Setting The Bar

[PhillyCoach]

Sarah is in simple terms a "Player." It is rare when a player has the seamless combination of nature and nurture. If you look at every player on UConn's team--most if not all have the nurture. How many are coaches daughters? How many have Moms and Dads who played ball and taught their daughters well.
I guess it would be most if not all. In addition, the training, exercising, and PRACTICE is off the charts.
They have been nurtured well.
Now who has the nature? Who has the instincts? Who has the continuous confidence? Paige and Sarah have different body types and physicality. But they have the "it" factor. Quiet confidence, not loud arrogance. And the confidence does not ebb and flow. It is ALWAYS there. Just like the defensive plays--a hand in a passing lane, a block. Just like a pretty pass, adjusted layup or winning shot.
Sarah is special. It is very special when the nature and nurture comes together and creates an unusual player who really can--DO IT ALL!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She's a polite, well mannered young lady. Sometimes when the camera catches her in a huddle or the side lines she can appear to be subdued or apprehensive. I have decided it is not that. She's just focused and thinking "lets get back out there."

 

[Cuango]

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.

I think she’s better than JuJu! Yes JuJu is a generational scorer! However, she needs a lot of shots to do it. I don’t think she’s the passer that Sarah is, no way does she have better hands, Sarah is bigger and stronger, and a far better rebounder! Now, to be fair, Sarah has Paige on her team but KiKi is pretty good too!

This is probably a little much after one game but we’ll see. The other thing of course, is that teams are going to start game planning Sarah now, so we’ll just have to see how she handles that. On the other hand, she has a lot of resources around her that will severely punish any team that devotes too much attention to Sarah! Plus, she has the guidance and support of Geno & CD!

 

[Cuango]

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"?

My two favorites are the one about pantyhose and the one about Maria Conlon. Something along the lines of “She’s short but she’s slow!”

 

[Rowdy831]

The start of a new season is always exciting. UConn always has the best talent in the country and good coaching to go along with it. The only ingredient missing lately is good health and with that UConn will be my favorite to win it all this year. How fun will it be to watch three number 1 ranked players on the court at the same time this season?

 

[Zonepress]

The start of a new season is always exciting. UConn always has the best talent in the country and good coaching to go along with it. The only ingredient missing lately is good health and with that UConn will be my favorite to win it all this year. How fun will it be to watch three number 1 ranked players on the court at the same time this season?

Your comment that UConn always has the best talent the way off the mark
Notre Dame South Carolina usc ucla Texas and perhaps lsu equal, if not better talent
The Huskies certainly have enough talent to win a championship, but they will have to beat three very good teams to accomplish that
The last year that you could say you can’t had the best talent was 2018 and unfortunately they didn’t win the championship that you’re
It takes talent lack of injuries, good matchups, and good fortune to win a championship in women’s basketball right now

 

[ERWUC65]

Your comment that UConn always has the best talent the way off the mark
Notre Dame South Carolina usc ucla Texas and perhaps lsu equal, if not better talent
The Huskies certainly have enough talent to win a championship, but they will have to beat three very good teams to accomplish that
The last year that you could say you can’t had the best talent was 2018 and unfortunately they didn’t win the championship that you’re
It takes talent lack of injuries, good matchups, and good fortune to win a championship in women’s basketball right now

I believe the statement by Rowdy831 was 'UConn always has the best talent', nothing about injuries, matchups, good fortune. So in that context I would put Paige, Azzi, Caroline, Aaliyah and Nika on the floor against any other college lineup over the last 4 years.

 

[Steelerone]

I measure greatness against the competition. BU, while being a division 1 team, is probably more on the level with some of the old Yankee Conference teams. I want to see how she plays against some of our out-of-conference games like Notre Dame and South Carolina before I anoint her.

 

[jabstep]

I measure greatness against the competition. BU, while being a division 1 team, is probably more on the level with some of the old Yankee Conference teams. I want to see how she plays against some of our out-of-conference games like Notre Dame and South Carolina before I anoint her.

The first scrimmage and the first game had the same outcome UConn victories. The major difference to me was the post defense of Fort Hayes versus BU. The post defender for Fort Hayes was in my opinion far superior then the post defenders for BU. The difference in defense was so vastly apparent, I will need some varied levels of competition to comprehend how good we really are. So I will wait some more time before anointing our Post players.

 

[Bone Dog]

The first scrimmage and the first game had the same outcome UConn victories. The major difference to me was the post defense of Fort Hayes versus BU. The post defender for Fort Hayes was in my opinion far superior then the post defenders for BU. The difference in defense was so vastly apparent, I will need some varied levels of competition to comprehend how good we really are. So I will wait some more time before anointing our Post players.

I agree. In fact, the primary post players for BU didn’t even play on Thursday. It is way too early for any anointing. What we have before us is mere glimpses and players don’t always develop in a smooth line. We have some reasons to expect great things from Jana and Sarah, but no certainty.

The USF bigs will pose a better challenge, though they are not all that big: 6’3” 6’2” and 6’1”. On the whole, they are better rebounders and scorers than we’ve seen so far. But at bottom, this is likely to feel like another tuneup game.

The UNC Bigs will pose an even better challenge. Gakdeng and Utsby are experienced, and Thomas and Toomey are very promising first year posts. Altogether this group is bigger and more experienced than Jana and Sarah and even Ice. If our bigs dominate UNC, I think it may be safe to do at least a little anointing.

As a side note, I’d say this OOC schedule has been quite clever. It should allow Geno to bring his posts along gradually. This is strikingly different compared to last season, when he had Aaliyah Ice and Ayanna, or the previous season with Aaliyah Dorka and Ayanna. External events derailed those teams, of course, but the OOC schedule was rather stiffer from the start for each of them.

This season, the most serious games come in December against Louisville ND ISU and USC. This stretch is the main event until the Tennessee and SC games in February. I’m curious to see how Jana Sarah and Ice do against Olivia Cochrane, against Kate Koval, and against Audi Crooks, and ultimately against Rayah Marshall and Kiki Iriafen.

We may not win all the games in this stretch, even if our bigs acquit themselves well. But Geno will know exactly what he has by the end of December. Then the conference schedule begins and so does the honing process. I find myself more engaged in this season than any since Stewie’s freshman year, and that’s setting the bar pretty high.

 

[Zarathustra]

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.

It can't be "Sir Sarah" as in "Sir" Charles, but somehow " Miss Sarah" can't be right, because
Sarah is a "CAN'T MISS" talent. So, we'll have to wait to what her teammates provide as
a moniker!!

 

[Cuango]

I agree. In fact, the primary post players for BU didn’t even play on Thursday. It is way too early for any anointing. What we have before us is mere glimpses and players don’t always develop in a smooth line. We have some reasons to expect great things from Jana and Sarah, but no certainty.

The USF bigs will pose a better challenge, though they are not all that big: 6’3” 6’2” and 6’1”. On the whole, they are better rebounders and scorers than we’ve seen so far. But at bottom, this is likely to feel like another tuneup game.

The UNC Bigs will pose an even better challenge. Gakdeng and Utsby are experienced, and Thomas and Toomey are very promising first year posts. Altogether this group is bigger and more experienced than Jana and Sarah and even Ice. If our bigs dominate UNC, I think it may be safe to do at least a little anointing.

As a side note, I’d say this OOC schedule has been quite clever. It should allow Geno to bring his posts along gradually. This is strikingly different compared to last season, when he had Aaliyah Ice and Ayanna, or the previous season with Aaliyah Dorka and Ayanna. External events derailed those teams, of course, but the OOC schedule was rather stiffer from the start for each of them.

This season, the most serious games come in December against Louisville ND ISU and USC. This stretch is the main event until the Tennessee and SC games in February. I’m curious to see how Jana Sarah and Ice do against Olivia Cochrane, against Kate Koval, and against Audi Crooks, and ultimately against Rayah Marshall and Kiki Iriafen.

We may not win all the games in this stretch, even if our bigs acquit themselves well. But Geno will know exactly what he has by the end of December. Then the conference schedule begins and so does the honing process. I find myself more engaged in this season than any since Stewie’s freshman year, and that’s setting the bar pretty high.

I generally agree with you here but we do differ in one respect. I am certain that Jana and Sara are the real deal! I agree they are yet to be tested and I suppose it’s possible they both could struggle in a certain few games but I’m pretty certain North Carolina won’t be one of them (or this game either). Of course, being freshmen, the area where I do have concern is in fouling. Perhaps this is mostly your concern too?
Back to NC though, I think our front court will dominate against Thomas and Toomey. Ustby & Gakdeng, though very experienced, will, I believe, also struggle against the size and talent of our girls. I believe Jana is too big and too strong for all of them and as for Sarah, well I think she will run circles around them. Hopefully, Ice will be on track by then as well. Obviously, if I am wrong I will be eating a huge plate of crow but I‘m pretty sure I’ll be having creme brûlée instead!

 

[Bone Dog]

I am certain that Jana and Sara are the real deal!

My heart is exactly where you are: certainty. But my spleen worries and doesn’t want to let my heart book the parade just yet.

But I love this feeling. The uncertainty makes these games feel electric.