Can Paige and Azzi both average 20ppg? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Can Paige and Azzi both average 20ppg?

3 scorers is ideal. Paige, Azzi and Sarah can fill those roles. Without much scoring from the centers, those 3 will have to be "on" for us to get where we need to be.
 
Centerstream said:
This is an eye opening post! If someone had tried to tell me that Stewie didn't average 20 points in any of her UConn seasons, I would have to think that they were not being truthful. Same the others you mentioned.
Based upon UConn history, I guess my post about Paige, Azzi and Sarah averaging 20 points seems ludicrous.
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Reminds me of the question asked about Michael Jordan prior to the NBA finals where he was about to earn his 4th NBA Championship [when he was averaging >35 pts/game in the playoffs]: "How do you keep Michael Jordan under 16 points per game?"

Answer: Have him play for Dean Smith!

I'm thinking that 2 of 3 of them [Azzi, PB, & Sarah] would score over 20 pts each game they are in for 28 - 32 mins. The issue will be that they will average 24 - 26 minutes [only exceptions are Tennessee and USCarolina] until the BE Tournament finals where they each will have ~30 mins, which {~30 mins/game} will continue in the NCAAs.

Because of the reduced mins played over the next 12 games, I predict that only one or two of the "Big 3" will score in the 20's until the BE finals.
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
If we want #12, the answer to can all 3 score 20 better be yes.
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The only number that matters is the total those 3 get in any game. If all 3 are hot they could get 80 but in many games one will be missing from 3. If they can score 50 between them and the rest (5) can get 30 between them we would win because of our defense.

I don't remember the season ( 2014-2016?) but at one point in February I noticed that every starter had had a 30 pt game during the season. It's the proven scoring potential that matters. Between Bueckers, Fudd and Strong Geno has 3 players who can put up 30+. That may not guarantee anything but it is a piece of the puzzle.
 
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It's not happening this year--Geno is pulling starters earlier in Big East play and there's only 1 game of note left on the schedule (at South Carolina).

I think a better target or indicator of success is to have 2 of Strong/Bueckers/Fudd score close to 20 on a given night, or combine for 40. Those are the 3 main offensive weapons UCONN has, and none of them are likely to be gunners who jack up bad shots, so if someone is off, the other two + supporting cast can pick up the slack.
 
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Centerstream said:
I am not going to watch the video, but I have this question: why isn't Sarah included in the question? She has proven that she can shoot the 3, mid range and in the lane.
If all three played 30 minutes a game, there’s no reason why we couldn't have 3 averaging 20+ points. Right?
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Wrong, there are lot's of reasons why we couldn't have 3 averaging 20+ points. Many are suggested throughout this thead. Biggest of course is opportunity. All 3 would need to average 30+ minutes a game. Hopefully that won't happen.

Now it can happen for a game here and there. Maybe? But averaging? over the season? Nah, no way. It would be a big struggle to get 2. Especially with the team we have. There have only been 10 times in UCONN history that a player has averaged 20 or more in a season. BUT there was one instance of 2 players in the same season, Samuelson and Collier in 16/17. (and both averaged 30+ minutes a game) (just for clarity, those 10 times were, Bascom (3 times), Collier (2), Bueckers (2), Sales, Moore and Samuelson)

And when (if) Griffin gets back, that will take more opportunity away from the 3.

I suppose if we had a rash of injuries (even more than we've had) and Bueckers, Fudd and Strong had to play like 35 minutes a game, then sure maybe they all could average 20+ points a game....going forward. But still not sure that would average out for the season. But I would much rather not see that happen.
 
Centerstream said:
This is an eye opening post! If someone had tried to tell me that Stewie didn't average 20 points in any of her UConn seasons, I would have to think that they were not being truthful. Same the others you mentioned.
Based upon UConn history, I guess my post about Paige, Azzi and Sarah averaging 20 points seems ludicrous.
Expand ...
For many years, now, Geno has assiduously ignored personal stats in a game that is not close. (That, I think, is CD's bailiwick.) How many double-doubles, and even triple-doubles, have been narrowly missed because he sat that player in the 4th Q of a runaway? How many other coaches do that consistently? It may end up diminishing that player's credentials for national honors, but that's just not his game, and I've never seen or heard of any of his players grumbling about it.
 
Alydar said:
The only number that matters is the total those 3 get in any game. If all 3 are hot they could get 80 but in many games one will be missing from 3. If they can score 50 between them and the rest (5) can get 30 between them we would win because of our defense.

I don't remember the season ( 2014-2016?) but at one point in February I noticed that every starter had had a 30 pt game during the season. It's the proven scoring potential that matters. Between Bueckers, Fudd and Strong Geno has 3 players who can put up 30+. That may not guarantee anything but it is a piece of the puzzle.
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Keep your eye on the rest 5) and how many times they aggregate 30. And note the minutes of each. We haven't had much consistency and the NCAAs are not the place to find it.
 
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They could but like others have stated, for them to average 20 ppg they would reduce Sarah's production out there. In order for those two to average those types of numbers and not limit Sarah's overall production, Coach Geno would have to employ a Loyola Marymount Paul Westhead/Hank Gathers/Bo Kimble/Jeff Fryer type of offense where those three averaged over 20 ppg a game. Azzi/Paige would have to get 20 plus shots a game, same with Sarah. So they could average 20 ppg a game but it would change the dynamics of the team.
 
ERWUC65 said:
First game back together, 25 points between the 2 and Sarah had 6. Maybe it's time to close this thread.
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Azzi and Paige could do with Sarah 15, that would mean 55, then to go to 80 we need Ash to get 10 and teh others to get 15
 
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ERWUC65 said:
First game back together, 25 points between the 2 and Sarah had 6. Maybe it's time to close this thread.
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Yes, last night is ad good example of why it would be tough for 2/3 players to average 20+ on this team.
 
No way with the current rotation and playing times. I keep waiting for Geno to shrink his rotation, I think, I expect I'm waiting for it to happen. Forget Paige's first game back after a short time off to recover, her time and other starters time on the floor has been diminished.
I know Geno is playing almost if not everyone in games, good to develop his bench, unknown how this will affect the team come tourney time. I would expect to see Geno's lineup and sub pattern emerge when we play Tn. and the Gamecocks. Back to our 2 mainstays, once again under current conference play there is no way Paige and Azzi can or will both avg 20 a game. :cool:
 
MooseJaw said:
I know Geno is playing almost if not everyone in games, good to develop his bench, unknown how this will affect the team come tourney time.
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One effect I'm hoping for is that Paige Azzi Sarah Jana won't be as tired as the core of last year's team was by the final four.
 
Huskee11 said:
As sophomores Napheesa and Katie Lou averaged 20.4 and 20.2 points per game respectively. That was the 2016-7 team that went 36-1, losing to Mississippi State in the Final Four.

They were in the very weak AAC but their out of conference victories included South Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU, Texas, DePaul, Baylor, Maryland (the famous barf bucket game), Syracuse, UCLA and Oregon.

Napheesa and KLS both played and started all 37 games and both averaged over 30 minutes per game. The team as a whole averaged over 87 points per game while the current team averages just under 79.

Five team members had over 100 assists and the team as a whole had a whopping 863. The team shooting percentage was 52.7% including over 40% from three. Naphessa shot an incredible 67.8% from the field. Yikes.

That was a fun team. KLS, Napheesa, Kia Nurse, Gabby and Saniya Chong started, with Crystal and Natalie Butler off the bench. Small and not deep, but very, very talented.

I don't think any other UConn duo has ever done that. It is very hard to do and they just barely did it.
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Pheesa and Katie Lou had a chemistry between them that few players have. In my mind's eye, I can still see Lou driving into the lane, giving the ball to Pheesa with the latter doing her patented step back shot. Paige and Azzi have never had the chance for sustained time together on the court. Part of even the current rotation is Geno's awareness that both of his stars have had serious injuries, which keeps him resting one of his stars while the other plays. He is protecting them from further injury and keeping them rested for when they are needed. Eventually, Coach will have them both out there together more frequently. They are his aces in the hole.
 
Probably too much talent on this team for two to average 20+. Some days, particularly with the lack of in league talent, I wonder if we will have anyone average 20+, not a bad thing if everyone is producing at 110%. Putting Cheli, Zieball, etc. in for fourth quarter is fun to watch.
 
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