5 Reasons UConn has Improved | Page 2 | The Boneyard
.

5 Reasons UConn has Improved

Skeets said:
A rotation of 10 seems almost unwieldly after having virtually no bench a couple of years ago. I will say 1 thing, only against the weaker teams can Geno afford to have all 5 starters on the bench except in the final minutes of mop up time. As is usually the case it will be 2 or 3 starters in, and 2 or 3 staters rotated out. The big difference this year is that Geno will have more choices to fill in for the 2 or 3 starters who are rotated out.
Expand ...
This, exactly. This past season, Geno played the non-starters more against the Big East teams, gave younger and less experienced players more court time, and rolled into the postseason mostly healthy while others teams were sore and dinged up. Paige-Azzi-Sarah could play a lot of minutes in the postseason because of that
 
HuskyNan said:
This, exactly. This past season, Geno played the non-starters more against the Big East teams, gave younger and less experienced players more court time, and rolled into the postseason mostly healthy while others teams were sore and dinged up. Paige-Azzi-Sarah could play a lot of minutes in the postseason because of that
Expand ...
This is a good point. Avoiding the wear and tear of a long season makes a difference. But there’s also a balance that needs to be struck with achieving maximum team chemistry or coordination. Last season Geno seems exactly to have hit a sweet spot between these two aspects. An 8-player rotation may be easier to manage to achieve this balance than a 10-player rotation.

Last season, Geno raised the question, who would stand up when Paige was on the bench? The ‘big three’ eventually solved this problem which allowed Geno to keep Paige’s average minutes under 30. The fact that Sarah could start from day one was key to this. But kids like that are rare, Paige-rare. The formula will be different this season in one way or another, and this may make a 10-player rotation more attractive for various reasons. For example, pressing more may address the need to have Azzi or Sarah on the floor for 30+ minutes. A ferocious, piranha-style press could alleviate the need to have both NPoY candidates on the floor so much. This is why going to 10 from 8 is more complicated than simply adding 2. Lots of considerations.
 
Bone Dog said:
This is a good point. Avoiding the wear and tear of a long season makes a difference. But there’s also a balance that needs to be struck with achieving maximum team chemistry or coordination. Last season Geno seems exactly to have hit a sweet spot between these two aspects. An 8-player rotation may be easier to manage to achieve this balance than a 10-player rotation.

Last season, Geno raised the question, who would stand up when Paige was on the bench? The ‘big three’ eventually solved this problem which allowed Geno to keep Paige’s average minutes under 30. The fact that Sarah could start from day one was key to this. But kids like that are rare, Paige-rare. The formula will be different this season in one way or another, and this may make a 10-player rotation more attractive for various reasons. For example, pressing more may address the need to have Azzi or Sarah on the floor for 30+ minutes. A ferocious, piranha-style press could alleviate the need to have both NPoY candidates on the floor so much. This is why going to 10 from 8 is more complicated than simply adding 2. Lots of considerations.
Expand ...
Good thing we have "rocket surgeons" embodied in Geno, CD, & company on the sidelines to guide and encourage these youngsters to what women's basketball should look like, with suffocating defense feeding the offense AND winning each play in front of them.

Last year, only five women played in every game, and only two started all 40 games (Sara and Chen) with Paige starting all 38 games she played. PB ended up with averaging 30.3 minutes per game, Sarah second at 28.6, Azzi (34 games/30 starts) third with 26.5, and Chen 4th with 23.4. Ash and KK were both over 20 mins each. Ice and Jana were the combination "player" in the middle (for a combined 30+ minutes per game), when Sarah + four guards were not running the amazing "small ball main event" that turned many games into a big MoV for UConn.

[rocket surgeon definition: ability to display extremely high competence and proficiency in one's chosen profession in a cerebral and technical manner as rocket scientists and brain surgeons.]

You can hear the results already when Azzi & Sarah say "I don't have an answer for your question, because I am focusing on practice time and getting ready for the upcoming opponent." ...just the facts, Ma'am.

We get to see the benefits of their focus throughout the journey.

Go Huskies!!!
 
Bone Dog said:
Last season, Geno raised the question, who would stand up when Paige was on the bench? The ‘big three’ eventually solved this problem which allowed Geno to keep Paige’s average minutes under 30. The fact that Sarah could start from day one was key to this. But kids like that are rare, Paige-rare. The formula will be different this season in one way or another
Expand ...
This is why the addition of Serah is key. Some of UConn’s best teams have had three great players as options. Think Nykesha/Rebecca/Kara, Renee/Maya/Tina, Bria/Kaleena/Breanna, and just about any combination of the 2002 team
 
HuskyNan said:
This is why the addition of Serah is key. Some of UConn’s best teams have had three great players as options. Think Nykesha/Rebecca/Kara, Renee/Maya/Tina, Bria/Kaleena/Breanna, and just about any combination of the 2002 team
Expand ...
And Paige, Sarah and Azzi. They became one of the best, if not dominant, teams in NCAA tournament history. They tied for the largest margin of victory in the Finals with the 2013 UCONN team and their victory over UCLA makes them the highest total combined margin of victory in the Final Four ever. This year, it's Serah, Sarah and Azzi which in and of itself is a great outside, wing, inside combination.
 
DEpup said:
Don't forget the most successful class in Stewie, Tuck, and MoJeff!

And i think KLS and Pheesa suffered for 3 years because they didn't have that 3rd musketeer.
Expand ...
What about Gabby Williams? Jay Bilas called her the most complete player in college basketball, men or women. And they didn't suffer too much. Their 3 year record 2017 to 2019 was 116-4. They just couldn't win the big one.
 
HuskyNan said:
This is why the addition of Serah is key. Some of UConn’s best teams have had three great players as options. Think Nykesha/Rebecca/Kara, Renee/Maya/Tina, Bria/Kaleena/Breanna, and just about any combination of the 2002 team
Expand ...
Methinks Jen Rizzotti might be curious why she's left out of your otherwise excellent list... she was only the NPOY in '96, a season after being the spark to that Rebecca/Kara/Nykesha trio as during the '95 championship run.
 
BobbyJ said:
What about Gabby Williams? Jay Bilas called her the most complete player in college basketball, men or women. And they didn't suffer too much. Their 3 year record 2017 to 2019 was 116-4. They just couldn't win the big one.
Expand ...
Calm down everyone! I love Gabby and she would have been perfect as the SF she plays today in the WNBA.

Come on though. She was forced to play center at a generous 5' 11". Not her fault and she made lemonade out of those lemons. The recruiting misses that put her in that spot cost them all including her a few championships. IMO.

Imagine those 3 years with a top level consistent true big. (Like an Azure for multiple years or even just a modern transfer policy where she could have played 2 years) By the second year when she had gotten comfortable with being on the block, combined with Pheesa and KLS then add Gabby and Kia... unstoppable.
 
BBallF said:
And Paige, Sarah and Azzi. They became one of the best, if not dominant, teams in NCAA tournament history. They tied for the largest margin of victory in the Finals with the 2013 UCONN team and their victory over UCLA makes them the highest total combined margin of victory in the Final Four ever. This year, it's Serah, Sarah and Azzi which in and of itself is a great outside, wing, inside combination.
Expand ...
Yeah, and don’t forget we have at least a couple of other players who could make that a foursome (at least) by March! This team has a lot of talent!
 
Cuango said:
Yeah, and don’t forget we have at least a couple of other players who could make that a foursome (at least) by March! This team has a lot of talent!
Expand ...
That 4th is most likely Blanca although it could be Ash.
 
It's funny how all these Uconn greats keep getting mentioned in threesomes. From Rizzotti, Sales, Lobo, Stewart, Gabby, Maya, Tina, Renee...etc...

Goes right to my earlier point on another thread.

I could name 20 Huskies I would rather have than C. Clark...

I would take all of the above and then some.

I would have to say my all time favorite was Hartley.. Before her it was Renee.
 
Skeets said:
A rotation of 10 seems almost unwieldly after having virtually no bench a couple of years ago. I will say 1 thing, only against the weaker teams can Geno afford to have all 5 starters on the bench except in the final minutes of mop up time. As is usually the case it will be 2 or 3 starters in, and 2 or 3 staters rotated out. The big difference this year is that Geno will have more choices to fill in for the 2 or 3 starters who are rotated out.
Expand ...
Even if he goes to a rotation of 10, I doubt that Geno would have all five starters out at one time against any opponent, good or bad. We have three starters that probably get significantly more minutes than the last two starters. The first substitutions are likely Kayleigh for KK, and Blanca for Ashlynn. Sarah, Azzi and Serah can stay in a little longer, and they certainly don't have to come out together, they could be staggered so that usually two of the three are in the game most of the time.
 
DEpup said:
Calm down everyone! I love Gabby and she would have been perfect as the SF she plays today in the WNBA.

Come on though. She was forced to play center at a generous 5' 11". Not her fault and she made lemonade out of those lemons. The recruiting misses that put her in that spot cost them all including her a few championships. IMO.

Imagine those 3 years with a top level consistent true big. (Like an Azure for multiple years or even just a modern transfer policy where she could have played 2 years) By the second year when she had gotten comfortable with being on the block, combined with Pheesa and KLS then add Gabby and Kia... unstoppable.
Expand ...

Don't agree with the context regarding Gabby. She was best suited for playing the position she did at UCONN. In fact her jr and sr years she led the team in assists. That made her even more effective which is why she was 1st team A/A. For UCONN a big part why they lost vs Miss State was that UCONN's guards played poorly.

And as far as Azura they had her 1 year and they got beat just like the year before. So there was no difference having the big or not having one. It was the same result.

Overall this thread has it nailed. UCONN is stronger. But in a one-and-done with 18-21 year olds along with potential injuries along with questionable refereeing- nothing is assured.

The only thing I would add is that the chemistry should be stronger this year than last because unlike last year by feeling out what a freshman can do that was so important to the team, then having Azzi out who was so important then later in the season Azzi and Paige hurt for a short time again, hopefully we won't have that issue this year. .
 
BBallF said:
That 4th is most likely Blanca although it could be Ash.
Expand ...
I think at ths point at least, it is far more likely to be Ash! Blanca is clearly very gifted but I think it may take some time before she is able to play the way Geno wants her to play. When she does it is going to be really something, but I think she has a way to go before she is ready to supplant Ash.
 
Last edited:
DEpup said:
Calm down everyone! I love Gabby and she would have been perfect as the SF she plays today in the WNBA.

Come on though. She was forced to play center at a generous 5' 11". Not her fault and she made lemonade out of those lemons. The recruiting misses that put her in that spot cost them all including her a few championships. IMO.

Imagine those 3 years with a top level consistent true big. (Like an Azure for multiple years or even just a modern transfer policy where she could have played 2 years) By the second year when she had gotten comfortable with being on the block, combined with Pheesa and KLS then add Gabby and Kia... unstoppable.
Expand ...
I have to agree about Gabby. Yes, she was an unbelievable talent and like Sarah, was able to play every position, even the 5 at a very high level. However, there surely can be no argument that that team would have been better with a skilled big with legitimate size in the post. This would have freed Gabby to dominate in the 3/4 spot/s. Even with Sarah, who I feel is as good as any of us has seen in terms of playing all positions, our team will be better with a legit big girl in the post.

By the way, this is not to diminish Jana in any way. I believe she will become a true force for us in the post but was simply not ready to start showing that until the last few games of last season. One of the reasons I’m so happy about Serah is because of Jana. I think she (Jana) is fully healthy now, both physically and mentally, and having a quality big as a mentor/sparring partner this season is going to turn Jana into not only a dominant post for us next year, but will also provide for Olivia the same thing that Jana will benefit from this season; a big time, experienced mentor/ sparring partner!

Geno has once again shown what a master he is at assembling talent that builds upon itself to keep the program at a continuing high level.
 
DEpup said:
Calm down everyone! I love Gabby and she would have been perfect as the SF she plays today in the WNBA.

Come on though. She was forced to play center at a generous 5' 11". Not her fault and she made lemonade out of those lemons. The recruiting misses that put her in that spot cost them all including her a few championships. IMO.

Imagine those 3 years with a top level consistent true big. (Like an Azure for multiple years or even just a modern transfer policy where she could have played 2 years) By the second year when she had gotten comfortable with being on the block, combined with Pheesa and KLS then add Gabby and Kia... unstoppable.
Expand ...
You mean like last year when Strong and four guards decimated the NC tournament? There was no "top level consistent true big" on that team. It's not what you have, it's WHO you have. How much more unstoppable can you get than 116-4? Lack of size didn't beat them, UConn just couldn't make the plays they needed in those tournaments.
 
Here are my 5:
1) Depth at every position
2) Serah Williams give us scoring and defense in the post, which we haven't seen in a few years
3) An improved Sarah Strong. Scary to think the Sarah we saw last year could improve.
4) Lots of three point shooting
5) Coaches and players that have vast experience winning. They know what it takes.
 
Bigboote said:
I'd add to that that Sarah is the best-passing big UConn has had since Gabby, and she may wind up being better. What a luxury. She may very well lead UConn in assists for two or three years.
Expand ...
A traditional forward like Strong....over Gabbie a guard who played forward for us.....
 
HuskyNan said:
This is why the addition of Serah is key
Expand ...
Absolutely Nan! Obviously her low post offense makes us a much better team, but having a strong post presence as a potential "eraser" allows our perimeter to guard more aggressively out to the three-point line. That and the depth we have create the opportunity to be a better defensive team this year than last year.

We are still doomed, of course.
 
Louisville will make for a very interesting way to see how these players play together, There was a period a few years ago when the team seemed to be trying to rely on Paige for everything and suffered as a result (not the least of which happened when Paige got hurt. I saw the game immediately after that at Ga Tech -- a real stinker -- and you could see a team that was completely lost out there). My point here is that I would hate to see them do the same thing with Sarah. I don't think they will, because this year's version has more go-to players, but it's something I'll be looking at.

Nan's point about being able to sub in players is spot on. I think there will be a period of time when certain groups of five don't quite get it together. Geno will be figuring that out as we go. But assuming no injuries, he should have it down by about halfway through the season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Online statistics

Members online
313
Guests online
5,606
Total visitors
5,919
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
164,916
Messages
4,414,769
Members
10,239
Latest member
puggalo


.
..
Top Bottom