Some preseason thoughts | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Some preseason thoughts

Geno hasnt said much about the healthy and condition of anybody. We heard we have a good shooting team and no mention of who are the good shooters. We think Azzi Caroline and Lou. What about everybody else? I heard Griff is shooting the ball really well and we've heard Amari has a great shot but we havent heard much from Geno. I will not be a Sundays game due to my daughter Jack and Jill party. Shes getting married next September. I couldnt be happier. Ok back to UConn. We dont know much about anything and Im sure on Sunday we will have a better idea. We need Yanna and Amari to be ready because lets face it we are not as deep as we thought we were.
 
You are correct in many of your views above. This team is what it is, right now, with or with DeBerry ( I hope with), or a "transfer'. Transfers take time to acclimate to Geno, his methods, Uconn's chemistry--except for special players (I'm assuming that is Lou) --few fill the needed positions.
At some point Geno may mentally determine (I assume that has happened) the future of Ameri or any on his team. Top Guards who play will evolve over the season, but Caroline, Azzi, Nika are pretty much established.
Dorka, Edwards big and not so big posts, Edwards is the physically oriented inside we need. How good Dorka is as a "back stop" and scoring post is yet to be determined. She can shoot the 3 or out near the circle, I want the 3 ft or closer made the guards will do great out further.
Lots of comments and takes from posters have mentioned Amari. But not much from the coaches, Geno or her teammates. As a fan, two days before their exhibition game, I’d like to know specifically what is Amari not doing that the coaches and Geno want or expect her to do?

No doubt Geno, Jamelle (her position coach), and her teammates have all had multiple conversations with her regarding her commitment and dedication to the program. To work hard in practice and the weight room. To be ready mentally and physically for the season.

If someone knows exactly what her deficiencies are, please do tell. Where is she? The jury is still out. I have not read one comment singing her praises about her new and improved persona, or her demeanor in practice and in scrimmages.
 
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Ameri, DeBerry to me is a ?????. Geno, typically has things to say about players, especially those really needed and on the team 2 years. Geno's philosophy has been (my interpretation) Freshmen get lots of attention, Sophs less, Juniors even less, Seniors are leaders and need little or no attention. Ameri is in the 3rd year? Has she gotten it yet? We don't hear that.
I am not agreeing or disagreeing because like you I know Uconn needs her size, but size alone, without determination, work ethic, rarely succeeds. I have no knowledge of how or where Ameri stands in Geno's scheme--but I'm not as much of a believer as you are. I hope you are correct.
Don't waste too much time on Centers with little or no loyalty to their team--they (in my memory) never get Geno's attention. He is the most loyal person in WCBB.
Your rebuilding and brass ring sentences, say it all. Ameri ???
Amari is a sophomore.
 
Fudd, Ducharme, Senechal, Griffin are his shooters. Has made that statement many times in the last 2 weeks. In todays interview, he elaborated on Aubrey once again. Also through in ,when she and Ayanna are on the court at the same time it is something to see.
 
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Lots of comments and takes from posters have mentioned Amari. But not much from the coaches, Geno or her teammates. As a fan, two days before their exhibition game, I’d like to know specifically what is Amari not doing that the coaches and Geno want or expect her to do?

No doubt Geno, Jamelle (her position coach), and her teammates have all had multiple conversations with her regarding her commitment and dedication to the program. To work hard in practice and the weight room. To be ready mentally and physically for the season.

If someone knows exactly what her deficiencies are, please do tell. Where is she? The jury is still out. I have not read one comment singing her praises about her new and improved persona, or her demeanor in practice and in scrimmages.
No Amari mention again with 20+ minute Geno Presser. :oops:
 
I just read a headline on my phone that said Ducharme is injured and not available for the beginning the season. Has anyone heard anything about this? It was behind a pay wall.
 
I just read a headline on my phone that said Ducharme is injured and not available for the beginning the season. Has anyone heard anything about this? It was behind a pay wall.
Geno says she has a sore neck and may not be available against Kutztown. It doesn’t sound serious… but you never know.
 
eebmg, watched and listened to every syllable. It's no longer amnesia, he probably was hypnotized to forget her name. This is no longer about the young lady's talent, real or imagined, but something else may be at play. 10 healthy players, 2 legitimate centers and not a word about the backup. He would talk more about the player who transferred to U.Mass last year who was 3rd string, than he has about her this preseason. Not one interviewer has confronted him about her, but then again, have never heard him being asked any in depth questions so that should not be a surprise.
 
Thinking about lineup questions, I watched the Stanford exhibition game against Vanguard U, a team with no one over 6 feet tall. It was an uninteresting blowout.

It looks like Tara is going to start Jones Jump Brink Iriafen and have a platoon at pg of Emma-Nnopu and Lepolo. This isn't surprising. I was curious to see how Betts would be used, and she looked pretty good on the floor. Better than I expected. With the rotation of bigs at Tara's disposal, it looks like foul trouble will not be a problem this year. Like last year, the only question mark will be at pg. But they are a HUGE team.
 
We have point guards and some other teams dont. IMO your point guard is your teams engine. The point guard makes the team go, is the leader on the floor. If you aint got a good point guard you wont have a great team. Now there are variables however point guard by committee doesnt always work. This UConn team is said to have great shooters. I expect them to carry the team and our bigs to rebound the heck out of the ball. There are gonna be some surprises with this team. They want to win it all and theyve got the talent to do it. Foul trouble and injuries are two things they must avoid to do it.
 
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Geno says she has a sore neck and may not be available against Kutztown. It doesn’t sound serious… but you never know.
Its amazing to me that we don't have more neck and back issues with the way they train. The jerks with the bar bell just cries out pulled muscle, or worse. I pray that Carolines injury is just a stiff neck and nothing more. We need everyone available.
 
Despite losing 3 players drafted by the WNBA- I truly believe that top to bottom this team is superior to last years edition.
Guard play will be fine and the front line will be capable of bringing a dimension to the game that UCONN hasn’t had in a long time, if ever .
Overpowering play from the 4-5 spots with capable substitutes that will not miss a beat.
May take several weeks to sync up.
Scoring won’t be a problem.
Defense WILL be there.
Eye on the prize come March.
 
Its amazing to me that we don't have more neck and back issues with the way they train. The jerks with the bar bell just cries out pulled muscle, or worse. I pray that Carolines injury is just a stiff neck and nothing more. We need everyone available.
Back in the Dark Ages I spent a lot of years doing power cleans, dead lifts, clean & jerks, as well as instructing other athletes how to do them properly. Improper technique can certainly lead to injuries, primarily to the back, knees and shoulders. Neck strains from lifting are generally rare and easily fixable with proper technique that essentially requires that an athlete look straight ahead and lock their head and neck prior to the lift.

Having said that, it’s probably more likely that Caroline’s neck strain occurred getting banged around in practice or sleeping with her head awkwardly on a pillow.
 
It seems like Dorka isn't getting as much recognition as she deserves. She's an extremely important part of this team. She's going to get a lot of PT and that alone should enable her to put up better numbers. I love how unselfish her game is. She helps others score as much as anyone on the team.
 
People forget that last year was her “freshman” year at UCONN.
Last season was a learning process for her- this year she’ll be more comfortable in the system, also her second season working with Aayliah up front.
Will have a huge hand in UCONN’s success.
 
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It seems like Dorka isn't getting as much recognition as she deserves. She's an extremely important part of this team. She's going to get a lot of PT and that alone should enable her to put up better numbers. I love how unselfish her game is. She helps others score as much as anyone on the team.
For me, Dorka's a given. I watched her at Ohio State and was really excited that UConn landed her. As Stymie said, anyone who thinks last year was her ceiling most likely didn't see her previously.

She's going to average close to a double-double and make some high-post and low-post passes that leave some with mouths agape.
 

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