Even breathing for UConn. Kansas was free to do as they pleased and game on.39 fouls called with 45 free throws. It was a sloppy game, but these refs called every bit of contact
I like your game synopsis.Few Thoughts:
*Had an issue with the refs calling everything on UConn when a KU player was going to the basket clearly pushing off
*Some of those UConn turnovers were a real head scratcher
*As long as Paige can play we have a chance. I'm just worried that the beating she takes every game will be hard for her to get over. 2 points in the first half (foul troubles) and 20 in the second.
*Aubrey: a great game and probably the reason we won this game. which she could make a shot from mid-range or 3.
*Nika: was her usual tough player and all in all a solid game but we need more from her.
*AE: continues to be inconsistent. Hope she's ok for the next game as that hit she took looked nasty.
*Ice: at this point she doesn't have good hands and is not a good defender against height. I wished Geno would have put Amari in earlier.
*Amari: did ok in those few min. she played till she got hit in the face.
*KK: had an ok game but as long as she will not be able to hit mid range shots, she is not difficult to guard at this level,
*Shade: At times looked good and at times looked like a freshman with some strange passes that became turnovers. She is one that can actually hit mid-range shots.
*Q: Had 1 good shot (the only UConn 3 aside then Paige's 3's) but in general played like a freshman.
*It's great that the new players (Ice, KK, Shade and Q) are getting minutes as hopefully this experience will bring with it a faster learning curb.
*a win is a win but i miss the good old days where i think basically any UConn team of the last 20 years would have beaten this KU team by over 20 points.
Missing the 2 best players in the junior class, Edwards gets injured, two “bigs” in Patterson and El Afy not available, i don’t know what people expect with 4 decent freshmen having to have a generally greater role than planned, what is reasonable to expect.this early in the season.Few Thoughts:
*Had an issue with the refs calling everything on UConn when a KU player was going to the basket clearly pushing off
*Some of those UConn turnovers were a real head scratcher
*As long as Paige can play we have a chance. I'm just worried that the beating she takes every game will be hard for her to get over. 2 points in the first half (foul troubles) and 20 in the second.
*Aubrey: a great game and probably the reason we won this game. which she could make a shot from mid-range or 3.
*Nika: was her usual tough player and all in all a solid game but we need more from her.
*AE: continues to be inconsistent. Hope she's ok for the next game as that hit she took looked nasty.
*Ice: at this point she doesn't have good hands and is not a good defender against height. I wished Geno would have put Amari in earlier.
*Amari: did ok in those few min. she played till she got hit in the face.
*KK: had an ok game but as long as she will not be able to hit mid range shots, she is not difficult to guard at this level,
*Shade: At times looked good and at times looked like a freshman with some strange passes that became turnovers. She is one that can actually hit mid-range shots.
*Q: Had 1 good shot (the only UConn 3 aside then Paige's 3's) but in general played like a freshman.
*It's great that the new players (Ice, KK, Shade and Q) are getting minutes as hopefully this experience will bring with it a faster learning curb.
*a win is a win but i miss the good old days where i think basically any UConn team of the last 20 years would have beaten this KU team by over 20 points.
I miss those good old days too.*a win is a win but i miss the good old days where i think basically any UConn team of the last 20 years would have beaten this KU team by over 20 points.
This team, at present is so far from having any chance at a Final Four berth! At this point, we should just worry about improving incrementally as we go through the season. Right now I’m not convinced we even get to the second weekend! However, we still have talent and we have Paige! She is an asset whose value cannot be overestimated! We need to be good enough to keep games against the better teams close. If we can just do that, Paige gives us a weapon that very few other teams will be able to match. She is probably the best closer in the country!I think you got it right. A lot of work to do but the team needs to stay together now and keep playing at a competent UConn-ish manner, pretty or not, to keep the spirit and attitude up during the development process. That work can get done with the very very good talent available. You heard it here first : this team will be final four capable, then who can say.
Hub and I were discussing similar thoughts re the freshmen. Perhaps it's a combo of seeing a lot of "real" play in Europe, or maybe after last season, Geno realized that he should play the youngins more at the beginning of the season, result be dammed, so that if there are challenges due to injuries, etc, they will have game experience under their belts. Last year, in the 8-9th game, Inès was put into a significant role vs Princeton and the starting lineup vs MD, as there weren't any guards left due to injury.I am amazed at the "green light" that Ice, KK, Samuels, and Shade apparently have...I don't remember Geno giving so much freedom and latitude to our freshmen. I think it is a great thing and that it will make us a better basketball team in March...so kudos to Geno and his staff for having the confidence they have in our freshmen class. That being said...I would love to see both Shade and Samuels emerge as dependable three-point shooters...this will take the pressure off our bigs. KK just needs to keep doing what she is doing...she is going to be special!
Nika was an enigma to us until last night, when we were talking about starting lineups and who meshed well with whom. Starting Ashynn and bringing KK of the bench looked more balanced. The one pairing that I'm not sold on is Nika & Paige, who didn't play together in any games until this season, as Paige didn't get any time in the EU. I'm wondering if Nika has to "relearn" how to play with Paige again. This is in no way me pushing Nika to a non-starter role, just an observation. In 2021-22, Nika started after Paige's injury vs ND. She then came off the bench in Paige's 1st game back as a starter vs Providence. Then, in the BE tourney, Nika started but Paige didn't. Lastly, in the NCAA tourney, it was back to Paige starting and Nika off the bench. IMHO there's a difference in the way that Paige and Nika run the offense. Paige can run it and also improvise, where perhaps Nika is more textbook. Just some random thoughts.Nika Mulh, even though she stuffed the stats with 6 pts,7 Rebees, and 6 assists, still doesn't shoot enough...she needs to make the defense respect her shot...they will play up on her and give her more opportunities to drive the basket...additionally, when you take two lay-ups and one 3 point shot in a game...there is no opportunity to get into an offensive rhythm. We know that she is capable of scoring double figures...she has done it many times...with Azzi out it is all women on deck.
And some where there was no contact39 fouls called with 45 free throws. It was a sloppy game, but these refs called every bit of contact
By the way, where is the nearest Smoothie King?