how about she admits she got beat by a better team that night? Why is it so hard for a Uconn player to ever admit that. That is the entitlement that other fans hate about the players. Oh no they didn't win, we lost cause we "didn't care" or "we didn't take them seriously". No you got beat by a better team that night, the world doesn't end because of it. That sore loser mentality will never sit well with me. A player can admit that they played bad and they can learn from that experience, but I guess Nika gets the exception.
Returners, newcomers fighting for minutes on deep, talented team
- Thread starter SVCBeercats
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“ I won’t watch that tape!”
HaHaHa
If you don’t think Geno has shoved that game tape down the players throats over, and over, and over again, I’ll have what you’re drinking.
Yeah, sure, she hasn’t watched that game tape.
And I guess she doesn’t run sprints if she doesn’t feel like it ...
In addition to all of your good points, I just want to add that she had more nagging injuries than most, and a significant number of her minutes were when she was not quite a 100%. Some of that is expected of course, but I think the odds of better health this year are pretty good.No argument, but don't you expect her to make some sort of sophomore leap or improvement this year? The Nika Muhl you'll see THIS year won't be the same Nika Muhl you saw last year. She's a year older, a little more mature, she knows the system much better, and I'm sure she's adjusted to our (USA) style of women's basketball which is different than the type of basketball they play in her country.
We should not see the same freshman mistakes we saw last year. I agree she won't play as many minutes but that's because Geno has more options now than he did last year. She knows all of the returning players, and she should know what she's doing now. I think for a young lady that came to a different country and adapt to a new lifestyle and culture, to go to school, play for new coaches, play with new teammates most of whom she had never met (and obviously never played with), had to adapt to going to class, learn time management, learn Geno's system, and was expected to perform to program expectations, I'd say she did quite well. Even though she speaks English well, it's not her first language. So there's that too. In spite of all of the challenges I mentioned, she still managed to crack the starting lineup.
Walk a mile in my shoes. A tip o' the turban to Miss Nika Muhl.
Good points. I like Nika and the hard nose defense mindset she brings. She changes the complexion of the game. Geno loves that- trust, she's going to play. When she gets more polished, works on the unnecessary fouls(Genos hates that a lot) she'll be a great defender (in the mold of faris or rizzoti possibly better). We need that attitude. Teams have a view that UCONN is all nice girl finesse playing, and most times that's what is, with their precision cuts and ball movement. That's all good but there's times when some teams are going to bang ( e.g. SC, Marq,SH, Baylor) notice when they played them it took at least a half to adjust and they score lower- teams figured this out awhile back and I think that is one of the main reasons they have not been making it past the final four. Nika will be playing, given that schedule- we hope she stays healthy- they all get and stay healthy.
Me too. A 5th year senior and returning starter. With more healing time for her knee. I'm a big fan.
donalddoowop
Who put the Bop in the Bop Shoo Bop?
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I don't know what Muhl you were watching but Nika Muhl was a very valuable player for UConn last season and unless she is injured she will play meaningful minutes in big tournament games this season. She plays good defense, is a decent outside shooter, knows the system and brings lots of energy when she is in. She is certainly better than what you make her out to be.
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Not a chance anyone plays the minutes they played, including Paige.
Coach has off the charts talent to develop and integrate into game plan AND to keep healthy and fresh during a close to 40 game season.
Bald Husky
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One of the biggest assets Uconn has is team chemistry. Besides talent, team chemistry is a hallmark of UConns continued success throughout the years. By inserting new players in the starting lineup to begin the season would disrupt the chemistry that already exists. The lineup from last season made it to the final 4, a team we thought was good enough to win the NC, so why would you change that to start the season until the newer players are acclimated to the Uconn system. Any newcomer that shines in practice shows potential to be really good, but until they do it in an actual game, its just that, potential. The newbies will get their chance to show their worth, and things may change as the season progresses, but it would be not smart to disrupt the chemistry of a final 4 team with so many key games coming near the start of the season.
Paige, ONO, Christyn, Evina, and Nika play great together, so they will start at first. Geno will tinker to find additional combinations to throw at our opponents, but like I already said, the new people will get their chance to show what they can do soon enough. Just because they didn't win the NC doesn't mean they aren't a great team as is.
Paige, ONO, Christyn, Evina, and Nika play great together, so they will start at first. Geno will tinker to find additional combinations to throw at our opponents, but like I already said, the new people will get their chance to show what they can do soon enough. Just because they didn't win the NC doesn't mean they aren't a great team as is.
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In all fairness at the end of that interview she did say she knew she would at some point watch the tape of that game, she just wasn't ready yet.( “Honestly, I didn’t watch it,” she said. “I know Coach is gonna hear this and he’s not gonna like it but I refuse to watch that game, I just didn’t watch it. I’m gonna watch it eventually but I’m not ready for it yet. I’m not ready.”). She also indicated, I believe when she first got back in July after choosing to not join her national team but rather work with her UCONN teammates, that she was driven too work her butt off and she believed her teammates were as well to never repeat how they felt after that loss.
A couple quotes from Geno, when speaking about the upcoming Arizona game when asked about not having Nika 100%; “No, I’m not happy [with the rotation]. I’m not as happy as if we had Nika 100 percent,” he said. “If we had Nika 100 percent, we’re a different basketball team. Much different basketball team.” and “I think Anna and Aubrey have helped tremendously,” Auriemma said. “Those two charges that Aubrey took in the Baylor game were huge during that stretch. So we’re going to get contributions from those two, for sure. But they won’t be the same kind of contributions that Nika would make.”
To your mention of Nika being 'a healthy scratch vs. Tenn.' Geno indicated that she basically needed an attitude adjustment. She made it and became his starting point guard to finish out the season. As to being a consistent player both ends of the court, maybe you are talking about the first half of last season and expect to see that Nika coming back as a sophomore. I don't, I think we'll see a Nika coming back who has built on what she did the second half of last season who is driven to do whatever she needs to do to help her team bring home the championship this season. I see a lot of Kelly Faris' attitude and toughness in her game and I think Geno does too.
Carnac
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Not a chance the starters play as many minutes this year as last. Most of the BE teams won’t demand that they do. Yes, there will be some conference games that will demand Geno keep his starters in deep into the 4th quarter, but not many. They simply don’t have the talent to do so. Geno knows how to prepare his team for the tournament. It starts with the first game against Arkansas. He’s not going to burn out his starters with excessive minutes over the course of the season.
You want your starters to go into the tournament healthy with fresh legs. Geno knows this and how to get them there.
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As a coach, this is what you want to have on your hands; a healthy dose of competition among the players for minutes on the floor & competitive practice sessions. This is going push players to get better. Which is only going to make the program even better. Anson Dorrance (UNC Tar Heels Women's Soccer Coach-21 National Championships) said it best "Competition is key to developing players. The only practice environment in which you truly develop a player is a competitive arena." This competitive arena is going to make ( or break) some players.
PacoSwede
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this is a about evina /// much speculation, but her health is really the factor that is unknown. .... only she knows
if she is near 100% -- which would be fantastic but my guess is a dream -- then she's a lock (and likely MVP #2), but nobody here should be locking her in to anything unless you're thinking geno's gonna honor her with the caroline doty treatment -- unlikely because there's far more guard talent available this year than there was in doty's day. that being said, IF evina actually is anywhere near full throttle, pencil her it. ... the thing is, i don't think anyone here really knows her physical status.
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Waquoit
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More reliable than that. And more reliable than the new shooters that joined the team.
Another point regarding playing time.
If this talented class of rookies are categorically relegated to mop up duties in 98-49 BE games in the 4th quarter, the the top talent of classes of 2023, 24 and 25 will be taking notice.
I’m hoping that the days of 34/35+ minutes are over, at least with the roster as it stands now and probably for the foreseeable future.
The options for talented players are broadening.
Put them out there in stressful situations.
Let them earn court time in practice.
Let them make their mistakes in a game.
And COACH THEM UP.
For me, I’d rather drop a game or two during the regular season (Heaven Forbid) in return for being able to go 8-11 players deep in March.
A 34-1 record doesn’t mean Jack if we lose the last game of the year.
OK.
Lemme have it...
If this talented class of rookies are categorically relegated to mop up duties in 98-49 BE games in the 4th quarter, the the top talent of classes of 2023, 24 and 25 will be taking notice.
I’m hoping that the days of 34/35+ minutes are over, at least with the roster as it stands now and probably for the foreseeable future.
The options for talented players are broadening.
Put them out there in stressful situations.
Let them earn court time in practice.
Let them make their mistakes in a game.
And COACH THEM UP.
For me, I’d rather drop a game or two during the regular season (Heaven Forbid) in return for being able to go 8-11 players deep in March.
A 34-1 record doesn’t mean Jack if we lose the last game of the year.
OK.
Lemme have it...
CocoHusky
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I like the plan that this program has been built on much better than this. I hate the thought of future recruits coming to UCONN because they think there is playing time available vs. knowing that they are going to have to bust their behinds to earn playing time. I hate the thought (and I'm sure Geno does as well) that he would put a player on the floor and that player thinks it is OK to fail or even lose a game. What are we talking about here! I can't! I just can't! This post was like stabbing me in the heart with a spoon. You might as well have asked me to wish TN well.
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Well, three factual statements, if you will.
1)- The premium talent pool continues to grow and be dispersed to more and more teams in NCAA Woman’s D-1 basketball.
2)-UCONN has the most talented roster, top to bottom, in years.
)-You/we are left unsatisfied by the final result in the past four years.
My (hypothetical) question to you is:
A)- Prmeaningful game time to players that have ‘earned’ court time in practice, exposing them to stressful real game situations, have them learn and MAYBE go 30-4 and win the last game of the season?
OR
B)- stick with a short list of athletes playing most of the minutes, Increasing the possibilities of injury, run them out, ignore exposing newer players ( that bust it in practice) to real time critical game time situations, go 33-1 and lose the last game of the season?
Please don’t hedge.
I’m trying to make an honest point.
One or the other only.
TY.
All thoughtful points but my analysis is different. She started last year all year, she played visibly with pain at times, she stabilized the team, she is a great floor passer, unselfish to the point of making you scream at times, a leader, respected by everyone, and liked even more and decided to come back and win. If I was on that team that would mean a lot to me. I would listen to that player. She gave up money for my team to win. As a coach, I want that kid on the floor even if she is only the same as last year. There are several Byers who have had daughters with knee injuries. It's a 2 year turnaround usually. So I figure worst case she is 5% better physically. I'm hoping for 15%. I believe she is a lot better as a player than we saw last year, without depth. She starts.
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I hate to say this but have too. Geno likes 8 or 9. Why? That’s who he goes to war with. You earn those spots. The rest except their role or move on. This leaves room for the next class of incoming. They then have their chance. It’s not about fairness. It’s about deserving and winning. It’s just a fact. I’m not saying which ones cause it’s not my place.
EricSD
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Generally sure he does. But he's gone as shallow as 6 in seasons where there were no other players who could step up in big games. The flip side is this:
10 players averaged double digits in minutes played. What a luxury to have that many players who can contribute. I'm not sure how many actually played in the "big games". I suspect if the game is nip and tuck the entire time, we may see only 7 or 8. But I see exactly 1 game on our schedule (maybe 2 if we play SC twice) where that would conceivably be the case.
We have a roster of 14. I can see 9 players who might average double digits in minutes. It remains to be seen if Aubrey (hopeful) and Mir (questionable) have upped their games enough to earn meaningful minutes, and if Saylor, Piath and Amari can get more than blowout minutes in Q4...
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Dorka will get more minutes than Liv if she can assure Geno she will stay two years. Geno loves Nika’s ferocity. Caroline could becomes a top scorer. Azzi and Paige are locks. CW will get on wall. Evina will start, be first out (though Liv might beat her to bench). Edwards will get very significant minutes on her way to being named Big East 6th Woman. Aubrey is a defensive wizard and usually that would mean major minutes but it isn’t that she can’t score, it is that the offense sucks when she’s on floor. So
Starters for Final Four: Paige, Azzi, CW, Dorka and—Caroline (sorry Evina), with Edwards getting lots of minutes, a team that can score from any place on the floor. Well, maybe not but how much fun?
Starters for Final Four: Paige, Azzi, CW, Dorka and—Caroline (sorry Evina), with Edwards getting lots of minutes, a team that can score from any place on the floor. Well, maybe not but how much fun?
SVCBeercats
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Kelly Faris was one of UCONN's very best defensive players. But when her lack offense became a detriment to the team, he strongly encouraged her to become more offensive minded by developing her jump shooting, three pointers and dial back her selflessness. Opponents could play 5 on 4 and ignore Kelly. Even with the offensive talent of her teammates, playing the top 10 teams 5 on 4 was quite difficult. Plus I do not put Aubrey's defense in Kelly's class.
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SVCBeercats
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Actually she was tied for 2nd place amid a set of three mediocre 3PT shooters. See table below. I am a fan of avid Nika and hope she will play many minutes. BUT she needs the score with a higher percentage for both 3PT AND 2PT shots. I hope she has been practicing her shot. There are at least two freshman sharpshooters taking aim at her and other guards not named Paige.
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Take your percentages out one more decimal place. Nika by a hair.
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UConnCat
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Christyn turned her season around about halfway through the 2020-2021 schedule. Over the team's final 14 games, including the post-season, Christyn made 42% of her 3-pointers. Hopefully Christyn's improved play (and shooting) will continue throughout her senior season.
SVCBeercats
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Still mediocre.
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Good post.
I agree with some points, but not all. I don't think one or two years for Dorka makes any difference for Geno. This is this year's team and he is going to poke, prod and push buttons and get the best out of this team and not think about next year. You say "Azzi and Paige are locks." I agree. I think Azzi will start from game one. If she is 70% of what she is advertised as, she will be better than 95% of Div I players. She has that much potential. I think Geno has been deflecting light and attention from her to get her ready.
Evina? She will get her minutes and be a leader of this team. She will be on the floor during crunch time. Sometimes I think her most valuable role could be as 6th woman. Early fouls, poor play, something not working, E can come into the game and fix anything for positions 1-4. (In the old days of baseball, teams played their division rivals 18 times per year. Earl Weaver once said the toughest game to manage was against the Red Sox when Yastrzemski was on the bench. He could pinch hit at any time and hit a 3 run homer.) Evina can come into a game and create headaches. I think she has the majority and disposition to do whatever it takes.
Dorka & ONO? Dorka is battle tested. Three years in the Big 10 was way tougher & more physical than the American or BE. I would love ONO to have an All American type season, but is it in the cards? Dorka will get more minutes if she produces better.
Stats don't lie:
2020-21 season stats for ONO:
Tenn 7 pts 11 reb
ARK 2 pts 2 reb
SC 6 pts 7 reb
IOWA 4 pts 11 reb
Baylor 3 pts 8 reb
AZ 1 pt 6 reb
RockyMTblue2
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YouTube demanded that I watch this highlight video of Caroline Ducharme this morning. It's not new, but it gives a pretty impressive look at her game in high school. I never saw it before and maybe some of you are in the same boat. She wastes no time and is a threat all over the court.
diggerfoot
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I know this has become a mantra but I question its veracity. Participation in high school girl’s basketball peaked in 2003-2004 at around 457,000 and has been in decline since. Since participation has declined I question that the talent pool has expanded.
What has expanded instead is social media and the visibility of the better talent, thus creating the impression that the talent pool has expanded.
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ND always plays UConn tough. Wasn’t there a 30 point blow out recently?
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