Time to force feed Jana

[Galaxyshooter]

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

Even better, can we focus on one possession at a time? Give the young lady time it's not like she's looking to fail she's adjusting to a much higher level of basketball than her Egyptian team, and in a program that has high expectations of its players, let's not add even more as fans. I will say this: she's more aggressive than former Uconn big Amari Deberry, and so far, she's getting more playing time than Amari ever had, so Geno sees something. Let's enjoy the ride and pray for the best.

 

[packwrap]

UConn nation has seen her play, and they don't anything about her. All they know is what they see. Myself, the staff, the players, and everyone associated with our program has been really truly, truly blessed that she's come into our life because I can honestly say in 40 years I've never coached anybody better at Connecticut, never, in my life."

So honestly, it was Geno who started all the hype we've been discussing on the board. By making those comments, he set expectations sky high for her, and thus far, she's not lived up to it. Of course fans need to be patient, etc. But Geno was the one blowing the doors off expectations for her, and that has bled into the fans' psyche's.

He's not saying she's good, just that he has coached her very well.

On the OP theme of Jana, it's not so much how 1 player will have to handle someone like Betts, rather how our rotation of Sarah, Ice and Jana will handle opposing stars.

While they are of course at different levels and have unique strengths and weaknesses, they are remarkably similar as mobile athletic posts, who can also shoot the 3 and switch in man defense.

Sarah shocked me already with her maturity, but Ice and Jana are promising as well. We need to keep developing all 3 to be ready for teams like SC, UCLA, Texas, Oklahoma and LSU in the tourney.

Patience here will be rewarded as this threesome will play together 3-4 years!

 

[HopJim]

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

Ice and particularly Strong, are the two best rebounders on the team. While Jana takes up space, both Ice and Strong are always moving to the ball and both, Strong in particular, have great hands. If they touch it, its theirs. As we saw with G. Williams (listed at 5'11") and Collier (listed at 6'1"), height doesn't always equal strong rebounding.

 

[BRS24]

I was impressed with a difficult rebound that Jana got in the 2nd half and her left foot was glued to the floor as a pivot and she took it back up for the shot. Some players would have traveled on that play

 

[Jim R]

I was impressed with a difficult rebound that Jana got in the 2nd half and her left foot was glued to the floor as a pivot and she took it back up for the shot. Some players would have traveled on that play

And, with the left hand

 

[Husky fanatic]

Go to the “Search” bar and type Jana and then in the member box put YOUR NAME. You have been one of the worst offenders on over hyping Jana since the summer. It started with your comparison to Stewie and it has continued unabated since over 30 different posts by you since October 27 touting her! Go and count. You have to refrain from this constant need to post especially when you have zero basis for many of your assertions. She’s a freshman who has never played against comparably skilled players. She has potential not accomplished like Sarah. Yes, we all
Want to see her realize it sooner than later but many posters like You have been over exuberant and then overly sensitive when critique is given. So yes much of this retort was due solely to your unfettered lofty prognostication.
Others have been doing the same so
When a bit of tempered retort is given, they then illogical defend their poorly construed stance like Next 12 has done. Rule #1 as a parent, treat all your kids the same in public. Root for all the Huskies not just specific classes.
Your

Always the antagonist

 

[Dugway]

Ice and particularly Strong, are the two best rebounders on the team. While Jana takes up space, both Ice and Strong are always moving to the ball and both, Strong in particular, have great hands.

While I agree with you that Strong is a fantastic rebounder (and overall player), and Brady has more experience, however I am more bully on Jana than this post suggests.

There is a poster who calculates statistics for the game(s) and projects them to 40-mins, such that they are apples to apples comparable based upon minutes played. When this is completed for the season, at least so far, I believe we will see that Jana is statistically a better rebounder than Ice. I think it will prove out that she also commits fewer fouls and scores more points than Ice, “per 40-min game”. Maybe I am wrong about this, but I think it will bear that out.

There are a lot of things that are not necessarily reflective on the stats sheet. Frankly, Brady may be better in all of those, but Jana is getting to the point where she is equivalent to, or surpassing Ice in many ways, and perhaps overall.

 

[UConnCat]

Jana is big, strong, tough and aggressive. Her ceiling is high and she has a long way to go to reach that ceiling but I'm so glad she's a Husky.

 

[oldude]

Jana had 9 rebounds in only 20 minutes, several of which she grabbed in traffic with multiple, pesky Ole Miss players surrounding her. If she continues to rebound like she did yesterday, anything else she provides in terms of scoring, blocking shots or passing is gravy.

I’ve bounced around, back and forth on Jana starting. But the one thing that’s clear is that for UConn to win #12 this season, Jana will need to be a key contributor.

 

[darrell]

Jana had 9 rebounds in only 20 minutes, several of which she grabbed in traffic with multiple, pesky Ole Miss players surrounding her. If she continues to rebound like she did yesterday, anything else she provides in terms of scoring, blocking shots or passing is gravy.

I’ve bounced around, back and forth on Jana starting. But the one thing that’s clear is that for UConn to win #12 this season, Jana will need to be a key contributor.

Jana being put into the game for Kaitlyn was a turning point. UConn was playing small-ball with Sarah at the 5 and Ole Miss was crashing the boards.

Jana’s physicality inside is something UConn hasn’t had in a while, she was a great counter for their bigs. I can’t wait to see her at her peak.

 

[hoophuskee]

I think the sky is the limit for Jana. But fouls and free throws are very important. If she can't hit free throws then she can't play very much in tight big games. i expect the fouls issue to be up-and-down this year. Low Posts that are freshmen in which they are relied on a lot, I tend to think just when you believe the issue has been resolved, then expect the next game the issue to pop back up. That tends to happen with 19 yo's.

But another key factor is her f/t shooting. If she is going to shoot poorly at the free/t line, then it means she can't be relied on too much in big tight games late. We know UCONN doesn't get to the free/t line much which means the opposing Bigs can be even be more aggressive/physical late which also means they can be even more physical defending and going after rebounds etc. Until Jana shows she is a decent enough f/t shooter, then there is no reason to not give the extra minutes to Ice for example because you are still trying to win the game with players you can rely on. You can't rely on a player very often late in tight games if they can't hit their f/t's. And at least with Ice getting these extra minutes, she is getting better too, so it's not exactly a negative playing Ice. Not negative at all.

Note: I am not saying dont play her. Not one bit. They need her.

 

[BBallF]

I think the sky is the limit for Jana. But fouls and free throws are very important. If she can't hit free throws then she can't play very much in tight big games. i expect the fouls issue to be up-and-down this year. Low Posts that are freshmen in which they are relied on a lot, I tend to think just when you believe the issue has been resolved, then expect the next game the issue to pop back up. That tends to happen with 19 yo's.

But another key factor is her f/t shooting. If she is going to shoot poorly at the free/t line, then it means she can't be relied on too much in big tight games late. We know UCONN doesn't get to the free/t line much which means the opposing Bigs can be even be more aggressive/physical late which also means they can be even more physical defending and going after rebounds etc. Until Jana shows she is a decent enough f/t shooter, then there is no reason to not give the extra minutes to Ice for example because you are still trying to win the game with players you can rely on. You can't rely on a player very often late in tight games if they can't hit their f/t's. And at least with Ice getting these extra minutes, she is getting better too, so it's not exactly a negative playing Ice. Not negative at all.

Note: I am not saying dont play her. Not one bit. They need her.

The interesting thing is that she always seems to miss her first free throw by being too long. The second is a more feathery touch and she usually makes it. She is a work in progress to be sure but she had a solid game last night against a lot older, more experienced players. She wants to be dominating and great, you can just see that in her body language. For only 6 games in, I am thrilled with her potential and I think she will develop at a double time rate because of who she will be playing against.