St Johns Postgame Thread

[jazz]

Assuming she still can, I would think Gandy would redshirt the year. I think if she doesn't play past the 8th game, she can redshirt, but I'm not certain on this. Maybe somebody else is.

 

[BRS24]

Assuming she still can, I would think Gandy would redshirt the year. I think if she doesn't play past the 8th game, she can redshirt, but I'm not certain on this. Maybe somebody else is.

She cannot, as she appeared in 1-2 games already.

 

[AmeriConn]

Lots of room to improve rebounding.

 

[Dugway]

I noticed that Sarah has her hair back to the way I remember it to have been ...

Oh, I also noticed that UConn completely outmatched another Big East foe ...

 

[oldude]

Lots of room to improve rebounding.

When you shoot 60% from the floor and turnover your opponent 32 times there aren’t going to be many rebounding opportunities.

 

[MSGRET]

From Uconnhuskies.com "UConn sophomore center Jana El Alfy, who averaged 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds over her previous three games, missed the game after suffering a concussion in practice."

I wonder if Jana's concussion is from practicing against Gandy? Geno did say that she has a mean streak.

 

[HuskyNan]

Geno has been pretty clear in the past on players earning their playing time. If she was ready and doing what is required, she would be playing in these games. I think he knows what he is doing. I don't think he cares one bit if they win by 45 or 40.

Geno knows what the players need. If Gandy isn’t up to speed yet, maybe her confidence would be harmed by not being able to accomplish what she was able to in high school. He knows better than the fans

 

[Blond D.]

Blanca is a scorer. Her explosiveness is off the charts. Don't try to tame a mustang. She might take some ill advised shots, but she is like a bucket per minute! Defensively, she causes absolute chaos to the opposition, Heckel is impressing me more every game. Her defense and aggressiveness is stellar. Her passing and drives to the basket add much to the offense.

Blanca needs to work on her high speed layups. Ya got to know how to lightly put a ball up there when you're going 100mph.

 

[GetReal2day]

Blanca needs to work on her high speed layups. Ya got to know how to lightly put a ball up there when you're going 100mph.

a stop and pop would work wonders, like Azzi is doing now

 

[ec33]

She cannot, as she appeared in 1-2 games already.

That would hold if the NCAA still ran college athletics. I am not certain a judge would agree should Gandy wish to take it that far.

College football players would still be granted a redshirt. Reeks of discrimination and a violation of Title IX (or whatever excuse the judge could find to rule in favor of labor).

 

[PacoSwede]

Blanca needs to work on her high speed layups. Ya got to know how to lightly put a ball up there when you're going 100mph.

seems dangerous as well. why poke the uconn injury curse. i am still paranoid about that.

 

[EricSD]

There really was zero to complain about for the game (I know shocking from me!). Geno did mention at halftime the lackluster start to Q2 and SJU went on an 8 point scoring spurt midway thru Q4, but overall a solid trouncing.

• Sarah finally had a game where she scored in the mid-20's. That's been missing lately. She makes the impossible look easy
• So glad Azzi got to the FT line. 100% from FT's on the season. Still, she needs more than 8 shots (although with 6 FT's, it was more like 11). Her defense is really elite.
• Blanca continues to shine. She's got AA in her future and we are lucky to have her.
• Even tho Williams only had 4 points on 5 shots, I thought her movement around the basket looked much better
• Kayleigh with an insane drive and popped a bunch of points in Q4
• KK is just insane. Possibly one of the most fun players to watch.
• Ash is so solid
• Was nice to see Caroline get extended minutes.

Overall the team played really good basketball for much longer stretches (especially on offense). The defense continues to be elite. I am curious to see how that will translate to our games vs. ND and Tenn. I think it's pretty clear no team in the BE will have any offensive answers. Would not be surprised to see no team get to 55.

I think maybe 2-6 in the BE is pretty even. The bottom 4 are pretty awful. Would love to see the teams who end up 2 and 3 really make a push and possibly get NCAA bids.

I keep pushing the "get Sarah and Azzi more shots" narrative. I firmly believe Sarah should be POY and Azzi should be 1st team AA. My worry is that on a great team, with so many other really good players, that the scoring will be so spread out that when it comes time to vote, the voters will look at their more "modest" numbers and not use their eye test in actually watching how spectacular they are in every game.

 

[hoophuskee]

Geno knows what the players need. If Gandy isn’t up to speed yet, maybe her confidence would be harmed by not being able to accomplish what she was able to in high school. He knows better than the fans

Many of the people (not all) that complain about Gandy not getting some minutes will often complain that other players on the bench can't really improve or are being hampered because Geno only plays them 8 minutes a game for example. Now, all of a sudden these extra few minutes is supposed to be big for Gandy?

Anyhow, excited to read what he is saying about Gandy.

In the interim, this team looks so amazing. Sarah is just unreal.

 

[PacoSwede]

There really was zero to complain about ...

I keep pushing the "get Sarah and Azzi more shots" narrative. I firmly believe Sarah should be POY and Azzi should be 1st team AA. My worry is that on a great team, with so many other really good players, that the scoring will be so spread out that when it comes time to vote, the voters will look at their more "modest" numbers and not use their eye test in actually watching how spectacular they are in every game.

yes, that's on the voters in these awards/recognitions. the fault is solely on them, not the uconn - geno approach to the game. it's a bummer that the players pay such a price for being true to the admirable 'team-comes-first' ethic.

 

[Stagnant]

A couple of lineup thoughts. Geno started the second quarter with a lineup I really don’t like. A lineup that had no KK on the floor. And no K9 on the floor. We didn’t start the quarter well and he had KK back on the floor quickly; within 2 minutes I think. I think you have to always have either KK or K9 on the floor when the game is competitive. Otherwise, you have to shift and have Azzi at point and that really takes her away from what she is great at. If either KK or K9 gets hurt though… you have to have a plan. So, I guess I do understand experimenting with it. But I don’t think it works very well.

There was also a time Geno had both KK and K9 on the floor. That’s interesting. It gives you really good on the ball defense. It creates more of a slashing and cutting attack on offense. K9, we are hoping her outside shooting will improve as the season continues to progress. If K9 and KK are on the court together; I probably prefer Azzi over Shade as the third guard… just because she is the better shooter. And defenses won’t ever help off her.

 

[Bone Dog]

She's not ready. And if Geno isn't playing her, or any player, there's a reason for it.

View attachment 115709

I really hope Gandy keeps that "mean streak" next season. I can hardly wait to see 'evil' Gandy on the court

 

[BRS24]

Ok, KK's expression here is epic!

 

[JoePgh]

That would hold if the NCAA still ran college athletics. I am not certain a judge would agree should Gandy wish to take it that far.

College football players would still be granted a redshirt. Reeks of discrimination and a violation of Title IX (or whatever excuse the judge could find to rule in favor of labor).

I think what is being missed in this discussion is that the rules that will decide Gandy's ability to have a 5th year at UConn are not those now in effect, but those which will be in effect in the summer of 2029, when her first four years will have been used up. I think, as you suggest, that it is reasonable to believe that by then a WBB player who played in 2 games in her freshman season will be permitted to treat that season as a redshirt year, and therefore will be able to play for a 5th year if she chooses.

Of course, a lot could change in that amount of time (needless to say) regarding Gandy's pro prospects, UConn's recruiting fortunes with bigs, and her own desire (or lack thereof) to spend a fifth year in college.

The point is that it is pointless to spend a lot of brain cells cogitating about what is allowable in 2026 when that isn't really relevant to Gandy's situation.

 

[FanSince17]

A couple of lineup thoughts. Geno started the second quarter with a lineup I really don’t like. A lineup that had no KK on the floor. And no K9 on the floor. We didn’t start the quarter well and he had KK back on the floor quickly; within 2 minutes I think. I think you have to always have either KK or K9 on the floor when the game is competitive. Otherwise, you have to shift and have Azzi at point and that really takes her away from what she is great at. If either KK or K9 gets hurt though… you have to have a plan. So, I guess I do understand experimenting with it. But I don’t think it works very well.

There was also a time Geno had both KK and K9 on the floor. That’s interesting. It gives you really good on the ball defense. It creates more of a slashing and cutting attack on offense. K9, we are hoping her outside shooting will improve as the season continues to progress. If K9 and KK are on the court together; I probably prefer Azzi over Shade as the third guard… just because she is the better shooter. And defenses won’t ever help off her.

Nice catch!
I just remembered, last year's early season game against USC that they lost (I was there-Hartford, great atmosphere), KK wasn't in during crunch-time. Kaitlyn wasn't playing all that great at the time. Geno blew that one. It's all good!

 

[WiseWillie]

There really was zero to complain about for the game (I know shocking from me!). Geno did mention at halftime the lackluster start to Q2 and SJU went on an 8 point scoring spurt midway thru Q4, but overall a solid trouncing.

• Sarah finally had a game where she scored in the mid-20's. That's been missing lately. She makes the impossible look easy
• So glad Azzi got to the FT line. 100% from FT's on the season. Still, she needs more than 8 shots (although with 6 FT's, it was more like 11). Her defense is really elite.
• Blanca continues to shine. She's got AA in her future and we are lucky to have her.
• Even tho Williams only had 4 points on 5 shots, I thought her movement around the basket looked much better
• Kayleigh with an insane drive and popped a bunch of points in Q4
• KK is just insane. Possibly one of the most fun players to watch.
• Ash is so solid
• Was nice to see Caroline get extended minutes.

Overall the team played really good basketball for much longer stretches (especially on offense). The defense continues to be elite. I am curious to see how that will translate to our games vs. ND and Tenn. I think it's pretty clear no team in the BE will have any offensive answers. Would not be surprised to see no team get to 55.

I think maybe 2-6 in the BE is pretty even. The bottom 4 are pretty awful. Would love to see the teams who end up 2 and 3 really make a push and possibly get NCAA bids.

I keep pushing the "get Sarah and Azzi more shots" narrative. I firmly believe Sarah should be POY and Azzi should be 1st team AA. My worry is that on a great team, with so many other really good players, that the scoring will be so spread out that when it comes time to vote, the voters will look at their more "modest" numbers and not use their eye test in actually watching how spectacular they are in every game.

You bring up a very valid point EricLA. How many of the voters for the Naismith POY, consisting of coaches, administrators and media members, or the AP POY, consisting of sports writers and broadcasters, actually get to see the nominees over a season and more than watching some highlight clips? Is that a requirement to be able to vote or can a vote be cast merely relying upon stats?

 

[FanSince17]

Azzi has to get minimum 15-18 shots a game. She needs to average 27 points a game. Regardless of anything. The team's going to need to know how to get Azzi a shot in clutch time. I felt like she was disappointed by yesterday's game. I think she needs to be in position to get player of the year if she plays well. The tempo is almost too fast on offense. An offense needs to be deliberate enough to get the ball to the right people sometimes.

 

[WiseWillie]

geno is wise. he wants to hide gandy from the eyes of hungry poachers. if they don't see her, they won't be aware of her potential. why tempt savage thieves? and uconn doesn't need her to play a meaningless minutes in games; she's more challenged in practices.

Leave it to the Boneyard to come up with a strategy not related in any way to improving a player's or a team's basketball skills! What's next? Ways to win using cunning and cleverness instead of by developing precise, efficient teamwork? Gotta love it! 😀

 

[WBBZen]

Renee is a different generation of announcer, compared to Meghan Culmo. She uses a lot of current generation lingo, and now that UConn is on network tv more, (tru, TNT), hopefully there will be more of a draw. Unlike prior years where we only had a few games broadcast nationally, UConn is now getting more exposure to different audiences.

From social media reactions, Renee was definitely a big hit with the younger UConn crowd. I enjoyed her enthusiasm and thought she was well balanced by her counterpart.

 

[ABCDFE]

a lot of great things to say about this game. I'm gonna just spit out an opinion piece on the team down the road.

UCONN is a very very good team. Can they be beat, certainly, as Michigan showed when nothing is falling and the other team has a player or two playing out of their minds. My concern on January 8, is that even though i believe Blanca is the third best player on this team in terms of talent, I am starting to see in real time that going forward, Shade is the one member of the team that will be the major X factor. Come tournament time (especially latter stages) coaches will schematically try to take out Azzi and Sarah. The top teams have the players in my mind to make life difficult for these two. And if the rock isn't falling, I've been harping on who is the 3rd amigo in this equation. i believe it will be Blanca, but the more I see her she is an explosive player, but her shooting (although very good at this point) gives me concern. The way she flicks it, I'm amazed at how many times it goes in. Im also worried that with the law of averages her 3 point percentage goes back down to earth.

So the question for everyone is, when teams like Texas, UCLA, SC, who have the athletes take away the 1st and 2nd options, and then don't allow Blanca to drive and penetrate. Who will be that shooter that loosens up the offense. My only answer is Shade (maybe Allie), but Shade can be that person who makes 3 threes in a row and she's a very good defender and hustle guy. At this moment, I cannot trust, Blanca, KK, K9 or Allie to step into the big lights and calm the storm when SS and Azzi are struggling for a quarter or more. I'd love to be proven wrong on Blanca, but I am starting to feel this team's X factor will be Shade come Elite 8 and beyond.

 

[Pharos]

Renee is a fun listen. Workman like effort tonight as UCONN slices through conference play like a hot knife through butter....

I'd listen to her everytime.