Huskee11
The Sultan
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It takes a lot of work to get better at something meaningful. While with the Celtics, Larry Bird spent a summer practicing only with his left hand - shooting, dribbling, passing.
The UConn women and coaches are captivating for many reasons, but one has to be their commitment to getting better and turning weaknesses into strengths. Natural ability is always going to draw praise and attention, and the UConn team has plenty of that; but, IMHO it is their genuine desire to figure things out and improve that sets them apart. Here are some examples:
Weakness: the returnees are more than adequate as a supporting cast, but not good enough to take centerstage. Well, they have pretty much put that one to bed, haven`t they? No real need to elaborate - suffice it to say that they have banded together, supported each other and embraced their time to shine, and have proved the doubters to be wrong.
Weakness: too small up front. They have, in fact, figured out how to take advantage of their significant advantages in quickness and are running circles around their larger competition. Gabby has worked on her left hand and her shooting, and both of those were critical against South Carolina. Napheesa has also developed an outside shot and worked on her ball handling, and her three near the end of the first half, as well as her incredible drive from past halfcourt to the basket to end the half, gave UConn the momentum they needed going into the half after a difficult first 20 minutes.
Weakness: Lou is just a three point shooter. Ok, she was off last night, everyone knows that, but look at the season she has had and how she has expanded her game - midrange, post up, off the dribble, to the rim, and adept with her left as well. She has gotten stronger and improved her defense as well.
Weakness: Saniya is a bench player who lackes confidence. With an assist to turnover ratio aproaching 5:1, she has been a stabilizing force that keeps things humming. Her defense is much improved as well, and she has shown the ability to take and make the big shot when needed. I suspect she has told herself that this is her last time around, and she is simply not going to allow self doubt to creep in.
Weakness: Natalie was good at Georgetown against so so competition, but no so much here. Well, tell that to Baylor, Texas, and now South Carolina. She has gotten herself into much better shape, and she is playing with an aggressiveness that we were hoping to see. Definitely moving quicker and more decisive. She plays as hard as anybody.
Weakness: Kia can`t shoot and lacks confidence in herself. That was actually apparent early in the year, or maybe it was that she was trying to do too much. Either way, she was struggling. But she dropped 33 on Depaul early on and hasn`t looked back. A real team leader, and a decent scorer with good form and a reliable three pointer. Let`s hope she gets some rest for her ankle and comes back at 100% very soon.
Weakness: Crystal lacks maturity and doesn`t play with UConn-type defensive intensity. Well, she is still a work in process, but love how she comes up big when the lights are the brightest!
Weakness: Molly and Kyla are in over their heads. I do not expect to see them in the South Carolina-type games, but it is obvious to me that they work very hard, are good teammates, and have improved considerably from the beginning of the year.
It is a tribute to the players and the coaching staff that the players recognize their weaknesses and work very hard to improve them. To do what they have done thus far takes a lot of ability, to be sure, but more importantly it has taken a tremendous amount of courage, resolve, and commitment to be the best.
The UConn women and coaches are captivating for many reasons, but one has to be their commitment to getting better and turning weaknesses into strengths. Natural ability is always going to draw praise and attention, and the UConn team has plenty of that; but, IMHO it is their genuine desire to figure things out and improve that sets them apart. Here are some examples:
Weakness: the returnees are more than adequate as a supporting cast, but not good enough to take centerstage. Well, they have pretty much put that one to bed, haven`t they? No real need to elaborate - suffice it to say that they have banded together, supported each other and embraced their time to shine, and have proved the doubters to be wrong.
Weakness: too small up front. They have, in fact, figured out how to take advantage of their significant advantages in quickness and are running circles around their larger competition. Gabby has worked on her left hand and her shooting, and both of those were critical against South Carolina. Napheesa has also developed an outside shot and worked on her ball handling, and her three near the end of the first half, as well as her incredible drive from past halfcourt to the basket to end the half, gave UConn the momentum they needed going into the half after a difficult first 20 minutes.
Weakness: Lou is just a three point shooter. Ok, she was off last night, everyone knows that, but look at the season she has had and how she has expanded her game - midrange, post up, off the dribble, to the rim, and adept with her left as well. She has gotten stronger and improved her defense as well.
Weakness: Saniya is a bench player who lackes confidence. With an assist to turnover ratio aproaching 5:1, she has been a stabilizing force that keeps things humming. Her defense is much improved as well, and she has shown the ability to take and make the big shot when needed. I suspect she has told herself that this is her last time around, and she is simply not going to allow self doubt to creep in.
Weakness: Natalie was good at Georgetown against so so competition, but no so much here. Well, tell that to Baylor, Texas, and now South Carolina. She has gotten herself into much better shape, and she is playing with an aggressiveness that we were hoping to see. Definitely moving quicker and more decisive. She plays as hard as anybody.
Weakness: Kia can`t shoot and lacks confidence in herself. That was actually apparent early in the year, or maybe it was that she was trying to do too much. Either way, she was struggling. But she dropped 33 on Depaul early on and hasn`t looked back. A real team leader, and a decent scorer with good form and a reliable three pointer. Let`s hope she gets some rest for her ankle and comes back at 100% very soon.
Weakness: Crystal lacks maturity and doesn`t play with UConn-type defensive intensity. Well, she is still a work in process, but love how she comes up big when the lights are the brightest!
Weakness: Molly and Kyla are in over their heads. I do not expect to see them in the South Carolina-type games, but it is obvious to me that they work very hard, are good teammates, and have improved considerably from the beginning of the year.
It is a tribute to the players and the coaching staff that the players recognize their weaknesses and work very hard to improve them. To do what they have done thus far takes a lot of ability, to be sure, but more importantly it has taken a tremendous amount of courage, resolve, and commitment to be the best.
