We’ve had a number of discussions about who’s starting, dividing up 200 minutes, what the rotation will likely be, and so on. There has also been some discussion on these threads of the fact that for the first time in several years the team will have enough big players and perhaps some context is warranted.
In thinking that UConn has not won a national title since 2016, the situation is that the team has not enjoyed very effective post play. Moreover, the Huskies have had effective center play in 10 of its 11 championships. To review, Kara Wolters and Rebecca Lobo 1995, Kelly Schumacher 2000, Jessica Moore 2003-04, Tina Charles, 2009-10, Stephanie Dolson 2013-14, and Breanna Stewart 2015-16. I know that some may write that Stewart was not really a center and that may be true, but she is 6.4 with long arms and was extremely effective in the paint. The sole exception is 2002 when the front court featured three exceptional 6.2 forwards; Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, and Tamika Williams. Whether or not this fact represents an element of real causation or is simply an interesting statistic, I invite you to determine.
Not all seasons, it must be added, in which the team failed the grab the gold ring was due to the lack of solid inside play. A combination of disabling injuries, bad luck, and lack of depth were strong factors in most of these seasons. Two examples. The 1996 team had Kara Wolters and Jen Rizzotti, but a rotation of only six and the Huskies lost to Tennessee in overtime in the national semis after Wolters fouled out. In 2001, when Schumacher was a senior, All-Americans Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph suffered season ending injuries.
Whatever other reasons existed, and there were some, for the past five seasons the Huskies have lacked strong inside play. One can hope that with the addition of Dorka Juhasz, a more experienced Aaliyah Edwards, and with exceptional shooters Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme that this season will be the charm. South Carolina and Stanford with good bigs represent the chief obstacles in UConn’s path and a good test should come as early as the finals of Battle 4 Atlantis.
In thinking that UConn has not won a national title since 2016, the situation is that the team has not enjoyed very effective post play. Moreover, the Huskies have had effective center play in 10 of its 11 championships. To review, Kara Wolters and Rebecca Lobo 1995, Kelly Schumacher 2000, Jessica Moore 2003-04, Tina Charles, 2009-10, Stephanie Dolson 2013-14, and Breanna Stewart 2015-16. I know that some may write that Stewart was not really a center and that may be true, but she is 6.4 with long arms and was extremely effective in the paint. The sole exception is 2002 when the front court featured three exceptional 6.2 forwards; Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, and Tamika Williams. Whether or not this fact represents an element of real causation or is simply an interesting statistic, I invite you to determine.
Not all seasons, it must be added, in which the team failed the grab the gold ring was due to the lack of solid inside play. A combination of disabling injuries, bad luck, and lack of depth were strong factors in most of these seasons. Two examples. The 1996 team had Kara Wolters and Jen Rizzotti, but a rotation of only six and the Huskies lost to Tennessee in overtime in the national semis after Wolters fouled out. In 2001, when Schumacher was a senior, All-Americans Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph suffered season ending injuries.
Whatever other reasons existed, and there were some, for the past five seasons the Huskies have lacked strong inside play. One can hope that with the addition of Dorka Juhasz, a more experienced Aaliyah Edwards, and with exceptional shooters Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme that this season will be the charm. South Carolina and Stanford with good bigs represent the chief obstacles in UConn’s path and a good test should come as early as the finals of Battle 4 Atlantis.
