Just getting to Albany/out of the first weekend is this team's ceiling in my opinion. We simply do not have enough talent available to beat the kind of teams you're going to encounter in the S16 and beyond. Hate to say it, but I think losing Aubrey was the straw that broke the camel's back. With Aubrey I thought this was an E8 team with a shot at the final four if everything broke right.
I disagree that we “don’t have enough talent” to beat the top teams. AE and Paige are All Americans. Nika and the two starting freshman are all superb players. That’s enough talent, in my book, to make the Final Four. Now do we have the depth and will we get the breaks in scheduling, to do so - those are BIG questions.
At this point Geno is going to have to completely change his approach to compete in March. The small lineup showed Saturday it isn't going to compete with bigger teams and ND is bigger but by no means the biggest. Geno also needs to figure out how to play more players so his shooters still have their legs in the latter parts of the 2nd and 4th quarters. They looked a lot like last years team at this point where they were wore out and simply put a tired bunch of shooters isn't going to get it done.
They would have a great chance in Portland 3. None of those teams have great length except UCLA and they have an injury that could really impact the size they can put on the floor. Portland 2 and Albany 1 to me are the two they have a real tough match up problem that likely would take them out before the Elite 8. This year more than most will come down to how UConn matches up but they do have a couple roads if the cards fall their way.
Ines has looked terrible in the minutes she’s gotten to me. So, please don’t do that.
I don't expect that UConn will win the NC. But I believe anything can happen in the Big Dance, as history has proven more than once! Who's to say? Nothing is a given.
I'd rather dream big.
