What is it going to take to beat UCONN this season?

[Shorty Dee]

All week I have been watching old games from 2000 until 2016, and I am so excited. Those teams faced the same thing.....Naysayers saying they wouldn't beat this team or that team, but they did because all those teams had Geno and CD as their coaches. Did they lose some... yes, but not as many as the Naysayers said.
Each class set goals to be better than the following classes.
We as supporters of UConn, do not know what they are going to do until the season start, but I am a true believer and die hard UConn fan!!

 

[Shorty Dee]

UConn do not fear any team, and when one teammate is struggling....the rest of the team step-up!! UConn Huskies...bleed blue!!

 

[CocoHusky]

Okay guys allow me too ask this question please.. Not trying to be difficult here but..

If as a result of "reacting to the ball" two defensive players end up covering one offensive post player at the same time is that considered to be single coverage..?

two players on one player is a double team no matter how you achieved it.. (zone, Box&1, Man to man, reacting, collapsing) all can result in a player being doubled.. To-ma-toes, To-mat-oes = Tomatoes.. The objective there is to take away space/freedom of movement from the offensive player when they catch the ball in the paint, forcing them to pass or shoot over the crowded space.. or daring someone else to make shots from other areas of the floor or force a shot clock violation..

Not really To-ma-toes, To-mat-oes, more like Apples and Oranges. It matters very much how two defensive players end up on one offensive player.
A Double team is the result of a prior decison. Example: We are going to put two defender on this player, on this position on floor, or on the catch or if/when the player dribbles.
A rotation is a reaction to the ball. Example: A weakside post defender (opposite the ball) rotates to strong side ( ball side) to provide help usually because the first defender has been beaten.
Rotations are always temporary-usually until the first defender recovers. If your rotations result in a permanent double team you are not doing it right.

 

[Bajan Best]

Not really To-ma-toes, To-mat-oes, more like Apples and Oranges. It matters very much how two defensive players end up on one offensive player.
A Double team is the result of a prior decison. Example: We are going to put two defender on this player, on this position on floor, or on the catch or if/when the player dribbles.
A rotation is a reaction to the ball. Example: A weakside post defender (opposite the ball) rotates to strong side ( ball side) to provide help usually because the first defender has been beaten.
Rotations are always temporary-usually until the first defender recovers. If your rotations result in a permanent double team you are not doing it right.

And a double team can also be accomplished by help-side rotation which is in essence reacting to the ball..
How to Double the Post – The 4 Best Tactics | Basketball For Coaches

 

[stwainfan]

At least SC name is getting mention with UCONN....Tennessee has to worry about not losing to Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas for the consecutive year lol

Which SEC team was the last one standing again?

 

[stwainfan]

Fortner will not be the last to predict a UConn defeat. Predictions mean nothing.

Play it on the court Nell. SC at Gampel. My money is on UConn all the way!

Based on what both team have coming back. I can see why she could say that. I have a few questions though. How will Davis do? Dawn said at media days about talking to her. About being a defensive stopper for the team. Who will step up and be the go to player for Uconn? I think it could be Nurse.

 

[cbraarj]

Which SEC team was the last one standing again?

I picked Tenn. last year mainly because of Diamond being added with the returning players! Tell her a Uconn fan is picking them again to win the SEC!

 

[hoophuskee]

Based on what both team have coming back. I can see why she could say that. I have a few questions though. How will Davis do? Dawn said at media days about talking to her. About being a defensive stopper for the team. Who will step up and be the go to player for Uconn? I think it could be Nurse.

I think both Nurse and KLS. Unlike KML, KLS has size so you can give her picks which will allow her enough space in order to get off her shot. Nurse can do more with the ball in her hands.

How about if needing a last second shot KLS picks Nurse's defender and pops outside while giving Nurse the decision to either drive or throw the ball back to KLS?

 

[Shorty Dee]

Geno Auriemma is a "puppet master". Geno Auriemma teams don't only play basketball. When the team is on the court, they do ballet; play volleyball, baseball and soccer. Instead of throwing the kitchen sink, Geno throw in a mixture of things.

Ballet - The way the players move on the court
Volleyball- The way the players block and spike the ball to their teammates
Baseball- The way the players steal and pass the ball
Soccer - The footwork; speed and conditioning

 

[SCspur]

Which SEC team was the last one standing again?

And which team is the 3 time SEC regular season champ and two time SEC tourney champ?? Ok.. anything else ??

 

[SCspur]

Based on what both team have coming back. I can see why she could say that. I have a few questions though. How will Davis do? Dawn said at media days about talking to her. About being a defensive stopper for the team. Who will step up and be the go to player for Uconn? I think it could be Nurse.

The game vs UCONN will certainly be entertaining but I think Allisha Gray will be the defensive stopper this year. Kaela Davis certainly could be a problem on the defensive end as she is as tall as most teams forwards.

 

[SCspur]

I picked Tenn. last year mainly because of Diamond being added with the returning players! Tell her a Uconn fan is picking them again to win the SEC!

Why on earth would you pick tenn. ? Miss st has a way better chance then them IMO. Tenn has more questions at the pg position then SC and they have absolutely no depth. I also think that there is no one in the conference who can guard A'ja Wilson. Diamond is a good player but just her alone can't do it for Tennessee. It was actually quite modest of the media for even picking them for third.

 

[stwainfan]

I picked Tenn. last year mainly because of Diamond being added with the returning players! Tell her a Uconn fan is picking them again to win the SEC!

Cool. I think with Diamond healthy it will make a difference. Holly said at media day she has taken her game to a whole new level.

 

[SCspur]

Cool. I think with Diamond healthy it will make a difference. Holly said at media day she has taken her game to a whole new level.

Tenn. just lacks too much depth at the most important positions. DeSheilds would have to have a POY type year to take this team far

 

[cbraarj]

Why on earth would you pick tenn. ? Miss st has a way better chance then them IMO. Tenn has more questions at the pg position then SC and they have absolutely no depth. I also think that there is no one in the conference who can guard A'ja Wilson. Diamond is a good player but just her alone can't do it for Tennessee. It was actually quite modest of the media for even picking them for third.

38-8, 61-12, 81-18, 98-38 Mississippi St. really! Tenn. made the Elite 8. and they have a lot to prove this year. Plus the added incentive of playing for Pat Summit. Diamond Deshields plays and leads like she is capable of doing. Imo the best player in the SEC.

 

[cbraarj]

Tenn. just lacks too much depth at the most important positions. DeSheilds would have to have a POY type year to take this team far

Depth is overrated at times! Last 3 Ncs the winning team played 6 or 7 players with none fouling out. As far as getting tired the players are 18 to 22 yrs old, My question would be why?

 

[SCspur]

38-8, 61-12, 81-18, 98-38 Mississippi St. really! Tenn. made the Elite 8. and they have a lot to prove this year. Plus the added incentive of playing for Pat Summit. Diamond Deshields plays and leads like she is capable of doing. Imo the best player in the SEC.

You of all people should know not to compare one of the best teams in history to Tenn. only UCONN could have completely shut down Victoria Vivians the girl is a monster with the ball in her hands and she dropped 30 and 26 on Tenn. last year and they also return their whole starting five. Now as good as a player Diamond is she is not the best in the SEC her all around game is weak in many areas and while they'll have fire under them by playing for Pat Summit I just don't see them doing it. Besides just mentioning Diamond who else on Tenn. can score it and score it well?? Certainly not Mercedes Russell at 6'6" she's just too soft and doesn't play with the heart and desire to win and she got completely destroyed by A'ja. Jaime Nared rated #6 out of High School but she hasn't lived up to the billing, Jordan Reynolds had a good freshman year but her output offensively and defensively has spiraled downward, Shaquilla Nunn was good for Winthrop but this is a different level tough competition night in and night out and their bench consists of 3 players who have yet to prove themselves in college and a *3 freshman.... So remind me again how much you think of them......

 

[SCspur]

Depth is overrated at times! Last 3 Ncs the winning team played 6 or 7 players with none fouling out. As far as getting tired the players are 18 to 22 yrs old, My question would be why?

That team also had the #1 player from 2011, #1 player from 2012, #2 player from 2016, #6 player from 2012, and the #33 player from 2014 with the addition of one of the best WBB coaches in history so you of all people should know how that was possible. Tenn. has #1 player 2013, #3 player 2013, #46 player 2013, #6 player 2014 and #8 player 2015 so their would be no excuse but their coach does not do a good job at Developing their players anymore like pat used to. With all the talent they have a NC or Final Four should have been achieved during the span these players came in up until this point but as you can see it's only Naiive coaching at best.

 

[CocoHusky]

38-8, 61-12, 81-18, 98-38 Mississippi St. really! Tenn. made the Elite 8. and they have a lot to prove this year. Plus the added incentive of playing for Pat Summit. Diamond Deshields plays and leads like she is capable of doing. Imo the best player in the SEC.

The best player in the SEC is the reining SEC POY who also happens to be SEC defensive POY. The defensive side of the ball is something that DD has yet to explore. If DD and A'Ja Wilson were in the same draft ( which could easily happen) and you picked DD over Wilson you would be correctly fire if you were a GM.

 

[stwainfan]

One difference Aja has been healthy Diamond has had injuries. Here's a link to what Holly said about Diamond at media days.
Warlick confident in 'leadership on the court'

 

[CocoHusky]

One difference Aja has been healthy Diamond has had injuries. Here's a link to what Holly said about Diamond at media days.
Warlick confident in 'leadership on the court'

The claim that Aja was more healthy than Diamond last year is not true. The claim that "if diamond stay healthy this will be her year" has a very familiar hollow ring to it.
Diamond was healthy enough to play 105 minutes more than A'ja did last year (965 vs 860).
The 965 minutes that Diamond played at UT last year were only 38 minutes less than she played as a Freshmen at UNC in the exact same number of games.
Statistically DD is much the same player at TN as she was at NC. I wish both players good health but good health is not what is separating DD and Aja-performance has.

 

[stwainfan]

The claim that Aja was more healthy than Diamond last year is not true. The claim that "if diamond stay healthy this will be her year" has a very familiar hollow ring to it.
Diamond was healthy enough to play 105 minutes more than A'ja did last year (965 vs 860).
The 965 minutes that Diamond played at UT last year were only 38 minutes less than she played as a Freshmen at UNC in the exact same number of games.
Statistically DD is much the same player at TN as she was at NC. I wish both players good health but good health is not what is separating DD and Aja-performance has.

If you watched her early on last year. She was not healthy. She couldn't make some plays that normally she could make very easily. Like Andy Landers said in video she has a skill set that's second to none.

 

[cbraarj]

The best player in the SEC is the reining SEC POY who also happens to be SEC defensive POY. The defensive side of the ball is something that DD has yet to explore. If DD and A'Ja Wilson were in the same draft ( which could easily happen) and you picked DD over Wilson you would be correctly fire if you were a GM.

I would pick Wilson but I dont know if I would keep her. She isnt a franchise player yet but that could change by the time she graduates. IMO there was no improvement in her skill level from fr. to soph. year. Trade her for players and draft picks. It all depends on needs.

 

[CocoHusky]

If you watched her early on last year. She was not healthy. She couldn't make some plays that normally she could make very easily. Like Andy Landers said in video she has a skill set that's second to none.

I watched DD the entire season and at times though she was not healthy enough be on the floor. But she was on the floor. About her skill set I disagree with Andy. DD athleticism is second to none but measurable basketball skills like shooting accuracy , assists rate, and lack of turnovers have not been demonstrated by Diamond even when she was healthy.

 

[SCspur]

One difference Aja has been healthy Diamond has had injuries. Here's a link to what Holly said about Diamond at media days.
Warlick confident in 'leadership on the court'

A'ja was most certainly not healthy,she was dealing with shin splints the entire year that's why she was wearing those silly looking shin guards the whole year. If you watched the UCONN game last year she injured it even worst but played through it for the rest of the year. This summer she took some time off to rest so this season she is fully healthy along with DeSheilds.

 

[SCGamecock]

I would pick Wilson but I dont know if I would keep her. She isnt a franchise player yet but that could change by the time she graduates. IMO there was no improvement in her skill level from fr. to soph. year. Trade her for players and draft picks. It all depends on needs.

You keep saying this after people keep explaining the contrary to you. Do yourself and everybody else here a favor and actually watch some of A'ja's play from freshmen to sophomore year. HUGE improvement. Freshmen year, Wilson didn't play elite level defense, was typically lost on offense and never left the paint. And she was STILL very good her freshmen year. Fast forward to her sophomore year, Wilson is vastly improved on defense (obviously, since she won DPOY in a defensive league) and has expanded her range offensively to the elbow. Wilson will probably never be a regular 3 point shooter if that's what you're expecting (at SC at least, I'm very confident that will be a part of her game in WNBA just because of how bigs are used in that league) but her midrange game gets better and better every year and will be a weapon for her this coming season and should be elite level by her senior season.

 

[SCspur]

I would pick Wilson but I dont know if I would keep her. She isnt a franchise player yet but that could change by the time she graduates. IMO there was no improvement in her skill level from fr. to soph. year. Trade her for players and draft picks. It all depends on needs.

Honestly I don't know what you were watching because from her Fr. to So. Year she improved tremendously. Her first year she played very timid and fouled a lot, she didn't want to use her height and bang down low with the bigs. In the UCONN game in her first year to the ND game their was a huge transition she was more aggressive and once she got the feel for the College game she became better. Her second year she became a defensive killer she avg 4.5 blocks a game and was 5th in the nation in block shots, she also improved her jump shot out to about 8ft and I expect that to get even better and to be quite honest with you the only player in WCBB that was able to guard her was Breanna Stewart but Stewart is gone and I don't think their is a player this year who can guard her head to head and limit her like Stewart did IMHO.

 

[cbraarj]

You keep saying this after people keep explaining the contrary to you. Do yourself and everybody else here a favor and actually watch some of A'ja's play from freshmen to sophomore year. HUGE improvement. Freshmen year, Wilson didn't play elite level defense, was typically lost on offense and never left the paint. And she was STILL very good her freshmen year. Fast forward to her sophomore year, Wilson is vastly improved on defense (obviously, since she won DPOY in a defensive league) and has expanded her range offensively to the elbow. Wilson will probably never be a regular 3 point shooter if that's what you're expecting (at SC at least, I'm very confident that will be a part of her game in WNBA just because of how bigs are used in that league) but her midrange game gets better and better every year and will be a weapon for her this coming season and should be elite level by her senior season.

I did watch quite a few games last year and I stand by what I said. The SEC called itself a defensive league and alot of people including myself said the lack of offense league. Didnt Dawn (been a fan since 91) hire Melanie Balcomb to help with the offense. Miss. st. 15th in the country, very good defensively with a very good coach lost by 60 and gave up 98 pts. Syracuse scored what 80 againstthe best team in the SEC and knocked out SC in the Sweet 16 and then Tenn in the Elite 8. That is 3 teams in a defensive league that couldnt stop OOC teams. So being named DPOY in the SEC really dont mean much to me.

 

[BigBird]

Geno Auriemma is a "puppet master". Geno Auriemma teams don't only play basketball. When the team is on the court, they do ballet; play volleyball, baseball and soccer. Instead of throwing the kitchen sink, Geno throw in a mixture of things.

Ballet - The way the players move on the court
Volleyball- The way the players block and spike the ball to their teammates
Baseball- The way the players steal and pass the ball
Soccer - The footwork; speed and conditioning

Spot on, Dee. I have been attracted to UConn WBB because of the way they play the game. There are very few (if any) other teams that offer the visual impression you cite here. When the Huskies are "on," and that's most of the time, it's like watching a work of art come together.

 

[wallman]

Honestly I don't know what you were watching because from her Fr. to So. Year she improved tremendously. Her first year she played very timid and fouled a lot, she didn't want to use her height and bang down low with the bigs. In the UCONN game in her first year to the ND game their was a huge transition she was more aggressive and once she got the feel for the College game she became better. Her second year she became a defensive killer she avg 4.5 blocks a game and was 5th in the nation in block shots, she also improved her jump shot out to about 8ft and I expect that to get even better and to be quite honest with you the only player in WCBB that was able to guard her was Breanna Stewart but Stewart is gone and I don't think their is a player this year who can guard her head to head and limit her like Stewart did IMHO.

You keep saying this after people keep explaining the contrary to you. Do yourself and everybody else here a favor and actually watch some of A'ja's play from freshmen to sophomore year. HUGE improvement. Freshmen year, Wilson didn't play elite level defense, was typically lost on offense and never left the paint. And she was STILL very good her freshmen year. Fast forward to her sophomore year, Wilson is vastly improved on defense (obviously, since she won DPOY in a defensive league) and has expanded her range offensively to the elbow. Wilson will probably never be a regular 3 point shooter if that's what you're expecting (at SC at least, I'm very confident that will be a part of her game in WNBA just because of how bigs are used in that league) but her midrange game gets better and better every year and will be a weapon for her this coming season and should be elite level by her senior season.

I don't think you should be pointing out to a poster who is giving their opinion that one should take notice of what "people" are explaining. that person is entitled to their opinion as are you, but it is just your opinion.

Wilson has Coates in the paint which makes her life easier as Coates does a lot of the heavy lifting in MY opinion. I have yet to see any range from Wilson and Staley just stated in her recent media interviews that Wislon was awful from anywhere away from the basket and that she hopes she has improved in that area, i.e. we as in Staley and myself, lol, have yet to see if she has!