Where do we go from here?

[tomcat]

As I write this, UConn has taken a 19 point lead against a well coached but very ordinary Marquette team. Marquette plays tough, but it is sometimes painful to watch them try to score. For whatever reason, UConn seems to be committed to a five-guard lineup this game. Truth be told, UConn looked pretty ordinary for much of this game. Now Tiffany has taken over somewhat -- to hear the Marquette announcers, she has travelled her way to several baskets, and in at least one case, I thought they were right. Officiating aside, UConn at this point is just playing unnspired, non-team basketball, IMHO.

It seems to me that if Marquette's best player didn't get into serious foul trouble and if their center could have scored a couple of chippies, this would have been a much closer game at the half, maybe 6 points or so. Now I know they didn't do that, and UConn's tough defense had much to do with that, but still, this is Marquette, not, say, Notre Dame.

Speaking of Notre Dame,w hat is clear is that if UConn plays like this against ND, they will get their heads handed to them.

So why is this happening? Is Geno just frustrated with the centers and is sitting them to prove a point (because he can against Marquette?) Shoudl we be conspiracy theorists and believe that Geno is cooking up something entirely different for ND and does not want to show his hand? Thoughts?

 

[ThisJustIn]

I don't think there's a conspiracy. I think Geno is doing what he's always done -- even when folks don't want him to. Remember when Battle sat the entire second half of the Rutgers game?

 

[Olde Coach]

As I write this, UConn has taken a 19 point lead against a well coached but very ordinary Marquette team. Marquette plays tough, but it is sometimes painful to watch them try to score. For whatever reason, UConn seems to be committed to a five-guard lineup this game. Truth be told, UConn looked pretty ordinary for much of this game. Now Tiffany has taken over somewhat -- to hear the Marquette announcers, she has travelled her way to several baskets, and in at least one case, I thought they were right. Officiating aside, UConn at this point is just playing unnspired, non-team basketball, IMHO.

It seems to me that if Marquette's best player didn't get into serious foul trouble and if their center could have scored a couple of chippies, this would have been a much closer game at the half, maybe 6 points or so. Now I know they didn't do that, and UConn's tough defense had much to do with that, but still, this is Marquette, not, say, Notre Dame.

Speaking of Notre Dame,w hat is clear is that if UConn plays like this against ND, they will get their heads handed to them.

So why is this happening? Is Geno just frustrated with the centers and is sitting them to prove a point (because he can against Marquette?) Shoudl we be conspiracy theorists and believe that Geno is cooking up something entirely different for ND and does not want to show his hand? Thoughts?

Just a possibility:

The guards were so inept at getting the ball to the posts that Geno said: "OK, there is no sense having the post players on the floor if you can't get them the ball; so you guards will have to figure out how to score and defend and rebound without them."

I give that a 10% possibility of approaching reality; but it's a thought.

 

[alexrgct]

Notre Dame was down to USF un the second half today.

The team we lost to in shocking fashion beat the team they lost to in shocking fashion.

ND is not playing spectacular ball right now. Not saying they can't or won't win because that's obviously possible. But nothing about them strikes fear in my heart either.

 

[UConnCat]

I give that a 10% possibility of approaching reality; but it's a thought.

I'd give it 0% after listening to CD on the post-game show. She said the guards were the only players willing to scrap and fight out there. (I don't think she meant Heather or Michala, btw.)

 

[speedoo]

Speaking of Notre Dame,w hat is clear is that if UConn plays like this against ND, they will get their heads handed to them.

Did you watch ND play today? I did and I will say that if they play that way again Monday night, they will get their heads handed to them by UConn.

 

[msf22b]

Geno did say today that all the teams are somewhat spent. Other than that was the unfortunate Summitt-like statement that the 'yard has already called him on.
Then you have this strange game in which he pulls his posts.
And Tomcat is right, especially in the first half, execution of the offense was hardly crisp.
If he hasn't got through to the posts in the next to the last game, isn't something askew.
And its interesting, just like UTenn, fiddling with the lineup and making unsubstantiated accusations.
Perhaps, its a hall of fame coaches catchy disease.
Or a top-four virus among the players.
Well, one thing we know is that Novosel has recovered.
Could we be looking at a negative blowout on Monday?

 

[RoyDodger]

Our players, unlike those of Husky teams of recent vintage, often look like they lack confidence. And they look particularly problematic when faced with a team that is either being physical or attempting to be physical. Let's hope that Monday night, all the confidence returns as there'll be no Big East regular season title without it.

PS: I thought it was interesting that Geno (on the Geno Show) said that he did not like the 9 p.m., start for Monday's game, but he understood the reason. I wish more people in sports would protest the ridiculous start times of so many significant sporting events. But alas TV rules the roost.

 

[Icebear]

Our players, unlike those of Husky teams of recent vintage, often look like they lack confidence. And they look particularly problematic when faced with a team that is either being physical or attempting to be physical. Let's hope that Monday night, all the confidence returns as there'll be no Big East regular season title without it.

PS: I thought it was interesting that Geno (on the Geno Show) said that he did not like the 9 p.m., start for Monday's game, but he understood the reason. I wish more people in sports would protest the ridiculous start times of so many significant sporting events. But alas TV rules the roost.

Problem is that with a double header there has to be a late game.

 

[msf22b]

When we look back at this season (unless we go on to win the National championship, which will surprise me), we'll see a very talented group that didn't quite develop in that most crucial of ways that Geno spoke at length about pre-game...toughness.
At the same time, he mistakenly overused his favored rotations and in my humble opinion failed to detect the potential usefulness of Buck and Johnson, thereby unnecessarily tiring the team.
Perhaps, not his greatest year of coaching

 

[doggydaddy]

Where do we go from here?

Well, THEY go to Hartford on Monday night to play Notre Dame.

Look at the negatives if you must, but I loved the 5-9 on 3's for Lewis, a fantastic 2nd half by Hayes, and 20+ minutes of solid ball for Banks.

23 assists on 29 baskets. They play like this on Monday and they beat ND.

 

[speedoo]

When we look back at this season (unless we go on to win the National championship, which will surprise me), we'll see a very talented group that didn't quite develop in that most crucial of ways that Geno spoke at length about pre-game...toughness.
At the same time, he mistakenly overused his favored rotations and in my humble opinion failed to detect the potential usefulness of Buck and Johnson, thereby unnecessarily tiring the team.
Perhaps, not his greatest year of coaching

If you compare the UConn and ND box scores from today, you will see that ND's Diggins, etc. played about as many minutes as Hayes, KML and Faris. The difference is that while Geno chose to have his players play that much, McGraw had to in order to win her game. Geno had a purpose in mind, and his kids are well conditioned enough that the extra minutes today did not tire them. IMO, Geno's purpose today was to toughen his team, and judging by CD's post game comments, he may have succeeded. In every game like this, where Geno knows going in that UConn is going to win, his purpose is to use the game to make his team better, and that is what he did today.

 

[alexrgct]

When we look back at this season (unless we go on to win the National championship, which will surprise me), we'll see a very talented group that didn't quite develop in that most crucial of ways that Geno spoke at length about pre-game...toughness.
At the same time, he mistakenly overused his favored rotations and in my humble opinion failed to detect the potential usefulness of Buck and Johnson, thereby unnecessarily tiring the team.
Perhaps, not his greatest year of coaching

Disagree pretty strongly with this. A national championship would be a lot to expect of this team. If Geno gets this bunch to Denver, regardless of the results once they get there, it will be one of his very best coaching jobs.

 

[alexrgct]

Where do we go from here?

Well, THEY go to Hartford on Monday night to play Notre Dame. And as usual, how they played in this game has little bearing on Monday.

Look at the negatives if you must, but I loved the 5-9 on 3's for Lewis, a fantastic 2nd half by Hayes, and 20+ minutes of solid ball for Banks.

23 assists on 29 baskets. They play like this on Monday and they beat ND.

If they play like they play in the second half for 40 minutes, I agree. The first half performance form tonight is likely to put UConn into a decent sized hole.

But Notre Dame is not any sort of unbeatable Goliath. They've looked shaky themselves in February.

I expect both teams will look sharper on Monday than they have against other opponents recently.

 

[ThisJustIn]

I'm interested to know, msf,what your preseason expectations were of this group and why....

 

[Bestiarius]

Just a possibility:

The guards were so inept at getting the ball to the posts that Geno said: "OK, there is no sense having the post players on the floor if you can't get them the ball; so you guards will have to figure out how to score and defend and rebound without them."

I give that a 10% possibility of approaching reality; but it's a thought.

Brilliant analysis of how geno might think. It's also a way to give his centers a good rest before the big game Monday without admitting that he is going soft.

 

[justML]

Brilliant analysis of how geno might think. It's also a way to give his centers a good rest before the big game Monday without admitting that he is going soft.

Maybe he just wanted to mess with ND's scouting report.

He was definitely in a mood today.

 

[doggydaddy]

Just a possibility:

The guards were so inept at getting the ball to the posts that Geno said: "OK, there is no sense having the post players on the floor if you can't get them the ball; so you guards will have to figure out how to score and defend and rebound without them."

I give that a 10% possibility of approaching reality; but it's a thought.

I'm not sure about the inept part. I think he saw the pushing and shoving in the paint wasn't going to be called to he went 100% small.

After a slow start, it really worked.

 

[doggydaddy]

As I write this, UConn has taken a 19 point lead against a well coached but very ordinary Marquette team.

And by the time you finished typing they were up by 40. Maybe you should have waited.

 

[UConnCat]

After a slow start, it really worked.

I agree with CD (and you, DD). I was really impressed with the play of the guards tonight. Once they adjusted to being out there with no post players, they were terrific. UConn won by 40, no? Having said that, I'd prefer that the team were clicking on all cylinders. Let's hope Stef and Kiah pull it together for Monday night.

 

[alexrgct]

I agree with CD (and you, DD). I was really impressed with the play of the guards tonight. Once they adjusted to being out there with no post players, they were terrific. UConn won by 40, no? Having said that, I'd prefer that the team were clicking on all cylinders. Let's hope Stef and Kiah pull it together for Monday night.

We're not doing five-guards Monday. Peters will light that up. But I think our posts can handle her and Achonwa if they step it up. We have a size advantage over them.

 

[Scotter]

I'm not sure about the inept part. I think he saw the pushing and shoving in the paint wasn't going to be called to he went 100% small.

After a slow start, it really worked.

Geno seems to be rarely happy playing at Marquette. Last time the team was there he got fed up and had the team hold the ball and take 2 shot clock violations just to get the game over with.

 

[HuskyNan]

Geno seems to be rarely happy playing at Marquette. Last time the team was there he got fed up and had the team hold the ball and take 2 shot clock violations just to get the game over with.

Yes, he did. It's a tough arena for visitors.

Having said that -- we're doooooomed!

 

[UConnCat]

We're not doing five-guards Monday. Peters will light that up. But I think our posts can handle her and Achonwa if they step it up. We have a size advantage over them.

I know. I was referring only to tonight's game and complimenting the toughness displayed by the guards. I was by no means suggesting that five guards would be a good move against ND.

 

[grizz36]

DOOMED!!!