Next year should be quite interesting for Geno and staff. He will have a young team, but a very tall and talented team. Assuming that Butler starts, Jefferson will be the only starter for the huskies under 6 feet. This is going to give the opposing coaches nightmares (not that they don't get them already when UConn is next up on their schedule). It's assumed that the Huskies will pick up where they left off, with all 5 starters averaging double figures in scoring. Some the freshmen are going to have to quickly adapt to this level of play. As of now, the only subs off the bench that Geno can count on are Chong and Williams. He needs at least one of the incoming freshmen to come in and make that transition so that she can play some significant minutes. Courtney Ekmark should be ready to assume a larger role this year. If she doesn't come back in October and impress in practice right away, she may find herself relegated to the end of the bench, right in front of Pulido and Lawlor. Most of UConn's early games next season will no doubt be against unranked "mid-majors", which will allow Geno to give his bench players significant playing time. You can bet that the incoming freshmen will be in the gym and weight room within 48 hours of their arrival on campus this summer. They'll be learning how to work out with the strength and conditioning coach, and play basketball UConn style, as they begin to make that transition from high school to college ball. The entire team should be in shape and ready to hit the ground running the first day of organized practice in October. Despite losing two of their most productive players (KML & Stokes), UConn is still the odds on favorite to win their 11th national championship next year. Who will become the new "designated shooter" now that KML is gone? Several top ten teams have bolstered their rosters with high ranked blue chip All Americans in an effort to close the gap between them and UConn. Notre Dame, Tennessee, South Carolina, Maryland, Duke, Baylor and Louisville have all greatly improved their rosters, and should prove to be extremely formidable next season. Once UConn jells (around the end of December), They should look like and play like the Huskie teams we have come to know and love.
