UConn women's basketball

UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanted no part of accepting full credit for the impressive stretch that Tiffany Hayes currently finds herself extending by the game. Auriemma did not really take any credit at all, actually.

Yet, it was a conversation that Auriemma and Hayes shared several weeks ago that has since turned Hayes’ season around. It is arguably the best stretch of her career, one that saw her rip Syracuse for a career-high 35 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field (6-of-8 3-pointers) Wednesday. She also collected seven rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.

Hayes has scored in double figures in a career-high nine straight games and has matched her career-high by generating at least five rebounds in five straight games.

Here’s what Auriemma remembers from the conversation between two …

“I think when you’re going through a season as a coach you’re always trying to find the pulse of individuals and the pulse of your team,’’ Auriemma said. “And I sensed that there was a little bit of frustration on her part. She was almost resigning herself sometimes to, `This is what it is. This is who I am. This is what I’ve been.’ And almost a settling. And I really did talk to her about, `Is this what we can expect the rest of the year because if it is just tell me, and we’ll go from there. If you’re just going to settle with where it is right now and you’re happy with that, fine.’ And the challenge was, `Are you able to change? Are you able to start making changes little by little and become something that you probably thought you always wanted to be?’ And little by little, here we are. I don’t know that my words were the difference. I think her mindset, her attitude and her approach are the key to this. Not anything in particular that I said.’’

Hayes is averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals in 27.4 minutes over the last nine games. She is also shooting an astounding 63.6 percent (56-of-88) from the field during this stretch and 51.7 percent from 3-point range (15-of-29).

“I feel a little different,’’ Hayes said. “I honestly just… I had a talk with Coach and he said things are going to have to change with me, and I knew that personally. So I think it starts with practice and how my practices have been going and those translate into the games where I am doing well.’’

Syracuse was powerless to stop Hayes anywhere on the floor Wednesday. If she wanted to get to the rim, she got there. If she wanted an open look at a 3, she got it. She looked like an All-American.

And Hayes’ success came despite a subpar shooting performance at shootaround earlier in the day. The way she turned it around in the game and remained positive was impressive for Auriemma to see.

“She didn’t make a lot of shots at shootaround,’’ Auriemma said. “But unlike other times she didn’t just walk away from it and say, `Screw it.’ She got involved. Our shootarounds are not just come out here and throw up ball at the rim. So she got involved and she did other things and she was part of `this is what we’re going to do defensively. This is what we’re going to do offensively.’ And she was able to I think kind of capitalize on that. Sometimes you come to shootaround and you make everything and you come to the game and you don’t make anything. So I’m happy for her. There’s been a big difference in her. I’ve seen a change in her the last couple of weeks. And not just on the court either. I think everywhere. She has a pretty clear vision right now of what she wants to do and how she wants to do it. And I’m thrilled for her.’’

Hayes leads the Huskies in scoring (15.7). She is tied with Stefanie Dolson for the team-lead in rebounds (5.7) and is averaging 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals in 28.5 minutes.

Right now Hayes is playing like a senior should be playing at this stage of their career. She is being accountable. She is being consistent. She is being a leader. She is helping her team win games.

“Well, some seniors can do it and some can’t,’’ Auriemma said. “There’s this perception out there that once you become a senior you become a great player, and that’s not true all the time. I think seniors react a lot differently depending on their personality types and who they are. Some seniors are scared. They’re afraid their career’s coming to an end. It’s over and they let that consume them. And some seniors thrive on the fact this is my last go-around and I’m going to make it great. I don’t know that Tiffany’s had either one of those two things yet, but I do know she’s acting the part right now. And that’s what you want. I don’t need her to get 35 every night. I don’t think our team needs her to get 35 every night. But we do need her to play with that kind of mindset, and it’s all about mindset. That’s everything when you get to this point in the season.’’

Said freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis: “She’s a leader on this team. She’s a senior. She’s been here for four years and we expect nothing less from her. We expected her to be one of the main people that we go to every single time we come down the court.’’

Neither Mosqueda-Lewis nor Auriemma saw much difference in Mosqueda-Lewis’ role as a starter rather than as the sixth-man against the Orange.

There certainly was not much difference in the level of her production. Mosqueda-Lewis finished with 19 points, a game-high eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes.

“Just a little different not being able to be on the bench and see the mistakes we’re making and then go out there and make a change,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said. “You kind of just have to go on the fly.’’

Said Auriemma: “Actually (Tuesday) at practice and at shootaround (Wednesday) she looked really focused. She really looked locked in like, `I got it.’’’

Rich

CPTV will broadcast The Geno Auriemma Show: Special Edition, an on-location interview session taped before a live audience, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. The show will air prior to UConn’s game against No. 20 Georgetown at Gampel Pavilion at 4 p.m.

The program, which will be hosted by CPTV color analyst Meghan Culmo, is taped at the Rocky Hill Marriott. Auriemma will be joined on stage by selected surprise guests. In the past, they have included UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey, assistant coaches Shea Ralph and Marisa Moseley and players such as Maya Moore and Tiffany Hayes.

An encore presentation will also air Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.

Rich

UConn-bound recruit Breanna Stewart, a 6-foot-4 star post player from North Syracuse, N.Y., was again in attendance Wednesday at the Carrier Dome to watch most of her future teammates take apart the Orange.

 It was only natural following the game that a member of the local media asked UConn coach Geno Auriemma about the top player in the Class of 2012. It was only natural that Auriemma again spoke glowingly about Stewart.

 “It’s the things that I think coaches really value in players, and especially big kids,’’ Auriemma said. “Our coaches, we like to ask, `If this kid was 5-10 instead of 6-4, would she be a really good basketball player? Would she be one of the Top 10 basketball players in the country?’ And a lot of times, the answer’s `no.’ The reason the kid’s a good player is because they’re 6-4. Breanna … If she was 5-10, she’d still be one of the best players in America. And the fact that she’s so competitive and is skilled and has a really good understanding of not only the game but her effect on the game.

“It’s tough being a freshman at UConn, and she’ll find that out. It’s very difficult because the expectation level is going to be really, really high. And there’s going to be times when she can’t meet those expectations. But if you were to draw up something and say, `OK, what does a kid need to come to UConn as a post player or a wing or anything?’ She can play any position she wants. `What does that person need?’ And she’s got all those qualities, and she’s an even better person than she is a basketball player. You don’t find that too often. But we’re lucky at UConn. We happen to find those kids that are like that.’’

 As Stewart sits in the stands and watches the Huskies she finds herself part fan and part future member of the team.

 “I’m both. Of course, I’m cheering for them and I’m really excited about being out there with them next year,’’ Stewart said. “Just watching them makes me excited to get there. But there are times you watch and you see yourself out on the court. I’ve played with some of them in USA Basketball and I know them from visiting campus a couple of times. It feels great to see them do well.’’

 Senior Tiffany Hayes now sits in 14^th place all-time in team history in scoring with 1,556 points. She said recently that her points are of the “silent’’ variety.

 “Hopefully, I can continue to stay under the radar and those silent points,’’ Hayes said. “It didn’t feel like 35 (Wednesday). So those were silent points to me as well. I didn’t realize it until Coach said it in the locker room. So I’m like, `Wow.’ It was a surprise to me.’’

 Auriemma, however, does not think there is anything silent about Hayes’s offensive game right now or the fact that she is rising up UConn’s scoring chart.

 “The fact that she’s played in so many games (136), kids that play at UConn today have such an advantage,’’ Auriemma said. “They’re playing 40 games per year, and sometimes back then those guys were not playing that many. And she’s had the advantage I think of playing with great, great players. She kind of reminds me of Nykesha (Sales). Nykesha played with Jen (Rizzotti). She played with Jamelle (Elliott) and Kara (Wolters) and Rebecca (Lobo), Shea (Ralph). When you have a lot of really good players around you sometimes people don’t notice how many points you’re scoring or how many assists you have or rebounds you have or how many steals you have. Because you’re the other guy, you’re the other guy, you’re the other guy. And I think now they mean more – her points, her rebounds, her assists – and they’re not silent any more. Now her game is on loud speaker, and that’s where it should be at this point.’’

 Rich

As expected Caroline Doty did not play in tonight’s 95-54 rout of Syracuse due to a bone bruise in her problematic left knee. As expected, Huskies’ coach Geno Auriemma said that the plan remains for her to return to practice Friday.

Doty is listed as probable for Saturday’s game against South Florida at the XL Center.

“Right now that’s the plan that she’s (going to practice Friday),’’ Auriemma said. “We have a day off tomorrow and that Friday she’s going to get a workout in. Hopefully, the entire practice and we’re planning in playing her on Saturday.’’

Here are Auriemma’s thoughts on UConn’s new Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms that will be worn against Notre Dame Feb. 27.

 “I haven’t seen them in person live,’’ Auriemma said. “I’ve just seen drawing and renderings of them. But from what I understand, from what people are saying, they’re unbelievable. I even got some messages from other coaches in the country and players, and anybody that’s seen them and said it’s unbelievable. They’ve never seen anything like it. I think anything that can cause a little bit of a ruckus. People are like, `Wow,’ good and bad. I think Nike’s always been at the forefront of that. They’ve always been really, really good at pushing the envelope a little bit and getting people to think differently about things. I think with this Platinum Elite, they’ve hit it right on the head. People are certainly thinking differently. I’m thrilled to be … us and Baylor I think are the only two teams on the women’s side that are doing this. And I think we’re the only school in America that has both their men’s and women’s teams doing this. So, yeah. Like my mother would say, ‘I lika da swoosh.’’’

Rich

In a release today, Nike unveiled its newest creation: the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniform. UConn is the only school Nike has selected to wear the uniforms for its men’s and women’s basketball teams. The men will wear them Sunday against Notre Dame at the XL Center. The women will wear them against Notre Dame in the regular season finale at the XL Center Feb. 27.

Here is the release (and photo) from Nike:

“We’ve reached the point of the season when the truly talented begin to distinguish themselves from the competition. And while teams desperately seek to set the gold standard for 2012, Nike will pay tribute to those who have already reached elite status by outfitting select teams in the next generation of college basketball design: the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniform.

As the latest and most innovative fit system, the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniform is designed at the intersection of sustainability and performance. The specially designed short and jersey combination will be worn by nine of the nation’s top college basketball teams in select games during the 2012 season.

The nine teams all have won National Championships in Nike footwear and apparel. The programs donning the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms in 2012 include The University of Arizona, Baylor University (women’s), Duke University, University of Florida, University of Kentucky, Syracuse University, The University of Connecticut (men’s and women’s) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Nike created the uniforms specifically for superior performance and lower environmental impact. The fabric of the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum shorts are made from 100 percent recycled polyester while the jersey fabric is made from at least 96% recycled polyester. Both short and jersey are tailored for the optimal efficiency of movement and are five percent lighter than the previous Nike Hyper Elite uniform. Featuring laser-cut bonded logos, a sharp platinum design as well as prominent accent colors, the Nike Hyper Elite Platinum uniforms are sure to shine on the court.

“Nike is committed to producing top-of-the-line performance attire with reduced sacrifice to the environment,” said Phil Cook, Nike’s Brand Manager for Basketball. “With our Nike Hyper Elite Platinum design, Nike is maintaining its long-standing obligations to our fans to not only produce the best on-court looks but also a design that makes use of the resources we already have.’’

In 2011, Nike affirmed its commitment to increasing its use of more sustainable materials by doubling its use of recycled polyester, using approximately 440 million PET plastic bottles, enough to cover over 12,000 basketball courts, and 2012 will build off of those successes.

The short includes laser perforations in side panels for increased breathability while featuring a lightweight 4-way stretch woven design. The bonded hem detailing found on the short and the bonded back seam near the neckline on the jersey enhances both comfort and style. Additionally, the front of the jersey features a lightweight Nike Sphere fabric, while the back includes a full Nike Aerographics back panel.’’

Rich

Here is my advance for tonight’s game against Syracuse …

Brianna Banks needed to escape from it all. Even if it was only for a few days during Christmas break.

There have been times during her freshman season at UConn when Banks has felt overwhelmed. She said making the jump to the elite level of Division I college basketball created a sense of fear during the first couple of practices. Balancing academics and athletics was daunting. So was maintaining a high level of intensity on the court.

But since spending time at home late last month, Banks has discovered what it takes for her to make an impact off the bench for the third-ranked Huskies (17-2, 6-1 Big East). Her intensity level has picked up. And with it so has her level of confidence.

“I just needed to clear my mind,’’ Banks said. “And once I did that I came back a completely different person. I’m more confident than I was at the beginning. I notice a big change in the way I play and the way I take things when Coach (Geno Auriemma) says stuff and my intensity on the court.’’

Banks’ improvement has increased the trust that Auriemma has in her at this point. Entering tonight’s game at Syracuse (7; CPTV), Banks has tied her season-high by logging double digits in minutes in four straight games.

She is averaging 4.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.0 minutes during this stretch. Banks had seven points and two steals in 19 minutes at DePaul Saturday.

“She’s gotten more comfortable and she’s starting to learn,’’ UConn junior Kelly Faris said. “I could tell she really wanted to try to make an effort to change and start figuring things out on her own. And that’s part of it. You don’t come in here and just get it right away usually. So she’s definitely made some huge steps going forward.’’

Fellow freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will make her first start in place of Caroline Doty, who is sidelined with a bone bruise in her left knee, against the Orange (13-7, 2-4). But Banks will unquestionably have an opportunity to play an expanded role for the Huskies.

“She’s been playing really well and this is definitely another chance for her to show Coach that she deserves to have more minutes, that she deserves to continue to be playing as much as she has been because she’s been playing really well,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said.

Banks is averaging 4.5 points, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 14.2 minutes in 17 games this season.

“I sit on the bench and I feel like I can do something when I go out there,’’ Banks said. “So, yeah, I do take that as an opportunity. I don’t want (Doty) hurt, but if I can help my team out then I need to do it.’’

The Huskies are hopeful that Banks can continue to progress. She possesses exceptional speed, which can be a significant asset at both ends of the floor.

Mosqueda-Lewis said that Banks’ shot selection has improved and that she is playing more aggressively on defense. Sophomore Bria Hartley said that Banks is tentative at time and she simply needs to believe in her ability.

Banks understands that she needs to become more aggressive offensively. And she is confident that in time that too will work itself out and she evolve into a reliable contributor for the Huskies.

“I have a big comfort level (right now),’’ Banks said. “My goal is definitely to bring an impact to the team. I’m not just here to be a fifth man on the court. I definitely know I have it in me this year. I see it coming out a couple times. I’ve just got to keep it consistent.’’

Rich

Geno Auriemma could have chosen to start 6-foot-3 freshman center Kiah Stokes at Syracuse Wednesday in the absence of Caroline Doty, who will not play due to a bone bruise in her left knee. Along with 6-5 center Stefanie Dolson, the move would give the Huskies two legitimate post players and it is a lineup that Auriemma is hoping to employ more often at some point this season.

Auriemma could have chosen to start freshman guard Brianna Banks. She has played better of late and she would provide the Huskies with more quickness.

However, while Auriemma had options, there was only one player that truly deserved to make her first career start for UConn Wednesday at the Carrier Dome – 6-foot freshman wing Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.

“We’ll just put Kaleena in her place, kind of like we did at the start of the second half (Saturday at DePaul),’’ Auriemma said. “It puts us down one from a flexibility standpoint. Like I’ve said, you never have too many good guards on your team. That’s impossible. So I’m hoping that Caroline comes back quickly. I’m hoping that Brianna Banks, who’s going to play more, obviously, on Wednesday night, does a really good job for us. And we’ll go from there. It’s all part of going through a whole season. Most teams don’t go through a whole season unscathed.’’

Mosqueda, who appears to be a lock to be named the Big East Freshman of the Year, leads the Huskies in scoring (14.8). She is third on the team in rebounds (5.2) and minutes (27.5).

Overall, this will be the second start overall for Mosqueda-Lewis at UConn. She also started the exhibition opener against Assumption Nov. 3 with Doty sidelined with an ankle injury.

“I never wanted this to be the reason for me starting,’’ Mosqueda-Lewis said. “I’m going to miss Caroline. It’s definitely going to be different not having her out there on the court with us, but we’re going to try to get it done and play for her. She doesn’t expect us to drop at any level whether she’s here or whether she’s not. And I’m just going to try to fill the role well and play well.

Auriemma does not find himself dissecting the team statistics on a daily basis. He does not need numbers to tell him how his players are performing on the court. He can tell with his own eyes each day in practice and in games.

But Auriemma did admit that he took a peak at the statistics Monday. And he was surprised by what he learned in relation to how this team was faring compared to last season’s team that featured All-American Maya Moore. Through the first 19 games, the Huskies stand at 17-2. They are outscoring the opposition 80.8-43.7, have attempted 322 free throws and have 394 assists and 272 turnovers.

Through 19 games last season, the Huskies were 18-1. They had outscored the opposition 80.8-49.7, had attempted 327 free throws and had 380 assists and 283 turnovers.

“I guess people say numbers don’t lie… It is absolutely uncanny that we are averaging 80.8 points per game, exactly the same amount as last year after 19 games,’’ Auriemma said. “Exactly. It’s amazing. We’re holding people to six points less per game than last year. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but that’s a lot according to the experts. So there’s a consistency about what we’re doing. We have 100-some more assists (than turnovers). I think that was the same last year. We’ve shot almost exactly the same number of free throws this year as we did last year. We’re really, really, really close. I think we’re down two attempts per game. When you think about it, you take Maya out of the game and we’re only down two free throw attempts per game … So there’s been a consistency, which has surprised me. I thought it would be much, much more of a struggle to score points and to defend.’’

Rich

Junior guard Caroline Doty will not play Wednesday when No. 3 UConn meets Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, the team announced Monday night. She sustained a minor bone bruise in her left knee during warm-ups at DePaul Saturday and then began experiencing soreness.

Doty has three times torn the ACL in her left knee. She underwent an MRI Monday, which revealed that the condition of her meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in her knee are unchanged.

“I’m sure everybody was probably fearful that it might be something a lot more serious,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “But I guess it takes having three ACL repairs to say, `Well, it’s only a only bruise.’ For most people, they’re like, `Hey I’ve got a bone bruise and I’m going to be out a week or two days or five days. Who knows?’ But in Caroline’s case saying it’s only a bone bruise is like somebody broke a finger nail. So she’s not going to play Wednesday and then we’ll see for Saturday (against South Florida). But she’s a tough kid and if there’s any way at all that you come back from something like that … If somebody says it’s six days she’ll do it three days. That’s just the kind of kid she is and I’m just happy to hear that it’s only a bone bruise.’’

Doty, who was not made available to the media following practice tonight at Gampel Pavilion, was again in the starting lineup for the Huskies against DePaul. She was forced to leave the game with 17:40 left in the first half and went directly to the locker room.

Doty returned to the bench with 11:08 left in the half. But she did not return to the game.

“She asked to come out because nobody saw it,’’ Auriemma said. “I don’t think there was a collision that, `Oh, my God, look.’ It was just … (Assistant coach) Shea (Ralph) goes, `Hey, get Caroline.’ And I turned around and I looked and she was like, `Get me out.’ It’s a good sign on her part because in her younger days she would not have said anything. She would’ve just kept playing and it would have gotten worse and then she would be out three weeks. So I’m glad to worked out the way it did.’’

Said UConn sophomore Bria Hartley: “Any time Caroline’s getting hurt, especially with her knee, it’s something that she has to deal with every day. It’s sore. And I didn’t actually see what happened, but I’m glad she’s alright. And I know we all asker her, `How are you doing? How are you doing?’ And she’s tough. That’s the one thing you know about Caroline is she’s a tough kid. She’s great and she’s still leader for us.’’

Auriemma said Doty will not practice until at least Friday. A team spokesman said that Doty, who will miss the 61st game of her due to injury, is listed as probable for Saturday’s game against South Florida at the XL Center. She has played in 75 games.

“(A bone bruise) is nothing to her,’’ UConn junior Kelly Faris said. “Whenever she goes up for a layup or she does this or does that we’re all kind of holding our breath. It’s irritating, I know, for Caroline that she can’t be out here. I hate when she’s not out on the floor. That’s just one more player that you have confidence in and that you can trust out on the floor with the experience. And she’s a smart player. You hate to see a good player like that just continue to go through injury after injury, and for the fact that she’s worked her butt off the get back. It’s hard, obviously, for her. But for us to sit there and think, `Dang, she’s gone through all that and she has to sit out again.’ So anything that we can do to help her get better … And we obviously know the rest is the frustrating part. But that’s I think in her case what’s going to help her get back on the floor.’’

Rich