What the returning players need to work on over the summer.

[Jim]

As many of you know, at the end of each season Geno and the coaching staff meets individually with all of the players that will return in the fall and discusses with them what they need to work on over the summer to improve and make bigger contributions next year. If you were in those meetings, what would you suggest each of the players work on? I'll start with a few...

Jana -- you need to do a better job of making layups while getting banged down low.
Azzi -- you need to get better at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line.
Caroline -- you need to get fully healthy.
Sarah -- you need to work on your post-game interviews.

Any others?

 

[Husky fanatic]

Ash Needs to improve handle to get open for mid range shots.
KK to improve 3 pt shots
Allie to improve on defense
Morgan to improve decision making

 

[Centerstream]

Spend the summer showing off all their "new" #12 clothing.

Caroline taking it easy and coming back 100% healthy.

 

[Bone Dog]

Jana: hand strength
Ice: low post scoring
KK: 3 pt shooting
Ash: a step back jumper
Azzi: nothing at all — you are perfect as is, girl.
Sarah: nothing at all — you are perfection itself, girl.
Morgan: finishing at the rim
Allie: mental toughness on defense
Carol: get back, stay strong
Ayanna: come back even stronger than you already were

 

[Blond D.]

I'm no coach but from what I saw this year what I would tell them is:

Jana- Her foot work and her in close shooting needs lots of work. Shes shown she has some really nice moves and can handle the ball but sometimes she thinks too much. She needs to just be natural and let it flow. On defense, stop the silly fouls.

Ice: A lot of the same as what I would tell Jana.

Azzie: work harder at moving without the ball and getting open.

KK: Shes come a long way from when she would just charge in and throw up a prayer. Keep working on driving hard to the basket and making the shot. Plus develop a stop and pop.

Ashlynn: Work on getting open, moving without the ball.

Morgan: Learn what constitutes a foul. Also work on driving to the basket and making a layup under duress.

Sarah: Strength, speed and conditioning. You will be a focal point this year so you have to up your game.

Allie: Work on your defense and passing. Also getting open.

Caroline and Ayanna: Get back to your old selves then we can talk.

Incoming Freshmen: Do what Geno says..............he's the G.O.A.T.

 

[TheGOAT23]

Ash Needs to improve handle to get open for mid range shots.
KK to improve 3 pt shots
Allie to improve on defense
Morgan to improve decision making

Shoot the ball, Morgan!!!

 

[Bald Husky]

Jana- Has a good hook shot but must work on getting to the right position so she can use it. Need offence from her next year. Now that Tina Charles in in Conn. now, maybe there is a chance Jana can work out with her after her season.
KK- 3-pt shooting obviously
Caroline- get truly healthy with a lot of workouts on her own for shooting and driving
Ashlyn- Her pull-up is gold, must work on getting open. (watch Paige highlights)
Azzi- Work on mental game, don't stop shooting
Sarah- Yeah, right.
Ice- Hook shot as well as working on her short jumpers

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Azzi: convince me if you miss a few you really won't stop. The single most important summer assignement. I hasten to add she may already be over it.

 

[Bills Fan]

Jana: hand strength
Ice: low post scoring
KK: 3 pt shooting
Ash: a step back jumper
Azzi: nothing at all — you are perfect as is, girl.
Sarah: nothing at all — you are perfection itself, girl.
Morgan: finishing at the rim
Allie: mental toughness on defense
Carol: get back, stay strong
Ayanna: come back even stronger than you already were

A great list, Bone. For Jana, your suggestion is much needed but after watching a few of the NCAA games it also hit me that she needs a lot of work on coordination. She spends way to much time falling to the floor. Maybe this will work itself out as she continues to recover from ankle surgery.
Regarding Ayanna, I think she is strong enough but she needs to spend long hours in the gym shooting, with someone defending her from 1-15 feet.

 

[MooseJaw]

Shoot the ball, Morgan!!!

What the GOAT23: said.

 

[Bigboote]

Azzi: Play instinctively
Caroline, Ayanna: Get healthy, find joy in the game

KK and Ashlynn: You're the third option on offense, play like it
Ice: Play to your strengths -- low-post moves, finishing with both hands, good midrange shot, occasional long shot

Sarah -- Mostly strength, add in some conditioning and shooting.
Jana -- you're 6-5. Practice finishing near the basket, getting to your block and keeping opponents off theirs. Don't even think about dribbling when you get the ball near the basket.
Allie -- reaction time; you need to get up to game speed
Morgan -- use your feet not your hands

I think several players -- Ice, Jana, Allie, Morgan, to some extent Azzi -- need to get out of their heads. I think when I perceived that from Azzi, though, it's just that her muscles weren't caught up with her muscle memory. The others, I think they just need to get more comfortable with the UConn-style game.

 

[victor64]

Azzi-I think she had moments in which her passing was forced and ill advised because it makes sense for her to be at the point some.
I would like to see her develop the same connection with Sarah in the two person game that Sarah had with Paige.
I know she is a soft spoken kid but she has to take over from Paige as being the voice in the huddle.

 

[BRS24]

• get healthy
• get stronger
• get to know each other

 

[Huskie02]

As many of you know, at the end of each season Geno and the coaching staff meets individually with all of the players that will return in the fall and discusses with them what they need to work on over the summer to improve and make bigger contributions next year. If you were in those meetings, what would you suggest each of the players work on? I'll start with a few...

Jana -- you need to do a better job of making layups while getting banged down low.
Azzi -- you need to get better at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line.
Caroline -- you need to get fully healthy.
Sarah -- you need to work on your post-game interviews.

Any others?

Shade needs to gain confidence and work on her shot. To many times passed the ball off instead of taking the shot. shooting is inconsistent one game scores 20 next game zero.

 

[Bigboote]

Shade needs to gain confidence and work on her shot. To many times passed the ball off instead of taking the shot. shooting is inconsistent one game scores 20 next game zero.

I don't think it was confidence, I think it was knowing she was the fourth option. Remember the comment from Geno before the season, "Get the ball over the half-court line, then get it to Paige" (I assume later Azzi and Sarah were included)? Shade shoots well, and two years ago shot more than this past year. There were a few games this year when the rest of the team wasn't shooting well and she shot more than normal.

 

[BBallF]

For now I think the biggest individual needs are true needs for the team.

KK- 1) Shoot 100 3s a day, 2) shoot 100 pull up Js a day, 3) take 50 left handed layups a day.
Jana- 1) Shoot 50 FTs a day, 2) take 100 baby jumpers from under the basket , 50 on each side, each day 3) Get under the basket and rebound the ball, keep it at head level and go back up without bringing it down 100 a day.
Ice- 1) 100 head fakes from the FT line, and drive both left and right side 2) 50 baby jumpers from 5-10 feet out 3) 50 Left handed hook or jump hook shots.
Ash- 1) 50 coming off the pick one dribble pull ups 2) 50 left handed drives and finishes 3) Creating own shot off the bounce 4) 100 3s a day.
Morgan- 1) 100 3s a day 2) 100 pull ups a day 3) Head fake and drives with sides and finishes 50 left and right each.
Allie- 1) Lateral movement drills on defense 2) 100 3s 3) Dribble drive moves and pull ups 100 per day
Caroline- You got this.
Azzi and Sarah- I wouldn't even go there.

 

[DemonDeac22]

For now I think the biggest individual needs are true needs for the team.

KK- 1) Shoot 100 3s a day, 2) shoot 100 pull up Js a day, 3) take 50 left handed layups a day.
Jana- 1) Shoot 50 FTs a day, 2) take 100 baby jumpers from under the basket , 50 on each side, each day 3) Get under the basket and rebound the ball, keep it at head level and go back up without bringing it down 100 a day.
Ice- 1) 100 head fakes from the FT line, and drive both left and right side 2) 50 baby jumpers from 5-10 feet out 3) 50 Left handed hook or jump hook shots.
Ash- 1) 50 coming off the pick one dribble pull ups 2) 50 left handed drives and finishes 3) Creating own shot off the bounce 4) 100 3s a day.
Morgan- 1) 100 3s a day 2) 100 pull ups a day 3) Head fake and drives with sides and finishes 50 left and right each.
Allie- 1) Lateral movement drills on defense 2) 100 3s 3) Dribble drive moves and pull ups 100 per day
Caroline- You got this.
Azzi and Sarah- I wouldn't even go there.

Great job, BBallF! I’d add another one for Jana - 4) 100 jumpers from the high post area. And for Ayanna, simply 1) Jump off the injury train and have one full injury-free season.

 

[BBallF]

Great job, BBallF! I’d add another one for Jana - 4) 100 jumpers from the high post area. And for Ayanna, simply 1) Jump off the injury train and have one full injury-free season.

Jana has shown a really powerful drive move at times from the foul line and slightly behind it. If she does get a "have to guard" 15 foot shot and can combine that with a head fake without shuffling the feet and a drive move and finish left and right you are talking a whole new player. As for Ayanna, as you say, just to have a full season would be great.

 

[Galaxyshooter]

For now I think the biggest individual needs are true needs for the team.

KK- 1) Shoot 100 3s a day, 2) shoot 100 pull up Js a day, 3) take 50 left handed layups a day.
Jana- 1) Shoot 50 FTs a day, 2) take 100 baby jumpers from under the basket , 50 on each side, each day 3) Get under the basket and rebound the ball, keep it at head level and go back up without bringing it down 100 a day.
Ice- 1) 100 head fakes from the FT line, and drive both left and right side 2) 50 baby jumpers from 5-10 feet out 3) 50 Left handed hook or jump hook shots.
Ash- 1) 50 coming off the pick one dribble pull ups 2) 50 left handed drives and finishes 3) Creating own shot off the bounce 4) 100 3s a day.
Morgan- 1) 100 3s a day 2) 100 pull ups a day 3) Head fake and drives with sides and finishes 50 left and right each.
Allie- 1) Lateral movement drills on defense 2) 100 3s 3) Dribble drive moves and pull ups 100 per day
Caroline- You got this.
Azzi and Sarah- I wouldn't even go there.

I would say, not to take, but set a goal to make said number of shots and layups for each player listed, especially Ice. If I were her, I would take it personally and as motivation, to get better, that Uconn is looking to bring in Williams, she should ask herself why. The reason is that they need that production. I believe in you, Ice, you can put up those types of numbers, just put in the work. As for Azzi, you came back for a reason, and with Paige gone, it's your time to step up and lead. You were the number 1 recruit coming out for a reason. Now, if you can stay healthy for the full season, you can show them why. Sarah, I would watch a film of your idol, Maya, and go to the gym, and continue to grow and develop.

 

[Gabbyfan]

With regards to Jana, I agree on the need for improving her footwork and shooting, rebounding skills. However I also think she needs more work in the weight room to give her more strength in jumping and blocking out under the basket. More strength will lead to more confidence and aggressiveness in the lane.

 

[cgshuskie]

I'm down with Gabbyfan.

 

[ju6381]

With regards to Jana, I agree on the need for improving her footwork and shooting, rebounding skills. However I also think she needs more work in the weight room to give her more strength in jumping and blocking out under the basket. More strength will lead to more confidence and aggressiveness in the lane.

I think last year was more about her getting through the year healthy and ready for a big summer. I think we will see much more offense out of her next season after a summer in the gym. Improved conditioning will lead to smoother footwork like we saw in some of the videos of her before getting to UConn.

 

[Amashutcha]

Sarah: Perfect the left-hand finishing. Her right hand has an immaculate touch around the rim. Having her able to do the same with the left will just up her game to absurd levels. Also, if it's not too much to ask, I'd like to see an iso pull-up jumper just in case of emergency, sometime in the future but one thing at a time

Azzi: Pick and roll game as the number one option. Confidence, and a lot of it, to take and make the difficult shots when needed.

Jana: Better hands to catch the ball. Improved footwork, particularly to eliminate those easy travel calls.

KK: Better outside shooting and a pull-up middy.

 

[VaConnFan11]

Scoring through contact at the rim. Nothing creates more excitement for a team (and it's fans) than an "and one"!

 

[Rowdy831]

Jana and Sereh need to play a lot of 1 on 1