Banks leaving

[JoePgh]

I thought she would start this year, in Bria's old spot. Who starts there now? Chong? One of the freshmen?

Whoever plays best in practice, but with Chong having an inside track because she already knows the offense. But she will be under pressure to perform with those talented freshmen nipping at her heels.

 

[pap49cba]

Bummer............ I always liked her spunk. Sorry to see her go.

 

[winlots]

One of my favorites.......and I hope things work out VERY well for you. I, and many others here, will follow your career and cheer for you and for your family. Thank you for all your contributions at UCONN.

 

[ASweet3781]

I can't imagine Geno would be grateful to start a season with a 10 man roster, with 2 coming off significant injuries.

He has 10 scholarships players and 2 walk ons. He just went 40-0 with 9 scholarship players and 2 walk ons. He played the entire NCAA tournament with 6 players.

He has never had a roster or rotation big enough to satisfy concerns of some Boneyarders yet amazingly has won 9 NCAA titles.

 

[sawxfan23]

I thought she would start this year, in Bria's old spot. Who starts there now? Chong? One of the freshmen?

I think Kia Nurse will start at the 2

 

[chrissaran]

If Morgan's healthy, the starting five could be: Morgan, Stewie, KML, MoJeff and Kiah. Saniya and the other guards will get more minutes, which means they'll develop more quickly.

 

[UConnCat]

Because this is probably her last chance to play a sport she loves and has been playing for almost her entire life. She probably wants to go somewhere where she will start and get more playing time. I totally understand her transferring and I wish her the best of luck wherever she ends up. The year off will give her time to gain more confidence in her surgically repaired knee as well as work on her game. I can definitely see her having a great senior season and a successful European career.

The starting 2-guard spot will be open next season and Brianna would have had an opportunity to compete and win that spot and regain Geno's trust. By the time October rolls around it'll be 1.5 years since her surgery. Without knowing what she's thinking or how she's feeling it is hard to understand this decision. I see alex's point.

We don't yet know whether she'll transfer to a div I school and sit out a year, or transfer to a Div II school and play right away.

 

[msf22b]

I think Kia Nurse will start at the 2

I think so too…
But there's Gabby if she healthy and….

 

[connboy77]

I think Kia Nurse will start at the 2

I think you may be right unless Chong improves over the summer as much as Mo Jefferson did last year.

 

[rocky rococo]

He has 10 scholarships players and 2 walk ons. He just went 40-0 with 9 scholarship players and 2 walk ons. He played the entire NCAA tournament with 6 players.

He has never had a roster or rotation big enough to satisfy concerns of some Boneyarders yet amazingly has won 9 NCAA titles.

He once had a roster big enough and a rotation deep enough. Then the two All-Americans got hurt and Notre Dame won the NC.

 

[ASweet3781]

He once had a roster big enough and a rotation deep enough. Then the two All-Americans got hurt and Notre Dame won the NC.

Yup. You can only play 5 at a time.

 

[HoopsFan21]

If Morgan's healthy, the starting five could be: Morgan, Stewie, KML, MoJeff and Kiah. Saniya and the other guards will get more minutes, which means they'll develop more quickly.

That would be a slow line up, so as much as I like KML and Tuck, I don't think you can have them out there together much.

 

[Rb335]

I almost wonder if this is a strategic move for Banks to improve her chances of a WNBA or Professional European career in the sport. A year off to rehab and strengthen her knee and a strong senior season would help her ratings. I think at Uconn it would be hard for her to have an impressive senior season with all of the talent on the roster.

Either way, I wish her luck in the future and will miss her at uconn.

 

[Fiftyish]

Just saw the OP. Really surprised that she is leaving. As noted by many other posters, it is easy to understand but still a disappointment. She put in lots of hard work to be a member of this team and played really well at times. I was really hoping for a break out year this past season but she just couldn't catch a break. Never like to see one of girls transfer out.
Best of luck Brianna.

 

[iri10]

Immediately prior to Brianna's injury, she had everything one could have wanted from her as a still-young player. She was a good defender, she was faster than most people who would be defending her, and she had confidence in her shooting, inside and out. Geno had confidence in her. I really hate ACLs.

She seems to have regained at least some of that speed. If she can fully regain her confidence and if she prepares well/picks the right school for her senior year, then she can still have a decent pro career. I wish her the best and thank her for her time at UConn.

 

[UConnChapette]

Best of luck to Brianna. It could not have been an easy decision. She will always be a part of the UConn family. I hope her knee stays strong and healthy so she can be the Brianna we knew pre injury, wherever that may be.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Sorry to hear this..... Brianna, thank you so much for all your contributions to our program, and GOOD LUCK!!

 

[RadyLady]

Just heard that on the news. Sad. I loved that kid.

I did, too. I had such hopes for her this coming year.

 

[dbmill]

I think Kia Nurse will start at the 2

I have that feeling as well, although it all obviously depends on how practice goes. Geno loves having essentially two point guards in the lineup.

 

[Tenspro2002]

I wasn't expecting it, but looking back on it I'm not surprised. She would have been the starting 2 essentially by default, and likely to lose that spot to one of the more-talented freshmen mid-season.

In a way this will be better for us long-term, as our crowded backcourt is now a little less so and the young ones will get more experience.

 

[Sonny44]

Well there goes my prediction that she'd start this coming year. I thought that with her experience plus an extra year post- Injury, that she'd be In position to start.

So did I.

 

[HGN]

Sorry to hear the Banks news......Seemingly a lot of talent. Got injured and was working her way back. Now healthy I felt she was in a solid position to compete for a starting role.

She has been a class act. I wish her nothing but the best of luck.

 

[Sonny44]

He once had a roster big enough and a rotation deep enough. Then the two All-Americans got hurt and Notre Dame won the NC.

And I was just thinking the SBS days were finally over.

 

[msf22b]

I had the feeling (anecdotally), that Brianna had stepped up and played extremely well on both ends, especially during KML's absence.
I admit to finding it hard to see when perusing the box scores.

We've got some monster talent coming in.
The handwriting was on the wall.
She might have been surpassed by 2,3…even all 4 of the frosh.
Transferring is a realistic decision under the circumstances.

 

[jsloanjr]

The team the UCONN starts in Nov, might not be the team in March..............Solid 10 deep.............OMG, who is going to hang with them for more than 10 minutes?