Can Ice have a big season this year?

[JellyBean]

Of course, Ice could have a big season. A lot just depends on her competitive drive. If Ice feels confident and has a highly competitive drive, she could have a huge season.

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

Ice made a decisive pass to Sarah near the top of the key with 1:48 in the third quarter of the UCONN vs. UCLA Final Four match, and Sarah drained a three-pointer. I used the word decisive because, besides the weaknesses described by @bonedog, Ice has not looked comfortable or confident in many instances. I think she can have a much stronger season if she can maintain high confidence and execute. I hope she rises to the challenge, but this year’s depth in the post may lessen the chance for a big season. Clip below:

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I agree with you. Looking at the talent we have at the 3 and 4..add in 5 too, these girls have to bring it bring it in practice in order to get playing time. I love that Uconn is one of the few schools where the approach or earning playing time is on a professional level with the talent at hand. Thats why I was super impressed with Heckel's decision to come to Uconn, even though she had a really good chance to have the starting pg position for southern cal. Im thinking Heckel wants to challenge herself and compete with the best of the best for playing time.

Ice is probably competing with Ayanna, Sarah, Serah, Jana, Blanca, and the new freshman center from Ireland (forgot her name), for playing time. And if Olivia Vukosa from CTK chooses Uconn, thats another talented 4/5 she has to go up against. Man, im rooting for Ice.

 

[sun]

I don't expect Ice to become an All-American this year so I highly doubt that she will have a monster season of her dreams.
But she's just like every other UConn player that needs to be ready, willing & able to perform at the top of her game when her number is called upon to play.
Her fortunes are tied to the team's fortunes.
And when she's given the chance to be the next man up, she'd better do well no matter whether it's against the lowest Big East teams or against the national powerhouses on network TV.
She needs to play her role well and whether it's a major or minor one, her year will only be as big as UConn's overall fortunes will take her.
She just needs to do well enough to stay out of Geno's doghouse, and in that respect she can have a big season this year.
That's how the fans should measure how big her season can be, whether she can not only perform as expected, but whether she can exceed the fans expections more often than not.
I;m sure that she'll do reasonably well, and as long as UConn does as reasonably well as expected than UConn will have a big season this year with Ice as a contributor.

 

[WiseWillie]

I would love to see Ice step up and earn more playing time. I have to believe she will do everything she can to achieve that goal this season.

On the other hand, as several BY’ers have mentioned, there is so much talent up front on this year’s team that the battle for PT will inevitably leave some very talented players on the outside looking in. For Ice to crack the rotation she will need to bring something else to the table.

If we look at the 4 & 5 spots, I expect Sarah, Blanca, Jana & Serah to establish themselves as starters and/or regular rotation players. After that you have 3 players coming off of injuries, Caroline, Ayana & Morgan who will all be hungry to get on the court again. Then you have Ice who’s been a dependable reserve for the last 2 seasons. Finally you’ve got Gandy who’s probably got some development ahead of her before she gets meaningful minutes.

If Ice can secure more PT it will probably require her to be a more consistent 3-pt shooter. We know she can make shots from the arc. But let’s say she can knock down 2-3 from the arc every game, shooting somewhere around 40%. That would pretty much force Geno to play Ice regularly.

Agree with everything, od, except maybe shooting the 3. I remember Ice attempting a 3 very rarely and it would be great if she could hit them at a 40% rate but I would be more than pleased if Ice just perfected her mid-range so she hit them consistently from the elbow. As a lefty that could be a powerful tool. But I think overall we are going to see a different, more determined, more confident Ice this year and Geno will be relying on her a lot.

 

[Cuango]

I agree with you. Looking at the talent we have at the 3 and 4..add in 5 too, these girls have to bring it bring it in practice in order to get playing time. I love that Uconn is one of the few schools where the approach or earning playing time is on a professional level with the talent at hand. Thats why I was super impressed with Heckel's decision to come to Uconn, even though she had a really good chance to have the starting pg position for southern cal. Im thinking Heckel wants to challenge herself and compete with the best of the best for playing time.

Ice is probably competing with Ayanna, Sarah, Serah, Jana, Blanca, and the new freshman center from Ireland (forgot her name), for playing time. And if Olivia Vukosa from CTK chooses Uconn, thats another talented 4/5 she has to go up against. Man, im rooting for Ice.

I believe Heckel came to UConn (even though, as you said, she was likely to be the starting PG) because she was disgusted with the all out game plan to “get the ball to JuJu”. It was very clear that Gottlieb was either more focused on getting shots for JuJu or (at the very least) was not coaching JuJu to make the right basketball play over constantly trying to score herself. Heckel strikes me as a basketball purist who would want to play in an offense where the ball moved to the best shot rather than constantly having to watch one player dominate the ball with no pushback from the coach.

It will be interesting to see how Gottlieb coaches when JuJu comes back and plays with two other #1s as well as a more experienced Kennedy Smith. I’m guessing either JuJu’s touches go way down or there will be one or two #1 ranked players in the portal! However it goes, and whatever Heckel’s reasons were, it’s pretty clear we’ve come out pretty well as a result of her choice! I was one that questioned Geno’s taking her in the first place but it’s pretty clear I was waaay wrong! I think she’s going to be a big pick up for us.

 

[Spaceman213J]

UConn doesn't need Ice to be a revelation this year. It would be nice if it happens, but they just need solid consistent minutes from her with Strong, Williams and Jana. I think Gandy will contribute a lot in future years, but she is more of a project.

As far as those already mentioning Serah struggling with system, there are things she may have been taught to do for 4 years that Geno wants her to do differently or aren't a focus at UConn. If she struggles a bit now, it's not a big deal. Let's see where she is next Jan, Feb and Mar. Remember, last year the team was good and but something 'clicked' or 'went off' around beginning to mid February and they just kicked it into another gear. Sometimes it just takes time and for some reason, I have more than a little faith that Geno & staff will get them there. It might be the fact that he has more rings than Shang Chi.

 

[Stagnant]

I would be surprised if Ice had a big season. I haven’t seen a lot of flashes of someone that can break out and be an all conference player. I think she is what she is kind of at this point.

She can probably give us about 5 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes.

 

[Cuango]

I would be surprised if Ice had a big season. I haven’t seen a lot of flashes of someone that can break out and be an all conference player. I think she is what she is kind of at this point.

She can probably give us about 5 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes.

I expect a big improvement from both Ice and Jana this season! I believe they have both been dealing with physical, mental, and emotional hangovers from their respective injuries. Add in the fact that both are bigs, and I think it has taken them some time to hopefully purge all that self doubt and (possibly) fear of reinjury.

I think both of them, Ice to an even greater extent, lost their trust in their own instincts and abilities and when they came back from their respective injuries were trying to think and then play rather than simply allowing their instincts and talent to take over. Obviously, I’m no athlete but I do know for sure that when you are very good at anything, you play your best by letting all those years of learning/practice just take over and guide you! That, I believe, is what Ice (and Jana) have been struggling with. I realize I’m not a doctor or a psychologist but I did stay….. 😎

Anyway, I hope I’m right and these two young women can finally just play without any worries and concerns. If they can, I think we are all in for a treat!

 

[Doctor G]

I expect a big improvement from both Ice and Jana this season! I believe they have both been dealing with physical, mental, and emotional hangovers from their respective injuries. Add in the fact that both are bigs, and I think it has taken them some time to hopefully purge all that self doubt and (possibly) fear of reinjury.

I think both of them, Ice to an even greater extent, lost their trust in their own instincts and abilities and when they came back from their respective injuries were trying to think and then play rather than simply allowing their instincts and talent to take over. Obviously, I’m no athlete but I do know for sure that when you are very good at anything, you play your best by letting all those years of learning/practice just take over and guide you! That, I believe, is what Ice (and Jana) have been struggling with. I realize I’m not a doctor or a psychologist but I did stay….. 😎

Anyway, I hope I’m right and these two young women can finally just play without any worries and concerns. If they can, I think we are all in for a treat!

Also, Ice will be helped enormously by the fact that she will not be playing the 5 — which is not her normal position — so she can just focus on what she does best. With a year of experience and a championship to her credit, Jana will use a year of practicing against Serah to jumpstart her play to All-American level by her senior year — when she and Strong will anchor an incredible starting lineup (and, maybe, Geno and CD’s last team).

 

[HuskylnSC]

Ice has all the ability to have a big year IF she can play instinctively. She's 1/2 second slow in her reads. If she can regain the confidence in her gut and play hard, I'd love her to be the designated player to give Sarah a breather.

 

[Cuango]

Also, Ice will be helped enormously by the fact that she will not be playing the 5 — which is not her normal position — so she can just focus on what she does best. With a year of experience and a championship to her credit, Jana will use a year of practicing against Serah to jumpstart her play to All-American level by her senior year — when she and Strong will anchor an incredible starting lineup (and, maybe, Geno and CD’s last team).

You had until the parentheses!

 

[Cornell Lt]

With the depth that UConn has in the post this year, all one has to do is to bust their rear end for 5 minutes or so then get subbed out for the next in line. Rinse and repeat for 40 minutes