Azura

[oldude]

Thinking of our "weakness" at PG, I have to grin...what other teams would give for our weakness! Yes, while we don't have the Moriah or Sue running the show right now, Kia, and expect, Crystal, will do an excellent job, and just what we need to run the offense at full throttle. With our other pieces, and especially our height void that Z fills, not to mention her skill set, this season will leave many shaking their head, and measuring their success against our best.

I think Coombs will also be an outstanding PG.

 

[JoePgh]

Another potential problem is that there is really no backup for Azura. That is where Natalie's departure will hurt. If Azura gets in foul trouble or needs a rest, UConn will return to playing the way it did last year, with Gabby trying to guard the paint. I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

 

[eebmg]

Another potential problem is that there is really no backup for Azura. That is where Natalie's departure will hurt. If Azura gets in foul trouble or needs a rest, UConn will return to playing the way it did last year, with Gabby trying to guard the paint. I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

In this scenario, Azura would likely still have a large amount of minutes (20-25) so that using undersized defenders would only be for relatively brief periods. I believe this can even work in our favor since the change of defensive strategy and contrast of styles is often the best approach to defense not to mention the new problems our offensive speed has pulling these center behemoths out.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Another potential problem is that there is really no backup for Azura. That is where Natalie's departure will hurt. If Azura gets in foul trouble or needs a rest, UConn will return to playing the way it did last year, with Gabby trying to guard the paint. I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

The bad is, you are right. There is no comparable backup. Gabby could reprise her role of last season. The good is, Azura committed 109 fouls in 58 games (1.9 fouls/G) at Duke with one FO. So she does not appear to have tendency to foul much. Still a potential issue.

 

[oldude]

Another potential problem is that there is really no backup for Azura. That is where Natalie's departure will hurt. If Azura gets in foul trouble or needs a rest, UConn will return to playing the way it did last year, with Gabby trying to guard the paint. I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

Don't sell Batouly "short". At 6'2" she has "Tuck-like" strength and footwork. As a freshman at KY, Batouly had her best game vs SC in Columbia.

 

[TitleTown]

Z will be a starter this season along with gabby, kls, nurse and Dangerfield with collier first off the bench.

There is zero chance that Collier doesn't start!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Another potential problem is that there is really no backup for Azura. ....I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

How many 6-4 to 6-7 players are there? How many good ones are there? How many good ones will UConn face? Which title threats have any of these types of players? South Carolina had two of them last year and UConn did okay in that game.

 

[bizarro aj]

There is zero chance that Collier doesn't start!

I bet you thought chong wasn't starting last season! So who plays pg along with nurse? Don't even say gabby or kls because they are not guards. Dangerfield will run the point that is why geno recruited her. Geno will not forget how collier played against miss st in the ff. She will come off the bench to give Z a break. KLS will get the most playing time.

 

[Longtime fan]

She was special her first two years at Duke. As a sophomore she was an All-American Honorable Mention. She will be better the next two years. UConn lucked out when she decided to leave Duke. I cannot comprehend how anyone could think she will not start. Mobile, coordinated height is what this team needs. Expect from Stevens the following:

Kelsey Mitchell may have something to say about who the NPOY is?

The guard from OSU? No way. She is a scorer only, often to the detriment of her team's play.

 

[TitleTown]

I bet you thought chong wasn't starting last season! So who plays pg along with nurse? Don't even say gabby or kls because they are not guards. Dangerfield will run the point that is why geno recruited her. Geno will not forget how collier played against miss st in the ff. She will come off the bench to give Z a break. KLS will get the most playing time.

Nope

 

[Goodgood]

Nope

Gabby was a point guard in HS. She became a post out of necessity. She was so good at it that people forgot she was a guard. Now she is back shooting three's all summer and will have no problem replacing Chong. Just wondering how an all-american starter could be replaced by an inexperience sophomore point guard. As good as Jefferson was, she didn't become relevant until her junior year. Dangerfield has plenty of time to grow and learn. Except for the Baylor game she was pretty average the whole year.

 

[uconnever]

I bet you thought chong wasn't starting last season! So who plays pg along with nurse? Don't even say gabby or kls because they are not guards. Dangerfield will run the point that is why geno recruited her. Geno will not forget how collier played against miss st in the ff. She will come off the bench to give Z a break. KLS will get the most playing time.

Crystal won't start. There is no way Collier won't be in the starting lineup. She's a first team all American. Maybe KLS will be the 2 on offense, but guard the 3 on defense if the opposing 2 gives her trouble. Gabby could easily then guard the 2 guard. It should be obvious the starting lineup will be Kia,KLS,Gabby,Collier,Stevens.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Dangerfield has plenty of time to grow and learn. Except for the Baylor game she was pretty average the whole year.

Nah, she had more moments than just the Baylor game. Few freshmen have 114/53 A/TO ratios.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

Two points to consider: Those posts are going to be run into an oxygen tent. An occasional post will get her points, but the offensive fire power of this team will prevail absent a bizzare event such as Ms ST.

 

[Goodgood]

Nah, she had more moments than just the Baylor game. Few freshmen have 114/53 A/TO ratios.

Few freshmen play for UConn with three first team all-Americans and a Canadian National team starter.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Few freshmen play for UConn with three first team all-Americans and a Canadian National team starter.

Jefferson played with Stewart, KML, Hartley, Dolson, and Farris as a frosh and didn't put up those numbers. Beyond that, Dangerfield had her share of court time with the bench.

 

[oldude]

There seems to be an absolute conviction by some on this board that UConn must start a true pg or the Huskies will be doomed next year. I get where this is coming from. Mo was an extraordinary pg who had the ball in her hand most of the time on offense. But basketball is changing. The conventional 1-5 positions are passe. The best teams don't play with a true center or pg anymore. Everbody handles the ball, passes the ball and shoots the ball. Think of the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry is not a true pg.

This past season, UConn had 5 players with over 100 assists, with the "center" leading the team. You can say that either Kia or Saniya was the pg of the team, but the truth is they were both combo guards who handled the ball like everyone else in the flow of the offense. UConn does not need a true pg. Z will start along with Gabby, Lou, Pheesa & Kia. Danger will get her minutes, particularly when Geno wants to speed up the game and break the other team's will.

 

[Goodgood]

Jefferson played with Stewart, KML, Hartley, Dolson, and Farris as a frosh and didn't put up those numbers. Beyond that, Dangerfield had her share of court time with the bench.

Jefferson was at the end of the bench in her freshman year. Compare minutes. Hard to get assists when all the starters are gone and you are in to kill time.

 

[BroadwayVa]

So much promise, and, as many of us hope and expect, a season to remember!

TWO IN A ROW?? ARE LUCKY FANS---

 

[SVCBeercats]

I bet you thought chong wasn't starting last season! So who plays pg along with nurse? Don't even say gabby or kls because they are not guards. Dangerfield will run the point that is why geno recruited her. Geno will not forget how collier played against miss st in the ff. She will come off the bench to give Z a break. KLS will get the most playing time.

Was KLS the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th most consistent player last season? Same for Collier. Geno wants consistency. He has said many times he wants to know what a player can deliver for every game. Rank last year's players by their consistency as you saw them,

 

[Tenspro2002]

Geno will not forget how collier played against miss st in the ff. She will come off the bench to give Z a break. KLS will get the most playing time.

Collier was awful in the MSU game, no question, but in Geno's mind that will not undo a year's worth of consistent, All-American-level play.

She will start. In fact, all 4 returning starters will start.

The question is whether Stevens or Dangerfield is the 6th "man".

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Jefferson was at the end of the bench in her freshman year. Compare minutes. Hard to get assists when all the starters are gone and you are in to kill time.

Jefferson was on the bench but not at the end. She was 6th in minutes, averaging more than Doty, Stokes, Tuck, Banks, and Buck.

 

[uconnever]

Collier was awful in the MSU game, no question, but in Geno's mind that will not undo a year's worth of consistent, All-American-level play.

She will start. In fact, all 4 returning starters will start.

The question is whether Stevens or Dangerfield is the 6th "man".

Not much of a question at all.

 

[BroadwayVa]

There seems to be an absolute conviction by some on this board that UConn must start a true pg or the Huskies will be doomed next year. I get where this is coming from. Mo was an extraordinary pg who had the ball in her hand most of the time on offense. But basketball is changing. The conventional 1-5 positions are passe. The best teams don't play with a true center or pg anymore. Everbody handles the ball, passes the ball and shoots the ball. Think of the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry is not a true pg.

This past season, UConn had 5 players with over 100 assists, with the "center" leading the team. You can say that either Kia or Saniya was the pg of the team, but the truth is they were both combo guards who handled the ball like everyone else in the flow of the offense. UConn does not need a true pg. Z will start along with Gabby, Lou, Pheesa & Kia. Danger will get her minutes, particularly when Geno wants to speed up the game and break the other team's will.

With Geno's particular problem - he will be fielding those that are immediately, uniquely, required at the moment. With Golden State Vs Uconn in type of player, level, experience--that's apples and watermelons---However I agree THIS particular team has many on it--starting 5 or bench--that are ball handlers/passers/ now the issue is knowing the system--how deep does that go? We are fairly certain of 4, maybe 5--beyond that--only Geno knows for sure--and his hair dress won't tell.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Jefferson was at the end of the bench in her freshman year. Compare minutes. Hard to get assists when all the starters are gone and you are in to kill time.

I know many kids that would love to play as far down on any bench as Moriah did her Fosh season. Y

 

[BroadwayVa]

Don't sell Batouly "short". At 6'2" she has "Tuck-like" strength and footwork. As a freshman at KY, Batouly had her best game vs SC in Columbia.

Cute--that's a comment only a Broadway poster would make--"Sell----Short".

 

[UConnCat]

Jefferson was at the end of the bench in her freshman year. Compare minutes. Hard to get assists when all the starters are gone and you are in to kill time.

Moriah was hardly at the end of the bench. She averaged more minutes than several bench players. With Doty a shell of her former self there were opportunities for more minutes but Moriah's play didn't earn Geno's trust. I bet if Geno were asked which guard he trusted more as a freshman he would say Crystal. That's not to say Crystal didn't struggle as surely she did, but she was better than freshman Moriah. The question now is how good Crystal becomes and will she be as good as Moriah was as a junior and senior. That is a very tall task.

 

[JordyG]

There seems to be an absolute conviction by some on this board that UConn must start a true pg or the Huskies will be doomed next year. I get where this is coming from. Mo was an extraordinary pg who had the ball in her hand most of the time on offense. But basketball is changing. The conventional 1-5 positions are passe. The best teams don't play with a true center or pg anymore. Everbody handles the ball, passes the ball and shoots the ball. Think of the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry is not a true pg.

This past season, UConn had 5 players with over 100 assists, with the "center" leading the team. You can say that either Kia or Saniya was the pg of the team, but the truth is they were both combo guards who handled the ball like everyone else in the flow of the offense. UConn does not need a true pg. Z will start along with Gabby, Lou, Pheesa & Kia. Danger will get her minutes, particularly when Geno wants to speed up the game and break the other team's will.

And putting the teams best passing forward at the 2 works for me.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Another potential problem is that there is really no backup for Azura. That is where Natalie's departure will hurt. If Azura gets in foul trouble or needs a rest, UConn will return to playing the way it did last year, with Gabby trying to guard the paint. I don't quite see how Napheesa / Batouly / Kyla can effectively guard opposing post players who are in the 6-4 to 6-7 height range.

Your hypothesis I believe is a true one---No (true) backup---as I see it with NUMBERS that geno didn't have this past season--Geno will defend with numbers--now he can afford a few more fouls for Collier and Gabby--I won't pull any kid from the Roster (except 4-maybe 5) that will fill that bill--but if all the press and supposition is correct--Batouly and maybe Kyla --will make up or the loss of a big.
I like Butler, still like Natalie--but the truth is and was--she was flatfooted, slow, and not athletic--how would she fit in subbing for Azura- in the new up tempo system, Z spoke about, Z who is everything she wasn't??
The defense of 6-4 and up post player was the Achilles heel this past season--yet early on Uconn went up against Baylor and Texas and later on USC --more fouls, I believe occurred in the MD than in those 2--from a failing memory and Md's big was what 6-2?? Point is--height, isn't always as effective a we may think--even with Griner Geno found a way..

 

[BroadwayVa]

Moriah was hardly at the end of the bench. She averaged more minutes than several bench players. With Doty a shell of her former self there were opportunities for more minutes but Moriah's play didn't earn Geno's trust. I bet if Geno were asked which guard he trusted more as a freshman he would say Crystal. That's not to say Crystal didn't struggle as surely she did, but she was better than freshman Moriah. The question now is how good Crystal becomes and will she be as good as Moriah was as a junior and senior. That is a very tall task.

At this time last year I anointed Danger--Moriah jr---with defense, concussions, freshman problems--she didn't live up to my (overly high) expectations---Geno at the end of last season--in the NCAA's put Danger into a lot of games--the trust was there (also knowing her limitation)--I think she will blossom --she is still only a new soph. I am now anointing Walker the very best Walker Uconn has had in the past 10 years (women that is).