Can Paige carry this team....

[jabstep]

"Flash Cadillac?" I'm assuming that you didn't play with Flash anytime in the past 40 years.

I played with Ernie Digregorio at St Thomas Moore Prep and he hit me in the face with a behind the back pass from the foul line while I was at the other foul line heading toward the basket. Baaaam what a stinger right in the face and I always had my hand ready after that. Paige reminds me of Ernie quite a bit.

 

[Bama fan]

Yes, she can carry this team. In the process, she may hit a few of them in the back of the head with a pass or two. But they will learn.

Paige lived up to expectations and then some. Lithe is a word I would use to describe her out there. Fluid like Stewie even though their games are much different. Maya was athletic but in a more muscular, powerful sense. Those three just look different out there. And by different, I mean better.

Interesting that Williams (38), Bueckers (36), and Makurat (32) logged huge minutes in a blowout game. No one else over 21.

ONO only played 19 minutes. Geno downplayed her lack of playing time in the second half but I am guessing he was frustrated by her inability to finish at point blank range. 5 for 14, 2 for 6 from the line. That needs to improve.

We need CW to hit the open three pointer. With Paige at the point, she will have many chances. She seems to be long with her shots for the most part and perhaps a bit flat. I don`t expect her to shoot a super high percentage from out there, would settle for 38-40%.

The Freshman as a whole were great especially for their first time out. Lots to be excited about. Aubrey as well.

Aside from being rusty, they appear to be a bit too pass happy. The black hole that was Megan Walker is not there to stop the music. But if that is the biggest problem, we will be all right.

The Seton Hall game on the road will be a more meaningful test. They have won big twice already but who knows about the level of competition they have faced. First league game, on the road, hope that Paige gets them rolling early.

Like almost all UConn teams, this is a very easy team to root for. Love their enthusiasm. It all starts with Paige.

"Lithe" is an excellent word and an apt descriptor for Ms Bueckers. Fine work there @ Huskee11

 

[meyers7]

Don't know if this team is gonna need to be "carried". I think they have plenty of talent. Maybe not a Ferrari, but possibly a Lexus that Bueckers can drive (but no need to carry).

 

[eebmg]

"Lithe" is an excellent word and an apt descriptor for Ms Bueckers. Fine work there @ Huskee11

too close to Lith.

 

[eebmg]

It begins

Bueckers Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week - University of Connecticut Athletics

UConn women's basketball guard Paige Bueckers was tabbed the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Monday.

uconnhuskies.com

 

[CL82]

Do you think she knows she is the only option at center? Without competition she won't push herself to be the best. Or has she hit her ceiling? For an easy game I'd start Aaliyah over Liv. I'd sub her in at center in appropriate situations. Let's see how both react. At some point a reasonably productive center will be needed. Liv will get into foul trouble.

The only thing Liv needs is confidence. She doesn't realize how talented she actually is.

 

[MSGRET]

Don't know if this team is gonna need to be "carried". I think they have plenty of talent. Maybe not a Ferrari, but possibly a Lexus that Bueckers can drive (but no need to carry).

I'm thinking a stretch Mercedes is more in line for this team. It could carry the whole team with her driving, just like she seems to be doing on the court.

 

[hoophuskee]

Is she really better than that, or are you confusing your perspective of her ceiling with her actual one? People, especially fans often do that. By every measure she appears to be a streak shooter. She has games where she shoots very well and then more often than not games where she doesn't. Her expectations are built on the games that she shot well. The McDonalds AA game and the ND game her first season. Streak shooters tend to be inconsistent.

I have always stated that a player is never as good as their best game nor as bad as their worst. Players are not machines where they can always give you a consistent effort every game. There will always be variences, especially in respect to shooting percentages. Every player can have an off game as well as games where they shoot better than their avarage would dictate. Some players seem to have a broader spectrum between their on and off games. Those would be called streak shooters.

But she shot pretty well her frosh year from 3. So don't most players improve during time? SO why wouldn't the expectation be "she still is a good shooter" if for a full year she shot well- more than just the ND game?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Nope, she can't "carry this team." Not to a NC. The only player I've ever seen put an entire team on her shoulders and carry them to a NC was Diana Taurasi. Her senior year, Diana took a group of decent/good players to a NC. But no one else could do that. Breanna Stewart was the superstar who made the difference for UConn four times in a row. But she had a lot of help. Her supporting class was full of professionals. Maya had Tina, but she only won the NC twice.

Sabrina Ionescu, a Paige look-alike, or "play-alike", also had a very strong supporting cast. I think Paige could lead us to a NC. But to get there, even to get to the FF, will require a total team effort.

Edwards will need to play the bulk of minutes at PF/post, because she has the talent to be an AA- this year. A combination of the wonderfully gifted and supremely aggressive Mir McLean and Aubrey Griffin will need to excel the rest of the way.

And somehow, Evina and Anna will need to combine with Paige to rain threes on the opposition consistently. If we're relying on ONO, the other teams will collapse back in the paint, and we'll be thwarted. We need to develop into a classic Coach Geno team that is capable of taking a third of its shots from outside the arc- and make them consistently. That capability was disturbingly absent in the first game.

All of that will have to come together. We can't expect Paige to be Diana. In her freshman year, Diana played her worst game of her career in the semifinal game against Notre Dame- shooting 1 for 15. But we can hope that Paige combines with Aaliya, Mir, Aubrey, Anna and ONO to create The Team that will get us there.

 

[DEpup]

EricLA, I think almost all of us recognize that Megan is a very talented player. I suspect that many of us are likely willing to let slide the notion, perhaps undeserved, that she was at best an average team leader.

Where it breaks down for me at least is the perception that she did not come up big enough when the lights were the brightest.

Although she had 473 field goals in her three year career, very few of those came in crunch time of big games. A fairly quick check of the play by play narratives for the fourth quarter of the key games over the last three seasons confirms this. To her credit, she did have two big hoops in the fourth quarter of the bitter Final Four loss to Notre Dame in Tampa in 2019. But unfortunately not much else.

As a contrast, Paige hit a quarter buzzer shot in her first game...

 

[Carnac]

While not a ranked team, the talent level will be much better when they travel to Seton Hall. This is a conference game that will be taken very seriously, and I don’t expect the foot to be taken off the gas. How our girls perform in THIS game will tell us more than their play Saturday. After seeing Paige play at this level for the first time, I’m not concerned about who will play pg the rest of the season. Who will step up tomorrow night?

 

[ctkaiser]

Wow I must be slow. I had no idea everybody could draw such definitive conclusions about a group of student athletes who played a few minutes of college basketball in their first
game of the season. Hopefully their coaches are a little more tempered in their reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed the game and was desperate to get a glimpse of the seven new players. I also hope some of you aren't ready to give up on Olivia cause she missed 4 layups in a row or Christyn cause she didn't hit over 40% on 3s last year. Relax and give them a chance.

 

[willtalk]

But she shot pretty well her frosh year from 3. So don't most players improve during time? SO why wouldn't the expectation be "she still is a good shooter" if for a full year she shot well- more than just the ND game?

While she shot better her frosh year. 367% to her 333% her jr season. I wouldn't consider 367% pretty well for a shooting guard with the players she had on her team getting most of the defensive attention. Pretty well needs to be closer to 400%, unless she is a point who has to take a lot of clock winding down shots. There is only about 30% difference between the two season, which is not that much difference. What I was referrring to was in respect to consistency. That has remained the same. She is a streak shooter who will hit when she is on and often disappear. If a player is faced with a really good defender it will negate even a hot streak. She has always been an opportunist in respect to scoring. She takes what the defense gives her.

And no, players do not usually improve their shooting over time. The improvement usually comes through better shot selection and Williams has always made good decisions in that respect. Or sometimes if a player has really bad form they can work on that. Most of the time though players are either good shooters or not. It all depends on how much effort they have already spent on working on their shots. Williams worked this summer on getting into better shape and sometimes adding muscle will affect a players shooting negatively.

 

[hoophuskee]

While she shot better her frosh year. 367% to her 333% her jr season. I wouldn't consider 367% pretty well for a shooting guard with the players she had on her team getting most of the defensive attention. Pretty well needs to be closer to 400%, unless she is a point who has to take a lot of clock winding down shots. There is only about 30% difference between the two season, which is not that much difference. What I was referrring to was in respect to consistency. That has remained the same. She is a streak shooter who will hit when she is on and often disappear. If a player is faced with a really good defender it will negate even a hot streak. She has always been an opportunist in respect to scoring. She takes what the defense gives her.

And no, players do not usually improve their shooting over time. The improvement usually comes through better shot selection and Williams has always made good decisions in that respect. Or sometimes if a player has really bad form they can work on that. Most of the time though players are either good shooters or not. It all depends on how much effort they have already spent on working on their shots. Williams worked this summer on getting into better shape and sometimes adding muscle will affect a players shooting negatively.

I don't agree with much of this. But that's okay. Anyhow, the difference between 33.3% from 3 vs 33.67 is the difference between a 50% 3 pt shooter and 55% shooter.

You did say CWill did shoot "pretty well" - but then did you backtrack that? A player that shoots 40% from 3 is equivalent to a 60% 2-point shooter. How is 60% is just "pretty well?" If everyone on your team shoots an equivalent of 60% from the floor, you aren't going to lose many games.

Nor do I agree with your shooting perspective. Shot selection is part of it - sure--- but the improvement also has to do with a lot of practice. Meg Walker and Dangerfield as examples -- sure shot selection along with experience - but also practice over the summers taking many, many shots. Their shooting improved.

Overall I can't agree with what you're saying here if one of your main points is that overall players don't improve their shooting. At least with UCONN- the perimeter players generally take good shots.

 

[willtalk]

I don't agree with much of this. But that's okay. Anyhow, the difference between 33.3% from 3 vs 33.67 is the difference between a 50% 3 pt shooter and 55% shooter.

You did say CWill did shoot "pretty well" - but then did you backtrack that? A player that shoots 40% from 3 is equivalent to a 60% 2-point shooter. How is 60% is just "pretty well?" If everyone on your team shoots an equivalent of 60% from the floor, you aren't going to lose many games.

Nor do I agree with your shooting perspective. Shot selection is part of it - sure--- but the improvement also has to do with a lot of practice. Meg Walker and Dangerfield as examples -- sure shot selection along with experience - but also practice over the summers taking many, many shots. Their shooting improved.

Overall I can't agree with what you're saying here if one of your main points is that overall players don't improve their shooting. At least with UCONN- the perimeter players generally take good shots.

First let me say that I should not have left out the percentage point in my stats. It should have been 33.3% her Jr year and 33.7% her frosh season. When comparing these numbers to the Uconn team average it gives a better perspective. In her frosh season the UConn team average was 36.4% which puts her average .3% higher and by all measures just average for the team. Now last season ( her soph year ) the team average was 39.9% compared to her 33.3% putting her 6.6% below team average. I would consider neither as shooting pretty well for a top level team. I never said once that she shot pretty well.

What point is made comparing her percentages in the thirties to arbitrary percentages in the fifties is beyond me? Now her two season 3pt shooting percentages are not really that far apart for one or the other to be an abaration. Now a player can improve over the off season by focusing on shooting and correcting form. But i added that Williams spent her summer working on her body and fitness. Generally when you do that your shooting practice is just to adjust the new body to your existing form rather than making drastic improvements in that area. Too many times, especially on this site, fans make an assumption that players will exponentially improve their entire game. The new reality is that by the time players get to college there isn't that much skill developmental ceiling left, especially for guards. By the time they get to this level, they have spent years working with individual trainers and playing year round even before they get to high school.

As I have mentioned many times, players now days come into college having spent entire summers working on ball and shooting skills so their is not much improvement ceiling left. Williams worked on an area where she felt their was and it shows by her increased level of speed and quickness. But that will not translate to increased shooting percentages.

 

[chrissaran]

They need to find someone who can give Paige a break.

 

[CocoHusky]

They need to find someone who can give Paige a break.

Here is my suggestion. Edwards into the starting lineup Evina out. Evina can rotate in for 1-3 and Aubrey can come in for 3-5. Find some minutes for Mir and that is your rotation to build on.

 

[hoophuskee]

First let me say that I should not have left out the percentage point in my stats. It should have been 33.3% her Jr year and 33.7% her frosh season. When comparing these numbers to the Uconn team average it gives a better perspective. In her frosh season the UConn team average was 36.4% which puts her average .3% higher and by all measures just average for the team.

This is so wrong imo. I'm sorry. I'[m done. A player can shoot shoot 90% but every one else shoots 91% then that means the player is a below average shooter?

 

[peace & love]

First let me say that I should not have left out the percentage point in my stats. It should have been 33.3% her Jr year and 33.7% her frosh season. When comparing these numbers to the Uconn team average it gives a better perspective. In her frosh season the UConn team average was 36.4% which puts her average .3% higher and by all measures just average for the team. Now last season ( her soph year ) the team average was 39.9% compared to her 33.3% putting her 6.6% below team average. I would consider neither as shooting pretty well for a top level team. I never said once that she shot pretty well.

What point is made comparing her percentages in the thirties to arbitrary percentages in the fifties is beyond me? Now her two season 3pt shooting percentages are not really that far apart for one or the other to be an abaration. Now a player can improve over the off season by focusing on shooting and correcting form. But i added that Williams spent her summer working on her body and fitness. Generally when you do that your shooting practice is just to adjust the new body to your existing form rather than making drastic improvements in that area. Too many times, especially on this site, fans make an assumption that players will exponentially improve their entire game. The new reality is that by the time players get to college there isn't that much skill developmental ceiling left, especially for guards. By the time they get to this level, they have spent years working with individual trainers and playing year round even before they get to high school.

As I have mentioned many times, players now days come into college having spent entire summers working on ball and shooting skills so their is not much improvement ceiling left. Williams worked on an area where she felt their was and it shows by her increased level of speed and quickness. But that will not translate to increased shooting percentages.

And how do you know she didn’t work on shooting?

 

[browns]

Megan this, Megan that....Megan's gone
One of the many UConn players with a pretty distinguished career
that didn't quite knock our socks off, nor win championships
(no one does it by themselves).
But she did improve quite a bit every year.
Her first season in the W was not so distinguished but she's 22 for goodness sake and may wind up just fine...but I'm not fixated.

But this group that Geno has now...now that's worth out attention.

I agree Megan was invisible in most big games.One thing I'll give her huge credit for was how she transformed her body from soph to junior year..must have taken a lot of hard work

 

[oldhusky]

Here is my suggestion. Edwards into the starting lineup Evina out. Evina can rotate in for 1-3 and Aubrey can come in for 3-5. Find some minutes for Mir and that is your rotation to build on.

I liked this starting lineup from the beginning, but I would define Evina and Aubrey's roles mostly as 2/3 and 4/5 respectively. Evina could easily play 1, but if Nika shows more she won't have to, and can be a super-sub at 2/3. Aubrey can also play the 3 (particularly defensively), but with Evina available off the bench there, she is more needed at 4/5.

Mir is the hard one to find regular minutes for. On paper she appears to be the third best option for any position she is likely to play. Injuries or illness can create an opportunity of course, but if everyone else is available she may be a change of pace substitution or inserted as a defense or rebounding specialist as needed.

If Geno decides to press more (hope he does) that would raise the minutes for the tail end of the rotation, but this small ball starting lineup limits significantly the number of minutes you can give collectively to Aaliyah, Aubrey and Mir. All three of those are probably best at the 4, but there are not even 40 minutes to split between them because we start the game with a wing there. Aaliyah can get some of her minutes behind Liv, but in general, more minutes from any of those three means less minutes from Anna or Evina at the 4.

Like CocoHusky starting Edwards and bringing Evina off the bench is a direction I would like to see Geno go.

 

[BobbyJ]

Here is my suggestion. Edwards into the starting lineup Evina out. Evina can rotate in for 1-3 and Aubrey can come in for 3-5. Find some minutes for Mir and that is your rotation to build on.

Agree. He needs to maximize Edwards' minutes, she's too good to play backup time. If he had a true big to rotate with her and ONO it would be ideal but you can't have everything I guess.

 

[JellyBean]

Pretty much. The bigger question is, will the rest of the team allow it? If everyone understands their roles and how valuable they are to the success of the program, great things can happen.

 

[Ex Nutmegger]

.......... Now last season ( her soph year ) the team average was 39.9% compared to her 33.3% putting her 6.6% below team average. I would consider neither as shooting pretty well for a top level team. I never said once that she shot pretty well. .................

Actually, the difference between CW and the rest of the team is much greater than “6.6%”. If you remove CW’s 3pt numbers(43/129) from those of the entire team((281/705), you get 238/576 for the rest of the team or 41.3% - a bit more respectable. So CW was eight points lower than the rest of the team. Those are percentage points, not a percentage. She was actually .413-.333/.413 percent or 19.4 percent lower than the rest of the team. Now I call that significant.