Ashlynn Shade's excellent season...

[Zarathustra]

One of the things I like about Ashlynn is that she has absolutely no showboat in her. She is a good, steady player with solid fundamentals.

Will she do her "fist pumps" this year after three pointers? That was a highpoint when she
did that last year.... clearly IMHO a spontaneous joyous expression... not a hint of showboating!
GO ASH! Continue your UCONN journey!

 

[topogigio]

Ashlyn is an upscale Kelly Faris!

 

[Majic Hands]

Will she do her "fist pumps" this year after three pointers? That was a highpoint when she
did that last year.... clearly IMHO a spontaneous joyous expression... not a hint of showboating!
GO ASH! Continue your UCONN journey!

Yea. I felt the fist pump was something she did spontaneously for herself and the spectators saw. Where as holding up the 3 fingers is a wave too the crowd.

Probably just my imagination, but I thought she kind of stopped doing it after we began commenting about it.

 

[Bone Dog]

Probably just my imagination, but I thought she kind of stopped doing it after we began commenting about it.

Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco joked about it during a game. If Ash is that reserved, a TV mention might have had more of an impact than some obscure web forum.

 

[MSGRET]

"steady, but unspectacular" sounds like Larry Bird. She is a star.

Funny thing is that they are both Hoosiers. Larry is from French Lick, IN and Ash is from Noblesville, IN. About 130 miles, approximately a 2 1/2 hour drive.

 

[Majic Hands]

We Hoosiers like our basketball!

 

[Steelerone]

I think one of the outstanding traits of a player like Ashlynn is their unselfishness, their willing to subjugate themselves. They practice hard and do everything they can to improve themselves but at all times the team comes first. No, they don't like sitting on the bench but when they do they are doing everything they can to support their teammates. You don't win championships without Ashlynn's.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Shade is a far superior defender than Azzi. Because of her defensive intensity and the fact that “Geno trusts her”, I see her being on the court a lot. Maybe it will be better to play the more injury prone players in spot duty. Sort of keep them in bubble wrap annd hope they can make it unscathed until March.

 

[Majic Hands]

Shade is a far superior defender than Azzi. Because of her defensive intensity and the fact that “Geno trusts her”, I see her being on the court a lot. Maybe it will be better to play the more injury prone players in spot duty. Sort of keep them in bubble wrap annd hope they can make it unscathed until March.

I could’ve really given your thoughts a thumbs up, But your first sentence.

Haven’t seen either enough to evaluate their defense. Yes, Ash improved all season long last year and I’m hoping she’s improved in this aspect of her game since last year.

I suspect when Azzi gets up to speed she will be a more prolific scorer than Ash. I’m thinking in terms of mindset. I think Azzi is more comfortable shooting first where Ash has more of a pass first mindset.

But again, Azzie’s been playing between injuries. . . If Azzi makes it back before December I’m not expecting much before Jan-Feb.

 

[MSGRET]

We Hoosiers like our basketball!

Born a Hoosier, St Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette. Grew up in both West Lafayette and Lafayette before joining the Army in 73.

 

[Majic Hands]

Born a Hoosier, St Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette. Grew up in both West Lafayette and Lafayette before joining the Army in 73.

Born in New Albany.
Was attending Floyd Central when we got beat by East Chicago Washington.

Spent time in Lafayette. Know the folk who own Claycritters.

 

[MSGRET]

Born in New Albany.
Was attending Floyd Central when we got beat by East Chicago Washington.

Spent time in Lafayette. Know the folk who own Claycritters.

New Albany home of one of the first National Cemeteries, Fuzzy Zoeller and one of the most beautiful steel bridges ever built. Haven't been back to Lafayette since 2012 for Jefferson high school's 40th reunion. Another famous basketball player lived most of his childhood in Indianapolis, they called him the Big O. Born in Tennessee, but moved when he was only 18th months old.

 

[MSGRET]

I believe that Ash will start the first half of the season, but may come off the bench if Azzi is 100% down the road.

 

[ashfan]

I have been an Ashlynn fan since she was recruited.Ashlynn became my favorite player because of her stamina and her over all basketball play.As the season progressed, she became a solid defender and her over all scoring was solid. I would venture a guess that every team in the B.E. would have loved for her to be on their team. Ashlynn,s demeaner was unflappable and played with 110% energy the whole game. Ashlynn will start and stay starting as she has one full year as a starter and knows Geno,s system well. Ashlynn will earn her place in the UCONN hearts of OCONN fans as she did her freshman year.Her whole body is UCONN BLUEand I say she will not disappoint the fans. GO ASHLYNN!!!! GO FRESHMEN!!!!

Go GO! Ash 12!

 

[ashfan]

Shade is a far superior defender than Azzi. Because of her defensive intensity and the fact that “Geno trusts her”, I see her being on the court a lot. Maybe it will be better to play the more injury prone players in spot duty. Sort of keep them in bubble wrap annd hope they can make it unscathed until March.

Azzi should be Ash"s backup when Ash needs a minute. Ash is the future, near-term and long-term.

 

[Skeets]

Shade is a BA (something all BY'ers will understand). If not starting, she will get starters minutes because she is a BA.

 

[Cuango]

Azzi should be Ash"s backup when Ash needs a minute. Ash is the future, near-term and long-term.

I like Ash too! She is the quintessential UConn player, skilled, hard working, enthusiastic, and all about the team! However, let’s remember that Azzi was the consensus #1 recruit in her class, was/is said to have “perfect” form on her shot by no less an authority than Steph Curry, and in the brief period where she was fully healthy, exhibited Paige like dominance on the court! I don’t think any of us can truly say where she stands in the hierarchy of guards until we see her play “healthy” for a substantial period of time. Hopefully, we will finally get to see that very soon!

 

[Alydar]

I watched the team practice for 2 days a few weeks ago. Shade was a leader. She was 100% involved the entire time. And she never looked tired. She has more definition to her body. Her shot was even better, at least out to the 3pt line. She looked like she knew what she was doing. And she was decisive. But what really made me a fan was in the 2nd period of the 1st night scrimmage. The players just shot 3's with almost zero defense. The almost was Shade, who didn't get the memo to stop defending. There was a miss with a few seconds left and she ran in to get the rebound while everyone else was walking off the court. She was going 100%. I think she will set the intensity level of the defense, something that Muhl handled. She has matured and I think she will be known for her defense as much as her offense. I strongly think she starts. Geno knows he can trust her.

 

[donalddoowop]

I watched the team practice for 2 days a few weeks ago. Shade was a leader. She was 100% involved the entire time. And she never looked tired. She has more definition to her body. Her shot was even better, at least out to the 3pt line. She looked like she knew what she was doing. And she was decisive. But what really made me a fan was in the 2nd period of the 1st night scrimmage. The players just shot 3's with almost zero defense. The almost was Shade, who didn't get the memo to stop defending. There was a miss with a few seconds left and she ran in to get the rebound while everyone else was walking off the court. She was going 100%. I think she will set the intensity level of the defense, something that Muhl handled. She has matured and I think she will be known for her defense as much as her offense. I strongly think she starts. Geno knows he can trust her.

I trust her too. That automatically means she will start. Shade will be one of the UConn greats if she steers clear of a major injury. I believe she will be one of UConn's leaders by her junior year.

 

[Bone Dog]

I watched the team practice for 2 days a few weeks ago. Shade was a leader. She was 100% involved the entire time. And she never looked tired. She has more definition to her body. Her shot was even better, at least out to the 3pt line. She looked like she knew what she was doing. And she was decisive. But what really made me a fan was in the 2nd period of the 1st night scrimmage. The players just shot 3's with almost zero defense. The almost was Shade, who didn't get the memo to stop defending. There was a miss with a few seconds left and she ran in to get the rebound while everyone else was walking off the court. She was going 100%. I think she will set the intensity level of the defense, something that Muhl handled. She has matured and I think she will be known for her defense as much as her offense. I strongly think she starts. Geno knows he can trust her.

I suspected something like this from watching her in HS, and your report goes beyond even my highest hopes. Ash was a natural leader back then and it sounds like she’s becoming one in Storrs.

Muhl was in and out of the starting lineup in her first two seasons. But she was a constant theme in Geno’s lineups throughout. Ash also might not start every game, but I bet she figures importantly all season.

 

[cwaduke]

Reminds me of how steady Kia was at Uconn. Don't fix what isn't broken. Start her.

 

[Bills Fan]

I believe that Ash will start the first half of the season, but may come off the bench if Azzi is 100% down the road.

First let me say that Ash is one of my very favorite Huskies and that she could or should be a starter at the beginning of the year. Regarding playing time she has a couple of obstacles to overcome: 1. she is very limited in her "position." she is not a point guard and is really too short to play the #3 spot. The next obstacle is just the number of highly talented guards Geno will have available and want to give time to.

KK and KC will get almost all of the minutes at the PG. While Paige can get time at the SF, she is probably best at the SG so there go some of Ash's time. Then you have Azzi hopefully coming back NLT mid-Dec. The SG spot is AZ's natural position, she really is not a PG and is too short for the SF position. In addition to all the competition for time at the SG (#2) we also have two outstanding FR who will need rotation minutes at the SG-Allie primarily at the SG and Morgan splitting time at the SG and SF spots.

When all of this is taken into account, even an improved Ash, while maybe a starter, will see a substantial reduction in her playing time. One helpful item regarding Ash's time on the court is Geno's often stated trust in her in any tight games, I see her PT at important times of the game, especially the last quarter and she will never look tired.

 

[ashfan]

I believe that Ash will start the first half of the season, but may come off the bench if Azzi is 100% down the road.

If Azzi is 110% down the road, Ash12 will still be the more impactful player. (Just one more Ashfan prediction.)

 

[BBallF]

Ash and everyone else on the team has the luxury of having the best go to player in the country down the stretch when you need to score. I think we are really overlooking Chen. I see her as a potential starter and also as a backup for Paige when she sits and before Azzi is healthy because Chen is a proven from everywhere scorer. There seems to be an implied and accepted version of this team on the BY that Chen is a backup point. She is far more than that and a much better shooter and scorer than KK and a very adroit passer. I see her in several roles and perhaps at 3 different positions, if positions even still exist.

 

[Bone Dog]

There seems to be an implied and accepted version of this team on the BY that Chen is a backup point.

I don’t know which one will back up which. Chens stats show she’s the better scorer at present. We don’t know which will be the better defender yet, but I suspect KK may have a slight edge there. However it turns out, I have to suspect KK will get major minutes (at least 20) merely because she’s the PG of the future and Chen is only here for one year. I doubt Geno will sacrifice a year of development for KK just to get a slight scoring advantage, given how many other scorers he’s got.