Rotation Use 101: Professor Auriemma At The Podium

By On 2012/12/06 · 5 Comments

Much as been made of UConn’s extraordinary depth this season. Geno Auriemma has no shortage of options, on offense and defense, and he has shown an inclination to use them all in the first seven games.

None of his Top 10 players are averaging more than 26.6 minutes (Stef Dolson) or less than 13.0 (Kiah Stokes)

What you may not know is that Auriemma feels more comfort in using a tighter rotation, then adds there is a downside to that, as well.

Attention class …. Go ahead sir.

“You know you are going to get good ball movement because there is an easy chemistry [on the floor],” Auriemma said. “The players [that play regularly] know each other very well and they know where the ball is going when they move it. It’s like boom-boom-boom. That’s the plus side.

“But we really can’t play the way I want us to play unless we can get up to 10 players in the game. When you play a minimum of eight or nine players, the ball movement can get crazy at times. It can create some bad combinations out there, some guys who aren’t quite sure what to do with the ball and it can mess things up for everyone else.

“So we spent a lot of time, every day, on making sure our combinations are right and that the younger players are in the those veterans who can help them out. We are leading the country in assists [167] and field goal percentage [55.2] [before Thursday’s game against Penn State] so we are there. We’re just not there, yet.”

 
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5 Responses to Rotation Use 101: Professor Auriemma At The Podium

  1. Village Idiot says:
    2012/12/06 at 11:10 am

    That isn’t a “professorial” pontification–it’s just good basketball common sense. The more people play together the more they pass, receive, and know each other’s idiosyncrasies. That is why after the starting five get comfortable with each other, you introduce other players OR you send in another 5 who are comfortable with each other. It would work keeping Dolson or Stewart and changing only 4. Dolson seems to have the ability to work with all.
    Geno isn’t so smart even this IDIOT knows that. But he’s the one with the championships and the 800 plus wins, that provides him some level of credibility, doesn’t it??
    Smirking.
    But I would dearly love to see Stokes and the New Guys with Doty or Kelly getting a lot more time. They are going to be needed in Stanford, Baylor, ND and NCAA. Geno’s got the guns this year, why not use them?????

    • Dicky Poo says:
      2012/12/06 at 12:08 pm

      You Idiot, that is what Geno said :)

      • Village Idiot says:
        2012/12/06 at 3:26 pm

        Ickky Poo—which part did he say?? That It wasn’t a professional Pontification or that Geno isn’t so smart?? Somehow that doesn’t sound like Geno.

        HEY FREDDY, HOW ARE YOU FEELING??

  2. FREDDYKOOL says:
    2012/12/06 at 1:05 pm

    IDIOT N POO “WHO DA THUNK IT?”

  3. TexasBogger says:
    2012/12/06 at 4:43 pm

    “So we are there. We’ere just not there yet.” ??????