I agree, Littlemin, that Geno sat Nika regularly during crunch time in big regular-season games and then again during the post-season. However, Caroline's 'benching' had been due to the after-effects of her head injury. When she finally was given significant minutes in the national championship game, she looked comfortable in a pressure situation and scored nine points, second only on the team to Paige.
I don't disagree with you that Azzi Caroline Lou is probably the better unit. But "objectively"? Since we've never actually seen them play together, our opinions about this are necessarily subjective. Still, it is a very tempting thought and I'd really like to see the three of them on the floor together.
I keep on wondering what you know that Geno doesn't. He has stated more than once, that Nika is the point guard, with Azzi playing PG when Nika is not on the floor. He as also stated that both Caroline and Lou will be switching off starting, with both of them playing almost the same amount of time. We get it, you think that Nika is so-so and shouldn't be playing more than 10-15 minutes a game. But until you become the head coach, I'll listen to what Geno is saying.
Generally I agree with what you are saying. Are you limiting Ayanna to 15 minutes because you think that's all the time she will be able to stay on the court without fouling out? If she can fix her foul-proneness and perhaps improve her stamina a bit, then I think she can earn 20 to 25 minutes.
Ooh ooh ooh! I love minutes breakdowns!
I have not heard anything specific. Geno suggested she was getting better. That's all.
Geno probably has said something sorta like this, though I can't recall hearing it. What I mainly remember hearing is that they don't care for a rigid assignment of a pg. More than once in the last few weeks he has explicitly said that anyone "can bring the ball up the floor." No such assignment of positions seems to organize his thinking.
Uh oh! Off to the races!
I'm not sure I have a clear picture of Caroline's game. I saw her last year when she picked up the mantle of leading scorer for a while, but then her injuries kind of took over. She hasn't been on the court, yet, this year. But Lou has looked spectacular. If Caroline is a mirror image, we have greater depth. I remain " concerned" about her neck ailment, however. It would not surprise me to learn that Caroline will not play on Monday. Something seems wrong. I hope " what is wrong" is me.
Actually, Muhl got limited minutes early, after the ND game in which Bueckers got hurt, Muhl sat out the next 4 with an injury. She came back to limited minutes in an 8 point win against Creighton, then started the next 20. Uconn went 18-2, losing to Oregon in which she played all 40 minutes and Nova where she played 37. The only close game in the 18 wins was a 2 point win over DePaul in which she led the team in minutes played. After marching through the BE tournament with the closest win was by 20, she got benched.
In support of your point ( I happen to agree) I was pleasantly surprised to see Ines got a few minutes at SG with Azzi as the PG.
In the very toughest games, Azzi will play the most minutes. Every other player's minutes are more negotiable based on matchups and early game performance
Fouls enter my thinking not as a fouling out but giving up points. Also, I think if Ayanna improves her FT's and does not get trapped in so many double teams, I could find more minutes. That will take some time
I see no record of Geno saying Lou and Caroline will switch off starting. That is probably a figment of your imagination. We saw Nika against a lot of top teams last year so it's not like there isn't evidence of her projected performance. She eats up bad teams. She's challenged against top competition. What I don't get is this: Do you really think Geno is going to get anywhere DISCOURAGING any player in his rotation? Of course he says nice things about Nika and there are a lot of things to like. She's just not as good as Caroline, Azzi or Lou. Geno speaks in nuance. Read between the lines.
That was last year, Geno stated that Nika is the leader on the floor and she energizes the team in his first day interview. He also stated in that same interview that it doesn't matter who starts between CD and Lou, but in the end both of them will most likely play the same amount of minutes. When it comes to defense Nika is the one that gets it going. You are the one that seems to be reading between the lines.
It's not only about scoring points but it's also about scoring efficiency.
It's got to be a team effort.
When you and others cite "evidence" from last year of Nika's offensive deficiencies, you are not giving any recognition to the obvious improvements that she has made since last year. She still isn't the first shooting option, and in the first two games, others were getting shots easily so she didn't take many shots. That will change against better competition. But she is now driving successfully to the hoop against opposition (which she never did last year) and making long passes upcourt for assists (which she never did last year). Seeing those improvements, I expect to see her take and make midrange shots in the upcoming games (when other shooters are covered) as another improvement to her game.
I don’t think it’s how much she scores so much as how she scores. It was disappointing that she only scored on a 3 pointer rather than a drive into the lane or a pull up jumper. These are the shots she didn’t take last year.