Shout out to the bench

[EricLA]

First, when the entire bench was in, SMU went on a quick 11-2 run. UCONN righted the ship, but sometimes I will readily admit, the bench as a whole is overwhelmed, and SMU is not as bad as the score indicated BUT...

When the bench was in with the starters, all of them (Ekmark excluded) played really well. Chong looked as good as I've seen her this year, Stokes was authoritative on defense (7 points, 8 boards and 6 blocks), and Williams - ESPN has her at 12 points and 17 boards. Crazy productive.

Overall the bench had 33 points (38% of total), 25 boards (48% of total), 5 assists, 3 steals and 6 blocks.

 

[connboy77]

First, when the entire bench was in, SMU went on a quick 11-2 run. UCONN righted the ship, but sometimes I will readily admit, the bench as a whole is overwhelmed, and SMU is not as bad as the score indicated BUT...

When the bench was in with the starters, all of them (Ekmark excluded) played really well. Chong looked as good as I've seen her this year, Stokes was authoritative on defense (7 points, 8 boards and 6 blocks), and Williams - ESPN has her at 12 points and 17 boards. Crazy productive.

Overall the bench had 33 points (38% of total), 25 boards (48% of total), 5 assists, 3 steals and 6 blocks.

As you said all the freshmen looked good except Courtney, but I do think as she plays more her performance will improve. Because of the injury she is far behind Kia and Gabby. She will be fine come tournament time. What more can you say about Nurse and Williams. It would not surprise me if they are future all-americans.

 

[Farney]

It's hard to evaluate Ekmark so far. Still has rust and the other 2 are both getting minutes with 4 starters (or 3 plus Stokes). Courtney hasn't had that chance yet. Definitely changes things.

 

[rugbymate]

Gabby with a per 40 minute equivalent of about 32 rebounds...for one whose roster height is listed at 5'11" ....that is SICK!!!!

 

[alexrgct]

Kiah Stokes just brings quality to every game and is going to go out with flying colors as a senior. Just watch her come into the game and watch the opposition have trouble rebounding the ball or even getting a shot fully off in her vicinity.

 

[EricLA]

One other thing about Stokes that I noticed today after Nancy pointed it out - the guards don't always get Stokes the ball when she's open in the post. Sometimes they are a few seconds late and that makes all Kiah's hard work in the post for moot. I think Geno sees that too. Still, I love Kiah's game and actually loved her and Gabby in the game in the post. Williams definitely has better ball handling skills and can take a player off the dribble from the 3 point line, something a true post player like Kiah can't do. I think that's one reason Gabby scores more - she has many more ways to score. But still, love those 2 in the game...

And again, really pleased about Chong. I know a log of UCONN fans have been rooting for her and while she didn't score 20 points and dish out 10 assists, she played the 1 for extended stretches and had 0 TO's...

 

[dtbtbtb]

How scary is it for opposing players to see Kiah in front of them when they are thinking about shooting....she covers a lot of ground on defense...and I just love Watching Gabby play...she had a great game today. A friend of mine who never saw UConn play before, asked me how come Gabby does not start as to him she looked like the second best player on the team (after Stewie)

 

[UcMiami]

Gabby is incredible at shooting around the basket - getting shots up from odd angles off the glass - they are like lay-ups but from five plus feet away from the basket going mostly to the right. And again she makes some really nice tight little passes to other post players in close. Very impressed with those aspects of her game.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Oh c'mon. Just because Chong scored 8 points and had an all around nice game doesn't mean that the BY shouldn't have at least three more threads tomorrow about how disappointing the year has been and how much better things for everyone one back back in HS. This is the BY after all where everything is slice and diced by the first week of January.

Saniya, you go girl. Let'em spew.

 

[Striper69]

I'm glad that it looks like Saniya is getting her confidence back.

I don't understand why she's had difficulty playing with the starters though. If I was her and was playing with Stewart, KML & Co. I'd feast on offense and have my way. She scored 50 points in high school so she's got it in her.

Yeah, I know why guys are looking for that "breakout" game from her.

On that one play she had the opening for a drive and passed the ball off. She needs to use the pull up jumper inside on those drives also.

Still my FAVE UCONN Huskie!

 

[manfredonia]

It's hard to evaluate Ekmark so far. Still has rust and the other 2 are both getting minutes with 4 starters (or 3 plus Stokes). Courtney hasn't had that chance yet. Definitely changes things.

 

[manfredonia]

Ekmark looks slow and can't wait to get rid of the ball. Tuck has the opportunity to play on 5 national championship teams.

 

[HuskyNan]

I'm glad that it looks like Saniya is getting her confidence back.

I don't understand why she's had difficulty playing with the starters though. If I was her and was playing with Stewart, KML & Co. I'd feast on offense and have my way. She scored 50 points in high school so she's got it in her.

Yeah, I know why guys are looking for that "breakout" game from her.

On that one play she had the opening for a drive and passed the ball off. She needs to use the pull up jumper inside on those drives also.

Still my FAVE UCONN Huskie!

Some kids tend to defer to the upperclassemen. I don't know if that's the case with Saniya but just a thought that that may be why she passes the ball when Stewie and/or Kaleena are on the floor.