Azura

[todl31]

To your point, back in the old days before the NBA allowed zone defense or even double-teams, the Celtics would post up whichever one of 4 starters (Parrish, McHale, Byrd & Johnson) had the biggest mismatch. All 4 had great low-post moves, and they would wear out opposing teams until they were forced to make an adjustment, and then the Celtics would post up someone else.

While zone defenses and double-teams have always been legal in WBB, Geno will certainly look to exploit low-post mismatches. With Z and Pheesa likely guarded by opposing teams bigs, I would not be surprised if Gabby continues to spend much of her time in the paint on offense where she will dominate opposing W/G's.

UConn's mismatches in the low post may force some teams to pack everyone in the paint on defense, leaving Lou, Kia and others open 3-pt shots. Good luck with that strategy.

Is it time for the season to start yet?

Agree with all that you say. Chasing Gabby, Pheesa and Z around one-on-one doesn't seem like a good defensive plan. Double teaming any of them has its problems since Gabby and Pheesa are excellent passers (I have not watched Z play). To defend against UCONN, I might start with a zone to guard the space around the basket rather than the players, but, as you note, Lou, Kia and friends have been known to take advantage of open 3-pt opportunities. I expect to see many mismatches this year.

 

[bizarro aj]

One thing i find interesting is that almost everyone on here only talks about players on the offensive end of the floor. Geno could care less about a players offense, defense wins championships. Thats why i think Z will be a starter and will have 3 times the amount of blocks and rebounds that collier had last season.

 

[Alydar]

One thing i find interesting is that almost everyone on here only talks about players on the offensive end of the floor. Geno could care less about a players offense, defense wins championships. Thats why i think Z will be a starter and will have 3 times the amount of blocks and rebounds that collier had last season.

Sure hope you're right. 28 rebounds and 6 blocks a game might both be NCAA records.

 

[Carnac]

When conversation turns to Azura Stevens and where and how she played her two seasons at Duke, don't forget (or dismiss) she was playing under a completely different system, with different players, and for a different coach who's philosophy about how to play Division 1 basketball is also totally different.

Gabby is a guard, yet Geno had her guarding post players 6 inches taller than her, in the paint, because that's where he needed her to play. If he needs Z to play in the paint, or guard post players, that's what she's going to do. Posters continually comment that Z was not this, or Z does not do that.

She's going to be and do whatever Geno needs her to, and she'll do it with unbridled enthusiasm. She wants to be a great teammate that the players and coaches can count on, and she wants to win a chip.

Sometimes we forget that at UConn, it's not about YOU, but about the team, and what you can do to help this team win basketball games. What you did before you came to Storrs is irrelevant. What's important is what you do AFTER your arrival, and during your stay.

 

[oldude]

Sure hope you're right. 28 rebounds and 6 blocks a game might both be NCAA records.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Ask yourself this question, between collier and Z which one will dominate in the paint? Z has about a 6" longer wingspan then collier and Collier did not dominate in the paint against any team with a 6'4" or taller post last season. There's no doubt in my mind that Z will own the boards on offense and defense which the team lacked last season. Geno's goal every year is to win a NC and he will make changes to get it done since they fell short last season.

IT remains to be seen--it depends on the strengths of Z---or the Strengths Geno sees he can use of Z's.
You are right that Collier and Gabby did not DOMINATE with 6 four and over. My gut tendency is to think Geno would use Z as a mobile post---and as Post Defense---others, with more specific Z knowledge believe she will be away on Offense in on Defense-with help from 3 of the core 4.
Personally, again it depends on Z's progression to Geno's defense--can she handle most bigs defensively ?? We have no visual knowledge. We know she can score--
The real lack of this past year for UConn was SiZE defensively in the post---what would you do if you were Geno--and had a 6-6 big--knowing your medium bigs can't hold the line because of size????

 

[BroadwayVa]

One thing i find interesting is that almost everyone on here only talks about players on the offensive end of the floor. Geno could care less about a players offense, defense wins championships. Thats why i think Z will be a starter and will have 3 times the amount of blocks and rebounds that collier had last season.

Geno loves defense--true--Geno says so many things as all humans do--he has also said--you can't win unless you put the ball in the hole. Which, remembering Ms St, seem true. I use Geno's words only because many won't argue them--but we can probably find a word for each occasion--that Geno used.
I think Azura will be one of at least 6 maybe 7 starters -could be 8. With the talent he has from 1 to 7 his options on defense and offense are amazing--and Geno will use them all as needed.
If I were USC playing Uconn---I'd start with Man to Man defense --see how it works, and would practice options : Zone see how it works, and possible box and one on KLS--and see who could beat USC. Obviously Dawn would stay with the one that gave her the greatest advantage. A quick mobile zone using lots of help--if she has it, that's what I would use.
If Z can fill the Stewie inside game and the Kiah Stokes defense inside--this will be a long year for the NCAA opponents.
We have to remember Geno does not have to be 100 percent perfect or near perfect except for what 6 games?--the rest he can sit back and play practice games.

 

[ricky]

Z can do some fabulous offensive things but she is not a great player yet. Now maybe she can learn how. Wilson took her lunch money when their teams played each other. That can't happen anymore.

 

[hoophuskee]

One thing i find interesting is that almost everyone on here only talks about players on the offensive end of the floor. Geno could care less about a players offense, defense wins championships. Thats why i think Z will be a starter and will have 3 times the amount of blocks and rebounds that collier had last season.

But the reason why you are have been wrong so much on this thread is that you said Collier won't start. How can you say in one sentence that defense is so important then in the next have Collier start on the bench.?

 

[TitleTown]

One thing i find interesting is that almost everyone on here only talks about players on the offensive end of the floor. Geno could care less about a players offense, defense wins championships. Thats why i think Z will be a starter and will have 3 times the amount of blocks and rebounds that collier had last season.

So you think Stevens will have 230 blocks and average 27 rebounds per game?

 

[hoophuskee]

Z can do some fabulous offensive things but she is not a great player yet. Now maybe she can learn how. Wilson took her lunch money when their teams played each other. That can't happen anymore.

But games aren't one-on-one. Wilson may have taken to her to lunch because her team was superior as was Wilson's coach. Thus it makes what Wilson did pretty irrelevant.

 

[ricky]

But games aren't one-on-one. Wilson may have taken to her to lunch because her team was superior as was Wilson's coach. Thus it makes what Wilson did pretty irrelevant.

What a person does is the basis for who they are unless they are a fake. I believe Wilson was the MVP of the final four and she will probably be NPOY. She's no fake. Tuck is not there anymore. It's on Z to utilize her second chance and prove she is great or not. I have a feeling that Z will need to depend heavily on team to contain the big and great Wilson.

 

[SCGamecock]

But games aren't one-on-one. Wilson may have taken to her to lunch because her team was superior as was Wilson's coach. Thus it makes what Wilson did pretty irrelevant.

I'm only replying so I can find this post later on....

 

[oldude]

What a person does is the basis for who they are unless they are a fake. I believe Wilson was the MVP of the final four and she will probably be NPOY. She's no fake. Tuck is not there anymore. It's on Z to utilize her second chance and prove she is great or not. I have a feeling that Z will need to depend heavily on team to contain the big and great Wilson.

The last time Z faced Wilson was almost 2 yrs ago in Columbia in Dec of 2015. SC won 66-55 and yes, Wilson (28 & 11) outplayed Z (11 & 9).

2 years is a long time, particularly when Z has been working with the best coaches in WBB to improve her all-around game as well as to get much stronger.

I would also point out that last year in Storrs, Gabby & Pheesa clearly outplayed Wilson & Coates.

As far as Wilson being NPOY, I have said that she will be one of two favorites, but I believe that Gabby, as the 2nd favorite, will have much to say about NPOY before all is said and done.

 

[DriveLH]

One thing i find interesting is that almost everyone on here only talks about players on the offensive end of the floor. Geno could care less about a players offense, defense wins championships. Thats why i think Z will be a starter and will have 3 times the amount of blocks and rebounds that collier had last season.

I know, "past performance can't be used to predict the future". However, Z and Napheesa played essentially the same minutes , 1731 vs 1769, in their first 2 seasons and Z leads in only 1 positive category O boards ,227 to 191. Collier has better numbers in every other statistical category. What's truly amazing is Collier has 41 more blocks than Z. I hope Z has a great year but 3 times better than Collier?? I think not!

 

[ricky]

I know, "past performance can't be used to predict the future". However, Z and Napheesa played essentially the same minutes , 1731 vs 1769, in their first 2 seasons and Z leads in only 1 positive category O boards ,227 to 191. Collier has better numbers in every other statistical category. What's truly amazing is Collier has 41 more blocks than Z. I hope Z has a great year but 3 times better than Collier?? I think not!

Collier is on a steep incline in her overall skill set. So to compare anyone to Collier is to track a moving threshold that may be impossible to keep up with. I feel Collier and Wilson are the two to compare. But don't forget Gabby of course.

 

[baggerbob]

Collier is on a steep incline in her overall skill set. So to compare anyone to Collier is to track a moving threshold that may be impossible to keep up with. I feel Collier and Wilson are the two to compare. But don't forget Gabby of course.

Uconn didn't win the championship last year, and losing Moriah wasn't the reason. Chong was good enough with Kia in the back-court to win. Replacing Stewie, and Tuck with Gabby, and Collier was the reason they lost. Gabby, and Collier are good players, but not in the same league as Stewie, and a healthy Tuck.

 

[hoophuskee]

What a person does is the basis for who they are unless they are a fake. I believe Wilson was the MVP of the final four and she will probably be NPOY. She's no fake. Tuck is not there anymore. It's on Z to utilize her second chance and prove she is great or not. I have a feeling that Z will need to depend heavily on team to contain the big and great Wilson.

So last year what would you have said about the 2 wing players that transferred to South Carolina? When did they magically turn into championship caliber players? I can probably find games in other years which other players "owned them" similar to what Wilson may have done to Z, right?

 

[Go/huskies]

I know, "past performance can't be used to predict the future". However, Z and Napheesa played essentially the same minutes , 1731 vs 1769, in their first 2 seasons and Z leads in only 1 positive category O boards ,227 to 191. Collier has better numbers in every other statistical category. What's truly amazing is Collier has 41 more blocks than Z. I hope Z has a great year but 3 times better than Collier?? I think not!

Z normally played with a Big while at Duke. She had Williams for 1 year and then she had Chidom and Belton the following year to play center, so I think her role at Duke was different then what Collier was asked to do. The one thing that's pretty exciting about Z is that she's a big but she's not a big, I expect to see her play a lot on the wing and facing the basket, I'm sure Geno will have her mix it up a little inside but, she's more on the level of Delle Donne then she would be on the level of Stewart, Geno did say that setting screens for a 6'6 player is unusual, so I do see her playing a bit of a guard role for Uconn.

 

[TitleTown]

UConn didn't win the championship last year, and losing Moriah wasn't the reason. Chong was good enough with Kia in the back-court to win. Replacing Stewie, and Tuck with Gabby, and Collier was the reason they lost. Gabby, and Collier are good players, but not in the same league as Stewie, and a healthy Tuck.

Collier 20.4ppg 9.1rpg vs Stewart 19.4ppg 8.7rpg
Williams 14.3ppg 8.4rpg vs Tuck 13.7ppg 5.7rpg

Statistics paint a very different picture.

 

[Charliebball]

Z normally played with a Big while at Duke. She had Williams for 1 year and then she had Chidom and Belton the following year to play center, so I think her role at Duke was different then what Collier was asked to do. The one thing that's pretty exciting about Z is that she's a big but she's not a big, I expect to see her play a lot on the wing and facing the basket, I'm sure Geno will have her mix it up a little inside but, she's more on the level of Delle Donne then she would be on the level of Stewart, Geno did say that setting screens for a 6'6 player is unusual, so I do see her playing a bit of a guard role for UConn.

the scary thing is that Azura playing on the outside will actually open things up for Gabby and Napheesa inside
s

 

[wallman]

Stevens didn't play with KLS, Williams or Nurse

 

[oldude]

UConn didn't win the championship last year, and losing Moriah wasn't the reason. Chong was good enough with Kia in the back-court to win. Replacing Stewie, and Tuck with Gabby, and Collier was the reason they lost. Gabby, and Collier are good players, but not in the same league as Stewie, and a healthy Tuck.

While I generally agree with the gist of your post, I would argue that Gabby & Pheesa were great players that were playing out of position last year. When they get to the next level they will play as wings or possibly a guard in Gabby's case. Neither is a true forward and certainly not a center.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

While I generally agree with the gist of your post, I would argue that Gabby & Pheesa were great players that were playing out of position last year. When they get to the next level they will play as wings or possibly a guard in Gabby's case. Neither is a true forward and certainly not a center.

I don't think Collier played out of position at all. Also think Gabby is more of a wing/forward than guard. Not a great ball-handler, not a shooter.

 

[baggerbob]

Collier 20.4ppg 9.1rpg vs Stewart 19.4ppg 8.7rpg
Williams 14.3ppg 8.4rpg vs Tuck 13.7ppg 5.7rpg

Statistics paint a very different picture.

Bill Russell would tell you Statistics are for losers, the only stat is whether you win, and Bill won in College, Olympics, and the NBA.

 

[ricky]

I don't think Collier played out of position at all. Also think Gabby is more of a wing/forward than guard. Not a great ball-handler, not a shooter.

I agree for the most. Collier can play any position except as true center meaning she can't be expected to guard the apposing true center like as Tuck could. Tuck was physically strong and agile. But Collier has so many post moves allowing her to score on anyone in the post. I saw her six moves on three defenders in one drive. She drove left then right then spun left and right then the turned and faded and banked the scoring basket. If Geno finds someone to guard the true center, then Collier will reek havoc all over the floor. That combination will make her NPOY.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Hmmmm ... I wonder if Z will feel any pressure walking out on the game court for the first time with a Husky jersey on her back?

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Hmmmm ... I wonder if Z will feel any pressure walking out on the game court for the first time with a Husky jersey on her back?

RockyMTblue2- - - I think Azura will be feeling the usual pressure of having "to live up to" perform UP TO the UCONN Huskies WBB standard of play! Once her natural athletic ability kicks in, she'll be fine, better than fine she'll be great!
Having watched her play at Duke several times she's a special athlete! With the help of the best coaching staff in WCBB and her team mates she'll be a quick study and fit in like many of UCONN's greats have done!

 

[TitleTown]

Bill Russell would tell you Statistics are for losers, the only stat is whether you win, and Bill won in College, Olympics, and the NBA.

Lets use wins and losses then as our metric.

Losses through sophomore season

Collier 1 vs Stewart 4
Williams 1 vs Tuck 4

 

[hoophuskee]

Z normally played with a Big while at Duke. She had Williams for 1 year and then she had Chidom and Belton the following year to play center, so I think her role at Duke was different then what Collier was asked to do. The one thing that's pretty exciting about Z is that she's a big but she's not a big, I expect to see her play a lot on the wing and facing the basket, I'm sure Geno will have her mix it up a little inside but, she's more on the level of Delle Donne then she would be on the level of Stewart, Geno did say that setting screens for a 6'6 player is unusual, so I do see her playing a bit of a guard role for UConn.

I'm not sure what you mean by the bold in totality. I think I do but not sure. I can see AZ play "guard-like" for a big. But imo there is no way no way no way Geno is going let a 6'6 player not work quite a bit on her inside game UNLESS the 6'6 player is like a "Magic Johnson" or shoots like Katie Lou/ Delle Donne. I don't think she shoots like either. As a result, when there are times as Geno has said about Lou that her shot isn't falling - what can she do? AZ if playing a guard would let the other team off the hook. There is no way IMO Geno is going ot let her do that. IMO Geno "toughens" players. OFC he'll want AZ to shoot from the outside but also she is 6'6 and long. He'll want her to play very well on the inside too. For example, I think she can be a very good offensive rebounder. How many times do we hear Geno say last year "I'd like to see us get more offensive rebounds." IMO AZ's growth as a player will come a lot from how well she can finish inside and rebound inside. We already know she can shoot the ball. For a player like AZ's talent- Geno will not pigeon-hole her to just being a perimeter player with the type of size and athleticism she has. He''ll want her to play tough and that will mean also being a force in the paint.