UConn - TMU post game thread

[DEpup]

Ice clearly has the skills to score but she's trying so hard that she's rushing every aspect of her game.........hardly the first freshman to have that issue........it's going to take one or two good games to get her over the hump but I'm confident she'll get there......

I agree. She looks like a person who is thinking too much, rushing her shot, and not being fully committed to her movement. That can be a combination of trying to hard and not having 100% confidence in her body yet.

 

[ABCDFE]

Even though the score was lopsided, I really enjoyed watching the game because it allowed us to see how the Freshman are developing before our very own eyes. When Ash, Q, and KK play with a purpose and don't hesitate to shoot when they're open or when there's a shot, we are a totally different team. I also believe all three can be above average to very good defenders by years end. It's early, but getting to this 8 man rotation will help Paige, Nika, and AE to play within themselves and not feel like it's a heavy burden each time they face a really tough team.

I only hope that Ice can also play with a purpose and on instincts and not be afraid to fail. These early games is where she needs to get comfortable growing her game both interior and in the midrange. If we can get her to play good defense, rebound and have some presence in the low blocks I think there's really a chance we can compete with any team this year.

As for Amari, I'm all for her getting as much playing time as possible. You see she's got amazing talent and that height and wingspan (OMG) can alter any shot close to the rim or on a close-out. I think as long as she rebounds and doesn't turn the ball over, her value-add on the just being a big body with arms up in the air is just something no one else can provide.

 

[HuskyNan]

As for Amari, I'm all for her getting as much playing time as possible. You see she's got amazing talent and that height and wingspan (OMG) can alter any shot close to the rim or on a close-out. I think as long as she rebounds and doesn't turn the ball over, her value-add on the just being a big body with arms up in the air is just something no one else can provide.

Amari had 2 rebounds last night, Ines, at 5-9, had 3. She has talent but can’t seem to find her aggressiveness

 

[sun]

KK's ball handling & quick hands & feet on defense were a joy to watch.
She brings a different pace to the game on both sides of the court.
Ines's play has also improved probably due to watching & playing with Paige.
Her passes have a nice touch & she knows how to thread the ball & make one handed passes.
It was nice to see where she's at developmentally.
More & more it seems that UConn has taken a PG by committee approach & employing "just go" which is refreshing.
KK's dribbling is very crisp.

 

[Centerstream]

Suspect that Ice still has some residual effects from her knee surgery, both physical and mental. Hoping she takes advantage of having players like Edwards, Paige, and Griffin around her this year. All are great at shooting layups by using their offhand to shield the ball while shooting it slightly away from the defender's body. Ice is shooting a bit like Patterson, almost pushing the ball into the defender. Ice appears to know what to do but has been slow to make these changes. May be a case where the seniors can be better coaches than Geno's staff.

Let's be honest, was Aaliyah's game up to the BY standard after the first 10 games of her UConn career? I think not. It may take Ice the whole season to meet expectations, if not longer. But it sure would be something if it took less games.

 

[MSGRET]

This is not a game to read anything into at all. Playing bad teams or teams that are clearly not any better than a good HS team should not be a cause for celebration. All this does is allow a team to make a ton of mistakes and have none of them show up in the stat line. UConn is playing better than they were but that is 100% on the play of Aubrey.

Why is that? LSU does this for almost all of their pre-conference schedule and they won it all last year.

 

[MSGRET]

Charliebball- - -I don't think Ice has gotten used to the speed and the physicality of the college game!

She has only played less than 10 games of college ball, many first year players have problem with the speed of the game. Heck UConn has some that are Juniors and they aren't ready for the speed.

 

[Charliebball]

Even though the score was lopsided, I really enjoyed watching the game because it allowed us to see how the Freshman are developing before our very own eyes. When Ash, Q, and KK play with a purpose and don't hesitate to shoot when they're open or when there's a shot, we are a totally different team. I also believe all three can be above average to very good defenders by years end. It's early, but getting to this 8 man rotation will help Paige, Nika, and AE to play within themselves and not feel like it's a heavy burden each time they face a really tough team.

I only hope that Ice can also play with a purpose and on instincts and not be afraid to fail. These early games is where she needs to get comfortable growing her game both interior and in the midrange. If we can get her to play good defense, rebound and have some presence in the low blocks I think there's really a chance we can compete with any team this year.

As for Amari, I'm all for her getting as much playing time as possible. You see she's got amazing talent and that height and wingspan (OMG) can alter any shot close to the rim or on a close-out. I think as long as she rebounds and doesn't turn the ball over, her value-add on the just being a big body with arms up in the air is just something no one else can provide.

UConn hasn't had a real shot blocker since ONO and there's no doubt having that intimidation factor in the lane is missing from this year's team.....

 

[oldude]

UConn hasn't had a real shot blocker since ONO and there's no doubt having that intimidation factor in the lane is missing from this year's team.....

Well, you can block shots in the lane or you can strip the ball before it gets into the lane. In KK, Nika, Paige & Aubrey, UConn has a pack of ball thieves that put tremendous pressure on opposing offenses. Until UConn faces a dominant BIg like Cardoso, I think the Huskies can hold their own against just about anyone with their undersized, quick lineup.

 

[Charliebball]

Well, you can block shots in the lane or you can strip the ball before it gets into the lane. In KK, Nika, Paige & Aubrey, UConn has a pack of ball thieves that put tremendous pressure on opposing offenses. Until UConn faces a dominant BIg like Cardoso, I think the Huskies can hold their own against just about anyone with their undersized, quick lineup.

true but as you remember it was a comforting feeling to know that very few guards were able to drive down the lane without being menaced by Ms. ONO

 

[RoadMaster]

Take off.

 

[JellyBean]

It used to be. Internal fighting within the ownership group has killed that possibility. Highly doubt it will ever be considered again with the current ownership battles going on.

Hopefully another ownership group in the area can put a plan together to get a team in Toronto.

 

[BBallF]

Ice clearly has the skills to score but she's trying so hard that she's rushing every aspect of her game.........hardly the first freshman to have that issue........it's going to take one or two good games to get her over the hump but I'm confident she'll get there......

I agree but I think it is more than just a hump to get over. She seems slow compared to the other players out there and her timing seems off. She looked the best against Butler when she was rested so I think it is matter of conditioning as well. Not so with Q, who just had adjustment issues of a different kind, more like the typical freshmen ones which Ice has in addition to her injuries.

Q doesn't have a conditioning issue, it is just the defense more than anything but last night you saw an offensive machine. Her confidence and better defense may be the remedy but for Ice we need a lot of playing time, a lot of practices, and then the usual confidence builders and experience. In other words, if it is speed and conditioning, confidence isn't the cure by itself. That's why I think it will be February for her.

For Q, if she works as hard on defense as last night, it is going to come a lot sooner and when it does it adds another dimension to this team. Whereas with Aubrey you have instant chaos off the bench, with Q you may get instant offense. She was pretty spectacular last night and even though it was a very overmatched team, the hoop is still the same size when you shoot. She will get used to the college defenders I am certain. She seems to be very young now but I think she will be very potent soon enough. It's different with Ice. We just need patience. As one poster adroitly pointed out, remember Liyah in the beginning. Look at her now.