Mixed Bag on U19 Tournament

[Wbbfan1]

Great Read. http://www.fiba.com/news/mixed-bag-so-far-at-u19-womens-worlds

The lack of fundamentals in the Women's Game is also prevalent in the College Game as well.

 

[DavidinNaples]

Great Read. http://www.fiba.com/news/mixed-bag-so-far-at-u19-womens-worlds

The lack of fundamentals in the Women's Game is also prevalent in the College Game as well.

Interesting that Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield are the exception to this fundamentally poor basketball.
Here's the combined stats for two games so far:

1. Combined 88 minutes played.
2. Scored 45 total points.
3. From inside the arc, 14-25 or 56%.
4. From 3 pt range 2-6.
5. Rebounds = 25
6. Assists = 11 and Turnovers = 2

Just think how sound they will be after 4 years at UConn...!!

 

[EricLA]

This is something that Geno has mentioned over the years - as far as how the game has changed for younger players. They spend far more time working on flashy things and much less time working on fundamentals. Kids also don't want to work as hard as those 15-20 years ago. So it becomes more difficult for the UCONN coaches to evaluate players and see which ones would fit in at UCONN.

I think Gabby Williams is the perfect example, though for a different reason. She was injured and basically unable to play for 2 years. That severely restricted her ability to practice and improve, and brought her to UCONN with limitations to her "guard" game. BUT... the kid worked her butt off, embraced a new role, and is now working hard over the summer to improve her guard skills. I believe it's the attitude and work ethic that Geno and co. saw in her that has made, and will make, her a terrifically successful UCONN player.

 

[UcMiami]

Eric - agree with everything except the 'don't want to work as hard' part - I think kids and their parents see athletics as a real ticket for them and work very hard, but it is all personal skills - they are in the gym with a trainer all the time. But basketball is a team sport and a physical sport, so all that work in the gym against air, and playing with 'air' does not really prepare them for the game of basketball. They can dribble and shoot like crazy, but can they do all that stuff when they are being guarded, and can they see the floor and make a crisp pass to the right person at the right time or can they execute a great pick and roll. The only time they get that practice is with their HS team - the AAU is generally just a rolling group of all star teams playing in all star games.

 

[dtbtbtb]

We see the same on all levels (U16, WUG, Pan Am) with players who are lacking in fundamentals but all want to go one on one instead of knowing how to play basketball (team)...the US clearly got the best talent and most athletic players but the gap is narrowing and if more players will not learn how to play basketball as a team sports the day is not far that the US will not rule basketball

 

[lne001]

...the US clearly got the best talent and most athletic players but the gap is narrowing and if more players will not learn how to play basketball as a team sports the day is not far that the US will not rule basketball

The US will be fine for as long as Geno coaches in college.

 

[UcMiami]

We see the same on all levels (U16, WUG, Pan Am) with players who are lacking in fundamentals but all want to go one on one instead of knowing how to play basketball (team)...the US clearly got the best talent and most athletic players but the gap is narrowing and if more players will not learn how to play basketball as a team sports the day is not far that the US will not rule basketball

The participation of US girls in basketball and soccer is really very high vs. the rest of the world which is why they are so strong. And by the National Team level all that talent has been whittled down to the players that 'get it' - even at the WNBA level most of the 'all about me' players last only a few years unless they learn quickly.

 

[dtbtbtb]

The US will be fine for as long as Geno coaches in college.

Unfortunately (for the US) or fortunately (for UConn) there is only one Geno! While there are other coaches who preach similar principles of a team (Muffett and Tara come to mind), most coaches go for the star system where one or 2 players play a lot of one on one while the others rebound for them...