Spring Break
Paths cross for a second time
San Diego State's Morris and UConn's Montgomery competed at U-20 National Trials
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Sports
|
Montgomery not only made the final roster, but helped the team win the gold in Mexico City. Morris did not make the cut.
Now, the two will meet again. This time, they will be on opposite sides of the court when their teams face each other 7 p.m. at the XL Center (CPTV).
But that does not mean the Huskies are focusing on anything except what they are capable of doing.
The game is the first of two games in three days for UConn. Still early in the season, there are some question marks for head coach Geno Auriemma and company. One of the biggest concerns is contributions from the bench.
"The last time [the starters] played 40 minutes would've been when? Sunday," Auriemma said. "So the next time that they would have to play 40 minutes would be Thursday. So you would think that you're not exactly sending the kids into the coal mines, you know?
"So it's not so much 'can those guys do it or not do it?'. Of course they can. The question is can you develop other players to offset a sprained ankle here and there, a couple bad calls, tonsillitis - whatever the case may be."
With freshman Heather Buck still out for at least the next two weeks with mononucleosis and Jessica McCormack sitting out the season because of NCAA transfer rules, the number of players is already limited.
Thus, so early in the season, it has become crucial for Lorin Dixon and Kaili McLaren to be able to step up and play well.
"We still need to keep that energy going, keep the level of play going," Dixon said. "So, you know, we … it can just roll smoothly and Coach doesn't have to worry about being scared and nervous about [putting] any of us in."
As of Wednesday night, Auriemma said that they were doing just that in practices. He said he still wishes he had played Dixon in the second half of the Georgia Tech game.
It was that game - one that the Huskies fought their way through for the first 35 minutes - that has helped the team.
Be the first to comment on this story