Virginia Tech?

[RegisteredUconn]

… and maybe he should mulkey up the schedule so Amari can get a lot of easy minutes early on.

I have always used “cupcake schedule” as my go to remark when referring to an exceptionally weak OOC schedule. But I now plan to plagiarize your comment “Mulkey up the schedule” from here on…

Not to pick nits but the phrase as defined is "mulkey up the schedule" not "Mulkey up the schedule." The lower case "m" is important because it implies that the referenced element is self evident and of such common knowledge in the given context that capitalizing the letter is no longer required.

 

[#12in21]

Wow, 91.31% of folks that picked brackets won't have the right name for the team cutting down the nets!

 

[Jewels]

… and maybe he should mulkey up the schedule so Amari can get a lot of easy minutes early on.

Regarding Amari's future potential, Geno has been quoted a few times saying if a player doesn't "get it" by end of sophomore year it is unlikely to happen. I am not going to argue with that point of view.

 

[maple]

I don't know that UConn's going to win the National Championship this year but I just have a feeling this South Carolina team is going to get upset.

I get that feeling too. It’s reminding me of Baylor in 2013 or UConn in 2017 & 2018 … a team just goes off from the perimeter and makes 17 3pt shots or gets miracle shot at the buzzer.

 

[cgshuskie]

Hopefully, Amari will get stronger and more nimble of foot in the off season. I don't think that it is will that is holding her back. She has spent 2 years on the bench observing the D 1 game. It should have clicked by now. I've watched her closely in on court situations and it appears that she is just not nimble of foot. She can not get to where she needs to be quick enough. That comes from not playing great competition when she was younger. Doubt she will completely transform while she is in college. Yet, by the time pro time comes, she may be a workable project for some team. Eventually she will pick up the game and craft, for herself, a role that she can play on a first rate team. I have confidence in her will ultimately winning out. i.e., I believe that she really wants to be Uconn good, as a big. But can she make it happen?

 

[Bone Dog]

Hopefully, Amari will get stronger and more nimble of foot in the off season. I don't think that it is will that is holding her back. She has spent 2 years on the bench observing the D 1 game. It should have clicked by now. I've watched her closely in on court situations and it appears that she is just not nimble of foot. She can not get to where she needs to be quick enough. That comes from not playing great competition when she was younger. Doubt she will completely transform while she is in college. Yet, by the time pro time comes, she may be a workable project for some team. Eventually she will pick up the game and craft, for herself, a role that she can play on a first rate team. I have confidence in her will ultimately winning out. i.e., I believe that she really wants to be Uconn good, as a big. But can she make it happen?

I hope so. She looks like a tall 6’5” to me, with long arms and legs. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s closer to 6’6”. Develop some better foot speed and skills and she could get picked up by some pro team.

 

[cgshuskie]

Amari needs to spend the summer playing against women who are bigger and stronger than her. She was disadvantaged in high school by being the biggest girl and she didn't have rigorous competition. Now, she needs strength and speed, agility and touch which she didn't need earlier. Maybe she needs to spend a summer down in Australia playing and working out with bigger pro's. Don't think she can get the work she need her in the USA. I think she has the will and heart to be a big (i.e., a banger and tough rebounder). She needs to hang out with Steph Dolson, Tina Charles, and Kiah Stokes for a summer. Learn how to be a bulldog!!!!

 

[Bald Husky]

If Amari doesn't greatly improve over the summer, she is out and won't see any PT. She is not physical, and she is not aggressive. She plays as if she is out there alone in the gym just taking shots. Ice and Jana will start the season ahead of her on the depth chart, so in order to play she will have to beat out both of them in order to get to play. I like Amari, but to be honest, I will not bet the farm on her becoming an impact player for UConn next year. To be proven wrong would give us the best post game in the country, but unfortunately, I won't count on it.

 

[HopJim]

Having watched Ice in HS, she has Edwards like skills and has had a year to get stronger and analyze how her game needs to grow. Smart player-predict she will start with Jana the first big off the bench. Jana appears to have a strong basketball IQ with both offensive and defensive upside over UConn's other bigs.

 

[oldude]

If Amari doesn't greatly improve over the summer, she is out and won't see any PT. She is not physical, and she is not aggressive. She plays as if she is out there alone in the gym just taking shots. Ice and Jana will start the season ahead of her on the depth chart, so in order to play she will have to beat out both of them in order to get to play. I like Amari, but to be honest, I will not bet the farm on her becoming an impact player for UConn next year. To be proven wrong would give us the best post game in the country, but unfortunately, I won't count on it.

How do you solve a problem like Amari? She clearly has some very nice skills for a BIG. IMO, the biggest challenge for Amari is to adapt to the speed of the game. She’s a step slow in everything she does.

I don’t know if it’s fixable. But it has to start at practice, where she has the opportunity to go against some outstanding BIGs every day. Unfortunately, as a result of all the injuries and a short roster, UConn hasn’t been going as hard or as long in practice as in prior seasons.

Unless the game slows down for Amari, she will never reach the level of performance that we all hope she’s capable of.

 

[Carnac]

If Amari doesn't greatly improve over the summer, she is out and won't see any PT. She is not physical, and she is not aggressive. She plays as if she is out there alone in the gym just taking shots. Ice and Jana will start the season ahead of her on the depth chart, so in order to play she will have to beat out both of them in order to get to play. I like Amari, but to be honest, I will not bet the farm on her becoming an impact player for UConn next year. To be proven wrong would give us the best post game in the country, but unfortunately, I won't count on it.

I’ve read the above critiques of Amari. I’m still a big fan of hers and have not given up on her, but I can’t argue with anything that’s been said here. The observations noted all pointed-out areas of her game that need improvement. I co-sign on every one of them.

I will only add one more observation. I defer to a song by Elvis Presley that I think perfectly illustrates her situation........”it’s now or never.” Time is running out. Geno needs to do something. Find someone in or out of house that can/will work with Amari to raise the level and quality of her game to where it needs to be both physically and mentally.

She needs to raise her level of aggression and awareness on the court. She can be as good as she wants to be. If she wants to play and be part of the rotation in the post, a significant improvement must take place this spring and summer.

I’ve got every body part that can be crossed - crossed. I’m really pulling for her, but she must understand that as others have noted, Geno has options next year for post-play that may not include her. It’s time for her to seriously to get to work!!! A workable plan of action for her needs to be developed and stringently followed throughout the spring and summer.

 

[Inthepaint]

I have always used “cupcake schedule” as my go to remark when referring to an exceptionally weak OOC schedule. But I now plan to plagiarize your comment “Mulkey up the schedule” from here on…

Wouldn’t that throw a “Mulkey wrench “ in the works?

 

[CONN78SEJ]

How do you solve a problem like Amari? She clearly has some very nice skills for a BIG. IMO, the biggest challenge for Amari is to adapt to the speed of the game. She’s a step slow in everything she does.

I don’t know if it’s fixable. But it has to start at practice, where she has the opportunity to go against some outstanding BIGs every day. Unfortunately, as a result of all the injuries and a short roster, UConn hasn’t been going as hard or as long in practice as in prior seasons.

Unless the game slows down for Amari, she will never reach the level of performance that we all hope she’s capable of.

Reminds me of a famous song. Lol

 

[oldude]

Reminds me of a famous song. Lol

That was my reference as well. Same number of syllables as well as the exact same letters…AMARI…MARIA…

 

[CL82]

Not saying you're wrong but 2 of my 3 brackets, I picked UCONN to upset SC. The game at Storrs showed me with Azzi, it would've been a W

Who did you have us upsetting in the last bracket?

 

[Bone Dog]

Taylor Soule lands awkwardly in the 4th q against Cattanooga. If she can't return, it's bad news for VT's chances.

 

[Bills Fan]

VT's 3 point shooter is really good. She can't be left open. But the two game announcers are terrible

 

[Cuango]

I don't want to count Amari out by any means. She's still got two more years left, and I'm hoping she'll make that leap to become part of the regular rotation. Between Amari, Ice, and Jana, I really think they should have the post covered next season to Geno's satisfaction. We'll see. Two 6'5" players and a 6'3". Plenty of playing time over the course of the season for all.

Wait! Two 6’5” players? Amari is the only 6’5” player on the roster for next year. Jana & Ice are, at best, 6’4”. Actually, I believe Jana is a legitimate 6’4” while Ice (based on what I’ve read) is possibly 6’4” but probably closer to 6’3 1/2”. Unless there is some new info?

 

[Carnac]

Wait! Two 6’5” players? Amari is the only 6’5” player on the roster for next year. Jana & Ice are, at best, 6’4”. Actually, I believe Jana is a legitimate 6’4” while Ice (based on what I’ve read) is possibly 6’4” but probably closer to 6’3 1/2”. Unless there is some new info?

No. I had Jana at 6'5". My error. The current UConn roster lists Jana at 6'4".

 

[Bone Dog]

No. I had Jana at 6'5". My error. The current UConn roster lists Jana at 6'4".

But she has very long arms, rather like Stewie and Brink. That may make up for that extra inch.

 

[Longtime fan]

I rewatched the Va Tech-Louisville game and Kitley looked really good. Her game has definitely advanced in the past season. She’s more mobile and active on O and D. And she has a very reliable short fadeaway that looks undefendable. This looks like the rare case where the center gets the guards open. Aamoore and Traylor had big seasons because teams sagged off them to double Kitley.

Louisville’s posts were not good enough to play Kitley straight up. The only game where they faced a comparable post player was against Tennessee, when Key was still playing. They squeaked out a win 59-56 but Kitley was 3-13 and 6 points. If I were a betting man, I’d wager Dorka can give Kitley all she can handle and Traylor and Amoore will have all they can handle from our guard corps. Still, I like the way they play and they will definitely be a challenge.

Virginia Tech is outstanding. And they have some great individual players. The same can be said for Stanford and Iowa. I think ( as a dark horse ) Mississippi state is in that class as well. And we all know about South Carolina. And there are other really tough outs scattered about. We shall see them in round two. I am hoping that the UCONN team that arrives tomorrow ( and beyond) is a team we have not really seen. A team that there is no " book" on. A team that can play at a level no one has seen all season. If they do, we are going to enjoy this tournament a lot.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Maybe she'll have a late growth spurt.

 

[JellyBean]

Having watched Ice in HS, she has Edwards like skills and has had a year to get stronger and analyze how her game needs to grow. Smart player-predict she will start with Jana the first big off the bench. Jana appears to have a strong basketball IQ with both offensive and defensive upside over UConn's other bigs.

I hope so. We shall see in the Fall. We all see what develops. On paper, everything looks great. It is on the hardwood where everything matters.

 

[JellyBean]

Virginia Tech is outstanding. And they have some great individual players. The same can be said for Stanford and Iowa. I think ( as a dark horse ) Mississippi state is in that class as well. And we all know about South Carolina. And there are other really tough outs scattered about. We shall see them in round two. I am hoping that the UCONN team that arrives tomorrow ( and beyond) is a team we have not really seen. A team that there is no " book" on. A team that can play at a level no one has seen all season. If they do, we are going to enjoy this tournament a lot.

I totally agree. Virginia Tech has looked good all season. Not sure why folks doubted their #1 Seeding. They look worthy of that spot and Coach Brooks is very underrated and doing a great job at V-Tech.

 

[Littlemin]

Va Tech is too far down the road to even be concerned about. Vermont Vermont Vermont….. just ask Purdue‘s or Arizona men’s teams what not being ready for the game in front of you can do.

 

[Bone Dog]

I am hoping that the UCONN team that arrives tomorrow ( and beyond) is a team we have not really seen. A team that there is no " book" on.

The proverbial dark horse!

 

[oldude]

Virginia Tech is outstanding. And they have some great individual players. The same can be said for Stanford and Iowa. I think ( as a dark horse ) Mississippi state is in that class as well. And we all know about South Carolina. And there are other really tough outs scattered about. We shall see them in round two. I am hoping that the UCONN team that arrives tomorrow ( and beyond) is a team we have not really seen. A team that there is no " book" on. A team that can play at a level no one has seen all season. If they do, we are going to enjoy this tournament a lot.

Your comment made me think back to my favorite UConn team of all time. In 2013 UConn entered the Big Dance with 4 losses, including losing for the 3rd straight time to ND in the conference tournament championship game, the last time the Huskies lost the conference tournament.

But once the Big Dance began, for the first time, we all witnessed freshman Stewie head to the nearest phone booth and emerge as Supergirl. UConn carved up 6 opponents, including ND in the national semifinal, on their way to the first of 4 championships.

Perhaps this year, Azzi finds that phone booth. More likely it will be a team effort, with everyone doing their part. I can’t wait to see what this UConn team accomplishes in the Big Dance starting today.

 

[Bone Dog]

Perhaps this year, Azzi finds that phone booth.

I’m hoping Caroline finds her phone booth too!

These girls who were used to carrying their hs teams don’t always learn to readjust to the weight such a burden can be in D1. But Paige did it immediately, and Azzi and Caroline are just as strong!

 

[Rowdy831]

37.79% is not most.

Is 37.79% those who don't expect them to win? If so that would be most, if not that would be many.

 

[Biff]

Perhaps this year, Azzi finds that phone booth.

Azzi "What's a phone booth?"