Aubrey Update “doesn’t look good right now”

[Boreifs]

There are two ways to discover "back" or nerve damage to the spine issues: one is the MRI and the other is the CT Scan or both. Since they have the Health Center, they should schedle these tests for her as soon as possible. At least they may be able to define he problem instead of speculate.

Why are you assuming they haven’t done that already?

 

[veryolddog]

Why are you assuming they haven’t done that already?

Because after dealing with severe back difficulty for many years it was only through these tests that they got to have the information to correct my problems surgically. The first post said that they have to get to the bottom of the problem. Indicates to me that they do not have enough information. That is why I came to that conclusion.

 

[SJF]

Can a player transfer in before next semester and be eligible to play? Or maybe a foreign player be able to come in and immediately be able to play? Just seems the ones that are out may not get back and if they do there is a likelihood of injury again.

 

[Zinethar]

Even if they could transfer in now and play what would make you think that they could learn the system and be ready right away? I get that it would be great and be a potential help but I doubt it could happen.

 

[CocoHusky]

Can a player transfer in before next semester and be eligible to play? Or maybe a foreign player be able to come in and immediately be able to play? Just seems the ones that are out may not get back and if they do there is a likelihood of injury again.

No. The start of the spring semester for UCONN is Jan 18th no additions to the team are possible until that point.

 

[sun]

Can a player transfer in before next semester and be eligible to play? Or maybe a foreign player be able to come in and immediately be able to play? Just seems the ones that are out may not get back and if they do there is a likelihood of injury again.

AFAIK a full time student can become a walk on and play if the coach allows them to be on the team.
A walk on means that the player doesn't have an athletic scholarship.

 

[Longtime fan]

Yes back issues can be a crap shoot. I have had 3 surgeries, ruptured disc, slipped disc and to repair a broken back.

Yikes. Were you in a parachute accident?

 

[Centerstream]

Yikes. Were you in a parachute accident?

Not sure how I slipped a disk, just was in a world of pain. I ruptured a disk when I bent over to pick up the laundry basket. Had to wait a month for the surgery. Both of these happened within a year of each other. I broke my back when my zero turn lawn mower flipped over on top of me when I ignored almost every warning sticker on the machine.

 

[Bigboote]

Not sure how I slipped a disk, just was in a world of pain. I ruptured a disk when I bent over to pick up the laundry basket.

Ouch! People raise their eyebrows at me when I say that I dislocated a shoulder in my sleep. The first few times it happened were playing volleyball and basketball, so not a shocker to me but it is if someone hears about it without context.

 

[oldhusky]

AFAIK a full time student can become a walk on and play if the coach allows them to be on the team.
A walk on means that the player doesn't have an athletic scholarship.

I think Geno should be conducting tryouts for a wing right now with a clear understanding of their role, and that if and when Azzi and Nika come back there is no need to use her. Right now we do not have a natural backup for any guards. All three of Evina, Christyn and Caroline will play heavy overworked minutes, and Aaliyah will play some at the 3.

That is a bad enough scenario, but what happens now if any of those four (Evina, Christyn, Caroline or Aaliyah) get injured or foul out?
Piath at SG? Amari at SF? I think Geno should be exploring to see if there is anybody on campus that could help. Maybe there isn't anybody, and obviously when one of Azzi or Nika comes back we will have some protection, but in the meantime we are a few fouls or one injury away from a disaster.

Maybe a talented big playing guard for the first time in their life would be better than say a walk-on that just joined the team, that perhaps was a starting guard in high school, but not considered Div 1 material. I don't know, but I don't think it hurts to have one of the assistants take a look and see if there was anyone worthy of bringing to Geno's attention.

 

[hoopsfan22]

I think Geno should be conducting tryouts for a wing right now with a clear understanding of their role, and that if and when Azzi and Nika come back there is no need to use her. Right now we do not have a natural backup for any guards. All three of Evina, Christyn and Caroline will play heavy overworked minutes, and Aaliyah will play some at the 3.

That is a bad enough scenario, but what happens now if any of those four (Evina, Christyn, Caroline or Aaliyah) get injured or foul out?
Piath at SG? Amari at SF? I think Geno should be exploring to see if there is anybody on campus that could help. Maybe there isn't anybody, and obviously when one of Azzi or Nika comes back we will have some protection, but in the meantime we are a few fouls or one injury away from a disaster.

Maybe a talented big playing guard for the first time in their life would be better than say a walk-on that just joined the team, that perhaps was a starting guard in high school, but not considered Div 1 material. I don't know, but I don't think it hurts to have one of the assistants take a look and see if there was anyone worthy of bringing to Geno's attention.

Even if you could find someone, I don't think they can officially join the team until January 18th when the next semester begins. That's a month away, and we should have some people back by then.

 

[CocoHusky]

I think Geno should be conducting tryouts for a wing right now with a clear understanding of their role, and that if and when Azzi and Nika come back there is no need to use her. Right now we do not have a natural backup for any guards. All three of Evina, Christyn and Caroline will play heavy overworked minutes, and Aaliyah will play some at the 3.

That is a bad enough scenario, but what happens now if any of those four (Evina, Christyn, Caroline or Aaliyah) get injured or foul out?
Piath at SG? Amari at SF? I think Geno should be exploring to see if there is anybody on campus that could help. Maybe there isn't anybody, and obviously when one of Azzi or Nika comes back we will have some protection, but in the meantime we are a few fouls or one injury away from a disaster.

Maybe a talented big playing guard for the first time in their life would be better than say a walk-on that just joined the team, that perhaps was a starting guard in high school, but not considered Div 1 material. I don't know, but I don't think it hurts to have one of the assistants take a look and see if there was anyone worthy of bringing to Geno's attention.

Actually I don't know why Geno is being so stubborn here. The obvious answer is to play Aaliyah Edwards at guard the same way Team Canada did. The three and the two have always been interchangeable in the UCONN offense anyway. If AE is good enough to play the three why can't she play the 2 as well. Isn't that what the call "position less" basketball.

 

[meyers7]

I think Geno should be conducting tryouts for a wing right now with a clear understanding of their role, and that if and when Azzi and Nika come back there is no need to use her. Right now we do not have a natural backup for any guards. All three of Evina, Christyn and Caroline will play heavy overworked minutes, and Aaliyah will play some at the 3.

That is a bad enough scenario, but what happens now if any of those four (Evina, Christyn, Caroline or Aaliyah) get injured or foul out?
Piath at SG? Amari at SF? I think Geno should be exploring to see if there is anybody on campus that could help. Maybe there isn't anybody, and obviously when one of Azzi or Nika comes back we will have some protection, but in the meantime we are a few fouls or one injury away from a disaster.

Maybe a talented big playing guard for the first time in their life would be better than say a walk-on that just joined the team, that perhaps was a starting guard in high school, but not considered Div 1 material. I don't know, but I don't think it hurts to have one of the assistants take a look and see if there was anyone worthy of bringing to Geno's attention.

Sooooo, we have HS AA's who are transferring because they can't get playing time even with all the injuries. But Geno and his assistants are supposed to go find a walk-on who's going to save the program?????

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not seeing that happening. Peoples, this ain't an after school special.

 

[DEpup]

Actually I don't know why Geno is being so stubborn here. The obvious answer is to play Aaliyah Edwards at guard the same way Team Canada did. The three and the two have always been interchangeable in the UCONN offense anyway. If AE is good enough to play the three why can't she play the 2 as well. Isn't that what the call "position less" basketball.

I'm not sure that Aaliyah is clear in the head to start at any position right now. I'm beginning to think the Canadian team experience messed with her head because something isn't right since then.

 

[Centerstream]

Do people really believe that there is one person walking around campus that could walk on and actually play meaningful minutes against D-1 competition? I know Briana and Tierney walked on after responding to Stewie's tweet, but come on, were they immediately ready for the competition?

 

[Stymie]

Sooooo, we have HS AA's who are transferring because they can't get playing time even with all the injuries. But Geno and his assistants are supposed to go find a walk-on who's going to save the program?????

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not seeing that happening. Peoples, this ain't an after school special.

Don’t you see?
That’s the way to hold Geno harmless from his failure to develop down bench players, or at least apportion them a crumb of playing time in case the unforeseen occurs.
The unforeseen has occurred.
I’d wager that a couple of minutes for Mir or Saylor would have kept them hungry and at least delayed their decisions to depart. I do not doubt that they would have anyway.
Timing was terrible.
Would have provided better options than soliciting walk ins.
Not suggesting he is searching for walk-ins, but that is the “solution” for some here.
As previously stated:
Foul trouble=big problem.
Another injury=fatal problem.
( and increasing the court time for so few players increases the chance of another injury)
Need to make it 2-3 games like this, then the situation may begin to improve.

 

[Geew1992]

Don’t you see?
That’s the way to hold Geno harmless from his failure to develop down bench players, or at least apportion them a crumb of playing time in case the unforeseen occurs.
The unforeseen has occurred.
I’d wager that a couple of minutes for Mir or Saylor would have kept them hungry and at least delayed their decisions to depart. I do not doubt that they would have anyway.
Timing was terrible.
Would have provided better options than soliciting walk ins.
Not suggesting he is searching for walk-ins, but that is the “solution” for some here.
As previously stated:
Foul trouble=big problem.
Another injury=fatal problem.
( and increasing the court time for so few players increases the chance of another injury)
Need to make it 2-3 games like this, then the situation may begin to improve.

Considering Saylor was injured when she entered the transfer portal, so I really don't believe her transfer had to do with playing time

 

[oldhusky]

Do people really believe that there is one person walking around campus that could walk on and actually play meaningful minutes against D-1 competition? I know Briana and Tierney walked on after responding to Stewie's tweet, but come on, were they immediately ready for the competition?

Clearly not by choice. Right now the answer is Aaliyah playing out of position to backup in essence all the wing starters. Do I think a walk-on would be used if all four of the relevant players are available? No, my point is what is the backup plan if just one of those is not available from injury, illness, or foul trouble.

If the unavailable player was Aaliyah, I imagine Dorka would have to assume Aaliyah's role as the backup to all three wings. If we are missing one of the wings then probably Aaliyah and Dorka are wings and we are playing 4 bigs and one guard, with Amari and Piath having to pick up the big minutes with Aaliyah and Dorka out of position.

Could a walk on who at least played guard decently in high school be better than that? I'm not sure, and if one and certainly with two missing players back it would not be an issue, but until that happens we have to use one big like a guard, and with any guard missing that would be two bigs playing guard.

 

[JordyG]

Ouch! People raise their eyebrows at me when I say that I dislocated a shoulder in my sleep. The first few times it happened were playing volleyball and basketball, so not a shocker to me but it is if someone hears about it without context.

I share your pain. I've dislocated my right shoulder 40 times in my life, twice in my sleep. Once this happens your sleeping positions, at least for me, are relegated mostly to sleeping on your back, which is, according to health and back experts, not a bad thing.

 

[Geew1992]

That is a debatable assertion.
Fact remains- zero minutes
Mir - almost zero
Piath-same
Amari- a little more

Considering she was on the sidelines with a boot on, not sure it's debatable.

 

[Stymie]

Considering she was on the sidelines with a boot on, not sure it's debatable.

Piath wearing a boot all season?
Mir?
Amari just get one off?
I musta missed ‘em.

 

[Watchdog]

Not sure how I slipped a disk, just was in a world of pain. I ruptured a disk when I bent over to pick up the laundry basket. Had to wait a month for the surgery. Both of these happened within a year of each other. I broke my back when my zero turn lawn mower flipped over on top of me when I ignored almost every warning sticker on the machine.

How careless. Didn't you read the stickers on the laundry basket?
You know. Bend at the knees. Keep your back straight. Pull the basket close to your chest. Stand up in a slow, steady, motion beginning with pushing up with the balls of your feet.

I saw a case in the ER many years ago where an employee using a riding lawn mower accidentally drove into an empty swimming pool with the mower landing on his left hand and lower arm. Multiple fractures of many bones in his hand, every finger, and multiple fractures of his wrist and bones in the lower arm. What an arthritic poster boy he must be today. Hope yours wasn't something you're still suffering with.

 

[sun]

Piath wearing a boot all season?
Mir?
Amari just get one off?
I musta missed ‘em.

Saylor was wearing a boot just before she transferred.

 

[Geew1992]

Piath wearing a boot all season?
Mir?
Amari just get one off?
I musta missed ‘em.

Pretty sure I only said Saylor but keep that energy

 

[Centerstream]

How careless. Didn't you read the stickers on the laundry basket?
You know. Bend at the knees. Keep your back straight. Pull the basket close to your chest. Stand up in a slow, steady, motion beginning with pushing up with the balls of your feet.

I saw a case in the ER many years ago where an employee using a riding lawn mower accidentally drove into an empty swimming pool with the mower landing on his left hand and lower arm. Multiple fractures of many bones in his hand, every finger, and multiple fractures of his wrist and bones in the lower arm. What an arthritic poster boy he must be today. Hope yours wasn't something you're still suffering with.

You are correct about the laundry basket, I didn't read the stickers. As far as the lawn mower, I read them all but chose to ignore them. My back still bothers me mostly due to old age, cold weather and having to lift small bales of hay to bring to the animals daily. My back does have two titanium rods attached to my back bone with six screws. Made it all better.

 

[Heytherego]

 

[Centerstream]

Piath wearing a boot all season?
Mir?
Amari just get one off?
I musta missed ‘em.

I don't think that those are the only things you missed...
You completely ignore the post about Saylor wearing a boot in the games before she transfers and then completely turn in to bee ess about other players. Go figure.

 

[PJCLaw]

So let's total it up:

Left team and WCBB

Ana Makurat- decided to leave the team at the end of the season to play professionally in Europe.
Megan Walker left early to play in the WNBA

College Transfers

Mir McLean
Sailor Poffenbarger

Injuries

Paige
Azzi
Nika Muhl
Aubrey Griffin
(Poffenbarger was also dealing with a long-term back injury when she decided to transfer)

So eight athletes available. But two of those players have undergone surgery:

Piath Gabriel was "restricted" in workouts during the summer due to rehab from surgery. Unknown whether that surgery and possibly continued rehab have any impact on her limited playing time this season. Also was mentioned as having some sort of academic issue.
Evina Westbrook has undergone two knee surgeries, and was supposed to be limited in minutes per game. this season.

So that leaves six players on the roster who are healthy and without surgery issues:

Edwards
Williams
Ducharmes
ONO
DeBerry
Juhasz

It leaves six players whom Coach Geno actually plays. Gabriel has been given no indication that she will get meaningful playing time anytime soon. DeBerry has been given a few minutes recently, but clearly is not yet trusted to play meaningful minutes, though that could change, given Coach Geno's recent favorable post-game remarks.

So the players who actually play, and can be expected to play almost all of the minutes are:

Edwards
Williams
Westbrook
Ducharmes
ONO
Juhasz

Can't recall any Connecticut team's having experienced such a tidal wave of early entry to the pros, transfers, and injuries. We've had weak benches before, but usually because of a lack of bench talent, not a lack of healthy bodies.

MW left two seasons ago not when AM left, so she did not affect this year's team. Besides, she would have graduated already if she stayed ( unless staying for her COVID super senior year).

 

[Charliebball]

how many times have we seen AG enter a game with UConn playing poorly and make a steal, a block or an offensive rebound and basket totally changing the momentum in UConn's favor..........the more games I watch, the more I realize how much UConn misses Aubrey Griffin..............

 

[veryolddog]

Yikes. Were you in a parachute accident?

You do not have to be in a parachute accident. This is a result of every jump you make. I made 38 jumps from perfectly good airplanes serving 23 years in the Marine Corps. I never landed on my feet like they show in the movies and never used rectangular chutes like they show these days. I have had severe nerve, disc, spinal and hip damage that has resulted in multiple surgeries, therapy and recovery even up to this current day. The pain never goes away. There are lots of military service members just like me out there. And, back injuries are prevalent whether or not you have served in the military.