Christyn

[Littlemin]

Getting away from the Big Three narrative and including more teammates in the offense has, IMO, improved the team a significant amount. On defense too!

Really? What improvement is that? Not knocking them, a good team, no question, but not significantly improved over the course of the season. A tease here and there or an outlier game like Memphis but they are what they are. Tonight showed it again; it is tough when your best players not only don’t impact a big game but actually play poorly. Now, again, certainly a good team and that is nothing to be ashamed of in the least.

 

[ABCDFE]

Really? What improvement is that? Not knocking them, a good team, no question, but not significantly improved over the course of the season. A tease here and there or an outlier game like Memphis but they are what they are. Tonight showed it again; it is tough when your best players not only don’t impact a big game but actually play poorly. Now, again, certainly a good team and that is nothing to be ashamed of in the least.

Sometimes highly recruited talent does pan out to be elite. Ann strotjer reminds me of that. Perhaps that’s what CW will turn out to be. I just hope she finds her game. It’s ok extremely rare to see a miner one recruit know for her scoring and shooting in high school have so many air balls. Maybe this is the case Of major league the movie and CW needs to get her eyes checked or something is off.

 

[Twolf]

Really? What improvement is that? Not knocking them, a good team, no question, but not significantly improved over the course of the season. A tease here and there or an outlier game like Memphis but they are what they are. Tonight showed it again; it is tough when your best players not only don’t impact a big game but actually play poorly. Now, again, certainly a good team and that is nothing to be ashamed of in the least.

Agreed, and an old adage in basketball was on display again in tonight’s game. To win big games your best players have to look like your best players. In addition, I’m still concerned that the only player on the team that plays with a free mind in big games is CD. This team has a small margin for error against elite teams, is short on players who can create their own shot, and struggles versus size. Doesn’t mean they aren’t a top ten team, but just guessing Geno feels like the little Dutch boy at the dike who plugs one hole and several others break out. Versus the top teams, at the present time, UConn has more questions than answers. JMO

 

[WLT1717]

Good points. A few thoughts...

Geno will have lots of options to mix and match. I don't believe Gabriel will be able to give us anything next year (too raw and needs too much work), so like you, I'm not counting on her.

IF he starts Westbrook, Williams, Makurat, Walker and ONO, which is what I believe the starting lineup will be (assuming everyone healthy), he gets a few things we don't have this year:

• An alpha - Evina as the PG. I LOVE Danger, but much has been made this year of lack of leadership and an alpha on the team. I believe Evina could fill that role.
• More size - Danger is 5'5" or so. Evina is 7" taller.
• More scoring options - 5 legit players who can score double digits in any given game on any given night. PLUS some great scoring off the bench. Not relying so much on just a few players, or needing everyone to have a great night in order to win big games.
• Against 99% of the teams out there, Megan is big enough to guard a taller forward.
• Off the bench we will have 6'3" Edwards, and uber-athletes McLean and Griffin - much better than Griffin, Irwin, Adebayo and now Camara, which is what we have this year.
  • When Aubrey guards taller post players, she's SO athletic that it's very hard to drop a pass over her head to an opposing post player from their guards on the perimeter.
• Also off the bench (guards) will be Muhl and Bueckers - much better than Bent which is what we have this year.

Good point on ONO - I think she needs to develop a hook shot. She will never be strong enough to consistently bang with a player like Boston, but adding a hook to her fade away would be awesome.

Very interesting. Though anyone who doesn’t think Paige won’t be in the starting lineup hasn’t seen her play. She’s a better guard now than any guard in a UCONN uniform, including CD.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Very interesting. Though anyone who doesn’t think Paige won’t be in the starting lineup hasn’t seen her play. She’s a better guard now than any guard in a UCONN uniform, including CD.

No. There's a world of difference between playing point guard in high school and against collegiate competition. This is the same BS that people throw out about "a good high school team could beat this college team."

 

[willtalk]

I think the key in evaluating a player is not how many points they got in any given game, but how they got those points. As I stated about CW from the beginning- She is an opportunist and gets her points by taking advantage of the defense's mistakes. She will occasionally have some high scoring games under the right circumstances, but she is not the type of player who can manufacture points at will when needed. She is not quick or athletic enough. Besides that, she is a streak shooter who runs hot and cold which makes her seem like an AA sometimes and hopeless in other games. Her McDonalds and ND games were a combination of lack of defense and one of her hot streaks.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Very interesting. Though anyone who doesn’t think Paige won’t be in the starting lineup hasn’t seen her play. She’s a better guard now than any guard in a UCONN uniform, including CD.

Crystal is one of the best players in the country. Paige isn’t better than her. Yet.

 

[willtalk]

In defense of CW. No player is ever as good as their best game or really as bad as their worst. Players will play on both ends of the good/bad spectrum during their careers.

 

[temery]

Please type actual names in the subject line, not initials.

 

[WLT1717]

No. There's a world of difference between playing point guard in high school and against collegiate competition. This is the same BS that people throw out about "a good high school team could beat this college team."

Check back with me next season.

 

[tower1]

Crystal is one of the best players in the country. Paige isn’t better than her. Yet.

How do you know ???? She seems tougher now from what i have seen, she shows a little attitude.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Check back with me next season.

We don't have to. Your claim was that Bueckers is better than anyone currently in a UCONN uniform. Your words, not mine. You are simply wrong with no way to back up your assertion.

 

[Papa33]

Now, about the pull-up jumper and teardrop floater . . . .

Crystal shoots somewhere at or above 50% of those, 15' and closer. That's that soft area around the foul line, and in and beside the lane.
SoCarolina scored well on pull-ups against us in that area
Who besides Crystal shoots those for us? Christyn has, on occasion, been effective there, but she's been spotty there this season.
Does Megan have a genuine pull-up with some lift off the floor? Or is it, like her 3-pointer, more like a set shot?
Are we missing an offensive weapon in that area?

 

[WestCoast]

Predicting next years starting line up is like predicting next years stock market..fools errand...will MW b back? Does she go pro? Does Anna come back or go pro? Does EW go pro? Too many variables....

Walker and Westbrook will be back. Walker has much to work on to improve her ability to compete successfully in the WNBA. As does Westbrook. Both Walker and Westbrook can use next season to show WNBA coaches and advisors that they are proficient at shooting off the dribble and creating their own shots against quality defenders.

 

[uconnfan68]

Walker and Westbrook will be back. Walker has much to work on to improve her ability to compete successfully in the WNBA. As does Westbrook. Both Walker and Westbrook can use next season to show WNBA coaches and advisors that they are proficient at shooting off the dribble and creating their own shots against quality defenders.

If we’re really lucky...

 

[Jingo]

I mostly agree with your points on Williams. Two things I would add are about your 2020 lineup and ONO. On that lineup, it might be OK for offense but that team will be very much like this year's on D. Zero interior defense other than ONO. Edwards at some point may help some but asking ONO to handle two posts against good teams is too much. And I doubt Gabriel will be any factor at all. On ONO, I've supported and really like this kid. But I have no idea how she could be around BB year round and still hasn't learned how to turn both ways and go up and extend for shots at 6-5. For a kid as athletic as she is, it's not that hard but she needs someone who's played at a high level like Lobo or Stewart or a good skills coach to work with her as soon as possible.

What about our elite coaching staff?

 

[Jingo]

Yes she is a lock to start lol just because she’s having a not so great year doesn’t mean Geno lost confidence in her. Maybe playing and traveling all summer is effecting her play. My biggest thing is with CW is her defense and lack of playing hard.

I don't think CW is a lock to start...

 

[Jingo]

Really? What improvement is that? Not knocking them, a good team, no question, but not significantly improved over the course of the season. A tease here and there or an outlier game like Memphis but they are what they are. Tonight showed it again; it is tough when your best players not only don’t impact a big game but actually play poorly. Now, again, certainly a good team and that is nothing to be ashamed of in the least.

For one, Makurat can make an entry pass resulting in team improvement from both Ania & Liv...

 

[WestCoast]

I don't think CW is a lock to start...

I do. Williams takes a lot of criticism on this Board. However, her skill set is among the best in the country for all players under 6'0". UConn won't have three guards better than her next season. Williams gives UConn a chance to reach the Final Four this season if she can raise her game anywhete near her potential. Don't give up on her just yet...

 

[Boreifs]

I do. Williams takes a lot of criticism on this Board. However, her skill set is among the best in the country for all players under 6'0". UConn won't have three guards better than her next season. Williams gives UConn a chance to reach the Final Four this season if she can raise her game anywhete near her potential. Don't give up on her just yet...

I see very little evidence of her skill set, other than superior rebounding for her height and above average speed. Scoring two points in the biggest game of the year (1-12) doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in her further development. I would not be at all surprised if the eventual starting guards next season are Bueckers and Westbrook.

 

[hussybulldog]

It takes two some times. When we look at Charde Houston, or Williams here this season, can we also say that coach(es) failed to get them improved? #1 coming out of school can’t be talentless. Sometimes lack of progress in a student could also be the fault of the teacher(s). Maybe the teaching method does not fit the student?

 

[BobbyJ]

Now, about the pull-up jumper and teardrop floater . . . .

Crystal shoots somewhere at or above 50% of those, 15' and closer. That's that soft area around the foul line, and in and beside the lane.
SoCarolina scored well on pull-ups against us in that area
Who besides Crystal shoots those for us? Christyn has, on occasion, been effective there, but she's been spotty there this season.
Does Megan have a genuine pull-up with some lift off the floor? Or is it, like her 3-pointer, more like a set shot?
Are we missing an offensive weapon in that area?

Nobody really. They can't get separation and when they do they're afraid to shoot it and pass it backwards or to the wing.
No she doesn't because she has little vertical lift with the ball in her hands. Right now she's a spot up shooter.
And yes, that's the sweet spot for shots and nobody but CD hunts them.

 

[WestCoast]

I see very little evidence of her skill set, other than superior rebounding for her height and above average speed. Scoring two points in the biggest game of the year (1-12) doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in her further development. I would not be at all surprised if the eventual starting guards next season are Bueckers and Westbrook.

Williams is averaging 14.9 points and 5 boards per game. She is shooting 46% from field. All solid numbers. UConn fans point to her subpar performances in the team's bigger games. She is better than a lot of people on this board give her credit for. If she delivers as hoped in the NCAA tourney, a lot of people on this board will owe her an apology for having given up on her as a sophomore.

 

[Boreifs]

Williams is averaging 14.9 points and 5 boards per game. She is shooting 46% from field. All solid numbers. UConn fans point to her subpar performances in the team's bigger games. She is better than a lot of people on this board give her credit for. If she delivers as hoped in the NCAA tourney, a lot of people on this board will owe her an apology for having given up on her as a sophomore.

Among the four guards/wings (Walker, Dangerfield, Makurat), she has the worst 3/point and free throw percentages. Ideally, the “shooting” guard should have the best. Normally, players don’t suddenly become much better once the playoffs start. I hope she is much better next year, but thinking she will magically become a different player in March is a very remote possibility.

 

[Boreifs]

Williams is averaging 14.9 points and 5 boards per game. She is shooting 46% from field. All solid numbers. UConn fans point to her subpar performances in the team's bigger games. She is better than a lot of people on this board give her credit for. If she delivers as hoped in the NCAA tourney, a lot of people on this board will owe her an apology for having given up on her as a sophomore.

Also, I would like to know what the scoring average of the person she principally guards is. I would speculate it is more than 14.9.