The thing is I didn't expect much more out of Aubrey anyway. But despite that, she can make a serious impact with what she has in her athleticism, speed, quickness and rebounding, not to mention her defense and help in the press and on the break.
In his post game presser, when asked about Mir, Geno stated that “after a strong start she disappeared into her own little world.” IMO, Geno didn’t take her out for battling for a rebound. He took her out for losing her focus.
On the fouls, not too bad. Missed a LOT of traveling calls.
Agree that winning teams don't need five scorers. They do need 5th player to work within the context of the offense-depending on skills, setting picks, moving without ball, etc. The issue with Aubrey last year and Mir a bit so far is standing around, bogging up the flow for the other four. Gabby early on was a perfect example-not a shooter, but great on pick and rolls and opened the floor for others.
If we are to believe Geno Mir does not know the UConn offense, none of it. Couple this with her wandering off in her head to her own world and you get Aubrey 2019. Getting an offensive rebound because a team mate threw up a shot because you busted the play is a bit of a poor consolation. Some here think she should start. I don't think so. Can she learn the offense? Then we can talk about where she fits.
If she doesn't know where to go on offense, then yes, she needs to sit until she learns where to go. I looked at it again and noticed that she looked a bit confused on offense. Despite this, she made an impact to the game. In saying that, how do you put her in if she doesn't know where to go. It does seem like a coach would have taken her aside at the half, explained things to her and let her know she would have another go at it in the second half. It's good to have an additional rep right after you make a mistake to learn and enforce it in the brain.
Sometimes the coach may not want to point out certain things to the public, instead handling it in-house. I’m not sure battling (and winning) the struggle for a rebound is “losing focus”. I think the “losing focus” was code for “ I didn’t like the player’s attitude or actions”.
Weren't there similar sentiments with AEH? I hope for Mir's sake that she gets on board. He's hinted around that she turns her motor on and off when she wants to. I'm sure that's a pet peeve for Geno..he has praised her athletic ability and she appears to be more than capable of playing at this level. She will have to buy in. As we saw with Charde Houston, you could be one of the best scorers in the country, but if you don't buy in then you are going to sit.
"Losing focus" referred to what she did (and did not do) AFTER she battled for the rebound, not to the battle itself. I can well imagine that she (like Tina as a freshman) has a tendency not to be fully in the game when she isn't physically involved in the play.
Again, the rebound you’re focused on had nothing to do with Mir being pulled from the game. As I and several others have pointed out, Mir was not dialed in. She was frequently out of position, getting an absent minded 3 second call that cost Christyn a 3 and then inexplicably stopped guarding an opponent, allowing her to get an uncontested basket.
Heck I loved to play the game when I was younger, being a big oaf I was constantly whistled for this very offense, I learned a way to get around it. Every time I was ready to take off and dribble the ball I would look to pass instead.
Yes and this is part of what makes Geno such a great coach.
It's also only her second game, with far less practice than normal, interrupted by 10+ days of isolation, away from home for the first time, etc. These are different times with Covid. Players may not be as tough minded given what they have had to endure over the last 8 months.... I just think a softer touch is needed over the first month or so of the season. I'm inclined to cut her some slack but Geno is not and he is the boss!
I wondered the same thing, because she is great to watch play. She is, likely, a more well-rounded player than Aubrey because Aubrey has shown no ability (or is it inclination?) to shoot anything but a lay-up, a put back or a foul shot. I suspect Mir is a fine outside shooter.
Aubrey does shoot jumpers when she is wide open. She has good form too but just hasn't taken many and made even fewer.
All excellent points. But I might add...no one was able to contain Park-Lane.Yes and this is part of what makes Geno such a great coach.
If one of them is Italian, that would help.Mir speaks multiple languages. By next year, one of them will be Offense.
I agree with your thinking. You probably need to talk to Geno about his handling of her.It's also only her second game, with far less practice than normal, interrupted by 10+ days of isolation, away from home for the first time, etc. These are different times with Covid. Players may not be as tough minded given what they have had to endure over the last 8 months.... I just think a softer touch is needed over the first month or so of the season. I'm inclined to cut her some slack but Geno is not and he is the boss!
