"She looked OK today," Auriemma said. "I think every day she is getting a little closer.

[Kaizen]

From Jim Fuller
There was no sign of freshman De'Janae Boykin at today's practice and she won't be playing tomorrow.

"She's got a lot of work to do physically and academically," Auriemma said. "She has yet to be at a practice full (speed). She has been there for a third of it, a half of it but never a full (practice)."

The good news is that Natalie Butler did get some practice time today. Her surgically-repaired left thumb only had tape on it and not a splint or cast.

Auriemma said "the doctors cleared you but I haven't," Auriemma said.

He said perhaps Butler could play against Notre Dame although in my opinion, the game would probably have to get out of hand for that to happen. It is more likely that she makes her UConn debut on Wednesday against Colgate.

"She looked OK today," Auriemma said. "I think every day she is getting a little closer."

http://elmcitytoeaglevillenhr.blogspot.com/

 

[Gus Mahler]

From Jim Fuller
There was no sign of freshman De'Janae Boykin at today's practice and she won't be playing tomorrow.

"She's got a lot of work to do physically and academically," Auriemma said. "She has yet to be at a practice full (speed). She has been there for a third of it, a half of it but never a full (practice)."

http://elmcitytoeaglevillenhr.blogspot.com/

Wow. That is disconcerting news about De'Janae.

 

[tomcat]

Interesting reference to De'Janae's needed academic work. I cannot recall the last time a coach voluntarily referred to something like that.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Interesting reference to De'Janae's needed academic work. I cannot recall the last time a coach voluntarily referred to something like that.

You're right. I'm rather stunned. Wonder if that was really why she didn't make this last trip.

I want to say more but I don't know what to say.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Interesting reference to De'Janae's needed academic work. I cannot recall the last time a coach voluntarily referred to something like that.

Geno rarely has players with academic issues, he has at times commented on them--without superb results.

 

[HGN]

You're right. I'm rather stunned. Wonder if that was really why she didn't make this last trip.

I want to say more but I don't know what to say.

That would be my thought as to why she didn't make the trip. Will be interesting to see if she's on the bench Saturday .

 

[Kaizen]

Interesting reference to De'Janae's needed academic work. I cannot recall the last time a coach voluntarily referred to something like that.

Could it be that she was in the hospital and missed the classes?

 

[watanabe]

Wow. That is disconcerting news about De'Janae.

I remember kids at UConn that had no support group and they sometimes ended up in a bad place.
How great is it that she is surrounded by such a great group of people.

 

[UConnDadRich]

It was stated during the TV broadcast of the UTC game that she was not traveling with the team because she had not been able to practice and that she had academics to catch up on.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Could it be that she was in the hospital and missed the classes?

Dunno. But there is something curious about this.

 

[Sonny44]

Well if you're not practicing you should have time to study.
Something curious indeed.

 

[Gus Mahler]

It was stated during the TV broadcast of the UTC game that she was not traveling with the team because she had not been able to practice and that she had academics to catch up on.

I heard the part about not being able to practice but I thought the academic stuff was about Pulido's four labs.

Players frequently travel to away games even though they're hurt. I would say that's the norm. Hopefully you're right and it just made sense to do it that way.

 

[sarals24]

I hope everything is ok with her. I was excited about her when I saw a few videos of her.

 

[Geno-ista]

This is a couple games she didn't make on the road- but they did this on one trip. But it doesn't sound great. Is her father the Marine? Or is that Collier?

 

[Gus Mahler]

This is a couple games she didn't make on the road- but they did this on one trip. But it doesn't sound great. Is her father the Marine? Or is that Collier?

It's her father. Which I always took to be that she would be disciplined and such. And that he wouldn't let her quit.

 

[msf22b]

I'm not exactly stunned
Adjusting to college schedules and developing efficient work habits is tough especially for an athlete.
UConn's woman's program takes great pride in the academic achievements of its players.
A kid with a bit of trouble...there's lots of support to get her back on the rails

After a bit of research: Gatorade said that she was a straight B student in her junior year, She should be able to get back on track.

 

[Kaizen]

It's her father. Which I always took to be that she would be disciplined and such. And that he wouldn't let her quit.

Agree. May be we worry too much. In a military family, discipline is #1 pride.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Agree. May be we worry too much. In a military family, discipline is #1 pride.

True.

Then there's still the problem of her Achilles. People talking about Reimer of ND pointed out that those injuries are nettlesome. This is so unfortunate for Boykin because of her having missed most of her senior year owing to the wrist injury.

 

[UcMiami]

Lets not panic - it is almost exam time first semester freshman year, so everyone could use more academic time - especially a player who is not cleared to play, and cannot yet participate fully in practice. This was not a standard road game as it involved missing three days of school ten days before exams.
We all commiserate about Natalie's frustration at not playing yet this year, but it has been over a year now since Boykin has been completely healthy, too. I hope she is keeping her spirits up!

 

[JS]

Seems pretty clear to me at this point that Boykin should redshirt. She wouldn't even need to qualify for medical hardship if she doesn't play in a single game.

She could then get physically 100%, make sure the academics are in solid shape and come back next year ready to rock & roll with four years of eligibility left.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Lorin had academic issue where she didn't make a trip during the season

 

[hjoerring]

Lets not panic - it is almost exam time first semester freshman year, so everyone could use more academic time - especially a player who is not cleared to play, and cannot yet participate fully in practice. This was not a standard road game as it involved missing three days of school ten days before exams.
We all commiserate about Natalie's frustration at not playing yet this year, but it has been over a year now since Boykin has been completely healthy, too. I hope she is keeping her spirits up!

Good. I have been thinking about how difficult it must be for her to see her fellow freshmen practice and play while she sits. Add to that the fact that she missed most of her senior year and, we have a young woman with reduced concentration (psy) even (but especially) for her academic work. Frustration in one area of ones life can play its tricks in others. My question is, why not write the year off and redshirt her. Are there other issues to consider- perhaps she just want to play?

 

[jdubct]

Seems pretty clear to me at this point that Boykin should redshirt. She wouldn't even need to qualify for medical hardship if she doesn't play in a single game.

She could then get physically 100%, make sure the academics are in solid shape and come back next year ready to rock & roll with four years of eligibility left.

Agree. Best for her and best for the team.

 

[Geno-ista]

Lets not panic - it is almost exam time first semester freshman year, so everyone could use more academic time - especially a player who is not cleared to play, and cannot yet participate fully in practice. This was not a standard road game as it involved missing three days of school ten days before exams.
We all commiserate about Natalie's frustration at not playing yet this year, but it has been over a year now since Boykin has been completely healthy, too. I hope she is keeping her spirits up!

UC- I say we act like Mel Brooks in History of the World, after giving his talk to slaves on the run about how not to panic if they see the Romans-and then they see them and he starts screaming first- "Panic"!!!!

 

[Sonny44]

Agree. Best for her and best for the team.

Good. I have been thinking about how difficult it must be for her to see her fellow freshmen practice and play while she sits. Add to that the fact that she missed most of her senior year and, we have a young woman with reduced concentration (psy) even (but especially) for her academic work. Frustration in one area of ones life can play its tricks in others. My question is, why not write the year off and redshirt her. Are there other issues to consider- perhaps she just want to play?

Agree, the poor girl must be frustrated, missing two years in a row and add to that the stress of academics. We evidently don't "need" her this year to win the NC. Take the time to get the injury healed completely, maybe drop a course; easy for us to say, but difficult to face.