Should UCONN use a Kim schedule? | The Boneyard

Should UCONN use a Kim schedule?

SVCBeercats

SVCBeercats

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How about using an easy first half schedule like Kim's?
If the first half of the season's schedule has "easy wins," then UCONN can build a strong and confident bench by letting them play more early in the season. Practice is great but there is nothing like playing games to learn. If the coach is confident they will win the game, then coach may be less inclined to yank players for a mistake. Players learn nothing playing in fear of making a mistake. With a strong bench, injuries may not hurt the team as much. The starters should average less than 30 minutes per game. Excluding their freshman years Stewie averaged 29.3 minutes per game, "D" 31.8, and Maya 30.7. Give the starters fresher legs for any given game and for the NCAA tournament. Even the best there ever was, benefited from fresh legs. The bench would actually contribute to close games later in the season.

UCONN won 11 NCAA championships. UCONN did not win a NCAA championship in 27 years. 29%? You can do better! ;):rolleyes:
 
I'd prefer he keep the competitive early season/OOC games competitive. First, it gives the team exposure in different parts of the country from a recruiting standpoint, 2nd, some of these games serve as homecoming for seniors, and 3rd, if roughly half of our BE games are not that competitive, keeping strong OOC games prep them for the NCAAT. And yes, LSU seems to be doing well, in spite of the early easy games, however their SEC season is always a battle.
 
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SVCBeercats said:
How about using an easy first half schedule like Kim's?
If the first half of the season's schedule has "easy wins," then UCONN can build a strong and confident bench by letting them play more early in the season. Practice is great but there is nothing like playing games to learn. If the coach is confident they will win the game, then coach may be less inclined to yank players for a mistake. Players learn nothing playing in fear of making a mistake. With a strong bench, injuries may not hurt the team as much. The starters should average less than 30 minutes per game. Excluding their freshman years Stewie averaged 29.3 minutes per game, "D" 31.8, and Maya 30.7. Give the starters fresher legs for any given game and for the NCAA tournament. Even the best there ever was, benefited from fresh legs. The bench would actually contribute to close games later in the season.

UCONN won 11 NCAA championships. UCONN did not win a NCAA championship in 27 years. 29%? You can do better! ;):rolleyes:
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I like those LSU colored purple emojis but I would not schedule as weak as LSU did every year. However given the portal and roster fluidity, they may be years when a weaker OOC is needed. That was the case for LSU this year given the 9 new players on the team. But Kim didn't use that weak schedule to develop her bench as you suggest it would be used for. She used that weak schedule to develop team chemistry on the floor and figure out player rotations. After that, Kim was confident that the SEC would provide the strong competition LSU would need to get tournament tough. It worked. LSU is in the Elite 8 so obviously that weak OOC didn't hurt them too badly. But if LSU hadn't finished second in SEC play or had lost one of those easy early games, they would have been crucified in the rankings and tournament seeding so it's a dangerous scheduling plan bec you have no margin for error.
 
tigers4ever said:
It worked. LSU is in the Elite 8 so obviously that weak OOC didn't hurt them too badly. But if LSU hadn't finished second in SEC play or had lost one of those easy early games, they would have been crucified in the rankings and tournament seeding so it's a dangerous scheduling plan bec you have no margin for error.
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I agree. Fans can grumble about Kim's easy schedule in the same way they gripe about early season rankings. The only thing that really matters is if they're a good team in March. And LSU is clearly a good team. I don't like them because I don't care for teams that taunt weaker teams, and maybe that can be laid at Kim's doorstep. But it hasn't made them a less talented team so far.
 
SVCBeercats said:
How about using an easy first half schedule like Kim's?
If the first half of the season's schedule has "easy wins," then UCONN can build a strong and confident bench by letting them play more early in the season. Practice is great but there is nothing like playing games to learn. If the coach is confident they will win the game, then coach may be less inclined to yank players for a mistake. Players learn nothing playing in fear of making a mistake. With a strong bench, injuries may not hurt the team as much. The starters should average less than 30 minutes per game. Excluding their freshman years Stewie averaged 29.3 minutes per game, "D" 31.8, and Maya 30.7. Give the starters fresher legs for any given game and for the NCAA tournament. Even the best there ever was, benefited from fresh legs. The bench would actually contribute to close games later in the season.

UCONN won 11 NCAA championships. UCONN did not win a NCAA championship in 27 years. 29%? You can do better! ;):rolleyes:
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No. No. A thousand times no.
 
Bone Dog said:
I agree. Fans can grumble about Kim's easy schedule in the same way they gripe about early season rankings. The only thing that really matters is if they're a good team in March. And LSU is clearly a good team. I don't like them because I don't care for teams that taunt weaker teams, and maybe that can be laid at Kim's doorstep. But it hasn't made them a less talented team so far.
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We were a good team in March (despite all the injuries). We just played a bad game in March. It happens. Even to UConn.
 
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The easy wins don’t do anything for anyone. Not the players, coaches, bench or fans. Why anyone would suggest such boggles my mind. Dominating an inferior opponent is not going to make bench more ready to play in March when teams punch back.
 
No reason to weaken the schedule as playing against really good competition is necessary for the current players to stay sharp and to attract talent.........that said, I'm not sure that scheduling a bunch of really tough non-conference games within a week or ten days at the peak of the season is the best course of action if it can be helped.......
 
SVCBeercats said:
Was the bench being developed? No.
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Uconn had 3 players come off the bench against OSU, Griffin, and Ducharme, and Patterson. two of them have had plenty of playing time. In this game, they scored 2 points between them, and 5 turn overs. Ohio State had 2 players come off the bench, they scored 7 points. Do you really think the bench lost this game.
 
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Palatine said:
How about recuiting a tall strong dominate rebounder? A Kara Walters type.
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How about a Stephanie Dolson or Tina Charles, or a Kia Stokes? I’d take a clone of any of them.
 
No.

The Big East already lacks enough in terms of competitiveness compared to other conferences. UConn’s OOC schedule is what separates them from everyone else, taking on the best the P-5 conferences have to offer.
 
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SVCBeercats said:
Was the bench being developed? No.
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I think you assume that all players can be developed. Some players reach their peak in HS or shortly thereafter. Some players don't reach their full capabilities until their 3rd or 4th year in college. Some sadly just never do. UCONN and all schools have had examples of all over the years. More PT isn't necessarily the answer.

Without identifying by name there are some who will just never advance beyond a certain level regardless of the minutes they get.. This is just one of the difficulties in recruiting; projecting player growth even with the best of coaching.
 
Huskie02 said:
How about a Stephanie Dolson or Tina Charles, or a Kia Stokes? I’d take a clone of any of them.
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How many 6-5 kids do you see? Geno is already recruiting Adhel Tac and Katie Koval.

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You can analyze, as has been suggested, changing coaches, changing the schedule, getting bigger, etc., etc., etc. But the story of the loss is somewhat plain and simple and revolves around three things.
First, Edwards played 18 minutes and took 4 shots. Second, Uconn had 25 TOs. Third, shooting - between Fudd, Juhasz, Muhl, and Ducharme Uconn shot 2-16 from three and they shot 7-15 from the line.
In light of that, it really is kind of amazing they lost by only 12. They played poorly, they shot poorly and their best player was a total non-factor; it happens, it is unfortunate for sure, but it happens. All year the coaches and players all talked about picking each other up when someone was struggling. Again, very unfortunately, outside of Senechal and Juhasz they all struggled.
 
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