I have not posted since the beginning of the Season (duty calls Down Under), so I am going to use my take on the UCONN/Louisville game to comment on a few things. These are my opinions based on the replays that I have finally have time to watch. And in genuine Boneyard tradition, I expect to be pilloried and turned into a pulp…anything else will be sorely disappointing…lol!
Game
· Awesome game! Starters tired out late in the game from extreme exertion in the first 2 periods. Also, much slower pace, and stagnate offense in last 2 periods (probably due to coaching decision imo). Overall, good strategy on Geno’s part to shorten game (thus limiting # of Louisville’s possessions). Also, from my layman watching of the game, another probable reason for the offensive stagnation in the 2nd half was because Louisville closely guarded Lou and sagged considerably off of Gabby in the high post to double the low post (Pheesa or Z), and Gabby’s reluctance or inability to hit an open 10-15 footer affected the offensive flow.
· Louisville – Impressed with them, especially in the 2nd half! They are NOT a fluke! At least one genuine shot creator/scorer (Asia Durr) and one inside banger, albeit undersized (Hines-Allen). Those two plus a non-awestruck (UCONN usually has that effect on players) supporting cast will make some noise in the tournament. Their no. 4 ranking is genuine, imho.
UCONN players
· LOUCONN (aka Katie Lou Samuelson) – the primary offensive weapon (primary beneficiary of the offensive sets), and she did/does not disappoint! She has grown into her own this year.…her game continues to improve every year (mainly offense, but also defense, at least within the UCONN system). What I especially like is that she embraces her role and WANTS to be that alpha! She is no shrinking violet! She’s more grits than the SoCal beachy reputation would have you believe (for Christ sake, how many bruises can one head take!). She is improving her game, outside of her comfort zone (post ups, dribble drives, continuous movements, you name it!) For me, that is the mark of a potentially great player….. staying ahead of the competition, as teams find ways to guard you, show them other ways to score.
· Napheesa – Very similar to Lou in terms of continuous improvement. Unlike some here, I believe that she played well against Louisville, and has played well for the most part this year – clearly another beneficiary of UCONN’s offensive sets. Continues to expand the tools in her toolkit. Her game has evolved significantly from last year (due to Z and to some extent her desire to add other skill sets). Numbers a little down, but imo, nothing to be concerned about. I believe that she is now playing more as she would in the Pros (a genuine 3 – too undersized for a 4 in the WNBA obviously-more mid- to three-point range shots, dribble and pop, own-shot creator type player-still a little raw but hopefully next year results of the reps will be evident).
· Crystal – an impressive sophomore jump that completely caught me, and probably others by surprise. Most impressed with her defense (almost MoJeff like- quick lateral movement, quick hands) and her 3-point shooting (beyond even WNBA range-which is critical for her size at the next level). Crystal definitely put her last Summer break to good use.
· Gabby – what can one say-most athletic on the court in any women’s college game, tons of intangibles and completely selfless. But IMO, she has underwhelmed this year and has not really added much to her game from last year (in fact, she may have probably regressed-maybe due to the reported hip problem?). Don’t get me wrong, I love Gabby and want her to succeed very much at the next level, but she has not improved on the one thing that her game lacked consistently last year- a genuine, consistent mid-range shot. Her game today, just like two years ago, is mainly hustle play, and obviously passing and setting others up. Those are good, but at the next level, she may not be in a system whereby she plays at the top of the key with the ball in her hands a lot (Pro sets are mostly pick-and-rolls and isolations with individual shot creations under duress). Also, she will definitely not play in the post in the WNBA (can’t imagine her guarding Big Syl/Griner/Liz Cambage in the post, or Candace/Stewie/EDD at the 4 position-she will be eaten alive-the size and strength differential will overwhelm any athletic advantage!). I am not sure if it is the coaching staff or just her lack of interest in working on it, but she needs to diversify her game by having a consistent outside shot to succeed at the next level. For example, in the 2nd half of the Louisville game, Gabby’s defender continuously sagged off her and essentially doubled the post player (Z or Pheesa), literally daring her to shoot the 10-15 footer. If she is reluctant or incapable of making that shot at a respectable click in college, what will she do in the Pros?
· Kia – Similar to Gabby’s (lots of intangibles, hard worker, tenacious defender), but has one major advantage over Gabby – a genuine three-point shot. While she may not be a great individual shot creator, she defends well and can make shots when left unattended. I actually think that she has the potential for a more lasting pro career compare to Gabby if things stay as they are currently. Just my opinion!
· Azura- Overall, impress with her production. Yes, her defense still needs improvement (she undervalues her length by flailing unnecessarily to block shots leading to foul calls, genuine or not), but it will come with repetition with the rest of the squad. Remember, she is learning new ways (like playing in the post), while trying to break old habits honed over many years (wandering outside, shunning contact, etc.). I know many have said that she (along with Batouly currently, and Natalie previously) should have gotten the UCOON system in their first year of eligibility, considering that they were with the team for a whole year after they transfer. My opinion is that being with the team and practicing with the first team (where the coaches’ attention and energy are focused) are two different things. Geno, (I believe in one of his shows-forgotten which one exactly) indicated that for the most part, his attention is usually on the team (the guys that are going to be playing) during extensive game prep practices (my paraphrasing). And while individual players (especially ineligible ones) may get occasional one on one time with some of the coaches, those are usually individual workouts and are few and far in between. So, while Z may have played with the Practice guys against the UCONN starting squad last year, she probably did not play with them within the UCONN scheme as much. So, this is probably the first year that she is really playing with the UCONN first unit.
· Others – Not much to say for now except that Megan, while not lighting up the place, is doing the most she can with the limited opportunities given to her so far (ND and UCLA games are two good examples). To those who say she needs to earn playing time in practice by execution and playing defense, I will only say that she is a freshman (albeit late in the season) and is still learning the system. If playing mistake free defense was the only means to earning playing time, then Lou would never have played a single minute in her freshman year (she was horrible defensively, and she basically stood in the corner and just chuck threes- with not a very good percentage to add…). Yet she replaced Gabby in the starting lineup when Gabby was clearly the better defender and productive player (remember the starting 5 that dismantled Ohio State in the first game of 2016-Mo, Kia, Gabby, Morgan and Stewie!). But by playing Lou with Mo, Kia, Morgan and Stewie in her freshman year (when she clearly could not carry her weight defensively), Geno built her confidence and allowed the other players to help her develop during real game actions. Her confidence was boosted and by the end of the season she improved dramatically. My point is that there is a fine line between motivation and de-motivation, and that sometimes, a carrot is better than a stick in getting desire results. I am not saying that Megan becomes a starter, all I am saying is that it would be good if she gets more minutes with the starters during real game time actions to help her development as was done with Lou in her freshman year.
