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Message: [QUOTE="#12in21, post: 4960210, member: 10763"] With Nika's departure, I'm wondering who replaces what she has done these past couple years. It's crazy to think about how dominate she has been in terms of assists, literally writing her name atop virtually all individual game, season and career assist categories. Imagine if she had played as many career games as Moriah, those additional 24 games at her career average/game would have put her over 800 career assists! As impressive as her impact in that area has been I think that will be the easier of her contributions to cover next year. I think Paige will exceed any of her own prior years totals, I expect a return to 'a big' dishing a lot of assists from the high post and a broader spread of assists across the other guards. The challenge will be who becomes the defense leader that Nika has been these past two years? The biggest criticism of Nika over her career has been her lack of scoring (which many would argue, including myself, was more than offset by her overall contributions). This upcoming season we will have (barring injuries) a wealth of scoring potential. But who will have the hunger, commitment and desire to bring not only the intensity but the leadership that has been Nika's calling card these past two seasons. KK was freshman-Nika-like in her ability to disrupt but can/will she develop the sustained face guarding ability or singular leadership abilities of Nika. Aubrey has always been a great off ball defender and disrupter but can she show the sustained intensity that Nika possessed? Paige really was an exceptional defender this past season but would asking her to sustain that over forty minutes every game be what we want her focus to be? Maybe one of the new guys will develop into what we need or compensation will be more a team wide effort. Somebody will have to be that one voice that keeps everybody on the same page. Nika has been that person for the past two seasons. She has been on the floor for more minutes than anyone else with defense as her primary focus. She has said that defense is what she loves most. Great defense has always been a hallmark of UConn wcbb's identity. So in composing a starting lineup next season how does replacing Nika's defensive impact play into whose on the floor, not just at the opening tip but as a sustained leadership presence? [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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