UConn is just too good

[Tonyc]

A lot of chatter about if UConn will go undefeated and why players aren't getttin more play time' Players wont get more minutes for several reasons. In Genos eyes they arent ready. Geno cant trust them yet in the lineup. Youve seen what happens when Geno goes deeper into the bench. For one the defense suffers. The defense is clicking and causing alot of TO's. When Geno goes deep in the bench that doesnt happen. Another point is on offense kids arent in the right positions. Is it better to have someone out there who doesnt know how to execute the offense or defense? Is it better they get the ball and take an in advised shot? Even if they score what does it do to the chemistry. UConn right now, is much better than a well-oiled machine. They are devastating on both sides of the ball. Just look at the flow as they execute. Its smooth and effortless. They get good shots and they get the ball to the right players. At times they over pass. Have you noticed how many players miss shots on the run but dont miss very often miss wide open stand still shots? Kids play when theyve earned Genos trust and have proven they know how to play the game the way Geno wants the game played.

Losing is not an option, and you might be right when you say on an off nite UConn could lose. Personally, their defense is the best Ive ever seen and their defense will carry them. Opponents have to find a way to score against UConn and find a way to keep UConn from scoring. Thats not easy and takes alot of luck. How many teams have not been able to score in double digits in a quarter let along more than one quarter? I don't wanna hear about when Geno clears the bench because that is most likely the reason those kids are coming off the bench. This team wins games with defense. Their starters dont play all 40 minutes either. We saw this defense in the second half of last season, and we see it carrying over this season. Playing against UConns defense is a nitemare. UConns defense gets into opponent's heads. In the FF last season, we saw UConn man handle 3 number 1 seeds. The D has gotten better and has gotten deeper. Barring injuries and foul trouble to key players I feel our D will carry us.

UConn imo is so much better than any other team in the country and its not close. Texas is second and Texas is a very very good team but no way close to UConn. They too have a great defense but not like UConn. UConn has 8 great defenders who are very quick. No other team has 8 top notch defenders. UConn has Azzi and Sarah and no other team has an Azzi and Sarah.

UConns speed, quickness, defensive depth, discipline and chemistry puts them above everybody else. UConn and Texas are the 2 best teams in WCBB. UCLA and SC are next then theres everybody else. The question becomes how bad do things have to go for UConn to lose? I dont see it barring injuries and key foul trouble.

I keep reading that UConn has players who arent really quick. No names. Let me say this. Those players who have been mentioned as not quick could be starting for most teams in WCBB. They look slow playing with UConn which has so many very very quick in your face players. They may be slow at UConn but theyre not slow when you compare them to other teams.

We nit pic alot of what UConn does that doesnt meet our expectations. However, we are undefeated and blowing out opponents. Have you watched some of the games on the SEC BTN ESPN FS1 stations? There are alot of slow teams. There is very little help defense. There are very few who dont miss bunnies and very few who can knock down outside shots. There are very few who can play at UConns pace.

Folks this is a very special team. After losing Paige and Kaitlyn they are still explosive balanced and dam scary. Could they lose. Yes but highly unlikely. It would take too much to happen for them to lose. Some say the BE is weak. Well look at some other conferences and tell me what you see. Other conferences have a good team or two and then there is a fall off. This season UConn is just too good for everybody else. This season UConn will win it all.

 

[NoSpamHere]

Great point about speed. I was watching UCLA vs USC and they both looked ponderous by comparison.

 

[ThisJustIn]

They are SUPER impressive.
I wish we had legit opponents to get a true measure...

 

[Aluminny69]

Tonyc, I think you meant "too good" as in

too
/to͞o/


adverb
adverb: too

1. 
   to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively.
   "he was driving too fast"
2. Possibly you meant "TWO good" as in Azzi and Sarah ar two very good players.
   
   
   

 

[Next 12]

Another fantastic post Tonyc As you said and I agree that I have never seen a defense like this in any other team out there. I also believe that GENO is playing the starters with less. I believe we are the only two on the Yard with the highest confidence that Uconn will go undefeated this year and in 26/27.I also believe that GENO is playing the starters less time is why take a chance in Sarah and Azzi and KK getting hurt before the NC in blow outs. Happy New Year Tonyc and GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!

 

[DRR25]

A lot of chatter about if UConn will go undefeated and why players aren't getttin more play time' Players wont get more minutes for several reasons. In Genos eyes they arent ready. Geno cant trust them yet in the lineup. Youve seen what happens when Geno goes deeper into the bench. For one the defense suffers. The defense is clicking and causing alot of TO's. When Geno goes deep in the bench that doesnt happen. Another point is on offense kids arent in the right positions. Is it better to have someone out there who doesnt know how to execute the offense or defense? Is it better they get the ball and take an in advised shot? Even if they score what does it do to the chemistry. UConn right now, is much better than a well-oiled machine. They are devastating on both sides of the ball. Just look at the flow as they execute. Its smooth and effortless. They get good shots and they get the ball to the right players. At times they over pass. Have you noticed how many players miss shots on the run but dont miss very often miss wide open stand still shots? Kids play when theyve earned Genos trust and have proven they know how to play the game the way Geno wants the game played.

Losing is not an option, and you might be right when you say on an off nite UConn could lose. Personally, their defense is the best Ive ever seen and their defense will carry them. Opponents have to find a way to score against UConn and find a way to keep UConn from scoring. Thats not easy and takes alot of luck. How many teams have not been able to score in double digits in a quarter let along more than one quarter? I don't wanna hear about when Geno clears the bench because that is most likely the reason those kids are coming off the bench. This team wins games with defense. Their starters dont play all 40 minutes either. We saw this defense in the second half of last season, and we see it carrying over this season. Playing against UConns defense is a nitemare. UConns defense gets into opponent's heads. In the FF last season, we saw UConn man handle 3 number 1 seeds. The D has gotten better and has gotten deeper. Barring injuries and foul trouble to key players I feel our D will carry us.

UConn imo is so much better than any other team in the country and its not close. Texas is second and Texas is a very very good team but no way close to UConn. They too have a great defense but not like UConn. UConn has 8 great defenders who are very quick. No other team has 8 top notch defenders. UConn has Azzi and Sarah and no other team has an Azzi and Sarah.

UConns speed, quickness, defensive depth, discipline and chemistry puts them above everybody else. UConn and Texas are the 2 best teams in WCBB. UCLA and SC are next then theres everybody else. The question becomes how bad do things have to go for UConn to lose? I dont see it barring injuries and key foul trouble.

I keep reading that UConn has players who arent really quick. No names. Let me say this. Those players who have been mentioned as not quick could be starting for most teams in WCBB. They look slow playing with UConn which has so many very very quick in your face players. They may be slow at UConn but theyre not slow when you compare them to other teams.

We nit pic alot of what UConn does that doesnt meet our expectations. However, we are undefeated and blowing out opponents. Have you watched some of the games on the SEC BTN ESPN FS1 stations? There are alot of slow teams. There is very little help defense. There are very few who dont miss bunnies and very few who can knock down outside shots. There are very few who can play at UConns pace.

Folks this is a very special team. After losing Paige and Kaitlyn they are still explosive balanced and dam scary. Could they lose. Yes but highly unlikely. It would take too much to happen for them to lose. Some say the BE is weak. Well look at some other conferences and tell me what you see. Other conferences have a good team or two and then there is a fall off. This season UConn is just too good for everybody else. This season UConn will win it all.

I think both things can be true--that UConn is special/in a class of their own and that the BE is weak. In my (and a lot of other people's) humble opinion, UConn won't be tested in the slightest by any BE teams and could easily go undefeated on the year. I like contested games so I hope to see them get pushed somewhere along the way.

Does your comment about "other" conferences having a good team or two then a drop-off apply to either the B1G or the SEC?

 

[HuskyNan]

Does your comment about "other" conferences having a good team or two then a drop-off apply to either the B1G or the SEC?

The B10 has 3 good teams. And UConn has beaten 4 of the top 7 B10 teams by an average 28.8 points

 

[Gael]

The B10 has 3 good teams.

I suppose it depends on how one defines a "good" team.

Is being one of the 363 D1 teams rated in the AP top 25 qualify as a team as "good"?

If so, the Big Ten currently has nine teams ranked in the AP Top 25, which is more than any other conference. It also ties the all-time record for the number of teams from the same conference being ranked in the AP Top 25. In fact (according to AI), only the Big Ten has ever had nine teams ranked in the AP Top 25.

Whether any team in the Big Ten (or any other conference) is as good as UConn, is a different question.

I agree with @Tonyc that UConn's defense and defenders are "really quick." Quick hands. Quick feet. Quick reflexes. Quick going forward. Quick going backward. Quick going laterally. Quick to cover positions, lanes and players. Especially KK, Sarah, Azzi, K9 and Q4. UConn may have had better paint defense and shot blocking teams, but I don't think they've ever had a quicker pressing and perimeter defensive team.

 

[victor64]

The B10 has 3 good teams. And UConn has beaten 4 of the top 7 B10 teams by an average 28.8 points

I wonder who your three are. UCLA is obvious. In my opinion, as many as 7 teams could make cases for being the other two.

I think Iowa and Michigan are good teams even with losses to UConn. I think Maryland will finish top 3 or four in the league. I actually think the Big Ten is deep. Minnesota and Nebraska for example, will finish middle of the pack in the Big Ten. If they were in the Big East this year, they would finish second. IMO

 

[Stagnant]

One thing I want to say is I think last year’s team was better. I am talking about end of the year championship team though; not the team that lost to Notre dame or Tennessee.

I do think this team is better defensively because Serah Williams, Blanca, and K9 are all really good additions from a defensive standpoint.

 

[oldude]

One thing I want to say is I think last year’s team was better. I am talking about end of the year championship team though; not the team that lost to Notre dame or Tennessee.

I do think this team is better defensively because Serah Williams, Blanca, and K9 are all really good additions from a defensive standpoint.

This year’s team will also be better in March. It’s the way that Geno has prepared and developed every team since he came to UConn.

 

[Bone Dog]

Great point about speed. I was watching UCLA vs USC and they both looked ponderous by comparison.

I’ve noticed the same thing. Most of the top teams this season appear to be ponderous, even plodding. I’m not excepting teams that have one or two speedy players. Taken as a whole, these teams seem slow to respond to what other teams do, or they seem to be playing hectic hero ball.

I suppose it depends on how one defines a "good" team.

I define ‘good’ as ‘able to give UConn a competitive game.’ So far, we know Michigan is able to do this and, to a lesser extent, Louisville in the ACC. I might be tempted to include Iowa on this list, as their blowout loss might have been closer if Kylie Feuerbach hadn’t been injured early on.

It’s a matter of speculation about the other possibilities. UCLA looks like they could pose a challenge. We already know USC and tOSU can’t. The rest of the Big10 consists of “pretty good” teams and weak ones by this criterion. Unless we think Maryland or Illinois could pose a challenge.

I think there are several potentially challenging opponents in the SEC. The usual suspects are Texas, SC, LSU and Oklahoma.

 

[oldude]

I’ve noticed the same thing. Most of the top teams this season appear to be ponderous, even plodding. I’m not excepting teams that have one or two speedy players. Taken as a whole, these teams seem slow to respond to what other teams do, or they seem to be playing hectic hero ball.



I define ‘good’ as ‘able to give UConn a competitive game. So far, we know Michigan is able to do this and, to a lesser extent, Louisville in the ACC. I might be tempted to include Iowa on this list, as their blowout loss might have been closer if Kylie Feuerbach hadn’t been injured early on.

It’s a matter of speculation about the other possibilities. UCLA looks like they could pose a challenge. We already know USC and tOSU can’t. The rest of the Big10 consists of “pretty good” teams and weak ones by this criterion. Unless we think Maryland or Illinois could pose a challenge.

I think there are several potentially challenging opponents in the SEC. The usual suspects are Texas, SC, LSU and Oklahoma.

There are certainly a number of teams that look like they could challenge UConn based on their talent and athleticism. But as we observed in the run to championship #12 last season, the great differentiator, as always, is Geno and his coaching staff’s ability to prepare his team to run the gauntlet in March. Given an equal or similar level of talent, UConn gets to the FF and frequently wins the championship.

 

[FanSince17]

Great point about speed. I was watching UCLA vs USC and they both looked ponderous by comparison.

IMO UCLA looks pretty good. USC is a trainwreck

 

[my2cents]

I have said it before. This team is not losing a game.

 

[meyers7]

Tonyc, I think you meant "too good" as in

too
/to͞o/


adverb
adverb: too

1. 
   to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively.
   "he was driving too fast"
2. Possibly you meant "TWO good" as in Azzi and Sarah ar two very good players.
   
   

Tony has his own way of spelling. He's not a slave to grammar (as most people know it)

 

[WiseWillie]

Tony has his own way of spelling. He's not a slave to grammar (as most people know it)

Any grammar slip-ups in Tonyc's write-ups are generally overlooked certainly by me and imo most others on the Boneyard because his timely and lengthy observations are usually spot on, even if from time to time some of the finer points could be argued or use further clarification. 😀

 

[EricLA]

I just wanted to point out one thing when watching other teams. I would suggest watching Tennessee play against anyone. Or possibly tOSU. Tennesee for sure runs a full court press defense almost the entire game. Not sure if tOSU does any more.

I think many teams like to slow the game down and play in the half court much more than UConn or the other 2 teams I mentioned (I'm sure there are others). UConn gets a ton of points off turnovers because our defense is so elite. But if you watch ANY team (IMHO) that plays a full court press type of defense, it speeds the other team up and speeds up the game.

My point is that these teams may "look" slow, but when they play teams who like to go fast, they have to adjust. There are numerous times over the past 5 years that I've looked at an opponent and say to myself "our athleticism should give them fits" only to watch a very close game, or a loss.

On the flip side, look at how UConn handled UCLA in last year's NCAA tourney. We were way to quick for them especially on the double teams on Betts where she could not pass the ball out fast enough for a 3. Then again, we "only" beat a Juju-less USC team by 14, and were down to a "slower" Oklahoma team by 4 at halftime.

We haven't faced Texas, SC, or UCLA this season, and won't until the NCAA's. We barely escaped Michigan, a team who has struggled lately. I worry about the hubris of counting our chickens before they are hatched. Remember the loss in the NCAA's to tOSU a few years back? Players shockingly commented that they "overlooked OSU, or didn't take them seriously enough". WOW. I think my point about that is it's great Geno hammers into these guys "take nothing for granted and play every possession as if the game is on the line".

Bottom line, I don't think UConn is too good. I think we are really good and in the driver's seat, but taking anything for granted is not only bad mojo, but a recipe for disaster in a big/close game.

 

[Longtime fan]

Great point about speed. I was watching UCLA vs USC and they both looked ponderous by comparison.

I think South Carolina has speed.

 

[ctfjr]

lmao! So many "Mr Obvious" posts in this thread. . . .

Of course the teams effectiveness is going to drop off when the end of the bench is in the game. That's why they are on the bench. There is no substitute for game time experience. At some point we are going to really need some of the bench. The "A" team players will be playing more than 26 minutes a game when we hit some real competition - OR when we have an off night.

As @DDR25 said, it is possible the BE is weak and UConn is very good. Does anyone really disagree with that?

So what is a 'good team'? The AP and Coaches Poll have sort of figured that out for you. Any time you beat a top 25 ranked team you beat a good team. Whether they are overrated or underrated, it matters naught. Based on their past performance those 'experts' (they sure know more than me), say those are good teams. How many teams from the BE are in the top 25?

So who is the best team? Well, I'm surely a homer and go with the experts - UConn. That said, one off night and we could go almost undefeated. As Geno has said in the past, paraphrasing, its easy to win when we are hitting on all cylinders, the challenge is winning when we are not.

I just want to win the last game in March.

 

[PacoSwede]

lmao! So many "Mr Obvious" posts in this thread. . . .



I just want to win the last game in March.

better make that 'last game in APRIL'

 

[YKCornelius]

I just wanted to point out one thing when watching other teams. I would suggest watching Tennessee play against anyone. Or possibly tOSU. Tennesee for sure runs a full court press defense almost the entire game. Not sure if tOSU does any more.

I think many teams like to slow the game down and play in the half court much more than UConn or the other 2 teams I mentioned (I'm sure there are others). UConn gets a ton of points off turnovers because our defense is so elite. But if you watch ANY team (IMHO) that plays a full court press type of defense, it speeds the other team up and speeds up the game.

My point is that these teams may "look" slow, but when they play teams who like to go fast, they have to adjust. There are numerous times over the past 5 years that I've looked at an opponent and say to myself "our athleticism should give them fits" only to watch a very close game, or a loss.

On the flip side, look at how UConn handled UCLA in last year's NCAA tourney. We were way to quick for them especially on the double teams on Betts where she could not pass the ball out fast enough for a 3. Then again, we "only" beat a Juju-less USC team by 14, and were down to a "slower" Oklahoma team by 4 at halftime.

We haven't faced Texas, SC, or UCLA this season, and won't until the NCAA's. We barely escaped Michigan, a team who has struggled lately. I worry about the hubris of counting our chickens before they are hatched. Remember the loss in the NCAA's to tOSU a few years back? Players shockingly commented that they "overlooked OSU, or didn't take them seriously enough". WOW. I think my point about that is it's great Geno hammers into these guys "take nothing for granted and play every possession as if the game is on the line".

Bottom line, I don't think UConn is too good. I think we are really good and in the driver's seat, but taking anything for granted is not only bad mojo, but a recipe for disaster in a big/close game.

Eric, thanks for your post. Most of the time, I find myself agreeing with you as you usually take a very pragmatic, even-keel approach to the team and to the Boneyarders who post here. However, not this time, as I think you incorrectly transpose the hubris of some/many Boneyarders onto actions/thoughts of the players.

I went back and checked every post-game interview from that crushing loss to Ohio State but couldn't find a single video or printed quote by any of the players on the team that said they overlooked OSU or didn't take them seriously enough. I suspect you might be recollecting thoughts/opinions/perceptions from folks outside the team, and have attributed them incorrectly to players in that game (or on the bench).

But the reason for my post is not to dwell on recollections of almost three years ago, but to focus on the mentality of this year.

I have found NOTHING this year - absolutely zero - to suggest that this year's team is taking anything for granted. Is there anything specific that you can point to that might even mildly suggest otherwise? That includes (especially) the Michigan game.

I suspect your intent is to caution UConn Nation against taking anything for granted. If so, I one thousand percent agree with you.

Cheers! Go Huskies!

 

[ABCDFE]

I think South Carolina has speed.

and size

 

[EricLA]

Eric, thanks for your post. Most of the time, I find myself agreeing with you as you usually take a very pragmatic, even-keel approach to the team and to the Boneyarders who post here. However, not this time, as I think you incorrectly transpose the hubris of some/many Boneyarders onto actions/thoughts of the players.

I went back and checked every post-game interview from that crushing loss to Ohio State but couldn't find a single video or printed quote by any of the players on the team that said they overlooked OSU or didn't take them seriously enough. I suspect you might be recollecting thoughts/opinions/perceptions from folks outside the team, and have attributed them incorrectly to players in that game (or on the bench).

But the reason for my post is not to dwell on recollections of almost three years ago, but to focus on the mentality of this year.

I have found NOTHING this year - absolutely zero - to suggest that this year's team is taking anything for granted. Is there anything specific that you can point to that might even mildly suggest otherwise? That includes (especially) the Michigan game.

I suspect your intent is to caution UConn Nation against taking anything for granted. If so, I one thousand percent agree with you.

Cheers! Go Huskies!

My mistake - it was Christyn Williams saying that after losing to Arizona a few seasons before. I asked @MilfordHusky about and he reminded me.

And BTW my comments were about the OP and others who think we are "too good". I agree the team is not taking anything for granted, and if you ask any of them, they would ALL say they still have a lot to improve on this season, which is a great attitude...