I don’t think anyone (very few, anyway) would say that she is anything but a solid contributor. The thing some people say about her is simply that she has some weaknesses in her game, as do most players. She is most definitely not a weakness for this team, though.
I too think Fudd will likely start but you lost me when you start saying Christyn won’t be a starter. That dog just won’t hunt!
she sounds like Gabby Williams
If we had a better option, she wouldn't be starting now!
Yes, she would. Christyn plays the second most amount of minutes on the team and has never not been a starter since she's been here. There is absolutely no way she will come off the bench next year.
How do you know Azzi will learn the system quickly enough to be playing right away? It is not Griffin's job to run the offense, just to know it.
Being a better player does not mean a player will learn a system sooner than one who has less talent. You need a better explanation than that. Understanding a system quicker makes more sense and being a better player does not make understanding easier.
Yeah, it does. One reason better players are better is because they have quicker reaction time than others. That comes from knowing the game instinctively, they don't have to "think" what the right play is, they just do it. Why does Paige know "the system" better than anyone on the team, even the 3rd year players? Because she's a better player. So is Fudd. Geno didn't become Geno by letting talent become subservient to "the system".
You are missing something here. It wouldn't surprise you but yet you don't know. I believe all recruits focus on where to be and how to read and react but it is different when they get on the court and have to do it without thinking. Also, most importantly, can she handle the rigors of UConn practices and have her legs hold up? Will the way she practices be satisfactory to the coaching staff? It's not always as simple as you seem to think.
Yeah, no. You even admit Williams has had no competition for playing time her entire three years. I don't think she "earned" the position as much as held it by default. Maybe the comp next year will get her to improve.
Paige does not know the system better than Williams and Ono. Stop making stuff up. It took Gabby Williams one and a half years to learn the system. Was she a lesser talent because of that? Butler and Sadie Edwards left UConn and played well at their new schools because the system was not as difficult to master as UConn's. Did that make their talent less because they had trouble with UConn's?
Particularly since that month is in in season mode; a different breed of practice than the fall's schooling.
Paige is the system! She knows where Williams and Ono should be better than they do! That you say she doesn't is revealing.
You give Paige too much credit.
You give "the system" too much credit.
I see Azzi having that role next year, but the fact that she can knock down shots will make her better then Muhl.
Regarding the system. Poffenbarger came to UConn after being taught by her mother who is a coach so I am sure Saylor has a high basketball IQ. Olivia Miles and Talia von Oelhoffen started at their schools about the same time Saylor came to UConn. However, von Oelhoffen is getting a lot of playing time and Miles is running the ND offense. Why, because they not only joined a team that had space for them but also because they quickly learned the system. There is no way, even if the spots were available, either would be playing as much for UConn. All three players are very talented players but the UConn system is much harder to learn than ND or Oregon State's. If Saylor was at either of those schools she would be playing more than she is at UConn. They have all had a similar amount of practice and I believe Saylor's BB IQ is just as high as theirs so saying Saylor has not had much time to learn does not fly because they have not had much time either. Yes, the system makes a big difference. Now, I am done with it.
Azzi needs to bring her game, not her name, next year .. and then, and only then, will the chips fall where they may, eh?
Good possibility .. let's see what shakes out in practice, head-to-head, eh?
And she doesn't know it!
Holes or not they still had to learn in a hurry and perform at a level acceptable to the coaches. Believe me, if they had not they would not be playing as much.You are all assuming that Nika won't make a sophomore jump? Admittedly not all players do, but with her apparent drive and what we hear of her work ethic, I think it's reasonable to assume that she will improve going into next season. Azzi has a reputation of being a can't miss player and she very likely is, but she hasn't even had a college level practice yet. It might be a little early to anoint her, although Milford may think otherwise.
In any case, there will be a lively debate about the starting five during the offseason, as there always is.
As for Saylor, she arrived on campus in the middle of the season. I imagine there was very little "teaching of he system" at that point. What she is learning she is absorbing herself. I doubt the coaching staff has much time for her at this point as they are focusing on preparing for the tournaments. As an analogy, Saylor is taking introductory courses via distance learning. The core seven (or eight) for the tournament are getting graduate level one on one in person instruction. That is as it should be at this point.
Miles and the young lady at Oregon State are playing because those teams had holes in their rosters that they had no one else to fill and, to their credit, they are making a positive impact for their teams.
We need points off the bench and she guarantees that for us. that is not Nika and Griffen isn a consistent enough. She could start and provide the intensity Nika brings but points off the bench are more important
And, we can be pretty sure the players on the team today are VERY aware of who is coming in next summer. They will be fully aware of their reputations, skill sets and so on. I imagine they have played with or against them or in show case events with them. So, No Surprises! And that will motivate the current bunch to elevate their games to earn playing time. Should make everyone AND the TEAM better next season.You are all assuming that Nika won't make a sophomore jump? Admittedly not all players do, but with her apparent drive and what we hear of her work ethic, I think it's reasonable to assume that she will improve going into next season. Azzi has a reputation of being a can't miss player and she very likely is, but she hasn't even had a college level practice yet. It might be a little early to anoint her, although Milford may think otherwise.
In any case, there will be a lively debate about the starting five during the offseason, as there always is.
As for Saylor, she arrived on campus in the middle of the season. I imagine there was very little "teaching of he system" at that point. What she is learning she is absorbing herself. I doubt the coaching staff has much time for her at this point as they are focusing on preparing for the tournaments. As an analogy, Saylor is taking introductory courses via distance learning. The core seven (or eight) for the tournament are getting graduate level one on one in person instruction. That is as it should be at this point.
Miles and the young lady at Oregon State are playing because those teams had holes in their rosters that they had no one else to fill and, to their credit, they are making a positive impact for their teams.
