So, I'm not spending $8... Need a good recap of Geno's show

[pap49cba]

NT

 

[Yukon]

It's $9.95 per month on All Access, plus you get the two exhibition games with pre- and post- game stuff...you can unsubscribe any time. For a rabid fan like me, ten bucks for the two games (plus the Geno broadcasts) seems like a pretty good deal.

 

[winlots]

Covered a lot of topics from rule changes (am sure HOPING we see more real basketball finally) to USA teams.

Not really a whole lot about "Our Girls," and I was disappointed in that. Banks not full bore yet, and he sounded cautious (to me) about his expectations there...but hopeful. Also very cautious re Stokes, where he talked about her great summer and first couple of practices, but how it is now back to the old theme of inconsistency....brilliant here and there, and crappy here and there. Kind of cautious on Chong, too.......typical freshman type of theme.....BUT that she is quick learner and improving daily., and very fast with the ball in her hands.

That was about it for our players as far as I can recall (we have lousy radio reception out here). Burke chimed in on Stewart with some very positive vibes re Burke's impressions from today's practice, and noting that we have two primo Bigs (but not three or four, by inference). Geno mentioned a couple of times how much we miss the rebounding and defense of Faris........no news there!!

 

[rt bb fan]

I just bought all access and will cancel after exhibition games. One thing Geno said that has me worried was about Kiah Stokes. She is still having problems maintaining intensity through-out practice.

 

[UConnCat]

• Geno said the team looks good. There's been carry-over from last year. They don't have anyone who will be as good a defender as Kelly but Bria Hartley is working hard at it. Replacing the other things Kelly did will be a collective effort.
• Bria did a good job defensively last year because they simplified things (didn't ask her to help off the player she was guarding) and it worked well.

• As mentioned in another thread, Geno says Saniya is as fast as Moriah with the ball and runs like Bob Joyce without it. They're working on that. He says she's a fast learner, is fearless, has great instincts and will play a lot. He says she's getting better every day.
• Doris watched practice today and she seemed very impressed with how good this team will be offensively. She mentioned Breanna as looking really good. She and Geno talked about how blessed UConn is to have 2 post players who can pass the ball well. Geno talked about how important it is to have a playmaker (shooter/ball-handler/passer/unselfish) at the 4 and how you don't need great guards if you have that type of player at the 4 who can keep the offense moving by connecting the guards and the center.
• Geno talked about Kiah and how much they'll need her this year. He said she's still struggling to sustain good practices and good stretches of practice (she made some unbelievable plays today and then went a 1/2 hour without knowing she's there.)
• Brianna Banks has looked pretty good the last couple of days (sounds like she must be cleared).
• Doris asked Geno about the team's weaknesses: 1) Team can sometimes be in a hurry to score since it knows it a good offensive team; 2) team won't be able to sustain losing a player (to injury) for a long stretch of time; 3) who will replace Kelly as a shut-down defender; and 4) rebounding.
• Geno talked about the rule changes and emphasis on freedom of movement which he likes. Although the rules and officiating are important, it's up to coaches to teach the game right. He'd also like to see WCBB go to 4 quarters like the WNBA and international play in which teams get 2 FTs after 5 fouls per quarter. He repeated his objection to teams hosting regionals on campus.
• Doris was asked to pick her top 5 teams. She picked her top 2: UConn and Duke. She also said she believes ND should be ranked higher than its preseason ranking, and made a comment that she thought there was too much Diggins and too little Loyd last year (assuming she meant in the FF vs UConn).

 

[Vowelguy]

• [ ]Doris asked Geno about the team's weaknesses: .... 2) team won't be able to sustain losing a player (to injury) for a long stretch of time; ...

Geno clearly doesn't know what he's talking about, since the Boneyard has already deemed that this team has more than enough great players.

 

[VAMike23]

3) who will replace Kelly as a shut-down defender

Did he happen to elaborate on this one at all?

Thanks for the thoughtful recap, btw. Much appreciated.

 

[UConnCat]

Did he happen to elaborate on this one at all?

Thanks for the thoughtful recap, btw. Much appreciated.

A bit. I edited my initial post after listening to the replay. He said Bria is working very hard at defense. Doris asked if Banks might be the shut-down defender but Geno sounded skeptical given that she's coming back from injury. He didn't sound too concerned.

 

[Alydar]

Actually I thought Doris said that Loyd was the best player for ND last year. Funny but I listened to her last year and all I heard was Skylar Skylar Skylar.

 

[pap49cba]

Thanks Cat.!!!

 

[UConnCat]

Doris said UConn WBB fans should be very excited for the upcoming season. She said the offense looks really good and Breanna Stewart looks ready for some exciting things.

 

[doggydaddy]

Geno clearly doesn't know what he's talking about, since the Boneyard has already deemed that this team has more than enough great players.

I know you can't read this but I had to respond anyway.

It's not fair to label the entire boneyard with that opinion. There might be some that think a long term injury won't hurt. But I doubt it's the majority.

And wouldn't it matter who it was that was hurt?

NO team can withstand a long term injury to one of its stars. But I would say that Uconn is better prepared to do that with 4 AA 's. Who else has that?

 

[jsloanjr]

Geno was typical Geno.........He nevers really answers the direct question...Makes a joke and laughs it off.. Geno is only worried about injuries to his core 5 or 6 players. He knows his team is loaded and he will not tell the world that just yet........The 1st coupple of games, Geno will use the entire bench and mix and match........I am looking forward to some roads games this season......

 

[UConnCat]

After talking about Kiah and practice, Doris talked about the ESPN basketball meeting she attending this morning when the analysts were talking about what separates UConn from other programs. She mentioned Jimmy Dykes' comment this morning that the UConn women's practices are as competitive as any men's practices he watched in the SEC.

Reminds me of what Brenda VanLengen said after the final four: "UConn practices are different than everybody else's practices . . .there's a demand and focus and attention to detail that others don't reach."

 

[UConnCat]

Actually I thought Doris said that Loyd was the best player for ND last year. Funny but I listened to her last year and all I heard was Skylar Skylar Skylar.

You're correct. I listened again and she said that Loyd was ND's best player and should have been more of the focal point. I agree that Doris talked a lot about Diggins, but she also raved about Loyd after her performance in the Baylor game.

 

[Vowelguy]

After talking about Kiah and practice, Doris talked about the ESPN basketball meeting she attending this morning when the analysts were talking about what separates UConn from other programs. She mentioned Jimmy Dykes' comment this morning that the UConn women's practices are as competitive as any men's practices he watched in the SEC.

Reminds me of what Brenda VanLengen said after the final four: "UConn practices are different than everybody else's practices . . .there's a demand and focus and attention to detail that others don't reach."

NBA analyst jeff van Gundy said the same.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I wanna say something about Geno's downbeat Kiah report: Just don't know what it would be, except to say puzzled.

 

[UConnCat]

I wanna say something about Geno's downbeat Kiah report: Just don't know what it would be, except to say puzzled.

I wouldn't characterize his report as downbeat. He talked about her great summer and her great start to practices. She's still struggling to sustain it which she and the coaches will continue to work on. He said she made two spectacular plays in practice yesterday but then disappeared for a stretch. I'd say his initial praise and enthusiasm has been tempered a bit with recent practices, but he talked about how much the team will need her.

 

[Wonkster]

Geno clearly doesn't know what he's talking about, since the Boneyard has already deemed that this team has more than enough great players.

WTF are you talking about? Did you have your computer shut off until last night? We've been kvetching about the one-player freshman class (and justifiably so) for months.

You can't have more than enough great players before you get more than enough players first. I hope that one or both of our walk-ons can actually play lots of useful minutes this season. If TLaw can shoot as well as they claim from practice, it will be a Christmas present for Geno.

 

[pap49cba]

Were there any comments re Banks or Tuck?

 

[UConnCat]

Were there any comments re Banks or Tuck?

Nothing about Tuck. Re: Banks, Doris questioned Geno about whether she could fill Kelly's role as defensive stopper and Geno said that was unlikely because she's returning from surgery. Later a caller asked about Brianna and Geno said it's typically a full year before players recover mentally from acl surgery. He said she looked really good the past 2 days of practice and he's hoping she'll be a player they can trust and count on this year.

 

[Icebear]

It sounds like Geno was doing a lot of his usual managing of expectations. Both for fans and the team.

 

[VAMike23]

Sounds like he is telling it like it is for a player coming back from ACL surgery.

Her recovery is going well but don't expect her to be at her best again until 2nd semester. Which is completely sensible and backed up by Geno's past experience ["typically a full year"]. The physical aspect isn't the longest portion of the recovery. It's the mental part, having been away from the steady diet of playing, practicing, etc. that players are accustomed to. Also learning to fully trust the 'new' knee.

 

[Vowelguy]

WTF are you talking about? Did you have your computer shut off until last night? We've been kvetching about the one-player freshman class (and justifiably so) for months.

You can't have more than enough great players before you get more than enough players first. I hope that one or both of our walk-ons can actually play lots of useful minutes this season. If TLaw can shoot as well as they claim from practice, it will be a Christmas present for Geno.

You havent been reading the same threads I have.