The Jumbo Lineup
- Thread starter HuskyNan
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It’s not either/or, this game is always matchup based and I think it is pretty clear Geno is looking ahead to Betts, Okot, Koval, etc. Not as in “I’m worried” so much as just realizing that when we get to those games, we might need a little different look if those bigs start dominating the game. Geno is covering all bases and realizes (rightfully so) that it’s best to have his ducks in order if we run into a big that is causing us problems. As for Jana, I am again feeling cautiously optimistic that she is back, or getting back to the attitude she had just before she was injured. That, to me is a very good thing as I believe she was playing the best I’ve ever seen her play and had imo, a completely different attitude on the court as well.
Maybe I’m overstating it but it looked like she had had an epiphany and realized, “I’m the biggest, baddest player on this team and I’m gonna start playing like it!” Again, perhaps a bit hyperbolic but to me, she just looked like she had “shaken off the doldrums”, “rededicated herself”, “had an epiphany”, something along those lines, was set back by the injury, and hopefully, is getting back to that same attitude again. I know we are all besotted with “small ball” but there are situations in the game where Geno sees an opportunity and/or needs to counter an effective front court.
Just as Jana (and Ice) played a big role last season against Betts in particular, I think he (Geno) is getting our front court ready for the same potential situations.
Maybe I’m overstating it but it looked like she had had an epiphany and realized, “I’m the biggest, baddest player on this team and I’m gonna start playing like it!” Again, perhaps a bit hyperbolic but to me, she just looked like she had “shaken off the doldrums”, “rededicated herself”, “had an epiphany”, something along those lines, was set back by the injury, and hopefully, is getting back to that same attitude again. I know we are all besotted with “small ball” but there are situations in the game where Geno sees an opportunity and/or needs to counter an effective front court.
Just as Jana (and Ice) played a big role last season against Betts in particular, I think he (Geno) is getting our front court ready for the same potential situations.
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Yes, that 2014 jumbo front court was imposing!! Great height and even greater length.
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True but the ref's scouting report has Betts as a really, really good player and Jana’s report has Jana as foul prone, often travels, sets moving picks, etc. Serah's report is that she often stays in the lane too long.
I was watching a replay of one of this season's games and a defender was trying to guard Azzi, Azzi and her defender made contact with the defender bouncing into Jana. Jana was not moving but was called for the foul. No wonder she shakes her head and is always looking over her shoulder.
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Blanca is Jumbo all by herself. At 6'2" she is as quick as Milaysia Fulwiley and finishes as well at the rim.
Sarah is Jumbo. She moves with ultimate decisiveness and rebounds like an octopus.
Serah is Jumbo because she runs the floor better than any other players at her size, which is 6'4" officially, not 6'3".
Put that trio on the floor together and the team is Jumbo-er (i.e. quicker and stronger than any opponents). UCLA is bigger, but much slower. Texas is bigger and slower and not nearly as potent as scorers. SC is the closest to UConn's Jumbo-icity, with Joyce and Medina, and Agot if she's healthy.
Of course, team quickness (a key component of Jumb-itude) matters a lot more than individual quickness -- that's quickness in decision-making, i.e in passing, shooting, switching, outlet passes, etc. Last season's team demonstrated the importance of team quickness when they humbled UCLA and SC at every meeting. This season's team looks to be at least as quick... and therefore equally JUMBO.
Sarah is Jumbo. She moves with ultimate decisiveness and rebounds like an octopus.
Serah is Jumbo because she runs the floor better than any other players at her size, which is 6'4" officially, not 6'3".
Put that trio on the floor together and the team is Jumbo-er (i.e. quicker and stronger than any opponents). UCLA is bigger, but much slower. Texas is bigger and slower and not nearly as potent as scorers. SC is the closest to UConn's Jumbo-icity, with Joyce and Medina, and Agot if she's healthy.
Of course, team quickness (a key component of Jumb-itude) matters a lot more than individual quickness -- that's quickness in decision-making, i.e in passing, shooting, switching, outlet passes, etc. Last season's team demonstrated the importance of team quickness when they humbled UCLA and SC at every meeting. This season's team looks to be at least as quick... and therefore equally JUMBO.
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Size is a little bit overrated. I'll take an excellent 6'2" (think Sarah) over just about any 6'4" any day of the week. I think that makes her a "small" jumbo. Same thing with Blanca, if not this year, then next year.
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I’d be willing to bet Blanca is either closer to 6’3” or Sarah is under 6’2”. Every time I see Blanca next to Sarah, it looks like she (Blanca) is substantially taller. Regardless, you are definitely right that Blanca jumbo sizes our team when she is on the floor. I think we’ve barely scratched the surface of her overall talent and that she and Sarah are going to be a legendary duo in this game!
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In the FIBA listings, Sarah was very precisely measured at a little taller than 6'2" -- depending on how you did the conversion from metric, it would come out either a tiny bit more or less than 6'2 and a quarter. Joyce Edwards measurements put her almost 1/2" taller than Sarah. I also think Blanca is slightly taller than Sarah, though perhaps not as much as your guess. But more important than height measurements taken form the head are measurements taken from the shoulder. That's the distance that actually matters in basketball, and Blanca's shoulders look to me to be at the same level as Sarah's.
I consider a lineup with Serah, Sarah and Blanca upfront to be normal not big, at least for a championship contender. 6-4 for the 5 and 6-2 for the 4 is quite average for a top contender. Blanca at 6-2 is bigger for a 3, but she has never been a top rebounder and the 3 is by far her best position.
Sarah at the 5, Blanca at the 4, or Ashlynn at the 3 is small ball. We play a guard at the 3 as much as Blanca, don't use a backup 4 (Ayanna) at all in minutes that count behind Sarah, using Blanca instead, and Serah and Jana don't come anywhere close to consuming 40 minutes at the 5 because Sarah is frequently used there.
Now if we had Jana at the 5, Serah at the 4, and Sarah at the 3, that would be big, even more so of course if Blanca was also at the 2. It's possible the 3 might be Sarah's best position, and I think Blanca could be pretty good at the 2, although best at the 3. The problem is we haven't had good enough bigs other than Sarah to tempt Geno to try going big. We get the Big O, but lose Serah, so unless we get another really good big in the portal or Okeke, I don't think it is likely we see big lineups next year either, but I wish it was more of a strategic option in the toolbox.
Sarah at the 5, Blanca at the 4, or Ashlynn at the 3 is small ball. We play a guard at the 3 as much as Blanca, don't use a backup 4 (Ayanna) at all in minutes that count behind Sarah, using Blanca instead, and Serah and Jana don't come anywhere close to consuming 40 minutes at the 5 because Sarah is frequently used there.
Now if we had Jana at the 5, Serah at the 4, and Sarah at the 3, that would be big, even more so of course if Blanca was also at the 2. It's possible the 3 might be Sarah's best position, and I think Blanca could be pretty good at the 2, although best at the 3. The problem is we haven't had good enough bigs other than Sarah to tempt Geno to try going big. We get the Big O, but lose Serah, so unless we get another really good big in the portal or Okeke, I don't think it is likely we see big lineups next year either, but I wish it was more of a strategic option in the toolbox.
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While there is no replacing Jana's size, I would make the case that both Sarah and Blanca are better rebounders than Jana and Serah. Serah is a good shot blocker and defender so not dismissing her skills but a 6'2" player with strength, quickness and abiity to chase rebounds (versus just stand there and box out) wins most times.