Vandy Post Game Thread | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Vandy Post Game Thread

The freshmen will come around. Even CW, who we all agree was an essential cog in last year’s team, had times when she looked like a lost freshman. AG and AM are no CW, so their freshman moments may last longer and be more obvious, but they’ll get it. If Geno didn’t trust them, Kyla would be starting and I think I’d have to take a break from the BY.

As for EA, I still have faith she’ll become a contributor. When you’re the primary scoring target, like she was at Murray State, the pace of the offense is based on you. When you’re the fifth scoring option on the floor with four fast guards, if you’re struggling with the pace of an unfamiliar offense, you will undoubtedly look lost. I think as she continues to condition and get a better understanding of her role, she’ll be fine.
 
HuskyNan said:
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As for Anna and Aubrey scoring. Anna had five assists—that means at least ten points. She had two steals. I don’t know if those led to scores but possibly. Aubrey scored four points, had no assists but four steals that could have let to points. Bottom line: we are sure their play definitely led to 14 points, maybe more.
 
Dokey said:
As for Anna and Aubrey scoring. Anna had five assists—that means at least ten points. She had two steals. I don’t know if those led to scores but possibly. Aubrey scored four points, had no assists but four steals that could have let to points. Bottom line: we are sure their play definitely led to 14 points, maybe more.
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Both caused turnovers too (should be a stat), Anna with her height and Aubrey with her defense. Both are coming along nicely.
 
Welcome to the rest of mediocre WCBB UConn. Few teams look crisp this early in the season. You at least want to see a few nice passes and plays. It’s when you watch an entire game and you may only see two impressive plays and 20 clunkers, that game was not worth watching. A team can win by 36 and still look bad in these mismatches.
 
We have some beautiful intelligent women sitting on the bench for the whole game. If they show up for practice and get good grades which I assume they do why can't they play? This is not the wnba. These ladies deserve to play..they are on scholarships and if we lose a game or 2 or 5..well the sun will still come up in the east and set in the west....
 
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oldude said:
I think Crystal, who was rehabbing from surgery most of the summer, is not at 100% yet. She’ll play her way back into shape I expect.
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I'm just happy to see Crystal playing so soon after surgery. You can see she is playing a bit stiff. May not be at All American level, but doing well. Wish Geno would give her more rest. She has been injured each year and playing 99% of the minutes against average competition will not help. I would trade 1-2 loses to have 100% of Crystal in the playoffs.
 
HuskyNan said:
Both caused turnovers too (should be a stat), Anna with her height and Aubrey with her defense. Both are coming along nicely.
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Both are strong additions to this team although both seem to have "Molly disease-" wont shoot. We need a game where Geno sets the offense to give both many shots in an attempt to get their confidence back. Likely this will happen once the in conference schedule comes around.
 
donalddoowop said:
When it's all said and done, UConn is not the fourth best team in the nation. It may come, but as of now they need a lot of work. As Nan said, they are a young team.
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Almost everyone not named Oregon has looked ragged. I was not impressed with Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Notre Dame. The Terps needed a furious rally plus a bucket at the end to edge James Madison last night. We often look smooth early in the season. This is not one of those years. When will we look better, and how much better? I'm watching and hoping.
 
Centerstream said:
No mention of her status was mentioned by the broadcast team that I heard.
BTW It was great hearing Eric broadcasting a UConn game again.
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I thought so, too. I think he does a great job when working on other networks as not coming across as a UConn homer. Speaks to his professionalism.
 
MilfordHusky said:
Almost everyone not named Oregon has looked ragged. I was not impressed with Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Notre Dame. The Terps needed a furious rally plus a bucket at the end to edge James Madison last night. We often look smooth early in the season. This is not one of those years. When will we look better, and how much better? I'm watching and hoping.
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I would probably throw Baylor into the "impressed" list although the competition level is particularly low.
 
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southofnorth said:
In the first two games so far she’s seemed to be disinterested and reluctant to call anyone out. KLS isn’t here to say what needs to be said anymore and Geno has long said he can’t be the leader of the team when they’re out on the court.
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True, someone has to replace KLS’s leadership—something she learned the hard way from Geno, though perhaps with a more positive bark.
 
HuskyNan said:
Both caused turnovers too (should be a stat), Anna with her height and Aubrey with her defense. Both are coming along nicely.
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It is a stat in some box scores. And that is a freshman trait. They are good and will learn.
 
Like it or not, this is a rebuilding year where we could be good at the end, or not. My take on the game:

CD--She is what she is, a very good all around point guard who will usually be a complementary piece on offense, not a go to scorer.

KW--She can be a difference maker on both ends, when her jumper isn't falling and the defense can collapse on her drive, she will struggle on offense.

AM--I think she has an outside shot that she hasn't been able to use yet, either because of adjusting to the level of play or nerves. She moves well without the ball and her teammates miss her being wide open at times. She'll eventually be very good.

MW--She's a star now. It's just a matter of how much help she gets.

ONO--Enormous improvement, although she's still a little raw in terms of game feel, she can score, pass, rebound, and block shots. When the refs call tighter games, she will be in foul trouble.

AG--Gabby Williams has walked back through the door. When she stops being a liability on offense, her ability as a defensive stopper will be invaluable.

EA--She has to be the backup center, and I hope she adjusts to the point she can give minutes when ONO is on the bench with fouls.
 
JSB60 said:
Like it or not, this is a rebuilding year where we could be good at the end, or not. My take on the game:

CD--She is what she is, a very good all around point guard who will usually be a complementary piece on offense, not a go to scorer.

KW--She can be a difference maker on both ends, when her jumper isn't falling and the defense can collapse on her drive, she will struggle on offense.

AM--I think she has an outside shot that she hasn't been able to use yet, either because of adjusting to the level of play or nerves. She moves well without the ball and her teammates miss her being wide open at times. She'll eventually be very good.

MW--She's a star now. It's just a matter of how much help she gets.

ONO--Enormous improvement, although she's still a little raw in terms of game feel, she can score, pass, rebound, and block shots. When the refs call tighter games, she will be in foul trouble.

AG--Gabby Williams has walked back through the door. When she stops being a liability on offense, her ability as a defensive stopper will be invaluable.

EA--She has to be the backup center, and I hope she adjusts to the point she can give minutes when ONO is on the bench with fouls.
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Yup
 
Missed the first half & the first half of the 3rd quarter on the SEC network. Watched the replay on Watch ESPN later in the evening. Live, the part I saw was disappointing, but on tape the team looked a lot better overall when the whole game was viewed. Maybe the later quarters affected fan reaction. I thought ONO was pretty good & changed Vandy's game. I think it's worth remembering that she doesn't have too much experience playing an entire game, so some of the mistakes or misses may be cause she was gassed. Generalizing about CW on the basis of 2 games is unfair. KLS certainly had her share of low scoring games, even her junior and senior years, no? Someone with Pheesa's consistency is very unusual; she was WNBA rookie of the year, for heaven's sake. Overall the team didn't have many FT opportunities so generalizing about poor FT shooting is premature. Maybe the real issue is the team not making enough moves to the basket? I would excuse ONO from this, she played close enough. Despite playing practically the entire game I didn't see her in foul trouble. Last year, she played less and fouled faster. CD is recovering from surgery and landed on her hip in the previous game, as I recall, and I did notice her talking to Anna during an FT, leaderlike. Anna is an excellent passer already, but her handle wasn't too impressive in transition, but again, early days. Megan seems to be taking over nicely, but consistency has been something of a bugaboo in previous years; early days again.
 
JSB60 said:
Like it or not, this is a rebuilding year where we could be good at the end, or not. My take on the game:

CD--She is what she is, a very good all around point guard who will usually be a complementary piece on offense, not a go to scorer.

KW--She can be a difference maker on both ends, when her jumper isn't falling and the defense can collapse on her drive, she will struggle on offense.

AM--I think she has an outside shot that she hasn't been able to use yet, either because of adjusting to the level of play or nerves. She moves well without the ball and her teammates miss her being wide open at times. She'll eventually be very good.

MW--She's a star now. It's just a matter of how much help she gets.

ONO--Enormous improvement, although she's still a little raw in terms of game feel, she can score, pass, rebound, and block shots. When the refs call tighter games, she will be in foul trouble.

AG--Gabby Williams has walked back through the door. When she stops being a liability on offense, her ability as a defensive stopper will be invaluable.

EA--She has to be the backup center, and I hope she adjusts to the point she can give minutes when ONO is on the bench with fouls.
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Took a while before I deciphered

KW- CW -She can be a difference maker on both ends, when her jumper isn't falling and the defense can collapse on her drive, she will struggle on offense.
 
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Fairfield Fan said:
Once again, UConn failed to dominate on the boards against two middling teams. Vanderbilt out rebounded UConn tonight. Again, most of the scoring came from just three players. And with little presence under the boards, outside shooting was poor.

If these relatively thin margins of victory against the likes of Cal and Vanderbilt are any indication, this is going to be a bear of a season.
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Yup. Many problems, but one in particular: no 5th starter. Anna has been a disappointment so far. She's obviously in a shooting funk; she also is slow afoot (only one of these is curable). My guess is that Aubrey will grow into the 5th starter before too long, and Anna will come off the bench. More: our top scorers are streaky. Although both Megan and Christyn put up good numbers, they're not consistent over an entire game--yet. Crystal's points are a bonus but also not to be relied on. The real exciting spot is Liv's. She has grown so much in a year that she's hardly recognizable. No longer gawky and confused, she looks smooth and alert. Still great hands, blocking w/out fouling, and her fall-away jumper looks promising ('Pheesa made a career of that shot). She can still use more strength, but at this rate she'll be among the top centers in the country by the end of her career. Things will get better; how much so remains to be seen.
 
HuskyNan said:
The missed shots, including free throws, are partially the result of tired legs. As the season goes on, that should resolve itself.

I cant believe the criticism of Liv. She’s still only a sophomore yet she’s light years ahead of where she was last year and she’s playing a LOT more minutes. She and Meg, with some help from Aubrey, kept the team afloat in the second half.
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I can believe the criticism of Liv.
 
Thank
JSB60 said:
Like it or not, this is a rebuilding year where we could be good at the end, or not. My take on the game:

CD--She is what she is, a very good all around point guard who will usually be a complementary piece on offense, not a go to scorer.

KW--She can be a difference maker on both ends, when her jumper isn't falling and the defense can collapse on her drive, she will struggle on offense.

AM--I think she has an outside shot that she hasn't been able to use yet, either because of adjusting to the level of play or nerves. She moves well without the ball and her teammates miss her being wide open at times. She'll eventually be very good.

MW--She's a star now. It's just a matter of how much help she gets.

ONO--Enormous improvement, although she's still a little raw in terms of game feel, she can score, pass, rebound, and block shots. When the refs call tighter games, she will be in foul trouble.

AG--Gabby Williams has walked back through the door. When she stops being a liability on offense, her ability as a defensive stopper will be invaluable.

EA--She has to be the backup center, and I hope she adjusts to the point she can give minutes when ONO is on the bench with fouls.
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Thank you for mentioning "rebuilding year." Many expectations are unreasonable based on this being a Final Four team. In the same sense, comments where growth is needed may simply be factual versus criticism. I personally have little issue with a 4-5 loss season as long as team is ready at end of year. I.e. this means not only skilled and experienced but healthy and rested. You don't play the top 3-4 starters maximum minutes in a "rebuilding year."
 
huskyd said:
More: our top scorers are streaky. Although both Megan and Christyn put up good numbers, they're not consistent over an entire game--yet.
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Sorry, the complaint window is closed for Megan-related issues today. Last night she had, by quarter:
Q1. 7 points
Q2. 4 points
Q3. 9 points
Q4. 5 points.

For a total 25 points. In all four games she’s played, including exhibition, Meg has had 28 & 4, 28 & 8, 21 & 10, and 25 & 8. She has been a model of consistency this year.
 
HuskyNan said:
Sorry, the complaint window is closed for Megan-related issues today. Last night she had, by quarter:
Q1. 7 points
Q2. 4 points
Q3. 9 points
Q4. 5 points.

For a total 25 points. In all four games she’s played, including exhibition, Meg has had 28 & 4, 28 & 8, 21 & 10, and 25 & 8. She has been a model of consistency this year.
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Through the first 2 games, MW may be playing better this year than Lou and Pheesa last year.
 
Fairfield Fan said:
Once again, UConn failed to dominate on the boards against two middling teams. Vanderbilt out rebounded UConn tonight. Again, most of the scoring came from just three players. And with little presence under the boards, outside shooting was poor.

If these relatively thin margins of victory against the likes of Cal and Vanderbilt are any indication, this is going to be a bear of a season.
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And don't forget, Vandy won the fourth quarter. And we were not playing our bench. That suggests a tiredness factor. And it is only game 2.
 
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bluedevil said:
We have some beautiful intelligent women sitting on the bench for the whole game. If they show up for practice and get good grades which I assume they do why can't they play? This is not the wnba. These ladies deserve to play..they are on scholarships and if we lose a game or 2 or 5..well the sun will still come up in the east and set in the west....
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I could concede the bench should play more to develop them, or to take some pressure off the starters, get them some rest. To the point of losing a game? Pretty extreme, but...maybe.

But I call BS on the bench “deserving” PT because they are beautiful, intelligent, have scholarships, show up for practice and get good grades. IMO they “deserve” PT if they are playing better than the starters. This isn’t the WNBA, but it ain’t middle school either. This is big time ‘play-to-win’ basketball.
 
Longtime fan said:
And don't forget, Vandy won the fourth quarter. And we were not playing our bench. That suggests a tiredness factor. And it is only game 2.
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Bingo!! This sir is a glaring illustration of why the 4 bench players MUST step up for 8-10 minutes a game each. There is no way the starters can play extended minutes all season.

They’ll be exhausted come March. Except in games against top 10 teams, the starters should not have to play more than 32 minutes a game. The reserves should be able to maintain a 15+ point lead.
 
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Carnac said:
Bingo!! This sir is a glaring illustration of why the 4 bench players MUST step up for 8-10 minutes a game each. There is no way the starters can play extended minutes all season.

They’ll be exhausted come March. Except in games against top 10 teams, the starters should not have to play more than 32 minutes a game. The reserves should be able to maintain a 15+ point lead.
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There is no reason why 18-21 year old players should not be able to play basketball for a full 40 minutes, with breaks for timeouts and between quarters, as well as at halftime. Gabby / Kia / Napheesa / Lou (i.e., Nurse Colliamson) were able to do that game after game. These should not run out of gas and lose shooting accuracy in the fourth quarter, as appeared to happen last night (except to Megan and Crystal, who have been around enough to know).

I think the problem is that the younger players did not realize the level of fitness that is required to do that -- it's completely attainable for their young bodies, but it takes work. Now they understand that, and hopefully they will take their 6 AM gym work more seriously. If not, I'm sure that Geno and the assistant coaches will make practices tough enough that they will get the message.
 
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