Will Stanford End UConn's Home Winning Streak Record

[Biff]

Thanks Ice I did.

hahaha! Clear on that Ice?

 

[Icebear]

Biff, conversations with Tony are always an adventure.

 

[AboutWeston]

Biff, conversations with Tony are always an adventure.

I knew the word police would get you, Tony - but I love what you said! And Polar Bears are very picky about misuse of their name...they can...pulverize even the poltergeists!

 

[GG]

I'm thinking of driving up from Philly if I can get my hands on a ticket that is good enough to justify the trip.

Call the UCONN ticket office directly.

 

[meyers7]

Pollerize, tony, did you mean pulverize or polarize?

Thanks Ice I did

Classic.

 

[NCorBust]

Hey guys. This is a really really good UConn team.

.
Tony, in what year did you believe UCONN had anything but a really good team?
.

 

[Replicant]

Stanford's strength is their post play. This year UConn has the fouls to give and the big bodies to throw at them we didn't have last year. Our guards are superior to Stanford's and great defenders that should cause a lot of disruption on entry passes. Stef's, Kiah's and Heather's height, length and ability to alter the O sisters shots and battle them for boards will decide the game. I like our chances. UConn wins. Possible blow-out.

 

[Zorro]

Br'er Bear, if you have any intercessionary power, would you please ask that Bonita not even be in the State of Connecticut?

And please, please don't intercept with Tony's style!

 

[msf22b]

I figure that Stanford should win; just a more experienced team even with their losses in the backcourt. They have probably the first pick in the WNBA draft and sis is no slouch.
But I do harbor a secret, irrational fantasy, that UCONN will blow them away.

 

[VAMike23]

Pollerize, tony, did you mean pulverize or polarize?

I prefer "murdelize"--much harder to screw up

 

[ochoopsfan]

Stanford wins this game. West Coast Rocks.
You barely beat Baylor at home last year, similar time in the schedule, and you had MM.
Stanford has played two respectable teams in Univ. Texas and the Zags. UConn has played cupcakes.
The Farm will be ready for anything the Huskies throw at them.

However, I wont be rooting for or against you, just for a good game.

 

[pap49cba]

Stanford wins this game. West Coast Rocks.
You barely beat Baylor at home last year, similar time in the schedule, and you had MM.
Stanford has played two respectable teams in Univ. Texas and the Zags. UConn has played cupcakes.
The Farm will be ready for anything the Huskies throw at them.

However, I wont be rooting for or against you, just for a good game.

That's cool and you may well be right. But your girls haven't been in a track meet yet. I hope they're ready to run.

 

[HuskyNan]

Stanford wins this game. West Coast Rocks.
You barely beat Baylor at home last year, similar time in the schedule, and you had MM.
Stanford has played two respectable teams in Univ. Texas and the Zags. UConn has played cupcakes.
The Farm will be ready for anything the Huskies throw at them.

However, I wont be rooting for or against you, just for a good game.

Texas - really? The same Texas that beat Southeastern Louisiana at home by 8 whole points?

 

[semper]

Coaching counts. Very occasionally , yet over a period of years, I've been calling for the use of a deeper bench AND, specifically, for considering subbing in "waves" at times......running the other team right off the court. Was delighted last night to see that, during a SIGNIFICANT time in the game, Coach did just that. We went on about a 30-2 run.....from what had been something like 11-7, I think. Won't happen every time.....but it'll happen plenty with the depth of talent we have and have had and will have. The folks watching here went happily beserk when he put those three kids in when some of the starters were not performing at the level needed/expected.

This is the one thing I have not understood about Geno, his coaching, and his recruiting. I know that others of you have and will address it, but I just wanted to underscore what Winlots says. I still don't appreciate the short bench philosophy, never will. What makes things interesting in my view is to have a strong plan B, and then also to run the game in waves, as in last night. We were way way undermatched, but still this started to look like UConn basketball the way I like to see it played. I really didn't enjoy last year very much, and could never understand the reason for it. Of course I adore Maya, that has nothing to do with it. It just wasn't nearly as enjoyable and as interesting as what we have now. And next year...oh, Mama mia. I love mixing, matching, and options, so I can watch the Fox as he thinks about things and runs the plays.

 

[ochoopsfan]

That's cool and you may well be right. But your girls haven't been in a track meet yet. I hope they're ready to run.

If you think that the Zags dont make you run then you go to sleep too early.
HC and Pacific, I hope your gals broke a sweat.

 

[UConnCat]

If you think that the Zags dont make you run then you go to sleep too early.
HC and Pacific, I hope your gals broke a sweat.

In '08 UConn played Stanford in the 3rd game after no-sweat games against Holy Cross and Stony Brook and it wasn't really a problem. In '10 UConn played Stanford in the 10th game of the season after games against several no-sweat opponents and UConn ran Stanford off the court in the 2nd half. I'm not saying Stanford can't or won't win the game, but it won't be because UConn played weaker opponents. But I don't suppose you're serious anyway. Love smack-talking west coast wbb fans.

 

[ChicagoGG]

Granted, Stanford still has the sisters, Tinkel, etc. back. But, they also have 6 freshmen. So they are not the same team either. I give us a good chance! Nan, keep us all on our feet all game with that megaphone!!

 

[ThisJustIn]

I still don't appreciate the short bench philosophy, never will.

this has come up a couple of times -- I have no idea what you or winlots (or the poster earlier who suggested it) get this idea that it's Geno's "philosophy." History seems to indicate that, when he as a bench he plays them. When he doesn't -- either because they're hurt, they're not as good a he thought they might be, etc. etc. -- he doesn't.

Can you point to a quote of his that indicates it's his philosophy to have a short bench?

 

[cardfan]

That's cool and you may well be right. But your girls haven't been in a track meet yet. I hope they're ready to run.

said that last year too, and in Tampa.

 

[pap49cba]

Stanford wins this game. West Coast Rocksc.
You barely beat Baylor at home last year, similar time in the schedule, and you had MM.
Stanford has played two respectable teams in Univ. Texas and the Zags. UConn has played cupcakes.
The Farm will be ready for anything the Huskies throw at them.

However, I wont be rooting for or against you, just for a good game.

Ok OC let's see if I've got this straight.

You won last year on your home court by 12 pts. You lost Pohlen (31 pts) and Pedersen (8pts) and we lost Moore (14pts). But you're going to kick the bejesus out of us on OUR home court after flying across the country. Yep, makes sense to me!

 

[semper]

T-J, I don't have the facts to answer whether we could have picked up more players at various times or whether sitting some people endlessly (seemingly) was necessary. I'm quite sure there is no expression of a short-bench philosophy from Geno. It just has kinda felt that way several times, and I would wonder (as would others) about it (sitting), and recruitment both of which have seemed to contribute to the 35 mins per game of a handful of women. The last thing I would do is criticize Geno; I think he's a genius, and I love to watch him think (as I said in the post). My main point was how pleased I am that we have what seems to be appropriate depth this year. It makes bball much more enjoyable for me. Last year seemed like a grind...and I think that's why. So not being critical; I'm a fan of WCBB, not a player, coach or any kind of authority.

Peace.

 

[ThisJustIn]

T-J, I don't have the facts to answer whether we could have picked up more players at various times or whether sitting some people endlessly (seemingly) was necessary. I'm quite sure there is no expression of a short-bench philosophy from Geno. It just has kinda felt that way several times, and I would wonder (as would others) about it (sitting), and recruitment both of which have seemed to contribute to the 35 mins per game of a handful of women. The last thing I would do is criticize Geno; I think he's a genius, and I love to watch him think (as I said in the post). My main point was how pleased I am that we have what seems to be appropriate depth this year. It makes bball much more enjoyable for me. Last year seemed like a grind...and I think that's why. So not being critical; I'm a fan of WCBB, not a player, coach or any kind of authority.

Peace.

Understood -- and i take your point. It just seem(ed) like some were suggesting that Geno uses a short bench on purpose as opposed to out of reality. Anyone watching what happened when the not-six were on the court should have been able to see the end result -- which was often not pretty.

Monday quarterbacking is fun -- and easy. And I'm not saying don't, for heavens sake. But, try and base it on facts: you can't get all great players, some players don't grow, and some get injured. MJ for instance -- both Geno and on-site game watchers have acknowledged that she doesn't have the legs yet. Maybe next year (we hope). And yet, somehow she should play?

All that being said, it's fabulous to have so many kids who CAN step up. Now people can start grousing about keeping those players happy in minutes.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Ok OC let's see if I've got this straight.

You won last year on your home court by 12 pts. You lost Pohlen (31 pts) and Pedersen (8pts) and we lost Moore (14pts). But you're going to kick the bejesus out of us on OUR home court after flying across the country. Yep, makes sense to me!

As of the time I post this 15 other posters think Stanford wins the game, so it made sense to others too(see poll).
I never said anything about kicking the bejesus out of you. I am hoping for a game about 72-71.
Any game that has OC girls in it is a good game--- KML and LE v BS.

 

[Icebear]

As of the time I post this 15 other posters think Stanford wins the game, so it made sense to others too(see poll).
I never said anything about kicking the bejesus out of you. I am hoping for a game about 72-71.
Any game that has OC girls in it is a good game--- KML and LE v BS.

Those would be the posters who members of the sure that UConn will never win again contingent and expect the possibility of double digits losses this year.

 

[jsloanjr]

Stanford/Clydesdales VS The UCONN Grethounds............Geno will turn this game into a run and gun.....PRESS, PRESS!!

 

[Tonyc]

Here are some stats on Stanford. Kokinis is their legit 3 pt shooter 4/8. LaRouge is 2/9. As a team Stanford is shooting 46% in 2 games againest TX and the Zags and averaging 74 pts a game. Neka is shooting 73 % in one game againest the Zags 33 pts 18 rebounds. Chiney is avg 19pts 53%.

My thinking is UConn is better then TX and the Zags so Stanford shouldnt score 74pts againest us . I dont think Neka scores 30 and I dont think Chiney scores 20 and I dont think either can get in foul trouble defending Stef. So we press the guards, plug the passing lanes and run like heck and I think we win.

 

[DrDos]

UCONN could guarantee a win ... if they wear silver unis!

​

 

[Jonathan Husky]

Coaching counts. Very occasionally , yet over a period of years, I've been calling for the use of a deeper bench AND, specifically, for considering subbing in "waves" at times......running the other team right off the court. Was delighted last night to see that, during a SIGNIFICANT time in the game, Coach did just that. We went on about a 30-2 run.....from what had been something like 11-7, I think. Won't happen every time.....but it'll happen plenty with the depth of talent we have and have had and will have. The folks watching here went happily beserk when he put those three kids in when some of the starters were not performing at the level needed/expected.

So, not yet mentioned in this thread is that one BIG key to this Stanford game ( just as it was last year with ND... and other times), will be coaching......Coach not getting fearful and shrinking the line-up because of playing a better team. May Yarders will say he didnt have the horses in prior years.....I disagree .......and, if he didnt have them, one reason he didnt have them is that he didnt DEVELOP them by doing what he finally did last night...............that is, SHOWING enough CONFIDENCE in them early in the season to put them in the game when the game was one the line rather than in garbage time.......and putting them in as a fresh "block" pumped up to swarm tiring opponents. You don't think those kids are feeling like world beaters today? Coaching decisions, not just coaching comments, communicate very, very important messages.

LEwis says in the press today that Coach is SAYING he wants to utilize all eleven. Lordy, I hope so----then, when the inevitable injuries (sadly, the historical odds are that they surely will occur, to one extent or another..........Shea, Svetlana, Caroline, and on and on and one) we will have confident and prepared replacements ready.....and will not miss out on he banners that could be added (and, could HAVE been added) to the rafters.

Coach and our staff do a marvelous job of recruiting (and of so much else as well). Make use of what you recruit. By the way, in line with this theme: take a look at Johnson (LAST in virtually every time in the four games) and her productivity every time. Geno says she can't run? I bet she gets up and down the floor faster than Dolson????

While i'm at it, I would also suggest not making the game more complicated than it must be, and let the kids like Banks and Houston etc PLAY the way they know how. There isn't just ONE "precisely right" way to be a solid and contributing basketball player on a championship team.

I agree that if you have a deep bench you should use it. I don't know what deep bench you thought he had last year but once he got past Lorin Dixon there was no one he could count on off the bench in a big game.

You can't make a judgement on who should play off the bench because they do well in garbage time. Geno makes his decisions on how the players practice. At this point, it appears he has confidence in eight players. The starters plus the three freshman. He is also hoping Heather can give him some defensive minutes. If Lauren and Michala can earn minutes that would be a bonus. I believe they have a real chance of contributing.

Who is Houston?

 

[pap49cba]

Houston, we have a problem.....