What improvement would you like to see from the returning Huskies ? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

What improvement would you like to see from the returning Huskies ?

Gabby - range and consistency on the jumper (look out). Fundamental post moves (that don't rely solely on her quickness).
KLS - Strength yes, but I would add quickness and ball handling. She sometimes has trouble creating her own shot because she's not the quickest or the best ball handler. I'd like to send her to the Rip Hamilton School of Moving Without the Basketball.
Collier - quickness, foot speed, and post moves. You give her righty and lefty baby hooks to go with her shooting ability? Wow..
Dangerfield - Work on shooting, watch a lot of game film on great PG's. Confidence!
Nat - Other than conditioning, just needs a mean streak and to get out of her head a bit. Play with confidence!
Kia- Midrange shooting touch, dribble drives. Would be nice to have another player to beat someone on the bounce other than Dangerfield.
Geno - turn on the press next season! We'll have the depth, athleticism and a veteran team.
 
I'm just amazed that someone would want Gabby to work on hitting threes. That is not her game ad eve in the new UConn configuration, it probably never will be., She needs to be able to hit the midrange jumper. You know, the shot every announcer says is almost extinct in the women's game? With her inside moves, the ability to consistently hit a midrange shot will make her virtually unstoppable. If she spends time on threes, she won't have the time she needs to perfect her game. Simple as that.

Other than that, Pheesa getting maybe a bit stronger. I think we can bet she is not likely to have a game like the MSU game again. Others have critiqued Katie Lou's game, and I think they're right. Also spot on are comments about Crystal. Let's hope for a sophomore leap, rather than a jump. If Natalie continues to improve at the same rate as between last year and this year, I think we'll be happy with the result.
 
Natalie Butler, when she gets the ball in the paint she needs to go hard to the basket and not put the ball on the floor. She will either make the basket, get fouled, or both.
 
DICKG said:
I want to see a change in Geno. Assuming nobody leaves and all the transfers stay and all the freshman still come, he will have very deep and talented team. But, he has a tendency to not use his bench a lot, even when he has deep teams. I never understood why he didn't play Butler, Bent or Irwin more. When he was leading by 30, how much could they have hurt by playing in the second quarter against the other teams first team. That would valuable experience.

The key to beating Miss State was to pressure the ball and taking them out of their rhythm, but it really wasn't possible because he never got the above players ready to be in those situations.

It will be interesting next year because he will have 11 or 12 players who have credentials to play a lot of college minutes.
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I agree with all the posts until this post came along.

Sorry don't agree here.

We can agree to disagree.

IMO there is no way for example "you can pressure the ball" when you have Nat or Kyla in - the way you are suggesting because you open up the floor. That isn't their strength defensively- an open floor And if you have Molly in; they wouldn't guard her.

And all teams don't get better just because they give bench players far less talented than the starters more minutes.

And Geno has won championships with a short bench. I don't understand why you openly say you don't get that when you've seen it.
 
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JoePgh said:
Hmmm, to me it is obvious:

  1. Gabby needs to increase the reliability of her mid-range jump shot. it has already gotten fairly good, but it could be better, and then she would be unguardable. I don't think she needs to hit 3's.
  2. Napheesa needs to defend without fouling. She has been in foul trouble in nearly every game this year against a Top 10 opponent, as well as some other games. All of those games were closer than they should have been solely because of that.
  3. Lou needs to be less streaky in her 3-point shooting. I think that will happen just as a result of greater personal maturity and experience. KML was much more reliable and less streaky in her last two years than in her first two years, and I think the same thing will be true for Lou.
  4. Molly needs to think less while she is playing, and play more instinctively. And her instincts should include shooting when she is open.
I completely disagree with those who say that Geno will never play more than eight players. Go back and watch some of the games from 2000 and 2001 if you think that. I think Azura will start, Batouly and Megan Walker will get major minutes comparable to what Lou and Napheesa got as freshmen, Crystal will be the backup PG and will play more and better than she did this year, and the other freshmen and bench players will get minutes as their performance in practice warrants.

If Gabby or Napheesa show any signs of still being prone to foul trouble next year, Geno will not hesitate to replace them with Batouly and Megan, and the team will probably do almost as well with that lineup as with the starters. Even the biggest teams will have trouble out-rebounding UConn next year, and opponents will find it nearly impossible to strategize about beating UConn by getting the front court players into foul trouble.
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Love this post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
HuskyNan said:
Azura isn't a post player - she's a wing/guard.
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She'll play post and wing. She's 6'6. No way Geno just keeps her outside. He didn't do it with Lou, he won't do it Stevens. She has to learn to use her size to beat opponents. And she is tougher than Lou so she will play some post.
 
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JoePgh said:
You keep saying that, and I think the implication that you seem to draw from it (that UConn will still be undersized in the paint) is completely wrong.

It is true that Azura has a diversified offensive game, and on offense, I'm sure Geno will take advantage of that, moving her all over the court as he did with Stewie. But on defense, her customary position (again as with Stewie) will be right under the basket, protecting the rim and blocking layup attempts by any quick guard who gets past Kia or Lou. She will also use her long arms to grab defensive rebounds in quantity. She may not get too many offensive rebounds (except of her own in-close misses), but she will get a full load of defensive rebounds.

When UConn plays South Carolina, Azura will guard A'ja Wilson, and will probably be guarded by A'ja. That will be a marquis matchup, and it is probably one that they will re-enact in the WNBA for the next 10 years or so.

I know that "there is only one Stewie" and that Azura is not Stewie, but there is enough similarity in their physiques and their games that it makes sense to use them similarly at both ends of the court.
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love it again!!!!!!!!!
 
Danger is small and doesn't want her shot blocked... she's not use to playing against trees game after game, that takes some adjusting to
 
I think the FOULS only happened because the players played out of position all season long... Gabby and Napheesa
 
noirwestern said:
Don't know how many times the esteemed Mr Auriemma himself has pointed out that high school performance means nothing, nothing at all once you put on the husky uniform. High school awards and honors are just that. For high school. Over the years we've had quite a few H.S. stars make their way to UConn who despite their size and abundance of talent took a year or two or three to find their place in the scheme.
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So you're saying you want the freshmen NOT to be freshmen? That sounds pretty silly because you say high school stars come in and aren't ready to play until a year or two or three into their college careers.
 
UConnNick said:
Lou played way better than Nurse or Collier did. I have no problem with her game on Friday.
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I think other than Gabby, who played better than Lou? I'm amazed at how disrespected Lou has been in remarks about that Final Four semi-final game. Didn't any of you watch it and see exactly who played and who didn't? I'm stunned hearing some of these type comments, again and again. If the rest of the Huskies played the way that she did, we would have been playing for the title on Sunday. PERIOD!
 
MilfordHusky said:
Just considering the top 6 returnees:

Lou needs to be stronger and improve her defense. She used her length to get lots of steals late in the season. Hopefully, she can work on guarding one-on-one. She needs to be stronger and more assertive on the boards. I'd love to see her add a jump hook.

Pheesa needs to improve her defense. She probably could get a little stronger too. Her offense was really good, but further refinement and expanding her repertoire would be great.

Gabby needs to extend the range on her jump shot and also work on the jumper off the dribble. She has gotten quite proficient at the catch and shoot up to 16' or so. Maybe she could limit the low percentage passes.

Kia has become an elite shooter, so she just needs to maintain that. I'd like to see an expanded offensive repertoire. I like the pull-up bank shot. A little improvement on defense against quick guards would help.

Crystal is likely to make the biggest jump, based on her class status. I'd like to see her FT shooting at 80%. I'd also like to see her shoot closer to the arc. I think her floater is a huge weapon. I want her shooting a little more and probably dribbling a little less. More effort on defense would be a plus.

Nat needs to improve her footwork and her hands. I know those are not easy. I'd also like to see more upper body strength for rebounding and an improved vertical.

In general, there is not a huge amount of room for growth, but some improvement is normal and expected. A little more maturity across the board and leadership could help. Plus a short course in Badassery.
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I think Crystal needs to really work on her decision making. I saw her often make poor decisions including dribbling too much along with bad shot making choices.
 
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SVCBeercats said:
Read the above while replacing Lou with Stewie. Same ectomorphic body type. Stewie managed to get stronger so can Lou. Stewie is a driven person She wants to succeed. We will see if Lou has a similar drive to improve including strengthing her body. You are absolutely right about a strong core being the key. Not only are you stronger but you will develop better body control on and off the ground.
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I honestly don't remember Stewie getting pummeled like I've seen KLS get banged around, even in her freshman and sophomore years before she "built up her core"! The amount of contact she absorbed this year far exceeded what I saw Gabby and Pheesa take. How many head shots did she have, even in the last few weeks of the season? Headshots have absolutely nothing to do with body contact and regardless of how much stronger you get, what does that have to do with shots to the head???
 
hoopsdiva said:
I can't think of anything else I want to see from Gabby or Pheesa. They did everything that was asked of them and more. And with a couple more bigs available next year, I think they'll both be able to be more aggressive on the defensive end. Lou needs to get stronger, not just in-game, but over the course of the season. She really seemed to fade toward the end this year. Again, having Azura and Camara will help. I doubt anyone will be playing 40 minutes on a regular basis next year.

For the guards, more consistency and better shot selection for Crystal Dangerfield, a full recovery from the ankle injury for Kia.

And for Molly and Kyla, an opportunity to play and contribute meaningful minutes.
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You don't see any potential growth from Pheesa or Gabby? So does that mean that if there was no restrictions in the WNBA and it was worthwhile money wise to do so, you wouldn't have any problem with either of them going straight to the WNBA? Interesting!
 
Buzzyboy said:
So you're saying you want the freshmen NOT to be freshmen? That sounds pretty silly because you say high school stars come in and aren't ready to play until a year or two or three into their college careers.
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No idea how silly it may or may not sound. Just know what I've been seeing watching college ball for three or four decades now. And as I mentioned earlier, in case you missed it, Auriemma has pointed out repeatedly that whatever happened in high school doesn't count at all with regard to playing time. What strikes me as silly is expecting that the incomings will already have the working understanding of what it takes to play UConn offense and defense well enough to start. I expect to read that on certain other boards where the contributors exist on wildly unrealistic expectations. I suppose if it works for them...
 
buddy said:
I think all three pretty much disappeared. If only one of them played like they were capable, the outcome would have been different.
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You are comparing their games on Friday? I guess you're suggesting that only Gabby played that night, right? I couldn't disagree more that you would put them in the same category. I really don't want to diminish anyone on the team because over the season they've all contributed at a high level but if you're just talking about this singular game and you think there's no distinction between their performances, I'm stunned. I'd suggest you watch the game over and over until you get it.
 
Deadrody said:
I don't agree at all. Dangerfield got a quick hook against either UCLA or Oregon after she got lost on defense too easily and gave up a layup. And she was the most highly regarded freshman in the country. Bent and Irwin were good players, but to think they could have played against Miss St and they could have pressured more without giving up more is ludicrous. It's easy to think what coulda been, especially after Miss St took all the effort to beat the undefeated, undisputed top team in the country and then turned around and coughed it up against South Carolina, but they way they played on Friday, I don't think there is a chance in hell that Bent, Irwin, or Butler make a difference in that game in the second half, at least not for the better.
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Nat made a difference in that game and it wasn't a positive one. Her physical skills were severely challenged. In the limited time she was in the game, she was a liability. I've never seen her not give her best effort but the Huskies needed more than she could provide, to say the least.
 
noirwestern said:
No idea how silly it may or may not sound. Just know what I've been seeing watching college ball for three or four decades now. And as I mentioned earlier, in case you missed it, Auriemma has pointed out repeatedly that whatever happened in high school doesn't count at all with regard to playing time. What strikes me as silly is expecting that the incomings will already have the working understanding of what it takes to play UConn offense and defense well enough to start. I expect to read that on certain other boards where the contributors exist on wildly unrealistic expectations. I suppose if it works for them...
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I think just about anyone here on the Boneyard knows that it is rare indeed for anyone to come to Storrs as a freshman and contribute a great deal, especially initially though we have had exceptions. I think Ms Walker might be someone who provides some serious minutes at some point next season though it's likely it won't be immediately but there may be others who inevitably help, as well. Meanwhile, the two transfers are who most people are expecting to contribute in a very positive way, in particular inside where we had a serious deficit in depth and size.
 
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tomcat said:
I'm just amazed that someone would want Gabby to work on hitting threes. That is not her game ad eve in the new UConn configuration, it probably never will be., She needs to be able to hit the midrange jumper. You know, the shot every announcer says is almost extinct in the women's game? With her inside moves, the ability to consistently hit a midrange shot will make her virtually unstoppable. If she spends time on threes, she won't have the time she needs to perfect her game. Simple as that.

Other than that, Pheesa getting maybe a bit stronger. I think we can bet she is not likely to have a game like the MSU game again. Others have critiqued Katie Lou's game, and I think they're right. Also spot on are comments about Crystal. Let's hope for a sophomore leap, rather than a jump. If Natalie continues to improve at the same rate as between last year and this year, I think we'll be happy with the result.
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I think we're unlikely to see much change in Natalie because she's limited by a lack of quickness and instinctive reactions to game situations against athletic teams. Against others, she's a plus and can help spotting up and relieving others. How is she much different than Heather Buck who had size, as well? I do think that Gabby made major strides this year in her offensive game and I think she'll only get better. I was very pleased with her shooting touch and I wouldn't have guessed she would have made the strides she did prior to this season. I don't think anyone on this team got beaten up to the extent that KLS did and it seems anytime she penetrated, she was smacked around, often taking shots to the head and I can't believe that some of that stuff was tolerated. I don't have a recollection of anyone getting hit upside the head as much as she was this year and I mean EVER!
 
Buzzyboy said:
I think Crystal needs to really work on her decision making. I saw her often make poor decisions including dribbling too much along with bad shot making choices.
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I think you should stop picking on an 18 year old kid. PERIOD. You should make better choices about your life.
 
With all of that talent available, I would like to see 10 players that have significant roles if they earn it in practice especially during the cupcake part of the season. If a player gets a foul in the first quarter, sit the player, give them a rest, and use a highly qualified substitute. Give experience to the incoming freshman while the bulk of the starters are on the floor so that they can build confidence and skill sets. Let Geno be Geno.
 
DICKG said:
I want to see a change in Geno. Assuming nobody leaves and all the transfers stay and all the freshman still come, he will have very deep and talented team. But, he has a tendency to not use his bench a lot, even when he has deep teams. I never understood why he didn't play Butler, Bent or Irwin more. When he was leading by 30, how much could they have hurt by playing in the second quarter against the other teams first team. That would valuable experience.

The key to beating Miss State was to pressure the ball and taking them out of their rhythm, but it really wasn't possible because he never got the above players ready to be in those situations.

It will be interesting next year because he will have 11 or 12 players who have credentials to play a lot of college minutes.
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This is hysterical- you've got a good sense of humor. Geno was trying to win games and prepare for NC run. You've seen the last of Natalie Butler, Irwin and Bent. All three first rate, classy young ladies. If we see them in meaningful minutes- we won't get out of regionals. In my opinion. Geno makes that same mistake since the early 90's!
 
UConnNick said:
Lou played way better than Nurse or Collier did. I have no problem with her game on Friday.
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Pheasant was a deer in the headlights. She was just out of it early. Getting worse with the pressure defense and every shot she missed.
 
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pvdoggy said:
* Lou gets stronger physically (at least similar to the change in Pheesa from last year this year)
* Crystal Dangerfield a better mid range shot so she stops trying to take NBA 3-pt shots
* Nat, better hands and footwork, although after almost 3 years at UConn I am not holding out any real expectation.
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I love Collier, but what I would love to see from her is if she plans on jacking up 3's I would like to see her hit it with some consistency.
Also Crystal from behind the arc as well....
 
Keep in mind that Crystal's freshman year stacks up nicely with the great Moriah Jefferson's freshman year.
 
1. Stepback jumper from Gabby. Absolutely unstoppable.
2. Better defense from Lou. "Some" lateral footspeed please. And at least 1 offensive rebound a game ;). ( 23 was a stretch for this year o nice stat person)
3. Azura Stevens dunking :). Just do it.
 
01Neaggrad02 said:
I love Collier, but what I would love to see from her is if she plans on jacking up 3's I would like to see her hit it with some consistency.
Also Crystal from behind the arc as well....
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Wasn't Collier a 35% 3 point shooter much of the season (probably higher than that in the second half of the season)? For comparison, by late in the season Lou was at about 42% and Kia 44%. I think Collier is a pretty good 3 point shooter.
 
At the end of last night's "March to Madness" on Tuesday following the FF, Geno is seen in his office scribbling notes on a pad. It looked to me like he was making a list of players (I assume returning players) and jotting down comments under each player's name. If I recall, Geno meets with each player at the end of every season in what amounts to an annual review. They discuss the player's goals and what steps they need to take to achieve those goals over the summer and into next season. The scene didn't focus very long on the list, so I can't tell you what Geno thought each player needed to improve upon, but it did look like there were 5-6 "action items" per player.

The good news is that the players won't have to go searching for motivation when it comes to putting in the effort necessary to improve. The loss to MS St and the strong desire to write a different ending will be more than enough for these highly motivated young ladies.
 
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