions of opponents -- to watch something we considered not a competitive basketball game, but performance art. We all knew who would win (at least most of the time). But we were watching to see HOW they would win -- what wonderful sequenc of passes Maya or Stef or Renee, or whoever, would come up with.

When that's the way you like to watch your games, you look for any imperfection at all that might keep the current edition of the team from performing in the way you were used toi seeing.

Were we spoiled? Hell, yes. are we likely to see a team like those old ones again soon? Nope, if for no other reason than the competition is better and there are probably 12 high-0quality programs out ther gatteing top recruits (insteads of 3 or 4, like there were back then).

Times have changed, as they always do. That doesn't mean that UConn fans change as quickly, For my money, it's one of the most interesting parts of being a UConn WCBB fan.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I'm no Kevin McHale, but there are times when it looks like Jana is making too many moves around the basket.

But I agree with everyone, she's going to be fine. She made a text book blockout/rebound at one point in the game.

 

[oldude]

I'm no Kevin McHale, but there are times when it looks like Jana is making too many moves around the basket.

But I agree with everyone, she's going to be fine. She made a text book blockout/rebound at one point in the game.

It’s a feel thing that comes with experience. The very best post scorers, like Pheesa & Tuck, already had an idea of what move they would make before they caught the basketball. Jana will get it in time, particularly with Jamelle’s coaching.

 

[jerseyguy68]

You all watch the games as fans of the Huskies, I’m not trying to be critical of the Team.

Louisville had 15 offensive rebounds and only 8 second chance points. The defense was terrific last night

The Huskies had a 46 point lead against a ranked team before Geno called off the dogs. It could have been a 50+ point destruction. I dunno why UConn fans have to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

UConn outrebounded Louisville 52-28