We have come a long way this season and we still have some kinks to get out of our system. Unforced turnovers has been a problem at times. We have lacked consistentcy shooting the ball. Maybe thats taking to many treys Im not sure. The consistency or lack of is scoring. We were down double digets to Team USA and got it going and tied the score. Then we seemed to be looking for someone to take over and we rushed and forced shots which imo was due to lack of somebody getting open and that comes from passing cutting and execurtion. We need to clear that up with good passing and trusting players other then our Big 3 scorers. I think Anna and Liv are showing signs they can be counted on as options.
I have talked about the Big 3 and Core 4 controlling the scoring. Well a couple of comments on that. Anna and Griff are the surprises of the year and every game they are getting better. Anna is looking more and more like a player who can take over a game. Griff needs to make her FTs and develop an outside shot that she can depend on under pressure. Her quick first step and inside game and cutting to the basket are remarkable.
With Oregon and SC coming up we are in a better position to take over those games however we need to be consistent in scoring. We cant pass the ball around and expect Crystal to create and shoot a trey. We need more clearing out and dribble drives and get fouled. We need to get defenses in foul trouble and that wont happen shooting a bunch of treys We need to take it inside strong and create fouls.
We have improved alot. In the Cinny game we will see where we are. Anna is playing with alot of confidence and has shown signs of being a leader. She can be depended on. She needs to shoot more which means her team mates need to look for her more often and set screens and pics for her to shoot more. When she gets going UConn gets going . Griff is electric. When Anna and Griff are in the game UConn is a different team and now with Liv hitting shots and taking it to the basket we have alot more scoring power.
The Baylor game and the USA game we looked intimidated and before the game was over we looked much more confident. Our confidence is building and alot of that has to do with Anna Griff and Liv as well as our defense. Our fear of bigs is beginning to deminish.
We are in a good place right now. We're not there yet . When we being to fire on all cylinders we are going to be very hard to beat That means looking for Anna more and Liv making those ourside shots as well as scoring underneath. That means CW hitting her outside shots on a more consistent basis. That means getting everybody involved in the game and not just our big 3. With 5 scorers on the court we are tuff to defend. It also means Kyla shooting the ball when shes open. We are still a work in process and thats due to not have an unclassman nucleaus coming into this season and having so many underclassman we need to depend on. Those underclassman are coming around as we have witnessed over the past few games. They are growing and they are surprising alot of fans. As the improvment continues the confidence will grow and the team will be special. We will learn more on Monday nite against Oregon.
What you are saying is:
1. If everyone keeps improving
2. The team plays better together, particularly on offense,
3. Each player can deliver their best games at each level of the Big dance
We can be really hard to beat, and could win it all.
Hard to disagree. But it is a lot to wish for.
Christen Williams, for example, has shown no prospect of consistently scoring from the outside ( even mid-range), as we know she can. When she hits her first shot (not a lay-up) she has a great day. If she misses, she tends to miss all day.
It is a bit early to conclude that Olivia is getting comfortable with her outside shot. It is encouraging, that she has made a few recently, but that is a long ways from what will make her great. In addition, she still doesn't have the strength or savvy to win highly contested rebounds and successfully put the ball in the hoop. Megan Walker is a better rebounder, as is Aubrey. That cannot be!
Megan Walker needs to focus on court discipline. She, surprisingly, is the cause of many of our turnovers. That has to change. But she is an offensive wonder.
Ania is developing a comfort level much faster than any imagined ( maybe not Geno and CD, but the fans ). And that is a huge asset. All aspects of her game seem to be elevating.
Aubrey needs three things, as yet;
1. An outside shot ( feeding off improved accuracy and confidence at the free throw line)
2. Improved ability to "finish." Too many times, we see her blast by a defender and get to the hoop for a lay-up, only to miss the shot. It appears that she is moving too fast ( even for herself) to stay in control. The game needs to " slow down " for her and this will happen. But when?
3. More awareness of what she is meant to be doing ( on offense ) when she does not have the ball. This is developing. It is a freshman thing.
Crystal simply needs to stay alive and well.
The potential is there, and that is a wonderful surprise to many of us who were quite discouraged when this season commenced. And we have the coaching staff to bring excellence to the floor But do they have the time?
F-Troop was one of my favorite programs. I wish MeTV would bring it back. I'd like to see all of those episodes again.
