UCONN-Texas Post Game Thread

[Gordo]

This is 6-8 Brittney Griner

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This is 6-4 Tina Charles

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I don't know what your point IS here Nan? We have absolutely no one on this team who equates to either of these super star players! And I believe that is what @hoophuskee is implying.

 

[ctkaiser]

Maybe they need a players meeting!?

Players meetings always look effective when you have a weak opponent like Ball St coming up. I think they should all be forced to write rebound 100 times on the white board!

 

[Boreifs]

Maybe they need a players meeting!?

They have meetings on the floor every game.

 

[ctkaiser]

They have meetings on the floor every game.

At every whistle. Maybe there's too many meetings!

 

[VaConnFan11]

Actually, except for KK being faster than her upper class counterpart Muhl and even PB, its the other way around, i.e. Griffin is faster than either Shade and even Q , and Edwards is a faster than Brady. If your point is that quickness and athleticism are on the rise among the top tier teams and Uconn has to recruit accordingly, OK we get that. But otherwise, don't seek to make a point with faulty facts

What players are you watching? All 3 true freshman are faster and quicker than Paige and CD and just as fast or faster than Nika. Aubrey is the only one that may be faster, but from the games I've seen, she has lost a step or 2.

I see it one way, you see it another. That's what makes life interesting.

 

[HuskyNan]

I don't know what your point IS here Nan? We have absolutely no one on this team who equates to either of these super star players! And I believe that is what @hoophuskee is implying.

People keep clamoring for Geno to play Amari because, supposedly, greater height means more rebounds. Similarly, some fans feel Geno should recruit 6-6, 6-7 girls, even unknown quantities and Geno can coach them up. I guess some feel these giants will make UConn unbeatable.

My point is that incremental size doesn’t mean a better player. Brittney Griner is a great player but when the Huskies played Baylor, Tina ate Brittney’s lunch with 21 points, 13 rebounds even though she’s 4” shorter.

 

[GoUconn7961]

People keep clamoring for Geno to play Amari because, supposedly, greater height means more rebounds. Similarly, some fans feel Geno should recruit 6-6, 6-7 girls, even unknown quantities and Geno can coach them up. I guess some feel these giants will make UConn unbeatable.

My point is that incremental size doesn’t mean a better player. Brittney Griner is a great player but when the Huskies played Baylor, Tina ate Brittney’s lunch with 21 points, 13 rebounds against the bigger woman even though she’s 4” shorter.

Didn't he coach up Wolters and Dolson? They took about 2 years to develop.

 

[Longtime fan]

Maybe Gonzaga is better than we think and Stanford had an off game. Brink is a big part of their team. They've been upset before. I do think we as uconn fans and our head coach as well have to stop talking about missing Azzi. She's out for the year. Our team will probably get Ayanna and Ducharme back at some point but Geno and staff have to coach and strategies with the team we have.

And there are stories out now that Brink was quite ill for the Gonzaga game. As for UCONN " probably" getting Ducharme back and Patterson back, that may apply more to next season than this one. If Ducharme remains out for Ball state,, it is going to be a long term thing. And, likely, recurring. She probably needs a red shirt year. Do we know what procedure Patterson had, and exactly when it took place?

 

[mauconnfan]

Your pov regarding above is much more reserved for pro ball. It has little place for premiere College basketball programs in early December. The point in bold isn't reality for a premiere college coach, a premiere college coaching staff, a premiere program, and proud college players used to excellence.

Ok that’s a fair point. But they won’t do anything this year you can dream all you want. December or February they won’t rebound or defend teams with larger girls and better athletes, it’s simple. And I understand the pride and commitment others have put or tried to put in. But the future is KK, Shade and Samuel now so let them grow. Not saying all the minutes by any means but more for Shade and Samuel than they are getting. And rebounding isn’t all size it’s will as well and width which they have very little of. Boxing out is very important but you need to move them back not just put your butt on them. Admittedly I thought Texas was over the back a lot more than called yesterday.

 

[HuskyNan]

Ok that’s a fair point. But they won’t do anything this year you can dream all you want. December or February they won’t rebound or defend teams with larger girls and better athletes, it’s simple. And I understand the pride and commitment others have put or tried to put in. But the future is KK, Shade and Samuel now so let them grow. Not saying all the minutes by any means but more for Shade and Samuel than they are getting. And rebounding isn’t all size it’s will as well and width which they have very little of. Boxing out is very important but you need to move them back not just put your butt on them. Admittedly I thought Texas was over the back a lot more than called yesterday.

Yep. The Texas game looked an awful lot the first half of the men’s Kansas game, complete with the home cookin’

 

[Gordo]

People keep clamoring for Geno to play Amari because, supposedly, greater height means more rebounds. Similarly, some fans feel Geno should recruit 6-6, 6-7 girls, even unknown quantities and Geno can coach them up. I guess some feel these giants will make UConn unbeatable.

My point is that incremental size doesn’t mean a better player. Brittney Griner is a great player but when the Huskies played Baylor, Tina ate Brittney’s lunch with 21 points, 13 rebounds against the bigger woman even though she’s 4” shorter.

Okay I get it now and we are together on this. Thank you for clearing this up for me Nan.

 

[Gordo]

I agree with you, but Paige is quite possibly the smartest basketball player UConn has ever had. She'll figure what to do and what not to do to save yourself wear & tear.

I meant herself of course.

 

[LarryLegend]

Maybe they need a players meeting!?

Or a sports psychologist. Like in The Natural

 

[Gordo]

Didn't he coach up Wolters and Dolson? They took about 2 years to develop.

He did, but there was a much higher level of talent there. Dolson has continued to grow and thrive as a pro.

 

[mauconnfan]

Yep. The Texas game looked an awful lot the first half of the men’s Kansas game, complete with the home cookin’

Absolutely Nan. Don’t want to make it a big deal but those Longhorn girls consistently went through and over without a worry of foul trouble. What I will say is when it’s happening like that you need to occasionally extend your box out into a physical “altercation” to get your point across !

 

[HuskyNan]

Absolutely Nan. Don’t want to make it a big deal but those Longhorn girls consistently went through and over without a worry of foul trouble. What I will say is when it’s happening like that you need to occasionally extend your box out into a physical “altercation” to get your point across !

Unfortunately, the team doesn’t have the personnel. We need Bam-Bam Hansmeyer to come give lessons

 

[mauconnfan]

Unfortunately, the team doesn’t have the personnel. We need Bam-Bam Hansmeyer to come give lessons

Good call she wouldn’t have taken that crap tough kid loved her.

It’s weird Edward’s is tough but in a different manner. Plus she can’t afford foul trouble.

 

[Cuango]

With as much parity as exists in WCBB, how well a team shoots makes a big difference in wins and loses. I always look to see how a team won or lost before making a judgement as to how good or bad a team is. With parity teams face more opponants that are able to beat them when they have lesser than normal shooting days. This is when in the past not having to play teams that could threaten you played a major part in a teams record.. That meant that you could play more games at substandard and still win.

Common sense tells you that injuries often play a major role in how well a team does. They are part of basketball. It isn't just about how many injuries hit a team but how those injuries affect the over all strength of the team. Most teams are not really aware of other teams injuries or how they have effected their ability to win. They also do not really know if the individual players are having sub par or if they are exceeding their usual nom percentage wise. This sort of negates the " if certain players had played better" we would have won easily. Why because that applies to both teams. Players are not machines and lack consistency and thats part of basketball. While some are more consistant than others, every player has days when they can not miss or conversely even hit the ocean. Thats why the best free throw shooters have days when they miss were no own guards them. You are never as good as your best day or as bad as your worst. The same applies to teams.

UConn has recently been affected by a couple of bad injury years. That is a given. However, there have been other teams who have had their potential season effected with multiple key major injuries that have gone unnoticed by other fan base's. Why? Because fans tend to be miopic in respect to their own teams. I could name quite a few teams that due to injuries have had seasons derailed, just off the top of my head. But things are what they are and circumstances just need to be dealt with.

I would be curious as to what teams have suffered as many injuries to key players as UConn?

 

[oldude]

People keep clamoring for Geno to play Amari because, supposedly, greater height means more rebounds. Similarly, some fans feel Geno should recruit 6-6, 6-7 girls, even unknown quantities and Geno can coach them up. I guess some feel these giants will make UConn unbeatable.

My point is that incremental size doesn’t mean a better player. Brittney Griner is a great player but when the Huskies played Baylor, Tina ate Brittney’s lunch with 21 points, 13 rebounds against the bigger woman even though she’s 4” shorter.

There needs to be a qualification here. When Tina faced Griner, Tina was a senior, 1st team AA on the #1 ranked, defending national champions. Griner was just a freshman on a 29-10 Baylor team. The lesson that Tina gave the youngster was well-used as Griner lead the Lady Bears to a national championship in 2012.

 

[browns]

There needs to be a qualification here. When Tina faced Griner, Tina was a senior, 1st team AA on the #1 ranked, defending national champions. Griner was just a freshman on a 29-10 Baylor team. The lesson that Tina gave the youngster was well-used as Griner lead the Lady Bears to a national championship in 2012.

Her only one though and she had Odyssey Sims as a teammate for three years

 

[Cuango]

If you watch UConn right now they are playing very soft half court defense and that allows teams with good penetrators to have their way with them. By contrast watch Texas play defense, they are playing tight man all over the court and suffocating the offense. Both these teams play a similar offense but notice where Texas was playing their rotations and compare that to where UConn is starting theirs. UConn right now is not doing the basics very good and until that changes they are going to struggle to score and keep the opponent from scoring.

If Geno can't figure out a way to get Amari into the game and contribute this team will have a long year. AE is playing tough but the have zero low post defense other than her and half of Texas's rebounds yesterday were offensive. That coupled with 20 turnovers makes it an impossible game to win.

It is fixable but will take some courage and patience.

I’m afraid the Amari ship has sailed. She, for whatever reason, simply does not “get” it. It’s a shame and l agree that Geno should have (it seems) put more effort into her in her freshman year but who knows, maybe he did! She just doesn’t seem to be interested in doing the things he needs her to do. It would be one thing if she were actively trying but I’m just not seeing it. Every time she goes in she seems to be very passive and uncertain! Obviously she’s not built for being a banger in the low post but neither was Liv and I rarely had any complaints about her effort Level. Unfortunately, there are only two possible explanations for her play, disinterest, or a profound lack of understanding of the game. I realize she had some physical issues for awhile but supposedly, those are no longer a factor. She’s apparently well liked by everyone and is an exemplary teammate off the court, but I’m afraid that may be the extent of her contribution to this team.

 

[willtalk]

Actually, except for KK being faster than her upper class counterpart Muhl and even PB, its the other way around, i.e. Griffin is faster than either Shade and even Q , and Edwards is a faster than Brady. If your point is that quickness and athleticism are on the rise among the top tier teams and Uconn has to recruit accordingly, OK we get that. But otherwise, don't seek to make a point with faulty facts

Edwards was killing Jones off the dribble. That was her weekness at Oregn St as well. She has long legs and has trouble with side to side quickness.

 

[willtalk]

And there are stories out now that Brink was quite ill for the Gonzaga game. As for UCONN " probably" getting Ducharme back and Patterson back, that may apply more to next season than this one. If Ducharme remains out for Ball state,, it is going to be a long term thing. And, likely, recurring. She probably needs a red shirt year. Do we know what procedure Patterson had, and exactly when it took place?

Yes there is a big difference between a player out for one game and players out for the season of struggling with injuries.

If some UConn fans think they will get a bad ratings break because of their problems, all they have to do is look that they only dropped behind Texas because of that loss. It was explained that the were given slack because their other losses were to top ten teams. Well ND and another team in the mid teens only have one loss and they were to a top ten team as well. Yet they are in the mid teens way behind UConn with 3 losses. UConn fans have no reason to complain about them ever getting the shaft in respect to ratings. At least not yet. Now UConn might very well still be better than ND or the other team, but not because of the criteria that was presented to justify them only dropping one spot.

 

[HuskyNan]

There needs to be a qualification here. When Tina faced Griner, Tina was a senior, 1st team AA on the #1 ranked, defending national champions. Griner was just a freshman on a 29-10 Baylor team. The lesson that Tina gave the youngster was well-used as Griner lead the Lady Bears to a national championship in 2012.

Point taken but there are Boneyarders that seem to feel if Geno brings in an unknown 6-6 kid from, say, Middletown High School that UConn will be okey-dokey in rebounding against the Texas and South Carolina type teams.

 

[Cuango]

Wonder if Ice is hobbled, literally, by her serious knee injury. There is no reason whatsoever for her to be such a meager contributor to team performance- except if she's physically unable to perform. And it could be that Aubrey is once again suffering from her injured spine. Agree that Paige might be playing on borrowed time.

I think she’s simply overwhelmed by the speed and size of the other players. Remember she’s been away from the game basically since she graduated so I’m sure this foray into college ball is even tougher for her than if she were an incoming freshman. Bigs generally take longer than other players to adjust to the college game anyway and she is carrying the added baggage of both her long absence from the game, her freshman jitters and the pressure of knowing that her team is desperate for her contributions in the post! That’s a lot to deal with!
I have little doubt she will have a solid career here. We just have to have patience until the game begins to slow down for her. Not easy, I know but it has to come in it’s own time. She will make us all proud before it’s said and done.

 

[Cuango]

Your pov regarding above is much more reserved for pro ball. It has little place for premiere College basketball programs in early December. The point in bold isn't reality for a premiere college coach, a premiere college coaching staff, a premiere program, and proud college players used to excellence.

Unfortunately, mauconnfan is likely right. We are most likely playing mostly for next year at this point. Of course, it’s possible that we will develop into a real threat by March but realistically, it is more likely that this season is about getting our young players acclimated to the college game so we can hit the ground running next season! If that happens; our four freshmen are playing at a high level by the end of the season and our injured players are fully healthy next November, then 2024 could be a season to remember! Not giving up on this season, just being realistic. This is a year to watch our players grow. Anything beyond the sweet sixteen will be a pleasant surprise.

 

[hoophuskee]

It is possible, by the way, that Paige will never be the same.

Yes -- it's possible. Though I highly doubt it the way Geno was talking about her early in the season. We'll see.
But imo she has to be "Caitlin" to some high degree. Maybe it wil start next game or maybe it takes two months . . .

In terms of meeting her potential, UCONN and her can't be scared to play. Adn imo superstars get beat up. It would be a shame if her body can't take it.

 

[ctkaiser]

And there are stories out now that Brink was quite ill for the Gonzaga game. As for UCONN " probably" getting Ducharme back and Patterson back, that may apply more to next season than this one. If Ducharme remains out for Ball state,, it is going to be a long term thing. And, likely, recurring. She probably needs a red shirt year. Do we know what procedure Patterson had, and exactly when it took place?

I had read something Geno said about Patterson that I took to mean they thought she would be back by now. What procedure was done was never mentioned as is fairly common now.

 

[Cornell Lt]

Turnovers.

and 16 offense rebounds by Texas

 

[hoophuskee]

Ok that’s a fair point. But they won’t do anything this year you can dream all you want. December or February they won’t rebound or defend teams with larger girls and better athletes, it’s simple. And I understand the pride and commitment others have put or tried to put in. But the future is KK, Shade and Samuel now so let them grow. Not saying all the minutes by any means but more for Shade and Samuel than they are getting. And rebounding isn’t all size it’s will as well and width which they have very little of. Boxing out is very important but you need to move them back not just put your butt on them. Admittedly I thought Texas was over the back a lot more than called yesterday.

I agree with you to a very specific degree but overall no way with your tone. The part I agree about is that this year they aren't winning any title. I don't expect them to get to E8 never mind Final Four. But hey- if Creighton -- Creighton - Creighton from 2 years ago can get to an E8- Creighton - then there is no way no way that Geno, the coaching staff, or the players would share a pov that you are posing.

I was on the old Hartford Courant Board and then the old ESPN Board. One issue that always upset me about Geno was his early comments and actions of the young Tina Charles. One point I hated was how the spoke of her game. I can recall her soph year he would say "Tina should average a double-double at halftime." Then when she didn't get it, he'd rip her. Realistically that demand of averaging a double double at halftime was off-the-charts- especially with the team he had that was so amazingly efficient and had several star players.

The point is-- that he was demanding something that was unrealistic. But he was doing it because he's an elite coach and he is held accountable. it's his job to demand "unlrealistic." It's his job to push for a Final Four. We as fans can make cavalier statements because we aren't accountable. I'm wiht you - this year I don't see much. But your point about the bold in your advocating playing worse players than can win now because you are looking toward a someday in the future moment - is more unrealistic than Geno’s past demand from Tina Charles. And you are advocating this in early December of all things.

I know you aren’t saying bench the seniors etc- but a 1 or 2 minute move can cost UCONN a game. And there is no way any member of staff or player worth their salt as a player would be willing to accept that. The pros they would be okay with doing this. College ain't the pros.