What to think after this loss

[Biff]

The season began with Brianna starting...

Correction. The season began with Breanna starting. They are two different people.

 

[Icebear]

They make poor judgements with the ball and just aren't a very good passing team. They still almost beat ND the last 2 times they played.

Funny because all of the annoucers who call the game think UConn is a tremendous passing team and I mean this team, specifically.

 

[Icebear]

I've consistently thought that the kids, nor the Vets were not used to the best advantage this season by the staff and have bellyached about it till the cows come home.

No one will ever know if it would have changed the outcome of any of our losses but it surely seems to have effected the confidence of two of the freshman (Bri and Mo...Morgan seems tougher) at times. If Mo and Stewie were given reason to be more confident, it is possible that the team's play might have been significantly better (please note that I am not definitely saying that it would be better, just prognosticating).

I suspect Geno knows quite well because of what he sees everyday in practice. Otherwise he would choose something different. He has shown a willingness to do that this year.

The season began with Brianna starting... some games in she was pulled for Caroline and seemed to lose her sense of self...for quite a long time.

There was separation by several weeks between Brianna's being in the starting line up and her loss of confidence.


Recently...Let's see if I get the order right: Morgan started, followed by Mo, followed last night by Stewie again. And Caroline, a trusted starter for most of the season (with all the explanations of how she steadies the team), never even got into the game last night? Weird.

I thought Mo was pretty confident as a starter at point and made some good plays with few turnovers. Everyone complained that Syracuse hounded her and fretted about that but she didn't turn the ball over.
Last night after being pulled from the starting line-up she was seemed more tentative.

Moreover, Morgan, who starred in one of the Notre Dame overtime periods, came in, made a shot, drew a foul and seemed to be guarding McBride as well or better than anyone else...was then pulled and sat. All at a time that Kaleena was having problems finding or making her shots and possibly would have been helped by some rest (likely it would have helped more in the last 5 or 10 games).

Boy, not what I saw at all.

I don't sense that these moves (or lack of them) were coherent, much helped the team (I know, that I'm leaving out Stewie's terrif game) The Vets became fatigued, the freshmen were undervalued and the team lost 4 heartbreakers that they might have won (or at least some of them).

Again, probably because you and we have no clue as to what is going on in practice.

I'm proud of the way the kids fought last night and in all these close games but it was heartbreaking to see possible victory turn into defeat time after time.

As you should be and probably would have done well to leave it at that.

I don't believe that this is about injury or practice.

But you have no way of knowing. None of us do.

This season will be the first crack in Geno's legacy; where he was uncertain and to a certain extent miscalculated.
He's human, gone through (and is going through) a lot. Happens to the best of em.

I doubt that this is a crack in Geno's coaching in any manner. There are still exactly two teams that have beaten this team all year by a total of 8 points at the end of regulation in 4 losses. If you want a reason then consider that as good as any explanation is that this staff is probably very fatigued right now having next to no break last summer because of the Olympics. This may, also, explain the small recruiting class. Maybe, maybe not but it is as good a guess as your assumptions.

I've said before as well, that at a certain point, he'll own up to it.

And of course, the season's not over, he's got one last chance to pull a rabbit out of the hat; watch out, he just might do that.

Having mades these points too many times, I'm finished on this subject....Promise.

So help us God.[/quote]

 

[pap49cba]

Rich Elliott ‏@elliottctpost
#UConn is a combined 1-8 vs. @ndwbb (1-6) and @BaylorWBB (0-2) over last 2 seasons and 61-1 vs. the rest of the country. #bleedblue #ncaaw

 

[Icebear]

Rich understands.

 

[Bestiarius]

We have pinned the blame of the loss to just about every possible reason except the luck of the Irish. Perhaps that's all it's been. I see two equally talented teams with diverse advantages and disadvantages. What happened in the past is in the past. The odds of winning the next meeting are 50-50. It doesn't matter if we've lost 3 in a row, our chances are neither increased or decreased. It's only hard to win 4 in a row if the prediction is made before any of the games are played. We have the talent to smoke ND if we get the chance to play them again this year. Skylar had 5 turnovers in the last game. We can do it!!!

 

[msf22b]

I agree!

 

[meganmatthews]

We have pinned the blame of the loss to just about every possible reason except the luck of the Irish. Perhaps that's all it's been. I see two equally talented teams with diverse advantages and disadvantages. What happened in the past is in the past. The odds of winning the next meeting are 50-50. It doesn't matter if we've lost 3 in a row, our chances are neither increased or decreased. It's only hard to win 4 in a row if the prediction is made before any of the games are played. We have the talent to smoke ND if we get the chance to play them again this year. Skylar had 5 turnovers in the last game. We can do it!!!

I also believe it is simply the luck of the Irish. It wasn't meant to be. Plain and simple. That being said, I'm more concerned with the mental state of our girls heading into the tournament. They have lost 3 times to ND. They have lost the Big East Championship. Bad enough you have Baylor in front of you.I don't want to use the word "snake-bitten", but I worry if they will start doubting themselves or each other. Not publicly, of course, but in their heads. Heart is everything. Once that heart gets injured, things could get ugly. I hope Geno treaded lightly on them after the game. It's important how they lick those wounds.

 

[DanDar]

Game 1: Missed 3 for the win.
Game 2: Moving screen in regulation. Missed FTs in first two overtimes. UConn had plenty chances to win.
Game 3: Officials fail to reset the shot clock. Bad inbounds play results in a turnover with 8 seconds to go.

For all the failures this team had, it's still only 6 points away from being 3-0 instead of 0-3 vs ND. I'm not giving up on them yet. Last 10 minutes of the game, our defense was changed to focus on traps which lead UConn to eliminate a 13 point deficit. Play that all game long and the final score is not even close.

 

[RadyLady]

UConn's guards looked uncomfortable with the ball all night. They didn't respond well to pressure (too many turnovers or near-turnovers) and made bad passes even without pressure (Hartley and Faris on the break). I'm not sure where Kelly was going with the ball on the last possession.

Still, I'd love nothing better than to see another game against ND.

agreed on all points especially the last.

 

[RadyLady]

What to think about after this loss?

hmmm....well, I need to polish my resume, almost finished it is. And I have to print out and learn some music for a Bach even next week. There are bills to be paid as it is almost mid-month, I better remember to pay COBRA on time this time (yikes). I have a lesson on Saturday and I am bringing a new student - need to call her. Henri needs his claws clipped, may as well check the cats while I am at it. Oh, and I have to see if the store has my order in yet. And I need a mani-pedi, better add that to my list of calls.

Selection Sunday is coming up, and the dance to follow. It will be exciting to see who UConn plays. I am hoping for another trip to the final four, maybe the final. The team likely has to get past last nights disappointment and move on. I will, too.

That's what I am thinking about this morning.