The case for Ms Chong

[asuwish]

Since KLS is hurt It seems somebody else on the Uconn bench will get playing time Tuesday night. If healthy, I think it should be Chong not Bultler. I think she has the best skill set to contend with what SU will try to throw at Uconn. SU is small, quick, likes to press, wants to pack in the zone. Ms Chong can handle the ball, and her outside shot can help soften up and stretch the zone. If Uconn can hit outside early the middle will open up and we will be in great shape. Since SU isn't that big I think Tuck Stewie and Gabby can handle their size. Uconn has to get long rebounds and run with out drawing careless charges (SU is good at taking them). Chong can easily push the ball up court. In some ways Ms Chong maybe more suited than Ms Collier, but I don't think she will get more minutes unless she is on fire early. We have seen times in her career where she has been great. I hope Tuesday night is another such time.

 

[Geno-ista]

Since KLS is hurt It seems somebody else on the Uconn bench will get playing time Tuesday night. If healthy, I think it should be Chong not Bultler. I think she has the best skill set to contend with what SU will try to throw at Uconn. SU is small, quick, likes to press, wants to pack in the zone. Ms Chong can handle the ball, and her outside shot can help soften up and stretch the zone. If Uconn can hit outside early the middle will open up and we will be in great shape. Since SU isn't that big I think Tuck Stewie and Gabby can handle their size. Uconn has to get long rebounds and run with out drawing careless charges (SU is good at taking them). Chong can easily push the ball up court. In some ways Ms Chong maybe more suited than Ms Collier, but I don't think she will get more minutes unless she is on fire early. We have seen times in her career where she has been great. I hope Tuesday night is another such time.

I hope so to- but I don't think we'll see her or Natalie unless everything else is not working.

 

[Topdawg]

A great opportunity for Saniya to showcase what she can do - both defensively and offensively. Hope she showed some intensity in the practice today!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Even Jim Fuller said the 7-player rotation is down to 6. You're not going to see Chong or Butler unless the game is well decided.

 

[Monte]

Even Jim Fuller said the 7-player rotation is down to 6. You're not going to see Chong or Butler unless the game is well decided.

Yeah, I think you're right. Ya gotta go with the ones that came through in tough games throughout the year. Hopefully, Chong and Butler will work hard during the summer and contribute next year when they really will be needed.

 

[winlots]

But wouldn't it be tremendous to see Chong get a chance and really come thru BIG time??? Show her shot, her drive to the hoop her handle, and her defensive improvements.....all of which we have seen at one time or another. Would be great for her and for us not only tomorrow night but also as we concern ourselves with next year, eh?

 

[sarals24]

It would be great, but I don't think we'll see her unless we're up 20. I could be wrong, but I don't see Mo or Kia coming out unless they get in foul trouble. And he'll sub in Collier for Gabby, and vice versa.

 

[j66kicker]

In some ways Ms Chong maybe more suited than Ms Collier, but I don't think she will get more minutes unless she is on fire early. We have seen times in her career where she has been great. I hope Tuesday night is another such time.

Unfortunately defense is not one of those ways. Collier is twice the defensive player Chong is. Just don't see it happening. While the winning and losing is going on, whenever during the game that is, UCONN will want to be able to rely on lock-down defense.

 

[Carnac]

Yeah, I think you're right. Ya gotta go with the ones that came through in tough games throughout the year. Hopefully, Chong and Butler will work hard during the summer and contribute next year when they really will be needed.

Being the last game of the season, Geno may choose to let Stewie and Jefferson play the entire game (which they can do), while giving brief blows (as needed) to Tuck, Nurse and who ever the replacement starter is.

So, he may not need more than a 6th man off the bench. Remember the championship last year against Notre Dame?. Geno did very little substituting. Remember Muffet said: "I kept waiting for him to substitute, but he didn't".

It would not surprise me to learn that the starters have told Geno they can play the entire game., negating the need for subs.I'm sure the coaches will have gone over all of the substitute scenarios and possibilities by game time tomorrow. Geno will already know who he's going to use off the bench; when and under what circumstances.

Gabby may not start. Geno may feel she is more valuable coming in off the bench to add a spark and some energy when its needed. Collier may get the nod. Chong is the most consistent 3 point shooter on the bench, but is still not able to keep her man in front of her consistently to Geno's satisfaction. There are several options Geno could decide to employ.

We'll just have to wait until game time to see. Look for Gabby to get lots of floor time, be it starting or coming off the bench.

Let's hope we don't see any of our girls get in early foul trouble again. We don't need that dynamic in the game. In Geno we trust. Geno is not going to come this far, this close to lose.

 

[sarals24]

Pretty sure Gabby will start. Doubt he will put Collier in that position in the NC game.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

He's already said Williams is starting.

 

[Blakeon18]

IMO...Saniya has hit the biggest basket of the year. Game against Maryland....the lead was down to 4 with about a minute to go. Geno sends her in...a surprise to me....she had barely played in the game...and she hits a corner trey....lead up to 7...and
we wind up winning by 10. Her lack of PT this year is kinda troubling...if we need her tonight I hope she is ready.
Next year too.

 

[Hongster]

Chong needs to erase the negative memories from coach and see herself as a one of the best PG in the lane.
She has the potential but for some reason she is thinking way too much.

 

[HuskiesU]

And Chong is not that great of a ball handler. She hasn't played much in the tourney and I will honestly play Butler because she can hit that mid range shot. And on defense she can pack the middle so Stewie and the rest of the huskies can stop cuse from hitting 3s

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Chong needs to erase the negative memories from coach and see herself as a one of the best PG in the lane.
She has the potential but for some reason she is thinking way too much.

Saniya needs to take time to rest and rehab her injured leg. Then she will amaze.

 

[Monte]

And Chong is not that great of a ball handler. She hasn't played much in the tourney and I will honestly play Butler because she can hit that mid range shot. And on defense she can pack the middle so Stewie and the rest of the huskies can stop cuse from hitting 3s

Meghan(fromSNY), said on the air, that Chong is the best Uconn player she has ever seen switching hands while dribbling(and that goes back to over 25 years).

 

[Kaizen]

And Chong is not that great of a ball handler. She hasn't played much in the tourney and I will honestly play Butler because she can hit that mid range shot. And on defense she can pack the middle so Stewie and the rest of the huskies can stop cuse from hitting 3s

Chong is the second best ball hander next to Moriah

 

[huskyd]

Being the last game of the season, Geno may choose to let Stewie and Jefferson play the entire game (which they can do), while giving brief blows (as needed) to Tuck, Nurse and who ever the replacement starter is.

So, he may not need more than a 6th man off the bench. Remember the championship last year against Notre Dame?. Geno did very little substituting. Remember Muffet said: "I kept waiting for him to substitute, but he didn't".

It would not surprise me to learn that the starters have told Geno they can play the entire game., negating the need for subs.I'm sure the coaches will have gone over all of the substitute scenarios and possibilities by game time tomorrow. Geno will already know who he's going to use off the bench; when and under what circumstances.

Gabby may not start. Geno may feel she is more valuable coming in off the bench to add a spark and some energy when its needed. Collier may get the nod. Chong is the most consistent 3 point shooter on the bench, but is still not able to keep her man in front of her consistently to Geno's satisfaction. There are several options Geno could decide to employ.

We'll just have to wait until game time to see. Look for Gabby to get lots of floor time, be it starting or coming off the bench.

Let's hope we don't see any of our girls get in early foul trouble again. We don't need that dynamic in the game. In Geno we trust. Geno is not going to come this far, this close to lose.

Good point, Carnac. I, too, think that it might be better to start Collier than Williams. Napheesa has more size and arm length and could be more useful against a 3-point shooting team. Collier can shoot from the perimeter but probably won't unless she's left unguarded. Williams of course has speed and a nose for the ball, and her mid-range jumper has improved tremendously; she is now an effective zone buster. Come right down to it, which of these ladies starts is probably not that important. We'll see them both; whoever has the hot hand will get the most time. I wouldn't be surprised to see Chong sub in for one of the other guards. Recall that Saniya was a legendary scorer in high school and has made several key perimeter shots this season. Butler isn't needed. Her assignment is to spend the summer remembering who she was.

 

[EricLA]

Here's the thing about Saniya - and bear in mind that I love her and hope she has a great, and injury free, senior year.

She is a liability on offense as a PG. When she's in and Moriah and Kia are out, the offense generally grinds to a halt. Saniya as the primary ball handler generally stays on the perimeter, dribbling sideways for most of the possession, or passing the ball around the edge of the arc. She rarely seems to initiate the offense - and by that I mean help work the ball around to get a player open for a shot.

Perhaps it's because she's usually not in with the starters, and the reserves have difficulty getting open. She's cat quick - almost as quick as Moriah. But at this point I see her as a 2G. Having said THAT... If Geno is comfortable (and I see no reason why he wouldn't be) having either Moriah or Kia as the 1, then I see no reason at all why Saniya couldn't play the 2 (or even the 3) and be effective there.

I'm not sure if her IT band injury still bothers her. She seems engaged and happy whenever the camera rolls over her on the bench. But I know she wants to play. I would not be surprised at all if Geno goes only 6 deep. This is the NC game after all - for all the marbles, as they say. Still, I think spelling Nurse, Jefferson, or Williams for a short period of time could certainly be in the cards for her - just not (IMHO) as the 1G.

 

[adlitem]

Chong is the second best ball hander next to Moriah

I hope Saniya gets in tonight. She plays well and she has earned it.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Chong is the second best ball hander next to Moriah

She's fine when not pressured. Otherwise it's a different story.

 

[HuskiesU]

Chong is the second best ball hander next to Moriah

After Mojeff everyone can handle the ball lol. But serious she's not a great ball handler. She is slow getting around the elite athletes.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Saniya came in, got pressured, and turned it over. She needs more work. I think Saniya can play some pretty good SG, but I see Crystal at PG next season.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

but I see Crystal at PG next season.

That would be one hell of a trial by fire against that non-conference schedule.

 

[MilfordHusky]

That would be one hell of a trial by fire against that non-conference schedule.

Agreed.