An Early 2019/2020 "Season Record" Poll

[FollowerCT]

I anticipate a dynamic multi-flexible team with different ‘looks’ based on the characteristics of each team played ... Geno as orchestrator ... zero losses ...

 

[oldude]

She will match up with her, but I'm not sure about "well." Smith is a special athlete and player. I will say that the people matching up with her were a lot of the time 3's that aren't suitable to box her out. However, Baylor can insert Egbo to move her back to the three. But Smith can rebound and elevate well for her size, and has speed. She will eat up 4's on offense. I'm not sure what it is about her, but when you watch her play it looks effortless. Not many teams will be able to handle Cox and Smith. Oregon looks like the best candidate

Smith is a very good player, but during the time I watched Baylor, it wasn’t so much that Smith outplayed her defender as that she was scoring and rebounding with no defender on her. There were numerous times when Brown got the ball in the low post, was double-teamed and Smith had a wide open backside cut to the basket for an easy layup or rebound. In addition, with all the attention focused on Cox and Brown, Smith, Jackson, et al got more wide open 10-15’ jumpers than I have ever seen.

When the Huskies play the Lady Bears I’m not really worried about Smith, Egbo and the rest of their g/w/sf’s. My worry is the matchup between Cox and Liv. If Liv can stay out of foul trouble by using her length and athleticism to counter Cox’s size and strength, UConn will be just fine.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

Realist.

 

[LoTrader]

1 loss... Between Baylor and Oregon. I think Oregon is the team more likely to be she'll shocked by UConn. Graves will be outcoached by Geno

Don't see Oregon losing to UCONN at any venue. This Oregon Team is far more experienced than UCONN, and, loaded with talent (beyond what UCONN can put on the floor). Geno may outcoach Graves, but the players on the floor for Oregon won't be outplayed.

 

[DaBball]

I think three losses in the regular season is the ABSOLUTE max -- one to Oregon, one to Baylor, and one to South Carolina. I think two is very possible, and may perhaps be the most likely, but I had to go with one -- either Oregon or Baylor.

I can't help but think back to last year, when everyone expected us to get killed by a Notre Dame team that returned four starters and added Bri Turner to a team that just won an NC.
--
As for Baylor, I still think we may see some Cox at the 4 with Egbo/DeGrate at the 5 and Smith at the 3.

 

[southofnorth]

IF UConn plays Oregon, too, then I predict 2 losses realistically. Baylor and Oregon will be the top two teams based on what is known now (I.e. players returning, health, injury status, etc.). I don’t know that UConn has players able to deal with Cox or Ionescu. Cox is great defensively and Ionescu is great offensively and both have good supporting casts around them.

That said, I could see UConn winning both games if they shoot the ball well from 3.

 

[LouS]

Three ----> Baylor, Oregon & Notre Dame (God, bite my tongue on this one)

 

[UConnCat]

Three ----> Baylor, Oregon & Notre Dame (God, bite my tongue on this one)

Notre Dame? Why? The Irish lost 85 ppg to graduation/transfer. The roster consists of inexperienced players and two grad transfers who haven’t played in 1-2 years.

 

[UConnCat]

I think three losses in the regular season is the ABSOLUTE max -- one to Oregon, one to Baylor, and one to South Carolina. I think two is very possible, and may perhaps be the most likely, but I had to go with one -- either Oregon or Baylor.

I can't help but think back to last year, when everyone expected us to get killed by a Notre Dame team that returned four starters and added Bri Turner to a team that just won an NC.
--
As for Baylor, I still think we may see some Cox at the 4 with Egbo/DeGrate at the 5 and Smith at the 3.

Curious why you think this year is the year SC finally beats UConn.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

I picked 0 losses mainly because it was an option in the poll. For those that chose 2 losses, Baylor and Oregon...does that mean UConn will win the NC?

UCONN always "grows" during the season. The majority of the OOC games are early in the season as the Team is learning and melding. I believe if they stumble it will be during that part of the season... but as we have seen time and time again, UCONN is a different team when March rolls around. They will be a fine tuned machine by the time the Conference and NCAA tournament come around and IMHO, will have as good a shot at the NC as anyone.

 

[chrissaran]

For those who said 5 losses . . . keep dreaming.

 

[DaBball]

Curious why you think this year is the year SC finally beats UConn.

I don't think they do -- if I did, I would have guessed three losses, but I put one. I just think that if we are going to lose three regular season games, Baylor, Oregon, and South Carolina are the most likely losses. I don't see us losing to ND after losing all five of their starters (and two more potential starters to transfer), and I don't see a loss to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio State, or DePaul, or USF or an AAC team.

I would guess that a majority of people who checked three would guess South Carolina, Baylor, and Oregon would be the three losses.

I do think this is SC's best chance to beat us in awhile though, but I don't think it will happen.

 

[UConnCat]

I don't think they do -- if I did, I would have guessed three losses, but I put one. I just think that if we are going to lose three regular season games, Baylor, Oregon, and South Carolina are the most likely losses. I don't see us losing to ND after losing all five of their starters (and two more potential starters to transfer), and I don't see a loss to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio State, or DePaul, or USF or an AAC team.

I would guess that a majority of people who checked three would guess South Carolina, Baylor, and Oregon would be the three losses.

I do think this is SC's best chance to beat us in awhile though, but I don't think it will happen.

Ok. I misunderstood.

 

[Drumguy]

I'm going with the optimist's Club. Put me down for 0.

 

[pvdoggy]

I picked 0 losses mainly because it was an option in the poll. For those that chose 2 losses, Baylor and Oregon...does that mean UConn will win the NC?

The poll is for the REGULAR season.

 

[EricSD]

I'm interested to see Cox play at 5. I think they'll be way more mobile. I just can't see UConn losing to both teams. I think that UConn will expose Oregon. UConn does not have a matchup for Nalyssa Smith.

Fair enough, but their PG needs to get her the ball. Baylor does not have a matchup for Crystal Dangerfield. And given that HSG was dismissed from the team, unless they get a grad transfer PG, who runs the team?

 

[Geew1992]

Fair enough, but their PG needs to get her the ball. Baylor does not have a matchup for Crystal Dangerfield. And given that HSG was dismissed from the team, unless they get a grad transfer PG, who runs the team?

They have Cooper. Don’t know how she will effect the team but probably their starting PG

 

[oldude]

They have Cooper. Don’t know how she will effect the team but probably their starting PG

I agree that Cooper will likely fill that role, but she is very much a guard who will likely look for her shot first.

 

[Carnac]

Smith is a very good player, but during the time I watched Baylor, it wasn’t so much that Smith outplayed her defender as that she was scoring and rebounding with no defender on her. There were numerous times when Brown got the ball in the low post, was double-teamed and Smith had a wide open backside cut to the basket for an easy layup or rebound. In addition, with all the attention focused on Cox and Brown, Smith, Jackson, et al got more wide open 10-15’ jumpers than I have ever seen.

When the Huskies play the Lady Bears I’m not really worried about Smith, Egbo and the rest of their g/w/sf’s. My worry is the matchup between Cox and Liv. If Liv can stay out of foul trouble by using her length and athleticism to counter Cox’s size and strength, UConn will be just fine.

Cox is BIG and experienced. She and Ruthy Hebard (Oregon), May be the two most talented and difficult players ONO sees this season. Remember that she played with Hebard this summer, so she’s seen a lot more of her recently that she has of Cox. That might mean something, and it might not.

 

[soxfan23]

Oregon, Baylor, and UConn are by far the best 3 teams in the country! Replacing Collier and Samuelson's production will be tough and UConn may struggle a little bit early in the year, but by the time the tournament rolls around Coach Auriemma should have them clicking like a fine oiled machine.

 

[PacoSwede]

i'm no expert, but i have a feeling some here are seriously over-rating the abilities/talent of some of the opposition's 'stars' and strangely are shorting those of our returning starters (especially christyn) plus liv. and among the group of newcomers, i expect at least one will meet our highest hopes. and perhaps touly finally will be healthy. so i say, at this point and considering recent past history at uconn, it's damned crazy NOT to be optimistic.

 

[oldude]

i'm no expert, but i have a feeling some here are seriously over-rating the abilities/talent of some of the opposition's 'stars' and strangely are shorting those of our returning starters (especially christyn) plus liv. and among the group of newcomers, i expect at least one will meet our highest hopes. and perhaps touly finally will be healthy. so i say, at this point and considering recent past history at uconn, it's damned crazy NOT to be optimistic.

Never underestimate the relentless pessimism of the “doom & gloom” crowd on the BY. Sometimes it feels like the LV board around here.

 

[southofnorth]

i'm no expert, but i have a feeling some here are seriously over-rating the abilities/talent of some of the opposition's 'stars' and strangely are shorting those of our returning starters (especially christyn) plus liv. and among the group of newcomers, i expect at least one will meet our highest hopes. and perhaps touly finally will be healthy. so i say, at this point and considering recent past history at uconn, it's damned crazy NOT to be optimistic.

Never underestimate the relentless pessimism of the “doom & gloom” crowd on the BY. Sometimes it feels like the LV board around here.

It would also seem that some are underestimating the teams that UConn will be playing. Nothing wrong with thinking there may be a slip up or two given the amount of talent on other teams.

Right now all we can do is guess based on what UConn has returning and what other teams have returning. Suggesting that UConn could lose a couple of games based on what is currently known seems like a far cry from suggesting the program is done for. This is also just a poll for the regular season, so I expect quite a different result—0 losses—if a similar poll were done about the post season.

 

[oldude]

It would also seem that some are underestimating the teams that UConn will be playing. Nothing wrong with thinking there may be a slip up or two given the amount of talent on other teams.

Right now all we can do is guess based on what UConn has returning and what other teams have returning. Suggesting that UConn could lose a couple of games based on what is currently known seems like a far cry from suggesting the program is done for. This is also just a poll for the regular season, so I expect quite a different result—0 losses—if a similar poll were done about the post season.

No doubt Geno & UConn have some challenges to overcome early in the season vs a brutal OOC schedule, but so does everyone else. In Geno & CD’s 30+ years together at UConn, absolutely no one gets their team ready for the season better than UConn. So when I look at the OOC challenges that UConn will face, I come up with 0, where other see losses:

Oregon will certainly be a preseason #1 with all the talent & experience they have, but they have to come all the way across country to play the Huskies, and even most Beaver fans believe Geno will outcoach Graves

Baylor is a powerhouse, but the graduation of Brown & Jackson makes them a much easier team to defend. On the road at UConn, Kim’s teams have always come up short.

Others predict losses to ND, Louisville & SC, all of whom have graduated or lost (transfer) significant talent and experience.

So who’s left to beat UConn? Tennessee?

I have UConn for 0 losses and I’m stickin with my call.

 

[LoTrader]

Oregon, Baylor, and UConn are by far the best 3 teams in the country! Replacing Collier and Samuelson's production will be tough and UConn may struggle a little bit early in the year, but by the time the tournament rolls around Coach Auriemma should have them clicking like a fine oiled machine.

Oregon & Baylor are the two best teams in the country. After these two, it is a logjam from 3-10.

No doubt Geno & UConn have some challenges to overcome early in the season vs a brutal OOC schedule, but so does everyone else. In Geno & CD’s 30+ years together at UConn, absolutely no one gets their team ready for the season better than UConn. So when I look at the OOC challenges that UConn will face, I come up with 0, where other see losses:

Oregon will certainly be a preseason #1 with all the talent & experience they have, but they have to come all the way across country to play the Huskies, and even most Beaver fans believe Geno will outcoach Graves

Baylor is a powerhouse, but the graduation of Brown & Jackson makes them a much easier team to defend. On the road at UConn, Kim’s teams have always come up short.

Others predict losses to ND, Louisville & SC, all of whom have graduated or lost (transfer) significant talent and experience.

So who’s left to beat UConn? Tennessee?

I have UConn for 0 losses and I’m stickin with my call.

I'm one of the Beaver fans who know that Geno will out-coach nearly every coach in America. However, I don't see the mature talent at UCONN in 2019-20 season, that was present over the past 10 seasons. This is why I cannot see UCONN beating Oregon at any venue, at any time next season. Now, I also admit, that I did not see UCONN getting to the Final 4 last year, so, there you go!

 

[oldude]

Oregon & Baylor are the two best teams in the country. After these two, it is a logjam from 3-10.

I'm one of the Beaver fans who know that Geno will out-coach nearly every coach in America. However, I don't see the mature talent at UCONN in 2019-20 season, that was present over the past 10 seasons. This is why I cannot see UCONN beating Oregon at any venue, at any time next season. Now, I also admit, that I did not see UCONN getting to the Final 4 last year, so, there you go!

There is no doubt in my mind that Oregon is a better team on paper than UConn. I rate Baylor as even with UConn, which is probably a somewhat biased assessment on my part. But other than Cox, assuming that Evina’s waiver is granted, UConn’s next 6 players are better than Baylor’s.

One additional point. The “mature talent” didn’t exist at UConn during the 2016-17 season when the Huskies were undefeated during the regular season with big wins at home vs Baylor, SC & Louisville along with wins at ND & MD.

Finally, we have to look at where the games will be played. UConn hasn’t lost a game in the State of CT in a very long time. I don’t expect the Huskies to lose there this season.

 

[LoTrader]

There is no doubt in my mind that Oregon is a better team on paper than UConn. I rate Baylor as even with UConn, which is probably a somewhat biased assessment on my part. But other than Cox, assuming that Evina’s waiver is granted, UConn’s next 6 players are better than Baylor’s.

One additional point. The “mature talent” didn’t exist at UConn during the 2016-17 season when the Huskies were undefeated during the regular season with big wins at home vs Baylor, SC & Louisville along with wins at ND & MD.

Finally, we have to look at where the games will be played. UConn hasn’t lost a game in the State of CT in a very long time. I don’t expect the Huskies to lose there this season.

It will be fun to have a friendly wager on the UO vs UCONN game.

 

[soxfan23]

Oregon & Baylor are the two best teams in the country. After these two, it is a logjam from 3-10.

I'm one of the Beaver fans who know that Geno will out-coach nearly every coach in America. However, I don't see the mature talent at UCONN in 2019-20 season, that was present over the past 10 seasons. This is why I cannot see UCONN beating Oregon at any venue, at any time next season. Now, I also admit, that I did not see UCONN getting to the Final 4 last year, so, there you go!

The starting 5 most likely consists of:

Dangerfield Sr. #2 ranking
Williams So #1 ranking
Westbrook Jr #2 ranking
Walker Jr. #1 ranking
Nelson-Ododa So #5 ranking

That is not enough talent?

 

[LoTrader]

The starting 5 most likely consists of:

Dangerfield Sr. #2 ranking
Williams So #1 ranking
Westbrook Jr #2 ranking
Walker Jr. #1 ranking
Nelson-Ododa So #5 ranking

That is not enough talent?

The addition of Westbrook makes UCONN highly talented as a group. I'm not as high on Walker, and Nelson-Ododa as others, when I compare/contrast to UO, which has Sabrina, Boley, Sabally (x2), Hebard, + a decent bench. UO has more talent, and, more experience as a unit.

 

[mbr33ct]

Oregon & Baylor are the two best teams in the country. After these two, it is a logjam from 3-10.

I'm one of the Beaver fans who know that Geno will out-coach nearly every coach in America. However, I don't see the mature talent at UCONN in 2019-20 season, that was present over the past 10 seasons. This is why I cannot see UCONN beating Oregon at any venue, at any time next season. Now, I also admit, that I did not see UCONN getting to the Final 4 last year, so, there you go!

If I read this correct, you just can't see...sorry to hear that.