We will learn alot in coming games

[Tonyc]

Geno has mentioned several times we need more scorers. I expect to see more of Morgan based on Geno's complimentary remarks and more from Allie. I also think a big key will be getting Azzi and Aubrey back. I was hoping they would be cleared for both games which will give us a comfortable advantage for a couple of reasons. With either or both available we have more scorers, we are able to not only rely on Paige and Sarah, and it will open up the opponents defense causing them to have to guard us one on one. It will also take pressure off Morgan and Allie allowing them to relax and play their game in the flow of experienced upper classman.

These are 2 big games coming up. Both ranked teams that could help our ranking and show how good UConn is. With Azzi Aubrey Morgan and Allie the picture looks much better. We would have 4 scorers on the floor and that changes everything at every position. When you look at the great UConn teams of the past that is what they had along with a dominate player(s) who could take over games. That lineup would carry us far.

I am looking so forward to see where we're at and how we handle these next 2 games.

 

[yhun89]

Once we get Azzi back, scoring should be better. Not only does she draw defenses away from Sarah and Paige, but she's got more speed off ball and a quicker release.

Aubrey of course, we can count on for a transition bucket and a putback on a OREB.

Morgan definitely looked like a solid role player. A little bit of everything will help a lot.

ISU we should win, we can outrun them like no one's business. Their star player is incapable of creating a shot for herself and relies on Brown or Ryan for the entry pass.

USC is questionable. They have Iriafen and Marshall and we have Sarah, both seem honestly kind of equal in terms of quality (insane because both are seniors) , with Sarah having an advantage in playmaking, and of course they have Juju. But they really don't have a bench. At all. Gottlieb barely gives the time to do anything. TVO is on and off on when she decides to be a good shooter or not. Heckel is in the starting lineup now, but is still a freshman adjusting. They don't seem to have anyone to handle Paige either, and IF Azzi is back that game, it's easily game over for USC. They don't have the capacity defensively to guard the triple threat.

Not saying our bench is far superior, but we have defenders like KK coming off, a solid "everything" player in Morgan coming off, and Ash, who can typically go for a few points and some good defense, and Jana who's good for rebounds, who probably should be starting sooner rather than later. From what I've seen, USC doesn't even use their bench when they're up 50.

 

[oldude]

Well, maybe we’ll learn something, or maybe not. Both games are in CT, the Mohegan Sun & XL Center respectively. While Crooks is certainly a force in the paint, Iowa St was clearly overrated. The Cyclones biggest win to date was over Middle Tennessee and they have now dropped out of the top 25 after their 3rd loss of the season.

As for USC, I think they are overrated as well. The Trojans biggest win was a 2 pt victory over #25 Mississippi in Paris, a team UConn beat by 13. Also concerning for USC is whether or not Watkins even plays, after hurting her ankle while inexplicably still in the game during a 50 pt blowout of Elon.

 

[yhun89]

Well, maybe we’ll learn something, or maybe not. Both games are in CT, the Mohegan Sun & XL Center respectively. While Crooks is certainly a force in the paint, Iowa St was clearly overrated. The Cyclones biggest win to date was over Middle Tennessee and they have now dropped out of the top 25.

As for USC, I think they are overrated as well. The Trojans biggest win was a 2 pt victory over #25 Mississippi in Paris, a team UConn beat by 13. Also concerning for USC is whether or not Watkins even plays, after hurting her ankle while inexplicably still in the game during a 50 pt blowout of Elon.

USC was ranked so high because of the recruiting class.

And now more than half of the recruits are just waiting on the bench. Heckel is the only one getting any PT (Smith was, but she's injured).

 

[oldude]

USC was ranked so high because of the recruiting class.

And now more than half of the recruits are just waiting on the bench. Heckel is the only one getting any PT (Smith was, but she's injured).

Yes, but also Watkins and a couple of high profile transfers. Also worth noting that Both UConn & USC lost to ND. But UConn’s loss was in South Bend and the Huskies made it a game in the 3rd quarter before losing by 11. USC lost to ND at the sold-out Galen Center, on campus in LA by 13.

 

[Bone Dog]

Geno has mentioned several times we need more scorers.

This is the key point — scorers, not necessarily shooters. We need shooters too, and we potentially have several of those, though they have not consistently found their sea legs from 3 yet. I’m thinking of Paige, Sarah, Kaitlyn, Ash, Allie, Q and, of course, Azzi.

But just as important is having people who will score in any way that becomes available. Commandos with the ball. A few years back, Geno was caught on a clip from practice urging the players to be willing to “just break off the play and go” whenever an opening presented itself.

Obviously, Paige and Azzi and Aubrey are great at this. We all recognize (I hope) the way Geno sets up screens for Paige to get her shot in specific patterns and particular places on the court. But Paige can also improvise whenever an opportunity presents itself. Recall against Georgetown how Paige rescued Ash on a fast break when she got the ball too far under the backboard. Paige simply flashed into the lane allowing Ash to flip the ball back to her and she finished off the break. Or the times when Sarah is at the top of the key as part of some motion set and suddenly drives to the hoop, because she sees one of the defenders behind the player guarding her as stepped the wrong way. Ash at her best does this, too. Kaitlyn and KK also do this, but less frequently. Even Allie did it in an early game. She received a pass as part of their motion scheme and saw an opening and took the ball to the rim.

The more confidence the young players get, the more willing they’ll be to “just break it off and go.” And of course, having good perimeter shooters puts more pressure on defenders to avoid leaving openings at the same time as they‘re challenging the 3pt shooters.

 

[ABCDFE]

I don't expect Azzi to play in either ISU or USC games. So this stretch will tell us whether one or more of Shade, KK, Jana, and ICE can be the scoring threat and contributor that we desperately need. My bet is that Shade and KK will rise to the occasion but as sophomores they've been inconsistent on the offensive end. Hoping ICE and Jana together can give us 15 pts or more.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't expect Azzi to play in either ISU or USC games. So this stretch will tell us whether one or more of Shade, KK, Jana, and ICE can be the scoring threat and contributor that we desperately need. My bet is that Shade and KK will rise to the occasion but as sophomores they've been inconsistent on the offensive end. Hoping ICE and Jana together can give us 15 pts or more.

Jana has been inconsistent so far. Part of it, I believe, is that the game she brought to UConn before her injury was not merely a low-post banger game. She also drove down the lane or along the baseline. I’ll risk suggesting that in high school she looked a bit like Aaliyah in her junior year. Jana also had a significant face to the basket game. She also had a good midrange and perimeter shooting game, better than what Aaliyah showed as a freshman. But after a couple seasons spent in rehab, Jana has yet to rebuild that part of her game. Will she be a transformational low-post player for Geno. I don’t think that’ll happen this season. I wonder if we’ll see more dimensions of Jana’s game next season.

 

[Rowdy831]

I look for UConn to roll until the Tennessee game. Match ups are important and UConn matches up good with ISU and USC so they should handle those teams easily if they can stay out of foul trouble. When they come up against teams that play a faster, smaller line up they will struggle a bit based on the foot speed of their guards.

 

[packwrap]

USC was ranked so high because of the recruiting class.

And now more than half of the recruits are just waiting on the bench. Heckel is the only one getting any PT (Smith was, but she's injured).

Well also due addition of Iriafen and Van Oelhoffen. They were going to be the key trio TVO at point, JuJu at shooting guard and Kiki down low.

Real life has been tougher. Iriafen very good, but so far not really a dominant player. JuJu still usually has the ball and TVO has been quiet.

They are still very good, but have not jelled into a super team.

 

[Bone Dog]

Iriafen very good, but so far not really a dominant player.

Kiki had a tremendous season last year. But it’s easy to forget she was playing next to Brink. I like Rayah Marshall, but she just can’t attract as much defensive attention away from Kiki as Brink did. And Stanford still had excellent perimeter shooting. Finally, as great as Juju is, her game takes place in the midrange where Kiki’s does also. It will take more time to mesh games that overlap as much as theirs do.

 

[msf22b]

You know Tony,
I'm not sure we're going to know anything much for a while

If this team comes together, it might be as late as the beginning of the NCAA's

Reminds me a bit of 13/14 when they lost to Baylor and 3x to Notre Dame in heart-breaking fashion.

Then of course the Natty's and the emergence of Ms. Stewart...

Think of the roster...imagine Caroline and Azzi at full force...becomes a different team.

 

[Zarathustra]

We will learn about some "FIRE and ICE". But the real deal is,
as we all know, is in March and APRIL. My stream of consciousness
goes next to: The fire and "heat" in Egypt = let's not be in "DE-Nile"
of the possiblities there for the BIG EAST tournament and post season.
Not to "nit-pick" but my favorite "ICE" will not melt... despite the
click bait artists who are "ICE-PICK"ers. GO UCONN!!, GO BIGS!!.
Note to myself: take a rest ( my dear brain ). My cortex is either suffering from HEAT stroke
or Hypothermia (I live in Maine!). GO JANA!! GO ICE!! On to the ISU - UCONN GAME!

 

[Bone Dog]

imagine Caroline and Azzi at full force

Thanks for the reminder of Caroline. I miss her awesome play.