Sun Lose a Win-able Game Again...

[psconn]

...and the news from the locker room has me very concerned. I could not understand why Bone's minutes (and others too) were so limited and why there have been such unusual line-ups at key times the last couple games.

Connecticut Sun on edge after 5th straight loss

Rookies/vets not together? Player(s) coaches not on the same page? Ugh. I find it hard to believe that Kelsey has no idea why she isn't getting more minutes. I know Coach Miller likes a fast moving, free flowing offense and even to my untrained eye, the ball tends to "stick" when it goes to Kelsey and to some degree Alex. I suspect this is the issue.

Winning heals all and the Sun desperately need to right this ship.

A pretty darn good Fever team is next up at the casino this Sunday.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The Sun ran into Tiffany Hayes.

 

[RowdyFan]

.....so what's it like to leave an arena when a team loses? I purchased a 10 game package for this season(1st time ever getting tix)...do fans gamble, eat KrispyKreme or Pepe's, or drink to mask their sorrows?

 

[triaddukefan]

At least the Sun should get a full house next Friday night when the Storm make their only appearance of the season.

 

[psconn]

My wife and I proceeded directly to a Bobby Flay Cactus Pear Margarita. The ice cream headache it gave me was more pleasant than some parts of the game tonight.

 

[MilfordHusky]

.....so what's it like to leave an arena when a team loses? I purchased a 10 game package for this season(1st time ever getting tix)...do fans gamble, eat KrispyKreme or Pepe's, or drink to mask their sorrows?

Pizza and donuts sound good to me!!

 

[triaddukefan]

Pizza and donuts sound good to me!!

yesterday was National Doughnut day..... and i was going to celebrate at Donut World but they changed their hours (without informing me) so I ended up with nothing Traffic was backed up on the road from all the people trying to get into Krispy Kreme

 

[psconn]

I have had a lot of issues with some of the stuff he's written in the past, but I must say DiMauro's Sun coverage is very good. Here's his take on the situation:

Sun's Miller sends a message: She who plays hard will play

By the way, the highlight of the evening was the effort Kelly showed while doing her best to slow Angel down. Kelly's motor and her heart are still HUGE. In frustration, Angel threw her down very blatantly. To me, a clear flagrant foul, but that was not the call. She was on the refs verbally and angrily for extended periods and drew no technicals (she even spent a whole time out not with her team's huddle, but in a conference with the refs. In contrast, Alex said a couple magic words and got T'd up in a heartbeat. Angel's a special player but I could never be a fan.

 

[Fightin Choke]

I'm not sure how good of a coach Miller is. He had started to turn around Indiana, but then was derailed by health issues. Remember when people were wondering why Stephanie White would trade her WNBA job for the job at Vandy? Seems like many top collegiate jobs are considered better than the WNBA jobs (certainly good college jobs are better financially). Ann Donovan left Seton Hall for the WNBA, but how many coaches at good programs do it? Maybe Miller was the best the Sun could get, but he may be in over his head.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I have had a lot of issues with some of the stuff he's written in the past, but I must say DiMauro's Sun coverage is very good. Here's his take on the situation:

Sun's Miller sends a message: She who plays hard will play

By the way, the highlight of the evening was the effort Kelly showed while doing her best to slow Angel down. Kelly's motor and her heart are still HUGE. In frustration, Angel threw her down very blatantly. To me, a clear flagrant foul, but that was not the call. She was on the refs verbally and angrily for extended periods and drew no technicals (she even spent a whole time out not with her team's huddle, but in a conference with the refs. In contrast, Alex said a couple magic words and got T'd up in a heartbeat. Angel's a special player but I could never be a fan.

Angel is a WNBA Superstar, Alex isnt... #JordanRules

 

[MilfordHusky]

yesterday was National Doughnut day..... and i was going to celebrate at Donut World but they changed their hours (without informing me) so I ended up with nothing Traffic was backed up on the road from all the people trying to get into Krispy Kreme

National Donut Day? How did I miss that? And why the he!! didn't you post it here as a PSA?

 

[psconn]

I have had a lot of issues with some of the stuff he's written in the past, but I must say DiMauro's Sun coverage is very good. Here's his take on the situation:

Sun's Miller sends a message: She who plays hard will play

By the way, the highlight of the evening was the effort Kelly showed while doing her best to slow Angel down. Kelly's motor and her heart are still HUGE. In frustration, Angel threw her down very blatantly. To me, a clear flagrant foul, but that was not the call. She was on the refs verbally and angrily for extended periods and drew no technicals (she even spent a whole time out not with her team's huddle, but in a conference with the refs. In contrast, Alex said a couple magic words and got T'd up in a heartbeat. Angel's a special player but I could never be a fan.

Virtually identical pull-down in the SEA-PHO game. Result? Flagrant 1. BUT... the refs twice missed two ridiculously blatant hacks across Stewie's arms driving to the hoop. These (and several others) were not "maybe, maybe not" calls. IMO this isn't Jordan rules, its just bad refereeing and it's hurting the game. #obviouscalls #back_to_ref_school

 

[baggerbob]

Perfect example of why the suns are bad, Kelsey Bone is 3-8, and 1-1 on free throws in 1st half , for 7 points in 13 and 1/2 minutes. She also has 1 foul, 2 turnovers, o rebounds, assists, steals, or blocked shots. As Uconn shows there is more to the game , then getting yours.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Virtually identical pull-down in the SEA-PHO game. Result? Flagrant 1. BUT... the refs twice missed two ridiculously blatant hacks across Stewie's arms driving to the hoop. These (and several others) were not "maybe, maybe not" calls. IMO this isn't Jordan rules, its just bad refereeing and it's hurting the game. #obviouscalls #back_to_ref_school

psconn- - -WBB, both college and WNBA have the worst referees of any other sport! And WNBA is worse than college! A touch foul will be called 80' away from the basket, then an offensive player will lower their shoulder and just run over the defensive player and nothing is called! The refs are all horrible!
Several years ago I ran into, literally, then Liberty coach, Patty Coyle, at the XL Center, scouting UCONN vs Baylor, and asked her how the coaches and players put up with the horrible refs, she said if you do question or loudly complain, making a scene about the refs they'll punish you for the next 5-6 games! It'll get around and questioned refs friends will get you down the line! It's a league joke which refs will make the most ridiculous calls.
Taurasi has gotten so frustrated with incompetent refs she just blatantly yells at them to get a T to show how lousy they really are!
There are 15 to 20 moving screens each game and maybe 1 is called.
Several years ago ND vs UCONN, CT winning by 2 with about 10 seconds left in the game, Stef Dolson gets called for a moving screen ( the only one called all game), ND gets the ball, scores at buzzer and wins in OT! There were at least 15 moving screens earlier, never called but Dennis Demaio called that one!
Back in 2001-2002, 4th game of season, #1 UCONN vs #3 OKLA at Hartford Civic Center, 54 fouls were called, 29 in the first 1/2!
As you can tell I can't stand WBB refs!

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Perfect example of why the suns are bad, Kelsey Bone is 3-8, and 1-1 on free throws in 1st half , for 7 points in 13 and 1/2 minutes. She also has 1 foul, 2 turnovers, o rebounds, assists, steals, or blocked shots. As Uconn shows there is more to the game , then getting yours.

baggerbob- - - You're right Kelsey Bone is hurting her teammates, but so is Alex Bentley, both of them are rally busters! Hopefully Coach Miller will send them packing soon and get 2 team-oriented players!

 

[RowdyFan]

baggerbob- - - You're right Kelsey Bone is hurting her teammates, but so is Alex Bentley, both of them are rally busters! Hopefully Coach Miller will send them packing soon and get 2 team-oriented players!

Yesterday I went to my first Sun game. I know we are spoiled, but I was appalled with Alex Bentley's Prima Donna towel-over -the- head as she sat on the bench. When Coach Miller put his second string in, the tempo picked up, defense actually was played. There were lots of hustle plays. Can't wait for Friday's game.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Reading Mike DiMauro's column in this mornings THE DAY on this STAR/DIVA attitude enveloping the Sun, and Mike mentioned that in the post-game presser Coach Miller got emotional talking about Kelly Faris! Her play, her heart, her competing every second, in practice and in games, that's what it's all about! Well, that's what the fans of UCONN have come to love about Ms. Faris and really the rest of the UCONN players! Their never say die attitude, ignore the score hustle till the final whistle, that sets UCONN way above any other Division I team! And even though THE BIG 3 have graduated, the young ladies returning and the 3 freshmen coming in may get beaten this coming 2016-2017 season, but it won't be for lack of the intangibles, hustle, heart, & desire, it will be that our opponents have more talent than we do and outscore us!
There may be other great coaches, but IMHO their teams do not play as hard as UCONN does for the full 40 minutes!
The old saying, "We didn't get beat, the clock just ran out on us!"
It's mind-blowing to me, that the Sun starters couldn't or wouldn't follow the the scouting plan for the Indiana Fever game yesterday and tried to free-lance their way through the game! That's inexcusable!
Every player comes into pre-camp with different skill sets, but everyone of them can bring 100% hustle, 100%heart, & 100% desire to every practice & every game!

 

[baggerbob]

The starters for the sun in that game 115 minutes, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 fouls, 2 steals, 11 turnovers, 46 points. The 2nd team played 85 minutes, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 fouls, 5 steals, 5 turnovers, 31 points. You can figure out who is trying to play as a team, and who isn't.