Shea Ralph

[Bigpetunia]

Last night, I had a unique bird's eye view of lots of dynamics from the UConn bench and the roles of the coaching staff during breaks in the action. I have no idea if what I'm about to describe constitutes a one-off aberration or a pattern, but it is this. Each timeout, as the players currently "on the floor" sit, and Geno sits in front of them, he uses his "blackboard" very demonstrably to convey what he wants out of the break. During these moments, CD and Marissa are entirely deferential to Geno and are essentially silent. Not so for Shea. Repeatedly, and unhesitatingly, she will jump in, pointing her finger at the board, and, looking at individual players, very forcefully, as she demands certain corrective actions. Geno obviously seems to expect this and basically nods as Shea speaks. I'm not trying to make any predictions for the distant future here, and am obviously not in a position to know if this was typical, but for last night, Shea's role as active "in-game" mentor and partner to The Master was much on display.

 

[Farney]

It's possible that Tulane was the game she was responsible for preparing the team for. Scouting plays, player tendencies, etc. So maybe she was just hopping in with insight about Tulane as Geno was explaining things.

 

[CocoHusky]

Last night, I had a unique bird's eye view of lots of dynamics from the UConn bench and the roles of the coaching staff during breaks in the action. I have no idea if what I'm about to describe constitutes a one-off aberration or a pattern, but it is this. Each timeout, as the players currently "on the floor" sit, and Geno sits in front of them, he uses his "blackboard" very demonstrably to convey what he wants out of the break. During these moments, CD and Marissa are entirely deferential to Geno and are essentially silent. Not so for Shea. Repeatedly, and unhesitatingly, she will jump in, pointing her finger at the board, and, looking at individual players, very forcefully, as she demands certain corrective actions. Geno obviously seems to expect this and basically nods as Shea speaks. I'm not trying to make any predictions for the distant future here, and am obviously not in a position to know if this was typical, but for last night, Shea's role as active "in-game" mentor and partner to The Master was much on display.

Big, I watched the game online and the activity level of Shea was noticeably different than any UCONN game that I can remember. It could be as Farney is saying that Shea had scout responsibility for the Tulane game but Shea has had scout responsibility for big games before with far less activity during the game. My theory is that this is advanced preparation for South Carolina.

 

[dtbtbtb]

if any team is looking for a new coach, Shea should be at the top of their lists

 

[Tenspro2002]

if any team is looking for a new coach, Shea should be at the top of their lists

I think the implication here is that for when this team looks for a new coach, Shea may be positioning herself to be at the top of the list.

 

[UcMiami]

I have seen different displays from different games where Shea was not so active but someone else was. The idea of the 'scout' is good, but it could also be a reflection of the points being made/personnel in the game - Shea being primarily guard/wing oriented and the others forward/post oriented.

The other thing I find interesting in the time-outs is Jasmine Lister is assigned to keep an eye on the opposing teams huddle - I am sure it is not for lip reading - I think she is making sure they are not changing personnel during the time-out.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Lister steps out to the middle of the court... looking at the score table, always a clipboard in hand. Not sure of her duties tho

 

[JordyG]

Lister steps out to the middle of the court... looking at the score table, always a clipboard in hand. Not sure of her duties tho

I'm just happy to see Ms. Lister whenever she's on the court.

 

[meyers7]

I have seen different displays from different games where Shea was not so active but someone else was. The idea of the 'scout' is good, but it could also be a reflection of the points being made/personnel in the game - Shea being primarily guard/wing oriented and the others forward/post oriented.

The other thing I find interesting in the time-outs is Jasmine Lister is assigned to keep an eye on the opposing teams huddle - I am sure it is not for lip reading - I think she is making sure they are not changing personnel during the time-out.

East Carolina must be aware of Lister's sinister designs.

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...carolina-guarding-secrets-20150308-story.html

 

[iamcbs]

Big, I watched the game online and the activity level of Shea was noticeably different than any UCONN game that I can remember. It could be as Farney is saying that Shea had scout responsibility for the Tulane game but Shea has had scout responsibility for big games before with far less activity during the game. My theory is that this is advanced preparation for South Carolina.

I'm with you on this Coco, I noticed the increased level of activity as well, especially with Moriah, Saniya, Kia, and to a certain extent Lou, she was also in Courtney's ass for missing a defensive assignment that resulted in a foul on Nat.

 

[UcMiami]

I'm with you on this Coco, I noticed the increased level of activity as well, especially with Moriah, Saniya, Kia, and to a certain extent Lou, she was also in Courtney's ass for missing a defensive assignment that resulted in a foul on Nat.

In general I suspect riding Stewart and Morgan hard is seldom necessary, making CD's and MM's job easier!

Moriah? well she is in that difficult position at Uconn where, by rule, everything bad that happens on the court is her fault!
(This rule is offset a little by her occasionally getting credit for some of the good things - but most of them are really just brilliant efforts by Stewart and Tuck making up for sloppy management by Moriah. )

 

[DaddyChoc]

I'm just happy to see Ms. Lister whenever she's on the court.

I was gonna go there... but I'm being watched, don't wanna add the dirty old man label to my current resume

 

[RockyMTblue2]

East Carolina must be aware of Lister's sinister designs.

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...carolina-guarding-secrets-20150308-story.html

That's a hoot! But it may be reflective of a mindset that produces chippy play. EC bothers me the way Syracuse and Rutgers use to bother me.

 

[SportsPageMike]

I have mentioned this before and will do so once again Shea will be Geno's replacement when retirement comes.

 

[reno tony]

I somehow got the impression that different coaches were responsible for different positions. Maybe the instruction by Geno involved position players of Shea's responsibility.

 

[alexrgct]

I would stay at Chez Ralph any day of the week...

 

[Baroloboy]

This year Marissa is responsible for scouting opposing teams and putting together the tendency report. She also has certain player development responsibilities. She isn nowworking on the SC game. It is possible that Shea did the Tulane scouting report for some reason.

 

[Icebear]

This year Marissa is responsible for scouting opposing teams and putting together the tendency report. She also has certain player development responsibilities. She isn nowworking on the SC game. It is possible that Shea did the Tulane scouting report for some reason.

I thought they shared that responsibility on a game by game basis.

 

[UcMiami]

This year Marissa is responsible for scouting opposing teams and putting together the tendency report. She also has certain player development responsibilities. She isn nowworking on the SC game. It is possible that Shea did the Tulane scouting report for some reason.

They rotate the scout between Shea, CD, and Marissa - it only goes out of sequence when they play a conference mate for a second or third time in which case the same coach does the follow-up scouting.
Marissa and CD work primarily with the post players and Shea with the guards.
They also share out the recruiting trips but CD is the overall coordinator of that.
Not sure how they break down travel responsibilities beyond CD being in charge of keeping them occupied and engaged - creating trivia quizzes and scheduling point of interest trips and activities.

I think the Uconn approach to trip planning is an unrecognized but important part of uconn's road success - not sure how other teams handle it, but Uconn is very concerned about structure and keeping the players occupied and engaged on their road trips, and their consistent play and success is the result. It is a business trip and from day one the players learn to treat it as such and not a vacation with a game to play in the middle.

 

[CTyankee]

I'm just happy to see Ms. Lister whenever she's on the court.

Amen, Well I say Amen.

 

[JordyG]

I was gonna go there... but I'm being watched, don't wanna add the dirty old man label to my current resume

I'm being watched too. My ankle bracelet goes off when I think even slightly impure thoughts. I need to get better court ordered accessories.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think Lister is responsible for surgically dismantling the other team.

 

[Monte]

I think the implication here is that for when this team looks for a new coach, Shea may be positioning herself to be at the top of the list.

I think she is quite near the top of the list. It seems to me that when Shea speaks, she is usually instructing the GUARDS, as it should be.

 

[msf22b]

I think that it would be better if we kept references to the physical attractiveness of players, coaches, whatever in our own minds and not in public utterances on this board.

Most men, myself included, take mental note of desirable attributes in members of the opposite sex.

Where it and they become undesirable is when it is expressed, macho style in otherwise grown-up discussion groups.

I think I've made this plea before, just seems to be a "gathering storm" again.

 

[DaddyChoc]

seems that you plea is falling on deaf ears... which is a good thing