Remember

[Tonyc]

We're in a tuff stretch of our schedule. Depaul on the road today and later this week SC. Remember we've only played 11 games. In a normal season we wouldve played over 20 and be at a different level individually and as a team. Remember too we are a team with no senior just a bunch of very talented underclassman who need more games to perform at the level we know they can. So if we dont look like a well oiled machine that should be expected at this point in the season. We made a great comeback at Tenn despite Anna injured and Paige spraining her ankle. We were down and then up 9 and managed to hang on. At Ark we were up and down and came back and lost by a basket with almost everybody in foul trouble.

Dont expect to much at this point in the season we aint there yet. We need another 10 games under our belt for nothing more then we are inexperienced and young. It will all come together in a couple of weeks. We just need to survive the next couple of weeks and in this case the next week. From all the posts we all seem to know what has to be improved on and so does Geno. This afternoon will be a good test to see how we rebound from our first loss. The improvement Im looking for is playing to our strengths. Players who arent making treys dont stand out by the 3 pt line get inside and play aggressive. We need more offensive rebounds if we arent getting them bring in Mir she gets'em. One thing about Nika. She has been working very hard with Shea to improve her outside shot. When shes open she shoots it. Along with her Paige and Evina need to be the first options from behind the ark.

Remember we've played 11 games not 20+ at this point we need more time to develop and we will. Be patient

 

[BBallF]

Very good summary as always. It incorporates many of the points BYers have been making about the team. I expect that we will know very quickly if there have been any adjustments made in the offense such as ONO staying on the low blocks and CW deferring on the 3s in favor of Evina and Paige with both of them being aggressive in the offense early. We will also be able to see any adjustments in the defense as well, which may be more difficult to make quickly since it involves more individual modifications such as all of our guards keeping their man in front of them and moving laterally. As I said previously, Arkansas was not like the losses to Oregon, Baylor and SC last year which were deflating. This was a "I hate what happened and it's not going to happen again" kind of loss. We shall see. In many ways, DePaul is the most important game of the season so far.

 

[eebmg]

OK but DePaul is coming off a 10 day gap. This is a very critical game to get our heads right before SC.

 

[huskeynut]

Tonyc - as usual an insightful analysis. Well written.

The signs are there. Nika is starting to come on in her shooting. A big plus. CW needs to drive and use the pull up jumper. Liv needs to stay down low. When she flashes to the high post, Aubrey or CW or someone else needs to be cutting on the baseline. Liv is a decent passer.

Looking for an attitude on the court today. We need to see some emotion and fire.

 

[jumpstart]

DePaul is a good team...but not on UCONN's level. This could be a game that sets the tone for how the season will play out. If UCONN wins big, they gain confidence. If it ends up being a close game, it seems UCONN may be in some tight games when tournament time comes. Paige is the 'real deal' so by tournament time UCONN will also be a different team...so who knows....

 

[Dokey]

DePaul is a good team...but not on UCONN's level. This could be a game that sets the tone for how the season will play out. If UCONN wins big, they gain confidence. If it ends up being a close game, it seems UCONN may be in some tight games when tournament time comes. Paige is the 'real deal' so by tournament time UCONN will also be a different team...so who knows....

The issues is not whether or not DePaul is at UConn level but is UConn. Fans expect a certain level, especially after two decades of exceptionalism, and perhaps that is unrealistic.

 

[BBallF]

OK but DePaul is coming off a 10 day gap. This is a very critical game to get our heads right before SC.

Absolutely. Good point but whether it is a 10 day gap or no gap at all, the key is whether we have made adjustments on offense and defense and what are team attitude is.

 

[Tonyc]

Its not about how much we win by its about how we execute as individuals and as a team. We know our weaknesses and we know our strengths. We need to play as we expect we should be playin. Let me give you an example. I played a round of golf this summer before I herniated my L3 disk. I scored really well but I wasnt happy with the way I struck the ball. When we finished the guys went up to the bar and I went to the driving range to work on a couple of things I didnt like about my game. I hit 5 buckets of balls to I straightened it out. They I met up with them

For UConn they have to do what Geno expects them to do and do it right.... like the ole saying ... do it until you cant do it wrong. We're young so we're still changing bad habits into go habits and their aint no miracles when your doin that so be patient and look for little successes in the next few games.

 

[Jingo]

Very good summary as always. It incorporates many of the points BYers have been making about the team. I expect that we will know very quickly if there have been any adjustments made in the offense such as ONO staying on the low blocks and CW deferring on the 3s in favor of Evina and Paige with both of them being aggressive in the offense early. We will also be able to see any adjustments in the defense as well, which may be more difficult to make quickly since it involves more individual modifications such as all of our guards keeping their man in front of them and moving laterally. As I said previously, Arkansas was not like the losses to Oregon, Baylor and SC last year which were deflating. This was a "I hate what happened and it's not going to happen again" kind of loss. We shall see. In many ways, DePaul is the most important game of the season so far.

Liv doesn't need to stay on the low block .. the offense runs much better when she moves around and presents a target, like the Depaul and St Johns games, eh?