ThanksMuhl??
At least two more freshmen are probable. I wouldn't be shocked if they brought in another grad transfer as well.
Why would they want another grad transfer? I think Geno would rather have 4 years to develop someone unless there is an urgent need at a position.
Have you looked at the frontcourt in 2020? It's the same as this year prior to to Adebayo's addition. It's ONO and Walker and Walker's only nominally a frontcourt player. A high-quality transfer might be the missing puzzle piece.

That goes/or went without saying. If IF can't write that big enough if Uconn gets a Big or 2 as a frosh they will also want some experienced big to go along with ONO. Uconn has lacked a really EFFECTIVE big in the order of KIAH (who actually could present OFFENSE) or Steff for along long time. The time has come to fix that. Transfer or Recruit. I said, again, that which wasn't necessary to say.If they sign some posts there will not be an "urgent need" for a grad transfer, if not, there will be.. . .![]()
If they sign some posts there will not be an "urgent need" for a grad transfer, if not, there will be.. . .![]()
You're talking about freshmen. As we saw this past season with ONO, freshmen can rarely be counted on when you're trying to win a national title.
With so many grad transfers now, there is nothing wrong with having classes of two, assuming both are impact players. That seems to be the case with all eight, and they are indeed 2,2,2,2. Having said that, I would be very surprised if they didn’t add a post player to the 20-21 class.
OK, since you feel that way, count the classes in the last 10 years that had three impact players. (One?) Geno has said time and time again that their goal is two impact players a year; in 20-21, he might just have that for all four classes. I would rather have two grad transfers who have three years of college experience than a “filler” Freshman who ends up transferring out of the program. If UConn wants grad transfers, they will certainly have little difficulty in finding them.IMHO, you need classes of 3. Transfers are a last resort or a chance to add a piece that really puts you over the top. Just because UConn was somewhat successful in acquiring transfers this year, you cannot rely on that every year.
OK, since you feel that way, count the classes in the last 10 years that had three impact players. (One?) Geno has said time and time again that their goal is two impact players a year; in 20-21, he might just have that for all four classes. I would rather have two grad transfers who have three years of college experience than a “filler” Freshman who ends up transferring out of the program. If UConn wants grad transfers, they will certainly have little difficulty in finding them.
The problem is that you can't guarantee any incoming will be an impact player. Coach Auriemma has also said time and time again that classes of 3 are ideal. The problem with grad transfers is there are just not that many of them that are very good. Each year there is only a handful that are good enough to play at UConn. You are really gambling if you are relying on grad transfers every year!
Well-articulated post. The reality of today’s game is that grad transfers are readily available and well scouted. There is no better way to plug a one-year hole; no one is suggesting, however, that building a program on transfers is a good idea.It's not about "relying" on grad transfers. Geno isn't going to turn down a good 4-year player in anticipation of getting a grad transfer. He's going to get the best 4-year players he can get and will then supplement the roster with grad transfers he thinks can help at particular positions. If there aren't grad transfers who can help then he won't pursue any. Usually there are grad transfers who can help.
Baylor had the #1 recruiting class entering last season but Mulkey knew point guard was a position that needed help. She grabbed grad transfer Chloe Jackson and Baylor doesn't win the championship without her.
IMO in most not all situations a grad transfer is a bandaid to fill a vacant position whether starter or backup. You cant build a team around them in such a short time but they can help. We saw Natalie Butler leave UConn and become a double double star at George Mason. She had problems cracking the UConn lineup. Bringing in a good player from another might be, and could be just that. We have ONO now and shes good and imo will be very very good and with the players surrounding her she might even be better then good. What UConn needs is a big in ONOs junior year to give her time to develop. There arent alot of really good bigs out there. Take a look at opponents rosters and look for really good bigs who can score, play defense and do it consistently. There arent alot of them. As good as Griner was Baylor won only 2 NC's and UConn beat them twice. UConns roster for the next 2-4 years is loaded. ONO will be great. I like our chances with Fudd and DeBerry. Watch this season teams with multiple bigs and see what happens. See who plays and who sits and if they look to go elsewhere???
It's not about "relying" on grad transfers. Geno isn't going to turn down a good 4-year player in anticipation of getting a grad transfer. He's going to get the best 4-year players he can get and will then supplement the roster with grad transfers he thinks can help at particular positions. If there aren't grad transfers who can help then he won't pursue any. Usually there are grad transfers who can help.
Baylor had the #1 recruiting class entering last season but Mulkey knew point guard was a position that needed help. She grabbed grad transfer Chloe Jackson and Baylor doesn't win the championship without her.
So here's the updated roster, two way view.
Don't want to be a downer, but Nika Muhl is missing from the chart.
I think you underestimate Geno's competitiveness and desire to win and I think he has already followed suit and is and has been knee deep in the pursuits of transfers to fill specific needs.I think Coach Auriemma was forced to get creative(overseas, transfer, grad transfer) with his recruiting this year. In future years I would be very surprised if UConn accepted many grad transfers, just not Coach Auriemma's style. I understand times are changing and transfers/grad transfers are becoming very common for most coaches, I just don't see Coach Auriemma following suit.
I think you underestimate Geno competitiveness and desire to win and I think he has already followed suit and is and has been knee deep in the pursuits of transfers to fill specific needs.
Natalie Butler, Azura Stevens, Batouly Camara, Evelyn Adebayo & Evina Westbrook have all been added to UCONN rosters as transfers. In addition the following players were evaluated by or actually visited UCONN as potential transfers: Stephanie Mavunga, Danni Williams, Sarah Imovbioh, & Anriel Howard.
I also believe that the impact of transfers is being severely underestimated by you and many others here. The last three NCAA championships have been largely decided by impact transfers. South Carolina had both Davis and Gray as starters. ND had Jessica Shepard as the major post cog but also Lili Thompson as a regular rotation guard until she has injured. As has been stated above Baylor doesn't win last year's Championship without Chloe Jackson.
Below the championship level there have also been a few noteworthy impact transfers. While I generally agree that UCONN is not about to start building programs around transfers others programs have used transfers as significant (foundation?) pieces. Lexie Brown did for Duke what not even the very talented Azura Stevens could accomplish by returning Duke to the NCAA tournament. Paris Kea help ended a 4 year streak of UNC not making the NCAA tournament and took down ND in the regular season. Chelsea Dungee led Arkansas on a great NIT run & while a NIT run might sound insignificant, especially on a UCONN WBB board- THAT GIRL IS BADD ASS personified. Erin Boley was a foundation piece of a Oregon FF team- the first in the history of the program.
Impact transfers are a reality of WCBB as Kim Mulkey recently stated. Geno is not about to avoid this new reality. Transfers offers a chance for Geno to compete. Geno will win and eventually master that aspect of WCBB also. In fact he may have already mastered it because one of the highest ranked recruits EVER will be suiting up for UCONN this fall as a transfer.
multi-year transfers like Stevens
Danni Williams, Sarah Imovbioh, Evelyn Adebayo & Anriel Howard were all grad transfers when Geno evaluated them. Sarah Imovbioh was offered by UCONN before opting to play her senior season at South Carolina. That was in the summer of 2015 fully 4 years ago.I was referring to grad-transfers, I can certainly see Auriemma still take on multi-year transfers like Stevens, Butler, Westbrook, etc.