Tierney and Polly

[Laughsalot]

Button your helmet straps women. KML and MT are going to be fine - that's all that matters. Knowing that, I bet our two walk-ons will see appreciable minutes and, based on almost nothing I know, I bet they will continue to be a pleasant surprise.

 

[Suebird10fan]

My guess? Fewer minutes. Games will be closer and Geno is VERY comfortable with a seven or even six person rotation as he has proven many times.

 

[caramel]

I am not sure they will get much time on the court the games against Maryland and Penn State,since they do not have the experience yet with the system,never mind the quality of the competition.I would think,and be more comfortable with,both of them getting more minutes in less pressurized games coming on the schedule,especially if their practice efforts show coach they are deserving of more minutes.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Wow, someone demonstrates an ability to use a name and a nick name for 2 gutsy young ladies. Growth.

 

[pppggg]

More minutes for the walk-ons was my initial thought. But I think each individual game and how they do in practice will determine how long the play. That said, I think they will get more minutes. How many more is to yet be deterimed.

Either way, it's a good thing to have them on the team.

 

[Phil]

And don't forget, it isn't just minutes in games that make the team better. If Tierney and Polly don't get a minute against MD or PSU, we know they got a lot in practice, and play a bigger role in getting the starters and first off the bench ready for prime time. So their contributions will be valuable, even if we don’t see them a minute.

 

[UcMiami]

With the foul rules this year I can see some games coming up where Geno will not have any choice but to play one or the other in a 'holding' role while he has to sit a few guards with multiple fouls. And he may chose to do that quite quickly as having either Tierney or Polly on the court with four regulars is much better than being in a situation where he needs to play them both at the same time.
The little we have seen of them suggests their minds are into the system and they understand the offensive and defensive rotations - physically they are not as gifted as the scholarship players, but if they are in the right places on the court that is more than half the battle.

 

[magic]

With the foul rules this year I can see some games coming up where Geno will not have any choice but to play one or the other in a 'holding' role while he has to sit a few guards with multiple fouls. And he may chose to do that quite quickly as having either Tierney or Polly on the court with four regulars is much better than being in a situation where he needs to play them both at the same time.
The little we have seen of them suggests their minds are into the system and they understand the offensive and defensive rotations - physically they are not as gifted as the scholarship players, but if they are in the right places on the court that is more than half the battle.

 

[magic]

It is going to be a much more exciting and thrilling season for both of them than originally anticipated !

 

[alexrgct]

Two walk-ons would see additional PT if and only if Geno believes they play uconn basketball on every offensive and defensive series. If you think about how few minutes Lauren and Michala got in 2010-11 when the rest of the team who did play was small in number (maya, Bria, Stef, Lorin, Kelly, Tiff, and sometimes Heather), it should tell you something. Geno wants to showcase uconn basketball every minute of the game, no matter the score. He can't stand to watch anything else. Time will tell how far along our walk-ons can get this year.

 

[maddoggy]

While his thinking may have evolved since then, hid 2006 book "Geno: In Pursuit of Perfection" may provide a clue.

"The first two years, Maria is what I call a 20-20-20 guy. That means she gets in either when we're up 20, down 20, or with 20 seconds left. You don't develop a lot of game experience when are a 20-20-20 guy."

Necessity might force him to act differently, but I suspect it won't be often.