tOSU Postgame Thread

[MSGRET]

Serah Williams only played 14 minutes. After playing close to the full 40 minutes in previous seasons, how will she feel about diminished minutes?

I believe that she's comfortable with the fewer minutes right now because she's still learning Geno's system. She's on a team that is full of great players who have been in the system for a year or more. She'll play more minutes as see gets more comfortable with it, especially in the Big East games.

 

[oldude]

Blanca looks like she will have a Sarah Strong like impact on this team this year. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone score so many points so easily. Imagine when she cleans up some of her mistakes and poor decision making.

If you caught Geno’s postgame, he was shaking his head somewhat about Blanca, comparing her to Sveta, who used to drive him crazy. Evidently, after Blanca put up a questionable shot, he asked her, “Was that a good shot?” She looked momentarily confused before responding, “If I took it, it’s a good shot.” 😁

 

[donalddoowop]

Great review as usual and you hit all the major points. Here are some corollaries.

Blanca is actually less of a finesse player and more of a sheer power player than Sarah and she ,like Sarah, is almost impossible to defend in the open court. That 18 points was only the beginning for her. I think it was just an average game for her. Her defense with her length was very unexpected and is just a real problem. That reach in, touch the ball, steal, get it and go full court was perfect. Without her length, that's a foul.

Azzi apparently had a cold yesterday but it really didn't matter. She just has this supreme confidence in her shot and her 3s seem to come at the most disheartening moments for the opposition. Key to her is her pull up jumper working. That sets up her 3 and her drives.

K9 as insurance for KK is a game changer. It allows KK to be aggressive all game long and gives her rest time and Kayleigh is almost psychotic out there when the ball is loose. I am reminded a little of Dennis Rodman. In that vein, Sarah diving onto the floor when the game was effectively over is a pretty, pretty, good leadership lesson.

Compared to 2023, we have KK, Allie, K9, Ash, and Sarah as ball handlers not to mention Azzi who was there and is much improved now. I just wished Nika was there. That loss was devastating to her.

By March the defense will be even better, which is always the Geno Metamorphosis. It's hard to imagine that right now.

We have several improved players in Sarah, Azzi, Allie, KK, Jana, Ash( it's coming) to go with K9 and Serah and the strongest and deepest bench in maybe forever.

What will this team look like for the Big Dance? Let's just enjoy the ride and the development each game. We have at least 3 players now worth the price of admission in Azzi, Sarah and Blanca. All 3 will be up on the Wall someday.

Not so sure about Azzi. She has only one more chance to do it and a lot of competition to make the AA team that makes her name eligible to go on the wall. She will have to be consistently above average this season, all season. I hope she makes it.

 

[oldude]

Not so sure about Azzi. She has only one more chance to do it and a lot of competition to make the AA team that makes her name eligible to go on the wall. She will have to be consistently above average this season, all season. I hope she makes it.

The WBCA AA team chooses 10 players for their 1st team. While there are a lot of really good players around the country, I struggle to come up with 10 players who are better than Azzi. In addition, if UConn goes undefeated in the regular season, maintaining their #1 ranking throughout the season, Azzi & Sarah will both get the benefit of a “UConn bump” from the D1 coaches.

 

[hoophuskee]

Here’s a trivia question for you. At present, there is one player on the team who is averaging 50/40/90 shooting for the season to date, and it’s not Sarah or Azzi.

Who is that player?
(No checking on the UConn stats page) 🤯

i'd say pretty confidently - BQ.

 

[Centerstream]

The WBCA AA team chooses 10 players for their 1st team. While there are a lot of really good players around the country, I struggle to come up with 10 players who are better than Azzi. In addition, if UConn goes undefeated in the regular season, maintaining their #1 ranking throughout the season, Azzi & Sarah will both get the benefit of a “UConn bump” from the D1 coaches.

Maybe having more UConn games on the major networks during the regular season will give voters more chances to watch our dynamic duo live and be impressed even more?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Blanca turned 19 in August.

I know! My point is that she doesn't look it!

 

[MilfordHusky]

If you caught Geno’s postgame, he was shaking his head somewhat about Blanca, comparing her to Sveta, who used to drive him crazy. Evidently, after Blanca put up a questionable shot, he asked her, “Was that a good shot?” She looked momentarily confused before responding, “If I took it, it’s a good shot.” 😁

Yeah, Geno and I independently came to the same observation--Blanca reminds us of Sveta.

 

[FanSince17]

Not so sure about Azzi. She has only one more chance to do it and a lot of competition to make the AA team that makes her name eligible to go on the wall. She will have to be consistently above average this season, all season. I hope she makes it.

Azzi's averaging 18 and she's not shooting great. I went to the Louisville game. She could average 30 when she starts shooting. Over 50 from 3 and 60-70 from 2. She's missing bunnies and short pull-ups that should be automatic for her.

 

[PacoSwede]

The WBCA AA team chooses 10 players for their 1st team. While there are a lot of really good players around the country, I struggle to come up with 10 players who are better than Azzi. In addition, if UConn goes undefeated in the regular season, maintaining their #1 ranking throughout the season, Azzi & Sarah will both get the benefit of a “UConn bump” from the D1 coaches.

but ... the better player doesn't always get the prize.

azzi's got stiff competition and her past performance hasn't been good enough to be AA. she must prove herself over the course of her final year, and consistency has not been a strong suit to date. that matters.

she also has the problem of being overshadowed by the team. being a team-first player seems to be a minor consideration among those who decide the AA choices, sadly.

 

[Dugway]

Serah Williams only played 14 minutes. After playing close to the full 40 minutes in previous seasons, how will she feel about diminished minutes?

And in those 14 minutes Williams was darn impressive in my opinion! She is capable of getting to the rim with ease; if scoring from the outside becomes a difficult task, just feed Serah! She is also going to play great defense!

How does she feel about the total time that she played? I honestly do not know. But it was just that game, and it is early into this season. I don't think it is necessarily indicative of how every game may go into the future. Further, she transferred in knowing full well who the other players on the squad are; she knew the team she was joining.

And, in this particular game. Those 14 minutes she played were a total of 7 minutes more than Jana El Alfy played. And 14 minutes more than Ice Brady played. And also 14 minutes more than Gandy Malou-Mamel played. It is not like there were others who played the Center position who took all of the playing time from her. Rather, it was Blanca Quinonez who received more time; and Blanca was also darn impressive in my opinion!

With this team being so, so, sooo deep off the bench, what are you going to do? This team has many weapons available at every single position, and they can play in combinations such that some positions may not even be required to play many minutes at all! Horrible position to be in! 😃

 

[DefenseBB]

With all the money that went into whatever they call it now, do ya think they could have a proper media area where you can hear the questions and the answers? Bush league Hartford.

#1. It's called People's Bank Arena
#2. The post game set up is hosted by UConn. So blame the UConn Sports Marketing team for not having a portable mic to be passed to the throngs of reporters who have questions. That issue exists on EVERY media session Geno has due to the large number of writers who attend. Heck, when he is at a practice holding a session, you can't hear the questions.

I am not saying Hartford is without problems but not sure how a "Corporate arena" is responsible. You seem to be tilting at "Windmills".

 

[DefenseBB]

If you caught Geno’s postgame, he was shaking his head somewhat about Blanca, comparing her to Sveta, who used to drive him crazy. Evidently, after Blanca put up a questionable shot, he asked her, “Was that a good shot?” She looked momentarily confused before responding, “If I took it, it’s a good shot.” 😁

I know that both you and @MilfordHusky referenced this comment from the Geno post game presser but I implore you to watch it again as you are not quite getting it right. She did NOT respond with the "if I took it, it's a good shot". Geno said she was confused by the question and HIS interpretation was her thinking "if I took it, it must be a good shot" then he added "she's got a lot of Svetlana in her"

Check it out at the 36:45 point of the post game recording. It is a great sound clip and vintage Geno.

 

[YKCornelius]

Serah Williams only played 14 minutes. After playing close to the full 40 minutes in previous seasons, how will she feel about diminished minutes?

Relieved? Grateful? Ecstatic?

Perhaps those in her inner orbit told her that she needs to be playing faster and stonger on the court than she did last year in order to get ready for the pros next year, where playing close to 40 minutes is as common as snow in the Sahara.

If she keeps playing like she did against Ohio State, she not only will be a first round selection, but also a lottery pick in next year's draft.

 

[DEFCONN1]

I was just going over the OSU stats again and noticed Jana had 6 rebounds in 7 minutes. Nice way to produce in limited time Jana. Well done !

 

[Dogstar]

Blanca looks like she will have a Sarah Strong like impact on this team this year. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone score so many points so easily. Imagine when she cleans up some of her mistakes and poor decision making.

True but as far as her mistakes we have to remember tht she's a "international " freshman and you know how their game can be until they’re acclimated to D1 college game.

 

[Charliebball]

I was just going over the OSU stats again and noticed Jana had 6 rebounds in 7 minutes. Nice way to produce in limited time Jana. Well done !

If I remember correctly, most were defensive rebounds........normally she gets many of her rebounds by following up her own missed layups......😊

 

[oldude]

I know that both you and @MilfordHusky referenced this comment from the Geno post game presser but I implore you to watch it again as you are not quite getting it right. She did NOT respond with the "if I took it, it's a good shot". Geno said she was confused by the question and HIS interpretation was her thinking "if I took it, it must be a good shot" then he added "she's got a lot of Svetlana in her"

Check it out at the 36:45 point of the post game recording. It is a great sound clip and vintage Geno.

So I watched Geno’s comments again and it’s unclear whether Geno is interpreting Blanca’s thinking or he is actually quoting her. Take another look and tell me how you can be sure Blanca did not in fact make that remark?

 

[HuskyNan]

So I watched Geno’s comments again and it’s unclear whether Geno is interpreting Blanca’s thinking or he is actually quoting her. Take another look and tell me how you can be sure Blanca did not in fact make that remark?

Kinda sounds familiar, though

At first, Abrosimova was not the typical Auriemma player. During their first chat, the coach asked her what she liked about basketball. "Shoot," she said. "Okay," he replied. "But there are other parts of the game. What else do you like to do on the court?" Sveta didn't hesitate. "Shoot."

ESPN The Magazine: The beast within

Top-ranked Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova has all the tools, except a nasty attitude.

www.espn.com

 

[donalddoowop]

To those posters who wondered what I meant when I posted that things were happening in front of us that you did not see because you were focusing too much on things then team was not doing. The game against Ohio State started to prove my point. Thank you, Blanca. Instead of focusing on what is happening, focus on what could be. I watched Blanca and could see what she could be in three months. It is the same with Allie, Heckel, Jana, Serah, Kelis, Ash, Ice and Caroline. Someone posted right after the last preseason game that they liked Caroline but, she was not going to help the team except in mop up minutes after the game has been decided. Premature judgment. She still has an accurate outside shot and can still drive and hit those difficult layups. She is still a player. The potential in the players I named is all over them. The question mark is Ice. In high school she went head-to-head against Crooks and played well against her. Why is Crooks career blossoming so much more than Ice's? Patterson seems to be an athletic player who plays basketball, not an athletic basketball player. Her BB IQ has not caught up with her physical ability. I hope that changes. So, try focusing on what will be instead of what is because in two months what is will be what was and the change could be highly pleasing.
Kelis plays with no fear, Shade's outside shot being resurrected, Serah hitting her stride, Allie fully blossoming and Jana playing to her potential. That team, if peaking in March, will be very hard to beat.
Some of you want the team to be in mid-season form. I am glad they are not. Remember what happened to ND last season. They looked unbeatable for most of the season but, they peaked too soon. Instead, they imploded. This season they are not even a shell of last season's team so far. Focus on what Geno will do with all the talent on this team and just how great it will be.

 

[Cuango]

Had the pleasure of attending the game with @MilfordHusky. Two quick thoughts: 1) When the game is still in question and competitive, the team looks much more confident and composed with Sarah Strong on the court versus the times she's on the bench. 2) Teams experiencing Blanca for the first time are not prepared for her speed and athleticism. I think that the Big East teams should be very afraid.

The Big East teams being afraid has become a permanent state of being! I can only imagine all the coaches of the BE must gather around a great fire every summer solstice shrieking unintelligible and monstrous incantations while they hurl pin-cushioned effigies of Geno and CD into the fire! 🧙‍♀️

 

[oldude]

The Big East teams being afraid has become a permanent state of being! I can only imagine all the coaches of the BE must gather around a great fire every summer solstice shrieking unintelligible and monstrous incantations while they hurl pin-cushioned effigies of Geno and CD into the fire! 🧙‍♀️

And yet, if the BE were ever to function without UConn, the entire conference would suffer from a substantial reduction in revenue and media attention.

 

[Bone Dog]

To those posters who wondered what I meant when I posted that things were happening in front of us that you did not see because you were focusing too much on things then team was not doing. The game against Ohio State started to prove my point. Thank you, Blanca. Instead of focusing on what is happening, focus on what could be.

I’m confused. Are folks failing to see what is actually happening on the court, or failing to see what is not happening on the court yet?

I think I agree that awesome stuff is happening right now on the court, and some of us are distracted from seeing it because of some minor miscues. But I’m pretty sure I at least am not distracted from seeing them because of potential things that haven’t happened yet.

But one thing we absolutely agree on is that the potential for the team is sky high, and players like Blanca and Serah and Kayleigh and Allie are at the core of this.

 

[FanSince17]

And yet, if the BE were ever to function without UConn, the entire conference would suffer from a substantial reduction in revenue and media attention.

Doesn't the BE have a long history with Geno and UConn? Geno is always complimentary of the schools and the BE leadership. Obviously Geno hasn't changed. So, only the BE has changed. It is a result of choices the BE schools have made regarding WCBB. Right?
My guess would be that the other schools/coaches don't hate UConn. It's 2 games, plenty of other opportunities for the other teams to make noise. UConn brings attention to the conference and fills arenas. Players in the conference get to play against really good players and UConn teams. Those kids at Marquette will never forget beating UConn.
Where's the beef?

 

[Dogstar]

So I watched Geno’s comments again and it’s unclear whether Geno is interpreting Blanca’s thinking or he is actually quoting her. Take another look and tell me how you can be sure Blanca did not in fact make that remark?

Kinda sounds like another Genoism, he has a "Ship" load of those. Geno has never been one to let the opportunity to slip in a dig when the chance arises. I thk it keeps him young & amused and the players egos in check. If by chance she did say it thn all I can say is...WOW...she's got plenty of chutzpah. Either way she's gonna be a good one.
Glad she's a Husky.