Having a goal to win four is nice. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. The first step is to get everyone back to campus healthy, and begin the season with everyone 100% healthy and ready to compete. Everything else will take care of itself. It's an old cliché', but apropos here because that is the way the games will come, take them one at a time. Act like (and convince yourself) the most important game on the schedule is the next one.
Never look ahead. No "trap" games. The most refreshing thing Azzi said was that she has adjusted to practice, and that she is settling in.
"There’s no pressure at all — well, yes, there’s pressure — but when it comes to playing, everyone can do basically anything. So if you don’t have a shot, the next person does," she said. She can just come in and play without the expectation of being "The Savior." That being said, I think Azzi (like Paige) will live up to ALL the hype she comes in with. EVERY report or evaluation I've read here in the yard ALL say the same thing, that
Azzi IS the real deal!! Personally, I think a back court of Azzi and Paige should scare the hell out of most opposing coaches. You can't game plan to stop just one of them, you must stop them both. Both are capable of putting up a thirty burger on any given night. Especially against teams with a weak perimeter defense. No doubt there will be nights when they put up 40 points between them.
There are going to be games when 1 or 2 players just don't have it that night. Their rhythm and shot is completely off. There are 7 players IMO on this roster that could start. If one or two are having an "off" night, no problem, Geno can sub in the first two players off the bench, and keep the momentum going without skipping a beat. Few teams if any, will be able to field the depth of quality players UConn will.
Foul trouble -
should be a dynamic the UConn women will be oblivious to this year. Geno has quality backups at almost every position. Few teams on their schedule can say that. This team should never get bogged down because 1-2 players are in foul trouble.
It's going to be fun friends. The first item on the season's agenda is to "square" things with Arkansas on November 14, when the Razorbacks come to town to help the Huskies crack the seal on the 2021-2022 season. You know the local media is going to hype that game through the roof, as Arkansas was only one of two teams to defeat UConn last year.
Remember, the ticket office said earlier this year that they had already sold 1100 NEW season seats for the men's and women's games this season. Sounds like the locals are pumped to see their teams play in person this year.