5 Reasons UConn has Improved

[Bigboote]

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.

It even goes beyond Serah, though, as Sarah is a good shot blocker and help defender. What I really hope is that Blanca will prove a good shot blocker, and Jana and Ayanna learn to block shots without fouling. Ice's blocks per 40 are about the same as those two, btw, so Serah and Ice or Jana and Sarah should still be good defensive combos.

 

[The deacon]

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

I would take all of the above and then some.

Your original point was valid, but saying this... well, that's just being silly. Each to her or his own, but this is hyperbole taken to the max.

 

[CL82]

It even goes beyond Serah, though, as Sarah is a good shot blocker and help defender. What I really hope is that Blanca will prove a good shot blocker, and Jana and Ayanna learn to block shots without fouling. Ice's blocks per 40 are about the same as those two, btw, so Serah and Ice or Jana and Sarah should still be good defensive combos.

I don't expect Jana and Serah to be on the floor a lot together, except in unique circumstances, but I do think we will see it for 2-3 minutes every game just because that allows us to keep both of their per game minutes higher. Jana is still developing her offensive game in putting her on the court with Serah means we have one less shooter in the game. Expect to see a lot of four man out sets, and we can't do that as effectively with both Jana and Serah in the game at the same time.

I completely agree that our post depth is the most we've seen in years. That does position us to be "intelligently aggressive" in the low post.

 

[QtrCrtPress]

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.

The 10 player rotation WITH versatility will help long term especially in the Big East where there are some varied styles of play. The pick and pop shoot a 3 offense of Creighton can differ from Seton Hall or the physicality of G-Town.

I would say I think that the Big East play could cost Azzi and Sarah the NPOY if folks don't see them on the court as much or in competitive games.

 

[ucmiami2]

The issue with 'great' NC teams is chemistry on the roster on top of great talent, and last year had both by the end of the year. Talent wise this year is great (and deep), and we have yet to see how the chemistry plays out. Having a larger than typical healthy talented roster may impact the building of that chemistry. Building chemistry on the court with a seven player rotation is a lot easier that building it with 10+/- because the number of combinations on the court explodes with each additional player in a rotation. Some of that can be alleviated by hockey line type substitutions (three forward lines of three/3 defensive lines of 2/occasional all 5 player changes) reducing the different combinations.

It is going to be a long process of development for the coaches, and It wouldn't surprise me if Geno still reduces the NCAA rotation to 7 or 8 core players.

(Geno's most talent teams were of course his National teams - 2014 WC final for example 5 players at 20-29 minutes, 3 players at 16-17 minutes, everyone else below 10. Alternatively - the 2016 Olympic team which was his best with a 30 point final - 11 of 12 players played more than 10 minutes and the cumulative box score for the 8 games had DT with 24min/gm, Augustus with 20min/gm, and the other ten ranging from 10.4 - 19.5. That competition was more like a season in the American Athletic Conference with an MOV of 37 for the tournament and the only game under 20 was the semi final vs France (MOV 19.)

 

[1974yankees]

Your original point was valid, but saying this... well, that's just being silly. Each to her or his own, but this is hyperbole taken to the max.

You wouldn't take:
Gabby over Clark?
Stewart over Clark?
Diana over Clark?
Maya over Clark?
Paige over Clark?
Collier over Clark?
Jefferson (4 time National champion) over Clark?
Bird over Clark?
Tina, Renee, Lobo, Sales and Rizzotti over Clark?
Svetlana over Clark in a heartbeat?
Sara over Clark in a heartbeat?

That's 15 right there off the top of my head.

I would also take Bria Hartley over Clark. So that's 16.

 

[Cornell Lt]

I'm not concerned about the rotation, whatever it may be, because of the amount of athleticism that this roster has. Its going to be fun to watch it all unfold.

 

[The deacon]

You wouldn't take:
Gabby over Clark?
Stewart over Clark?
Diana over Clark?
Maya over Clark?
Paige over Clark?
Collier over Clark?
Jefferson (4 time National champion) over Clark?
Bird over Clark?
Tina, Renee, Lobo, Sales and Rizzotti over Clark?
Svetlana over Clark in a heartbeat?
Sara over Clark in a heartbeat?

That's 15 right there off the top of my head.

I would also take Bria Hartley over Clark. So that's 16.

As I said, to each her/his own... 😉like you, I rooted for each of those Huskies, and admired their talents.

 

[1974yankees]

As I said, to each her/his own... 😉like you, I rooted for each of those Huskies, and admired their talents.

I haven't even gotten to the hall of fame Tennessee players yet lol. If I did that Clark might be ranked the 50th best player of all time. 😀

 

[hookshot]

You wouldn't take:
Gabby over Clark?
Stewart over Clark?
Diana over Clark?
Maya over Clark?
Paige over Clark?
Collier over Clark?
Jefferson (4 time National champion) over Clark?
Bird over Clark?
Tina, Renee, Lobo, Sales and Rizzotti over Clark?
Svetlana over Clark in a heartbeat?
Sara over Clark in a heartbeat?

That's 15 right there off the top of my head.

I would also take Bria Hartley over Clark. So that's 16.

You'd strike some fear in Clark with Rizzotti

 

[The deacon]

I haven't even gotten to the hall of fame Tennessee players yet lol. If I did that Clark might be ranked the 50th best player of all time. 😀

If I had any doubt before, now I know you've got tongue planted firmly in cheek...

 

[DennieEddy]

I believe she played the 5 for most games.

It's really machs nich

I believe she played the 5 for most games.

It's really macht nichts, but the UConn website lists her as a forward.

 

[browns]

You wouldn't take:
Gabby over Clark?
Stewart over Clark?
Diana over Clark?
Maya over Clark?
Paige over Clark?
Collier over Clark?
Jefferson (4 time National champion) over Clark?
Bird over Clark?
Tina, Renee, Lobo, Sales and Rizzotti over Clark?
Svetlana over Clark in a heartbeat?
Sara over Clark in a heartbeat?

That's 15 right there off the top of my head.

I would also take Bria Hartley over Clark. So that's 16.

Stewie,DT,and Maya I can see.CC is much better than the rest you mentioned and by far not even debateable..how many championships would Clark have if she played with other AA's like those 3 played with

 

[Bone Dog]

Stewie,DT,and Maya I can see.CC is much better than the rest you mentioned and by far not even debateable..how many championships would Clark have if she played with other AA's like those 3 played with

Zero, if you mean she'd take Stewie's place, or Diana's or Maya's. She has yet to show she can consistently play with other greats. She is great in her own way. But that's not the same as lifting a team to a championship.

 

[1974yankees]

Stewie,DT,and Maya I can see.CC is much better than the rest you mentioned and by far not even debateable..how many championships would Clark have if she played with other AA's like those 3 played with

I agree with Bone Dog. Clark would win zero championships because she hasn't proven she can play with other great players.

There isn't a single player I listed who I wouldn't take over Clark...

The other great thing about those Uconn players is that they checked their egos at the door when they all arrived at Uconn. Everyone of them have something that Clark does not have.

The ability to learn that basketball is a team sport.

Even Michael Jordan realized this but it took him 7 years in the NBA to start winning championships. For the first 6 years, Jordan would score 60 and lose.

There were several reasons why Geno didn't recruit Clark too. Of course the obvious one is that Paige and Clark played the same position...

But there were other reasons Geno passed on Clark. Immaturity was a big factor.

 

[Cuango]

I agree with Bone Dog. Clark would win zero championships because she hasn't proven she can play with other great players.

There isn't a single player I listed who I wouldn't take over Clark...

The other great thing about those Uconn players is that they checked their egos at the door when they all arrived at Uconn. Everyone of them have something that Clark does not have.

The ability to learn that basketball is a team sport.

Even Michael Jordan realized this but it took him 7 years in the NBA to start winning championships. For the first 6 years, Jordan would score 60 and lose.

There were several reasons why Geno didn't recruit Clark too. Of course the obvious one is that Paige and Clark played the same position...

But there were other reasons Geno passed on Clark. Immaturity was a big factor.

When has she had an opportunity to play with a team remotely close to the teams those players you mentioned played with? Are you seriously claiming that if she had had Stewie, Mo, KML, Morgan, Gabby, Kiah, and Kia on her team they might not (definitely would have imo) have beaten South Carolina or LSU? How about Sue, Dee, Swin, etc.?
I’d say a career average of 8.2 assists per game says that she is a pretty good team player.

Geno didn’t recruit Clark because he had his eyes set on Paige for years.
I’m not here to carry water for Clark. As I’ve said before, I’m a Paige man but this ludicrous idea that Clark could be the 50th best player (presumably even lower if adding one more team’s players dropped her 30 places) is, as someone else said earlier in this thread, just silly. She is manifestly, one of the best college players ever and if she could ever play in a league that did not actively hate her and constantly attempt to injure her she would dominate there as well!

Finally, refresh my memory, which of those players you are lauding as being so much better than Clark, were picked up (from day one of their rookie season, assuming they were even drafted) by the opposing team’s best defender 94 feet from the basket? How many of them suffered routine cheap shots from other players virtually every game?

You clearly don’t care for her. That’s fine, but belittling a clearly great player because you don’t like her doesn’t change objective reality! By the way, I’m done here, but there are a lot of players on your list that would be second to Clark by virtually anyone choosing from a draft made up of that list + Clark! I suppose Indiana and all those teams that wished they were Indiana were all wrong. Not to mention all the analysts who ranked her as the #1 choice in her draft? Oh, and how about Kelsey Mitchell (a great player in her own right) who played for Indiana from 2018 and never even sniffed the playoffs until Clark arrived and played team basketball with her and the rest of the team and (voila!) made the Eastern Conference semifinals?

 

[1974yankees]

When has she had an opportunity to play with a team remotely close to the teams those players you mentioned played with? Are you seriously claiming that if she had had Stewie, Mo, KML, Morgan, Gabby, Kiah, and Kia on her team they might not (definitely would have imo) have beaten South Carolina or LSU? How about Sue, Dee, Swin, etc.?
I’d say a career average of 8.2 assists per game says that she is a pretty good team player.

Geno didn’t recruit Clark because he had his eyes set on Paige for years.
I’m not here to carry water for Clark. As I’ve said before, I’m a Paige man but this ludicrous idea that Clark could be the 50th best player (presumably even lower if adding one more team’s players dropped her 30 places) is, as someone else said earlier in this thread, just silly. She is manifestly, one of the best college players ever and if she could ever play in a league that did not actively hate her and constantly attempt to injure her she would dominate there as well!

Finally, refresh my memory, which of those players you are lauding as being so much better than Clark, were picked up (from day one of their rookie season, assuming they were even drafted) by the opposing team’s best defender 94 feet from the basket? How many of them suffered routine cheap shots from other players virtually every game?

You clearly don’t care for her. That’s fine, but belittling a clearly great player because you don’t like her doesn’t change objective reality! By the way, I’m done here, but there are a lot of players on your list that would be second to Clark by virtually anyone choosing from a draft made up of that list + Clark! I suppose Indiana and all those teams that wished they were Indiana were all wrong. Not to mention all the analysts who ranked her as the #1 choice in her draft? Oh, and how about Kelsey Mitchell (a great player in her own right) who played for Indiana from 2018 and never even sniffed the playoffs until Clark arrived and played team basketball with her and the rest of the team and (voila!) made the Eastern Conference semifinals?

"Geno didn't recruit Clark because he had his eyes on Paige "

True. But there is so much more to his not recruiting Clark. I didn't want to post any of that back story stuff here but you can do your research.... Clark wanted to be recruited by Uconn but there were some serious issues about her "temper tantrums" in high school.

Geno looked at her and didn't like what he heard apparently. Her high school coaches discussed this. She had a lot of outbursts and sarcastic remarks towards her own coaches... Not Uconn material.

Look it up. It's all there.

I don't hate Clark at all. I just think she is a media creation. Yes she is an excellent player but like I said before, Uconn had at least 20 players as good or better. So did many of Pats players.. How about Griner? How about Cheryl Mills? Both better than Clark.

 

[JellyBean]

UConn has improved because of the players embracing their roles on the team.