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Message: [QUOTE="Carnac, post: 3868781, member: 5798"] THAT has been my platform all season. I see the things Aaliyah and Paige are doing now. I'm looking ahead to next season. I shake my head as I try to contemplate how good they are going to be next season. If you think Aaliyah is tough now, wait until November. As a rule, (in Geno's program) I don't expect much of anything from freshmen because HE doesn't. How many times have we[B] heard him say[/B] that it takes "the average" freshman A FULL YEAR to learn his system, and be able to play in it? I've become "conditioned" to believe that and expect it. This year appearing to be no different than any other, we were blessed with a plethora of freshmen. This team is top heavy with freshmen, and thus my optimism for this team to do great things was not high. As a rule, freshmen play like freshmen, make freshmen mistakes and do not provide any leadership. During the summer I was of the opinion that whatever success this team was to have, would be solely based the ability of the returning players to lead and carry this team. I was sold on Bueckers' as a standout at the HS level, but NOT at THIS level. I was from Missouri on that possibility. Well, as it turns out, Paige, Aaliyah and Nika ARE NOT your average freshmen. They have come in, learned the system and flourished in it, and did it in a relatively short amount of time. This team would not have enjoyed the success they have if not for these three freshmen. There have been games were they have outplayed the returning players. Several times this season, all 3 were in the starting line up. They become more comfortable and more confident with each passing game. Knowing that she has experienced a 20+ point / 14 rebound game, don't you think Aaliyah will be striving to do it again, and again, and again? Paige has played enough games to know that "she's got this", and the league is her oyster. She knows that she can do just about whatever she wants to. Nika too. If this UConn team can continue to play at the level they've played at since the loss, I really believe they can go deep into the tournament. I How deep is to be determined. It won't be uncommon or unexpected if any of the freshmen have a breakout game. I feel better about this team today than I did 3 weeks ago. :cool: [/QUOTE]

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