Weaknesses Exposed

[Tonyc]

It is very obvious we dont play well without Stef in the game. She intimadates in the middle, draws alot of attention when she gets the ball down low leaving teammates open, is a great passer and shes a clutch scorer. When she gets her hands on the ball she can make things happen. Kiah has been out hurt which has slowed her progress and limited her playtime and Breanna is a freshman. It is very apparent to me that we depend maybe to much on Stef. What was exposed againest STJ was when Stef is not in the lineup we are lacking experience in the middle. My suggestion is Kiah and Breanna need alot of time playing together on the court at the same time.

Because we depend so much on Stef and KML we need other scorers who can pick it up and yesterday was a wake up call, for just that. Yesterday showed this team they need to be ready and need to take it to another level. Yesterday showed me that everybody else on the team other then Kelly Stef and KML need to find a way to score and finish under the basket. We need the other players to step up. At times it was like ok whos going to take the shot?????????? Many of the players were lookin for someone to take over other then them. Thats alot of question marks and everybody on this team needs to figure out when they get the ball how they can score. There cant be anymore looking for KML or Stef, everybody on this team needs to figure out a way to score. Kelly did it and Bria took it to the hoop. Its February.


With that said UConn is back to injuries and sickness. I was really hoping we had seen the last of that for this season. Bria is still not 100% and if she was yesterday it wouldnt have been that close. Bria needs to find other ways to score and she showed that by getting inside. Kelly was great and as a senior on a mission to win a NC she showed yesterday what shes made of.

Yesterday with Stef sick and BB injured, we had to depend on players who were coming back from injuries and freshman without alot of experience. Thats why we struggled. As fans we see what this team is capable of doing but we're not there yet because of kids coming back from injuries.

Yesterday amplified our weaknesses. Without Stef we lack in the post and we lack a scorer. Kiah is still coming back from her injuries as is Bria. Breanna and Morgan are freshman and lack experience. They all need more playtime and practice together to overcome this. Maybe practicing without Stef Kelly and KML will allow them to learn how to score. This is the time for everybody o the team to step up. I understand coming back from an injury is tuff but those players need to find a way to score which means to me learning to score another way then theyre used to . Look at KML shes not just a 3 point shooter like last season. This is all part of their development and will make them better players.

My hope is that BB can play soon and isnt out too long. Shes been terrific. My other concern is how will this tummyache effect Stef who has been shooting the ball really well. Kellys ability this season to score is what has us where we are. As soon as Bria and Breanna come along UConn will be unbeatable. We all know that and this isnt rocket science. The question is will they this season.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Looks as if Tony's Pseud has been hacked again...

 

[pppggg]

Mo Jef is coming along as is Tuck. Kiah is still spotty. Bria was attacking the hope fealessly at St John. There is still a month left in the regular season for improvement by all of them. IMO Banks will be a big loss if she has an ACL or ICL It could be the difference between the Final 4 and an early trip home.

 

[EricLA]

Mo Jef is coming along as is Tuck. Kiah is still spotty. Bria was attacking the hope fealessly at St John. There is still a month left in the regular season for improvement by all of them. IMO Banks will be a big loss if she has an ACL or ICL It could be the difference between the Final 4 and an early trip home.

Losing Banks could be the diff between making the final 4 and an early trip home? She's not a starter. I would have agreed with you if you replaced Banks' name with Dolson's - it was pretty apparently against an average SJU team just how much Dolson was missed. Banks has made huge strides in improvement this year, but I hardly think she's THE key to "making" the final 4.

 

[wbfree]

It is very obvious we dont play well without Stef in the game. She intimadates in the middle, draws alot of attention when she gets the ball down low leaving teammates open, is a great passer and shes a clutch scorer. When she gets her hands on the ball she can make things happen. Kiah has been out hurt which has slowed her progress and limited her playtime and Breanna is a freshman. It is very apparent to me that we depend maybe to much on Stef. What was exposed againest STJ was when Stef is not in the lineup we are lacking experience in the middle. My suggestion is Kiah and Breanna need alot of time playing together on the court at the same time.

Because we depend so much on Stef and KML we need other scorers who can pick it up and yesterday was a wake up call, for just that. Yesterday showed this team they need to be ready and need to take it to another level. Yesterday showed me that everybody else on the team other then Kelly Stef and KML need to find a way to score and finish under the basket. We need the other players to step up. At times it was like ok whos going to take the shot?????????? Many of the players were lookin for someone to take over other then them. Thats alot of question marks and everybody on this team needs to figure out when they get the ball how they can score. There cant be anymore looking for KML or Stef, everybody on this team needs to figure out a way to score. Kelly did it and Bria took it to the hoop. Its February.


With that said UConn is back to injuries and sickness. I was really hoping we had seen the last of that for this season. Bria is still not 100% and if she was yesterday it wouldnt have been that close. Bria needs to find other ways to score and she showed that by getting inside. Kelly was great and as a senior on a mission to win a NC she showed yesterday what shes made of.

Yesterday with Stef sick and BB injured, we had to depend on players who were coming back from injuries and freshman without alot of experience. Thats why we struggled. As fans we see what this team is capable of doing but we're not there yet because of kids coming back from injuries.

Yesterday amplified our weaknesses. Without Stef we lack in the post and we lack a scorer. Kiah is still coming back from her injuries as is Bria. Breanna and Morgan are freshman and lack experience. They all need more playtime and practice together to overcome this. Maybe practicing without Stef Kelly and KML will allow them to learn how to score. This is the time for everybody o the team to step up. I understand coming back from an injury is tuff but those players need to find a way to score which means to me learning to score another way then theyre used to . Look at KML shes not just a 3 point shooter like last season. This is all part of their development and will make them better players.

My hope is that BB can play soon and isnt out too long. Shes been terrific. My other concern is how will this tummyache effect Stef who has been shooting the ball really well. Kellys ability this season to score is what has us where we are. As soon as Bria and Breanna come along UConn will be unbeatable. We all know that and this isnt rocket science. The question is will they this season.

I think a major problem with our team is that only three players are consistently playing well. KML, Stef, and Kelly. I think Bria over extended herself this summer, might of hit a wall and then injured herself. She lost her edge, confidence, and speed. Our freshmen are freshmen. ?? Inconsistent, probably over hyped. Stewart has to stop jacking up three's and just concentrate on rebounding, blocking shots and finishing around the basket. Kiah can be a force on defense and rebounding, but can't be counted on for offense.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think we have 3 key players: Kaleena, Stef, and Kelly. They need to be healthy, stay out of foul trouble, and perform well for us to have a good shot at the NC. Caroline's minutes are limited, though she does a good job at PG. Bria may be less than 100% and is still struggling with her shot. I don't expect either to score key buckets with consistency.

I would love for any of the bench to step up, but even Stewie is inconsistent. Several players have shown glimpses, but need to do it more often.

Weaknesses include susceptibility to physical play, too many TOs, including unforced ones, and lack of a go-to scorer. We may be making progress on that last point. Despite her miss against ND, I am content to let Kaleena take just about all the important shots, though I have faith in Stef and Kelly too. Kelly Faris--reliable offensive option and future WNBA player!

 

[msf22b]

As I noted in another post, the best UConn has looked in a while was that 84 second stretch when Banks and Mo were in the backcourt; K and K at the wings.

Obviously impossible to determine the seriousness of the injury, hopefully BB will miss only a few games.
That lineup showed a great deal of promise.

 

[Fishbone]

It is very obvious we dont play well without Stef in the game. She intimadates in the middle, draws alot of attention when she gets the ball down low leaving teammates open, is a great passer and shes a clutch scorer. When she gets her hands on the ball she can make things happen. Kiah has been out hurt which has slowed her progress and limited her playtime and Breanna is a freshman. It is very apparent to me that we depend maybe to much on Stef. What was exposed againest STJ was when Stef is not in the lineup we are lacking experience in the middle. My suggestion is Kiah and Breanna need alot of time playing together on the court at the same time.

Because we depend so much on Stef and KML we need other scorers who can pick it up and yesterday was a wake up call, for just that. Yesterday showed this team they need to be ready and need to take it to another level. Yesterday showed me that everybody else on the team other then Kelly Stef and KML need to find a way to score and finish under the basket. We need the other players to step up. At times it was like ok whos going to take the shot?????????? Many of the players were lookin for someone to take over other then them. Thats alot of question marks and everybody on this team needs to figure out when they get the ball how they can score. There cant be anymore looking for KML or Stef, everybody on this team needs to figure out a way to score. Kelly did it and Bria took it to the hoop. Its February.


With that said UConn is back to injuries and sickness. I was really hoping we had seen the last of that for this season. Bria is still not 100% and if she was yesterday it wouldnt have been that close. Bria needs to find other ways to score and she showed that by getting inside. Kelly was great and as a senior on a mission to win a NC she showed yesterday what shes made of.

Yesterday with Stef sick and BB injured, we had to depend on players who were coming back from injuries and freshman without alot of experience. Thats why we struggled. As fans we see what this team is capable of doing but we're not there yet because of kids coming back from injuries.

Yesterday amplified our weaknesses. Without Stef we lack in the post and we lack a scorer. Kiah is still coming back from her injuries as is Bria. Breanna and Morgan are freshman and lack experience. They all need more playtime and practice together to overcome this. Maybe practicing without Stef Kelly and KML will allow them to learn how to score. This is the time for everybody o the team to step up. I understand coming back from an injury is tuff but those players need to find a way to score which means to me learning to score another way then theyre used to . Look at KML shes not just a 3 point shooter like last season. This is all part of their development and will make them better players.

My hope is that BB can play soon and isnt out too long. Shes been terrific. My other concern is how will this tummyache effect Stef who has been shooting the ball really well. Kellys ability this season to score is what has us where we are. As soon as Bria and Breanna come along UConn will be unbeatable. We all know that and this isnt rocket science. The question is will they this season.

An additional weakness may have been exposed. Exceptionally quick teams like St Johns and Syracuse have been difficult for our starters to defend and have required the use of zone defense ( which will not work as well against a good shooting team). The consistant performance of Jefferson and Banks will be important as we approach the tournamants.
Let's hope Banks is healthy!

 

[pppggg]

Losing Banks could be the diff between making the final 4 and an early trip home? She's not a starter. I would have agreed with you if you replaced Banks' name with Dolson's - it was pretty apparently against an average SJU team just how much Dolson was missed. Banks has made huge strides in improvement this year, but I hardly think she's THE key to "making" the final 4.

first, i said could, not woud be the difference. next you can't pay 5 kids for 40 minutes, can you? lastly, who off the bench has shown they can come in and play great defense and score, inside with drives and outside beyond the arc?

 

[Icebear]

You better not pay kids at all.

 

[meganmatthews]

Mo Jef is coming along as is Tuck. Kiah is still spotty. Bria was attacking the hope fealessly at St John. There is still a month left in the regular season for improvement by all of them. IMO Banks will be a big loss if she has an ACL or ICL It could be the difference between the Final 4 and an early trip home.

Why would Bria attack hope on the team? Hope is all we have! (Hey, if Icebear can have fun with with the "pay kids" thing, I figured I could have fun with the "hope".

 

[Bigpetunia]

In point of fact, if BB is lost to us for an extended period of time, the impact will be huge. So she's not a starter...is that the basis upon which to assess her value? Our style of play, stifling defense combined with an unrelenting tendency to push the ball up the floor in transition, keeping opposing teams on their heels, demands the depth upon which we have come to count. We need not only to have a supply of fresh legs to keep rotating out there, but players who can be trusted to take care of the ball. In that regard, BB is the player off the bench who has shown the greatest improvement, and whose fearsome energy changes the entire pace of the game whenever she appears. She has become essential to our style of play, and I, for one, am extremely eager...and frightened, to get the MRI results.

 

[schmendrick]

Loss of Banks is huge going forward, even into next season. imo.

 

[Tonyc]

I saw signs of BB and Tuck looking really good againest STJ. Bria used her head and attacked the Basket. As a team we had to learn to play without Stef. KML stepped it up as did Kelly. I felt Kelly and Bria realized it was their time as somebody had to step up in Stefs absense. Its been a tuff luck season for UConn. Injuries and sickness have lingered all season. Now we are getting healthly but were not 100%. Im hoping BB is ready to go and it is nothing serious. We have a short bench this season and will next season and injuries and sickness is not what we need. Still we have only one loss and its by 1 point. I just hope we can continue to improve and get better. The Baylor game will be tuffer then I thought as Bria Kiah and maybe now BB are still coming back. If those 3 were up to speed I dont think UConn would have lost a game this season.

 

[iri10]

Tony, BB has already had her MRI. It's official - she has an ACL tear and is gone for the season. I feel bad for her; all that progress she's made, for her season to end like that just sucks.

I also feel bad for the team, in any potential FF or NC game matchup. We are now down to one explosive / spontaneous backcourt player, and she's a freshman. The loss of BB makes our offense that much more predictable and exploitable, against elite teams with good coaching.

But nothing is impossible; they can overcome this. It requires some other players to step up in the tough spots, and probably a bit of luck too (in a single elimination tournament there's always an element of luck).