Carolyn Ducharme an upgrade at No.33?

[Centerstream]

Assuming Paige is back by the end of the year and starts who of the original starters does CD replace?

Evina...give her a well deserved rest and then she and Nika can be spark plugs off the bench. But there will be plenty of threads on who will the starters be when Paige and Azzi are both available...guaranteed!!!!!

 

[JJTB]

I really like CD’s skill set. Pretty well rounded. Once she found herself, gotta like her initiative. She reminds me of the true small forwards of the 60’s and 70’s. She may go 3 for 12, but can still help the team in so many ways.

As an aside….loved her running floater today.

 

[donalddoowop]

Not including Paige, how many UConn freshmen took more shots than the rest of her teammates over a three-game period? Sometimes Paige did not. Right there shows me Caroline is comfortable with her role and her confidence is growing every game. The thought of Caroline, Paige, Edwards, Dorka, Fudd, Muhl, DeBerry and Ono playing together is exciting. If only CW and Westbrook start playing well, the season could end well for UConn. I would think that Caroline's play would be inspiring to the seniors.

 

[Waquoit]

She's better than KLS already.

 

[browns]

With any player, it's more than one game. All that said, Caroline showed that she is fundementally strong in so many ways. Blocking out for rebounds, eurostep, handling the press, dribbling left handed at full speed most of a court length with someone on her...etc. We all see some potential improvements but she is heads and shoulders above most of the players we see each week. She appears smart enough, and committed enough, to get even better.

I find her background so interesting. She's already overcome an ACL and a torn shoulder labrum? She was a point guard for much of her time in high school as she didn't grow until late teens. It's no surprise she can handle the ball. If you watched many of her high schoolo games she had tremendous shooting range and came up big in big games. She probably could be a decent point guard. She penetrates well. She doesn't make many mistakes passing. South Carolina has 6'4" Amihere as point guard now and she's 4-5 in 3 point shooting.

Amihere was at the point only a couple of games while Henderson was hurt and she definitely isn't a point guard

 

[eebmg]

Nice Ducharme highlights.



Ends with the Marino interview and a Caroline - Paige image.

 

[eebmg]

and one thing I did not see mentioned in the BY about Geno's comments is that when she came from HS to summer session, her strength and conditioning were not at the right level but she worked really hard and got that corrected quickly.

 

[Longtime fan]

Seeing a tall UCONN player with the number 33 and long range shooting has to bring KLS immediately to mind. And recognizing the very small sample, I have seen Charmer show a significantly greater skill set than Lou at the same stage. Lou basically was fixed just beyond the arc as a frosh. She didn't rebound, drive or make great passes. She had a very potent long range shot and not much else. Caroline Ducharme opened my eyes with her down court dribbling, including behind the back, against L'ville. I don't recall Lou ever having such ball handling skills. This of course on top of the obvious ability to score from anywhere on the floor, to rebound at both ends and some nifty passing to boot.

I think we have a permanent starter and potential star in number 33.

I think this is not an apples to apples comparison. So I can't agree about the comparison to Katy Lou. However, the more interesting point is, what would happen if we were healthy? If Caroline deserves to start, and Paige is back, and Azzi is healthy (and playing to expectations), what do you do as coach? Of course, it isn't going to happen. Paige is a long ways off ( maybe even to next year) and Azzi seems a few weeks away still. But it is interesting to speculate. And I agree that Muhl brought a pace an energy we have been missing. I believe coach stays with the starting five ( including Caroline ) and works the others into the game as they get healthy.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

She's better than KLS already.

Caroline is certainly having a great run as a Freshman. She has really taken advantage of the situation, filling in for injured players and growing up right before our eyes.
IF she is going to be "better than KLS" during her 4 year career, then we will all be quite pleased as she:
a. Scores more than 2178 points in her UCONN career: (5th in UCONN WBB History)
b. Makes more than 382 three pointers in her UCONN career: (2nd in UCONN WBB History)
c. Makes more than 119 three pointers in a UCONN season: (2nd in UCONN WBB History), and perhaps more than 10 in a game...(1st in UCONN WBB History)
d. Plays in 4 Final Fours for UCONN
e. Is selected as an All American 3 times as a UCONN Husky

That is a big hill to climb...if she can do it, she deserves to be considered one of the top players to play for UCONN WBB...I hope to see it!! I am really enjoying watching what Caroline has done...but it's been only a small fraction of a very unusual season. We should give her some more time before we put her in that top group.

 

[CajunHusky]

Comparing CD to KLS is specious at best. Two very different players asked to fill very different roles with nothing significant in common other than their number. My lord KLS played on the same court with Mo, Kia, Stewie and Tuck. CD is playing on a team with some real problems and no go to scorers.

The person who CD reminds me of most and by far the more interesting and logical comparison is KML. That is if you really want an objective discussion of skill sets.

 

[Centerstream]

Caroline is certainly having a great run as a Freshman. She has really taken advantage of the situation, filling in for injured players and growing up right before our eyes.
IF she is going to be "better than KLS" during her 4 year career, then we will all be quite pleased as she:
a. Scores more than 2178 points in her UCONN career: (5th in UCONN WBB History)
b. Makes more than 382 three pointers in her UCONN career: (2nd in UCONN WBB History)
c. Makes more than 119 three pointers in a UCONN season: (2nd in UCONN WBB History), and perhaps more than 10 in a game...(1st in UCONN WBB History)
d. Plays in 4 Final Fours for UCONN
e. Is selected as an All American 3 times as a UCONN Husky

That is a big hill to climb...if she can do it, she deserves to be considered one of the top players to play for UCONN WBB...I hope to see it!! I am really enjoying watching what Caroline has done...but it's been only a small fraction of a very unusual season. We should give her some more time before we put her in that top group.

And Katie Lou's record of 10 for 10 3 pointers in a game, my personal favorite Lou stat.

 

[mhshuskies]

She should be a starter the rest of the season regardless of who is healthy!

 

[The deacon]

Comparing CD to KLS is specious at best. Two very different players asked to fill very different roles with nothing significant in common other than their number. My lord KLS played on the same court with Mo, Kia, Stewie and Tuck. CD is playing on a team with some real problems and no go to scorers.

The person who CD reminds me of most and by far the more interesting and logical comparison is KML. That is if you really want an objective discussion of skill sets.

For any Huskies player to be compared to KML would be a compliment, but, as good as Caroline's 3-point shooting might eventually be, so far I think her greatest value is as a cutter and with her repertoire near the basket. She is much taller than KML, too, and players even longer.

KML was as good as it gets from three. Therein I see quite a difference between the two. As you said, Cajun, it could make for an interesting comparison.

 

[eebmg]

Comparing CD to KLS is specious at best. Two very different players asked to fill very different roles with nothing significant in common other than their number. My lord KLS played on the same court with Mo, Kia, Stewie and Tuck. CD is playing on a team with some real problems and no go to scorers.

The person who CD reminds me of most and by far the more interesting and logical comparison is KML. That is if you really want an objective discussion of skill sets.

KML comparisons should be reserved for Azzi. Hope Azzi makes those comparison stories realistic

I think KLS and Ducharme is a reasonably good comparison skill set wise (with Lou ahead of Caroline in some areas and KLS ahead of Caroline in some areas) and I don't understand how the condition of the surrounding team is a major issue comparison wise.

If Lou played on the current team in it's current state, she would be (forced to be?) the primary scorer and I am sure her game would be more than stand up 3pt specialist.

 

[npignatjr]

KML comparisons should be reserved for Azzi. Hope Azzi makes those comparison stories realistic

I think KLS and Ducharme is a reasonably good comparison skill set wise (with Lou ahead of Caroline in some areas and KLS ahead of Caroline in some areas) and I don't understand how the condition of the surrounding team is a major issue comparison wise.

If Lou played on the current team in it's current state, she would be (forced to be?) the primary scorer and I am sure her game would be more than stand up 3pt specialist.

And a primary ball handler. She was a better ball handler than anyone now starting.

 

[baggerbob]

Comparing CD to KLS is specious at best. Two very different players asked to fill very different roles with nothing significant in common other than their number. My lord KLS played on the same court with Mo, Kia, Stewie and Tuck. CD is playing on a team with some real problems and no go to scorers.

The person who CD reminds me of most and by far the more interesting and logical comparison is KML. That is if you really want an objective discussion of skill sets.

Throw in Gabby and Collier, the only one not still in the league is Tuck becsuse of injuries.

 

[Waquoit]

That is a big hill to climb...if she can do it, she deserves to be considered one of the top players to play for UCONN WBB...I hope to see it!! I am really enjoying watching what Caroline has done...but it's been only a small fraction of a very unusual season. We should give her some more time before we put her in that top group.

She is playing at that high level already. Her game is more than numbers. But those are coming.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Caroline is very talented and what sets her apart pretty consistently is how decisively and efficiently she makes her moves. I don't feel the need to compare her to All Americans of the past.

 

[TeamFirst!]

We have a large enough sample size now to see that Caroline is more than just a good shooter. She is about as good a defender in my opinion as she is a scorer. At least 4-5 times a game she puts such good defense on that she makes it extremely hard for the other team to score, even when she doesn't steal the ball or block the shot. She gets stops. That's what all great teams need. Players who can score and players who can get stops. She does both.

The increased intensity of recent games only enhances her game. She can run as well. She can get out on the break and get the same easy baskets CW gets when she is in that mode. We have yet to see the best that Caroline can be. She's in great condition with a solid motor. She can rebound. She doesn't make a lot of mistakes. She moves without the ball better than anyone else we have. She's even quick with the ball for good ball movement. She can shoot. She can defend. She's getting consideration for the All Freshman team and maybe more. We struck lightning again.