DavidinNaples
11 is way better than 2..!! :)
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Can UConn Replace the Graduating Seniors ?
With the 8th National Championship trophy safely stored in the UConn Women's Basketball trophy case, fans can only wait for next season and speculate about how the team will fare. The biggest topic of speculation may be whether UConn can replace the production of the graduating seniors and win a 9th N.C.
UConn lost "red-shirt" seniors Caroline Doty and Heather Buck, as well as regular senior Kelly Faris. All together, these three players were on the court for 1,936 minutes, scored 545 points and grabbed 325 rebounds. Those totals represent 25% of the team's minutes, 17% of the points and 20% of the rebounds. More importantly, those three players also accounted for 249 assists (31% of team total) and 127 steals (30% of team total). By far the biggest statistical loss will be Kelly Faris, who led the team in minutes (1,160), assists (156) and steals (96). In addition, her 399 points and 223 rebounds were both 4th highest on the team. Beyond the stats, Faris also led the Huskies in hustle, determination and individual defensive tenacity.
It would appear no single player will be able to replace all aspects of Faris' game. Two different players were second to Faris in assists (Hartley with 136) and steals (KLM with 57). Both are already starters, played significant minutes and probably can't double their production to make up for Faris. The bench players who may start in her place are much more specialized in what the add to the team. Morgan Tuck was fifth on the team with 120 rebounds, despite playing only 554 minutes. Playing an extra 450-500 minutes would project her rebound total ahead of Faris' results and greatly increase her 6.4 points per game. That would cover much of Faris' 10.2 points average. (Stewie will probably raise her 13.8 point average so making up scoring should not be the problem.) However, Tuck's assist total (47) and steal total (19) were well below Faris.
The clear choice to make up for lost assists and steals would be Moriah Jefferson. Her 69 assists and 52 steals were highest among the non-starters and improved dramatically during the last third of the season. Her 4.7 point scoring average would also rise with more playing time, but probably not as much as Tuck's. Rebounding is also not her specialty. Perhaps the best "all around" replacement for Faris would be Brianna Banks. Before her injury, Banks scored 153 points in just 359 minutes. Projected over the same minutes as Faris, Banks would have scored 494 points vs 399 for Faris. Her assist and steal totals improve as well, but not quite as much as Faris' results this year. Her rebounding does not project anywhere near the 223 by Faris.
While it appears Tuck, Jefferson or Banks could not individually equal Faris' contributions, collectively they just might. Spreading Faris' 1,160 minutes between Tuck, Jefferson and Banks would give each an extra 386 minutes. Tuck's extra rebounding & scoring, Jefferson's extra assists & steals and Banks' scoring & assists just might equal a full Kelly Faris.
The picture brightens even more when Doty and Buck's minutes and contributions are factored in. Combined, Tuck, Jefferson and Banks outscored the three seniors 560 to 545, despite playing 346 fewer minutes. The seniors had more rebounds (325 vs 220), but not if you add in Kiah Stokes who had 113 rebounds in just 342 minutes. Add 400 minutes of Doty's 627 playing time to Stokes and the replacements could out rebound the seniors. With an extra year of seasoning and more minutes, Jefferson and Banks would no doubt improve their combined 104 assists and 77 steals. Perhaps they might even exceed Faris' totals of 156 and 96.
Conclusion: The graduating seniors played 1,936 minutes. It would appear that spreading that time among Tuck, Jefferson, Banks and Stokes would more than make up scoring, rebounds, assists and steals that was lost to graduation. No single player can replace the unique package that was Kelly Faris, but collectively they have the talent to help UConn make a run at N.C. #9. And that is without factoring in the "wildcard" in this speculation, Saniya Chong. Reportedly, she can score, rebound, assist and steal, all in one package.
Go Huskies!!
With the 8th National Championship trophy safely stored in the UConn Women's Basketball trophy case, fans can only wait for next season and speculate about how the team will fare. The biggest topic of speculation may be whether UConn can replace the production of the graduating seniors and win a 9th N.C.
UConn lost "red-shirt" seniors Caroline Doty and Heather Buck, as well as regular senior Kelly Faris. All together, these three players were on the court for 1,936 minutes, scored 545 points and grabbed 325 rebounds. Those totals represent 25% of the team's minutes, 17% of the points and 20% of the rebounds. More importantly, those three players also accounted for 249 assists (31% of team total) and 127 steals (30% of team total). By far the biggest statistical loss will be Kelly Faris, who led the team in minutes (1,160), assists (156) and steals (96). In addition, her 399 points and 223 rebounds were both 4th highest on the team. Beyond the stats, Faris also led the Huskies in hustle, determination and individual defensive tenacity.
It would appear no single player will be able to replace all aspects of Faris' game. Two different players were second to Faris in assists (Hartley with 136) and steals (KLM with 57). Both are already starters, played significant minutes and probably can't double their production to make up for Faris. The bench players who may start in her place are much more specialized in what the add to the team. Morgan Tuck was fifth on the team with 120 rebounds, despite playing only 554 minutes. Playing an extra 450-500 minutes would project her rebound total ahead of Faris' results and greatly increase her 6.4 points per game. That would cover much of Faris' 10.2 points average. (Stewie will probably raise her 13.8 point average so making up scoring should not be the problem.) However, Tuck's assist total (47) and steal total (19) were well below Faris.
The clear choice to make up for lost assists and steals would be Moriah Jefferson. Her 69 assists and 52 steals were highest among the non-starters and improved dramatically during the last third of the season. Her 4.7 point scoring average would also rise with more playing time, but probably not as much as Tuck's. Rebounding is also not her specialty. Perhaps the best "all around" replacement for Faris would be Brianna Banks. Before her injury, Banks scored 153 points in just 359 minutes. Projected over the same minutes as Faris, Banks would have scored 494 points vs 399 for Faris. Her assist and steal totals improve as well, but not quite as much as Faris' results this year. Her rebounding does not project anywhere near the 223 by Faris.
While it appears Tuck, Jefferson or Banks could not individually equal Faris' contributions, collectively they just might. Spreading Faris' 1,160 minutes between Tuck, Jefferson and Banks would give each an extra 386 minutes. Tuck's extra rebounding & scoring, Jefferson's extra assists & steals and Banks' scoring & assists just might equal a full Kelly Faris.
The picture brightens even more when Doty and Buck's minutes and contributions are factored in. Combined, Tuck, Jefferson and Banks outscored the three seniors 560 to 545, despite playing 346 fewer minutes. The seniors had more rebounds (325 vs 220), but not if you add in Kiah Stokes who had 113 rebounds in just 342 minutes. Add 400 minutes of Doty's 627 playing time to Stokes and the replacements could out rebound the seniors. With an extra year of seasoning and more minutes, Jefferson and Banks would no doubt improve their combined 104 assists and 77 steals. Perhaps they might even exceed Faris' totals of 156 and 96.
Conclusion: The graduating seniors played 1,936 minutes. It would appear that spreading that time among Tuck, Jefferson, Banks and Stokes would more than make up scoring, rebounds, assists and steals that was lost to graduation. No single player can replace the unique package that was Kelly Faris, but collectively they have the talent to help UConn make a run at N.C. #9. And that is without factoring in the "wildcard" in this speculation, Saniya Chong. Reportedly, she can score, rebound, assist and steal, all in one package.
Go Huskies!!
