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Message: [QUOTE="Alydar, post: 3439107, member: 730"] While the last few recruiting classes have been thin, in part due to them hanging their hats on a few key targets who ended up going elsewhere, and partly due to players deciding (or encouraged) to transfer, There were also 2 NPOY's and a couple of top 5 types, who would be welcomed with trumpets blaring at any other program. Five players are leaving but four of them haven't added much this year. If nothing else Bueckers, Westbrook, Edwards and McClean will add a lot more quickness and if utilized in an open court style can add a great deal to the team's depth. And given that both Oregon and Baylor will be losing key players and will be a lot younger and less experienced, UConn will be in the thick of it and very competitive against the top teams. I am convinced that this year's problems is a direct result of a failure of the sophomores and junior and the senior to a lesser extent not being integrated more aggressively into the offense in the last 2 years. The reasons for that are unclear but the net result has been a 6 player rotation that had little to no experience playing together. There are diamonds on this roster but until they learn to play as one unit they won't look like it. I am highly optimistic that this year's trial and tribulations will pay dividends next season. I have noticed that in many team sports some fans are unwilling to give players a chance to get better. If a rookie struggles there are calls to [I]"trade them/waive them"[/I], [I]"they aren't the answer"[/I], and [I]"draft/sign XXX or YYY, they are what we need"[/I]. It becomes an endless process where games are filled with unforced errors due almost entirely to a lack of experience. As much as I scream with frustration at my TV this season I am convinced that things will be much better next year. As far as Bueckers physical readiness for college I agree that she needs to get stronger and better conditioned. I looked up Taurasi's freshman stats and she averaged 24 minutes/game. Of course she was joining a team filled with proven stars but she wasn't the cut and muscled guard we see today or we saw in her senior year. Bueckers will be fine. She is 7 inches taller than Dangerfield, who came in with a cut body, and 5 inches taller than Jefferson, who came in as thin as Bueckers. She'll be even stronger next season and If they want to bang her they'll have to catch her first. [/QUOTE]

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