The Huskies Achilles Heel

[GiladKatzDeli]

I think Dangerfield is going to be really special. I think making the jump to college can be difficult for a point guard, but especially one at UConn. I've noticed a few times during the young season where the offense kind of pauses, particularly towards the end of the shot clock. UConn has been fortunate so far in hitting KLS at the elbow or off a curl to get a good shot. Last year, when things would stagnate it would be MoJeff's cue to go get the ball and make something happen. This year, Dangerfield has deferred to Nurse, or hasn't come and gotten the ball and taken control. That's ok, it's something that will come with confidence and experience. When she discovers how good she can be, watch out.

 

[huskyd]

LifeBoat comes to mind--Talulla Bankhead. Running the Gamut or the table isn't as important as running it in March.

Bingo! Tallulah Bankhead. Excellent job, BV.

 

[BroadwayVa]

No job

Bingo! Tallulah Bankhead. Excellent job, BV.

No Job at all ----you just have to be really OLD!!

 

[BroadwayVa]

Thanks for this, BB. I'm not the coach and I didn't even sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but if I were the coach, I wouldn't be worried about Gabby's turnovers, because she is so incredibly active that's it's a bit of high risk/high reward. CD is just learning and Lou is a bit ungainly at times and it'll happen. But Natalie's would be more of a problem for me. She sometimes travels, especially when she just gets in the game and hasn't found her rhythm, but she also loses the ball to stronger players. That's what I'd want to (try to) fix.

Bags--your assessment of the ying and yang of coaching active players is spot on. Kids like Gabby and Dangerfield--you drop the leash and say go--then you call them in to tell them how to NOT make that foul. (assuming they showed intelligence in practice)
Butler is what she is--she'll get a bit better and her rhythm will evolve--maybe strength training may help--but quick active players,even , weaker will use physics to wrench away the ball from Natalie--her only salvation is to move it out quickly--it's when she stands and looks then the cricket is surrounded by hoards of ants.

 

[BroadwayVa]

There's a point in the KS State game, I think ~ 8:00 to go in the 4th Q, where Crystal threads the needle with a bounce pass underneath to Pheesa (? or Gabby? I don't remember) for a bunny, and the camera happens to take in Geno on the sidelines clapping pretty wildly in response. In so many ways, he's uncharacteristically public in his praise for her.

Geno ---loves much about this team---he never greeted a frosh coming out of the game--unless it was a championship as he did Dangerfield. Recently after the Kansas State game interview Geno said-"-she (Katie Lou) is one of the best players in the country--and she is getting better--looking at KLS--he adds --a little bit!!" Of the last 12/15 years I don't think Geno had this much fun.
Dangerfield --has excellent instincts--knows how and who to pass to--her passing judgement is 90 something percent correct--she made a basketball player mistake and was looking beyond the defender to make a pass--and forgot the defender was there=the best of the best at times will do that one -- What makes this special for Geno--this team has defied all the odds --so far, every game from now on is just frosting on this cake.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Bird her Sr year, Jefferson her Sr year.

If I were Dangerfield---I'd like the company I'm in!!

 

[Hope]

I really don't deserve to be a UConnWBB fan. Maybe i'm just a "glass half-full" person. I would always find fault with the team and players. But I've learned what a difference a year makes. UConn freshman seem to blossom as sophomores. Watching this team run the floor for a full 40 minutes leaves be breathless--and speechless. In the K-State game a defensive rebound would end with a UConn lay-up and 2 or 3 K-State players just barely making it across half-court.

I would like to apologize to everyone of our players and applaud them for their efforts. I hope they can forgive me.

 

[donalddoowop]

Yes, absolutely, physical and mental fatigue. But it's not necessarily a problem going forward. ND game was emotionally as well as physically exhausting. Then they took finals. Then they hopped on a plane to KS. But now, they have a week off before another back-to-back; then another week off, then another back-to-back. After that, the schedule is a lot easier.

Looking way too far ahead, the next similar stresser will likely be the Final 4, and if they get that far, the adrenaline will take them to the finish.

Every team in the FF will have the same stress so that will even things out except that UCONN, if they make it that far, has more FF experience than MOST teams.

 

[oldude]

Every team in the FF will have the same stress so that will even things out except that UCONN, if they make it that far, has more FF experience than MOST teams.

Considering that UConn has been to the FF 9 yrs in a row, the FF is more like the annual family picnic for the Huskies.

 

[UcMiami]

Nice OP from that Old Guy!

But the only worry, like every year, for me is injuries. And you can't get around that in WCBB unless you have a roster like next year's.

We have been down this route in NC seasons before in terms of short bench. And I just want to point some things out:

1. Second game of the year against a good and large Baylor team, in a tight contest, Natalie Butler played 16 first half minutes, and Kyla and Molly played 3 minutes each. Not bad for a 'problem' area. She saved the teams bacon in the FSU and Texas games as well.

2. We have seen against not large teams Geno go to a small line-up shifting Lou into a center position defensively with Saniya, Kia, and Crystal Dangerfield playing out front for about a five minute stretch I believe. Could have been sitting any one of Gabby, Napheesa, or Lou in that line-up.

3. Against a small and pesky DePaul team Natalie again played some serious minutes and played well - something I was not expecting her to be able to do. She is surprising me in games this year - that stretch against Depaul was a mixture of man and zone, the zone I figured would be OK, the man was much better than I expected.

This team has one guard and one post player that Geno can depend on, and one freshman guard and one freshman post who have three months to learn to be serviceable. They proved they can be that against Baylor for a short stretch of time to gain a few needed minutes on the bench for starters - and that was a lineup on the court with all three freshmen and Natalie!!! Against Baylor!!!

Finally - how often at the FF has Geno had a rotation that went deeper than 7? Not very often even when the bench was significantly longer. I don't know if this team is good enough to win an NC, but barring injury, I don't think the depth is going to be the issue. This is not one of those years that Uconn's A game is unbeatable - there are some school's whose A+ game would probably prevail against Uconn's A game.

 

[bags27]

Nice OP from that Old Guy!

But the only worry, like every year, for me is injuries. And you can't get around that in WCBB unless you have a roster like next year's.

We have been down this route in NC seasons before in terms of short bench. And I just want to point some things out:

1. Second game of the year against a good and large Baylor team, in a tight contest, Natalie Butler played 16 first half minutes, and Kyla and Molly played 3 minutes each. Not bad for a 'problem' area. She saved the teams bacon in the FSU and Texas games as well.

2. We have seen against not large teams Geno go to a small line-up shifting Lou into a center position defensively with Saniya, Kia, and Crystal Dangerfield playing out front for about a five minute stretch I believe. Could have been sitting any one of Gabby, Napheesa, or Lou in that line-up.

3. Against a small and pesky DePaul team Natalie again played some serious minutes and played well - something I was not expecting her to be able to do. She is surprising me in games this year - that stretch against Depaul was a mixture of man and zone, the zone I figured would be OK, the man was much better than I expected.

This team has one guard and one post player that Geno can depend on, and one freshman guard and one freshman post who have three months to learn to be serviceable. They proved they can be that against Baylor for a short stretch of time to gain a few needed minutes on the bench for starters - and that was a lineup on the court with all three freshmen and Natalie!!! Against Baylor!!!

Finally - how often at the FF has Geno had a rotation that went deeper than 7? Not very often even when the bench was significantly longer. I don't know if this team is good enough to win an NC, but barring injury, I don't think the depth is going to be the issue. This is not one of those years that Uconn's A game is unbeatable - there are some school's whose A+ game would probably prevail against Uconn's A game.

Masterful!

 

[BroadwayVa]

Nice OP from that Old Guy!

But the only worry, like every year, for me is injuries. And you can't get around that in WCBB unless you have a roster like next year's.

We have been down this route in NC seasons before in terms of short bench. And I just want to point some things out:

1. Second game of the year against a good and large Baylor team, in a tight contest, Natalie Butler played 16 first half minutes, and Kyla and Molly played 3 minutes each. Not bad for a 'problem' area. She saved the teams bacon in the FSU and Texas games as well.

2. We have seen against not large teams Geno go to a small line-up shifting Lou into a center position defensively with Saniya, Kia, and Crystal Dangerfield playing out front for about a five minute stretch I believe. Could have been sitting any one of Gabby, Napheesa, or Lou in that line-up.

3. Against a small and pesky DePaul team Natalie again played some serious minutes and played well - something I was not expecting her to be able to do. She is surprising me in games this year - that stretch against Depaul was a mixture of man and zone, the zone I figured would be OK, the man was much better than I expected.

This team has one guard and one post player that Geno can depend on, and one freshman guard and one freshman post who have three months to learn to be serviceable. They proved they can be that against Baylor for a short stretch of time to gain a few needed minutes on the bench for starters - and that was a lineup on the court with all three freshmen and Natalie!!! Against Baylor!!!

Finally - how often at the FF has Geno had a rotation that went deeper than 7? Not very often even when the bench was significantly longer. I don't know if this team is good enough to win an NC, but barring injury, I don't think the depth is going to be the issue. This is not one of those years that Uconn's A game is unbeatable - there are some school's whose A+ game would probably prevail against Uconn's A game.

Nice--really nice analysis and POSITIVE!!

Thank you for the good words for Natalie---the expectations for some, and me for a while, were not realistic--What Natalie does well she does very good--she rebounds well among the trees, she has good hands. She actually runs the floor well--she runs all out ever y time down the floor. No she does not beat other Uconn down the floor but in the second halves she beat some of the opponents. Her teammates need to learn to give her an outlet target quickly after a rebound.

I'm not sure of Kyla--my focus usually is on Molly and Dangerfield and Natalie--her large body and good skills should be further developed in a few weeks against the AAC as should Molly.

Apparently Geno sees the benefits of playing Natalie in stretches.

From the beginning of the season my expectations/hopes were for the final 4--as you say--their A game --shall prevail

Thanks again--the young guys i.e. the bench needs a pat on back--as does Natalie--

 

[CocoHusky]

2. Crystal has 27 Assists and 19 TO in 200 min. "Her turnovers are high"- compared to what/Who?

"If Dangerfield maintains her current pace and the Huskies were to reach the American Athletic Conference and NCAA tournament title games, she would break Renee Montgomery's program record for assists by a freshman."

The New Haven Register Blogs: Elm City to Eagleville

 

[carpe diem]

While it is totally irrelevant to the reality of the current depth issue, it might be interesting to speculate weather comments would be different if the transfers from UCONN over the past three years had stayed, or which ones individually might have been positive contributors to success, or whether all or most of them would be riding the bench. Since we have few facts, any fantasy thoughts could be speculated as to "what could have been."

 

[CocoHusky]

While it is totally irrelevant to the reality of the current depth issue, it might be interesting to speculate weather comments would be different if the transfers from UCONN over the past three years had stayed, or which ones individually might have been positive contributors to success, or whether all or most of them would be riding the bench. Since we have few facts, any fantasy thoughts could be speculated as to "what could have been."

What follows is pure speculation:

• If Brianna Banks had not transferred & regained her health & confidence she would have been the starter alongside Moriah instead of Saniya /Kia during the 2014-15 season.
• De'Janae Boykin would have been a very valuable addition to the UCONN roster this season and would have been playing significant minutes.
• Courtney Ekmark could have been a very valuable asset to this year's UCONN roster as a zone buster opposite KLS.
• Sadie Edwards did the right thing and would have been struggling to get on the floor at UCONN in this her Junior season.

 

[PhillyCoach]

There's a point in the KS State game, I think ~ 8:00 to go in the 4th Q, where Crystal threads the needle with a bounce pass underneath to Pheesa (? or Gabby? I don't remember) for a bunny, and the camera happens to take in Geno on the sidelines clapping pretty wildly in response. In so many ways, he's uncharacteristically public in his praise for her.

Hey Bags - love your perspective. Many of us posters need people like you to point out subtleties. Talking specifically about Geno's public praise for Crystal--this again is the psychological power that Geno has developed. MOTIVATION!! Positive or Negative? Intrinsic--extrinsic. (I think most of us realize that intrinsic motivation is required--self-image leads the way.) IMHO Geno and staff (having 8 pairs of eyes is invaluable) clearly see when a kick in the butt or a pat on the back is needed. Remember Diana said that Geno knocks down and needles his team all year and then come March he convinces them that they are the best team if their game is on. IMO Crystal came in very confident and (and she said--I never experienced anything like this before) she was knocked for a loop. She was a little down--a feeling all frosh go through. Geno recognizes that Crystal needs a little more love than the whip. That WOW hug after Baylor confirmed his open confidence for Crystal. It seems to me that Crystal is more relaxed and is testing her aggressive dribble penetration and scoring ability. If Crystal played the ME game like Plum or the Ohio State star, Crystal could score 20 every game. In fact so could any of the 5 starters on UConn. However, the team game is the only UConn game.
So, thanks for bringing up the public praise by Geno. Lets put this on the unending list of Championship coaching qualities that Geno possesses.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Courtney Ekmark could have been a very valuable asset to this year's UCONN roster as a zone buster opposite KLS.

Rarely disagree Coco but Courtney never developed any consistency in her shot to bust anything and her lack of confidence was displayed with how many times she passed on it.

 

[CocoHusky]

Rarely disagree Coco but Courtney never developed any consistency in her shot to bust anything and her lack of confidence was displayed with how many times she passed on it.

I fully agree with your disagreement, that is why I said she "could have".

 

[carpe diem]

What follows is pure speculation:

• If Brianna Banks had not transferred & regained her health & confidence she would have been the starter alongside Moriah instead of Saniya /Kia during the 2014-15 season.
• De'Janae Boykin would have been a very valuable addition to the UCONN roster this season and would have been playing significant minutes.
• Courtney Ekmark could have been a very valuable asset to this year's UCONN roster as a zone buster opposite KLS.
• Sadie Edwards did the right thing and would have been struggling to get on the floor at UCONN in this her Junior season.

My concern about Ekmark's potential contribution had she stayed this year is the disappointment I always felt watching her play defense with such slow feet. On offense, despite her reputation for being a 3 point specialist, and I do not know her exact percentage, it seems to me that was a disappointing area as well. It does say something that after experiencing two NC she still transferred - perhaps doubting another was possible this year. She does sound happy with her present situation and future plans at Arizona State.

 

[oldude]

While it is totally irrelevant to the reality of the current depth issue, it might be interesting to speculate weather comments would be different if the transfers from UCONN over the past three years had stayed, or which ones individually might have been positive contributors to success, or whether all or most of them would be riding the bench. Since we have few facts, any fantasy thoughts could be speculated as to "what could have been."

That's a big "IF," but certainly if Edwards and Boykin had stayed & bought into the "Husky way," if Elmark had stayed & continued to improve and if Tuck had come back for a 5th year & stayed healthy, the underlying premise for this thread would be a moot point.

 

[CocoHusky]

My concern about Ekmark's potential contribution had she stayed this year is the disappointment I always felt watching her play defense with such slow feet. On offense, despite her reputation for being a 3 point specialist, and I do not know her exact percentage, it seems to me that was a disappointing area as well. It does say something that after experiencing two NC she still transferred - perhaps doubting another was possible this year. She does sound happy with her present situation and future plans at Arizona State.

Courtney's shooting numbers were disappointing across the board and she was not nearly the shooter she was advertised (best in the class) to be.
38% FG, on 120 Attempts 31% 3PT, on 73 Attempts, 33% FT on 12 Attempts.
Slow feet could have been partially compensated for with better defensive technique and ironically by hitting more shots.
Wish her nothing but the best at ASU, while at UCONN her effort was great & steady.

 

[Kmoney]

Oh goodness.
Crystal's shot not falling might have something to do with coming off a concussion.
Crystal has 27 Assists and 19 TO in 200 min. "Her turnovers are high"- compared to what/Who?
The team had 24 Assists on 30 made baskets so they must have been passing the ball around pretty good.
The team is going to need everyone down the stretch not just Molly.

I think Crystal is going to be great. right now, I think her ball handling is a little loose. it doesn't always result in turnovers but she tends to get passes deflected or have her dribble tipped by the defender.

 

[Florida Fan]

Yes, lack of depth in the front court is the Achilles heel. Would that Tuck or Boykin stayed or that Camara had come originally.

Dark Cloud: Yes, UConn handled Baylor. But no team in the country has 2 such talented bigs as South Carolina, and USC now sees how UConn operates. They have months to game plan.
Silver Lining: let's continue to rejoice that this team is exceeding well beyond everyone's (including Geno's) expectations. However far it gets this year, it's an awesome group of kids.

Remember: Achilles died young, but gained immortal glory!

You are correct, nothing will change the team's awesomeness, the Achilles asterisk covers injury and fouls, the former, a sustained dark cloud, and the latt we are powerless, if a new ref decides to let her/his ego lay an imprint on the national conversation. And if these events take place ion the last game

I think Crystal is going to be great. right now, I think her ball handling is a little loose. it doesn't always result in turnovers but she tends to get passes deflected or have her dribble tipped by the defender.

Crystal threw one no-look rocket in Lou's direction on the left wing. It went past two defenders and bounced off Lou's chest. She never saw it, the pro pass, on target and high velocity. My jaw dropped. Did I just see what I just saw? Not sure now whether it happened, but an indication of a skill set beyond a freshman year or a freshman mistake. Nobody mentioned it, because I think it ended up a turnover.

 

[Eggman]

One additional comment regarding the stress caused by a very short bench. A few games back Lou tweaked her ankle. That ankle was attached to the same foot she broke last year. That minor tweak generated about 30 posts from concerned Husky fans.


Many of us will need to seriously consider increasing our consumption of alcohol to deal with ankle tweaks, flying elbows & neck spasms.

Don't play so hard if you keep getting hurt.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Rarely disagree Coco but Courtney never developed any consistency in her shot to bust anything and her lack of confidence was displayed with how many times she passed on it.

I too am a Coco fan--and reluctant to disagree--however --I had the same thoughts about Courtney---I loved her, and wanted her to succeed--injury or no--sorry about this, but her talent and floor demeanor just never developed to be a second level starter. She apparently made a nice home in her home state, I wish her only success in everything she does..