The Jumbo Lineup

[CL82]

Yes, didn't have my coffee yet when I posted. In the Army we called that a Brain Fart. My wife says I've been having a lot of them lately.

I just thought you were Danish.

 

[Gael]

Mumbo jumbo.

Misnomer. UConn doesn't have a functioning "jumbo lineup."

First, who is an available jumbo? Gandy may be 6-5 but doesn't count because she never plays. Geno said in the post-Butler presser that Serah Williams is 6-3. No one else in the current top 9 (or 10) rotation is over 6-2 except Jana at 6-5.

Second, based on their performances to date, Serah and Jana are not going to be played together for a long stretch during crunch situations. Combining what others have said, playing them together would make the lineup slower, more ponderous, worse in outside shooting, worse (sadly) in inside shooting, no better (sadly) in rebounding, worse in assist passing, worse in forcing turnovers, and worse in overall defense.

Geno essentially agrees. Quoting him exactly, he said after the Butler game that "the strength" of the team are the perimeter players, that there's a "big gap" between Sarah Strong and Serah/Jana, that Serah's/Jana's post contributions are only a "sometime thing," and that "we need continued improvement from these guys . . . and lots of it . . . and quickly."

 

[Gus Mahler]

Put me down as being a fan of big lineups. I've posted several times over the years about my fondness for the 2014 team when Geno subbed in Kiah Stokes for Moriah, moved Bria Hartley to the one, Kaleena to the 2.5, and had a back wall of Stewie, Stefanie, and Kiah. Talk about protecting the rim!

I've been worried about Jana all season. To have made the contributions down the stretch last year that she did and then find herself playing only five to ten minutes must be disappointing and disheartening. Moreover, I think Geno might well tap the portal again for a center next year. He might feel he needs insurance in case Jana gets hurt. Even if Jana starts that might mean she would be sharing minutes. I hope it all works out well for her--she's a real favorite.

 

[Tonyc]

Genos remark about Gandy were very positive however she has not been on the court so my thought is shes a work in process. Oliva is solid but also lacks experience at UConns level, however Oliva will get her minutes and may eventually start. Again, she wont be sitting. Jana has shown signs of progressing and I feel she will get more minutes over the next few games. Next season we will need her and I expect her to step up based on some of the good outings shes had the past couple of games. Those 11 rebounds stand out and she did make a couple of good moves.

I too would like to be Searh Jana and Yana more effective however Geno showed everybody that his small lineup is very effective and pretty much won us a NC. We need a few clear outs and get our 3 bigs the ball down low and see how they operate. We arent there yet but I dont think we're far away.

 

[BobbyJ]

Genos remark about Gandy were very positive however she has not been on the court so my thought is shes a work in process. Oliva is solid but also lacks experience at UConns level, however Oliva will get her minutes and may eventually start. Again, she wont be sitting. Jana has shown signs of progressing and I feel she will get more minutes over the next few games. Next season we will need her and I expect her to step up based on some of the good outings shes had the past couple of games. Those 11 rebounds stand out and she did make a couple of good moves.

I too would like to be Searh Jana and Yana more effective however Geno showed everybody that his small lineup is very effective and pretty much won us a NC. We need a few clear outs and get our 3 bigs the ball down low and see how they operate. We arent there yet but I dont think we're far away.

Actually, clearing out and getting the ball to those 3 down low is the last thing UConn needs. It’s a recipe for losing in the NCT and fortunately Auriemma knows this so it won’t be happening. It would be wasting offensive possessions against good teams.

 

[Stagnant]

I am not opposed to a big lineup. I just think the backcourt and the defense they play is the strength of the team.

If you added dorka juhasz to the roster; then I would be crying out for the jumbo lineup.

 

[Cuango]

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.

 

[MSGRET]

What tees me off is that Betts does some of the same stuff as Jana and gets away with it.

 

[Crossover]

Put me down as being a fan of big lineups. I've posted several times over the years about my fondness for the 2014 team when Geno subbed in Kiah Stokes for Moriah, moved Bria Hartley to the one, Kaleena to the 2.5, and had a back wall of Stewie, Stefanie, and Kiah. Talk about protecting the rim!

I've been worried about Jana all season. To have made the contributions down the stretch last year that she did and then find herself playing only five to ten minutes must be disappointing and disheartening. Moreover, I think Geno might well tap the portal again for a center next year. He might feel he needs insurance in case Jana gets hurt. Even if Jana starts that might mean she would be sharing minutes. I hope it all works out well for her--she's a real favorite.

Yes, that 2014 jumbo front court was imposing!! Great height and even greater length.

 

[Centerstream]

What tees me off is that Betts does some of the same stuff as Jana and gets away with it.

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.

 

[Bone Dog]

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.

 

[Skeets]

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.

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.

 

[Cuango]

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.

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!

 

[Bone Dog]

I’d be willing to bet Blanca is either closer to 6’3” or Sarah is under 6’2”.

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.

 

[oldhusky]

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.

 

[HopJim]

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.

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.