It means you take risks, even if the strategies or tactics fail and the failures have consequences. Which is the definition of a risk.
There's indisputable evidence that Geno's players leave UConn as the best players they could be at that point of their development. I saw Lisa Leslie say that when she played on international teams with UConn players, they always knew the game better than anyone else. But I want Aubrey to be a key performer right now and I think he can do that if he can open the floor up. I welcome the so call shredding which may imply that one person knows more than another person. I think it's more fun and fair if it is assumed that everyone has their own opinion.
Have you ever gone for a par 5 in two, when coming up short means a bogey or double-bogey? But at the end of the day, with everything on the line, you know what you can do in that situation. If you didn't try it, you'd never know. Plus it's more fun!
You mention about wanting to have discussions- so can we be blunt here? I think how you look at the game is all wrong. How else can I say this without sounding mean? I do no want to be mean. But to start with, smart coaches take risks that make sense. What if your ideas are wrong? Then you just accuse the "old coach" of unwilling to take risks, right?. That's your fall-back and it's wrong imo. I'll explain shortly about the press. But to further the point of some of us posting past UCONN records - it has to be done sometimes. Because some posters want to bury their heads in the sand regarding these facts like the poster bostonbay who recently said the last 4 years have been "less than stellar." And went on further to say to para "UCONN didn't have any big wins." Two years of 36-1 and within those numbers yet we didn't have any big wins????? Maybe you and/or the other posters sometimes need to be reminded of this? Otherwise how can anyone say that about 36-1 teams? So while you imply "please don't show those stats" - I on the other hand encourage posters to remind others of these stats.
Now in regards to the press- keep in mind it's not one thing-- it's a multitude of factors combined.
1-- when you press you have a risk of foul trouble. UCONN has three legit A/A's that they can't risk sitting on the bench during long stretches vs good teams. There is too big of a dropoff when they are replaced. In big games you need them to play 36-40 minutes. Too many chances for touch fouls and bad refs when you press. Some teams vs other teams it can work but there are big limitations. More on that.
2-- Good teams are going to scout the press. If they can't get the ball in the middle at times, then they have other places to look. For example, Dangerfield is too short. When you press she has to cover a wide range of area or she traps. When she traps it is easier to see the floor over her and throw over her. And when you need a pass - if she isn't trapping - then it's easy for a big to be an easy safety valve (throw it high enough she can't get to it.). In the press you need at least 4 players to create havoc (unless you are pressing to slow down the game). It doesn't sound like though you are talking of slowing down the game using a press.
3-- Anna and Kyla are slow for pressing too. I expect Anna year over year to improve with both quickness in some manner and awareness. Anna isn't bad but still she is slow. Add that to Danger being short - you don't have near the press you think you have.
4-- For those of you who don't think much of Kyla-- it means then you have just 6 players on the press. So the whole season UCONN is supposed to be practicing pressure for a team with a 6 player capable press vs the good teams? There isn't enough pressing type players to be a major pressing team. And if you use Molly Bent then as i mentioned above you have a huge dropoff if you're taking out one of your guards. Maybe you can go with all 3 guards of CD, CW and MB - but then you are going very small.
5--- For those of you that have followed men's basketball a long time - I'll ask you to try to remember the NCAA Tourney game in which UCONN beat Washington by a buzzer beater from Rip Hamilton in 1998. You can google and pull an article and it will explain how Washington got a lot of points in the 1st half in the paint. Further you can read how it was actually UCONN that got worn down when they thought they could wear the bigger team down. Calhoun even remarked afterwards that it appeared his team was worn down. Meaning even though you are faster and quicker doesn't mean you are going to wear down the bigger team. Further, by opening the floor, you are also allowing that team to expose you for easy baskets if they can use their size effectively against your press. Yet UCONN has flaws as I've mentioned above using pressure. With only 6 players you are more likely to wear down. You give too much of an opportunity for teams to get easy baskets also because of the flaws I've mentioned. IMO its better to force the big teams to take outside shots.
6-- Why do you think UCONN gets the number 1 ranked H/S recruits so often? Why do you think UCONN gets the number 1 ranked H/S recruits so often? Why do you think UCONN gets the number 1 ranked H/S recruits so often? I repeated the question several times to make a point. The offense from UCONN is beautiful. The coach preaches it hardline too. Now go and look back at the 2011-2012 game between UCONN and Baylor. At halftime Geno was interviewed and asked his thoughts of the game and to paraphrase he said the team that can execute offensively the best would win. When Kim came back from the tunnel and was asked her thoughts while she was told of Geno's comments - basically to paraphrase she didn't agree and thought the game would be won defensively. They have different philosophies. It seems yours is more in-line with Kim's regarding how you want to play Aubrey and you mentioned previously you want more pressing. Yet I think Geno's teams over the next 5 years will be better than Kim's and has been in the past 5. He values the flow of offense -- A LOT.
While both coaches are right to some extent-- imo more of the number 1 recruits sees Geno's super offensive flow. You on the other hand are highlighting "Aubrey Griffin." IMO you and posters like mick and bostonbay are sold out too much on defense and athletes, and have little appreciation for passing, shooting and picks. I think your philosophy is all wrong over the long haul of several years. A great offensive player has an advantage over the great defender. As a fundamental in basketball called the triple-threat on offense (face the basket and are a threat to pass, shoot or dribble) -- Aubrey can't shoot. Her passing off the dribble is suspect. Yet you are highlighting change our style, change the past way this team has been successful because YOU think a press can be better. Some years it can be. VS crummy teams -- sure. But if you can't do it well vs the good teams why should Aubrey get a lot of minutes rather than some minutes?
Next year definitely press. More elite players. More elite upperclassmen. More team quickness. More "quality" team size. Losing one star player to foul trouble not as big of a deal vs.this year.
