We Continue to Move forward

[Bone Dog]

I highly doubt that's true for most players. In today's world I think the top differences, especially for the top players are:

1. national exposure / WNBA opportunity
2. NIL
3. coaching / skill improvement

This is probably accurate as a prioritizing of interests for adolescents. There may even be a big gap between #2 and #3. And Geno has spoken about this many times, that it’s not hard to find kids who can score. But that’s not the only thing he looks for. He has said he looks for kids who are willing to be coached especially on team defense, and these kids are a lot less common. The willingness to play team defense, and to understand that defense is a main determinant of playing time at UConn (as it is at SC, too), tends to winnow out the field of recruits quite a bit. These are the kids who will put team first, the ones who will appreciate the need to learn new things. The irony is that even #1 ultimately depends on this much more than kids realize before they arrive.

 

[Zonepress]

I watched it too. Dawn showed what Geno is trying to do right now: utilize ten players instead of relying on a starting five, substitute for the right match-ups and player combinations, spread the playing time around. South Carolina has the players to do that and so does Geno.

The difference between UConn and South Carolina is that the players coming off The bench are just as good as the starting players, if not better.
Imho playing 9 to 10 players is actually a detriment for uconn considering you have three players who are significantly better players, who should never be off the court in a close game

 

[Bone Dog]

The difference between UConn and South Carolina is that the players coming off The bench are just as good as the starting players, if not better.
Imho playing 9 to 10 players is actually a detriment for uconn considering you have three players who are significantly better players, who should never be off the court in a close game

I agree with your overall point that SC has a deep and talented roster. And I think the bolded statement is worth reflecting on. Dawn mainly brings 3 off the bench, Edwards, Fulwiley and Johnson. I suspect Edwards is probably as good as any of the starters already. She could definitely start ahead of Feagin. And I think Tessa will become a key player in March, and has been wonderful in a few games already. She could definitely start ahead of Bree. Fulwiley could probably start for any top-25 team in D1. Her offense is dazzling and her defense, while uneven, can be great too. But I wonder if there isn’t a good reason Dawn doesn’t start her. She’s the only member of the rotation that may not be an upgrade over the starters.

I think we matchup pretty well against Dawn’s starters. Kitts has been their leading scorer lately, but the top-5 scorers on the team is very even. I don’t think Chloe is really a match for Sarah. But if Sarah has to guard Joyce, it gets more complicated, as we may see Morgan trying to defend Kitts. Feagin and Joyce are probably too much for Jana and Ice right now. This might shift a little over the next month, but I’m not confident how much. Will Tac and Dauda see any minutes against us in that game? maybe, but they don’t look to be able to dominate Jana and Ice.

For the first time in a while, the issue for UConn in a game against SC will be the backcourt, not the frontcourt. Paige & Azzi are as good as their best. But Kaitlyn KK and Ash may not be up to the challenge of stopping Raven Tessa Bree Milaysia and Te-hina. That’s a tall order. Can Morgan and Allie find a way to contribute in this game? If Morgan’s main assignment was merely to shut down Chloe, and thereby free up Sarah to deal with Joyce or Sania, that could go a long way. But currently, I don’t have confidence in that matchup for Morgan, not yet.

Our best hope may be for KK and Ash to play the best defense of their lives, for Paige Azzi and Sarah to shoot well, and for Jana to avoid fouling and to up her rebounding game. That alone would make us competitive with SC. No guarantee of a win — it would still be a huge upset. But it’s not inconceivable. And as @Tonyc might say, the Tennessee game is appropriate preparation for the SC game.

 

[Zonepress]

I agree with your overall point that SC has a deep and talented roster. And I think the bolded statement is worth reflecting on. Dawn mainly brings 3 off the bench, Edwards, Fulwiley and Johnson. I suspect Edwards is probably as good as any of the starters already. She could definitely start ahead of Feagin. And I think Tessa will become a key player in March, and has been wonderful in a few games already. She could definitely start ahead of Bree. Fulwiley could probably start for any top-25 team in D1. Her offense is dazzling and her defense, while uneven, can be great too. But I wonder if there isn’t a good reason Dawn doesn’t start her. She’s the only member of the rotation that may not be an upgrade over the starters.

I think we matchup pretty well against Dawn’s starters. Kitts has been their leading scorer lately, but the top-5 scorers on the team is very even. I don’t think Chloe is really a match for Sarah. But if Sarah has to guard Joyce, it gets more complicated, as we may see Morgan trying to defend Kitts. Feagin and Joyce are probably too much for Jana and Ice right now. This might shift a little over the next month, but I’m not confident how much. Will Tac and Dauda see any minutes against us in that game? maybe, but they don’t look to be able to dominate Jana and Ice.

For the first time in a while, the issue for UConn in a game against SC will be the backcourt, not the frontcourt. Paige & Azzi are as good as their best. But Kaitlyn KK and Ash may not be up to the challenge of stopping Raven Tessa Bree Milaysia and Te-hina. That’s a tall order. Can Morgan and Allie find a way to contribute in this game? If Morgan’s main assignment was merely to shut down Chloe, and thereby free up Sarah to deal with Joyce or Sania, that could go a long way. But currently, I don’t have confidence in that matchup for Morgan, not yet.

Our best hope may be for KK and Ash to play the best defense of their lives, for Paige Azzi and Sarah to shoot well, and for Jana to avoid fouling and to up her rebounding game. That alone would make us competitive with SC. No guarantee of a win — it would still be a huge upset. But it’s not inconceivable. And as @Tonyc might say, the Tennessee game is appropriate preparation for the SC game.

You may be over thinking it a little bit
This UConn team has everything they need to compete with anyone
Unfortunately, they played poorly offensively against both ND and USC
Imho it’s pretty simple they have to play better and they certainly have the ability to do it!!

 

[Cuango]

What upsets me the most is our 3 point defense. Every team we encounter seems to know it since they really task it to us in the first quarter. This is really troubling to me because Tennessee is relentless with their 3 point shooting, and if we cannot defend them we will lose, and lose big. Our best defense against that will be our press, something they will be doing to us during most of the game. They score a lot of points, so we must find some way to slow them down. Pressing is our only alternative, because if they are able to run to the frontcourt unmolested, then we just have to pray they don't make all of them, because they will be coming, and if we aren't prepared it will be a long night in Knoxville.

I do agree about the three point defense but I’m not so sure about losing “big”! I mean, we’re not exactly mashed potatoes offensively! No question we could lose this game if we don’t mind our Ps & Qs, but I don’t see them blowing us out, even if we do lose! I’m pretty sure Geno sees the same thing everybody else is seeing though and he will have our team ready.

 

[Cuango]

I agree with your overall point that SC has a deep and talented roster. And I think the bolded statement is worth reflecting on. Dawn mainly brings 3 off the bench, Edwards, Fulwiley and Johnson. I suspect Edwards is probably as good as any of the starters already. She could definitely start ahead of Feagin. And I think Tessa will become a key player in March, and has been wonderful in a few games already. She could definitely start ahead of Bree. Fulwiley could probably start for any top-25 team in D1. Her offense is dazzling and her defense, while uneven, can be great too. But I wonder if there isn’t a good reason Dawn doesn’t start her. She’s the only member of the rotation that may not be an upgrade over the starters.

I think we matchup pretty well against Dawn’s starters. Kitts has been their leading scorer lately, but the top-5 scorers on the team is very even. I don’t think Chloe is really a match for Sarah. But if Sarah has to guard Joyce, it gets more complicated, as we may see Morgan trying to defend Kitts. Feagin and Joyce are probably too much for Jana and Ice right now. This might shift a little over the next month, but I’m not confident how much. Will Tac and Dauda see any minutes against us in that game? maybe, but they don’t look to be able to dominate Jana and Ice.

For the first time in a while, the issue for UConn in a game against SC will be the backcourt, not the frontcourt. Paige & Azzi are as good as their best. But Kaitlyn KK and Ash may not be up to the challenge of stopping Raven Tessa Bree Milaysia and Te-hina. That’s a tall order. Can Morgan and Allie find a way to contribute in this game? If Morgan’s main assignment was merely to shut down Chloe, and thereby free up Sarah to deal with Joyce or Sania, that could go a long way. But currently, I don’t have confidence in that matchup for Morgan, not yet.

Our best hope may be for KK and Ash to play the best defense of their lives, for Paige Azzi and Sarah to shoot well, and for Jana to avoid fouling and to up her rebounding game. That alone would make us competitive with SC. No guarantee of a win — it would still be a huge upset. But it’s not inconceivable. And as @Tonyc might say, the Tennessee game is appropriate preparation for the SC game.

That game (SC) is going to be determined by whether we can withstand their defensive pressure! If they smack us in the face and hold us to 10-12 points in the first quarter/half like many of these other teams, (some of them, good teams) we may be looking at a loooong day! We have to take a page out of UCLA’s book and smack them first or at least show them we can smack them back! Her team feasts on weakness and we have to show them right off the bat that we are not afraid of them!

 

[Alydar]

When UConn loses I like to remember 2013, when NDame ripped my heart out three times during the season. The win in the FF semi gave me back my heart.
I don't think UConn's season hinges on beating SCar next month.

 

[Cuango]

When UConn loses I like to remember 2013, when NDame ripped my heart out three times during the season. The win in the FF semi gave me back my heart.
I don't think UConn's season hinges on beating SCar next month.

I agree but I am sick to death of losing to them!

 

[WiseWillie]

The impressive thing for me is that Dawn continues to recruit really well even though she’s got such a crowded rotation.

Yes, of all the things mentioned about the Gamecocks the one thing that we must all recognize that has made them such a dominant force in women's basketball is Dawn's recruiting ability for getting the right type of player to fit the playing style she uses. Got to give Dawn a lot of credit. She's made the Gamecocks into something not unlike UConn in years past.