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Message: [QUOTE="JoePgh, post: 4050324, member: 1131"] That is true, but (as has been pointed out before) what other WCBB coach in America has been able to bring his/her teams to the National Semifinal game in each of the last four years? I agree that UConn has been limited since 2016 by the lack of dominant post players, and I think it is highly probable that if Azura had stayed for her last season, it would have produced an NC in 2019. And if Geno had used her more against ND in her last actual game for UConn, they might have won that game, but would then probably have lost in the next game. However, I do not agree that the teams that beat them (Miss. State, ND twice, and Arizona) did so with physical play. That may have had some role in the Mississippi State loss, but neither ND nor Arizona were particularly big or physical teams. In fact, they were both smaller teams than UConn in those years. And they did not win with physical play in the paint, but by hitting more shots. However, it's true that if UConn had had a Tina or a Stef or a Stewie in those games, it might well have made the difference. For the immediate future, I think the most important antidote to this recent deficiency is Aaliyah Edwards. That is why I think she will start next to Liv in a "2 big" lineup, even if it means that both Nika and Azzi have to come off the bench. The other big improvement in the upcoming year is that Liv and Aaliyah will have competent backups, which will be very much needed when they get into foul trouble as they inevitably will. Next year, when Ice and Ayanna arrive to complement Aaliyah, the problem of "too much finesse" will be put firmly in the rear view mirror. [/QUOTE]

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