Setting The Bar

[RoadMaster]

Per Daniel Connolly article:
Geno on Sarah:
"“What role on the team does she have to play to get us to where we want to go? She has to play like she's an All American. She has to come in here and act like it and play like it,” Auriemma said. “We just we don't have the luxury of waiting for her to be great. So we're going to force it on her.”
Sarah on her UConn experience:
“It still feels like I'm on my official visit,”
- Kids say the darndest things..

 

[yhun89]

Sarah will be a rock for this team. She's already somewhat reminding me of a Collier-esque player- nasty on defense, plays big, can pass, stretch to the 3, and fight for position and rebounds. And it's only her second game. Come March, this team will be a menace to basketball society/Twitter haters.

 

[RoadMaster]

Link to full article..

The Aftermath: UConn's freshmen forwards impress in debut

Sarah Strong and Jana El Alfy led the way for the Huskies in their first collegiate games.

www.uconnwbbweekly.com

 

[hoopsfan22]

Sarah will be a rock for this team. She's already somewhat reminding me of a Collier-esque player- nasty on defense, plays big, can pass, stretch to the 3, and fight for position and rebounds. And it's only her second game. Come March, this team will be a menace to basketball society/Twitter haters.

If she's not afraid to play in the paint and is sure-handed around the hoop i.e. can make layups in traffic (as well as the uncontested ones), I'll be happy with that for year 1. Don't really care that much if her 3-point shooting, fitness, and defense isn't the best that stuff will get better with time.

 

[JoePgh]

Watching in person, what struck me was the calmness with which Sarah played. Even when she exerted herself physically, you could see that she was processing the game with relative detachment. She seemed to see the floor almost like a geometry problem to be solved.

She really does play like a senior, and I would expect her to perform under pressure better than most of the rest of the roster.

 

[Next 12]

Sarah will be a rock for this team. She's already somewhat reminding me of a Collier-esque player- nasty on defense, plays big, can pass, stretch to the 3, and fight for position and rebounds. And it's only her second game. Come March, this team will be a menace to basketball society/Twitter haters.

SARAH with all the talent she possesses will prove her being No.1 was no mistake. She is real and Uconn has her. We also have JANA and Aslland. OOPS, we also have PAIGE and that says it all. The bench players are the sweet tasting frosting on the team that would be starters on any other team. This year Uconn is really blessed. My Mantra that"it's possible" makes me think " undefeated" is possible again. Time will tell I also believe we have the best bench in Women's BB and when the walking wounded are able play again, that will be a fact.15 players getting No.12. GO FRESHMEN!!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!

 

[cookie447]

Is it fair to compare Sarah to our beloved Maya Moore?! I know it’s early, but I think it is!!!

 

[ConnManFan]

“We just don't have the luxury of waiting for her to be great. So we're going to force it on her.”

This should go down as one of the great coaching quotes in history. So so good!

 

[UcMiami]

Is it fair to compare Sarah to our beloved Maya Moore?! I know it’s early, but I think it is!!!

I think more Morgan Tuck who had that full game from her first through her last and a similar calm demeanor.

 

[topogigio]

Her quickness really surprised me. That one "take to the basket" was Collieresque! Her quick hands also caused chaos on the defensive end. Glad she chose UConn!

 

[DefenseBB]

I think more Morgan Tuck who had that full game from her first through her last and a similar calm demeanor.

Spot on. While Stewie and Mo Jeff were the more heralded players in that freshman class, Morgan had a great freshman year with a low key personality and simply "I got this" attitude. She played great all year and shined in the NCAA tournament. I will be extremely happy is Sarah replicates Morgan's numbers and the end result of the title.

 

[Cuango]

I think more Morgan Tuck who had that full game from her first through her last and a similar calm demeanor.

Wow! That is a great comparison! Morgan was very low key and just showed up & played! Sarah is indeed like a (fully healthy) Morgan Tuck.

 

[Zonepress]

If she's not afraid to play in the paint and is sure-handed around the hoop i.e. can make layups in traffic (as well as the uncontested ones), I'll be happy with that for year 1. Don't really care that much if her 3-point shooting, fitness, and defense isn't the best that stuff will get better with time.

Why would you insinuate that her fitness and her defense isn’t the best
She actually played extraordinary defense has quick hands in anticipation. That is all world.
Burying her underneath, the basket would be a complete miss use of her skills

 

[hoophuskee]

Why would you insinuate that her fitness and her defense isn’t the best
She actually played extraordinary defense has quick hands in anticipation. That is all world.
Burying her underneath, the basket would be a complete miss use of her skills

Her strength is everywhere. Fundamentally awesome!!! For me I love her passing (how she sees the floor) and her handle. Wait till she starts knocking 3's. Her inside-outside balance would be lethal.

Her passing/vision on the floor for someone her size is supremely special. The thing is though she is also seems dynamic in the post because she is such a great passer. A post playerr that is also a super passer is also pretty amazing as long as they can also score.

 

[Cuango]

It’s no secret that I think Sarah Strong is the “bee’s knees!” I believe she has the potential to join Dee, Maya, Stewie, & Paige as an all time great! I have to say that among all the truly special skills she has, the one that truly stands out to me are her incredible hands! She may have the best hands I’ve ever seen! It’s almost as if the ball likes her hands! She catches everything and seems able to steal the ball with the merest touch of a finger! I realize this is probably going too far but if she stays healthy, it would not surprise me to see her get a quadruple double before she leaves here!
Speaking of great hands, we seem to have three sets now. Paige and Sarah of course, but Jana as well! She seems to swallow that ball with her hands. She came up with numerous balls against BU that I could not believe! I saw some pretty amazing plays yesterday involving Sarah and Jana’s hands. Jana grabbed three or four balls down by the basket that just would not have gone our way over the past few years. Sarah was truly amazing with both her steals and her bility to control tricky passes and convert them into points. How many freshmen (players) would have converted that last second td pass from Q at the end of the half? perhaps I’m making too much of it but it is so nice to have a couple of bigs that can consistently catch even bad passes down low!

 

[cabbie191]

What most impressed me about Sarah was her deftness when making layups with her arms stretched out to the maximum. Accuracy and “soft hands.

 

[hoophuskee]

It’s no secret that I think Sarah Strong is the “bee’s knees!” I believe she has the potential to join Dee, Maya, Stewie, & Paige as an all time great! I have to say that among all the truly special skills she has, the one that truly stands out to me are her incredible hands! She may have the best hands I’ve ever seen! It’s almost as if the ball likes her hands! She catches everything and seems able to steal the ball with the merest touch of a finger! I realize this is probably going too far but if she stays healthy, it would not surprise me to see her get a quadruple double before she leaves here!
Speaking of great hands, we seem to have three sets now. Paige and Sarah of course, but Jana as well! She seems to swallow that ball with her hands. She came up with numerous balls against BU that I could not believe! I saw some pretty amazing plays yesterday involving Sarah and Jana’s hands. Jana grabbed three or four balls down by the basket that just would not have gone our way over the past few years. Sarah was truly amazing with both her steals and her bility to control tricky passes and convert them into points. How many freshmen (players) would have converted that last second td pass from Q at the end of the half? perhaps I’m making too much of it but it is so nice to have a couple of bigs that can consistently catch even bad passes down low!

i've always been a big fan of passing. Her court vision is extrordinary. Add her to Paige. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how much I can't wait for Azzi to come back too. We've seen Azzi perform well her frosh year and in particular during NCAA's that year. Then we saw her ceiling at the time early her soph year before the injury. And omgggg if Jana is even near what Geno has said. Can you imagine what elite passing while being elite shootets can do for this team? The passing from Sarah also makes Paige greater. Think of it; making Paige greater. This is what I always wanted for Paige; a super player playing alongside her. DT, Maya and Stewie each had that for at least 2 years. We'll see if Sarah is super- not Paige-super for a frosh- but I think she will be super for this team. Way too ,many skills to not be.

And Every player with different skills on this team playing off of this in which you have two elite passers like Paige and Sarah, this is potentially frightnening.

 

[msf22b]

Interesting that Sarah is compared to Uconn greats of the past, Maya and Pheesa but for me there is a current player that immediately comes to mind:...JuJu...

Same type of physique, size, quickness, athleticism. disposition...In a few weeks the comparisons will start.

The other point I want to make, OT for this conversation...that I half expected Tony to initiate a
thread on is: its been a while when so much talent has emerged in our program ...and how wonderfully Geno has brought them along...What a group!

It's a great time to be a UConn woman's fan.

 

[and one]

Interesting that Sarah is compared to Uconn greats of the past, Maya and Pheesa but for me there is a current player that immediately comes to mind:...JuJu...

Same type of physique, size, quickness, athleticism. disposition...In a few weeks the comparisons will start.

The other point I want to make, OT for this conversation...that I half expected Tony to initiate a
thread on is: its been a while when so much talent has emerged in our program ...and how wonderfully Geno has brought them along...What a group!

It's a great time to be a UConn woman's fan.

Indeed it is a great time to be a UConn fan. It seems like forever since a UConn team hasn't had some obvious bench warmer/fourth quarter mop up specialists. During Geno's presser I hoped someone would ask him if he foresaw having a hard time giving everyone the minutes they deserved. It's not out of the realm of possibility that in January there will be 10 players that have a starter level game.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I hope with an injury free roster Geno can play 10+ players per game!
That would wear down our opponents big-time!
I really feel that even with the new players there is so much talent that everyone can get 5 minutes + each game and rotate the time according to our opponents!
Such as Morgan may get 10 minutes one game and Allie get 5 minutes and the next game reverse the minutes allotted, utilizing each players strong points!
The players would remain on a razors edge as they know they'll be needed each game! They'll be wired in every second of every game!
By the time of the Tournaments UConn will be a really nasty opponent to face!

 

[Skeets]

“We just don't have the luxury of waiting for her to be great. So we're going to force it on her.”

This should go down as one of the great coaching quotes in history. So so good!

LOL, if we ever have a Mt. Rushmore for Geno quotes, I nominate that one along with "I have Diana Taurasi and they don't". Any other real good ones? Maybe "Can't guard a chair"? "Worst center in the country"?

 

[PacoSwede]

LOL, if we ever have a Mt. Rushmore for Geno quotes, I nominate that one along with "I have Diana Taurasi and they don't". Any other real good ones? Maybe "Can't guard a chair"? "Worst center in the country"?

i believe it was 'WE have diana and YOU don't'

 

[FormerCTrez]

Link to full article..

The Aftermath: UConn's freshmen forwards impress in debut

Sarah Strong and Jana El Alfy led the way for the Huskies in their first collegiate games.

www.uconnwbbweekly.com

Thank you for sharing this lovely article.

 

[uconnever]

I have to say, watching her play, it did remind me of the other great players that have been here. You could see it immediately. I saw it immediately with Paige,Sue,Maya,Diana Stewie and now Sarah. I put her impression on me in a category with those players. There were other players that got to be great but these are the ones that I saw it immediately from the beginning.

 

[Bone Dog]

If there’s another player Sarah reminds me of, with her great hands and her rebounding and outmuscling taller opponents and how she just seems to be quicker than anyone expects, it’s … Charles Barkley.