Spread those minutes out Geno

[MooseJaw]

We’ve had years with two or three key players getting hurt. Beyond that, while I enjoy watching all the players get a chance, it’s Geno’s call as to who and when. If you look at this year, and the kids who haven’t had that much time he has tried to mix in Muhl who has been hampered by an injury, Griffin will get a bunch of minutes. She was hurt last game. McClean will likely get a bit more time as the season goes on and as we demolish a bunch of teams. Gabriel is a project but will get time in blow outs. Chaisson is a walk on and will likely get little time like most of our walk on. Geno,coaches for the big games and likes to give the players who he knows need to operate well as a unit play a bunch of minutes together. The trick for him is that we are generally so dominant in so many games that it looks like overkill not to give some players more time. He wants his prime time players playing together a lot.

While we do have better depth this year, who should be getting less time? The biggest issue is Anna. And that centers mostly on shooting. She rebounds and passes wel. I think the offense runs better with her on the floor. The trade off if Griffin starts is more active D, maybe a few more rebounds and less precise ball movement. She would get some inside points but not much from the outside where Anna has shown she can be a threat. This team i

Next year looks to be more crowded. Westbrook might not return. If Fudd is what she’s cracked up to be, Anna might be seeing a reduced role especially if Westbrook returns. The others who knows? How are Muhl and McClean impacted? Freshmen are freshmen. I just hope I live to see what happens. I ain’t so young.

I'm with you, time for us old timers is the real enemy along with too many missed 3 pointers. As every season starts it is a work in progress and continues as such until the last game. As is the case with the players, the more they work the more they progress, what is true today may be far from the truth in 2-3 weeks. If Aubrey suddenly has the light go on in her head, runs the offense with precision along with her smothering defense, is there a member of the BY who really believes Geno won't find a place on the court for her, or any other player who deserves it. If so you have been watching another team for the last 20-30 years. While speculation is fun and a hobby for many of us it doesn't win games, Geno his staff and teams do. I'll stay an arm chair coach and as such keep my undefeated record intact.

 

[bluedevil]

After missing on some recruits Geno decided to use a wider net to get a few extra fish er players after carefully reading the Boneyard and so far so good. The BYard knows what to do at all times..Geno just has to execute it..

 

[hoophuskee]

It's just with the anticipated bench next year in particular, it is hard for me to imagine many match-ups where the margin between our starters and their starters (while very high) is greater than the difference between the benches, when ours may be one of the best ever.

I want to push back a little bit on this by framing it a little differently. I can't speak for the others who want to expand the roster and pick up the pace, but my reasons should not be viewed as some kind of a major rebuff on Geno's coaching.

His record speaks for itself, mostly using a more limited rotation, but occasionally expanding it a little more when he has the talent. Beyond the pros and cons of game strategies, which have been debated effectively on both sides, I also look at this very much from a recruiting and program strategy standpoint.

If your coaching strategy is to use the best 8 players only until mop up minutes, how does that coexist with recruiting a roster which next year could have top recruits on the third team, not just at number 9 and 10. Maybe the thought process is if you can't make the top 8, screw it, go ahead transfer, who cares. Could Geno win that way? Of course, but is that what's best for the program?

I don't think recruiting way beyond your intended use is good for the program. Do we want to be one of the programs that leads the nation is players leaving? If Geno sticks to 8 next year, that is probably what we will be.

Many coaches have a favored approach or strategy that they really would like to pursue, but have to mold their approach to the hand they were dealt, or the talent at hand. In this case Geno recruited these kids, and at least for these back to back classes got much of what he wanted.

Most of the people expressing their opinion here have strong feelings about whether the team would be better or worse expanding the rotation, I get that. What I am getting at, is it is not just an issue of which approach produces the largest margin of victory. If it was even close to a neutral, I would still be in favor of expanding the rotation, because if gives at least some meaningful minutes to more of the roster, and increases the chance we can retain more of them.

Geno could even expand the rotation for the vast majority of the games and stick with his comfort level in the handful of games that really matter. That might make the people on both sides of this issue happy. Play your favored 8 against say Baylor and South Carolina, and a rotation of 10 or 11 against everybody else.

Next year I don't think there is any lineup Geno could put on the floor that is likely to shrink the lead against most teams. This year it might somewhat, but against the teams where the outcome is not in doubt, does it matter if we win by 36 or 37 instead of 40 because we increased the minutes for players that don't get any prime time action?

With respect I don't agree with what you are saying here.

I replied on a prior post providing a story of Kenny Anderson. The great H/S player from New York. Anyone that wants to read the article from the NY Times they can google it. It's called "The Recruiting of Kenny Anderson."

And even recently during the Stewie/MoJeff era that Geno heard that someone was deliberately missing free throws so they wouldn't get pulled. He got pissed ofc-- but at any rate - the super player doesn't want to sit.

Thus the style of playing a deep bench -- over the long-haul UCONN will stop getting the super player. Yet UCONN has won many of their titles getting the number 1 recruit. SC won there is with the number 1 recruit. Baylor had a combo of 1/2 recruit in Cox.

So long-term the idea to sustain success is getting the super elite recruit. Getting that deep bench is secondary.

In regards to sustainability-- Geno Auriemma has done it. So if he has done it with getting the elite number 1 recruits along with not playing a deep bench, how can it be said that he needs to change in any manner or imply that his method isn't conducive to long-term success?

I guess we circle back to the issue of- is Geno making a mistake not going with a deeper bench? IMO he is spot on going with a smaller bench and playing his superstars. The super elite players make others better. Even if tired - they will outperform the 9th or 10th best player. Thus long-term success will continue.

 

[CocoHusky]

I posted last week about not liking to think about next year's team when a season is in progress.
Sorry, got to refer to it here. With your well-enunciated point of view on subbing in mind, IMO it's not whether Geno will lose players to transfer but how many in the next couple of years. Have you written out next year's roster yet?
Maybe we need another million threads about Geno's recruiting. Did Sue Bird's recent comments shed any light on it. Geno told her to "follow her heart" and he hung up the phone. I read into that that Geno always thinks that if they come they come, that we'll still be successful either way. IMO Geno having built arguably a program comparable to Wooden's, is so confident in the strength of the program, that there's kind of a little arrogance about what's immediately at hand. Like a great General playing the long game and knowing there may be some casualties along the way.
So, a few years ago he shot blanks and got nobody. Mixed in there were a bunch of marginal recruits. He also had a couple strong recruits that developed and became stars like Pheesa, Kia, and Gabby. Then he struck gold again and landed 3 #1 high school players. And a cartful of quality role players coming in next year too.
As a mildly-educated outsider, it looks like a crap shoot. I guess that's the nature of recruiting, but.....

You have been severely misinformed about the bolded portions. Geno has always always credited the success of the program to having some really really good players. Of the recent program drought (most programs would gladly take it) Geno has again said: "The reason we are in the situation we are in is because we didn't get some of the players we though we were getting and some of the players we got weren't what we thought they would be."
UCONN has never had a recruiting class with "nobody" This program is not going to continue being successful without top tier recruits and it is naive to think otherwise.

 

[meyers7]

Good comments.
I'm done explaining what 70% means and what a good shot is. What do they say, "if it's a duck..."

Not talking about a "good shot" talking about an "open shot". Which you still have not explained what you consider it to be.

GI'll say one more thing: Geno has constructed his offense in order to get certain shots. Consider that your answer to what open shots are. Re-watch the DePaul game and decide for yourself.

But we're not just talking about UCONN and open shots, but all WCBB players and open shots.

IMO this team moves fairly well. Like he says, sometimes are better than others. But if you run an offense perfectly and get a "great " shot and the result is clank, time after time, what do you do? I literally think we're real close to that point. 6 games is a pretty significant sample size.
Reminder: Geno can break out the notepad and run something different. I always vote for using more athleticism, which he has sitting over there, with attacking the rim and major defensive pressure.
There have been championship calibre teams on the men's side that shot so bad that it almost looked like they missed on purpose. They crashed the glass like assassins and played defense over the whole court. Phi Slamma Jamma, 40 minutes of Hell. That's not UConn Women, but the point is we can do different things.

So you really think we should structure the "offense" like TN? Just throw/dibble the ball around then throw up a shot and go get the rebound? Yea, I'm hoping Geno doesn't take your advise.

 

[hoophuskee]

I posted last week about not liking to think about next year's team when a season is in progress.
Sorry, got to refer to it here. With your well-enunciated point of view on subbing in mind, IMO it's not whether Geno will lose players to transfer but how many in the next couple of years. Have you written out next year's roster yet?
Maybe we need another million threads about Geno's recruiting. Did Sue Bird's recent comments shed any light on it. Geno told her to "follow her heart" and he hung up the phone. I read into that that Geno always thinks that if they come they come, that we'll still be successful either way. IMO Geno having built arguably a program comparable to Wooden's, is so confident in the strength of the program, that there's kind of a little arrogance about what's immediately at hand. Like a great General playing the long game and knowing there may be some casualties along the way.
So, a few years ago he shot blanks and got nobody. Mixed in there were a bunch of marginal recruits. He also had a couple strong recruits that developed and became stars like Pheesa, Kia, and Gabby. Then he struck gold again and landed 3 #1 high school players. And a cartful of quality role players coming in next year too.
As a mildly-educated outsider, it looks like a crap shoot. I guess that's the nature of recruiting, but.....

I have an idea of the top 5 or 6.
With that said- if Evina stays we have a super 6. If she doesn't we have a super 5. Think of this-- Paige Bueckers is POY candidate next year and yet Azzi Fudd was considered "better" than her in H/S. And for anyone like me that has high expectations for this team this year because of players like Evina, CWill and Liv then next year they will just be greater. I believe super players make other super players much better. That's why I think of 6 right off the bat. So all the games UCONN plays in the Big East next year- how often will they be challenged?

Thus a super 5 or super 6 and add in one or 2 more players for big games so you have 7-8 core players. You haven't worn them down during the season because they rarely had to play over 30 minutes in the Big East. Add in at some point a player tweeks her ankle or knee, and add up a game in which Geno doesn't like "the body language" of one of his top players he'll bench one for a game or 2 (he did bench Stewie and Tuck for that), then you'd have a certain core of players ready for excellence.

As far as shooting blanks in terms of recruiting- - in the last 6 of 7 years as a highlight he had 2014- Gabby and Nurse, 2015-KLS (number 1 recruit) and Napheesa, 2016 Dangerfield ( number 3 recruit), 2017 Walker (number 1 recruit), 2018 CWill (number 1 recruit) and Liv, 2020 Paige, and 2021 Azzi. Very few blanks. In addition, imo UCONN had some bad luck with Boykin, Camara, in addition to Walker, Collier, and Stevens to a degree. Maybe minutes was an issue for Stevens but I have no idea of that.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Not talking about a "good shot" talking about an "open shot". Which you still have not explained what you consider it to be.



But we're not just talking about UCONN and open shots, but all WCBB players and open shots.


So you really think we should structure the "offense" like TN? Just throw/dibble the ball around then throw up a shot and go get the rebound? Yea, I'm hoping Geno doesn't take your advise.

Come on, man! Sometimes you guys pluck a sentence out of context. You're right, gotta shorten up my posts. How about 1 sentence and an emoji banging his head against a wall.
My point with that was that there are a million options to explore. If the conductor of the orchestra can't get the woodwinds to play correctly, then what do you do? Send them home or try something else. Maybe you end up with a keyboard, bass, trumpet, and alto sax. Damn, jazz is born! You get my point?

 

[CocoHusky]

Come on, man! Sometimes you guys pluck a sentence out of context. You're right, gotta shorten up my posts. How about 1 sentence and an emoji banging his head against a wall.
My point with that was that there are a million options to explore. If the conductor of the orchestra can't get the woodwinds to play correctly, then what do you do? Send them home or try something else. Maybe you end up with a keyboard, bass, trumpet, and alto sax. Damn, jazz is born! You get my point?

 

[MD#12Fan]

I have an idea of the top 5 or 6.
With that said- if Evina stays we have a super 6. If she doesn't we have a super 5. Think of this-- Paige Bueckers is POY candidate next year and yet Azzi Fudd was considered "better" than her in H/S. And for anyone like me that has high expectations for this team this year because of players like Evina, CWill and Liv then next year they will just be greater. I believe super players make other super players much better. That's why I think of 6 right off the bat. So all the games UCONN plays in the Big East next year- how often will they be challenged?

Thus a super 5 or super 6 and add in one or 2 more players for big games so you have 7-8 core players. You haven't worn them down during the season because they rarely had to play over 30 minutes in the Big East. Add in at some point a player tweeks her ankle or knee, and add up a game in which Geno doesn't like "the body language" of one of his top players he'll bench one for a game or 2 (he did bench Stewie and Tuck for that), then you'd have a certain core of players ready for excellence.

As far as shooting blanks in terms of recruiting- - in the last 6 of 7 years as a highlight he had 2014- Gabby and Nurse, 2015-KLS (number 1 recruit) and Napheesa, 2016 Dangerfield ( number 3 recruit), 2017 Walker (number 1 recruit), 2018 CWill (number 1 recruit) and Liv, 2020 Paige, and 2021 Azzi. Very few blanks. In addition, imo UCONN had some bad luck with Boykin, Camara, in addition to Walker, Collier, and Stevens to a degree. Maybe minutes was an issue for Stevens but I have no idea of that.

All due respect, you didn't answer my concerns. That roster next year is top to bottom. A couple "left out" could be juniors. You don't have to explain Azzi to me.
Do me a favor: write out next year's roster, highlight the 6 you'll play and then look at the 6-9 players on that roster left over and tell me they shouldn't be playing basketball at the Div 1, top tier college level. OK, Piath is a project. Ow, you got me there.
I mentioned all those #1 recruits. Forgot Crystal. Now, explain the brilliant recruiting class that yielded us zero seniors this year. That class has hurt Geno the last two years because the team has had such a short bench. (even by your standards) That class has hurt the program arguably for 4 years. Even this year a tad.
Come on, at least read my points.

 

[CocoHusky]

All due respect, you didn't answer my concerns. That roster next year is top to bottom. A couple "left out" could be juniors. You don't have to explain Azzi to me.
Do me a favor: write out next year's roster, highlight the 6 you'll play and then look at the 6-9 players on that roster left over and tell me they shouldn't be playing basketball at the Div 1, top tier college level. OK, Piath is a project. Ow, you got me there.
I mentioned all those #1 recruits. Forgot Crystal. Now, explain the brilliant recruiting class that yielded us zero seniors this year. That class has hurt Geno the last two years because the team has had such a short bench. (even by your standards) That class has hurt the program arguably for 4 years. Even this year a tad.
Come on, at least read my points.

Crystal was not #1 in her class.

 

[MD#12Fan]

White flag waving. I give up! Who cares! Yes, I’ll jump in that hole to get out of this thread!
Please either read the post or ignore it! I promise I’ll shorten my posts!

Crystal was not #1 in her class.

.

 

[hoophuskee]

All due respect, you didn't answer my concerns. That roster next year is top to bottom. A couple "left out" could be juniors. You don't have to explain Azzi to me.
Do me a favor: write out next year's roster, highlight the 6 you'll play and then look at the 6-9 players on that roster left over and tell me they shouldn't be playing basketball at the Div 1, top tier college level. OK, Piath is a project. Ow, you got me there.
I mentioned all those #1 recruits. Forgot Crystal. Now, explain the brilliant recruiting class that yielded us zero seniors this year. That class has hurt Geno the last two years because the team has had such a short bench. (even by your standards) That class has hurt the program arguably for 4 years. Even this year a tad.
Come on, at least read my points.

Let me get this straight -- you want me to define minutes from the rest of the players beyond the 1st 5 or 6 without even know ing the results of how this season will play out? And then to further for our conversation am I allowed to bench a player or two for "Body Language" like Geno does? In my minutes am I also allowed to give 5 minute estimations? 3 minute? 10 minute?

Further- can't I redshirt any player? Do we know Geno won't?

Also- who said that the other players can't play division 1? Are you suggesting that a player that doesn't play above 10 minutes at UCONN cant play division 1? I get you're being sarcastic - but if your attitude is that a player that doesn't get 10 minutes at UCONN somehow means that I'm implying that she stinks that would be beyond the universe of off base. All I;m saying is that you've just made an enormous exaggeration of division 1 at my expense and I'm just trying to re-baseline what we're talking about.

In regards to Anna, Griffin, Mir, and Nika-- can you tell me how they will produce by season's end in order for me to make up my imaginary minutes lineup? I can tell you this -- there is 110 minutes for Paige, CWill, Liv, and Fudd. Next year these 4 will probably be A/A candidates. There is 20-25 for Edwards. If Edwards is getting 25 minutes it means she is awesome. But if she struggled down the stretch this year and Anna excelled - it would mean Anna gets more minutes, right? Unless you want me to assume complete "nirvana" and all the top 9 of this team played to their peak this year? (which is not realistic.).

Bottomline is for the fun of it- if you want me to give fictitious minutes over and above the top few players you have to give me more end of year stats ot to go on - the same way we would all do to start next year. Unless you want me to assume for example Mir and Nika don't get any better and for example Anna doesn't find her shot? Because there are some on here that don't think much of her shooting anyway, right? It would also depend with Anna if she hit them in big games and at what rate in big games.

*********Further if we keep this up which I am okay with but I don't think the mods would appreciate our back-and-forth. I think we've done too much and they've been very lenient this year with this. I could PM you once you give me the criteria and at any later date you could come back on other threads and slam me if you like. I've been wrong many times and will be many more. And something as like this - its as wild as guess as any. I don't understand why you are so intent on this but I'll play. Everything changes drastically year to year.
-----------------

Second -the reason why we have no seniors is that Walker left. Now I'd like you to imagine that for many of us the that thinks that Walker was one helluva player and those that don't like her are way wrong, what do you think we'd think of this team as of right now if we had her? We'd all be in the camp that Geno remains on a super roll with very, very few blanks.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Come on, man! Sometimes you guys pluck a sentence out of context. You're right, gotta shorten up my posts. How about 1 sentence and an emoji banging his head against a wall.
My point with that was that there are a million options to explore. If the conductor of the orchestra can't get the woodwinds to play correctly, then what do you do? Send them home or try something else. Maybe you end up with a keyboard, bass, trumpet, and alto sax. Damn, jazz is born! You get my point?

Your expressed opinions are assumptions based upon game time observations. But your logic needs to expand it parameters of thinking. Every player gets every opportunity in practice. Two consistent themes about UConn are:

1) players work much harder in practice than in games
2) UConn coaches coach every player with the same level of attention.

Autumn gets as much help as Paige. Aubrey and Mir are coached as hard as Liv and Aaliyah. If the players you want to get more game time, deserved more game time, they would have more game time. If the coaches felt the best opportunity to win is "90 feet of Hell" you would have it. And there might be a season where you catch lightening in a bottle like Nolan Richardson. But the last time I checked 11 beats 1.

In short if the woodwinds don't provide the best possible outcome, they stay on the bench. And the conductor chooses an arrangement that provides the best outcome.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Because of this sad, wacky year the team is behind where they should be. The starters are getting heavy minutes because as individuals and as a unit they need them. February may be a different story. Sure hope it is.

 

[meyers7]

Come on, man! Sometimes you guys pluck a sentence out of context. You're right, gotta shorten up my posts. How about 1 sentence and an emoji banging his head against a wall.
My point with that was that there are a million options to explore. If the conductor of the orchestra can't get the woodwinds to play correctly, then what do you do? Send them home or try something else. Maybe you end up with a keyboard, bass, trumpet, and alto sax. Damn, jazz is born! You get my point?

It's not out of context, it's what you wrote. If you don't mean it, can't support it, maybe......not write it??

I mean you can write whatever you want, but when you get called out on it, don't whine about it. ???

 

[Biff]

Everyone take a breath. When you go around in circles you end up in the same place no matter how many times you do it.

Next.