If Napheesa starts really playing at a high level, they won't be able to focus on KLS too much. She'd become someone getting a bunch of attention. I'm hopeful that everyone returning improves but as someone else mentioned, if Butler really evolves, that'll have a major impact on the Huskies chances to defend their title or at the least, make another Final Four.
I think she's never got quite the acknowledgement for her performance in the latter part of last year. Her tentativeness became a thing of the past, her defensive improvement was remarkable and of course, she finally started shooting the ball like everyone knew she would inevitably.
If Gabby was the 3 point threat you seem inclined to hint she was (being recruited as a guard, supposedly) you would have seen her shooting them, at least more than she did. She was (is) a phenomental athlete and could get away with a lot of things on a high school level but she was NEVER a shooter and her shooting skills are only now starting to improve to a decent level. It's pretty apparent her athleticism might have actually hindered her development as a shooter prior to coming to Storrs. Gabby was a track star and quite possibly wasn't INTO basketball initially and got a late start.
I can't understand why year in and year out Chong is the one that people think might improve the most. She's had years to do it and any improvements she's made are minute and subtle ones. Why would she make a big move at this point. Would that suggest that she didn't work hard to get better after her freshman year or after her sophomore year but will suddenly do so after her junior year???? I suggest that she's worked to do so but there's simply not much room for growth with her. Who she was is who she is!
Chong was under Stewie, Morgan and Moriah for the past 3 years.
Gabby was rated one of the top four guards in the country in high school. In order for her to get playing time, Geno needed her to use her inside skills. She would not have been rated as high as she was without those skills. How does athleticism hinder a player's shooting skills? Did you watch her mix tape? Not using her guard skills for two years and not playing guard for two years could hinder her outside shooting. Just because her outside shot was not needed does not mean Geno did not want her to continue developing it.
You're right. If she was a guard or Auriemma thought she could be one, he wouldn't have moved her inside. He would have continued to develop her outside. She can't handle the ball at the collegiate level.
I agree with a lot of what you write. Everytime I mention Chong I say :: If healthy and reverts to her HS shooting. The It band issue was painful and limited Chongs play for nearly 2 years--is she recovered?? Who knows? The room for growth is--if she is healthy and that if she did not progress because of her health. Geno obviously knows. Geno has stated in the past, and often then, that his coaching emphasis is on the Freshmen first, Sophs second, Juniors should know the system but need some help, Seniors if the don't know what they should know--they'll never get it. We have seen some Seniors sitting nearly their whole last year. Next year you won't hear one word about chong's health or PT.
She was recruited as a guard. Have you seen her handle the ball? When has she been given the opportunity to show her ball handling for you to say she can't handle the ball at the collegiate level? She has the handles! If so many people believed Katy Lou should be a successful shooter in college based on her high school play, why is it so hard to believe Gabby can't be a good ball handler at the college level based on her high school play?
What does Stewie or Morgan have to do with Chong's improvement???? I'm not suggesting that she has to have improved on a level of those three but improved where she actually performed at a noticeably higher level than her previous years and that has never happened. Maybe a little more confident but there hasn't really been substantial changes over her career in Storrs.
Is "a little more confident" an improvement ???
Buzzyboy, allow me to share with you my posture on this which you may, or may not agree with. First of all, let's remove all the names (players) from this discussion.
First, I think we can agree that Gabby was recruited by Geno as a guard. That was her position in high school. There are only two types of guards. A point guard, and a shooting guard. Can we agree that Gabby IS NOT a point guard? If so, then she is viewed/perceived as a shooting guard. CAN WE ASSUME......that if a coach recruits a high school player as a shooting guard, would it be fair to assume that said player has proven on more than one occasion (several H/S and AAU games attended by the coaching staff) to be reasonably proficient at shooting the 3 ball?
Point guards pass and set up other players. Shooting guards shoot, they don't pass (unless the play calls for them to). Question...why would any coach recruit a shooting guard that can't shoot? Especially from beyond the arc? Again, I suggest to you that Gabby was not allowed (given the green light) to shoot 3's during the last two years. Geno had 5 starters that could shoot 3's. He did not need Gabby to do that. Geno needed Gabby to do other things to help the team win. That's what Gabby did. You know if as a player, you don't do exactly what the coach tells you to do, you don't play. He/she has got to be able to trust you before they put you on the floor. Coaches don't like renegades or Rambos. Those types of players have no place in a set offense/defense.
Buzzyboy, I'm assuming that every guard in a division one program can shoot a 3 with some degree of consistency, or they would not have been recruited to play at this elite level.
Guards that can't shoot, play at the division 2/3/NAIA (or they don't play at all) level. There are too many high school guards that CAN shoot 3's, that would be glad to come to your program on a free ride, as opposed to you bringing in a guard that can't.
Guards shoot (and drive the lane). That's what they do. Many times they're asked to shoot 3's. Just like post players are usually very tall, and generally operate in the vicinity of the paint. When was the last time you saw a 5'9" post player in Division 1 college? If you're a guard (even on the end of the bench) in D-1, you can shoot the 3!!! Again, I suggest to you that girls/boys who start playing basketball at a young age, start shooting 3's shortly thereafter. They don't wait until they get to college to try an extend their range. So, it's my position that to suggest that Gabby can't shot the 3 is absurd. Every guard on UConn's roster can shoot the 3. C'mon Buzzy, you know better than that.