What Geno Should Tell Sarah

[PvP]

Geno has been saying that he has been trying to get across to Sarah how good she is and for her to play "like an All American". Maybe the following "apples to apples" comparison would help him get the message across.

Without question the greatest career scorer in Husky history is Maya Moore. Several people here in the yard have put the two in the same sentence. Of course, it is far far too soon to compare Sarah who has played only 9 games with a legend who played for a full 4 years in Storrs. But perhaps it is not too soon to compare Sarah's 9 games with Maya's first 9 games? Here are the numbers:

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 144 144 Identical

Rebounds 56 68 A 20% advantage for Sarah

Assists 30 31 Essentially equal

Steals 14 22 A 40% advantage for Sarah

Blocks 17 13 A 30% advantage for Maya

Turnovers 17 12 A 40% advantage for Sarah

Fouls Committed 15 14 Essentially equal

The above numbers represent roughly a quarter of the current Husky season, is that enough to get a sense that Sarah's performances have been consistent enough to give some credence to the numbers? I think these numbers slightly favor Sarah, again for a nine-game stretch, which is all we have for her. But sometimes stark numbers can speak more loudly than mere words. Perhaps Geno might be able to use these numbers to get Sarah to accept his evaluation of her potential which I think we would all agree is far better than what could be accomplished in her first few college games?

Our fellow BYer, JRRRJ recently provided a quite interesting "efficiency formula" which added some perspective to various UCONN greats. I wonder if he would be good enough to compare the efficiency scores of Maya and Sarah for us to have as well?

 

[Crossover]

Geno has been saying that he has been trying to get across to Sarah how good she is and for her to play "like an All American". Maybe the following "apples to apples" comparison would help him get the message across.

Without question the greatest career scorer in Husky history is Maya Moore. Several people here in the yard have put the two in the same sentence. Of course, it is far far too soon to compare Sarah who has played only 9 games with a legend who played for a full 4 years in Storrs. But perhaps it is not too soon to compare Sarah's 9 games with Maya's first 9 games? Here are the numbers:

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 144 144 Identical

Rebounds 56 68 A 20% advantage for Sarah

Assists 30 31 Essentially equal

Steals 14 22 A 40% advantage for Sarah

Blocks 17 13 A 30% advantage for Maya

Turnovers 17 12 A 40% advantage for Sarah

Fouls Committed 15 14 Essentially equal

The above numbers represent roughly a quarter of the current Husky season, is that enough to get a sense that Sarah's performances have been consistent enough to give some credence to the numbers? I think these numbers slightly favor Sarah, again for a nine-game stretch, which is all we have for her. But sometimes stark numbers can speak more loudly than mere words. Perhaps Geno might be able to use these numbers to get Sarah to accept his evaluation of her potential which I think we would all agree is far better than what could be accomplished in her first few college games?

Our fellow BYer, JRRRJ recently provided a quite interesting "efficiency formula" which added some perspective to various UCONN greats. I wonder if he would be good enough to compare the efficiency scores of Maya and Sarah for us to have as well?

What Geno should tell Sarah? "Be you, be great".

 

[hart2hart]

Keep Shooting! So delighted Sarah chose UCONN!

 

[Centerstream]

Not a thing!!!

 

[topogigio]

Geno has been saying that he has been trying to get across to Sarah how good she is and for her to play "like an All American". Maybe the following "apples to apples" comparison would help him get the message across.

Without question the greatest career scorer in Husky history is Maya Moore. Several people here in the yard have put the two in the same sentence. Of course, it is far far too soon to compare Sarah who has played only 9 games with a legend who played for a full 4 years in Storrs. But perhaps it is not too soon to compare Sarah's 9 games with Maya's first 9 games? Here are the numbers:

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 144 144 Identical

Rebounds 56 68 A 20% advantage for Sarah

Assists 30 31 Essentially equal

Steals 14 22 A 40% advantage for Sarah

Blocks 17 13 A 30% advantage for Maya

Turnovers 17 12 A 40% advantage for Sarah

Fouls Committed 15 14 Essentially equal

The above numbers represent roughly a quarter of the current Husky season, is that enough to get a sense that Sarah's performances have been consistent enough to give some credence to the numbers? I think these numbers slightly favor Sarah, again for a nine-game stretch, which is all we have for her. But sometimes stark numbers can speak more loudly than mere words. Perhaps Geno might be able to use these numbers to get Sarah to accept his evaluation of her potential which I think we would all agree is far better than what could be accomplished in her first few college games?

Our fellow BYer, JRRRJ recently provided a quite interesting "efficiency formula" which added some perspective to various UCONN greats. I wonder if he would be good enough to compare the efficiency scores of Maya and Sarah for us to have as well?

I made a comment on another thread that at "this point in their respective college careers, I would give an ever so slight edge to Sarah." This was based solely on my "eye test". Nice to see my eyes can see! Thanks for the data!

 

[hoophuskee]

Right now imo Maya frosh vs frosh is/was better.

 

[Plebe]

Sarah's doing great. Geno doesn't need to tell her to "play like Maya" and he doesn't need to show her Maya's stats. I get that cross-generational comparisons are fun for fans but that's not the type of prodding a player like Sarah needs.

She's playing like Sarah Strong and that's pretty darn good.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Stay off the Boneyard?

 

[Monte]

"It is what it is."

 

[Bigboote]

“Don’t sweat comparing yourself to Maya, Stewie, or anyone else. Work hard to become the best Sarah you can be.”

I think it was Henry Ford who said “Don’t listen to people who say you must do this, or you can’t do that. If Michelangelo had listened to those folks he would have painted the Sistene floor and it would have worn away long ago.” Same thing only different.

 

[JellyBean]

"Have fun out there and be YOU"

 

[Blond D.]

My Grampa once told me, "Be yourself...everyone else is already taken"

 

[Bone Dog]

Historical comparisons, especially based on stats, are not very enlightening.

One thing Maya brought from the beginning was an intimidation factor. When she raced down the court to make a play on offense or defense, it had an impact on the opposing team. And she did stuff like that in her first 9 games. Maya’s intensity was a little bit scary.

Sarah doesn’t have that, nor does she need it. She is a quieter player. She dismantles opponents in a very low key fashion. She runs the court quite well, though not with the speed Maya brought to UConn. One thing they have in common, I expect, is that each one knew/knows how to carry a team.

Sarah has greatness written all over her, and we’ll get to experience plenty of it in Storrs. Right now, we get to enjoy the Paige & Sarah show. Soon enough it will be the Paige, Azzi & Sarah show. Next season, it may be the Sarah & Azzi show, or the Sarah, Azzi & Morgan show. Whoever it turns out to be, Sarah will be the ringleader of this circus.

 

[CL82]

What Geno Should Tell Sarah?​

"Thank you."

 

[JonathanXIV]

Make sure you are on time for the game.

 

[Rowdy831]

I don't see anything in Sarah's game that would indicate she is afraid to shoot or make a mistake. I will say this, I would take Sarah over Juju any day of the week and to compare her anyone might be selling her short. I don't recall seeing any player in the womens game, pro or college with hands like she has. She plays inside, she plays outside, she defends, she rebounds. I think she is doing great and by the end of the season she will be the third superstar this team will need to advance in the tournament.

 

[MooseJaw]

Hi Sarah, what do you want for Christmas?

 

[PvP]

Historical comparisons, especially based on stats, are not very enlightening.

One thing Maya brought from the beginning was an intimidation factor. When she raced down the court to make a play on offense or defense, it had an impact on the opposing team. And she did stuff like that in her first 9 games. Maya’s intensity was a little bit scary.

Sarah doesn’t have that, nor does she need it. She is a quieter player. She dismantles opponents in a very low key fashion. She runs the court quite well, though not with the speed Maya brought to UConn. One thing they have in common, I expect, is that each one knew/knowsresp how to carry a team.

Sarah has greatness written all over her, and we’ll get to experience plenty of it in Storrs. Right now, we get to enjoy the Paige & Sarah show. Soon enough it will be the Paige, Azzi & Sarah show. Next season, it may be the Sarah & Azzi show, or the Sarah, Azzi & Morgan show. Whoever it turns out to be, Sarah will be the ringleader of this circus.

I would respectfully disagree that historical.comparisons, especially based on stats, are not very enlightening. Because the whole purpose of sport is to beat the other team stastically, and most specifically in the final score.

So if you are saying that Maya was playing in a manner which was not intended to impact the score, what was she doing? I believe that Maya and Sarah and every other highly competitive player plays with one objective -to win which results from scoring more, rebounding better, getting better assisted shots, etc..

If stats aren't the most basic way of judging a player's success or lack thereof, I wonder why we keep them so universally?

Maybe you have a better means of judging a player's success or lack thereof than how they contribute to the final score and do please enlighten all of us numbers junkies who have been so misguided for so very long in essentially all sporting activities since the very beginning of sports.

 

[Conndog]

One thing Sarah does that impresses me almost as much as her offensive skills is her very active hands on defense. She has a knack for knowing when her opponent isn’t paying attention and she swipes the ball in a split second. She is great in so many ways!

 

[darrell]

One thing Sarah does that impresses me almost as much as her offensive skills is her very active hands on defense. She has a knack for knowing when her opponent isn’t paying attention and she swipes the ball in a split second. She is great in so many ways!

She said she learned that from her Mom, Allison Feaster, who left Harvard as the career leader in total steals.

 

[Alydar]

She said she learned that from her Mom, Allison Feaster, who left Harvard as the career leader in total steals.

Geno should hire her to give a clinic every year.

 

[Alydar]

Strong looks like a 24 year old on the court but off the court she's 17 and a bit of an introvert. Soon ESPN will do a feature and the trolls will start posting about how she hates poor Caitlan. Players like Strong win teams titles. Her performance in the last 5 or 6 games has been poised beyond my expectations.

 

[Jaydumo20]

It's hard to compare. The level of talent in women's bball has progressed big time in the 15 years since maya played.
Our dominance inspired a whole generation of wcbb players who are now coming of age.

Agatha Christie created the modern mystery novel and more and more great mystery writers that she inspired emerged in her lifetime, while she continued to write great books herself.

 

[Bone Dog]

I would respectfully disagree that historical.comparisons, especially based on stats, are not very enlightening. Because the whole purpose of sport is to beat the other team stastically, and most specifically in the final score.

So if you are saying that Maya was playing in a manner which was not intended to impact the score, what was she doing? I believe that Maya and Sarah and every other highly competitive player plays with one objective -to win which results from scoring more, rebounding better, getting better assisted shots, etc..

If stats aren't the most basic way of judging a player's success or lack thereof, I wonder why we keep them so universally?

Maybe you have a better means of judging a player's success or lack thereof than how they contribute to the final score and do please enlighten all of us numbers junkies who have been so misguided for so very long in essentially all sporting activities since the very beginning of sports.

I think I love this reply to my original post. It’s delightfully perverse as a reading of what I said. Of course, you had to know I meant that simple stats often fail to give a complete enough picture of what players are doing on the court, and this partiality is exacerbated when comparing players from different eras. And you also had to know that I wasn’t trying to diminish Maya’s accomplishments. She’s my favorite Husky, even though Stewie’s record is much higher.

This isn’t to say that tracking statistics isn’t entertaining for fans or useful for coaches. But it is hardly the “whole purpose of sport.”

This sort of debater’s mentality is precisely why I think statistical comparisons across different eras tend not to be very enlightening, and can even be distracting. In this case, it’s led you to construct a straw man out of my remarks in order to refute it. There’s way more entertaining things to do than to try to refute people on a web forum.

 

[PvP]

It looks like, one way or another, she got the message!

Go Sarah!!