Gulf Coast Showcase Wrap Up

 

 

"I like my team better today than I did on Tuesday" - Geno

 

 

      So do I and so do most UConn fans (there are always a few who don't). They had to deal with 3 teams that brought different styles to the tournament. And this UConn team dealt with every issue. Of course the talent level was tilted way towards UConn. But talent without direction is not talented (right Tennessee fans?).

 

    The Huskies were tested early and often against Green Bay, falling behind 9-3. UConn scored 7 quick points to take the lead and were up 17-13 when Green Bay made a mini run, taking a 20-19 lead. UConn then grabbed an 11 point lead  at the half going on a 20-8 run.

 

The second half was no contest. UConn, after a half time speech by Geno to fire them up, took over the game. Jefferson was terrific, taking control with steals and leading the fast breaks. Her penetration and kick outs were instrumental in pushing the lead to 20, 30 and then the final 36 points win.        

 

One of the interesting aspects of this game was how physical it was. All weekend long, teams were hammering Stewart whenever she was in the post. You could see the frustration building. It was clear in the second half that the team had had enough and was returning each body shot with one of their own. It was great to see. Teams will keep doing this, but if UConn continues to respond to it inn a positive way, that tactic won't be effective.

 

There was one play where Stewart and a Green Bay player when diving out of bounds for the ball. They called a foul on Stewart and Geno was as mad as I've seen him in a long time. Veins popping, face red, he yelled at the refs "Holy Shit, Holy Shit, Holy Shit". Once I knew that Stewart was ok, I thought it was hysterical. Geno received a very warranted technical foul as Chris tried to keep him from getting tossed. I'm pretty good at reading lips and as he tried to get at the refs, he was saying to Chris, "let him throw me out, let him throw me out". I was surprised Chris just didn't say screw it and let him get tossed. It was certainly entertaining.

 

Speaking of entertaining, the Green Bay coach put on a show tonight as well. He is a lot of fun to watch, although sometimes scary. The man is insane.

 

If I told you that Stewart would not be on the all tournament team, I don't think you would believe me. There were three UConn players on the team and one that won the MVP and none were named Stewart. So, congrats to Morgan Tuck, KML and the tournament MVP Kia Nurse. A job well done.

      

Here is a breakdown of the players and their contributions to the tourney weekend.

 

  

 

TOURNAMENT MVP!!!!!

11 Kia Nurse 6' Freshman Guard
 

Vs Charleston 11 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assist, 2 steals, 0 blocks
Vs Vanderbilt 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assist, 1 steals, 0 blocks
Vs Green Bay 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assist, 2 steals, 0 blocks

What can I say about this young woman that hasn't been said. Her play to date has been so far above what can be expected by a freshman. And it's more than her scoring, rebounding and defense. You can see her take a leadership role, even as a 1st year player. She is very vocal in the team huddles on the court. She understands where she is supposed to be and almost always makes the right play. She reminds me so much of Kara Lawson only taller. She doesn't have the open intensity of Lawson, but she has a quiet strength that I'm sure her teammates can feel and feed off.      

 

23 Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 5'11" Senior Forward

All Tournament Team

Vs. Charleston 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assist, 5 steals, 0 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assist, 1 steals, 0 blocks

Vs Green Bay 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assist, 1 steals, 0 blocks 

 .

KML had an excellent tournament earning a spot on the all tournament team. As Geno said, she likes to tussle inside and use her size to her advantage. She played hard as if to prove to folks that she is in good shape, that this conversation about her body should just stop. Her interview with Lobo on the subject and her subsequent play should but that to rest,  but of course it won't. The next bad game she has, this talk will start all over again. She is who she is. All I know is she is money when open, she brings toughness to the post and she is a leader on the court.   

 

3 Morgan Tuck 6'2" Sophomore Forward



All Tournament Team
 

Vs. Charleston 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steals, 0 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assist, 1 steals, 0 blocks

Vs Green Bay 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steals, 0 blocks 

Tuck didn't have her best game against Green Bay. I think their style of play impacted her performance. Morgan is best when she is banging down low, using her ample posterior to her advantage. Green Bay was too perimeter geared for her to be effected. But she did have a terrific overall tournament earning the all tournament team honor. I think we remember that she is still kicking off the rust after missing more of last year. She will continue to get better and better and from what I have observed, she has clearly taken over some of the leadership of this team.
 

4 Moriah Jefferson 5'7" Junior Guard

Vs. Charleston 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assist, 3 steals, 1 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assist, 4 steals, 0 blocks

Vs Green Bay 19 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assist, 3 steals, 0 blocks 

 

As much as the three players that made the all tourney team deserved it, Jefferson could have easily been a valid choice. Her defense was as good as we've seen it this year and every bit as good as last years whirling dervish of a defender. After a slow start to the tourney, she finished with a flourish against Green Bay with 19 points and 5 assists along with 3 steals. It doesn't show in the stats how she disrupted the GB offense with her ball pressure. After a terrible start to the season from the foul line (2-7) she went 8-8 bringing her average up to a respectable 67%. That will continue to rise. It looked to me she was more vocal on the court along with KML.         

 

30 Breanna Stewart 6'4" Junior Forward

Vs. Charleston 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 steals, 1 blocks

Vs Green Bay 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steals, 1 blocks 

Not a great tournament for Stewart. Geno made a change in the Green Bay game to get her open looks. He said he switched Tuck and Stewart so Stewarrt was on the outside and Tuck down low. It allowed Breanna to hit some outside shots. In the halftime interview Geno said "they were mauling Stewie". Mauling pretty much describes it. I'd like to see the officials call more of the off the ball fouling that's going on with her. She was very frustrated, but it looked like she and her teammates decided to give it back after the tough foul call when she went flying out of bounds. The "mauling" went on in all three games and Stewart has to find ways to fight through it.
    

41 Kiah Stokes 6'3"  Senior Center

Vs. Charleston 6 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 2 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steals, 7 blocks

Vs Green Bay 2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assist, 0 steals, 3 blocks 

I guess it looks like we will get mostly the same Stokes we had last year. Strong rebounding, solid defense and great shot blocking. I now don't think we will see much more than that other than the occasional scoring outburst. And that is really all the team needs from her now that Tuck is healthy and bringing scoring to the front court. While I'd like to see her calling for the ball down low more often I'm not sure we have the players to consistently feed the post. She is the perfect bench player. Great attitude and can change the game with her best skills. She excites the team with each block. Love to see that!!   

 

 

12 Saniya Chong 5'8" Sophomore Guard

Vs. Charleston 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assist, 2 steals, 0 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 1 blocks

Vs Green Bay 4 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks 

Saniya is still adjusting to coming off the bench, it seems to me. She had plenty of good moments this tournament and unlike Stokes, I think she has a lot more to show us on a game to game basis. She is working hard out there if not always making the right play. But I still believe that will come in time. She feeds off her three point shooting ability so when she gets hot, look for the rest of her game to do the same.

15 Gabby Williams 5'11" Freshman Guard

Vs. Charleston 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks 

Vs Vanderbilt 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 blocks

Vs Green Bay 10 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks 

Gabby is quickly turning into one of my favorite players. Her energy on the is contagious and her athleticism amazes me every game. She plays much taller than her 6 foot listed height. I believe she is leading the team in rebounds per minute. She might be as good a finisher when she has the ball in the post as anyone on the team. She outleaps everyone else for rebounds. I'm so excited to see how much she can progress this year and thinking ahead to having her and Collier on the court at the same time next season.      

Guess what comes next.

 

 

I'll be working on the ND preview this week. Of course, look for my Dailies all week and my "This week in WCBB on Wednesday. If you want to know when each new blog is posted visit my Facebook Page.

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