Seeing As How

[RockyMTblue2]

A game against DePaul is about 24 hours away, Would someone or someones of you want to exert some analytical energy in that direction. Anyway, just a thought. Massey predicts UConn 85 - 70 with an 87% probability. I wonder what team we will see come out in Chicago. Most opponents following a UConn losss in the past feared a flogging and mostly they were right. I don't want the team to shrug off a loss. I want them to be supremely POed but under control. And I want Paige's teammates to find her and pass the damn ball.

 

[oldude]

I think UConn will be just fine at Depaul, provided the snowstorm doesn’t prevent them from getting into Chicago. The other thing I will say is that while Depaul does a lot of the same things that Arkansas does, they are nowhere near as talented. While Depaul is ranked 17th, I really don’t think this Blue Demon team is one of Doug Bruno’s best by a long shot.

 

[CocoHusky]

You want "analytical energy" and you are asking us.
Hard to tell with this team which has been so up and down and also so young.
I think some personal pride has got to kick in for multiple players tomorrow as it appears to have for Nika.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Devil's advocate: Sometimes you get "paralysis by analysis". 7 freshmen. Upperclassmen not cerebral players?
"Make it simple stupid".
My best medicine when my golf swing gets "tied up" is a restart. I tell myself, "it's just an athletic move, stop thinking so much".
Disclaimer: I hate GA's passing game. I hate that little flip pass out front that has no purpose.
The world I like to live in: the point attacks the D, wings get open, see what's there, people move, set screens, cut.....
Those little fluffy passes to Pheesa are extinct, like the Dodo.
Play basketball ladies, like you know how to play basketball!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Trouble comes in 3s. Carl Adamec tells us the Huskies have fallen to 8th in scoring defense.

Journal Inquirer

The latest news from Manchester, Connecticut, as well as coverage of Enfield, Vernon, South Windsor, East Hartford and beyond.

www.journalinquirer.com

 

[RockyMTblue2]

In that Journal Inquirer article Geno questions whether "our bigs" want to do the work to remedy their defensive weaknesses. For some reason I can't "copy" out of their articles.

 

[EricLA]

If Christyn and Olivia have any heart, and pride, they will come out gangbusters, and Paige/Evina will not be required to carry the team. They should be pissed, and I would not be surprised to see a 30+ point beatdown.

 

[j66kicker]

In that Journal Inquirer article Geno questions whether "our bigs" want to do the work to remedy their defensive weaknesses. For some reason I can't "copy" out of their articles.

I can copy from it, but not with my right mouse button - had to go up to "Edit" and do it the long way:

“That is what you go to practice for, to address the things that need to be addressed and try to figure out where defensively you can make some adjustments,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “Some adjustments you just can’t make. There were quite a few times when our big guys went out to help on ball screen coverage, and their big guys just went right around them like they were standing still. That’s an issue. Can that be fixed? I don’t know. That depends whether the guys doing it want to fix it.”

Thought it was interesting that Evina chimed in on ONO's problems too:

“She knows what she has to do,” Westbrook said. “At the end of the day, she just needs to be more aggressive and just be the best post player that we know she is every time she steps on the floor. Sometimes she can get away from that. But everyone has their off days or off games. Once she starts trusting in herself and believing in herself like we all do, it’s going to be great for Liv.”

 

[CocoHusky]

I can copy from it, but not with my right mouse button - had to go up to "Edit" and do it the long way:

“That is what you go to practice for, to address the things that need to be addressed and try to figure out where defensively you can make some adjustments,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “Some adjustments you just can’t make. There were quite a few times when our big guys went out to help on ball screen coverage, and their big guys just went right around them like they were standing still. That’s an issue. Can that be fixed? I don’t know. That depends whether the guys doing it want to fix it.”

Thought it was interesting that Evina chimed in on ONO's problems too:

“She knows what she has to do,” Westbrook said. “At the end of the day, she just needs to be more aggressive and just be the best post player that we know she is every time she steps on the floor. Sometimes she can get away from that. But everyone has their off days or off games. Once she starts trusting in herself and believing in herself like we all do, it’s going to be great for Liv.”

This calling out teammates also has it limitations. Stephanie Dolson famously called out Stewie on national TV at half time of a tournament game against BYU and Stewie responded.
I look at this situation and I almost think it's backwards as in ONO should be the one calling out Evina in the UCONN way. I'm also not optimistic that ONO is going to respond to Evina when she has not responded to Geno in year III.

 

[eebmg]

This calling out teammates also has it limitations. Stephanie Dolson famously called out Stewie on national TV at half time of a tournament game against BYU and Stewie responded.
I look at this situation and I almost think it's backwards as in ONO should be the one calling out Evina in the UCONN way. I'm also not optimistic that ONO is going to respond to Evina when she has not responded to Geno in year III.

Hearing it from your own team mate is very powerful. Especially a player who fights through substantial injury and rehab and has had much less formal time learning the system but comes up big in the biggest games. .And the diplomatic way she spoke is really great leadership.

If that does not register, nothing will.

 

[uconnever]

I have so much to say it’s best I don’t say it all Williams I think still has time and is almost where she should be. For me, she doesn’t look in the best conditioning possible. Neither here nor there, but everyone misses shots but she just disappears a little, but this year I think she has taken a step forward. She does her part at least. ONO I have thought to myself when she brings the ball so low that the coaching staff has given up trying to correct it because she continues to do it and just can’t change it. I don’t remember what other bigs were in her class but I don’t think she was Geno’s first choice. We’ve never had a big like her. We usually have more wider aggressive bigs. ONO is aggressive at times but her frame and skill set only allows so much. In reality, here she is a bench player but a contributing bench player. She should not be all we have down there and I think the staff knows it. I don’t think the staff has completely given up because they aren’t seniors, but we may start to see a different sub pattern if things don’t change quickly. It’s almost sad and inexcusable that Evina and the new women can’t rely on the juniors game to game. It’s not like they’re not high level players, I think it’s between the ears personally. In the end I trust Williams will come through, not so sure about ONO, I think she is just a defensive specialist that should come off of the bench. Unfortunately there is no one else capable with her size.

 

[MD#12Fan]

This calling out teammates also has it limitations. Stephanie Dolson famously called out Stewie on national TV at half time of a tournament game against BYU and Stewie responded.
I look at this situation and I almost think it's backwards as in ONO should be the one calling out Evina in the UCONN way. I'm also not optimistic that ONO is going to respond to Evina when she has not responded to Geno in year III.

Sometimes in some situations, players respond MORE to their teammates. I honestly believe it's a characteristic of really good programs. Players lead by example and also communicating.
I played at a super good DIII program and we had an outstanding coach. 40+ years later, I remember getting called out by our captain (also point guard and one of my best friends). Great programs, this kind of "calling out" happens the right way organically. Great programs have a foundation of positive values and culture from which things flow from or emanate from. I would argue that great coaches DO NOT want their voice to be the only voice.
Liv may not be a leader. Not everyone is. She could be an 8th year senior and not be a leader. E could be with the team a week and be the team leader.
After hearing about this, I'm anxious to see Liv's response on the floor tomorrow.

 

[bluedevil]

I have so much to say it’s best I don’t say it all Williams I think still has time and is almost where she should be. For me, she doesn’t look in the best conditioning possible. Neither here nor there, but everyone misses shots but she just disappears a little, but this year I think she has taken a step forward. She does her part at least. ONO I have thought to myself when she brings the ball so low that the coaching staff has given up trying to correct it because she continues to do it and just can’t change it. I don’t remember what other bigs were in her class but I don’t think she was Geno’s first choice. We’ve never had a big like her. We usually have more wider aggressive bigs. ONO is aggressive at times but her frame and skill set only allows so much. In reality, here she is a bench player but a contributing bench player. She should not be all we have down there and I think the staff knows it. I don’t think the staff has completely given up because they aren’t seniors, but we may start to see a different sub pattern if things don’t change quickly. It’s almost sad and inexcusable that Evina and the new women can’t rely on the juniors game to game. It’s not like they’re not high level players, I think it’s between the ears personally. In the end I trust Williams will come through, not so sure about ONO, I think she is just a defensive specialist that should come off of the bench. Unfortunately there is no one else capable with her size.

I think when C. Collier backed out he got ONO..

 

[huskyd]

This calling out teammates also has it limitations. Stephanie Dolson famously called out Stewie on national TV at half time of a tournament game against BYU and Stewie responded.
I look at this situation and I almost think it's backwards as in ONO should be the one calling out Evina in the UCONN way. I'm also not optimistic that ONO is going to respond to Evina when she has not responded to Geno in year III.

Evina's comments about Liv's performance was very good psychologically. She identified Liv's problems and excused them as "everyone has off games." Then she continued by reinforcing the notion that Ono is a fine player who will rebound and do much better. That's textbook counselling: 1,2,3.

 

[AmeriConn]

If Christyn and Olivia have any heart, and pride, they will come out gangbusters, and Paige/Evina will not be required to carry the team. They should be pissed, and I would not be surprised to see a 30+ point beatdown.

Preach Brother!

 

[Ozimoto]

It's simple. If DePaul shoots at a 50% clip from the three point line, the Huskies are in for a tough battle. If they Blue Demons shoot 30% from three, the Huskies win comfortably.

 

[Argonaut]

I think UConn will be just fine at Depaul, provided the snowstorm doesn’t prevent them from getting into Chicago. The other thing I will say is that while Depaul does a lot of the same things that Arkansas does, they are nowhere near as talented. While Depaul is ranked 17th, I really don’t think this Blue Demon team is one of Doug Bruno’s best by a long shot.

Per social media, the team was in Chicago yesterday.