A New Starting Lineup?

[Gus Mahler]

Can it? Sure. Will it? Undoubtedly. But that doesn't mean we will stop talking about this.

I'll echo some of the voices above that I think it's very unlikely KK won't continue to be the starter. I think she runs the offense better and provides the stability needed at the point in the beginning of games.

I'm less confident about Ashlynn. She plays hard in her presence is felt all over the court often in ways that do not show up in the boxscore. At least through the end of the year, I think she will continue as a starter, but undoubtedly Heckel and Blanca are making cases for themselves particularly with their offense.

If I were to guess I would anticipate both KK and Shade continuing as starters, but their minutes would be reduced in order to make more time for other players. Ultimately, that's probably a good thing as it lets every player give maximum output during their time on the court.

One final thought, which I think is a little counterintuitive, Blanca and Heckel may get some minutes from Williams. While they aren't at the same position, Geno has shown a preference for his small ball lineup. Ultimately there's only 400 minutes to go around. As players such as Blanca and Heckel show they can contribute, minutes will have to be adjusted to get them playing time. But that doesn't need to be a position for a position sub like you would see in football. I like playing the team with less individual minutes as I think it allows the players to stay fresh during the game and hopefully makes them less prone to injury.

(For what it's worth, I like Blanca as a sub for Strong for at least a couple of minutes per half. No one can replace with Sarah can do, but two minutes per half would reduce her to 36 minutes overall, which I think is more manageable and Blanca, though not yet the complete player that Strong is, offers a high octane boost to our offense. Opposing defenders breathing a sigh of relief as Sarah goes to the bench would inwardly groan when they realize they now have to account for Blanca attacking at 100 mph.)

Not sure your math is mathin'.

 

[CL82]

Not sure your math is mathin'.

Every two games?

 

[ec33]

... come off the bench once again as "super agitators".

When Blanca and K9 came in the game the team switches to a full court press. That is your change of tone.

At this point, it is KK and Ash that are the steady hands that are trusted and played the majority of the minutes against Michigan despite doing little with that time.

 

[Stagnant]

Shade is shooting 35% from the field and 20% from 3. I know she hustles and does other good things on the court. But she is moving to the bench if those numbers don’t improve. There is a large enough body of work to expect them to improve tbf. Another tbf though… i wanted to see how KK and Shade looked this year without Paige. I really believe Paige opened the game up for the two of them a lot.

 

[Ct Dog]

Shade is shooting 35% from the field and 20% from 3. I know she hustles and does other good things on the court. But she is moving to the bench if those numbers don’t improve. There is a large enough body of work to expect them to improve tbf. Another tbf though… i wanted to see how KK and Shade looked this year without Paige. I really believe Paige opened the game up for the two of them a lot.

Great post and spot on.

 

[visitingcock]

She should be nicknamed "Beep Beep." Reminds me of "Hey Buddy how can I get this car out of second gear?"

Omg, my big sister had that and Ahab the Arab on 45’s. I drove my parents crazy playing those two songs . Haven’t even thought about them in Half a century! Thanks!

 

[HopJim]

I more or less agree that we’re likely to see Sarah and Azzi bring the ball up the court in pressure situations. And we’ve already seen Geno have Allie do the same on a few occasions against tOSU, Michigan and Utah. But I don’t think we’ll see her start anytime soon.

I suspect Blanca will replace Ash as a starter eventually, though perhaps not before the end of January. But replacing KK as a starter seems a lot trickier. Kayleigh is not yet a better option, and Azzi is not a better passer than KK. Geno may well prefer the energy KK brings off the bench and still not have a better option for the starting lineup.

No one can replace KK's defense and her outside shooting is improving. Suspect Geno would like to have her on the court for MORE minutes and his comment regarding "off the bench" is more related to his desire of having a bench player with her energy being available. Unlikely to be hint regarding KK not starting.
While no one seems to be mentioning this, I could see Blanca taking minutes away from Serah, potentially becoming a starter at the "5." While shorter than Williams, she appears physically stronger and much more active in going after the ball. She would likely add more offense. Suspect Geno is evaluating Blanca more on how she performs in the high pressure games such as Michigan.

 

[Cuango]

I think meyers7’s post (#32) says everything that needs to be said on this subjct for now! I find it very difficult to believe he will mess with a lineup that is giving him a 25.2to 11.3 start every game! (average)) He did speak somewhat wistfully of when KK and Ash were comng off the bench but it looks to me as if he essentially has that same kind of weapon with Blanca & K9! Not quite the same as they (especially K9) are not as consistent and provide a slightly different dynamic than KK & Ash but still game changing. I believe this will only get better as both of them continue to settle in to their roles. However, for the foreseeable future, I just can’t see him messing with what is clearly already working so well.

I won’t say that Ash will never be switched with Blanca as it seems clear that we have somehow found yet another future all-american to add to this incredible roster. For awhile, I was a bit skeptical of what I saw as the usual hyperbolic takes on a new player but, I’m convinced! It really does look as though the sky is the limit for this young woman! Hard to believe we’re adding Olivia and Jovana to this already unbelievable group of players and that, from everything I’m hearing about both of them, it is likely we will be having these same kinds of conversations regarding their talents! It’s good to be a UConn fan!

 

[ERWUC65]

Great post and spot on.

Ditto. Both Ash and KK are pressing due to Paige's absence. As teams focus more on Sarah as they did last year on Paige, it should open up the floor for them. Ash needs time to set for her 3pt shot and KK just needs a bit more time to realize she is THE pg on this team.

 

[Scud49]

Omg, my big sister had that and Ahab the Arab on 45’s. I drove my parents crazy playing those two songs . Haven’t even thought about them in Half a century! Thanks!

OMG. You just did it me, my day is shot now. Ahab is in my head on constant repeat. Some day I shall wreak my revenge!😝😛😛😛😛

 

[CL82]

In a "track meet" type game, I would like to see a lot of Sarah, Azzi, Blanca, KK, and K9. Hopefully, Geno has a lot of race cars in the garage, as Blanca, KK, & K9 will run the tires off the rims as they drive hard into the turns.

Not statements about starters, but the defense, fast breaks, and points off turnovers should be ridiculous! 😍 🔥 🔥 🔥 😍

Go Huskies!!!

That is an unbelievably quick lineup.

 

[CL82]

-Geno will have a "small" lineup. I don't think those 5 are established yet. I would love to see a situation where a "big" lineup is needed. I also wonder what that will look like.

Strong, Williams and El-Alfy?

 

[Cuango]

OMG. You just did it me, my day is shot now. Ahab is in my head on constant repeat. Some day I shall wreak my revenge!😝😛😛😛😛

“Novelty” songs, a good subject for one of the offseason song posts.

 

[Cuango]

Strong, Williams and El-Alfy?

Williams, ElAlfy, Blanca, Strong, and Morgan? A point, shooting guard, wing, forward, and post! All at least 6’2”-6’5”!

 

[victor64]

Strong, Williams and El-Alfy?

Those 3, Blanca and CD. With Strong playing point. Will never happen like ever but would be fun to see🙂.

 

[CL82]

Those 3, Blanca and CD. With Strong playing point. Will never happen like ever but would be fun to see🙂.

I actually thought about including Blanca. The question is where do you play her? I was thinking Strong at the three, Williams at the four and Jana at center. So do you play Blanca at the two? Not that positions in our system are etched in stone. Who would you put as point guard?

Carol hasn't shown herself to be effective anymore. As I posted in a different thread, I choose to celebrate the fact she's back on the court at all.

 

[victor64]

I actually thought about including Blanca. The question is where do you play her? I was thinking Strong at the three, Williams at the four and Jana at center. So do you play Blanca at the two? Not that positions in our system are etched in stone. Who would you put as point guard?

Carol hasn't shown herself to be effective anymore. As I posted in a different thread, I choose to celebrate the fact she's back on the court at all.

I was attempting humor.😎 To finish the attempt, strong at 1, Cd at 2, Blanca at 3, Serah at 4, Jana at 5.

I think CD is moving ok. I would guess she is 80 to 90% of her old self. Probably a lot stronger than she was prior to concussions. I wonder if the narrative would be different if she was knocking down shots. Her shot with little arc is not paying dividends. Still cheering for her though. I think she wants more than just being able to be on the floor.

 

[CL82]

I was attempting humor.😎 To finish the attempt, strong at 1, Cd at 2, Blanca at 3, Serah at 4, Jana at 5.

I think CD is moving ok. I would guess she is 80 to 90% of her old self. Probably a lot stronger than she was prior to concussions. I wonder if the narrative would be different if she was knocking down shots. Her shot with little arc is not paying dividends. Still cheering for her though. I think she wants more than just being able to be on the floor.

Yeah, I don't see her moving well at all. That's to be expected. It was a long road back. That said, I do love when they swing the ball to her for an open three attempt.

Completely get that it was just a fun exercise. But it could be a functional line provided you had a workable point guard.

 

[HuskieDawg]

Who starts is less important than who is on the court at the end of a (close) game or big game. That’s when you see what Geno wants and who he expects to deliver it.

 

[Bone Dog]

Who starts is less important than who is on the court at the end of a (close) game or big game. That’s when you see what Geno wants and who he expects to deliver it.

How often are non-starters on the court at the end of close games?

 

[HuskieDawg]

How often are non-starters on the court at the end of close games?

The origin of this thread was who should be a new starter/ who could move into the starting lineup. Most of the posts talk about who should start and who goes to the bench.

I just presented it in a different way that it doesn’t matter who starts its who finishes the game and your faking a question when you feel you have the answer to already.

This wouldn’t be the first time someone has said focus on who is in at the end of the game and don’t worry about who starts it. It’s been said by other people in other sports. I am not smart enough to come up with it on own.

 

[Bone Dog]

I just presented it in a different way that it doesn’t matter who starts its who finishes the game and your faking a question when you feel you have the answer to already.

This wouldn’t be the first time someone has said focus on who is in at the end of the game and don’t worry about who starts it. It’s been said by other people in other sports. I am not smart enough to come up with it on own.

I’m not faking anything. I don’t know the answer. And you’re right that folks often try to dismiss any curiosity about changes in the starting lineup by invoking this idea of the greater importance of the ending lineup.

The question of whether these are really different lineups is both natural and worth asking precisely because of this. If they are often the same lineups, then asking who should start is the same as asking who should finish. If they often aren’t the same, then the question about who starts is not nearly as interesting or important as who finishes games.

I’m genuinely curious about this, and I’m surprised that you’re not, if you really aren’t. I think this season, we’re probably only going to see handful of such games, and maybe none in conference play. But we’re likely to see a few in the tournament, which means the question has some importance.

Last season in the tournament, it was only the USC game that was still close in the final few minutes. I don’t have it sharply in my mind who was on the court at the end, but I suspect it was at least Paige Azzi and Sarah. Was Kaitlyn on the floor? Was it Jana or Ash or KK?

I also remember something Dawn apparently said, that UConn wasn’t used to being in close games at the end. She hoped to keep her game close just to try to create a situation UConn wasn’t ready for. Of course, it didn’t work out that way. But it suggests another aspect of the question that may be important, namely whether the best closers are also the starters. Or do we sometimes find that first subs do better in such situations?

 

[Viet Vet]

KK, Heckel, Strong, Fudd, Quinonez

 

[hookshot]

No one can replace KK's defense and her outside shooting is improving. Suspect Geno would like to have her on the court for MORE minutes and his comment regarding "off the bench" is more related to his desire of having a bench player with her energy being available. Unlikely to be hint regarding KK not starting.
While no one seems to be mentioning this, I could see Blanca taking minutes away from Serah, potentially becoming a starter at the "5." While shorter than Williams, she appears physically stronger and much more active in going after the ball. She would likely add more offense. Suspect Geno is evaluating Blanca more on how she performs in the high pressure games such as Michigan.

Did you mean no one or several ones

KK, Heckel, Strong, Fudd, Quinonez

The road runners

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I’m not faking anything. I don’t know the answer. And you’re right that folks often try to dismiss any curiosity about changes in the starting lineup by invoking this idea of the greater importance of the ending lineup.

The question of whether these are really different lineups is both natural and worth asking precisely because of this. If they are often the same lineups, then asking who should start is the same as asking who should finish. If they often aren’t the same, then the question about who starts is not nearly as interesting or important as who finishes games.

I’m genuinely curious about this, and I’m surprised that you’re not, if you really aren’t. I think this season, we’re probably only going to see handful of such games, and maybe none in conference play. But we’re likely to see a few in the tournament, which means the question has some importance.

Last season in the tournament, it was only the USC game that was still close in the final few minutes. I don’t have it sharply in my mind who was on the court at the end, but I suspect it was at least Paige Azzi and Sarah. Was Kaitlyn on the floor? Was it Jana or Ash or KK?

I also remember something Dawn apparently said, that UConn wasn’t used to being in close games at the end. She hoped to keep her game close just to try to create a situation UConn wasn’t ready for. Of course, it didn’t work out that way. But it suggests another aspect of the question that may be important, namely whether the best closers are also the starters. Or do we sometimes find that first subs do better in such situations?

Assuming that UConn is slightly ahead, it would be for that given day or a "hunch" by Geno (kind of like the elevator door screen): 1) best free throwers; 2) best defenders (not necessarily full court pressers); 3) best mix to spread the floor on offense.

Illness, nicked up during the game, etc. may prevent the starters from playing in the final moments of a close game...

At the end of the season, NO coach (or coaching staff) does it better than Geno, CD & Company. They will be ready and time outs to talk it up with the players who are there to ice the game OR make the plays to win the game in regulation (& OT if necessary).

Not worried!

Go Huskies!!!