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Ice, a redshirt freshman, is the only one I see getting a starting spot at the moment
Good points.How many years did Bird and Taurasi play together? Did it matter who the PG was? It's possible to have more than 1 PG at a time on the floor. 2 is fairly common actually. I'm pretty sure I've even seen 3 at a time.
Uh oh! Incoming!!!!!I think it’s a certainty that Geno will experiment with different lineup combinations during the season, and Nika and Paige will each get chances to be the starting point guard.
I believe that Geno will have Paige as his starting point guard during the NCAA tournament next spring. Paige has demonstrated that she is much better in high-pressure playoff games than Nika is. For example, in the 2022 playoffs, Paige had a heroic performance, scoring a team-leading 27 points against NC State, and she was also UConn’s leading scorer against Stanford and South Carolina, scoring 14 points in both the semifinal and national championship games. Nika, in contrast, scored just 3 points and she turned the ball over 7 times against Ohio State, and UConn was bounced out of the Sweet 16.
Paige is the best player on UConn’s WBB team, and she is a much better scorer than Nika is: Paige averaged 18 points during her first two seasons, 2.5 times Nika’s average of 7.1 points last season. Paige is also arguably a better passer (note Azzi’s recent comments to the media about how good Paige’s passes are), she has a higher basketball IQ than Nika has, and she averages fewer turnovers than Nika does (2.2 TO/game vs. 3.5 TO/game).
Teams have to respect Paige’s scoring prowess; she stretches their defenses out to the perimeter, thereby giving more room for UConn’s post players to operate. In contrast, Nika’s scoring is relatively anemic, which means that teams often sag off of her and pack the paint or double-team other players, making it harder for UConn’s post players to score.
Again, I think that Geno will experiment with different point guards and lineup combinations during the season, but when the NCAA tournament arrives, barring injuries, he’ll have Paige as his starting point guard in his quest for a twelfth national championship.
I can’t disagree with your assessment of Paige. She’s every bit the Wonder Woman you describe. But I think you get Nika wrong. You mention the 2022 tournament and the NC St game. But you neglect the Stanford game in which Nika outrebounded Brink! The girl does stuff like that!I think it’s a certainty that Geno will experiment with different lineup combinations during the season, and Nika and Paige will each get chances to be the starting point guard.
I believe that Geno will have Paige as his starting point guard during the NCAA tournament next spring. Paige has demonstrated that she is much better in high-pressure playoff games than Nika is. For example, in the 2022 playoffs, Paige had a heroic performance, scoring a team-leading 27 points against NC State, and she was also UConn’s leading scorer against Stanford and South Carolina, scoring 14 points in both the semifinal and national championship games. Nika, in contrast, scored just 3 points and she turned the ball over 7 times against Ohio State, and UConn was bounced out of the Sweet 16.
Paige is the best player on UConn’s WBB team, and she is a much better scorer than Nika is: Paige averaged 18 points during her first two seasons, 2.5 times Nika’s average of 7.1 points last season. Paige is also arguably a better passer (note Azzi’s recent comments to the media about how good Paige’s passes are), she has a higher basketball IQ than Nika has, and she averages fewer turnovers than Nika does (2.2 TO/game vs. 3.5 TO/game).
Teams have to respect Paige’s scoring prowess; she stretches their defenses out to the perimeter, thereby giving more room for UConn’s post players to operate. In contrast, Nika’s scoring is relatively anemic, which means that teams often sag off of her and pack the paint or double-team other players, making it harder for UConn’s post players to score.
Again, I think that Geno will experiment with different point guards and lineup combinations during the season, but when the NCAA tournament arrives, barring injuries, he’ll have Paige as his starting point guard in his quest for a twelfth national championship.
Nika was very good last year putting herself in position to either get the defensive rebound or receive the first pass. I foresee many times where Nika gets the first pass, delivers a halfcourt pass to Paige who then hits Aubrey or Azzi for an easy layup. About 2-3 seconds from rebound to score.Good points.
In one of the Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird television shows during the NCAA tournament, Diana said that she and Sue used to take turns bringing the ball up the court when they played together at UConn.
Well, in the Nika era UConn is 1 for 2 in FF games. And the one they lost Nika was out with an injury.Nika is a very good 6th or 7th player, but she doesnt have the skill set required of a PG on a starting Title team. Paige should play "point" - similar to Caitlin Clark - and if KK is as good as advertised, she'll get meaningful minutes at the point as well. Title teams have to be able to score in multiple ways or else a good defensive team will lock down on our weaknesses. This has been UConn's achilles heel for most of the past 10 years in FF games.
Sarcasm?Nika is a very good 6th or 7th player, but she doesnt have the skill set required of a PG on a starting Title team. Paige should play "point" - similar to Caitlin Clark - and if KK is as good as advertised, she'll get meaningful minutes at the point as well. Title teams have to be able to score in multiple ways or else a good defensive team will lock down on our weaknesses. This has been UConn's achilles heel for most of the past 10 years in FF games.
And last year's Sweet 16 debacle?Well, in the Nika era UConn is 1 for 2 in FF games. And the one they lost Nika was out with an injury.
I think it’s a certainty that Geno will experiment with different lineup combinations during the season, and Nika and Paige will each get chances to be the starting point guard.
I believe that Geno will have Paige as his starting point guard during the NCAA tournament next spring. Paige has demonstrated that she is much better in high-pressure playoff games than Nika is. For example, in the 2022 playoffs, Paige had a heroic performance, scoring a team-leading 27 points against NC State, and she was also UConn’s leading scorer against Stanford and South Carolina, scoring 14 points in both the semifinal and national championship games. Nika, in contrast, scored just 3 points and she turned the ball over 7 times against Ohio State, and UConn was bounced out of the Sweet 16.
Paige is the best player on UConn’s WBB team, and she is a much better scorer than Nika is: Paige averaged 18 points during her first two seasons, 2.5 times Nika’s average of 7.1 points last season. Paige is also arguably a better passer (note Azzi’s recent comments to the media about how good Paige’s passes are), she has a higher basketball IQ than Nika has, and she averages fewer turnovers than Nika does (2.2 TO/game vs. 3.5 TO/game).
Teams have to respect Paige’s scoring prowess; she stretches their defenses out to the perimeter, thereby giving more room for UConn’s post players to operate. In contrast, Nika’s scoring is relatively anemic, which means that teams often sag off of her and pack the paint or double-team other players, making it harder for UConn’s post players to score.
Again, I think that Geno will experiment with different point guards and lineup combinations during the season, but when the NCAA tournament arrives, barring injuries, he’ll have Paige as his starting point guard in his quest for a twelfth national championship.
Nika is a very good 6th or 7th player, but she doesnt have the skill set required of a PG on a starting Title team. Paige should play "point" - similar to Caitlin Clark - and if KK is as good as advertised, she'll get meaningful minutes at the point as well. Title teams have to be able to score in multiple ways or else a good defensive team will lock down on our weaknesses. This has been UConn's achilles heel for most of the past 10 years in FF games.
See post #56 above. Nika didn’t lose that game, the team did.And last year's Sweet 16 debacle?
Where do you get this stuff? In the 2020-21 FF game against Arizona, Muhl played 21 nondescript minutes with 2 pts, 1 TO and 3 fouls.Well, in the Nika era UConn is 1 for 2 in FF games. And the one they lost Nika was out with an injury.
You’re right. I misremembered because of the ankle injury she suffered against High Point in the first round. She managed to return for the FF game in a brace and played well enough initially and less well as the game wore on. So my point is not as interesting as I thought. But I’m still willing to cut her some slack for that game. She’s not the reason we lost that one.Where do you get this stuff? In the 2020-21 FF game against Arizona, Muhl played 21 nondescript minutes with 2 pts, 1 TO and 3 fouls.
Nika will start at PG at the beginning of the year, and Paige will have her minutes monitored until she (and Ice) get acclimated. By late season, Paige will start alongside Azzi, because they know each other's thoughts/inclinations on the floor, as well as their teammates. Having two All-American caliber guards on the floor is tough to beat. Nika spelling either at any time for major minutes is a luxury, especially if foul trouble kicks in. Nika will do whatever it takes for the team to win. All of them are about TEAM.
Now, if Nika develops a consistent outside shot/game, looks for her offense...
I certainly hope so...Sarcasm?