As I said in an earlier post, Griffin will lead the Huskies in scoring next season. She just has so many different ways to score. She can't be stopped from putting up points, one way or the other, eh?
I couldn't resist this one.
At the outset, let me be very clear in stating that I
would not have a problem with her being the leading scorer if she were able to pull it off. I couldn't care less who scores for us. Do you as a UConn fan really care who scores the most buckets/points for us, as long as we win?
The starters are going to take turns being the "game high" scorer during the season. You think Geno is going to care who wears that badge game to game as long as the job is getting done? For Aubrey to be the leading scorer next season, there are several dynamics that would have to take place BEFORE that were to happen.
- She would have to start. Not impossible, but unlikely at this point. Things could change depending on Geno's success/failure of bringing in a graduate transfer or two that CAN/WILL help right now. If she were to start, that would mean Geno was unsuccessful in bringing in a graduate transfer or an as yet unsigned player that could take (command) the other starter's spot.
- None of the reserves were able to step up and claim that 5th starters spot. I'm 99 44/100 % sure that ONO will start next season. She became the 6th man on the bench this year as Walker did the year before. Walker started the next year, so will ONO. She was the only player to come off the bench during the tournament. Coombs, Camara, Irwin and Bent all failed to improve their skills and abilities sufficient enough over the summer to be promoted to starter.
- The other starters would have to defer to her. Plays would have to be run for her, and she would have to have a green light. SVCBeercats reminded us that the last freshman to lead UConn in scoring was Maya Moore. Most underclassmen defer to the upperclassmen on the floor. The seniors and juniors usually (not always) take most of the shots. For Aubrey to lead the team in scoring, she would have to take a minimum of 12-15 shots a game. Assuming she's only going to score a little more or less than half of them, plus her free throws. I don't see Walker or Williams deferring to anyone next season. Now that Collier and Samuelson are gone, the stage is theirs. I look for them to shoot more than last season. Geno is looking for someone to step up and take the lead. You can bet those two will have the green light from tip to buzzer. Someone will have to step up and replace the production of Lou and Phee. We know it's not going to come from the bench. Again this year, the starters will have to do ALL of the heavy lifting for the team in 2019-2020. One other very important adjust she will have to make is learning how to play without the ball. Remember, Christyn said that was something she had to adjust to.
- Geno would have to let her play through those freshman mistakes (not pull her) she will inevitably make. Remember Walker's freshman year. She was not afforded that luxury. When she made an error, oft-times she was pulled. Geno had options then, He didn't last year which is why Williams was seldom pulled when she made an error or omission in judgment or execution.
- She would have to break through that freshman wall quickly. She can't linger behind the wall too long. She must get beyond it and continue to stay in rhythm and sync with the other starters. Her production can't take a nose dive for any length of time. Katie Lou (2322) missed 4 games with her back injury at the end of conference play. She missed passing Tina Charles (2346) for 4th place on the UConn career scoring list by 5 points. Missing a game or two can be the difference in coming in first or second. Griffin would have to find a way to shrug off the effects of fatigue during the second half of the season, as the college season is much longer than that of high school. She will need to adjust quickly to the longer season and the rigors of D1 WCBB. I will not use or mention the "I" word here or in any narrative that I talk about Aubrey. She's already paid her dues in that area of concern. She must stay healthy and available the entire season.
If she can over come all of these points, she very well could be UConn's leading scorer next season. I wish Aubrey all the best not only next season, but her entire four years in the program. All of that being said, I don't see her freshman year being anything other than a "period of adjustment". Based on the further development of the reserves, and Geno's ability to bring in some additional players, Aubrey's time on the floor could be limited at best. Regardless, she'll be fun to watch and grow into an elite talent for UConn, similar to that of Lou and Napheesa.
