Ashlynnika Shade (aka The Muhl)

[JoePgh]

What did Nika do last year that Ashlynn isn't doing at least as well this year? I'm too lazy to do a statistical comparison, but my in-person eye test tells me that Ashlynn is as much of a defensive pain to opposing guards as Nika was. I think she will get as many steals per minute over the season as Nika did last year (although she won't play as many minutes because of the extra roster depth this year).

Ashlynn is a better and more willing shooter, and opponents know that they have to guard her, which spaces the floor effectively for the other components of the UConn offense. I doubt that Ashlynn will get as many assists per game as Nika did last year (maybe she will as a junior or senior), but the floor spacing contributes just as much to the offense as the assists.

As you can tell, I'm coming around to the view that she will need to stay in the starting lineup and/or get starter's minutes even after Azzi and Aubrey return. If the last starting spot ends up as a contest between Ashlynn and Kaitlyn, my current vote would be for Ashlynn.

 

[jeff30189]

All good points except that Kaitlyn has the benefit of being more of a true PG in addition to her experience of being a do-everything leader. I'd like them both to continue to start, although Azzi will eat into Kaitlyn's court time more than Ash when the time comes.

 

[Blond D.]

Nika was a more of an in-your-face type of defender plus Nika was better at seeing when help was needed. Nika also was more in charge directing traffic. Thats how Shade and KK learned where to be defensively.
Right now Nika sees the floor better, whats going on all over the entire floor but Ashlynn is still only a sophomore so theres plenty of time for her to improve.

 

[Skeets]

I agree with almost everything, but Ash isn't the gnat that Nika was. Remember that CC kid saying, "get that #10 gotta my face"? Ash is good, but not that good (yet).

 

[diggerfoot]

What did Nika do last year that Ashlynn isn't doing at least as well this year? I'm too lazy to do a statistical comparison, but my in-person eye test tells me that Ashlynn is as much of a defensive pain to opposing guards as Nika was. I think she will get as many steals per minute over the season as Nika did last year (although she won't play as many minutes because of the extra roster depth this year).

Ashlynn is a better and more willing shooter, and opponents know that they have to guard her, which spaces the floor effectively for the other components of the UConn offense. I doubt that Ashlynn will get as many assists per game as Nika did last year (maybe she will as a junior or senior), but the floor spacing contributes just as much to the offense as the assists.

As you can tell, I'm coming around to the view that she will need to stay in the starting lineup and/or get starter's minutes even after Azzi and Aubrey return. If the last starting spot ends up as a contest between Ashlynn and Kaitlyn, my current vote would be for Ashlynn.

I don’t know how the per minute averages work out, but Muhl’s steals per game went down every year as she became a better on ball and ball denial defender. Though Jefferson was great at both, Sales was our steals leader by far, yet not known for shutting down opponents, while Faris excelled mainly with the latter.

I am not saying that Shade won’t become a better defender than Muhl, just that steals per minute or game is not the best measure. I suspect Shade will end up in the top three for playing time, whether or not she starts.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don’t know how the per minute averages work out, but Muhl’s steals per game went down every year as she became a better on ball and ball denial defender. Though Jefferson was great at both, Sales was our steals leader by far, yet not known for shutting down opponents, while Faris excelled mainly with the latter.

I am not saying that Shade won’t become a better defender than Muhl, just that steals per minute or game is not the best measure. I suspect Shade will end up in the top three for playing time, whether or not she starts.

Interesting observation. It’s like there’s a trade off between on-ball defense and jumping the passing lanes.

KK and Ash occasionally pick someone’s pocket, but those may be less frequent than stealing a pass. My memory of Precious was that she used those long arms to nab stray passes. Against USF, I noticed Ash taking more chances on defense to get into the passing lanes. Paige and Sarah also get steals this way.

 

[Ozimoto]

You can afford to take more chances defensively as a guard when you have a 6'-5" intimidator behind you in the lane...

 

[uconnfan68]

Interesting observation. It’s like there’s a trade off between on-ball defense and jumping the passing lanes.

KK and Ash occasionally pick someone’s pocket, but those may be less frequent than stealing a pass. My memory of Precious was that she used those long arms to nab stray passes. Against USF, I noticed Ash taking more chances on defense to get into the passing lanes. Paige and Sarah also get steals this way.

She's taking more chances because that's what Geno asked/told her to do. That's why she's the minutes played leader.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Shade and Muhl are just two different types of defenders., both effective, but definitely different. Muhl was a "tip of the spear" on ball hawk that created havoc and forced the ball to "passing lane defenders, like Shade. The latter tend to get fewer fouls and fewer visits to sit by the coaches. I do think they have one thing in common, both are bullies. One just smiles when she does it and the other doesn't.

 

[BBallF]

What did Nika do last year that Ashlynn isn't doing at least as well this year? I'm too lazy to do a statistical comparison, but my in-person eye test tells me that Ashlynn is as much of a defensive pain to opposing guards as Nika was. I think she will get as many steals per minute over the season as Nika did last year (although she won't play as many minutes because of the extra roster depth this year).

Ashlynn is a better and more willing shooter, and opponents know that they have to guard her, which spaces the floor effectively for the other components of the UConn offense. I doubt that Ashlynn will get as many assists per game as Nika did last year (maybe she will as a junior or senior), but the floor spacing contributes just as much to the offense as the assists.

As you can tell, I'm coming around to the view that she will need to stay in the starting lineup and/or get starter's minutes even after Azzi and Aubrey return. If the last starting spot ends up as a contest between Ashlynn and Kaitlyn, my current vote would be for Ashlynn.

Nika was a point guard and ran the offense. She was Geno on the floor. The assists tell it all. I agree that Ash will continue to start even if Azzi is 100% healthy and starts but that's because neither KC or KK will.

 

[Dugway]

She's taking more chances because that's what Geno asked/told her to do. That's why she's the minutes played leader.

She in this post is of course referring to Shade.

100% agree with you, Ash's aggressive defensive is a product of what the coaching staff has directed her to do. She is now a sophomore and is turning the page from what she had been in the past (which we all recognize as being pretty darn good). Amongst all of her attributes, Shade is coachable!

In the post-game interview, the very first question asked from a reporter was of Paige; something to the effect of, 'Why were you so happy to jump out there and celebrate with Ashlyn after she made that steal and layup in the 3rd?' Paige's answer was more or less, 'Coach yells at everyone, and during practice he has been really hard on Ash. Particularly, wanting her to be very aggressive, to take a risk, steal the ball and get the gimme layup. I couldn't be prouder of her; in that she has implemented that exact thing into her game." -Paraphrasing

 

[Bone Dog]

Ash's aggressive defensive is a product of what the coaching staff has directed her to do. She is now a sophomore and is turning the page from what she had been in the past (which we all recognize as being pretty darn good). Amongst all of her attributes, Shade is coachable!

I've watched a bunch of her HS videos -- they're probably still up in case anyone's curious -- including one game against Ayanna. In HS she was the "tip of the spear" on their press, which they ran almost the entirety of most games. That should give anyone a sense of her conditioning even back then. She ran a one-woman full court press for entire games! I think this is what Geno expected of her last season, and it's why he expressed surprise in the post game interview yesterday that she'd become so cautious as a freshman. It's also why he's pleased to see her take more chances. He recruited her to be exactly what she was against USF. Talk about a sophomore leap: Ash has made one.

 

[topogigio]

If I had to pick one over the other, I go with Ash. She just has too many more strengths.

 

[PacoSwede]

i didn't see the 2nd-half ash (stellar) in the first. she wasn't aggressive in the half-court offense. not cutting, not moving with purpose, stagnant.

something must have happened in the locker room, because ash was fabulous when she returned.

i sure want to see that ash all the time. i hope someone gave her a poke at halftime, and that it sticks in the future.

(BTW, i would enjoy seeing much more of her midrange game, which everybody knows is a great weapon.)

 

[Dixiedog]

Shade and Muhl are just two different types of defenders., both effective, but definitely different. Muhl was a "tip of the spear" on ball hawk that created havoc and forced the ball to "passing lane defenders, like Shade. The latter tend to get fewer fouls and fewer visits to sit by the coaches. I do think they have one thing in common, both are bullies. One just smiles when she does it and the other doesn't.

I believe Nika's steals/game decreased season to season for the reason you said. Initially she was always going for tipping the ball out of the offensive player's hand and then grabbing possession and off to the races. As an upperclassmen, I believe Geno didn't want her taking as many chances to pick up fouls (being that aggressive), he wanted/needed her on the floor (she led the team in min/game both her junior and senior seasons). He wanted her to keep the pressure on/harrass the ball handler to force bad passes for others to grab jumping the passing lanes. Ashlynn or maybe KK may fill that role this season.

It would be rather surprising if Shade approached Nika's assist numbers from last season. Nika's assist total last season was the second highest all time, behind only her single season record her junior season. I would think that Paige, KK, Kaitlyn and Sarah are all going to be serving up a lot of dimes themselves.

 

[Bone Dog]

In her freshman year, Paige was the “bucket getter” for the team. When they needed a bucket, when spirits were flagging, and everyone else’s shots were not going down, Paige would rescue them. And it was very often a midrange jumper that she did it with. Watch the replay of the SC game from that year. Everyone remembers that incredible overtime dagger that sealed the win. But from the middle of the 4th quarter, Paige scored almost every point and they were all on those pesky midrange jumpers.

When I see Ash hit that midrange jumper, which is almost automatic for her, my first thought is, “Way to go, bucket getter!” She will be rallying her teammates with that jumper for the next few years.

 

[ashfan]

What did Nika do last year that Ashlynn isn't doing at least as well this year? I'm too lazy to do a statistical comparison, but my in-person eye test tells me that Ashlynn is as much of a defensive pain to opposing guards as Nika was. I think she will get as many steals per minute over the season as Nika did last year (although she won't play as many minutes because of the extra roster depth this year).

Ashlynn is a better and more willing shooter, and opponents know that they have to guard her, which spaces the floor effectively for the other components of the UConn offense. I doubt that Ashlynn will get as many assists per game as Nika did last year (maybe she will as a junior or senior), but the floor spacing contributes just as much to the offense as the assists.

As you can tell, I'm coming around to the view that she will need to stay in the starting lineup and/or get starter's minutes even after Azzi and Aubrey return. If the last starting spot ends up as a contest between Ashlynn and Kaitlyn, my current vote would be for Ashlynn.

Sooner or later (probably later), Ash12 will assume leadership of the team on the court. Note the steals so far--that's her response to Geno's nudging her on defense. Note her taking some mid-range jumpers against South Florida--that's her decision to create more shots for herself. Character, motivation, determination, talent--the Heartland Sweetie has it all.

 

[OldSchooler]

When everybody gets back healthy, our best 5 will be Paige, Sarah, Jana, Ash and Azzi. But unless Geno plans on revolutionizing offensive strategy, we still need a PG. Nobody wants to tie Paige up with those chores, and that shouldn't be Azzi's role either (recall what Ohio State did to her in the regionals 2 years ago). So it's got to be either Chen or KK in the starting lineup. So it could come down to Ash or Azzi in the starting lineup. At this point, I'd say Ash, because she has the most stamina for the long game, and Azzi adds the explosiveness of a 6th man off the bench. But then, wasn't that Aubrey's role? Golly, what a surfeit of riches. I'm sure the coaches will have it figured out. Maybe we'll see more variety based on matching the opposition, which means a lot more emphasis on the scouting reports. One thing is clear -- nobody on this team is going to get splinters this season.

 

[Kat]

Nika was a more of an in-your-face type of defender plus Nika was better at seeing when help was needed. Nika also was more in charge directing traffic. Thats how Shade and KK learned where to be defensively.
Right now Nika sees the floor better, whats going on all over the entire floor but Ashlynn is still only a sophomore so theres plenty of time for her to improve.

I think that KK is more like Nika than anyone else. As with Nika in her early stage, Arnold is learning to not foul while covering an opponent like a blanket. She also likes to go to the hoop and shows no fear about anything and is tough as nails.