Can anybody make a case for someone other than AE for the Big East award?

[slug25]

Can anybody make a case for someone other than AE for the Big East award?

 

[Happydad745]

Because of her size and accuracy and hustle, I am surprised she is not a starter....we have too many guards starting. Who would you bench? Nika would be my choice and have her second off the bench after Griffin.

 

[maccca3232]

Can anybody make a case for someone other than AE for the Big East award?

No.

 

[cbraarj]

Griffin still can't run an offense, can't shoot and needs work on spacing on offense. Next year 2-4 of the Freshmen will get more minutes than her.

 

[Sanka541]

Because of her size and accuracy and hustle, I am surprised she is not a starter....we have too many guards starting. Who would you bench? Nika would be my choice and have her second off the bench after Griffin.

But I think she suits and Geno likes her coming off the bench this year because she changes the game when we need it and always makes an impact straight away. If you start her you lose that because Nika wouldnt make the same impact off the bench and with AG not necessarily scoring much you need someone like her coming off the bench.

 

[HuskyNan]

Because of her size and accuracy and hustle, I am surprised she is not a starter....we have too many guards starting. Who would you bench? Nika would be my choice and have her second off the bench after Griffin.

Geno likes to bring an impact-maker off the bench to keep the other team from settling into a groove

 

[chrissaran]

Aubrey needs to improve her offense, or as cbraarj said, she will be getting fewer minutes next year.

 

[SLY63]

As long as AE gets her minutes (hopefully 30+ per game), it seems to be working well bringing her off the bench.

 

[Wilderness]

I hope that Aubrey will always be needed as a defensive stopper and superb rebounder. She always brings the energy. Covid-bound I find myself cheering for her above all others. Agreed - learning to participate better in the offense would help...

Unless Aubrey or AE are on the floor, it is rare to see a Husky move quickly & assertively into offensive rebounding position when a shot is taken. If either of them is on the court...always. Makes a big difference in the course of a game.

 

[huskeynut]

Aubrey is the energizer bunny off the bench. Her job is come in and make a positive impact on the game. She does it well.

As to next year, who knows. Geno recruited her and has given her a lot of minutes. Against certain teams, she is a nightmare. Her physicality is difficult to handle.

 

[Waquoit]

Griffin still can't run an offense, can't shoot and needs work on spacing on offense. Next year 2-4 of the Freshmen will get more minutes than her.

Why are you bashing a bench player who brings a spark to almost every game?

 

[MainefanSC]

Griffin still can't run an offense, can't shoot and needs work on spacing on offense. Next year 2-4 of the Freshmen will get more minutes than her.

Aubrey brings 100% every time she steps on the floor. She doesn't have that offense that we would like to see but her nose for the ball and defensive energy go a long way to disrupting the other team. When she comes in I am like a kid, knowing something positive will happen. I have driven my wife nuts with the comment "guess who" caused that! I absolutely love her and have since she came to us last year.

I have a feeling her minutes will be less next year but when we need a player to disrupt the opponent's comfort zone, she'll be the one. I can't imagine Geno not counting on her just as much next year. If she can bring some offense, wow!

 

[oldhusky]

Aubrey needs to improve her offense, or as cbraarj said, she will be getting fewer minutes next year.

I think there is a huge mis-perception that Aubrey is a weak offensive player. She produces points at a volume and efficiency that are both just fine, in fact better than someone who clearly can out shoot her like say Anna. The problem is she doesn't fit in or have a natural role in the offensive scheme. She does hurt floor spacing, impacting others in a negative way, but once the shot goes up she is often one of the best offensive players on the floor, because if it misses she often gives the offense another chance, frequently her from point blank range.

Anna can knock down a perimeter shot, but generally can't get you another chance. Aubrey's skills are the opposite. They both can and do contribute to the offense in different ways. I am reminded of one of the best NBA teams of all time, the Chicago Bulls. They of course had Jordan, but also Rodman who had almost no role in the offense until a shot went up. From that moment until the shot went in or was rebounded, he was the most valuable offensive player on the team, because at that point you have to get the ball again before you even get a chance to shoot it.

Against Marquette the most valuable offense came from offensive rebounds and second attempts by Aubrey and Aaliyah. That trait should be considered an important part of any offense. As long as a team has enough shooting elsewhere, an offensive re-bounder as one of the five can work.

 

[Boreifs]

I think there is a huge mis-perception that Aubrey is a weak offensive player. She produces points at a volume and efficiency that are both just fine, in fact better than someone who clearly can out shoot her like say Anna. The problem is she doesn't fit in or have a natural role in the offensive scheme. She does hurt floor spacing, impacting others in a negative way, but once the shot goes up she is often one of the best offensive players on the floor, because if it misses she often gives the offense another chance, frequently her from point blank range.

Anna can knock down a perimeter shot, but generally can't get you another chance. Aubrey's skills are the opposite. They both can and do contribute to the offense in different ways. I am reminded of one of the best NBA teams of all time, the Chicago Bulls. They of course had Jordan, but also Rodman who had almost no role in the offense until a shot went up. From that moment until the shot went in or was rebounded, he was the most valuable offensive player on the team, because at that point you have to get the ball again before you even get a chance to shoot it.

Against Marquette the most valuable offense came from offensive rebounds and second attempts by Aubrey and Aaliyah. That trait should be considered an important part of any offense. As long as a team has enough shooting elsewhere, an offensive re-bounder as one of the five can work.

Azzi solves that problem instantly. Edwards will start next year.

 

[oldhusky]

Azzi solves that problem instantly. Edwards will start next year.

I think Azzi and Aaliyah are both likely starters next year. The options off the bench probably includes players with some very good traits, but a little bit more specialists. Perhaps a great passer in Nika, top notch shooters in not just Anna, but Carolyn and Saylor as well, a defensive stopper and rebounder in Aubrey, a big that can block shots and more in Amari, and several more.

Geno will have bench players that could bring one or two outstanding abilities into the mix depending on what is needed. From a strategic standpoint. that is a luxury very few coaches will have, and he will have considerably more options than this year.

 

[donalddoowop]

Griffin still can't run an offense, can't shoot and needs work on spacing on offense. Next year 2-4 of the Freshmen will get more minutes than her.

What makes you think that next season's freshmen will adapt to the UConn system any faster than Mir or Griffin has? Poffenbarger has been practicing for some time now and she has not learned the system well enough yet. Of course she will have much more time to learn next season but, there is no guarantee any of the freshmen will know the system well enough for Geno to trust them. You must not think that Griffin will improve. Chong did not play well enough to start regularly until her senior year. Maybe Griffin will do the same.

 

[Patty Bailey]

What makes you think that next season's freshmen will adapt to the UConn system any faster than Mir or Griffin has? Poffenbarger has been practicing for some time now and she has not learned the system well enough yet. Of course she will have much more time to learn next season but, there is no guarantee any of the freshmen will know the system well enough for Geno to trust them. You must not think that Griffin will improve. Chong did not play well enough to start regularly until her senior year. Maybe Griffin will do the same.

Poffenbarger has been around for about a month, not exactly a long time to learn a system as complicated as what Geno teaches.

 

[Charliebball]

Can anybody make a case for someone other than AE for the Big East award?

I can't but then again I can't name one sixth man on any of the other Big East teams so what do i know..............

 

[Dokey]

Because of her size and accuracy and hustle, I am surprised she is not a starter....we have too many guards starting. Who would you bench? Nika would be my choice and have her second off the bench after Griffin.

Before Griffin, Nika helps the offense. Griffin fulfills the role of a defensive interrupter but she is often lost playing in offense. She does what she does well. Be satisfied with that.

 

[donalddoowop]

Poffenbarger has been around for about a month, not exactly a long time to learn a system as complicated as what Geno teaches.

I know that. Plus she has not had many opportunities to get much playing time as has some other players who left high school early and are playing well. That is my point. The UConn system is not easy to learn. So why do some think that next season's freshmen will adapt so quickly that they will play more than a player who has had two full seasons of playing, as Griffin has? Being at UConn now should put Poffenbarger ahead of her fellow freshmen classmates in knowing the system.

 

[Waquoit]

What makes you think that next season's freshmen will adapt to the UConn system any faster than Mir or Griffin has?

Because they are better players? Why are Paige and Muhl starting? And Edwards is good enough to start. I think she sits at the beginning to prevent early foul trouble.

 

[BobbyJ]

I know that. Plus she has not had many opportunities to get much playing time as has some other players who left high school early and are playing well. That is my point. The UConn system is not easy to learn. So why do some think that next season's freshmen will adapt so quickly that they will play more than a player who has had two full seasons of playing, as Griffin has? Being at UConn now should put Poffenbarger ahead of her fellow freshmen classmates in knowing the system.

As a coach's kid whose BB IQ is in the same range as Bueckers, it wouldn't surprise me if Fudd already knows the UConn offense as well or better than most of the current freshmen. As she attends some of these games, I'd bet she focuses on where to be and how to read and react off the different sets.

 

[Woof 101]

I can't but then again I can't name one sixth man on any of the other Big East teams so what do i know..............

I'm in the same boat Charlie, no offense at the OT but I would not trade AE for any other teams 4th or 5th man. She brings so much more than just size to the table.

 

[HopJim]

Aubrey brings 100% every time she steps on the floor. She doesn't have that offense that we would like to see but her nose for the ball and defensive energy go a long way to disrupting the other team. When she comes in I am like a kid, knowing something positive will happen. I have driven my wife nuts with the comment "guess who" caused that! I absolutely love her and have since she came to us last year.

I have a feeling her minutes will be less next year but when we need a player to disrupt the opponent's comfort zone, she'll be the one. I can't imagine Geno not counting on her just as much next year. If she can bring some offense, wow!

Part of Aubrey's issue is who she plays with. Teaming her with Nika is difficult due to having 2 reluctant shooters on the floor at same time. While a bit of a contrarian view, if we have 4 strong shooters on the floor at the same time next year, perhaps this will be the perfect line up for Aubrey.

 

[darkstar1]

I love AE and think she should start or get as many minutes as possible. But I don’t think AE can replace Nika. Just too different in what they bring. Nika’s style actually complements AE’s. AE, in my opinion should either replace or sub for EW, CW or ONO.