Just as an example, if we were to play Iowa or Baylor (don't worry, I know they're not on the schedule) and win, it wouldn't strike me as an upset. I'd triangulate my idea of where UConn belongs from there.
They are two completely different players. However, I Dont‘t recall Azzi as being as consistent a scorer as Shade. Also, Shade is a much better defender and has a better motor and is an all around player. Azzi is more of a one dimensional player, a shooter. Next year I can see Shade at the 3 and when Azzi is able to play, the 2.
I'm looking forward to the did the matchup with South Carolina. That'll be a big test.
Paige plays 28 minutes a game. She played 24 tonight. Not sure she wants to be giving up anymore minutes than she already is.To me, the game clearly demonstrated that Ines has earned a spot in an 8-player rotation. I would like to think that Geno sees this as clearly as I do.
She should play in all four quarters, even in competitive games, more or less as Q already does. She should reduce some of Paige's and Nika's minutes, which I think they would appreciate (not without some misgivings).
She has handled the minutes that she has gotten almost flawlessly, and has made some very athletic plays on both offense and defense. She is, if anything, more athletic than Ashlynn or Nika, although she isn't as good a shooter, nor does she have the same basketball IQ as they do. But more minutes could easily fix that.
I think the idea is people think it’s her primary move, which isn’t really what you want. Unless you’ve proven it’s a great weapon. I don’t think she’s done that. Like it’s nice AE can step out and shoot midrange jumpers but she’s not that successful at it and the versatility kind of becomes moot. If Ice wants to be a shooter, she needs to hit more shots and then we can talk about how good of a finesse big she is. She doesn’t really have an identity yet.
Yea but with how many attempts? She takes like 5 shots total a game.
I think the main reason they don’t want Ice shooting fadeaway is because they are trying to bring out some physical play in her. I too felt that her shot was actually beautiful and basically textbook for a fadeaway! However, they want her going toward the basket right now. I would think that once she has learned what they are trying to teach her and has become an established scorer ( which she clearly will, as you can just see her confidence growing with every little success) then when she mixes that little fadeaway back into her arsenal, they will not say a word. Unless, she becomes too reliant on it of course! I am super excited about Ice! Her improvement is going to take this team to a whole new level!
I'm thinking that sometimes Kara and Meg get overly carried away with post play from bigs. It seems they don't want her taking the shot at all. Did you see after the game the show in which they asked Meg about Brady and she rolled her eyes? And as I pointed out, when they showed Ice in the highlights drilling the outside jumper Kara basically waved it off.
But she can show both physcial play, and make that fadeaway move on another play. She took one fadeaway in the game. She had more inside moves than the fadeaway. We hear all teh talk about how they want the freshmen (which she is ) to play sort of free. If she is shwoign she cna make a shot, why stifle this? They wouldn't stfile what the other three forsh do unless it is too much such as Q not passing enough. But in this game - it was one fadeaway. Adn we cna all se - that shot is soft.
When Drake sees her shadow from now on, she will think it's Nika Muhl. What an incredible job she did on her and without switches. She fought through or went around every pick.
….or NOT! Clearly they have not heard what Nika said, lately. She’s been working her @$$ off.As for why teams leave Muhl open, perhaps they read the Boneyard.
Welp! Too bad for them. She’s been draining threes!
I see what you see and agree completely. I think the point of adding Inês to the regular rotation, and not just mop up minutes is to free up Paige Ash and Nika to be on the floor in the closing minutes of the most important games.
As BBallF eluded to, Nika totally took away St. John's main scoring option. She denied passes to her and gave her nary an inch to operate so essentially St. John's offense had to operate with only four players. As Geno said, Nika said she wanted Drake with no switching. The intensity with which she executed that assignment fired up the rest of our very talented starting five to take St. John's out of any semblance of their normal offense.
I hate saying it, but given the play of Shade so far, and the on/off play of Azzi, I give Shade the nod for her overall impact when she is in the game (and she is in the game a lot). You hit the nail on the head with "consistent". However, next year, I would love to see a healthy Azzi, Ashlynn, Paige, Carolyn, and KK on the floor at the same time. That would be something!
Ash is already quite good at creating her own shot. The next step in her development will be getting herself to the foul line more often.
I share your desire to stand up for Ash. But I also want to avoid putting too much pressure on a freshman. She gets to falter, to make mistakes, to grow even more.
Nice pick up!... I got my assists and rebounds columns confused when checking the stats!! But wasn't that
With Aubrey coming off the BENCH!!
You made me chuckle on a day that I don't feel too well. Thank you.
