Azzi is looking READY

[Carnac]

While UConn is not ranked number 1, nor are they the reigning champion of D-1 WCBB, none the less, they still sport a LARGE target on their backs. EVERY school on their schedule is looking to be the first program to hand them a defeat.

UConn will need everything they can get from Azzi this year. THIS is her time to shine. I'm wondering how many games will Azzi be recognized as the "BADD ASS" of the game? That's a distinction I'm sure will be passed around to several players over the course of their 31 game season.

 

[The deacon]

Stewie's sophomore year stands out, as does Lou's. Paige averaged 14.6 in her NPOY freshman year. Maya averaged 16.7 in her NPOY senior season. That's VERY high. My wish for Azzi depends on how well everyone else steps up, but I like 13-14 shots on average. She averaged 9.4 last year.

FYI, Caitlin Clark averaged 18.8 and 19.8 in her 2 seasons. Far too many!

Agreed regarding Azzi, MilfordHusky, the preferred ceiling for her FGAs is much higher than what she had last season. I'd like to see Azzi with 13-14 per game and Caroline with a dozen or so (many of which would likely be in the paint).

I'll disagree about Caitlin Clarke. Yes, those FGA numbers are very high, but she's shooting it at 46 percent for two years, and led the country in assists both years. Gotta figure in her team's roster when considering Caitlin's optimum FGAs. If she shoots less, the Hawkeyes likely will score less...

 

[Stymie]

My concern is that UCONN takes ‘steps’ to protect their talent.
You don’t think Paige had a target on her back?
Hard fouls, hacks, errant (?) shot blocks to the face.
Well, this year Azzi will be wearing that target.
Put the game away, sit the stars down and DEVELOP DOWN BENCH TALENT.
A win by 5 counts as much as a win by 30.
I’d prefer to enjoy our talent playing nearly every game as opposed to max minutes in blowouts at the risk of injury.
Same actuarial approach Auto Insurance companies utilize by asking how many miles you drive to work.
It’s a matter of exposure to hazards.
Please toss the antiquated approach of a 6, 7 or
8 player rotation.
I cannot believe that there is any player on this roster that is not good for at least 8-10 hard, competitive minutes in nearly every game.
Let’s see if this talented roster allows Coach to maintain the health of his stars.

 

[oldhusky]

Curious, let’s say Azzi shoots 48% from 3 and 52% overall. Would that not be a reason for her to have more shot attempts? I realize there has to be an upper limit but if she actually were able to maintain those percentages why would we not want her to shoot 18-20 times per game?

The easy answer to your question "if" she can maintain efficiency is yes. Early in the season she passed up a few looks from 3 and i think Geno got on her about that and later she was taking every open look from there as she should. IMO the increase in attempts is more related to her two point shots and creating her own off the dribble.

I think she can do alot more of that efficiently this year. She has a great mid-range pullup, but probably doesn't get quite the separation that Paige does with her length and fakes. Having said that I still think there are many defenders she could just pull up on, and she needs to get comfortable with when she has room to take it. If she can get a clean look she can make it from any range. Her aggressiveness creating her own shot is important with Paige out. I think she will be pushed by Geno to evolve from fitting in to being dominant.

 

[WFFL]

Azzi has been the best shooter ive ever laid eyes on since her freshmen year in high school. Last season i think the adjustment to the college game and not being 100% kind of played with her confidence. I fully expect her to know her role and understand that geno wants her to SHOOT more than pass this season . Efficiency has always been her mantra so highlights of her making 3's with no defense or no gauge to how the shot gets taken without actual game speed does not excite me. I want to see the Azzi of old and more aggressive than what she was last year. The sprinkle of great performances were not consistent enough to what was expected of her imo.

 

[Alydar]

Stewie's sophomore year stands out, as does Lou's. Paige averaged 14.6 in her NPOY freshman year. Maya averaged 16.7 in her NPOY senior season. That's VERY high. My wish for Azzi depends on how well everyone else steps up, but I like 13-14 shots on average. She averaged 9.4 last year.

FYI, Caitlin Clark averaged 18.8 and 19.8 in her 2 seasons. Far too many!

If the scoring is spread and everyone only takes good shots she could be a 60/50/95 scorer. Bueckers was over 50% from 3 into January of her freshman year and Bueckers says Fudd is a better 3 pt shooter. They argue about who is the better midrange shooter. If the five 4's can draw defenders into the paint and/or set good screens Fudd, Ducharme and LLS's should get lots of open looks.

What I think will surprise some is the completeness of Fudd's game. Geno commented that she had a college-ready body when she was a HS sophomore 4 years ago. He has also said that her fundamentals and skills were as complete as any he had ever seen in a freshman.

 

[MilfordHusky]

If the scoring is spread and everyone only takes good shots she could be a 60/50/95 scorer. Bueckers was over 50% from 3 into January of her freshman year and Bueckers says Fudd is a better 3 pt shooter. They argue about who is the better midrange shooter. If the five 4's can draw defenders into the paint and/or set good screens Fudd, Ducharme and LLS's should get lots of open looks.

What I think will surprise some is the completeness of Fudd's game. Geno commented that she had a college-ready body when she was a HS sophomore 4 years ago. He has also said that her fundamentals and skills were as complete as any he had ever seen in a freshman.

I'm not sure what I predicted for Azzi a year ago. I think 60/50/95 is unprecedented and a little high. But thinking about what KML accomplished, I think 55/48/93 is realistic for Azzi. Her FTs rarely hit anything but the net, and some barely hit the net.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Some historical stats for context:

Sue (sophomore): .502/.497/.898 (phenomenal, essentially 50/50/90)

Sue (senior): .505/.466/.942 (NPOY-worthy)

Maya (freshman): .543/.420/.743 (freshman!)

Maya (senior): .524/.384/.843

Moriah (junior): .587/.496/.843 (unreal!)

Moriah (senior): .557/.431/.894 (combine with Stewie's senior stats!)

Stewie (senior): .579/.426/.836 (outstanding!)

Diana (sophomore): .494/.440/.828 (combine that with Sue's senior stats!)

Paige (freshman): .524/.464/.869

Kaleena (sophomore): .528/.492/.895 (missed 50/40/90 by 1 FT)

Kaleena (senior): .518/.488/.895 (missed 50/40/90 by 1 FT)

 

[UConnCat]

Some historical stats for context:

Sue (sophomore): .502/.497/.898 (phenomenal, essentially 50/50/90)

Sue (senior): .505/.466/.942 (NPOY-worthy)

Maya (freshman): .543/.420/.743 (freshman!)

Maya (senior): .524/.384/.843

Moriah (junior): .587/.496/.843 (unreal!)

Moriah (senior): .557/.431/.894 (combine with Stewie's senior stats!)

Stewie (senior): .579/.426/.836 (outstanding!)

Diana (sophomore): .494/.440/.828 (combine that with Sue's senior stats!)

Paige (freshman): .524/.464/.869

Kaleena (sophomore): .528/.492/.895 (missed 50/40/90 by 1 FT)

Kaleena (senior): .518/.488/.895 (missed 50/40/90 by 1 FT)

Those are phenomenal stats.

Makes me shake my head when I read All American predictions about a player who shot 38/28/67 last season, or another who shot 40/32/73.

 

[sun]

IDK know how fair any direct player comparison can be when the 3 point line was moved back twice, first by 1 foot in 2011, and then by another 16 inches in 2021.
Analysis shows that freshmen were affected more by the recent line change than upper classmen.
The cumulative longer distances makes direct player comparisons less & less meaningful.
Today's 3 point shooters have less room for error & an increased level of difficulty compared to WCBB players of previous years.

Did Moving The 3-Point Line Back Make A Difference In Women’s College Basketball?

Has making threes harder changed the sport?

fivethirtyeight.com

 

[Bone Dog]

IDK know how fair any direct player comparison can be when the 3 point line was moved back twice, first by 1 foot in 2011, and then by another 16 inches in 2021.
Analysis shows that freshmen were affected more by the recent line change than upper classmen.
The cumulative longer distances makes direct player comparisons less & less meaningful.
Today's 3 point shooters have less room for error & an increased level of difficulty compared to WCBB players of previous years.

Did Moving The 3-Point Line Back Make A Difference In Women’s College Basketball?

Has making threes harder changed the sport?

fivethirtyeight.com

Excellent article. Thanks for sharing. Even more interesting than the actual 3 pt shooting is the data about drives to the basket. I hope they’re right about the increased room for cutters, since that will benefit our game more than most teams.

 

[tower1]

Damn she looks good and stronger ! She is ready !!