Rich: Stokes making strides; Geno looking to go bigger

[pap49cba]

A couple of classic Genoism's...

“When you’ve been in coma for a couple weeks and then all of sudden there’s some breath coming out of you that’s tremendous progress,’’ Auriemma said. “We held the mirror up and we saw some mist on the mirror so we were overjoyed by that. And little but little I would think, `Can you build on that?’ She’s exasperating to coach because it’s all there, but getting it out is difficult.’’

LINK

 

[JoePgh]

I'm tempted to say, "I told you so", but I won't (ahem ...).

Geno knew better than anyone on this board that 4 guards aren't always an optimal offense, but Heather and Kiah weren't really offering enough to make the alternative viable. Now if Kiah is emerging from her "coma", an offense with two bigs becomes a live possibility. And no one could be more eager for that than Geno.

 

[easttexastrash]

I think the key to beating Baylor is strong guard play. BG neutralizes so much inside that to me the 4 guard line-up is scarier than having a conventional 3 guard line-up. Teams that rely on inside play are less likely to beat Baylor than teams that can hurt them from the perimeter.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I like the idea. It hives us more flexibility. In a close game, a perimeter oriented offense can come up short. Hopefully Kiah can score from in close. More likely, she can free up Stef. She also can help control the paint, limit O boards to the other team, and grab some for us.

 

[HuskyNan]

I think the key to beating Baylor is strong guard play. BG neutralizes so much inside that to me the 4 guard line-up is scarier than having a conventional 3 guard line-up. Teams that rely on inside play are less likely to beat Baylor than teams that can hurt them from the perimeter.

Geno's a pretty smart guy - I think he knows the best matchups to play against UConn's opponents. While the 4 guard line up is good vs Baylor, Geno's got to prep for other teams, too.

Auriemma is hopeful that Stokes can develop enough consistency to the point where he feels comfortable using her and center Stefanie Dolson at the same time on the floor. UConn’s four- or five-guard lineup gives opponents problems. But there are other opponents where having two post players on the floor will be beneficial for the Huskies.​

​

“There are some games that if we play with five guards the other team has no answers for that,’’ Auriemma said. “But there’s also some games that if we don’t get a couple big guys out there we could be in big trouble. So you want to have the option of being able to do both and I think the sooner we get to that point where we can do that the better team we’re going to be.’’​

 

[speedoo]

I think the key to beating Baylor is strong guard play. BG neutralizes so much inside that to me the 4 guard line-up is scarier than having a conventional 3 guard line-up. Teams that rely on inside play are less likely to beat Baylor than teams that can hurt them from the perimeter.

Not sure you are right. I think a 2 big team that has an effective high low game could be problematical for BG. We know Dolson is an excellent passer, so what does BG do when Stef gets the ball at the high post and Stokes gets loose in the low post?

 

[VAMike23]

Not sure you are right. I think a 2 big team that has an effective high low game could be problematical for BG. We know Dolson is an excellent passer, so what does BG do when Stef gets the ball at the high post and Stokes gets loose in the low post?

Depending on how far out Stef is, BG is the one player who is big enough to hedge out on Stef while still effectively keeping the ball away from Stokes, unless the entry pass is spot-on.

However, if Stef were able to consistently knock down jumpers beyond 15-ft or so, then even BG would have to come out far enough that Stokes (or cutters) could receive an entry pass. Still much easier said than done with BG anywhere in the lane. Now, in the past we've seen Stef knock down the 17-18 footer, but IMO she has yet to really demonstrate that with regularity this season.

 

[NCorBust]

I'm tempted to say, "I told you so", but I won't (ahem ...). Geno knew better than anyone on this board that 4 guards aren't always an optimal offense, but Heather and Kiah weren't really offering enough to make the alternative viable. Now if Kiah is emerging from her "coma", an offense with two bigs becomes a live possibility. And no one could be more eager for that than Geno.

I agree with you and your not so indirect "I told you so." Why wouldn't I? I have espoused this all a long. But it was always predicated on Stokes having a Dolson-like epiphany. I have not seen the epiphany. I hope Geno and CD have seen it.

 

[doggydaddy]

I agree with you and your not so indirect "I told you so." Why wouldn't I? I have espoused this all a long. But it was always predicated on Stokes having a Dolson-like epiphany. I have not seen the epiphany. I hope Geno and CD have seen it.

Man, "I told you so"???? Your kidding right?

I've seen posters saying that Geno should have been playing Dolson with Stokes NOW. Clearly, Stokes hasn't been ready.

Now it appears that Geno is seeing progress. So the posters that have been calling for it now say "I told you so"? I'm calling BS on that.

 

[NCorBust]

Man, "I told you so"???? Your kidding right? I've seen posters saying that Geno should have been playing Dolson with Stokes NOW. Clearly, Stokes hasn't been ready. Now it appears that Geno is seeing progress. So the posters that have been calling for it now say "I told you so"? I'm calling BS on that.

Only after we, the eternally enlightened, have led you to this conclusion. But you fought it all the way. Come'on man, admit it!

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

Man, "I told you so"???? Your kidding right?

I've seen posters saying that Geno should have been playing Dolson with Stokes NOW. Clearly, Stokes hasn't been ready.

Now it appears that Geno is seeing progress. So the posters that have been calling for it now say "I told you so"? I'm calling BS on that.

It is more likely that those posters in question had the right idea some time ago and have seen their hopes come to life to some degree and yes that also shows them to be ahead of the curve on this, those posters saw what Geno wanted to see and it is happening... it turns out they were right, so good for them !

You all have a fine day, may the sun shine on you and yours.

GO UCONN !!!!!!!

 

[doggydaddy]

It is more likely that those posters in question had the right idea some time ago and have seen their hopes come to life to some degree and yes that also shows them to be ahead of the curve on this, those posters saw what Geno wanted to see and it is happening... it turns out they were right, so good for them !

You all have a fine day, may the sun shine on you and yours.

GO UCONN !!!!!!!

Sorry, but I don't see it that way.

If they were saying that when Stokes was ready, she should play more, then I would agree. And I think most posters felt that way. But the posters patting themselves on the back said they thought that Geno should have been playing her more weeks ago.

There is nothing that leads me to believe that lineup change would have been successful back then when Geno felt she wasn't ready.

 

[doggydaddy]

Only after we, the eternally enlightened, have led you to this conclusion. But you fought it all the way. Come'on man, admit it!

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

Sorry, but I don't see it that way.

If they were saying that when Stokes was ready, she should play more, then I would agree. And I think most posters felt that way. But the posters patting themselves on the back said they thought that Geno should have been playing her more weeks ago.

There is nothing that leads me to believe that lineup change would have been successful back then when Geno felt she wasn't ready.

Your opinion is yours, other opinions differ, and that still does not change that those posters were on the right track to begin with and were brave enough to say as much even when many here tried trough their posts to quite them, it would appear Geno agreed with their thoughts on the topic , but was slower to implement it than those posters in question would have been. The reasons that Geno may have been slow to implement what has turned out to be the case are now mute arguments. The posters who wanted this and said so early on turned out to be right, like it or not. One can go on a fruitless tangent and argue minutia but that does not change what the outcome is or that said posters were indeed quite right.

 

[Icebear]

I am with doggy in that Geno tried Kiah early and it became obvious to many that she was not ready to provide real help. It is, also, very possible, I think likely, that Geno then backed off, specifically, because he did not want to push her development too quickly and have other issues. You do not reward bad play even if sometimes it appears effective. He did not want to reward her uneven effort in practice which she herself acknowledged. Geno has since said that progress is being made. Kiah is now getting the minutes consistent with that better effort and it is showing on the court. Her playing has nothing to do with what should have happened sooner and is consistent with what doggy has suggested. We haven't needed just any big body to add to the court for the frontcourt we have needed one that is ready to contribute consistent effort on every possession and who knows the defensive rotations and offensive principles. That diminishes the number of times that things are short circuited by those who are not ready. The kyrios is now.

 

[meyers7]

Sorry, but I don't see it that way.

If they were saying that when Stokes was ready, she should play more, then I would agree. And I think most posters felt that way. But the posters patting themselves on the back said they thought that Geno should have been playing her more weeks ago.

There is nothing that leads me to believe that lineup change would have been successful back then when Geno felt she wasn't ready.

Bingo!

 

[Kibitzer]

A reminder of something I learned from HuskyNan many years ago. Geno coaches for March.

Sure, he prepares the team for every single game on the schedule We need no proof of that; his record speaks for itself.

But he always has one eye on the big dance in March. Last year, Stefanie didn't really get rolling until about midway through the season. Kiah (and Brianna) seem to be replicating that. (But with all the recent discussion about Kiah playing more, be reminded that she played all of nine minutes vs. Providence, even with Stef on the bench a lot, dealing with a bleeding finger.)

My opinion? Geno wants Banks and Stokes primed and confident for the March Big East and NCAA tournaments.

 

[VAMike23]

Time-wise, this is pretty close to the point in the season last season when CD had "the talk" with Stef, after the Stanford game. That's when Stef started on her tear. Kiah still has roughly the same timeframe available.

Stef was thrown to the lions every night, sink or swim. She got better because of her re-doubled efforts at fitness, because CD threw down the gauntlet, and because she spent tons of minutes in the crucible on gamedays. Kiah doesn't have the same amount of pressure on her, nor does she get as much playing time.

On the flip side, Kiah is probably closer to where she needs to be physically to succeed at the 4 spot than Stef was last January to succeed at the 5. Kiah definitely needs to get stronger, but I see it as somewhat more of a 'coaching challenge' (as GA referred to it) from a mental perspective than a physical thing as this point. With Stef there was a very significant physical mountain to climb, as well as the mental aspect. And boy did she climb it.

 

[easttexastrash]

Not sure you are right. I think a 2 big team that has an effective high low game could be problematical for BG. We know Dolson is an excellent passer, so what does BG do when Stef gets the ball at the high post and Stokes gets loose in the low post?

Well, there will be another player on the court guarding also. It's not as if BG is going to be assigned to guard both. I suspect that Pope will be guarding someone also.

I have not seen anything that makes me particularly worried about Dolson shooting from 15+ feet out. And I do like the idea of the opposing post player playing on the perimeter. That opens up additional rebounding opportunities for Baylor. And if Dolson wants to jack up shots from distance even a descent sized guard can bother her enough to keep her from getting her shot off outside the paint.

If UCONN ever depends on Dolson to win the game by making outside shots I will take my chances on letting her shoot. I think UCONN is much better off to rely on their guards shooting those shots than they are Dolson.

 

[wire chief]

Those too-early posters merit a...Duh
The obvious:
1..We have only one tall person playing.
2..MJ is still recovering and needs to get stronger, so not her.
3..Heather is good on defense only, so not her.
4..That leaves one tall person.
5..I've got it--throw in Kiah (Oh, I'm so brilliant).

 

[Icebear]

The less that teams worry about Dolson shooting from the top of the key the higher her shooting % will go. That is good news for UConn. It really isn't hard for her to hit 50% on those.

 

[easttexastrash]

The less that teams worry about Dolson shooting from the top of the key the higher her shooting % will go. That is good news for UConn. It really isn't hard for her to hit 50% on those.

Soft pressure is enough for her to feel rushed. I keep hearing about her prowess from that area but haven't seen it proven. Once I do I will worry about it. She hit only one of those shots against Baylor.

 

[Icebear]

Soft pressure is enough for her to feel rushed. I keep hearing about her prowess from that area but haven't seen it proven. Once I do I will worry about it.

Didn't mean you.

 

[easttexastrash]

Didn't mean you.

Gotcha

 

[easttexastrash]

I am really excited about seeing Stewart play next year. I hope that she comes in and challenges Griner in the paint. Sounds like she will be a tremendous inside/outside threat.

 

[Husky WBB Fan]

I am really excited about seeing Stewart play next year. I hope that she comes in and challenges Griner in the paint. Sounds like she will be a tremendous inside/outside threat.

I have the same hope re Steward helping to guard Griner next year, but by next season Griner will likely have an Olympic gold medal to her credit and have enhanced her skills substantially based on the practicing and coaching it takes to earn that medal. Scoring against, and guarding, Griner next year is going to be a massive task - - unless she decides to declare for the WNBA early (she will be more than capable of dominating the pros next year - - especially after having worked with Geno)!

 

[easttexastrash]

I have the same hope re Steward helping to guard Griner next year, but by next season Griner will likely have an Olympic gold medal to her credit and have enhanced her skills substantially based on the practicing and coaching it takes to earn that medal. Scoring against, and guarding, Griner next year is going to be a massive task - - unless she decides to declare for the WNBA early (she will be more than capable of dominating the pros next year - - especially after having worked with Geno)!

All very good points. I think that you are right that after working with the WNBA players and the Olympic coaching staff that she is going to be as close to unstoppable as the women's college game has ever seen. I suspect that after the Olympic experience that she will be playing college ball at a level never seen before, if she's not already.

Women's basketball is going to have two of the best teams to ever face each other next year. Had the Baylor vs. UCONN series not been renewed they would both probably go into the title game undefeated next year.

Just wondering, where would you rank Stewart vs EDD. Are her skills comparable? It sounds as if she may be stronger and can play closer to the rim. How about outside shooting? Is there any good footage anyone can share?