One Of The Toughest Decisions Geno Has Had To Make

By On 2012/12/03 · 5 Comments

After what Caroline Doty has been through in her UConn career, there is no way Geno Auriemma will ever to do anything to disrespect or embarrass her.

So that’s why he says it was so hard to take his fifth-year senior out the starting lineup for tonight’s game against Maryland at the XL Center. But he also knows what is foremost in her mind.

“I don’t think Caroline is interested in anything other than winning, and I don’t think anybody else on our team is interested in anything other than winning, and they want to do whatever they have to do to help us win,”Auriemma said Sunday. “And whether you’re a starter or a non-starter I don’t think that means that much. It probably means more to other people than it does to the kids.’’

With the return of Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis from her concussion, Auriemma had a decision to make about his starting lineup. And it wasn’t an easy one. But he decided on Kelly Faris and Bria Hartley in the back court with KML, Breanna Stewart and Stef Dolson up front.

“There’s no easy way to come to a decision like that because Caroline hasn’t done anything to warrant not starting,” Geno said. “But I think our players understand that we have six starters. And as you’ve seen, we played a bunch of games without Bria and didn’t miss a beat. And we played a game without Kaleena and didn’t miss a beat. We’ve got six legitimate starters right now.

“It’s not something I want to do. Caroline knows that. We talked this thing through. She knows I don’t want to do it, but it’s something I have to do right now at this time.”

Doty has started all but one of her 99 career games. This season, she is averaging just over 17 minutes, but 5.2 points and 2.5 assists. Auriemma said at the start of the season they he felt starting her was the best thing for her because of the tendency her injured left knee has to stiffen when idle.

Now he will have to figure out how best to use her coming off the bench

“We’re going to have to monitor it, see how she’s doing and see how she handles it,’’ Auriemma said. “In a perfect world you’d be able to just play her and not worry. But I do worry about all that stuff. Ideally, you’d like to get her into the game as soon as possible, but we’re going to have to figure that out as we go along.

“Having Caroline on the floor is really, really, really good for us. She really, really is playing great. This is the best I’ve seen her look since her sophomore year.’’

 
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5 Responses to One Of The Toughest Decisions Geno Has Had To Make

  1. kenny says:
    2012/12/03 at 9:57 am

    Caroline is a team player, she’ll ajust. She willdo anything for the team.

  2. Village Idiot says:
    2012/12/03 at 10:01 am

    Caroline Doty is an ASSET to UConn in whatever capacity Geno chooses to use her. Typically Geno loves to bring his Freshmen off the bench, it gives them time to acclimate to the game. This shows just how highly he thinks of Stewie. But let us not all get revved up in over believing Stewart is more than just a Freshman. She will have bad games and she will have tremendous games–she’s still learning. I’d just like her to get the breaks she deserves. Tuck and Jefferson will see plenty of PT and they will come along as Freshmen should, and as Junior and Seniors they will be among the very best EVER at UConn. Put that in marble!! So will KML, she is being hidden under the light focused on the Freshmen, she isn’t Maya’s replacement–she’s a great KML

  3. FREDDYKOOL says:
    2012/12/03 at 11:49 am

    FREDDYKOOL: GOD GENO HAS HAD PLENTY OF GAMES TO TRY HIS INFINITE WISDOM ON THE COURT, JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON GENO BABY CAUSE U R “KOOL”!!!

  4. Chris Saran says:
    2012/12/03 at 3:15 pm

    Breanna is a freshman. How many freshman do you know that have her talent, poise, and work ethic? When you combine the first two with the willingness to work to be the absolute best player she can be, you have an unbelievable player. Breanna has a lot to learn. In many ways she’s already better than many upperclassmen.

  5. ray-ray says:
    2012/12/03 at 8:19 pm

    bouttime