USF Postgame Thread | Page 2 | The Boneyard

USF Postgame Thread

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Few Thoughts:
Paige: wow. Is there a more fun player to watch in WBB? her efficiency in unreal amazing.
Sarah: i doubt we had many smarter players in UConn than her. Her poise and basketball IQ is off the charts! She's the complete package!
Ash: i guess when someone mentions the sophomore jump, Ash is a great case study for it! She is so much better than last season and she was the BE ROY.
Ice: had a real good game. under control. still concerned about her low rebounding numbers but she's doing much better defensively than last season.
Chen: Nice game despite some avoidable turnovers. I don't know why she didn't pass to an open Allie instead of getting covered on the lane and turning the ball over.
Jana: love her aggressiveness and moves around the basket. And she is clearly the best rebounder on the team. The other thing is that she is clearly a willing leader for the team. She gathers the team for huddles and actually instructing players and she's only a Red Shirt Freshmen.
Morgan: I'm very impressed with her. Big, strong, poised, smart and surprisingly a great 3-point shooter.
KK: the layup the was almost missed was funny by the way she reacted when it actually went down. Aggressive on defense and tough on the boards. Still don't trust her 3-point shot but hopefully it will come.
Allie: nice take to the basket for her 2 points. Missed opportunity for a 3-point shot when Chen didn't pass her the ball when she was open in the corner.
Q: the least amount of min. today and to be honest, didn't impress in those minutes. Fouls, way too quick of a 3-point shot when there was no one in a position to rebound. Hope she figures it out.
All in all a real fun game! SF is not bad team. Tough on defense and on the boards and they have some impressive shooters. In this season's BE they would probably be the 2nd or 3rd best team.
While watching online (FOX was working well), you could hear the great crowd. Good job!
 
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USF is a familiar old foe and the outcome was decidedly familiar. A step up from BU, USF is a well coached team, but doesn't have the horses compared to UConn. Geno has always recruited intelligent, talented basketball players, but this year's squad is loaded with high basketball IQ. Again, it's early, but I impressed by the poise of Sarah and Morgan Chelli. They just have a feel for the game. The baseline pass in the second half from Jana (a coaches' daughter) to KK demonstrated her court awareness. She has a high ceiling and will only get better as the season progresses.

Of course it goes without stating that the ultimate high IQ player is Paige. On a team loaded with HS All-Americans, she stands out like the North Star. Kaitlyn Chen is the perfect addition to the team, and her value & importance will grow, deeper into the season. While she may not be the defensive dynamo that Nika was, she adds another dimension on offense.

Ashlynn looks quicker, more athletic and even more fit than last season, if that is possible. We are patiently waiting for Azzi to play, but how do you take Ash off the court? She's so fundamentally sound, her on-ball defense has improved, and she's another one in the high IQ club. Unlike last season, Geno's issue will be finding PT for all the players who deserve time.

North Carolina is another step up in competition and the first road game for the newbies. It will be their first opportunity to see Paige step up and operate in a hostile environment.

Unlike last year, UConn has bench that Geno can tap into for various situations that arise. There are only a few programs that have the luxury of bringing a talent like KK Arnold off the bench. It will be interesting to see how PT is distributed as the season progresses.
 
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Stagnant said:
There are really no negatives today. I actually think South Florida is better than most teams in the big east.

I don’t have Morgan as a shooter. So her being 3/3 from behind the arc this year. I don’t know what to make of that. I would say she has earned some more minutes.

What do you guys think of Morgan and Ziebell coming into the game before Q? Was Geno just looking to squeeze them in because they are new players? Can anything be gleamed from that?
Expand ...

I think Morgan and Allie both look much more ready to contribute in their roles than Q right now
 
I thought there were several significant features to this game.

First and foremost, we saw clearly the aggressive new Paige, more muscular, stronger, and able to pull off mid air movements and double pumps effortlessly and efficiently and taking control immediately. Every game is almost head scratching watching her. Secondly, this game was about Ice also. After the BU game, we were rightly concerned. There was a vast improvement today. Still needs to be more active on the boards but she was smart and confident out there, a very good sign.

Thirdly, Morgan is a player. She was in the mix on several rebounds, has a quick release on the 3 which will get quicker and showed a nice form pull up J near the charity stripe. I think we will see a lot of her this year. Fourth, the BU game was no fluke for either Sarah or Jana. Sarah fills up the stat sheet almost invisibly but forget about the points and look at the 7 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block instead. Serious floor game numbers. Jana had 7 boards in 17 minutes and wants to dominate the entire game all the time. She has some nifty moves and great foot work for a Pyramid and is a natural leader.

Going forward, we need another scorer who can create her own shot when we need it to take the focus off of Paige and that is why Azzi is so important to this team. Also have to mention Ash and a blistering second half. What does she eat? The energy is just remarkable. Plus she has major joy out there.

Great to see so many players and combinations and look forward to an even tougher test against North Carolina.
 
Cheli displayed great basketball IQ in her minutes today. She seems to always be around the ball, rebounds well, and doesn't hurry her shot. You get the impression that if she is holding back her one-on-one skills. Most surprised at her defense. Doesn't look fast or quick but seems to know how to stay in front of her player. Uses her 6'2" frame well in all facets of the game.
 
Paige looked great today..hopefully she can keep being assertve all season
It's a joy watching Sara..she does so many things well and her BB IQ is off the charts
 
Here is one very important stat that no one has mentioned in this thread:

Ice in 23 minutes had just 2 rebounds, one of which was on offense. Whereas Jana in 17 minutes had 7 rebounds (as many as Sarah had in 25 minutes), and 3 of Jana's rebounds were offensive. That is exactly half of all the offensive rebounds that UConn had in the game.

Ice did play much better today than in either of the two previous games, but the rebounding gap between her and Jana remains stark. Just for that reason, I think Jana needs to start and get the majority of minutes at the center position.

Another key fact: In those 17 minutes, do you know how many fouls Jana had? Exactly zero, nada, zilch. And from in-person observation, I can assure you that it wasn't because she was playing timidly or cautiously (certainly less recklessly than in previous games, however). If that proves not to be a fluke, it will be easier for Geno to play Jana and leave her in the game when the competition level demands it. (BTW, Ice had 3 fouls in her 23 minutes -- too many.)
 
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HopJim said:
Cheli displayed great basketball IQ in her minutes today. She seems to always be around the ball, rebounds well, and doesn't hurry her shot. You get the impression that if she is holding back her one-on-one skills. Most surprised at her defense. Doesn't look fast or quick but seems to know how to stay in front of her player. Uses her 6'2" frame well in all facets of the game.
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Including throwing her body into opponents rather incautiously and getting called for fouls. She had 3 fouls in 15 minutes -- too many. Hopefully it won't take long for her to get her "bull in a china shop" tendencies under control.
 
Solid game by all. Nothing to be negative about. It is all about the Team. The Team. The Team! Sorry. I had to borrow that line from an old Michigan Wolverines coach. But overall, everyone looked decent out there. I loved the way Ice has been playing. Morgan and Allie are going to be awesome players. Jana is a beast! I love the way to commands those rebounds! Such force with determination. KK is a the ultimate team player. Her passion for the game and being team player is such a joy to watch out there. Ashlyn is the same. Love her smile and competitive play. Paige. What more to say than she continues to be outstanding and a joy to watch out there as well. Q did not get a lot of minutes out there but I hope that she keeps her positive mindset. KC...I love that young lady!! Holy smokes! I said it once and I will continue to say it, she is going to be the X factor as the season progresses. She is all that and a bag of chips. Sarah. Wow. She is only going to get better each practice and game. We are just getting the surface level of her skills and talent. I can't wait to see her play in January-March!

Great game, UConn!!
 
Surly1 said:
USF is a familiar old foe and the outcome was decidedly familiar. A step up from BU, USF is a well coached team, but doesn't have the horses compared to UConn. Geno has always recruited intelligent, talented basketball players, but this year's squad is loaded with high basketball IQ. Again, it's early, but I impressed by the poise of Sarah and Morgan Chelli. They just have a feel for the game. The baseline pass in the second half from Jana (a coaches' daughter) to KK demonstrated her court awareness. She has a high ceiling and will only get better as the season progresses.

Of course it goes without stating that the ultimate high IQ player is Paige. On a team loaded with HS All-Americans, she stands out like the North Star. Kaitlyn Chen is the perfect addition to the team, and her value & importance will grow, deeper into the season. While she may not be the defensive dynamo that Nika was, she adds another dimension on offense.

Ashlynn looks quicker, more athletic and even more fit than last season, if that is possible. We are patiently waiting for Azzi to play, but how do you take Ash off the court? She's so fundamentally sound, her on-ball defense has improved, and she's another one in the high IQ club. Unlike last season, Geno's issue will be finding PT for all the players who deserve time.

North Carolina is another step up in competition and the first road game for the newbies. It will be their first opportunity to see Paige step up and operate in a hostile environment.

Unlike last year, UConn has bench that Geno can tap into for various situations that arise. There are only a few programs that have the luxury of bringing a talent like KK Arnold off the bench. It will be interesting to see how PT is distributed as the season progresses.
Expand ...
Azzi comes off the bench. Ash is a core starter.
 
There was one thing I was a little bit worried about heading into the season (a small worry overall considering the glittering array of Huskies talent). I saw Morgan Cheli a few times during her HS career and kept track during games I couldn't see, and it seemed she had a number of leg and back injuries which slowed her down vs. top opponents; sometimes it looked like she just plain couldn't run fast enough.

I'm not so worried now! Morgan flew around pretty darned well!

Otherwise, this team is flat out ridiculous. Especially Paige and Sarah, but the rest also.
 
This has to be the season where Paige goes all "Kalima" on every opponent.

temple1.jpg


Establish a real legacy.
 
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Some fun names and nicknames, too... Sarah Strong, Ashlynn Shade, Azzi Fudd, Paige Buckets... They almost sound like names you'd come up with in a video game.
 
I wanted to see a couple of the other games before making this comment: I think UConn has the best guard corps in the NCAA right now. Paige, Ashlynn, and Kaitlyn start, then KK, Morgan, and Allie off the bench. Q should come around too. Notre Dame and South Carolina are certainly up there too. (I'm just not sold on U$C even with Juju.)

Front court starts Ice and Sarah and has Jana subbing in.

Paige, Morgan, and Sarah can play just about anywhere on the floor. That's quite a luxury.

And just think -- Azzi should be back within a couple of weeks and Ayanna presumably soon. Aubrey likely in January.

Yeah, the season looks pretty good from where I'm sitting.
 
JoePgh said:
Here is one very important stat that no one has mentioned in this thread:

Ice in 23 minutes had just 2 rebounds, one of which was on offense. Whereas Jana in 17 minutes had 7 rebounds (as many as Sarah had in 25 minutes), and 3 of Jana's rebounds were offensive. That is exactly half of all the offensive rebounds that UConn had in the game.

Ice did play much better today than in either of the two previous games, but the rebounding gap between her and Jana remains stark. Just for that reason, I think Jana needs to start and get the majority of minutes at the center position.

Another key fact: In those 17 minutes, do you know how many fouls Jana had? Exactly zero, nada, zilch. And from in-person observation, I can assure you that it wasn't because she was playing timidly or cautiously (certainly less recklessly than in previous games, however). If that proves not to be a fluke, it will be easier for Geno to play Jana and leave her in the game when the competition level demands it. (BTW, Ice had 3 fouls in her 23 minutes -- too many.)
Expand ...
Good points. I think Geno is bringing Jana along at a very deliberate pace. Ice has never been a great leaper and won't suddenly become one but the one weakness that I saw originally even greater than jumping ability was grasping strength. She was much better at it today than against BU. She can get boards with her body by boxing out and as long as her hands are strong she will do fine. She also can score in and out. As Kara said on the post game show, she needs to becomes the player she was in the BE tourney last year. There was much more confidence out there today.

It's early in the season. We can't use Paige as a standard. She is in Final Four shape already. Jana is going to be a dominating center but coming off the bench is necessary now. She hasn't played extended stretches in a UCONN uniform. You gotta move constantly on offense and defense for Geno so shorter measured playing time is the right prescription for her now. It isn't easy moving a Pyramid at the required Husky pace. To quote Danny Hurley last year "It's coming".
 
JoePgh said:
Ice in 23 minutes had just 2 rebounds, one of which was on offense. Whereas Jana in 17 minutes had 7 rebounds (as many as Sarah had in 25 minutes), and 3 of Jana's rebounds were offensive.

Ice did play much better today than in either of the two previous games, but the rebounding gap between her and Jana remains stark. Just for that reason, I think Jana needs to start and get the majority of minutes at the center position.
Expand ...
You just beat me to it. Definitely nice to see Brady have a decent game, but we really need to see it become the norm or at least the rule rather than the exception. Agreed 100% on Jana being the starter.

Others have said it already but how do you take Ash out of the starting lineup? Let Azzi anchor the second unit, get her 25-30 minutes (when healthy) by spelling Paige, Ash and Kaitlyn. The best part is that huge smile of "did you see what I just did" every time she scores. Her pesky aggressive defensive metamorphosis almost reminds me of Nika.

Between Q, Morgan and Allie someone will emerge as the instant offense and right now it looks like Morgan. Going to have to find her minutes somehow once Azzi and Aubrey are back.

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but how nice will it be to have 10-12 healthy bodies to throw out there in waves? Pressing defense to create turnovers and easy buckets.
 
pk1234 said:
I think Morgan and Allie both look much more ready to contribute in their roles than Q right now
Expand ...
I sincerely hope we don't go the whole year talking about the potential Q has. Time for her to put that potential on the court. Her classmates and now the freshmen are pushing down the depth chart.
 
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JoePgh said:
Including throwing her body into opponents rather incautiously and getting called for fouls. She had 3 fouls in 15 minutes -- too many. Hopefully it won't take long for her to get her "bull in a china shop" tendencies under control.
Expand ...
IMo Chen's game Offensive game comes down to how well she passes the ball and how well she hits open shots. UCONN doesn't need her to be anything close to what she was at Princeton. An occassional game - sure. But overall UCONN has much more "efficient scorers" for her to be as aggressive as she was at Princeton. So she needs to work on her passing vs taking tough shots.
 
JoePgh said:
Here is one very important stat that no one has mentioned in this thread:

Ice in 23 minutes had just 2 rebounds, one of which was on offense. Whereas Jana in 17 minutes had 7 rebounds (as many as Sarah had in 25 minutes), and 3 of Jana's rebounds were offensive. That is exactly half of all the offensive rebounds that UConn had in the game.

Ice did play much better today than in either of the two previous games, but the rebounding gap between her and Jana remains stark. Just for that reason, I think Jana needs to start and get the majority of minutes at the center position.

Another key fact: In those 17 minutes, do you know how many fouls Jana had? Exactly zero, nada, zilch. And from in-person observation, I can assure you that it wasn't because she was playing timidly or cautiously (certainly less recklessly than in previous games, however). If that proves not to be a fluke, it will be easier for Geno to play Jana and leave her in the game when the competition level demands it. (BTW, Ice had 3 fouls in her 23 minutes -- too many.)
Expand ...
We'll see exactly where Jana and Ice are when UConn plays against UNC with 6'5" Bianca Thomas 6'3" Maria Gakdeng and 6'4" Cierra Toomey.........hoping for a good showing.......
 
Stagnant said:
There are really no negatives today. I actually think South Florida is better than most teams in the big east.

I don’t have Morgan as a shooter. So her being 3/3 from behind the arc this year. I don’t know what to make of that. I would say she has earned some more minutes.

What do you guys think of Morgan and Ziebell coming into the game before Q? Was Geno just looking to squeeze them in because they are new players? Can anything be gleamed from that?
Expand ...
I think Morgan and Allie are better at defense. Q still looks a little lost.
 
Surly1 said:
USF is a familiar old foe and the outcome was decidedly familiar. A step up from BU, USF is a well coached team, but doesn't have the horses compared to UConn. Geno has always recruited intelligent, talented basketball players, but this year's squad is loaded with high basketball IQ. Again, it's early, but I impressed by the poise of Sarah and Morgan Chelli. They just have a feel for the game. The baseline pass in the second half from Jana (a coaches' daughter) to KK demonstrated her court awareness. She has a high ceiling and will only get better as the season progresses.

Of course it goes without stating that the ultimate high IQ player is Paige. On a team loaded with HS All-Americans, she stands out like the North Star. Kaitlyn Chen is the perfect addition to the team, and her value & importance will grow, deeper into the season. While she may not be the defensive dynamo that Nika was, she adds another dimension on offense.

Ashlynn looks quicker, more athletic and even more fit than last season, if that is possible. We are patiently waiting for Azzi to play, but how do you take Ash off the court? She's so fundamentally sound, her on-ball defense has improved, and she's another one in the high IQ club. Unlike last season, Geno's issue will be finding PT for all the players who deserve time.

North Carolina is another step up in competition and the first road game for the newbies. It will be their first opportunity to see Paige step up and operate in a hostile environment.

Unlike last year, UConn has bench that Geno can tap into for various situations that arise. There are only a few programs that have the luxury of bringing a talent like KK Arnold off the bench. It will be interesting to see how PT is distributed as the season progresses.
Expand ...
NC environment won’t be totally hostile… me and the wife will be there
 
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