2024-2025 Roster Breakdown.. Swipe

[GirlBoo1020]

Wow. Interesting take. I thought Nika's defense was consistent all season. That Texas game was a disaster for the whole team not just on Nika. As for the point guard responsibilities, that is always tough. I don't want to see Paige handling the rock 60%, 70%, or 80% of the time. We have KK and Kaitlyn and depending on which five is on the court, we have multiple handlers out there. We will see what develops in a few weeks. I can't wait!!

It's not just Texas, that was just the worst example. It was Notre Dame, it was UCLA, there were quite a few Big East games as well where her perimeter defense was an issue and to have Paige or KK switch on to her man. There were obviously also games where here defense was great, like @St Johns and one of the Villanova games. Hence the inconsistency issue for me.
I don't remember this happening at all the previous year. I blame it on some sort nagging quad/hamstring injury that held her back a bit this year.

Not trying to hate on Nika as I love her and believe she was an extremely important and valuable piece for us all four of her years and last year in particular. I just think due the skill sets we already have and the skill sets we have coming in, she won't be missed as much on the court as some people think. What we will miss the the most about her was her leadership on and off the court and I am confident in someone or someones on our roster to develop that for next season as we take on a new identity.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

I am so totally with you on this. Why assume anything else? It's not like constantly expressing anxieties on this score now will act like a talisman protecting the team.

Now to the business at hand: my idea of how this team will appear in November, and in January, and in March. It's just a guess and I'm just reading tea leaves, but this is what seems likely to me.

November
starting 5: Paige Jana Ice KK Ash (because this is who has the most experience in the system + Jana)
Rotation: Azzi and Caroline (as soon as they're fully ready, which may not be until December) Kaitlyn Sarah Ayanna Qadence Morgan Allie
Still rehabbing: Aubrey
I expect the rotation to get a lot of minutes initially, until the heavy OOC games come along. Once that happens, I suspect the rotation will shrink to Kaitlyn Sarah Qadence Ayanna.

January
Starting 5: Paige Jana Azzi Sarah KK
Rotation: Ice Caroline Ash Ayanna Kaitlyn Qadence Morgan Allie. At some point in January or February, Aubrey may return, which will ratchet up the competition for minutes. Also, if Kaitlyn is going to challenge KK for the starting PG spot, this is when that will happen. This could also be a volatile time for priority in the rotation because players will have had enough time to earn game minutes in practice.

March
Starting 5: Paige Jana Azzi Kaitlyn Sarah
Rotation: Ice Aubrey Caroline KK Ash Ayanna Qadence Morgan Allie. I suspect the main rotation minutes in March will go to the first three (Ice Aubrey and Caroline) just because the depth in the front court is thinner, but also because Sarah will end up covering some of the high-post/PG duties. What I mean is she'll end up initiating the half court offense from the high post the way Olivia used to, but given her perimeter shooting, she'll force opposing teams to cover her out there. Similarly, on defense she's demonstrated her high post defensive skills. This will take a lot of pressure off the guards to cover the top of the key and open the low post for Jana Ice and Caroline. I think Aubrey will often be the sub for Sarah.

I expect there will be a lot minutes to go around all season long because I doubt anyone other than Paige and Azzi will regularly get more than 20 minutes/game

I like and agree a lot of your rational but I don't see Geno changing the starting line up much once everyone is healthy. My guess is the startling line up once Azzi is healthy (Hopefully day 1) will be the starting line up the rest of the season. Paige, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Sarah, Jana. The only person i could see breaking into the starting line up is Ice for Sarah, depending on how Ice's off season goes and how quickly Sarah can acclimate to D1 basketball. I do think your rotations analysis is spot on except I think Morgan will get time over Q because she has a skill set build for UConn and Geno.

 

[Steelerone]

As I read these posts I start to feel like I'm in a time machine where, each time I stop, I'm re-reading posts from the last time. This player is going to be great, this player should be starting, this player could carry us to a national title if she doesn't get injured again. This player should start but Geno likes this player a little better for some reason. We should win this many games but if we get hit by the injury bug again we can't. This is what I'm going to do. Wait till the season begins, look at who is in the starting line-up, and hope we have the team to compete with South Carolina, LSU and Louisville.

 

[Cuango]

My two cents; I think people (in general) are waaay underestimating Sarah! She is going to be a major stud for this team and, along with Paige, may well be the driving force for this team’s pursuit of a championship! Now, I know this roster is imo, the most talented one in years, maybe ever, but I believe Sarah is going to be way more like Paige, Stewie, and Dee than people think. She is going to be one of those #1s that truly lives up to the name! She will be the difference maker that allows us to finally get past the final four/finalist stage and break that door down for the championship! She is the real deal! Just imagine having last year’s team (minus AE and NM) plus all the injured being healthy, add K Chen & Allie & Morgan, and then throw in another freshman Paige! That, is the sort of impact I believe Sarah will bring to this team! Call me crazy but that’s how I see it! When I watch Sarah play, I see the same instinctive, born to play basketball qualities that Paige came in with!

 

[Bills Fan]

I like and agree a lot of your rational but I don't see Geno changing the starting line up much once everyone is healthy. My guess is the startling line up once Azzi is healthy (Hopefully day 1) will be the starting line up the rest of the season. Paige, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Sarah, Jana. The only person i could see breaking into the starting line up is Ice for Sarah, depending on how Ice's off season goes and how quickly Sarah can acclimate to D1 basketball. I do think your rotations analysis is spot on except I think Morgan will get time over Q because she has a skill set build for UConn and Geno.

1020; I agree with your starting lineup, at least by January. And what a bench that gives Geno. In addition to the starters, I think the rotation will include off the bench, Ice, Ash, KK, Aubrey and Morgan. Imagine that, 3 starters (Ice, Ash and KK) from a team that won the Big East Tournament.
The other 4 will fight for minutes in most Big East games

 

[PacoSwede]

Just because we won a Big East title without Aaliyah doesn’t mean we couldn’t have won it if we didn’t have Nika (but had Aaliyah of course). Nika did more than just play defense but the things she did offensively could have been covered off by other players.

how about her leadership? offense or defensive contributions are secondary to her leadership, i firmly believe. IT'S oft overlooked in most commentaries yea and nay.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

how about her leadership? offense or defensive contributions are secondary to her leadership, i firmly believe. IT'S oft overlooked in most commentaries yea and nay.

I have confidence that players on this roster can step to fill that void, namely Paige.

 

[PacoSwede]

I have confidence that players on this roster can step to fill that void, namely Paige.

of course. it's another priority ingredient paige provides, as she did last year. ... but i suspect she's the sole source. hope someone else will emerge, because it's needed and paige already is overloaded. she shall handle it -- but it's an immense burden. she may need some assistance, and surely would appreciate it.

 

[Huskee11]

Chen is the other one to likely emerge in a leadership role. Despite her newness to the program, she has played in 90 Division I games and is 22 or 23 years old. She will also be handling the ball a lot.

Nine of the other players will be in their first or second year of playing so it would be a lot to ask of any of them. KK would be the one most likely to emerge from that group as a leader.

The three other veterans - Fudd, Ducharme and Griffin - are coming off of injuries. They are all capable of leading by example with their outstanding play, but none of them strikes me as a vocal leader who would take charge in a team huddle.

 

[Bone Dog]

My guess is the startling line up once Azzi is healthy (Hopefully day 1) will be the starting line up the rest of the season.

It’s been so long since Geno’s been able to do this.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

of course. it's another priority ingredient paige provides, as she did last year. ... but i suspect she's the sole source. hope someone else will emerge, because it's needed and paige already is overloaded. she shall handle it -- but it's an immense burden. she may need some assistance, and surely would appreciate it.

I mean there will be a 6th year senior on the roster, a fifth year senior (Kaitlyn) two 4th year players (Azzi and Carol), and two players in their third year of college (Ice and Ayanna). I really don’t see this as a huge concern going into next season as we lack a lot of in game experience but have experience in the program and experience with adversity in spades.

 

[Bone Dog]

You can think of experience in terms of age. I mean, when you come out of high school you're 18 or 19 and you find yourself playing against kids as old as 22 and 23 as opposed to the 14 and 15 year olds you sometimes encountered. That's a real culture shock. Just like in the W, when 23 year old rookies can end up matched up with Diana.

I'm just guessing at the ages here, but I think the Huskies roster includes:

one 24 year old (or maybe 25?)
two 23 year olds
two 22 year olds
three 21 year olds
three 20 year olds
three 19 year olds

That's an average age of roughly 21 across the entire roster. I wonder how that stacks up against other D1 teams.

 

[Alydar]

I mean there will be a 6th year senior on the roster, a fifth year senior (Kaitlyn) two 4th year players (Azzi and Carol), and two players in their third year of college (Ice and Ayanna). I really don’t see this as a huge concern going into next season as we lack a lot of in game experience but have experience in the program and experience with adversity in spades.

That's the benefit of the depth they can have this season. Last year 4 of the 7 man rotation were 1st year players and it mattered. This season UConn has 4 1st year players and they are still very experienced.

Griffin - 6th year
Bueckers - 5th
Chen - 5th
Fudd - 4th
Ducharme - 4th

 

[jdote33]

Nobody knows what to expect from Caroline, but no news I'm hoping is good news. It was disappointing last season when Geno was giving a lot of pre-season hype in her direction, then to see only a very weak shell of her healthy self. It made me want to cry! However, your statement seems to lack a bit of knowledge and consideration of what she's been dealing with. "A year post hip-surgery" you say, what about all the head trauma??? Have you forgotten about that? She tried to give it a go last year, but just couldn't do it. She wasn't ready. I don't know where to lay the blame for that, but it wasn't Caroline doing the pre-season hyping. Regardless, that's no reason to penalize her going forward. If she's "ready" this season, I believe her talents and skills will find their way into the starting lineup. If she's ready, but can't win her position back, then hopefully she will still be an asset to the team any way she can. No disrespect intended.

Definitely aware she's been dealing with a bunch of head trauma since her freshman year. I mainly mentioned the hip surgery and immediately after mentioned her being in great physical shape to start the season last year to point out her movement. I thought as a sophomore on the heals of the surgery she didn't move very well. But in the summer and maybe the first couple games she was moving, like switching ends and cutting well. To your point and to the difficulty in assessing her status, her being physically ready also includes her head, neck etc. And that's y I said I have no idea what to expect. I don't know the rehab or the ramp up process for her condition

 

[Just.A.Fan]

I like and agree a lot of your rational but I don't see Geno changing the starting line up much once everyone is healthy. My guess is the startling line up once Azzi is healthy (Hopefully day 1) will be the starting line up the rest of the season. Paige, Azzi, Kaitlyn, Sarah, Jana. The only person i could see breaking into the starting line up is Ice for Sarah, depending on how Ice's off season goes and how quickly Sarah can acclimate to D1 basketball. I do think your rotations analysis is spot on except I think Morgan will get time over Q because she has a skill set build for UConn and Geno.

I like your thinking and analysis, just disappointed you didn't mention Caroline at all. If she's healthy from day 1 or 10, it will be very hard to keep her off the court.

 

[jdote33]

UConn guard KK Arnold aims to expand role in second season - Andscape

Welcome to “On the Break” — During the WNBA’s Olympic break, Andscape will publish a weekly Q&A with some of the biggest names in women’s college basketball. UConn guard KK Arnold’s freshman season was all about learning on the job. What began as an expectation to fight for minutes and steadily...

andscape.com

 

[GirlBoo1020]

It’s been so long since Geno’s been able to do this.

This is true, but even with all the injury craziness last year, we still had the same 5 starters from early December on.

 

[Dogstar]

I've a question, a lot of posters have KK coming off the bench, whts the reason behind tht decision?

 

[GirlBoo1020]

I've a question, a lot of posters have KK coming off the bench, whts the reason behind tht decision?

It's as simple as she's the second or third best PG on the team (depending on Chen) and probably 4th or 5th best guard overall. She should solidly be in the rotation though and one of the first, if not the first, guard off the bench. Ideally everyone will be healthy this year and we won't need to start multiple PGs.

 

[Bone Dog]

I've a question, a lot of posters have KK coming off the bench, whts the reason behind tht decision?

I think it's a function of thinking of lineups not absolutely but in terms of how the season develops. I've long though that this fall, Geno will start his most experienced 5 (among the healthy) and to me that says KK starts alongside Paige Ash Ice and Jana. Then he lets the season unfold and makes changes as the competition in practice reveals a more suitable starting lineup to him.

My guess is that by sometime in late February (if not sooner) Kaitlyn may have earned the starting spot over KK for a couple reasons: 1) she has more maturity, and 2) she is better at creating her own shot. Of course, the competition in practice during January and February might also have the effect of pushing KK to improve her own game and then Kaitlyn comes off the bench.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

I think it's a function of thinking of lineups not absolutely but in terms of how the season develops. I've long though that this fall, Geno will start his most experienced 5 (among the healthy) and to me that says KK starts alongside Paige Ash Ice and Jana. Then he lets the season unfold and makes changes as the competition in practice reveals a more suitable starting lineup to him.

My guess is that by sometime in late February (if not sooner) Kaitlyn may have earned the starting spot over KK for a couple reasons: 1) she has more maturity, and 2) she is better at creating her own shot. Of course, the competition in practice during January and February might also have the effect of pushing KK to improve her own game and then Kaitlyn comes off the bench.

Losing your starting spot to a 5th year senior transfer in February would be demoralizing to a young PG imo. I don't see Geno doing that unless KK seriously underperforms because I think he see's KK as the PG of the future and that could seriously derail her imo.
The reverse would be preferred and the only way I see a starting line up switch happening with those two except for injury and or serious regression.

 

[Dogstar]

It's as simple as she's the second or third best PG on the team (depending on Chen) and probably 4th or 5th best guard overall. She should solidly be in the rotation though and one of the first, if not the first, guard off the bench. Ideally everyone will be healthy this year and we won't need to start multiple PGs.

Excuse the delay I'm on vacation with the family, but just for the record who are these 4 PGs tht will possibly gonna be ahead her her? Besides Paige who's gonna make up the assist we lose with Nika? Who's gonna make up the defensive pressure on the point tht Nika gave the team? And who's gonna collect 90 or more steals (which led the team) thn her? For 3 off seasons a WHOLE lot of posters proclaimed tht Nika won't start or by January Nika will be coming off the bench and the same posters were very very quiet whn proven wrong. Geno loves those PGs tht know and handle their roles and it doesn't have to be by scoring a bunch of points. The pg position is the hardest position to learn, they are a extension from the coach to the players on the floor.

Losing your starting spot to a 5th year senior transfer in February would be demoralizing to a young PG imo. I don't see Geno doing that unless KK seriously underperforms because I think he see's KK as the PG of the future and that could seriously derail her imo.
The reverse would be preferred and the only way I see a starting line up switch happening with those two except for injury and or serious regression.

I totally agree.

 

[Bone Dog]

Losing your starting spot to a 5th year senior transfer in February would be demoralizing to a young PG imo. I don't see Geno doing that unless KK seriously underperforms because I think he see's KK as the PG of the future and that could seriously derail her imo.
The reverse would be preferred and the only way I see a starting line up switch happening with those two except for injury and or serious regression.

Good point. Still, I think if the rotation is based on no one other than Paige and Azzi exceeding 20 minutes, coming off the bench might not seem like much of a demotion. She may end up feeling like Aubrey coming off the bench, you know, like superwoman, or like Evina, who did the same. The tradition at UConn is deeper than just one binary set of alternatives. In fact, Evina is perhaps the best example of Husky selflessness. She's the ultimate team role model in my view.

 

[Dogstar]

Excuse the delay I'm on vacation with the family, but just for the record who are these 4 PGs tht will possibly gonna be ahead her her? Besides Paige who's gonna make up the assist we lose with Nika? Who's gonna make up the defensive pressure on the point tht Nika gave the team? And who's gonna collect 90 or more steals (which led the team) thn her? For 3 off seasons a WHOLE lot of posters proclaimed tht Nika won't start or by January Nika will be coming off the bench and the same posters were very very quiet whn proven wrong. Geno loves those PGs tht know and handle their roles and it doesn't have to be by scoring a bunch of points. The pg position is the hardest position to learn, they are a extension from the coach to the players on the floor.

I totally agree.

I thk it's her job to lose

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Good point. Still, I think if the rotation is based on no one other than Paige and Azzi exceeding 20 minutes, coming off the bench might not seem like much of a demotion. She may end up feeling like Aubrey coming off the bench, you know, like superwoman, or like Evina, who did the same. The tradition at UConn is deeper than just one binary set of alternatives. In fact, Evina is perhaps the best example of Husky selflessness. She's the ultimate team role model in my view.

If the rotation is based on no one exceeding 20 minutes, why even make the change atp? I just don't see the rational to start KK at the beginning of the year just to remove her near the end of the season when she would have been starting for almost two full seasons at that point, for player that won't even be here the following year. I think Chen will start from day 1 or won't start at all.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Excuse the delay I'm on vacation with the family, but just for the record who are these 4 PGs tht will possibly gonna be ahead her her? Besides Paige who's gonna make up the assist we lose with Nika? Who's gonna make up the defensive pressure on the point tht Nika gave the team? And who's gonna collect 90 or more steals (which led the team) thn her? For 3 off seasons a WHOLE lot of posters proclaimed tht Nika won't start or by January Nika will be coming off the bench and the same posters were very very quiet whn proven wrong. Geno loves those PGs tht know and handle their roles and it doesn't have to be by scoring a bunch of points. The pg position is the hardest position to learn, they are a extension from the coach to the players on the floor.

I totally agree.

I said 4th or 5th best GUARD overall, i said she was the second or third best PG. And I think Paige, and Azzi are clearly above and Chen and Shade could also be listed above KK at the guard position, putting her in that 4-5 position in the backcourt.

I think Paige can more than make up for Nika's assist ability and with excellent passers like Morgan and Sarah coming in, along with Kaitlyn, we will be more than set in the passing department. I expect this to be an elite passing team with so many distributors instead of the over reliance on Nika to initiate the offense that we have seen the last two seasons.

And again Kaitlyn is a good defensive guard and will help with making up Nika's defensive pressure, along with KK. Both are bit quicker than Nika which will give us a different look in the backcourt who relyed more on size and physicality to defend. I think it will take a while to adjust but I'm more worried about our front court defense than our backcourt defense which should improve just by moving players back to their natural positions.


All this to say is that I think KK will play significant PG minutes this season, just coming off the bench as their are some more experienced PGs ahead of her.

 

[Cuango]

Losing your starting spot to a 5th year senior transfer in February would be demoralizing to a young PG imo. I don't see Geno doing that unless KK seriously underperforms because I think he see's KK as the PG of the future and that could seriously derail her imo.
The reverse would be preferred and the only way I see a starting line up switch happening with those two except for injury and or serious regression.

Difficult to see how a second year player losing the starting job to a (very good) fifth year senior should be so demoralizing as to affect her future performance? It’s not as if she (KK) is not going to get lots of playing time anyway.The question is, how much has KK improved over the summer? Hopefully, she has put in a lot of work on her shot, especially the three and her midrange. If her three is substantially better, she’s going to be a real handful! This really goes for Ash as well. If those two come back greatly improved, especially in terms of their shooting, then it becomes very difficult to see how anyone on this roster is going to take their starting position away. It’s not as though either one of them were chopped liver last season! This roster is so talented though, that everyone better be working their tails off or someone will take their spot!

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Difficult to see how a second year player losing the starting job to a (very good) fifth year senior should be so demoralizing as to affect her future performance? It’s not as if she (KK) is not going to get lots of playing time anyway.The question is, how much has KK improved over the summer? Hopefully, she has put in a lot of work on her shot, especially the three and her midrange. If her three is substantially better, she’s going to be a real handful! This really goes for Ash as well. If those two come back greatly improved, especially in terms of their shooting, then it becomes very difficult to see how anyone on this roster is going to take their starting position away. It’s not as though either one of them were chopped liver last season! This roster is so talented though, that everyone better be working their tails off or someone will take their spot!

My issue isn't with her losing her starting job in general. Its losing it in February that I think any player would have an issue with. If she is good enough to start most of 2024, and in November, December and January of this season, what would have had to occur to pull her from the starting line up at that point?

I don't have KK (or Ash) in the starting line up at all during the season, but I certainly don't advocate to change starters 3/4 of the way through the season and 7/8 of the way through a players career unless they are seriously under performing.

 

[Alydar]

Losing your starting spot to a 5th year senior transfer in February would be demoralizing to a young PG imo. I don't see Geno doing that unless KK seriously underperforms because I think he see's KK as the PG of the future and that could seriously derail her imo.
The reverse would be preferred and the only way I see a starting line up switch happening with those two except for injury and or serious regression.

I disagree. If Chen starts over Arnold it will be because she is playing better and Arnold will accept that. I also think that the guards with the most versatility will be in the rotation. That is both in terms of skills and in terms of knowing all the roles on the floor. Who plays best in a two guard lineup? Besides, I think there will be 4 or 5 guards who all get about the same minutes whether they start or not. Those that are hot will play more in that game and 2 other guards may star in another game.

I don't think either the players or the coaches have a clue right now about who starts except for one. That won't stop us though, will it?

 

[GirlBoo1020]

I disagree. If Chen starts over Arnold it will be because she is playing better and Arnold will accept that. I also think that the guards with the most versatility will be in the rotation. That is both in terms of skills and in terms of knowing all the roles on the floor. Who plays best in a two guard lineup? Besides, I think there will be 4 or 5 guards who all get about the same minutes whether they start or not. Those that are hot will play more in that game and 2 other guards may star in another game.

I don't think either the players or the coaches have a clue right now about who starts except for one. That won't stop us though, will it?

I think Chen WILL start over Arnold, but from the beginning of the season on. A February starting line up change would demoralize most Sophmore that would have been starting most of their careers to that point, imo.