If so I'm sure she will take her classes on line and graduate from Uconn on time..One of my biggest fears is that if Anna is not allowed to return, she will go pro if her country allows basketball to be played.
Anna
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I think people should consider Aaliyah a legitimate power forward right now. Body wise if someone knew nothing about her skill-set they would probably start with PF. The fact that she has a good handle and some perimeter skills means she could play SF, or at a stretch guard, but in terms of where she is most likely to play, given our team needs it is far and away PF, and backing up C is the next most likely.
We don't particularly need Aaliyah at SF unless there are injuries, just like we don't need Anna or Westbrook at PF unless something happens to Aaliyah or Aubrey.
We don't particularly need Aaliyah at SF unless there are injuries, just like we don't need Anna or Westbrook at PF unless something happens to Aaliyah or Aubrey.
I disagree as to the power forward position for Anna. You lose her playmaking ability on the break or in transition when she is playing defense on the blocks( she can't get out on the breaks) and Geno remarked about her being a secondary creator when she was in the game after Crystal. Putting Paige aside for a moment, she is the best passer on the team right now. Why bury her under the boards? I didn't see a single back to the basket move by her this year, I didn't see her finish regularly and I don't see her defending the PFs from other teams without foul trouble. She can be a 2 or a 3 easily and you get her 3 point shooting and great court vision. Just because she muscles up doesn't mean she changes position. Meg did it last year because we had no choice. I see Edwards as a PF, not a SF, and she is the first sub underneath for either Aubrey or Liv.
CocoHusky
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I make this same comment early in the season, Anna appears to be a legit 6'2"
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By key I mean she generals the team on the floor, making it a team game. She is an almost totally unselfish player. Need assists? Ok. Need rebounds? Ok. Need buckets? Ok. Need someone to clean locker room? Ask a custodian. I don't mean she dominates. I quite agree that anyone can score 20 in any given game but I expect all starters to average double figures. Eventually, I see an Anna-Paige dishing combo that destroys defenses.
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I don't think Anna is a PF either. But just because a player is a PF doesn't mean she must be a back-to-the-basket player in any halfcourt set. Walker didn't play like a PF. You play four player on the outside and you have Liv as the inside post.
And on this team she might be the 3rd best player to lead the break behind both Paige and Evina. If I were a gambling man - in order this how I think PF would go in terms of who starts. The better Griff and Edwards are - then no use giving Evina or Anna any pf minutes other than in blowouts just giving them some add'l playing time.
1-- Griff
2-- Edwards
3-- Evina
4-- Anna
5-- Mir
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My only point of distinction is that I think Anna will probably be more of a passer on the break than Evina because Evina will be the likely recipient of those passes by design because she is a true scorer. I would therefore rank Anna as the second best passer on the break pending Paige's performances but Anna may turn out to be just as great at times this year due to size and exoperience. I realize that this is heresy but when she got going last year Anna was better than Crystal in certain situations in delivering the ball on the break. Actually, I think her skills have been undervalued and her body change is very telling about her motivation.
I also didn't mean to suggest that a PF has to always have their back to the basket at all times ala Kevin McHale but moves on the block and below are necessary. Meg posted up or tried to at least a few times a game last year even though she was a guard posing as a PF.
As for moves under or near the basket my choice is Aubrey. She proved herself to be a fine garbage player last year and offensive rebounder who can jump and go to the hoop. I would also take Evina and Anna out of the equation for PF. Aubrey, then Edwards then Mir( who like Nika gets very little BY press) is a lot of depth and great defense underneath at PF. I also expect to see each of those three at different times at the top of the full court press like Geno had Aubrey this year. When I watched film of Mir, her defense knocked me out.
diggerfoot
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So this is an honest question that needs a preface. I would think Griffin, Edwards and Mclean are best suited to play in the post. When a comment was made long ago about playing Westbrook at the four if she was starting with Makurat, Williams and Bueckers, I nominated Makurat instead. She appears to be at least two inches taller than Westbrook, maybe three; cited for her strength by Auriemma; and knows the fundamentals, including footwork and boxing out.
I do not think Makurat will be a PF, I do not want her to be a PF, but what is it about Westbrook that would make her a better candidate for the four out of Bueckers, Williams and Makurat? I have not watched Westbrook played but the reports I hear are all guard-oriented, nothing remotely connected with PF. So with serious curiosity I ask what am I missing that would put Westbrook above Makurat or even Williams as a PF candidate?
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I look at Anna as a recipient on the break. IMO she is not a leader of fastbreaks. She’s too slow. I agree with you in that I didn’t like her as a PF at all. I think her strength is catching the ball at the 3pt line and either take a shot or make a good decision with a real good pass.
I just think if Evina is a starting pg - if she is good enough to beat out Paige for pg-- then I think it means she adept at running a fastbreak. While Ana might be a better passer she is more Larry-Bird like. You hot Bird on the wing for fastbreaks,. Same you would do with Anna. And no way I'm saying Ana is LBird.
As for Mir-- I have no idea what to expect (same with Edwards). But until I see with my own eyes Mir able to finish inside vs legit D1 teams I question in year 1 how much she can contribute. Further- because she is short (5'10 I think?) and not built for example like Gabby, I think her frosh year she can get pushed around quite a bit vs good teams. She looks like she can definitely press but I don’t know what else she can do other than defend players if they are her size. But offensively I don’t know UCONN can hang their hats on which is why I have her 5th as a pf if Griff and Edwards are deficient and UCONN needs one to start.
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Didn't Stewart play the 4? I don't remember her ever being "buried under the boards". Hopefully Makurat's added muscle will allow her to play against bigger players. Right now she can play the 1, 2, & 3. Adding skiils as a 4 will add some minutes and give the coaches more options. You don't have to be a classic pf to play the 4 in selected situations. And I'm looking forward to the minutes she plays as the 2 and posts up a 5'7" guard.
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I didn't think Makurat is 2-3 inches taller. I went by hoopgrulz calling Evina 6foot and the UCONN website has Anna at 6'1. I don't think Anna is very athletic. I think Evina is much more athletic. IMO if you are giving up size inside then you better have bulk and/or athleticism. Evina looks just as bulky as Anna and is 1.5 years older. So athleticism is important vs the one inch. I just don't think Anna is very athletic.
As for Williams - she is way too short imo. I'm not sure but maybe you and one or or maybe two other have suggested CWill too? Maybe more -- but I think very very few. If she can- great-- but 5/10 imo works with Gabby's athleticism -- I don't see it with Cwill. She rebounds well for a 2guard going against other 2 guards. . I think Evina is bigger and just as broad as CWill. OFC its is not ideal but if Griff and Edwards are not effective and you need your best players I think Evina would be better choice. I just want to add as I have many times-- I know I could be way off- I haven't seen her enough. I can't find anything on YOUTUBE of her other than highlights.
So if you or others say I'm out-to-lunch -- okay. What can I say?
It wouldn't be the 1st time and it won't be the last!!! There's no games for me to watch her unless anyone has a link?. But she does look big and broad for her size. She is athletic. If she has these qualities, why couldn't she be?
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diggerfoot
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OK. Fair enough. For some reason I thought Westbrook was 5'11" but I see from the UConn site she is listed as 6'0". I can see where a one inch difference would not matter to someone given other factors. I do think, like CocoHusky, that Makurat is likely closer to 6'2" than 6'1", but who know in these days of Hartley units?
However, Makurat looks stronger to me than Westbrook, regardless of size. I could be biased though because Auriemma praised Makurat's strength as one of his first impressions of her. I'll take strength any day at the PF position over other physical attributes; it's why I mentioned Williams, she looks stronger than Westbrook to me as well. But I do not want Williams at PF; I do not want Makurat at PF (nor Westbrook, obviously). Either Griffin, Edwards or Mclean would suit me best.
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Anna has a pro frame and is excellent in the motion offense. Not a traditional "4" but if Geno wants a small lineup, likely she could play this role for a few minutes. With all the athletes and shooters UConn has, would not want to play against some of these lineups.
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Everyone but McLean and Williams for me this year.
I'm with you in regards to most preferable is Griff and Edwards.
But let me ask you these - and this is just for complete fun--
Is it so wrong to think Evina can be 1st/2nd team A/A?
Is it so wrong to think CWill can live up to closely being one of the top few players in her class?
Is it so wrong to think that Paige can be near close to the hype?
Is it so wrong to think that if Anna is recipient of passes from two legit pg's that she wouldn't get a lot of open looks from 3? If she does-- isn't that awesome? She is an awesome shooter, isn't she?
Isn't it possible that big teams couldn't defend this lineup? And at the other end UCONN plays zone? Zone limits inside play. Even if other team scores. Run. UCONN has TWO pg's. How well can the big pf defend the perimeter?
I know Griff and Edwards are probably the PF's. It makes the most sense if they can at least "hold-the-fort." That's why I have Griff as 1st pick and Edwards 2nd for PF.
Stewie didn't bring the ball up on breaks, she didn't serve as a secondary playmaker( Geno's description of Anna) and she didn't have the ball in her hands for the express purpose of distributing all of which you can't do when you are playing defense as a PF under the boards because the break is 20 feet ahead of you. Magic Johnson was 6'9'' but his coaches put the ball in his hands as a PG, not a PF even though he was big enough. Why? His incredible talents for passing and running the break and the offense. I don't understand the compulsion to try to make Anna a PF because she got stronger and added muscle. She just is not as athletic as Aubrey, can't jump as high, showed no moves under the basket, is not a quality rebounder and can't defend as well and is not a PF pure and simple. Anna is a great passer, has court vision, can heat up like a microwave with 3s, and has guard talents and skills and may be an AA at some point if she stays in her position. Use her skills, they are pretty elite. If you start Evina, Anna, CW, Aubrey and Liv and bring in Paige and Edwards as 6th and 7th man and throw in little bit of Nika and Mir, we can beat anybody.
Yes it is possible that big slower teams can't defend a team that had a mix of Evina, Paige, Anna, CW, ONO, Aubrey. and Edwards. It is also possible that a bigger team can beat the zone underneath because the vulnerability is usually there by a "high-low" or "overload" and the problem with the zone is that it is more difficult to box out because you are usually not straight up on defense on a man. One thing about the zone is that it is easier to fast break from and that will be fun to watch.
Just as Anna gets a lot of open shots from Evina and Paige, Evina gets even more open shots from Anna and Paige. I don't see a lot of zone for this team however except for a full court zone press or half court trap. Geno is a man to man coach. Even from a full court press his players go back to man to man when most coaches go into a zone. The aggressive defense turned us around as a team last year and this year we have more depth and more talent especially on defense with Edwards, Mir and an older Aubrey. Plus Jamelle is back to put fire into them. Paige's steal numbers were extraordinary and Nika was no slouch either and once we get a deflection or steal or long rebound or good outlet pass from a defensive rebound it is over.
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Exactly. Ain't it great?
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It's good to see that Anna's trainer is giving Anna a well rounded workout not just weights for strength.
You want to work out with activities that are sport specific!
She doesn't JUST want to be stronger but more flexible, quicker, and stronger and better conditioned.
If she can be a step or two quicker and able to run full-out up and down the court she will truly be a load to handle by her opponents!
Being weight stiff and losing flexibility will not help Anna one bit!
You want to work out with activities that are sport specific!
She doesn't JUST want to be stronger but more flexible, quicker, and stronger and better conditioned.
If she can be a step or two quicker and able to run full-out up and down the court she will truly be a load to handle by her opponents!
Being weight stiff and losing flexibility will not help Anna one bit!
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Yes ofc with the zone. I'm with ya!! We can get beat/ pummeled absolutely. Just offering a defense if a team is too big. UCONN did play zone vs Baylor in Jan 2019 - so they can do it however. This team is not like some of UCONN's freak teams with Stewart, and with Maya, and Bird/DT/Cash and Lobo etc. They are a little flawed. It's possible they can get beat in any manner - zone or no zone. Though the opposition needs to have enough quality players to run an effective high-low or overload etc. There are very few quality COx's out there with Brown to dump the ball into.
As far as Evina vs Anna vs CWill-- I'm looking at shooting percentages. Anna is the most efficient. That means lets target her on the wing as much a possible to shoot 3's. After she gets the ball and if she is open lets have her look to shoot it if she is "enough" open rather than pass it unless it's for a layup. Like KML before her, like KLS, and like Walker -- lets look for Anna on fastbreaks and on halfcourt sets and off of steals etc to take a 3 just like we did with the others. Not have her pass the ball to someone else who is less efficient shooting. Her shot imo is tremendous. She shot 45.6% from 3 once she got rid of the early season jitters. That's outstanding. And Anna is 6'1. As a wing she can get off her shot.
I suspect that she still struggles to beat players off the dribble. Thus teams will be able to defend her but then that opens up the game for Evina, Paige and CWill.
What you’ve been saying along imo you’re right. Griff and Edwards. Griff is a freak. Her athleticism is so exciting. Heck, I’d be okay with her pulling down OREB’s like last year and rather than force a shot vs the trees throw it back out. What an athlete she is. This team just has no many possibilities.
Since you like precise analyses, I will add this. I am all in for Anna shooting 3s on the break but the players who will be shooting more on the break in a combination of 3s, layups, drives and pull up Js are Evina and CW. They are upper classmen and are going to be getting the ball. Both also have sweet mid range jumpers but of the two, Evina is a more complete offensive player.
While Evina shot 42% from the field as a sophomore, she was only 38% from deep. But, she averaged about 4 free throws a game whereas Meg, our clear team leader last year in that category, averaged 3. It may not seem significant but it tells us that she was getting fouled more than anyone else and significantly more than her teammate Davis. She shot 72% from the line which means 3 ppg. She is going to get the same amount here you would think because of the running and passing and I see an easy 12 additional points from the field or 15 a game which she averaged at UT. What team will be able to cover her, CW, and Anna effectively from the guard positions to begin with and then contend with Paige?
We have seen summer videos and photos of Paige, Anna, CW and Evina but not Griff. We found out however from her father that she is working out with her brothers. If she gets a mini put back jumper, a strong one handed layup on both sides( she went up a lot with two hands with the ball in front of her face instead of to the protected side) and adds more strength we will be wondering why we even questioned who will play the PF position. Here's another prediction. Future Defensive POY for her. I mentioned that I was at the Seton Hall game last year. I haven't seen a freshman take over a game defensively like that in a long time.
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Makurat doesn't have to play pf. I'm not the one who believes a classic pf is needed to win a title. UConn has no power forward on the roster. UConn has 7 players between 5'11" & 6'1, and only 2 players 6'4+, one of which is very raw and unlikely to contribute initially. Those 7 players will be forced to defend bigger players & rebound at various times. UConn has done this before. Sure, there are a few pf's who can give UConn miss-match problems but very few, and the way everyone is getting stronger in the off-season it is clear to me that the coaching staff and players are aware of it and preparing.
I think some posters here have the position question backwards. They want the coach to have a pg, a sg, a wing/sf, a pf and a center. The fact of the matter is that most players don't fit as nicely into a position as some think. A team doesn't need a power forward, it does need strong players who can rebound, defend inside. He also needs ball handlers and scorers. And if a coach is lucky then some of his players can fill more than one role. I've always thought that given the available talent pool most years a coach is better off recruiting great talent and worrying about positions later. Now I'm not suggesting that a coach recruit 5 pg's, but that elite players can often play several positions.
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Lots, but for the other teams.
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?? Aaliyah Edwards does not fit into either of your categories. She is neither between 5'11" and 6'1" not is she 6' 4"+ . I have zero interest in arguing about positions, and in fact prefer positionless basketball, but if power forward is a thing Aaliyah has the frame and game to be one. Putting that to the side, she at least deserves to be counted as a member of the team.
CocoHusky
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UCONN will be a mismatch for the rest of the conference-at least I hope so.
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Complete and utter nonsense!
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I think Evina can score a lot in part because the defense MUST play very tight on Anna (one less player ot help out on defense when Evina drives). If I were the defense I would accept Evina would score more rather than risk having Anna take 3's. IMO Anna IS "KML and Katie Lou." Anna can't create like the others and her 3pt shot is extremely good. Her 45.6% is equivalent to 68.4% from 2. Evina, CWill and Paige won't have that kind of efficiency.
As for Griff - I hate to say this -- because I hate the guy I'm about to mention as a comparison but Griff has that "Dennis Rodman" defense and OREB similarity.
In regards to defense (I am bias I love offense) - and i think all of us are on the same page with this-- it would be absolutely fun to watch a freak pressing team go at it for 40 minutes regardless of the score (can't do it if it's a blowout early but fun to think.). Or a game watching them press in which they are getting beat pretty good early. However, just watch the press continually take it's toll on the opposing team. End result being where late in the game UCONN wins comfortably by just witnessing steal after steal or forced missed shots etc thereby running the opposing team out of the gym.
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