11/2 4PM - 7:30 news articles: Repeat Big East Dominance; opponent previews: The middle tier; Evina confident in knee

[SVCBeercats]

UConn Women Look To Repeat Dominance In Big East - FloHoops

Here's a glimpse of the 2021 BIG EAST Women's basketball conference: the returners, the freshmen, and the transfers.

www.flohoops.com

UConn women’s basketball opponent previews: The middle tier

The Huskies’ schedule boasts a number of opponents that should be in the NCAA Tournament picture this season.

www.theuconnblog.com

With newfound confidence in her knee, Evina Westbrook ready for big senior season

Westbrook admitted she wasn’t at 100 percent — physically, mentally or emotionally — for most of last season.

www.theuconnblog.com

 

[eebmg]

Westbrook’s coaches and teammates have already taken notice.

“Last year she was a little timid, mainly because of her knee,” Christyn Williams said. “This year, she’s been super aggressive and she’s been getting to the basket and knocking down shots. So I’m happy for her.”

“She’s not taking as many opportunities to step out and get herself back again,” Geno Auriemma said. “She needed a lot of breaks last year and that hasn’t been the case so far. And practice is two hours of basketball stuff. In a game, it’s not two hours of constant — you do get a lot of breaks. But right now she looks good. She looks good. She’s moving well and I’m happy with where she is.”

 

[DefenseBB]

Flohoops lost some luster and credibility with me as they ignored Dorka as a Transfer in AND think Maddie Siegrist was a freshman the same year as Paige-news flash FH, Maddy was a sophomore last year and is a Junior this year. Those are jarring mistakes.

 

[huskyd]

The FloHoops article fails to note the arrival of Dorka, who may turn into the key player this season for the Huskies to win the NC. Strange omission.

 

[Bigboote]

From Evina on last season: “Before I’d think about my knee. If I jump, I’m thinking about if I come down, if it’s going to give out on me. . ."

I can't wait to see her this year.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[eebmg]

Interesting. They said the poll was sent to P5 schools but I am guessing UConn was added

 

[eebmg]

Surprised Caitlyn Clark did not get even 1 vote.

Nice comment by player voter

One player wrote, “It would be fun to have Paige Bueckers as a teammate. She’s a good passer and makes her teammates look good. She brings good energy and looks fun to play with.” Despite the attention on her last season, she shared it, pointing to her teammates, and she has been vocal about more than basketball, using her ESPY speech to highlight Black women.

 

[eebmg]

The coaches poll is interesting.

Thought Tara might get more but she does seem to be on of the ultra serious coaches

 

[eebmg]

FOY Azzi took 18 votes, Next is Raven Johnson with 2.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

This will probably get its own thread I assume. Creme and Vopel on the biggest questions for the coming year.

How will all the talent also coexist at UConn? Which players will be in the Huskies' starting lineup?​

Creme: UConn coach Geno Auriemma has already said he's not sure how he's going to distribute playing time to all his players' satisfaction. Depending on the development of the freshmen -- a class rated second only to South Carolina's -- UConn could go 11 or 12 players deep. Still, only eight or nine will factor into the regular rotation, and managing any potential discontent might be the biggest challenge to the Huskies' coaching staff this season.

I expect the starting lineup at the beginning of this season to mirror the Huskies' starting five to end last season: Paige Bueckers, Christyn Williams, Evina Westbrook, Aaliyah Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Bueckers was the consensus best player in the country last year as a freshman. Williams, Westbrook and Nelson-Ododa are veterans that should understand exactly what Auriemma wants. Edwards was one of the country's most improved players as her freshman season came to a close. This is also the lineup that causes the least possible disruption.

Azzi Fudd, the fourth No. 1 recruit in the last five years to choose UConn, seems too good to come off the bench, but that might be where she starts the season. Dorka Juhasz, an Ohio State transfer who started all but two games in her three years with the Buckeyes, might also begin the season on the bench, but could get starts ahead of Edwards. We'll know more when UConn plays its first exhibition on Sunday; the Huskies open the season Nov. 14 against Arkansas.

Figuring out the starting lineup and even the distribution of minutes really isn't the question for UConn -- it's which player Auriemma trusts the most in big moments? Who is finishing close games? It's going to take some time before those answers evolve, but an early indicator of how Auriemma views his roster could come as early as the week before Thanksgiving. The Huskies could face South Carolina in the finals of the eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 22. If that matchup doesn't happen, the two meet in a nonconference game Jan. 27 in Columbia.

The biggest questions in women's college basketball entering the 2021-22 season

Can Stanford repeat? What's South Carolina's biggest challenge? What does UConn's starting five look like? Here are the storylines we'll be watching.

www.espn.com