Allie the defender

[Skeets]

For many here on the BY, myself included, I think there was an expectation that Allie would become a solid “role player” at UConn. But her recent play clearly indicates a much higher upside. Right now she is the odds on favorite to step into Azzi’s spot next season. As for her future, all-conference and even all-American do not seem to be out of reach.

That's a little bit of a stretch in my opinion, the implication being that she will fill the void created by Azzi leaving, but I suppose it's plausible. Good chance she will be a starter, however.

 

[Bone Dog]

That's a little bit of a stretch in my opinion, the implication being that she will fill the void created by Azzi leaving, but I suppose it's plausible. Good chance she will be a starter, however.

I agree with @oldude on this one. Not that Allie is going to be all the player Azzi has been. Of course not. But she will fill that spot in the team concept. She'll be the 3 next to KK/Kayleigh at the 1 and Ash/Kelis at the 2. She'll be one of the deadly perimeter snipers we rely on to open up the paint. That's the natural progression of the roster we see before us. With Sarah and Blanca in the lineup, there won't be nearly as much pressure on Allie to do all the things Azzi could do. The stress points in the team will fall differently. We could see that even if we were riding by on a flying horse.

But eventually, Allie will assert herself in ways that we can only guess at now. I'm in full prediction mode now, so feel free to disagree. Will she become another bucket-getter, that unicorn who can rescue a team in the doldrums, stop an opposing team's run, and strike fear into opposing coaches? That's hard to say. But I am optimistic.

One last musing: who will be Allie's backup at the 3? It could be Jovana eventually. But it could also be Morgan if she can recover her form. And it might be Blanca for when Geno plays Olivia next to Sarah.

 

[oldude]

That's a little bit of a stretch in my opinion, the implication being that she will fill the void created by Azzi leaving, but I suppose it's plausible. Good chance she will be a starter, however.

Well, somebody has to step into the void that’s created once Azzi leaves. Who better than Allie? The only other player who might be remotely able to replace Azzi’s shooting ability could be Jovana and I certainly don’t expect that to occur on day 1.

 

[ec33]

There are degrees here and what Geno is trying to accomplish with his defense. Allie is doing far better than anticipated defensively. I don't think she sees the game as well as Azzi so there is some drop off there, but on the other hand Allie has enough size that she handle matchups playing the "4" in a small lineup.

However, this does make put her on a par with KK, Ash, Sarah, Serah, Blanca, and K9 defensively. Azzi's instrincts and being Azzi offensively allows for her inclusion in the "defense as a weapon" team. Allie is getting there -- but she needs to be more consistent offensively.

Again not trying to say anything negative because I think she is achieving at a higher level defensively than anticipated this year -- but her success in the Tennessee game came in the second half when Tennessee was obviously fatiguing and playing far less cohesively. She was better able to find open shots (versus the air ball in the first half against a more active Tennessee defense).

She remains on the "pick your spots with her" type category, but her general momentum is certainly trending toward more positive things. Lots of good things on the horizon.

 

[ec33]

Well, somebody has to step into the void that’s created once Azzi leaves. Who better than Allie? The only other player who might be remotely able to replace Azzi’s shooting ability could be Jovana and I certainly don’t expect that to occur on day 1.

I would imagine Blanca is going to start. Allie is going to fill that early substitution role that Blanca now has when Geno abandons the center position early in games. And Sarah, Blanca, and Allie isn't all that small for a small lineup especially when you have the rebounding of Ash and then likely K9 coming in shortly after Allie.

 

[oldude]

I would imagine Blanca is going to start. Allie is going to fill that early substitution role that Blanca now has when Geno abandons the center position early in games. And Sarah, Blanca, and Allie isn't all that small for a small lineup especially when you have the rebounding of Ash and then likely K9 coming in shortly after Allie.

Blanca may start at forward in place of Serah. Don’t underestimate how important it is in Geno’s offense to spread the floor with 3 or more big time shooters, and Allie is definitely a big time shooter.

 

[Tonyc]

Allie over the past few games has come a long way. She is a pleasant surprise and a surprise many of us weren't expecting. Next season we need replacements for the positions left open by Serah and Azzi. As of right now Allie is a shooter and has experience.

Next It always got back to having a nucleus you can trust and build on. Allie looks like she will fill one of the two open positions. Blanca looks to fill the other. Now that leaves us without a big. Our bigs are Jana Gandy and Oliva. Gandy and Oliva need experience. Oliva didn't come here to sit. She can play anywhere. She will see significant minutes because she's that good. Now we look at the rest of the Bigs on our roster, and they are Morgan Yana Ice. How have they progressed from their injuries, and will they be ready to step in? Those are the questions we have no answer for.

Im thinking our starting lineup will be Sarah Blanca Ashlynn Allie KK. Everybody else will be coming off the bench and who fills in to give the starters a rest will be those people Geno trusts in the lineup. With that lineup we have experience and the core of this season's defense intact again.

Jovana we dont have enough information on other than what we have read and seen in videos. If shes the shooter and ballhandler that we have been told and seen in videos she will be coming off the bench quickly. I would think right now without knowing enough about Jovana and those coming back from injury I would have to go with firsts off the bench, Kayleigh Oliva and two or three others.

So, for guards KK Ashlynn Allie Kayleigh Kelis and Jovana. For bigs Sarah Blanca Morgan (who could also be a guard) Ice and Yana. Post players are Jana Gandy and Oliva.

Geno will have options next season.

 

[Cuango]

That's a little bit of a stretch in my opinion, the implication being that she will fill the void created by Azzi leaving, but I suppose it's plausible. Good chance she will be a starter, however.

I didn’t read that @oldude meant that Allie would take Azzi’s place in efficacy, merely that she is one of the logical players to potentially step into that slot when Azzi leaves. Speaking of which, what a great thing it is to have players in the bank that may be able to minimize the void that is left when a great player graduates. We have some potentially very good players in Allie, Morgan, Jana, K9, and Blanca as well as Kelis and Gandy! Those last two may be a little further away but I have little doubt they too will be good players for us. I think it’s very possible that we will see an All American and perhaps an HM from that first group before it’s all said and done.

 

[ec33]

Blanca may start at forward in place of Serah. Don’t underestimate how important it is in Geno’s offense to spread the floor with 3 or more big time shooters, and Allie is definitely a big time shooter.

You may be correct, but I am doubtful that a roster with 4 centers (perhaps a 5th if they are indeed recruiting Okeke) is going to start zero centers. As a said, I can see a quick switch to add in a shooter making the lineup mirror the makeup of this year's team when Blanca comes in for Serah. Then again, the McDonald's All American center they are bringing in can space the floor, too.

But all that is next season. I just hope that Allie continues to make progress this year and shows that she can consistently produce on offense and then we see her capable of contributing more against the highest level teams on both ends of the floor.

 

[oldude]

You may be correct, but I am doubtful that a roster with 4 centers (perhaps a 5th if they are indeed recruiting Okeke) is going to start zero centers. As a said, I can see a quick switch to add in a shooter making the lineup mirror the makeup of this year's team when Blanca comes in for Serah. Then again, the McDonald's All American center they are bringing in can space the floor, too.

But all that is next season. I just hope that Allie continues to make progress this year and shows that she can consistently produce on offense and then we see her capable of contributing more against the highest level teams on both ends of the floor.

Okeke is a forward. Beyond that, yes there will be 3 centers on the roster next year. But here’s the deal. Geno will have 3 shooters in his starting lineup. It’s absolutely the key to running his motion offense. His best 3 shooters will likely be Sarah, Ash & Allie with Allie likely the best shooter on the team.

As far as who starts at center, the options are Gandy (unlikely), Jana (possibly) Olivia (not immediately) and some combination of Blanca/Sarah. Blanca could well be the 2nd best player on the team next year. As a result, I think she will start.

The question is does she replace Serah in the lineup or Azzi? There will be lots of options, including Jovanna, Kayleigh, maybe even Kelis. But if Allie can continue to shoot 48% from the arc, get to the rim and play reasonably solid defense, I’m not sure how you don’t start her.

 

[ec33]

Okeke is a forward. Beyond that, yes there will be 3 centers on the roster next year. But here’s the deal. Geno will have 3 shooters in his starting lineup. It’s absolutely the key to running his motion offense. His best 3 shooters will likely be Sarah, Ash & Allie with Allie likely the best shooter on the team.

As far as who starts at center, the options are Gandy (unlikely), Jana (possibly) Olivia (not immediately) and some combination of Blanca/Sarah. Blanca could well be the 2nd best player on the team next year. As a result, I think she will start.

The question is does she replace Serah in the lineup or Azzi? There will be lots of options, including Jovanna, Kayleigh, maybe even Kelis. But if Allie can continue to shoot 48% from the arc, get to the rim and play reasonably solid defense, I’m not sure how you don’t start her.

Ice Brady? And offensively speaking, Okeke is a post player in the middle so I lazily include her with the centers.

Again it is quite possible that he does change it up. This team is still going to be about defense and speed in the backcourt. Adding Blanca only heightens that so throwing in a slow moving center does become a square peg. Allie isn't a speed demon but she is rather fast for "the slowest person on the floor."

It would also be real nice if KK and K9 would work on their shooting. I honestly think Kayleigh might have it within herself to become a danger from 3 if she made it a priority.

 

[Gael]

Allie's defense is the topic? It's obvious that she doesn't have the genetic lateral quickness or fast twitch reflexes of some of her teammates, but not many players do, and I consider her defensive IQ to be high and her defensive performance to be quite sufficient for Geno's needs.

As for next season's starters, Olivia Vukosa wasn't recruited "as long and as hard as we've recruited anyone" to sit on the bench. While I agree that having three three-point shooters on the floor is ideal, Geno may trade some three-point idealism for inside scoring and rebounding power next season. Olivia at center, Sarah and Blanca at forward, and KK and Ash at guard. In addition to providing inside scoring and rebounding, both Blanca and Olivia can shoot the three-ball. Allie comes off the bench for the 2 or 3 spot.

Of course, any course can happen in a basketball lineup, but I think it would be somewhat incongruous for Geno to start the season with Sarah at 5 and Allie at 3, only later to pull Allie out of the starting lineup, insert Vukosa at the 5 and move Sarah to the 3 or 4. Those are two antipodal lineup philosophies. Absent injury, Geno has usually tended to stick with his starting lineup from day 1 to the end.

 

[hussybulldog]

Looks like at a few here are going to apply for a coaching job soon, any openings in D1 schools?

 

[Skeets]

Well, somebody has to step into the void that’s created once Azzi leaves. Who better than Allie? The only other player who might be remotely able to replace Azzi’s shooting ability could be Jovana and I certainly don’t expect that to occur on day 1.

I like to think of it this way, just like with Paige, no one person is going to fill the void. When Azzi leaves the void will be filled by the "organism", as Nan coined the phrase.

 

[Nolefan]

I’m still looking for the slow non athletic player some posters have pointed out . She did take a smaller faster player to school last night to the rim

 

[HopJim]

A few years ago, everyone wondered what role Lou Lopez would play. Predict that Geno will recruit another sniper to fill out his motion offense-transfer, euro, etc. Could be sub but UConn could be a bit thin if the injury bug hit next year's guards.

 

[ERWUC65]

I agree with @oldude on this one. Not that Allie is going to be all the player Azzi has been. Of course not. But she will fill that spot in the team concept. She'll be the 3 next to KK/Kayleigh at the 1 and Ash/Kelis at the 2. She'll be one of the deadly perimeter snipers we rely on to open up the paint. That's the natural progression of the roster we see before us. With Sarah and Blanca in the lineup, there won't be nearly as much pressure on Allie to do all the things Azzi could do. The stress points in the team will fall differently. We could see that even if we were riding by on a flying horse.

But eventually, Allie will assert herself in ways that we can only guess at now. I'm in full prediction mode now, so feel free to disagree. Will she become another bucket-getter, that unicorn who can rescue a team in the doldrums, stop an opposing team's run, and strike fear into opposing coaches? That's hard to say. But I am optimistic.

One last musing: who will be Allie's backup at the 3? It could be Jovana eventually. But it could also be Morgan if she can recover her form. And it might be Blanca for when Geno plays Olivia next to Sarah.

One last last musing: one would question Kelis role next year based on her minutes and performances so far this year. Might be Jovana sooner than eventually.

 

[JoePgh]

Speaking of guard depth next year, DON'T FORGET MORGAN!!!

 

[Cuango]

I’m still looking for the slow non athletic player some posters have pointed out . She did take a smaller faster player to school last night to the rim

Allie is far more than a three point sniper! She is extremely clever around the basket, fearless in driving to the hoop, and knows exactly what to do when she does drive. I think we’ve barely scratched the surface of her total package. I think she will work on her midrange this coming summer and that she will be a big time contributor next season.