Take-aways from the Houston game

[ThisJustIn]

Maria. Conlon.

 

[hoophuskee]

Gabby needs to touch the ball on every possession. 1st quarter Gabby showed her numbers with only one defender with the paint cleared out. Lou had an easy feed to her but nah, let me dribble around some and show my stuff. It doesn't matter who is gaurding Gabby. Give her the ball. She's on fire this year.

Just--- Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PhillyCoach]

Many posters have mentioned that EVERY TEAM, including professionals, have off days. Watch any Super Bowl or World Series.
What's amazing is that Geno and staff can get his team into high gear almost every game in the season. Many posters stated that Lou and others looked tired. As a track coach there are periods of high intensity training where you run/play tired and then taper off into the Championships Period. We know Geno is legend for his practices. This group looks like they are feeling those practices. Yes, this is a young group with only one senior in the rotation. Lou and Pheese have stated numerous times that they were not as strong as others. Also, notice that Gabby and Kia are the fierce and formidable physical players into the second half. Gabby was trained as a world class runner/jumper and Kia has a physical background of playing or being around hockey. IMHO, a few players on the team are a little weary. I believe that Geno and staff will make the adjustments when necessary without my or others advice. Remember, Geno and Diana also talked about how the practices changed in early March and the tapering begins along with the mental/emotional confidence building. Heavy training is still on the schedule for most of February.
Tear down now--build up to a PEAK when it's most needed. Just my two cents.

 

[Los24]

Glad to see that someone else has finally noticed this. Actually, they rarely pass to Lou when she's inside, could have a backdoor, or on numerous cuts through the key.

If they play the way they did today (except for Gabby), So. Carolina will eat their breakfast, lunch and dinner![/QUOTE]

Here is what I was speaking of in another post that makes Lou a great passer (and which she does not always get in return.) When someone else cuts or is in position, Lou passes the ball in a perfect spot and on time. The ball is in her hand for a split second and the receiver gets it on time and in the ideal place.

That said, yesterday she had a post position on a smaller player and they (Kia often) just swung the ball the other way. Lou had 5-6 inches on her opponent.

 

[ricky]

Just--- Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only for a touch, why such a long no? She is the center for God sake. She can do mostly everything. Why not at least a touch? Pleeeeeeeease!!!!!

 

[Los24]

Gabby needs to touch the ball on every possession. 1st quarter Gabby showed her numbers with only one defender with the paint cleared out. Lou had an easy feed to her but nah, let me dribble around some and show my stuff. It doesn't matter who is gaurding Gabby. Give her the ball. She's on fire this year.

Slowdown.... They were playing Houston. Gabby is awesome but let's not make her Hakeem the dream Olajuwon on offense. She still can't hit the outside shot consistently. Since I got some push back after saying that I have been watching closer the last few games against inferior competition and she misses it most of the time... and she is wide open.

Also anyone will tell you that every coach plans for Lou first, even Geno has said that many times. Geno also said Lou is pretty much the player they run plays for. To game plan for Gabby is #1 stop dribble drive (which will help with her assists) and #2 keep her off offense glass. Both are hard to execute on but not plan for....

 

[Los24]

Don't agree with many here on Kyla. This wasn't a good she played against. She is very slow in the post. She can't be relied on to defend. Molly can at least play D. From the bench for the 8th player coming off of it- you want "defense" for the most part for this team imo. We can score usually.

I agree with you for the most part but would say that compared to how bad (really terrible) Kyla was earlier on defense she has made some strides to improve. Basically she now boxes out to rebound and is atleast in the general area for defense... LOL

Don't underestimate her potential. Dolsen, who grew up close to me, was not the swiftess of players, especially year one.

 

[hoophuskee]

Only for a touch, why such a long no? She is the center for God sake. She can do mostly everything. Why not at least a touch? Pleeeeeeeease!!!!!

So Lou is wide open for a 3-- so now all of a sudden you want UCONN to change their offense and not let the probably 1st team all-american take a wide open 3 so you can make a pass to Gabby?

Nurse is 2nd on the team in assists, she sees Collier having a good low post position. So she can't make the pass to Collier because Gabby hasn't touched the ball?

Lou runs a curl. When she runs a curl it is mainly designed for her to shoot. So in this case only Gabby, and not the guards are capable of making passes? You realize that UCONN has 2 / 3 other all-american caliber player's on the team other than Gabby too, right? And two guards have a better assist to turnover ratio. So you want to take away what has been "balance" and focus on giving the ball to one player? You don't think Nurse, Lou and Collier are capable enough to make plays on their own without the ball going to Gabby once?

You know - Scottie Pippen was a more complete player than Shaq. If they were on the same team- just because Pippen was able to do more variety of things doesn't make him "better."

And your comment about the center? What does that mean? - 1st off I'm not sure she is the center. She is the pf but not that it matters. She is like a point power forward but it's not like she is the dominant passer. Nurse has a lot of assists too and has a better assist to turnover ratio. Secondly, the UCONN team is shooting .419 from 3. They have an efg% of 62.86%. So whenever they are open - they aren't allowed to shoot unless Gabby touches the ball once?

 

[hoophuskee]

I agree with you for the most part but would say that compared to how bad (really terrible) Kyla was earlier on defense she has made some strides to improve. Basically she now boxes out to rebound and is atleast in the general area for defense... LOL

Don't underestimate her potential. Dolson, who grew up close to me, was not the swiftess of players, especially year one.

In h/s Dolson was regarded as the best center in her class. And that was for a reason. With the combination of her size and whatever quickness she had - she was far superior to what Kyla has. I don't agree with your comparison between the two. And Kyla can make "tiny strides" -- but in order to get minutes in big games imo she can't be relied upon to defend. At least what I see right now. Dolson could at least block some shots and intimidate in the paint. Kyla has zero blocked shots for the year and imo still doesn't seem quick enough to be much of a help defender thus far. The strides you see imo aren't enough. Again-- unless her offense turns into something really special then you can have that type of tradeoff for a bench player.

 

[Los24]

In h/s Dolson was regarded as the best center in her class. And that was for a reason. With the combination of her size and whatever quickness she had - she was far superior to what Kyla has. I don't agree with your comparison between the two. And Kyla can make "tiny strides" -- but in order to get minutes in big games imo she can't be relied upon to defend. At least what I see right now. Dolson could at least block some shots and intimidate in the paint. Kyla has zero blocked shots for the year and imo still doesn't seem quick enough to be much of a help defender thus far. The strides you see imo aren't enough. Again-- unless her offense turns into something really special then you can have that type of tradeoff for a bench player.

All I said was that Dolson was not the swiftess, in no way was I trying to compare their games, only that she can still be a good player even though she is not as gifted athletically as others.

 

[hoophuskee]

All I said was that Dolson was not the swiftess, in no way was I trying to compare their games, only that she can still be a good player even though she is not as gifted athletically as others.

I see- but still don't see why you mentioned those two to make a point. They are almost night and day. Not all slow players are the same. Just because I said imo Kyla at this point can't contribute until her defense gets better / she needs to be quicker-- I don't see how using Dolson as a comparison counters what I said? Dolson had the size and was quick enough since day one. You had told me not to underestimate Kyla by using Dolson as an example. I don't agree with that comparison - that's what I was saying. I never knew how great Dolson would be but overall the moment UCONN got her and I saw videos I expected she was going to be very good. I didn't know how great. With Kyla I don't have the expectation of playing in big games until I see her aggressively grabbing rebounds and playing physically tough. A player with her size boxing out imo is similar to player learning how to shoot a layup. If you are a scholarshp player with the size Kyla has, eventually I know she can learn how to box out-- but might never vs elite competition. It's taking the next step. I thought too many were focused on her offense - because she hit a few shots.

 

[Los24]

I see- but still don't see why you mentioned those two to make a point. They are almost night and day. Not all slow players are the same. Just because I said imo Kyla at this point can't contribute until her defense gets better / she needs to be quicker-- I don't see how using Dolson as a comparison counters what I said? Dolson had the size and was quick enough since day one. You had told me not to underestimate Kyla by using Dolson as an example. I don't agree with that comparison - that's what I was saying. I never knew how great Dolson would be but overall the moment UCONN got her and I saw videos I expected she was going to be very good. I didn't know how great. With Kyla I don't have the expectation of playing in big games until I see her aggressively grabbing rebounds and playing physically tough. A player with her size boxing out imo is similar to player learning how to shoot a layup. If you are a scholarshp player with the size Kyla has, eventually I know she can learn how to box out-- but might never vs elite competition. It's taking the next step. I thought too many were focused on her offense - because she hit a few shots.

Not arguing or disagreeing with your points. I will be more precise in the future in what I am stating.

I see her having the ability to be impactful down the road, yesterday was just a positive step in the right direction compared to other showings.

 

[ricky]

Slowdown.... They were playing Houston. Gabby is awesome but let's not make her Hakeem the dream Olajuwon on offense. She still can't hit the outside shot consistently. Since I got some push back after saying that I have been watching closer the last few games against inferior competition and she misses it most of the time... and she is wide open.

Also anyone will tell you that every coach plans for Lou first, even Geno has said that many times. Geno also said Lou is pretty much the player they run plays for. To game plan for Gabby is #1 stop dribble drive (which will help with her assists) and #2 keep her off offense glass. Both are hard to execute on but not plan for....

I notice her outside shot has gone off too. I don't suggest Gabby shoot it everytime she touches it but let her feel the ball to give her confidence and maybe her outside shot will come back. Her outside shot helped in the biggest games of the early season and she had a lot of confidence shooting it. UConn has very streaky outside shooters. If she touches it near the rim, then she should always look for the shot which she does.

 

[ricky]

So Lou is wide open for a 3-- so now all of a sudden you want UCONN to change their offense and not let the probably 1st team all-american take a wide open 3 so you can make a pass to Gabby?

Nurse is 2nd on the team in assists, she sees Collier having a good low post position. So she can't make the pass to Collier because Gabby hasn't touched the ball?

Lou runs a curl. When she runs a curl it is mainly designed for her to shoot. So in this case only Gabby, and not the guards are capable of making passes? You realize that UCONN has 2 / 3 other all-american caliber player's on the team other than Gabby too, right? And two guards have a better assist to turnover ratio. So you want to take away what has been "balance" and focus on giving the ball to one player? You don't think Nurse, Lou and Collier are capable enough to make plays on their own without the ball going to Gabby once?

You know - Scottie Pippen was a more complete player than Shaq. If they were on the same team- just because Pippen was able to do more variety of things doesn't make him "better."

And your comment about the center? What does that mean? - 1st off I'm not sure she is the center. She is the pf but not that it matters. She is like a point power forward but it's not like she is the dominant passer. Nurse has a lot of assists too and has a better assist to turnover ratio. Secondly, the UCONN team is shooting .419 from 3. They have an efg% of 62.86%. So whenever they are open - they aren't allowed to shoot unless Gabby touches the ball once?

UConn believes in moving the ball. Let Gabby touch it and always be part of the flow. Majic Johnson always made sure everyone touched the ball if only briefly. Her scoring ability is great near the rim and she should shoot it there. Gabby is also a great passer. I garuntee she will pass the ball back to the correct player. Kia has more than enough opportunity running the offense so nothing is lost there. Gabby does play the center position even if she is 5'11". It doesn't matter what label she carries. Guess who gaurds the post on February 13? Of coarse she will need help.

 

[hoophuskee]

UConn believes in moving the ball. Let Gabby touch it and always be part of the flow. Majic Johnson always made sure everyone touched the ball if only briefly. Her scoring ability is great near the rim and she should shoot it there. Gabby is also a great passer. I garuntee she will pass the ball back to the correct player. Kia has more than enough opportunity running the offense so nothing is lost there. Gabby does play the center position even if she is 5'11". It doesn't matter what label she carries. Guess who gaurds the post on February 13? Of coarse she will need help.

I'm sorry but your points -- I just don't want to say-- just sooo wrong. You want to only allow your favorite player to determine where the ball goes -- and now all of sudden Gabby is Magic. You want a 11 time champion coach known for sharing the ball in his offense - to change his offense all because you like how Gabby plays more than the other super players on this team. We're undefeated this year by running oru offense a certain way- now all of a sudden because you love her game- the all-time great HOF coach should change his entire offense. C'mon!!!! e

And let's stay on topic please. Our discussion was about the offense- now all of a sudden you are throwing defense at me? Where did that come from? I replied to you about yoru comment on allowing Gabby to touch the ball eveyr time on OFFENSE. What does her defense have to do with our conversation?

 

[Huskee11]

Lou played well in the first quarter against East Carolina, but has seemed to drift in the first quarters of the Tulsa and Houston games, scoring 0 points in both.

Of course, she turned it on big time against Tulsa with 32 in the next two quarters, and played well in the second and third quarters yesterday, scoring 16 in about 18 minutes.

I would like to see them run some set plays early for her posting up and curling near the foul line. Get her going early, we will need that in order to win it all. I predict the Geno will try to do some of that right off the bat against Temple.

 

[ricky]

I'm sorry but your points -- I just don't want to say-- just sooo wrong. You want to only allow your favorite player to determine where the ball goes -- and now all of sudden Gabby is Magic. You want a 11 time champion coach known for sharing the ball in his offense - to change his offense all because you like how Gabby plays more than the other super players on this team. We're undefeated this year by running oru offense a certain way- now all of a sudden because you love her game- the all-time great HOF coach should change his entire offense. C'mon!!!! e

And let's stay on topic please. Our discussion was about the offense- now all of a sudden you are throwing defense at me? Where did that come from? I replied to you about yoru comment on allowing Gabby to touch the ball eveyr time on OFFENSE. What does her defense have to do with our conversation?

Wow. Your long replies just go in too many directions. It's hard to stay on point with nice direct replies.

 

[ricky]

Wow. Your long replies just go in too many directions. It's hard to stay on point with nice direct replies.

Of course Geno knows more about this topic than all of us. But can't we just have a little fun and assume you didn't hear what Geno said. Geno is not going to change anything based on what's on the BY. I'm sure he has limited amount of time. He is not using it to read this stuff. So we are on our own here. As long as I have access I'm going to type.

 

[BigBird]

There has to be a starting point where a player starts to play well. This may have been it for Kyla. You complain that her defense is weak as if she can't improve and her freshman year is only two thirds over. She showed some offense today yet you complain about her defense. Molly plays good defense yet people complain about her offense. Some people on this board ARE spoiled. To say as a matter of fact that a player will NOT get better is not wise because no one knows but, I understand that is your opinion. Who thought Gabby would be as good as she is now based on her freshman play or Farris based on hers? Imo, I believe Irwin would be more productive playing outside on offense and inside on defense. She blocks out well and can rebound. She has a good shot from fifteen feet on out. With her basketball background I believe she will eventually come into her own. There is no guarantee all of next seasons freshmen will learn the Uconn system well enough to satisfy the coaches to gain meaningful minutes. Also, Collier must be one special player to receive so much criticism after getting another double double.

This. The negative vibe being thrown on our freshmen by some on this board is just silly. It's a long road, and the three kids are just at the front end of their development. That some choose to be pessimistic is, by now, obvious. We get it. We hear you. But what good does it do anyone to keep up a negative drumbeat on almost every thread?

 

[hoophuskee]

Wow. Your long replies just go in too many directions. It's hard to stay on point with nice direct replies.

Long replies?

Two paragraphs is "long replies?"

 

[Carnac]

My one reaction -- and I don't know how relevant it is -- is that over the years, the last 2, 3 or 4 players off the bench would go out there and play would, in essence, grind to a halt. 'Way back when, I remember cheering on Missy Rose on the rare occasions when she would get into a game, or a favorite of my daughter's and mine, Marci Czel. These were players with a certain amount of talent who simply could not compete with the Lobos, Taurasis and Cashes for meaningful minutes. And when they would trickle into the game, the quality of play often went to near-zero. And folks would complain about the quality of their play when those players simply could not keep up.

I'm afraid Bedford has a point. It's great that Kyla is getting better, and Molly, too. But the rate at which they will improve between now and the start of next year may be too slow to allow them meaningful minutes, especially in big games. But IMHO, the issue is not, as Bedford suggests, that UConn recruits ordinary players. It would be a problem if UConn recruited ordinary players and promised them extraordinary things -- and I'm certain Geno and staff don't do that. What sometimes happens is that players who after a year believe they will be underutilized because of more talented teammates sometimes decide to transfer. Others decide that they prefer a supporting role on a championship team.

Tomcat, I said the same thing you did here in an earlier post and got a considerable amount of push back on it. While I fully support ALL of our girls, and cheer/root for them without fatigue. I suggested that certain players will at best be "role players". I'll reserve my opinion on that observation until the end of January next season. The dust will have settled by then, and any of the incoming freshmen that are going to make an impact (contribution) on next year's team will have made some inroads towards that end by then, and we'll know the pecking order (rotation) of the bench players by then. Geno will have an influx of talent coming in this summer. Playing time for bench players will be at a premium. Minutes will be scarce for those on the far end. Still, I would be shocked if Geno suffers any transfers over the next 3 years. I'd bet the farm it doesn't happen. These players are coming to UConn with eyes wide open.

 

[Lynx23]

The BY is strange this year. Everybody has his or her favorite player and wants that individual to get the ball as a first option each time and be the star every game. That way of thinking hardly supports a "team" concept. Is winning the Badass Award each game the motivation behind some of the nonsense on this board? Hello, it's not a real award. Honestly, Kia has never lost a game as a starter and yet she's often criticized for not passing the ball to Lou, or Gabby, or Pheesa. She must be passing it to Saniya each time. This amuses me. UCONN runs plays. That means the intent may be for the 3rd or 4th individual who gets the ball to take the shot if she is open. Seriously, if your favorite player has an "off" game it's always another player's fault? I've been following the BY for 10 years and have never seen anything like the negativity on the board this year, often directed at a single player or players for one reason or another.

 

[cohenzone]

No. And I'm sure they've tried. She will graduate UConn with the same bad habits with which she came - they are hard to break.

You haven't been paying attention. As I said in another thread, Kyla knows how to find the right spots on the floor on O and has for several games. She also isn't gun shy. Her real weak points are foot speed and D against more athletic kids. She isn't star material but she can spell others and not necessarily just in garbage time.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Geno will have an influx of talent coming in this summer. Playing time for bench players will be at a premium. Minutes will be scarce for those on the far end. Still, I would be shocked if Geno suffers any transfers over the next 3 years. I'd bet the farm it doesn't happen. These players are coming to UConn with eyes wide open.

I sincerely hope you are correct.

 

[Intpseeker]

The BY is strange this year. Everybody has his or her favorite player and wants that individual to get the ball as a first option each time and be the star every game. That way of thinking hardly supports a "team" concept. Is winning the Badass Award each game the motivation behind some of the nonsense on this board? Hello, it's not a real award. Honestly, Kia has never lost a game as a starter and yet she's often criticized for not passing the ball to Lou, or Gabby, or Pheesa. She must be passing it to Saniya each time. This amuses me. UCONN runs plays. That means the intent may be for the 3rd or 4th individual who gets the ball to take the shot if she is open. Seriously, if your favorite player has an "off" game it's always another player's fault? I've been following the BY for 10 years and have never seen anything like the negativity on the board this year, often directed at a single player or players for one reason or another.

Hmmm? One might even call the BY vibe this season trollish in nature.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think the time of the game was a problem. We played an early game last year--with our stacked lineup--and both started poorly and played one of our worst games overall.

 

[Buzzyboy]

A few from me:

- Geno said it best after game that this is the first game it seemed like they just showed up but it's not a concern since it's not a pattern.

- Gabby never just shows up (or Kia.). Both have an above average level of competitiveness. Don't want to overstate it since all the women play hard but these two just seem like "warriors" ready to battle for anything and everything on the court...Always...

- Lou disappointed me for the first time this year and it's not the misses. I think Lou and Pheese were the two most guilty or just "showing up.". It's hard to pin point but the level of concentration/sharpness is the best way i can put it.

- On Lou's behalf I felt there were a number of times she called for ball down low with smaller defender in first half and they did not pass it to her. I mention this because she will typically, almost always, have a height advantage so they should target this more. I have seen them do it well at times throughout year too but not exploiting it as much as I think they can.

- Butler needs to play the same way against the better teams (minus dribbling the ball once catching ball down low.) What I mean is the aggressiveness and looking to score. She actually has not been bad in the other areas when playing the better teams.

- Kyla is improving across the board. Obviously we need to temper our expectations but like to see her get more game time earlier in some of these conference games.

- Molly shows flashes but agree with most that it's a mental thing where she just needs to just play. Her instincts serve her well on defense she needs to trust them on offense.

I think Molly might be suffering from the type of thing that Saniya was for the first couple of years in Storrs. Last year Saniya's issues were more health related. Hopefully Saniya can help Molly somehow fight through these type issues, having dealt with them herself.

 

[meyers7]

Still, I would be shocked if Geno suffers any transfers over the next 3 years. I'd bet the farm it doesn't happen. These players are coming to UConn with eyes wide open.

Really? We've had 4 transfers and 1 player leave early for the WNBA in the past 3 years. Nobody for the next 3 years?? It would be nice, but pretty unlikely.

 

[Sonny44]

I think by and large it's a game Geno will want the team to put in the rear view mirror so I won't belabor any of the criticism I think he's likely to have. But on the good-ish side...

Nurse played really good defense for the most part from what I could see.
Lou played much better after about 6 minutes into the 2nd half
Chong is solid in pretty much every aspect of what she does
Butler follows up some head-scratching things with some solid play. Can't seem to figure her out
Gabby - player of the game IMHO. Best player on the floor, and it wasn't close
Kyla - to me she showed she is more ready to get PT than Molly. Molly had a nifty pass and made a 3 point basket, but her head seems to be holding her back... Kyla on the other hand was very active and looked for her shot.
Collier - meh. Double double (and 5 steals), but not a strong or complete game from her. I think Geno expects more...
Tierney - got her 4 minutes...
Plus Kia plays better with a pony tail.
This team has been so much more than expected for everyone, I think, so when they have an off game, it's much more noticeable. They had flashes of great team play, but by and large, it was an inconsistent effort. Still, a big margin of victory, but not the "prettiest" game to watch...

 

[nyfanofwbb]

Did I miss something in the thread about Katie Lou's shiner? I thought I read that she was sluggish.. Did she get checked after she got clocked in ECU game? Kia got checked out after she got clocked in Houston game. Hopefully KLS had no issues and they went unnoticed..