Replace Kia in the starting lineup with ........

[JRRRJ]

Gee I missed that we don't score enough! If there is an issue on offense, I think it is our shooting %. And Gabby in place of Kia does not solve that.

Actually, this year it might solve such a problem: 61.6% (77/125, best on the team) vs 40.8% 58/142). And Gabby has less than 2/3 the minutes of Kia.

But I'm not agreeing with the OP. And I"m not agreeing with you that a team 52.8% is a problem...

 

[Scud49]

I love Gabby to death, but Kia is tough, tenacious, a natural leader, battle tested, and a winner.

Having a weapon (for all the reasons previously stated by others) like Gabby off the bench (when Morgan is back) has to be a nice card for Geno to play - when he thinks he needs a change, and a big spark.

 

[Woof 101]

Forget about position strategy; go with the best athlete who can best help the team in different kind of ways. Some teams have a 4 guard system, don't they? Why not a 2 center, 2 forward, one guard or different other combos depending on the team played or particular time in the game being played? Let's think outside the box, or maybe NO box at all?

You MIGHT have a point just not HERE. Most coaches who use unconventional line-ups due so as a last resort, by no means are we in that position.
http://temple-news.com/sports/cardozas-switch-to-5-guard-lineup-boosts-owls-offense/
Over all though you will find here IN GENO WE TRUST. Welcome .
Now if your up on football and offensive line changes you will find open arms & ears.

 

[Bgillon]

Actually, this year it might solve such a problem: 61.6% (77/125, best on the team) vs 40.8% 58/142). And Gabby has less than 2/3 the minutes of Kia.

But I'm not agreeing with the OP. And I"m not agreeing with you that a team 52.8% is a problem...

Subtract the layups and our % goes down significantly. Secondly, Gabby's high % is bolstered by the number of her layouts, not outside shooting. Personally, I love the way Geno is using both Gabby and Kia.

 

[carpe diem]

I hope the UCONN players do not read the boneyard. While most comments are very positive, to be said to "throw up bricks" would be a hurtful read for anyone. We are so fortunate to have such personable, talented women to support. Any negativity directed towards them is really unfair since they are all exceptional.

 

[HuskyNan]

Kia has been throwing up bricks for weeks now. Time for a change. You need another guard on the floor, either Chong or Samuelson. My vote is Chong. Like Geno said we know she can score points.
The thing Geno seems to forget is that you win games by SCORING more points than your opponent. If not constantly brow beaten Chong will score points in bunches.
Time for Kia to give the trowel and mortar a rest.

Kia is shooting 41.2% overall, 31.9% from three. Lou is shooting 42.6% overall and 31.9% from three. Both of them average about the same number of points. Not sure why you are saying Kia is shooting "bricks" while Lou's shooting is fine.

 

[PacoSwede]

Subtract the layups and our % goes down significantly.

Wow. I don't know of any team that doesn't have this "problem."

 

[CocoHusky]

Kia has been throwing up bricks for weeks now. Time for a change. You need another guard on the floor, either Chong or Samuelson. My vote is Chong. Like Geno said we know she can score points.
The thing Geno seems to forget is that you win games by SCORING more points than your opponent. If not constantly brow beaten Chong will score points in bunches.
Time for Kia to give the trowel and mortar a rest.

This is so misguided I'm beginning to think you are having fun at all our expense. Regardless, I'll play along. Scoring has never been a problem since Saniya been in a UCONN uniform. She was taken out of the starting lineup AFTER a game in which she scored 21 points. Geno brow beats everyone ,if you want to call it that.

 

[cohenzone]

. It's not just that the offense wouldn't run better with Gabby replacing Kia. It's that it's hard to imagine why there is a need to think about tinkering with a team that beats the daylights out of just about everyone. At the moment, there's no one playing so out of sorts that making a change makes any sense, and, of course, as some have pointed out, even if Kia was playing lousy - she isn't - Gabby would not be the one to replace her.

 

[stamfordhusky]

The thing Geno seems to forget is that you win games by SCORING more points than your opponent. If not constantly brow beaten Chong will score points in bunches.
Time for Kia to give the trowel and mortar a rest.

Yes, that Geno is an idiot. Knows nothing about the game at all. Instead of a change at guard, I think it's really a coaching change they need. Maybe turn the job over to,you. After all, there are few experts who know that the team with the most points wins.

 

[huskyd]

Even though I was someone who did not quite believe the Boneyard optimists' euphoric predictions about Kia when she was starting her freshman season (and I still don't expect to see her name on the wall at Gampel), I think that the idea of removing her from the starting lineup is close to sacrilegious. (Webster Online definition, since I had to look up the spelling: "[showing] gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing.")

The two main reasons why I say that are: (a) defense; and (b) leadership. You can't replace (even with Gabby, her best friend on the team) Kia's competitive fire or her all-out effort. And that is reflected in her defense. I have no doubt that she is far more vocal than Gabby in practice and elsewhere in guiding the freshmen, and that she will do the same for next year's freshmen as well.

Gabby certainly has great athletic skills, but you can't measure the importance of competitiveness: Jenn Rizzotti, Jamelle Eliot, Diana, and Maya. It has a positive effect on the whole team, every minute of every game.

Sooner or later, there will be a confrontation on the court with some overly physical opponent taking liberties (maybe against Gabby), and then we will all see what I am talking about. I don't expect to see a fight, but perhaps some other payback from the Ontario hockey playbook.

Glad you mentioned HOFamer Jen Rizzotti in your post. In the recent discussion about UConn's best guards, Jen didn't get much attention. But her numbers were impressive. During 94'-95'--that special season--Rizzotti played in 35 games, averaged 12.5 points, shot a bit over 50% from the field, and over 40% from 3-land. She also had 161 assists. But the distinguishing quality that you cite is what separates Jen from the pack: she was as competitive a player as you could hope to have on your team. And you're right: Kia has much the same personality. Lucky us.

 

[RunItUp!]

Welcome to the Boneyard.

Kia has been in something of a scoring slump, but her defense is still outstanding and she will be the heart of next year's team. She's a born leader and she has shown the world that she can perform under pressure when it counts.

She's the kind of player that Geno dreams of having; Kelly Faris with a greater upside on offense. She'll work her way out of her mid season funk and her shooting will improve, and she'll step up before the season is over.

We have a lot of weapons. Her moment has not yet arrived, but it will.

Yes, you are right in your assessment of Kia but putting her on the bench for awhile, having her think that she needs to earn the spot again, may get her out of her shooting slump!!!

 

[RunItUp!]

Gee I missed that we don't score enough! If there is an issue on offense, I think it is our shooting %. And Gabby in place of Kia does not solve that.

With Gabby grabbing more rebounds, and being more athletic, we get more shots to put in, AND as Gabby's confidence grows, her shot will improve. Given a fair shot, an AA???

 

[bags27]

There are a lot of things that go into the decision of who's going to start and who's going to come in soon after. We sometimes forget that the issue of "starting" is for high school, as has been quoted recently on BY. The issue is flow and combinations. Gino's been "pretty good" at figuring these things out. There are intangibles well beyond the statistics, such as who makes the hard cut, the hard screen, and the hard switch, who takes the better angles on defense (which is what basketball is all about), etc. Each player (even Stewie!) has her limits and vulnerabilities, and it's up to our "pretty good" coach to figure out the best combination of players who complement each other at difference times, different challenges, different matchups. Remember the old Celtics? Remember how many years Havlicek sat on the bench? didn't seem to hurt them or him....

 

[bags27]

Yes, you are right in your assessment of Kia but putting her on the bench for awhile, having her think that she needs to earn the spot again, may get her out of her shooting slump!!!

So maybe Gino should have benched at the beginning of her sophomore year, a player who went 0-11 in the last half of the final game of the previous year, costing UConn a chance to play for another NC? Wonder what ever happened to that kid.....

 

[CocoHusky]

Yes, you are right in your assessment of Kia but putting her on the bench for awhile, having her think that she needs to earn the spot again, may get her out of her shooting slump!!!

Let me get this straight, she is going to shoot her way out of the slump from the bench? That would be a first!

 

[CocoHusky]

So maybe Gino should have benched at the beginning of her sophomore year, a player who went 0-11 in the last half of the final game of the previous year, costing UConn a chance to play for another NC? Wonder what ever happened to that kid.....

That Kid was from Chino I believe.

 

[NewCorn]

Kia has been throwing up bricks for weeks now. Time for a change. You need another guard on the floor, either Chong or Samuelson. My vote is Chong. Like Geno said we know she can score points.
The thing Geno seems to forget is that you win games by SCORING more points than your opponent. If not constantly brow beaten Chong will score points in bunches.
Time for Kia to give the trowel and mortar a rest.

Hairy, use a smiley face to indicate you're kidding.

 

[JordyG]

Even though I was someone who did not quite believe the Boneyard optimists' euphoric predictions about Kia when she was starting her freshman season (and I still don't expect to see her name on the wall at Gampel), I think that the idea of removing her from the starting lineup is close to sacrilegious. (Webster Online definition, since I had to look up the spelling: "[showing] gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing.")

The two main reasons why I say that are: (a) defense; and (b) leadership. You can't replace (even with Gabby, her best friend on the team) Kia's competitive fire or her all-out effort. And that is reflected in her defense. I have no doubt that she is far more vocal than Gabby in practice and elsewhere in guiding the freshmen, and that she will do the same for next year's freshmen as well.

Gabby certainly has great athletic skills, but you can't measure the importance of competitiveness: Jenn Rizzotti, Jamelle Eliot, Diana, and Maya. It has a positive effect on the whole team, every minute of every game.

Sooner or later, there will be a confrontation on the court with some overly physical opponent taking liberties (maybe against Gabby), and then we will all see what I am talking about. I don't expect to see a fight, but perhaps some other payback from the Ontario hockey playbook.

You've delineated my view on this topic point for point. Gabby's skill set is far different from Kia's. As well as the skills and intangibles you've mentioned, Gabby's off ball skills and her perimeter shooting skills eliminate her from the off guard position at this time. I say at this time because if Gabby's rate of progress continues she could be effective at that position by her senior year. Effective enough to give Geno more flexibility by then. But replacing Kia at that position (given Kia's rate of progress as well) would be a major long shot.

 

[huskeynut]

Forget about position strategy; go with the best athlete who can best help the team in different kind of ways. Some teams have a 4 guard system, don't they? Why not a 2 center, 2 forward, one guard or different other combos depending on the team played or particular time in the game being played? Let's think outside the box, or maybe NO box at all?

You have not been paying attention to how Geno recruits and coaches. Geno likes those who can play more than one position. Geno has been "thinking outside the box" for years. The traditional positions of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 don't really applyy to his coaching. Geno has used a 4 guard set, a 2 center set and other combinations.

Kia plays the the "old" 1 or 2 or occasional 3. She is hard as nails and an excellent defender. Gabby plays the 3 or the 4. She has incredible leaping ability and exceptionally quick hands. She is the perfect spark off the bench.

Each player brings different skill sets to the court. As does Moriah, Stewie, Morgan, Lou, Sinaya and Phees.

And when you have won 55 games in a row, you must ne doing something right!

 

[Intpseeker]

 

[Fiftyish]

The thing Geno seems to forget is that you win games by SCORING more points than your opponent.

My head hurts when I try to imagine the margin of victory this team would be amassing if Geno hadn't forgot that you win games by scoring more points. Really???

 

[Fiftyish]

So maybe Gino should have benched at the beginning of her sophomore year, a player who went 0-11 in the last half of the final game of the previous year, costing UConn a chance to play for another NC? Wonder what ever happened to that kid.....

Bags, just wondering why you choose to spell the coaches name the way you do. Again, just curious.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I don't expect to see a fight, but perhaps some other payback from the Ontario hockey playbook.

After all, she's a"nasty piece of business" !!

 

[Woof 101]

I hope the UCONN players do not read the boneyard. While most comments are very positive, to be said to "throw up bricks" would be a hurtful read for anyone. We are so fortunate to have such personable, talented women to support. Any negativity directed towards them is really unfair since they are all exceptional.

No slander here carpe diem as I see you are new to the sport. These are college aged women and throwing up bricks is something they use themselves I am sure. It is a common term for a ball that does not have proper rotation and usually clanks off the rim or misses it completely. Any shooter good or bad gets a small percentage of their shots simply from a shooters roll created by good ball rotation which often keeps the ball around the rim or bouncing up and falling through.
As you spend more time watching the game try to take in some of the many Geno shows and practices available. If you have a hard time here with someone using this term the players might read you are really going to have a hard time warming up to Geno. They are very personable and talented as you say but they are a heck of a lot tougher than you think. I don't agree with the poster but he or she has the right and do realize if someone goes over the line the Mods would step in. I like your bold stance though!

 

[01Neaggrad02]

Kia and Gabby both have played in 18 games.

Gabby 178 points, 37 steals, 9 blocks, 22 assist- 22 turnovers , 112 rebounds, 80-130 shooting for a .615, 18-26 free throw for .692
Kia 175 points, 30 steals, 5 blocks, 53 Assist -29 turnovers, 41 rebounds, 63-153 shooting for a .412, 26-36 free throw for .722 , 23-72 from 3. .319

So when you look at it.... points, steals, and blocks are pretty even. Gabby is a better rebounder and Kia is a better ball handler.

 

[Geno-ista]

Kia is tough as nails, but sometimes too aggressive and forces things a bit too much. That said, she is a good ball handler, who can make the occasional three (she needs to get more consistent with that) and play terrific D. I do, however, cringe a bit whenever she puts her head down and drives the lane. She misses open team mates when she does that, and usually commits a charging foul.

She also finishes most of the time strong with the basket and one or a 2 shot foul. Yes she certainly has mad some bad decisions- but she's still undefeated as a starter.

 

[Lynx23]

I've been a Kia Nurse fan before she even put on a UCONN uniform. Like many of you, I would like to see her threes find the net more often. She hasn't been called for many charges lately so that part of her game seems to be improving. What I see on the court is a very unselfish player who controls tempo well and engages her teammates. The different is noticeable when she's not on the court. I doubt there is any team in the country she wouldn't start for. Kia doesn't have to provide a lot of offense on this team; there's plenty to go around. As much as I'd like to see her break out as she did with Team Canada it appears she sees her role on this team a bit differently. Canada needed a "go to" player when a championship was on the line and she took the team on her shoulders. That's not likely to happen at UCONN as long as Stewie, Tuck, and MoJeff are still playing. That may change next year. I love her grit, leadership, and intelligence on the court, not to mention her aggressiveness. She's tangled with a few opponents this year and she doesn't back down. I would guarantee that if one of her teammates got into a scrum with another player Kia would be the first one on the scene. You know, it's not always about offense. Sometimes it's more about being a good teammate.

 

[Geno-ista]

Forget about position strategy; go with the best athlete who can best help the team in different kind of ways. Some teams have a 4 guard system, don't they? Why not a 2 center, 2 forward, one guard or different other combos depending on the team played or particular time in the game being played? Let's think outside the box, or maybe NO box at all?

I'm surprised Geno hasn't figured this out yet- imagine how many more NC's he would have if he thought outside the box- like you???

 

[cohenzone]

Kia has been throwing up bricks for weeks now. Time for a change. You need another guard on the floor, either Chong or Samuelson. My vote is Chong. Like Geno said we know she can score points.
The thing Geno seems to forget is that you win games by SCORING more points than your opponent. If not constantly brow beaten Chong will score points in bunches.
Time for Kia to give the trowel and mortar a rest.

What Geno seems to understand is that our defense wins games. Our offense decides by how much. Over the last three games, UConn, with Kia dragging the offense down like a rusty anchor, has averaged 99 per game, while giving up 52. I guess we are in deep trouble if we can't average 101. When we finally play the 1 or 3 teams that might give us a run, I guarantee you that we need the best defensive guards on the floor a much as possible. It's a guards game and if we don't control tte guards, we might have a problem against a good team.

If we can't out score a team with our players including Kia, it will be because our defense failed. It's why Stanford beat us last year. We scored plenty enough to have won, and wasn't that the game that made Geno rethink which guards should see the most floor time? We haven't won by less than 10 since.