Time to force feed Jana

[PvP]

Having watched UCLA dominate SC, without having to rely very heavily on Betts, I believe Geno needs to force feed minutes for Jana as it doesn't seem, to me, that Ice can't be expected to give up 4 inches to a player like Betts as skilled as she is on both ends of the court.

Jana not only has more height. It seems to me, that with enough game action, the rust of 18 months will dissipate and her natural aggressiveness will result in both more points, rebounds and blocks.

With games with UCLA and USC forthcoming, I think the time has come for Jana's minutes to increase substantially.

 

[Huskee11]

I may be wrong but I don't think they have been on the floor at the same time. If they have, only briefly. That surprises me somewhat, seems like it would be worth seeing what it looks like. Especially the high low game.

We have seen times when Sarah is out there with four guards and that lineup has been pretty effective.

Ultimately, Geno will put the team out there that he thinks gives them the best chance. We know he thinks highly of Jana, he has been effusive in his praise. I suspect her minutes will increase as the season progresses, but she will need to play stronger inside than she did against FDU for that to happen.

 

[Bone Dog]

UCLA isn’t on the schedule.

 

[bayern7]

I mean I’d love to see more of her as well. But Old Dog is right we aren’t playing UCLA in the regular season, and we really aren’t playing that many teams (reg. season) that are going to be bigger/more talented than us in the paint. At least not by a noticeable margin. I’m actually more concerned with our perimeter defense especially against the likes of ND. I think our main weakness (especially without Aubrey) is lateral quickness and on ball defense out on the perimeter. KK and Aubrey are capable but one is out injured and the other hasn’t gotten as much playing time because of the lack of offensive progression in her game and the increased depth.

 

[Zonepress]

Having watched UCLA dominate SC, without having to rely very heavily on Betts, I believe Geno needs to force feed minutes for Jana as it doesn't seem, to me, that Ice can't be expected to give up 4 inches to a player like Betts as skilled as she is on both ends of the court.

Jana not only has more height. It seems to me, that with enough game action, the rust of 18 months will dissipate and her natural aggressiveness will result in both more points, rebounds and blocks.

With games with UCLA and USC forthcoming, I think the time has come for Jana's minutes to increase substantially.

 

[Cuango]

I too hope Jana gets more minutes. Hopefully, she can slow down a little and get some of those chippies to fall. At the same time, hopefully she can avoid silly fouls and start making some free throws. I’m confident she will be a star for us, the only question is, how long before it happens?

 

[AzzisBraids]

Judging SC vs UCLA on a UConn grid just doesn't work but I don't think you're that off base. Jana isn't the solution though, she cannot be relied on and if FDU is any indication, Ice should get most of her minutes.

 

[donalddoowop]

Judging SC vs UCLA on a UConn grid just doesn't work but I don't think you're that off base. Jana isn't the solution though, she cannot be relied on and if FDU is any indication, Ice should get most of her minutes.

Thus, the reason for the force feed. Then she will be the solution. One bad game????

 

[HopJim]

Jana will get her fair share of time and opportunity to rebuild her confidence with all the League games. Today, as Geno has done for 40 years, you get what you earn.

 

[PvP]

UCLA isn’t on the schedule.

I should have been clearer. I fully expect to have to play UCLA to get where we want this year.

 

[oldude]

It’s a process. So long as everyone stays healthy, Geno and his coaching staff will roll out the very best version of this team come March and the Big Dance. That includes the development of Jana as a force in the post.

 

[BBallF]

It’s a process. So long as everyone stays healthy, Geno and his coaching staff will roll out the very best version of this team come March and the Big Dance. That includes the development of Jana as a force in the post.

Yup. It just seems that the team, however composed, has a metamorphosis in February/March every year and becomes a different and better version of themselves for the NCAA.

 

[Dogstar]

Having watched UCLA dominate SC, without having to rely very heavily on Betts, I believe Geno needs to force feed minutes for Jana as it doesn't seem, to me, that Ice can't be expected to give up 4 inches to a player like Betts as skilled as she is on both ends of the court.

Jana not only has more height. It seems to me, that with enough game action, the rust of 18 months will dissipate and her natural aggressiveness will result in both more points, rebounds and blocks.

With games with UCLA and USC forthcoming, I think the time has come for Jana's minutes to increase substantially.

Ultimately, Geno will put the team out there that he thinks gives them the best chance. We know he thinks highly of Jana, he has been effusive in his praise. I suspect her minutes will increase as the season progresses, but she will need to play stronger inside than she did against FDU for that to happen.

EXACTLY....With all the praise tht Geno has given Jana there's a reason tht she hasn't started or played so called substantial minutes. It could be consistently...not bringing the good thgs she does in practice to the game itself, or her body language whn things aren't going well for her, no slouching or getting down on yourself just do better. But whteva it is Geno won't " force feed" a player minutes, I've seen him give players "pine time" for not doing thgs the way he wants them done. Stewie, Diana, Maya have all gotten a trip to Pineville for not giving wht Coach expects, he demands ur best. Jana will be fine im sure but Geno will not baby a player if you do thgs right you'll get minutes if you don't you wont...we may not like some of his decisions but....In the G.O.A.T I trust.

 

[Zonepress]

Ucla has great size in Betts and Barker but I see the game a little differently than you do
UConn could go to a small lineup with a Sarah Strong essentially being the center
Do you think that could guard her 20 feet from the basket?
Do you think Parker could guard Paige Bueckers?
As a coach it’s never about the other team. It’s about your own teams execution.
As good as UCLA is, big players played
The key to them was there guard play
The freshman from Finland was fantastic
And the other guard I believe it five three-pointers

 

[HuskyNan]

Having watched UCLA dominate SC, without having to rely very heavily on Betts, I believe Geno needs to force feed minutes for Jana as it doesn't seem, to me, that Ice can't be expected to give up 4 inches to a player like Betts as skilled as she is on both ends of the court.

Jana not only has more height. It seems to me, that with enough game action, the rust of 18 months will dissipate and her natural aggressiveness will result in both more points, rebounds and blocks.

With games with UCLA and USC forthcoming, I think the time has come for Jana's minutes to increase substantially.

Do you really think an extra 2" of height (and I'm not convinced it's really that much) is better than Ice's stronger, wider body and greater experience? Ice is better at boxing out, currently more aggressive to rebounds, and has a better understanding of the offense. UConn beat a bunch of teams with 6-6 girls in this past NCAA tournament; an extra couple of inches were not the difference between a win and a loss.

I swear this obsession with size is such a guy thing. No offense

 

[Dugway]

I should have been clearer. I fully expect to have to play UCLA to get where we want this year.

You just never know who we are going to run into in tournament play. It really does not even need to be UCLA; there are several teams with big, outstanding centers that we could catch early on. I can envision a circumstance of Sweet-16 play and there we are aligned against say, ... TCU and Sedona Prince. Or possibly, Oklahoma, they have Beers, right? Perhaps we get through them and there is Texas and Taylor Jones ...

I guess the point is, I totally agree! We need Jana to play to the level that Auriemma had bragged about, or at least somewhat to that level. We have Paige who was a HS #1. Azzi also HS #1, and of course Sarah was a HS #1. Geno indicated that had El-Alfy not been an international player, she too would have been a HS #1, at least in his opinion she is that good. And in one of those early games, she showed out and looked like it! She fouled a lot, but she was Double-Double! I still believe that she has a higher ceiling than Brady, and that is not a knock on Ice. Jana just needs to get her mojo going!

 

[Dugway]

Do you really think an extra 2" of height (and I'm not convinced it's really that much) is better than Ice's stronger, wider body and greater experience? Ice is better at boxing out, currently more aggressive to rebounds, and has a better understanding of the offense. UConn beat a bunch of teams with 6-6 girls in this past NCAA tournament; an extra couple of inches were not the difference between a win and a loss.

I swear this obsession with size is such a guy thing. No offense

View attachment 105004

She has not played like it so far, but I think that Jana will ultimately be a much better post player than Ice.

 

[diggerfoot]

Patterson is similar to El-Affy, compensating for a couple inches less height with considerably better hops and athleticism. This is not to suggest either one or both be ”force fed” game time, just that game time will be determined by practice towards a well oiled machine and not a focus on nurturing individual parts.

 

[Next 12]

She has not played like it so far, but I think that Jana will ultimately be a much better post player than Ice.

Give the girl a break! JANA has come off an Achilles Tendon tear which takes a long time to heal. JANA was ready to play after watching her FIFA games that she dominated.Besides practice, JANA has been in 4 qames. WOW, the experience! She has the ability to be a great player and I say, knock off the comments and give her a chance. JANA will definitely become the player GENO and I believe she will be. GO JANA!!! GO FRESHMEN!!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!

 

[Zarathustra]

Do you really think an extra 2" of height (and I'm not convinced it's really that much) is better than Ice's stronger, wider body and greater experience? Ice is better at boxing out, currently more aggressive to rebounds, and has a better understanding of the offense. UConn beat a bunch of teams with 6-6 girls in this past NCAA tournament; an extra couple of inches were not the difference between a win and a loss.

I swear this obsession with size is such a guy thing. No offense

View attachment 105004

If you were referring to ICE the difference would be four inches, not two: 6'7" Betts, 6'3" ICE. In
reading your note it "seemed" that you were referencing Ms. Brady... If you meant JANA.. I
was misreading. GO ICE, GO JANA. Start the process with a good game against the 6'7" and
6'5" Beavers!

 

[CL82]

Do you really think an extra 2" of height (and I'm not convinced it's really that much) is better than Ice's stronger, wider body and greater experience? Ice is better at boxing out, currently more aggressive to rebounds, and has a better understanding of the offense. UConn beat a bunch of teams with 6-6 girls in this past NCAA tournament; an extra couple of inches were not the difference between a win and a loss.

I swear this obsession with size is such a guy thing. No offense

View attachment 105004

On the other hand, you know what they say… You can't teach height!

I think a lot of the preference for Jana is due to how good she looked before she got injured last summer and the tendency to assume that untried players will be able to play flawlessly. That happens pretty frequently on this board, and pretty much every other board. I think it's a human nature thing.

I feel like the lightbulb has gone on a little bit for Ice. She seems like she's playing more confidently, aggressive and physical, this year. Some of that no doubt is due to maturity and experience, but, I'm inclined to believe that some of it is also due to banging against Jana in practice.

Regardless "steel sharpens steel." I expect both of them to look pretty good by the end of the year.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Tough crowd.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I too hope Jana gets more minutes. Hopefully, she can slow down a little and get some of those chippies to fall. At the same time, hopefully she can avoid silly fouls and start making some free throws. I’m confident she will be a star for us, the only question is, how long before it happens?

If Jana would slam dunk a few, that would take the pressure off her, and solve the frustration of missing the point blank shots...

 

[huskeynut]

Force feeding is a big mistake. Ice is doing fine and improving. Jana will come around. And Sarah is just getting warmed up.

A little education. Everybody has an internal clock. No coach or teacher can change it. You can't force feed it.

 

[Nolefan]

I just say can we worry about 1 game at a time ?