Concerned About KK

[ctarnolds]

KK started off the first game of the year being very aggressive and making a couple of three-pointers and going to the hoop. Since then, all that seems to have disappeared. She is settling for occasional drivers to the hoop. I do think she is a top defender, but teams are going to back off her because she does score. Her jump shot is average at best and needs improvement. When/if teams start zoning up to play Uconn she will become more of a non-factor. Even if she shoots and misses that may help create space for others. If she starts making shots especially jump shots, then that will really present problems for the defense. Still haven't seen enough of Kayleigh but I would venture her shot is better than KK.

Food for thought.

 

[Cornell Lt]

KK will always be a factor on the court. She will facilitate on offense and provide in your face defense. She is not relied upon to be an offensive option, although she can be if the opponent ignores her.

 

[Gilford Dog]

I feel like this kind of concern is going out of the way to look for something to nitpick. What’s the point? So far there hasn’t been major reason or need for her to hoist up shots. There are so many other shot makers and options, why wouldn’t she make the extra pass or drive. UConn has so many counters to any defense, this doesn’t concern me in the least.

 

[HuskylnSC]

KK is fine. You are seeing a change in the entire offense. With less of a focus on the PG because so much of the offense runs through Sarah. We have changed by reducing the focus from the guards to the bigs. Sarah, Serah, and Blanca did much damage in the paint. This is fine with me. the offense is clicking, and KK will have more energy to be the defensive pest in which I delight

 

[HuskyNan]

Take out the initials “KK” and substitute “Nika” and it’s deja vu all over again

 

[visitingcock]

KK is fine. You are seeing a change in the entire offense. With less of a focus on the PG because so much of the offense runs through Sarah. We have changed by reducing the focus from the guards to the bigs. Sarah, Serah, and Blanca did much damage in the paint. This is fine with me. the offense is clicking, and KK will have more energy to be the defensive pest in which I delight

I agree. Based on her 28 minutes yesterday, I would say that Geno is happy with the role KK is playing in leading HIS offense focusing on the bigs

 

[BBallF]

KK is fine. You are seeing a change in the entire offense. With less of a focus on the PG because so much of the offense runs through Sarah. We have changed by reducing the focus from the guards to the bigs. Sarah, Serah, and Blanca did much damage in the paint. This is fine with me. the offense is clicking, and KK will have more energy to be the defensive pest in which I delight

Solid analysis. Shutting down the point is often more valuable than scoring. If KK has to shoot and she won't, Kayleigh will come in.

K9's offensive game is better and she is not afraid to shoot a 3, pull up, or drive. You do not lose much on defense either and she is a true point. Beautiful dish underneath to Jana yesterday.

My only fear about Kayleigh is that she is fearless and gets knocked to the floor at least once and usually twice a game.

 

[victor64]

KK has 3 turnovers in 110 minutes of play. She is doing everything Geno wants her to do on both ends except miss more layups than she should. I think her game, overall, has made a significant upturn from last year. She will be on the floor at the end of the game because she will make the foul shots.

 

[BBallF]

KK started off the first game of the year being very aggressive and making a couple of three-pointers and going to the hoop. Since then, all that seems to have disappeared. She is settling for occasional drivers to the hoop. I do think she is a top defender, but teams are going to back off her because she does score. Her jump shot is average at best and needs improvement. When/if teams start zoning up to play Uconn she will become more of a non-factor. Even if she shoots and misses that may help create space for others. If she starts making shots especially jump shots, then that will really present problems for the defense. Still haven't seen enough of Kayleigh but I would venture her shot is better than KK.

Food for thought.

Kayleigh is a much better all around offensive player but KK is the better driver. On two occasions yesterday with lay ups she was blocked although the announcer said "rare miss". She just needs to adjust that shot by moving it to the right with her body so it is protected ala Sarah. Shutting down Cambridge was more important than scoring yesterday especially with Sarah, Azzi and Blanca.

The luxury of having K9 as a back up is great. I watched her over the summer in the U19 championship and she ran the offense like a senior. She was not developing at USC and she knew it. By the end of this year you will be seeing a future WNBA player.

 

[BBallF]

KK has 3 turnovers in 110 minutes of play. She is doing everything Geno wants her to do on both ends except miss more layups than she should. I think her game, overall, has made a significant upturn from last year. She will be on the floor at the end of the game because she will make the foul shots.

That's a great stat. In a given game however it could be KK or K9 at the end or both. When the 2 of them are out there the ball handling is non pareil and the defense ain't exactly bad.

 

[CL82]

In the first game, KK showed what she can do when she is left wide open. What we saw in last night's game was that the opponents scout has adjusted to KK as a scoring threat and she in turn has adjusted to that by looking to distribute instead of looking to score. That's the mark of a mature player, particularly a mature player in the Connecticut system.

Look at the aggressive play by Heckel and Blanca. It's exciting, but frequently generates empty possessions when they are needlessly aggressive. KK has developed past that. (So will they by the way. They're both really, really good additions to the team. Better to have kids start out with an aggressive mindset than a passive one.)

 

[jabstep]

I have been traveling so I just got to watch the game this am We have so many options at the point in KK, K9, and Kellis, we will be fine. Sara is like a point forward and Geno can run the offense thru her. The small lineups and the Big lineup with Serah, Sara and Blanca are pretty scary. No worries yet looks like we will be the team to beat. We have good starters and good backups at all positions. Great coaching what more do we want. I know we want Azzi to start off quickly or something else. We on the boneyard seek perfection. It is what makes us the boneyard!!!!

 

[Basingstoke]

Kayleigh is a much better all around offensive player but KK is the better driver. On two occasions yesterday with lay ups she was blocked although the announcer said "rare miss". She just needs to adjust that shot by moving it to the right with her body so it is protected ala Sarah. Shutting down Cambridge was more important than scoring yesterday especially with Sarah, Azzi and Blanca.

The luxury of having K9 as a back up is great. I watched her over the summer in the U19 championship and she ran the offense like a senior. She was not developing at USC and she knew it. By the end of this year you will be seeing a future WNBA player.

And in time we'll see Kelis is the best driver/finisher of the bunch.

 

[Bone Dog]

KK is awesome. I have zero concerns about her, or Kayleigh, or Ash. The precise shape of their roles and how they’ll best contribute is still evolving as Blanca gradually comes online. I’ll wager dollars to donuts that this is the primary thing on KK’s mind: how to help Blanca find her best fit. Everyone (except Sarah and Azzi) have to make room for her. And the best part is that these girls are team players and gamers. We all know this about KK and Ash, and we have lots of reasons to suspect it about Kayleigh: they will do whatever it takes to get this team to an NC. They don’t have to score much every game because every opponent knows they can burn any team who ignores them.

I think these three represent the ultimate guard corps just as they are. And I have high hopes Kelis will learn to be just like them in the course of this season.

 

[Jim]

In the Ohio State game, KK had a +/- of +28 without scoring a point. She helps the team in other ways even when not scoring.

 

[FanSince17]

KK is fine. You are seeing a change in the entire offense. With less of a focus on the PG because so much of the offense runs through Sarah. We have changed by reducing the focus from the guards to the bigs. Sarah, Serah, and Blanca did much damage in the paint. This is fine with me. the offense is clicking, and KK will have more energy to be the defensive pest in which I delight

I think we all expected the team to be "scrambling" in its effort to replace Paige. If you think about it, has Sarah kind of done that singlehandedly. I feel, now, players are in the process of getting used to Sarah's ascendance. Games prior to yesterday, players being surprised by some of Sarah's passes, especially Serah. So, IMO KK and Ash in particular are again assimilating to new roles. Those two, a lot has been asked, and they are always there. (I still say 2024 was an incredible season! ) I had it in my head, that this year KK would now be the floor general. UConn has a "point-forward", a la Larry Bird, LeBron James. Tough role for KK, all three years maybe, knowing when to shoot and/or drive. We may not see all of KK until she gets to the W and nobody in the league can stay in front of her. (Tiny Archibald- one of my favs)

 

[Stagnant]

I don’t have concerns about KK. I just think there is a path for Heckel to become the starter. I also think there is a path for Blanca to become a starter.

 

[FanSince17]

I don’t have concerns about KK. I just think there is a path for Heckel to become the starter. I also think there is a path for Blanca to become a starter.

IMO Geno has already established Heckel's role and it has gone famously. Often on the floor with KK, which is great. IMO starter is not part of it. KK has gears nobody has seen yet. Nobody can stop her from getting to the rim. She's just still figuring out when she has the green light.

 

[oldhusky]

We probably have three perimeter players that the opposition does not worry that much about beyond the three point line, namely KK, Kayleigh and Blanca. When they get open looks they should take them, but it is not something that we are looking to increase, and relatively speaking it is not something our opponents worry much about giving up. All three of those players are dangerous in the open floor and driving to the hoop, but the 3pt shot is probably not a strength.

On the other hand we have another three guards and one big that opponents cannot afford to leave open in Azzi, Ash, and Allie. There will be times when we have one or two players on the perimeter that are not dangerous from the three. is that ideal? No, but it is largely offset by what those players can do, and the fact that we usually have a big on the floor that is very good from there in Sarah.

If it becomes a problem against some teams, we probably have to have either KK or Kayleigh at the point, but they could team with Azzi and another shooter Ash or Allie at the 3, and a third perimeter threat with Sarah. Like Paige, Sarah's versatility helps solve a number of potential combo problems, but it is true we may field some units that are not great at the 3, but they generally will be very good at other things and overall.

 

[BBallF]

And in time we'll see Kelis is the best driver/finisher of the bunch.

She is very strong, a bullet, and not afraid at all. An athletic player with length I was not expecting.

 

[BBallF]

IMO Geno has already established Heckel's role and it has gone famously. Often on the floor with KK, which is great. IMO starter is not part of it. KK has gears nobody has seen yet. Nobody can stop her from getting to the rim. She's just still figuring out when she has the green light.

It doesn't matter who starts, because K9 can come in, is a different kind of a player to have to defend, and is always out in front, and is a great defender. As you say, it is working seamlessly. KK has the experience of starting as a freshman, is much matured, knows her role, and just wants to win. She should start but when you see them both out there working so well together you can't help but smile.

 

[Bills Fan]

I feel like this kind of concern is going out of the way to look for something to nitpick. What’s the point? So far there hasn’t been major reason or need for her to hoist up shots. There are so many other shot makers and options, why wouldn’t she make the extra pass or drive. UConn has so many counters to any defense, this doesn’t concern me in the least.

I thought we no longer were talking about Nika.

 

[ERWUC65]

In the new offense, revolving around Sarah, PG by committee is just fine and KK, Kaleigh and Kelis serve that purpose effectively.

 

[PvP]

And in time we'll see Kelis is the best driver/finisher of the bunch.

I have been traveling so I just got to watch the game this am We have so many options at the point in KK, K9, and Kellis, we will be fine. Sara is like a point forward and Geno can run the offense thru her. The small lineups and the Big lineup with Serah, Sara and Blanca are pretty scary. No worries yet looks like we will be the team to beat. We have good starters and good backups at all positions. Great coaching what more do we want. I know we want Azzi to start off quickly or something else. We on the boneyard seek perfection. It is what makes us the boneyard!!!!

I was also not able to see the game today. Can I ask where you were able to see a replay as I would very much like to watch it if possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[bayern7]

I’m a bit bias because KK is not of my fave all time UConn players purely due to her personality and spirit. So I agree with the other posters that this seems a bit nit picky and premature given that we’re only a few games in to the season.

Also agree that she’s not doing those things as much because there are several players ahead of her on the “bucket getting” list. That said I think I can appreciate what you’re saying through the lens of her development and prospects at the next level.

think KK has a pretty high ceiling as an athlete, but in order for her to play in the league at her position, she would need to at least show she’s a reliable shooter and maybe add a floater or some other type of shot creation besides just driving to the bucket.

That said I have faith that if she wants to develop she will. Look at a player like Napheesa, she was not known as a shooter during her time at UConn (because she was not required to do so and probably hadn’t developed that side of her game) and look at how she’s grown since joining the league.

She’s now a reliable threat from deep. So all that’s to say, KK can still develop, she can still add facets to her game. Right now I think KK is most concerned with winning, with doing what the team needs, what the coaches ask of her. And as a huge fan of both UConn and KK, that’s plenty of contribution for me.