Azzi Fudd settling in

[Carnac]

When you resolve that, other than paying for the Athletic subscription, please let the rest of us know.

Java, where ya been? We've missed you.

 

[Carnac]

Dont pee on the rug?

LOL!!!! No, the other line.

 

[Skeets]

I'm going way out on a limb here. At some point in the future, the starting guards for USA basketball, now the Rushmore GOATs Sue and DT, will be replaced by Paige and Azzi. Sue and DT, win another one! Paige and Azzi, win a few more. I desperately want (UCONN) hoops!

 

[eebmg]

The difference is the team doesn't need her. When Paige came in, we had just lost Crystal and Megan - two very big shoes to fill. With a bigger team that has a dozen players with collegiate experience already, Geno can ease the newcomers in which will help keep the pressure off.

Not if any of the returners other than Paige have the same issues with 3 point shooting. She will be expected to be an effective if not elite 3pt shooter at the very least and fill a significant weakness. (Especially with Anna gone). And early in the season is where we get the strongest OOC schedule so into the fire.

 

[ScottCT]

The difference is the team doesn't need her. When Paige came in, we had just lost Crystal and Megan - two very big shoes to fill. With a bigger team that has a dozen players with collegiate experience already, Geno can ease the newcomers in which will help keep the pressure off.

We definitely do need her. Did you see our abysmal three point shooting last year?

 

[oldude]

We definitely do need her. Did you see our abysmal three point shooting last year?

UConn ranked 33rd out of 336 D1 teams shooting just under 36% last season. Not sure I would call that abysmal. As information, Iowa lead the nation at 41%.

 

[hoopsfan22]

We definitely do need her. Did you see our abysmal three point shooting last year?

We replaced our entire back court last season with freshman, one of which was from another country. Sure early on 3 point shooting wasn't so hot, but in the second half of the season Nika and Paige settled in nicely, and they will keep getting better and more consistent. Also I wouldn't describe anything about the team last year as abysmal. They were one clunker against Arizona away from playing for all the marbles and were ranked as the best team for half the season.

 

[UCSouth]

Yes, that’s a little weird, although not unprecedented. Johnny Manziel’s parents purchased a condo near the TX A&M campus when he played football for the Aggies. Also, Dwight Eisenhower’s mother moved from her home in Kansas to an apartment near campus when her son attended West Point.

Parents moving to be closer to their children, for college...not weird. Old people following teenage girls, who they have no relation to, on social media... extremely weird.

 

[MooseJaw]

I'll predict that over the next several seasons Fudd & Bueckers will split votes for NPOY and another player will win. With the array of talent up and down UConn's bench no one is going to lead the country in scoring or rebounding and POY voters will vote for a prolific scorer. But I predict that Fudd/Bueckers will be 1st team AA's for their entire careers. How's that for hyping a kid who hasn't had even one official practice yet??

What that's all? I was expecting a couple more paragraphs. I think we all have to remember that when Paige came in there was a large and I mean large hole that she filled. She was great and got to showcase her talents 38 minutes a game something Azzi probably won't have the opportunity to duplicate. Not because of lesser talent, just lesser chances, what with much more talent and players to help the team. We all wait with great anticipation for that first game when we get to see the next dynamic duo begin to monopolize the WCBB scene.

 

[BobbyJ]

UConn ranked 33rd out of 336 D1 teams shooting just under 36% last season. Not sure I would call that abysmal. As information, Iowa lead the nation at 41%.

Without Bueckers' 46.4% they're down to 32%. Is that even in the top 100? And PB took almost a quarter of their 3 pointers. I'd say they can use whatever Fudd can give them to open up that inside against good teams.

 

[UcMiami]

I'll predict that over the next several seasons Fudd & Bueckers will split votes for NPOY and another player will win. With the array of talent up and down UConn's bench no one is going to lead the country in scoring or rebounding and POY voters will vote for a prolific scorer. But I predict that Fudd/Bueckers will be 1st team AA's for their entire careers. How's that for hyping a kid who hasn't had even one official practice yet??

Worked out OK for Tina and Maya. I am impressed with the quality of voting for NPOY generally - very seldom does it go to leading scorers, perhaps because it generally goes to a player in the elite eight game if not FF or NC, and seldom do those teams depend on a single player to score their points. Plum is probably the exception on her college FF team.

 

[oldude]

Without Bueckers' 46.4% they're down to 32%. Is that even in the top 100? And PB took almost a quarter of their 3 pointers. I'd say they can use whatever Fudd can give them to open up that inside against good teams.

I think Fudd will be a great addition. I’m hoping that Caroline also finds her shooting range from the arc to add yet another 3-pt shooter to the Huskies arsenal.

The suggestion was that “our” 3 pt shooting was abysmal. Paige is part of the team that shot a very respectable 36%. Why would we want to separate her from the team?

Also, during the Big Dance UConn upped their 3-pt shooting to 41% going 31/76 in 5 games.

 

[oldude]

Parents moving to be closer to their children, for college...not weird. Old people following teenage girls, who they have no relation to, on social media... extremely weird.

Aging parents moving closer to their children upon retirement is commonplace. Parents moving closer to their college kids is certainly unusual and perhaps a little weird imo.

Not sure what you’re implying with your last remark. This is a fan forum for UConn WBB. Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

[oldude]

Home can never be overrated. For school years that begin in late August, many freshmen begin to get "home sick" around mid-October. Home sickness is real to a freshman. Remember what Dorothy told Auntie Em at the end of the movie? She was right!

Didn’t Dorothy play pg for the Iowa St Cyclones?

 

[pvdoggy]

Aging parents moving closer to their children upon retirement is commonplace. Parents moving closer to their college kids is certainly unusual and perhaps a little weird imo.

Not sure what you’re implying with your last remark. This is a fan forum for UConn WBB. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I did not interpret the article as saying that her parents are moving to Storrs. Don't her parents have jobs where they are now?

 

[cohenzone]

I wasn't a super star bb player but if my parents had moved close to my college I would have transferred..

If you’re from CT and go to UConn, family is never far away. My parents were smart enough to stay away and never ask me how I spent my non- academic time. I volunteered info as discretion indicated.

 

[oldude]

I did not interpret the article as saying that her parents are moving to Storrs. Don't her parents have jobs where they are now?

I agree with your interpretation. I think we got a little sidetracked on this thread. I suspect the Fudds plan to travel to CT often to watch Azzi play and they found a decent rental, as opposed to continually booking hotel rooms.

 

[UCSouth]

Aging parents moving closer to their children upon retirement is commonplace. Parents moving closer to their college kids is certainly unusual and perhaps a little weird imo.

Not sure what you’re implying with your last remark. This is a fan forum for UConn WBB. Nothing more. Nothing less.

After my last remark, I suppose, imo would have sufficed. But, there was no implying anything. Other than it seems weird to me. Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

[hoophuskee]

I think Fudd will be a great addition. I’m hoping that Caroline also finds her shooting range from the arc to add yet another 3-pt shooter to the Huskies arsenal.

The suggestion was that “our” 3 pt shooting was abysmal. Paige is part of the team that shot a very respectable 36%. Why would we want to separate her from the team?

Also, during the Big Dance UConn upped their 3-pt shooting to 41% going 31/76 in 5 games.

I'm with you.

If we are going to add caveats then why not exclude the games with Nika prior to her getting big minutes? Once she became a regular in the GTOWN game she shot 37.7% from 3. Add that to Paige's and that backcourt is hardly abysmal.

And if we're going to look at caveats then why not decrement Saylor? She came in when games were well out of hand and she was 1-11.
And Anna Makurat is no longer on the team and she was 13-41 (31.7%). So if one were to say "our 3pt shooting was abysmal" - well one the players that contributed very, very little in big games shot 31.7% from 3 that dragged the 3pt% down-- is now gone.

 

[Carnac]

Top freshman recruit Azzi Fudd is adjusting to UConn, eager to prepare for her freshman season – The Athletic

Even in the short span, the parents can tell their daughter is already enjoying UConn and embracing her new teammates, including turning to de facto team mom Evina Westbrook. “She’s feeling very comfortable,” Tim said.

Fudd’s relatives just bought a cottage not far from UConn’s campus, allowing them to be close to her during her collegiate career.

And as the Huskies’ second No. 1 prospect in as many years, Fudd will attract as much attention as Bueckers, who dominated throughout her freshman season. But Fudd is just excited about working her way back up and finally being at UConn.

“I don’t think it really affects me because I know that it’s a really cool label to have and everything,” Fudd said. “But now that I’m here, it means nothing. I’m back to being just a freshman.”

You think she's excited now, wait until she (and the team) get that first non-exhibition win under their belts, especially if she has as "exceptional" outing.

 

[BobbyJ]

I think Fudd will be a great addition. I’m hoping that Caroline also finds her shooting range from the arc to add yet another 3-pt shooter to the Huskies arsenal.

The suggestion was that “our” 3 pt shooting was abysmal. Paige is part of the team that shot a very respectable 36%. Why would we want to separate her from the team?

Also, during the Big Dance UConn upped their 3-pt shooting to 41% going 31/76 in 5 games.

My point was that UConn had one excellent 3 shooter and a bunch of not very good ones that took about 3/4 of the team’s 3s. And that they need all the help they can get.

 

[oldhusky]

My take on the 3pt shooting issue is this. We were pretty good but not by Uconn standards, and it was totally due to Paige. After her we have three mediocre 3 pt shooters in Christyn, Evina and Nika. When they have an open three, fine take it, but I'm sure most opposing coaches are relatively unworried about giving that up, compared to Paige, or the bigs down low.

Azzi , probably Carolyn and even Saylor can potentially be the kind of players you cannot afford to leave open. One of the reasons for Nika being the lead guard when playing with Paige, is at least she had one great three point shooter to pass to (Paige). When Paige was the PG she had that group of mediocre 3pt shooters to pass to, not terrible options but not great either. If Paige is in with Christyn and Evina it will be the same this year.

Azzi and Carolyn can change that dynamic if one or both are teamed with Paige for part of the game. Paige is a great passer/scorer/and shooter. She has inside options to pass to, but deserves at least one very good to great three point shooter option in the game with her IMO. That might mean Christyn or Evina starting the game on the bench. If Carolyn could earn minutes on the second unit at the 3, that could also give Nika a good to great three point threat to pass to as well.

Of course the best lineup for generating high percentage threes would be Nika at the point teamed with Paige and Azzi, two great passers and two great shooters. Azzi also being a good passer and Nika ok from the three. That may not make sense for other reasons, but I would hope both Paige and Nika can have a great shooter in the lineup with them when they are on the floor. Paige didn't have that her first year. This year we add two very good shooters on the perimeter, and in Dorka and Amari two more options inside. The two great passers added last year have far more to work with this year, but they have to play with them to take advantage of that more often.

 

[Dublin]

I agree with your interpretation. I think we got a little sidetracked on this thread. I suspect the Fudds plan to travel to CT often to watch Azzi play and they found a decent rental, as opposed to continually booking hotel rooms.

Guess it's now legal with the NCAA (where most things go now) for Tim and family to rent that apartment above Geno's restaurant ...

 

[Woof 101]

I wasn't a super star bb player but if my parents had moved close to my college I would have transferred..

No attack but there are thousands of young people that would love the chance to participate in sports, that and have parental support. I'm only speaking for a friend but he would have loved to have parents with that kind of love, interest and of course financial ability.
I hope you have found a common ground with your parents and they do not look in on The Boneyard.

 

[bluedevil]

Guess it's now legal with the NCAA (where most things go now) for Tim and family to rent that apartment above Geno's restaurant ...

But would they be allowed to work at said restaurant? Do you want fries or onion rings with your Fuddburger?

 

[bluedevil]

Didn’t Dorothy play pg for the Iowa St Cyclones?

Played one year and later transferred to Emerald City State.

 

[oldude]

My take on the 3pt shooting issue is this. We were pretty good but not by Uconn standards, and it was totally due to Paige.

I agree that Paige was a very big part of UConn’s ability to shoot the 3 last season. But I think we sometimes look at past UConn teams through rose colored glasses. The undefeated 2015-16 team was one of the greatest in UConn history, leading the nation in total offense and defense, while beating every opponent by double digits.

Once Lou cracked the starting lineup, UConn boasted 5 players who could all knock down 3’s: Lou, Kia, Mo, Tuck & Stewie. For the season, that team shot 38% from the arc, just 2% higher than last year’s team.

If the addition of Azzi, Caroline and Dorka, along with a little improvement from everyone else, can get UConn another 2% from the arc, particularly with the increase in distance for the 3-pt line this season, I would be delighted.

 

[CocoHusky]

I'm with you.

If we are going to add caveats then why not exclude the games with Nika prior to her getting big minutes? Once she became a regular in the GTOWN game she shot 37.7% from 3. Add that to Paige's and that backcourt is hardly abysmal.

And if we're going to look at caveats then why not decrement Saylor? She came in when games were well out of hand and she was 1-11.
And Anna Makurat is no longer on the team and she was 13-41 (31.7%). So if one were to say "our 3pt shooting was abysmal" - well one the players that contributed very, very little in big games shot 31.7% from 3 that dragged the 3pt% down-- is now gone.

While the use of the word abysmal is a little strong let's be careful how thinly we slice and easily dismiss the overall data regarding Nika shooting including the long range shooting. Nika shot 38 % overall and 34.3% from deep and 73% from the line. Her overall FG % was 2nd poorest on the team and her 3PFG % was tied for 2nd best. Against South Carolina, Arkansas and Arizona Nika was 3 for 8 from deep-good but not exactly the second coming of Big Shot Bria. As @MilfordHusky ( always a voice of reason) and someone who has actually seen her play, the subject of this thread (Azzi Fudd) projects to be a 50/40/80 percent shooter. With the addition of Dorka, Azzi and Caroline the UCONN deep shooting will be improved because the defense cannot afford to come off any of those players to double Paige-it really is that simple.

 

[JavaMan]

Java, where ya been? We've missed you.

Thank you, Magnificent One. I've been here and there, doing this and that. BTW, I've been missing you, Ed, and Doc for years!

 

[Bald Husky]

We already know what the kids in the present starting line up can do, and we know what Caroline, Azzi, and Saylor have the potential to do. I believe that Azzi is the only one to have a chance to crack this line up given her offensive ability, both outside the 3 pt line and inside. She is not a point guard, so that is not an option. Paige should stay the 2 guard, giving us three players that can hit from the perimeter. I truly believe the real key to what the starters will look like is Nika. Alot of us are worrying about not having enough offence from her, and I agree to that partially. She has the fire we need out there, her passing is better than most college point guards, and we certainly cannot complain about her defense. Half the players have a tremendous jump in playing ability between their freshmen and sophomore years. We don't know what Nika has been working on this summer, but she gave up her chance to try out for her National team to stay in Storrs. When you do not have your teammates to work out with, there is only one thing you can work on, and thats shooting. If she worked on developing her pull up, as well as her long shot, we may be in for a surprise. No matter how good the freshmen are, if she made the jump in these areas, there is no way she will be demoted to the bench. The way the rest of her game is, it is in the best interest for for this team to go forward with her out there. I believe Evina would be the one to give up minutes, or even the starting position to get Azzi the minutes she will need to be an effective member of the team.