Concerned About KK | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Concerned About KK

I know that KK's overall 3pt % from 3 last year was twenty something percent. But to me, it seemed like that went up quite a bit in the last third of the year. She seemed to be hitting them more regularly and more confidently (not Azzi or Ashlyn %). Again this year, I believe she looks confident shooting from 3. I think she will be in the low to mid 30s. Good enough to keep the defenses honest. KK is the starting guard because Geno trusts her, the team trusts her, and the offense and defense run better with her on the court. Geno won't be changing that any time soon.
 
I just think KK is making the adjustment as to being the floor general now that Paige is gone and knowing she needs to stay on the floor. I think it has fallen onto Heckle to come in and be the defensive disruptor and help change the pace. KK's form has looked a bit improved from outside with the little Danny Ainge drift shot. I think she understands that she can't help the team from the bench and has to on the floor more. She is a defensive nightmare for most guards, but also has a rep for getting fouls in clusters including some boneheaded fouls that came from just going for it all the time and not thinking enough.
 
1974yankees said:
Defense wins championships. KK might be the best defender on the team. She is definitely the fastest.

Her offense will come.
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I don’t know about that. Heckel may be the fastest. Remember Moriah was fast, but Saniya Chong was faster.
 
TheGOAT23 said:
I don’t know about that. Heckel may be the fastest. Remember Moriah was fast, but Saniya Chong was faster.
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Chong was faster than Moriah? That's news to me.

I don't think Heckel is faster than KK. Of course I am not there at practice either...

But I will bet Svetlana was faster than all of them.

Ketia Swanier was probably faster than anyone too.

Swanier was the only Freshman in Uconn history to open the season as the starting point guard.

KK also started 33 of 39 games as a freshman. So she definitely knows the system.
 
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oldhusky said:
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.
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Allie needs to start hitting her shots more consistently. Which she is not doing right now.
 
Centerstream said:
What about Ashlynn? As a starter this season, she has not been a consistent scorer but her other attributes have kept her in a starting role. I will concede that Ashlynn's starting role may be in jeopardy due to how Blanca progresses. But I also believe that Geno would rather start these two "veteran" players over the two newcomers...just because.
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With 8.7 seconds to go, and UConn up by 3, Michigan (without a TO) inbounded under UConn's basket. Immediately, UConn stole the inbounds pass, and Azzi passed it to a wide-open Ash in the back court. By this time, there were about 5 seconds to go. She could have just held the ball and waited to get fouled. Instead, she immediately tried to pass it off, and it was stolen, leading to a 3-point attempt at the buzzer from the head of the key. That's the bad news.

The good news is -- the Michigan shooter of the buzzer-beater had her shot stripped away . . . by Ash.

Ash may have erred in the heat of the moment, but she quickly recovered. I'm still comfortable with her in the game at that crucial moment.
 
OldSchooler said:
With 8.7 seconds to go, and UConn up by 3, Michigan (without a TO) inbounded under UConn's basket. Immediately, UConn stole the inbounds pass, and Azzi passed it to a wide-open Ash in the back court. By this time, there were about 5 seconds to go. She could have just held the ball and waited to get fouled. Instead, she immediately tried to pass it off, and it was stolen, leading to a 3-point attempt at the buzzer from the head of the key. That's the bad news.

The good news is -- the Michigan shooter of the buzzer-beater had her shot stripped away . . . by Ash.

Ash may have erred in the heat of the moment, but she quickly recovered. I'm still comfortable with her in the game at that crucial moment.
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As you stated, there was absolutely no need for Ashlynn to get rid of the ball. She just needed to bear hug it and make sure Michigan didn't steal it. Many feel that the shooter that was attempting the final shot may have been fouled. (I don't.)
 
Two type players UConn has been very poor at developing over the seasons: effective down low posts( only Tina), and players taking it to the rim. Oh, there have been occasional attackers( Renee, Tiff), but in general not what the offense has ever emphasized. Back at it this year with rather disappointing play from the big guys, and very little attacking the basket. KK can attack, and should, but she's really just focused on being a facilitator at the point. Too bad. The only other player who often looks to get to the basket is Caroline. Oops, yeah Strong actually likes to do that now and then. Oh, and if she can stay on the court long enough, Blanca will certainly put her head down. It's a good thing( in my opinion) that she isn't so focused on getting the ball to Azzi or Sarah. I think she figures she's as good as they are. heh, heh.Maybe there is hope for the attacking.
 
BBallF said:
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.
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Noone got knocked to the floor more than Tiffany Hayes did and still does in the WNBA.
 
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HuskyNan said:
Tamika Williams
Stefanie Dolson
Kiah Stokes
Olivia Nelson Ododa

Would be surprised to hear that
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Geno would also be surprised to hear concern about KK.
There is not a player on the roster that can replicate what she brings to the team. She is the team’s best perimeter defender, & it’s not close. The team can kiss goodbye the shots she creates for others in transition along with good decision making at that speed. Every player at all times is either bringing positive energy to the team or sucking it away. If KK is not #1 in this category you can count the ones ahead of her on one hand and have several fingers left. Maybe question her teammates & coaches about what she means to this group’s success and you would find she is a solution not some phantom problem. JMO
 
HuskyNan said:
Tamika Williams
Stefanie Dolson
Kiah Stokes
Olivia Nelson Ododa

Would be surprised to hear that
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Stefanie was not predominantly down low, Kia never an offensive threat, Olivia really has developed in the WNBA, Tameka 6'2" more a power forward.
 
Twolf said:
Geno would also be surprised to hear concern about KK.
There is not a player on the roster that can replicate what she brings to the team. She is the team’s best perimeter defender, & it’s not close. The team can kiss goodbye the shots she creates for others in transition along with good decision making at that speed. Every player at all times is either bringing positive energy to the team or sucking it away. If KK is not #1 in this category you can count the ones ahead of her on one hand and have several fingers left. Maybe question her teammates & coaches about what she means to this group’s success and you would find she is a solution not some phantom problem. JMO
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Perhaps the best word to describe KK is "irreplaceable." A minor concern with UConn this year has been the number of 3 pointers that the opposition has been able to make with Michigan the best example. When KK is guarding a shooter, they are lucky to get the ball past half court, much less set up for a shot. Her offense this year is also greatly improved. While Azzi is special, when KK graduates, I will have the same concerns about replacing her skills as I do with Fudd.
 
HopJim said:
Perhaps the best word to describe KK is "irreplaceable." A minor concern with UConn this year has been the number of 3 pointers that the opposition has been able to make with Michigan the best example. When KK is guarding a shooter, they are lucky to get the ball past half court, much less set up for a shot. Her offense this year is also greatly improved. While Azzi is special, when KK graduates, I will have the same concerns about replacing her skills as I do with Fudd.
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In total agreement, anyone who thinks that there are concerns regarding KK or that she shouldn't be starting or will be replaced by somebody else at the point is being nonsensical. There's a reason why in a tight game like Michigan she plays 37 minutes and why when she was out in the 2nd quarter of the Utah game our offense went in the tank and we were almost outscored. She is the engine that fuels the entire team on both offense and defense and is the team's emotional floor leader. I believe that Geno and the whole team know how valuable and talented she is and that a PG on this team doesn't need to score a lot of points to be highly effective with 2 other prolific AA scorers and other very capable offensive players. She often makes the pass that leads to the pass that gets the assist or defensively causes the disruption or makes the play that leads to the steal or the turnover for someone else. The last few games she's made a lot of perfect passes that just weren't converted so she didn't get the assist, but the point is that her decision making, ball handing and passing have been spot on all year and she has been more under control then anyone on the team and her defense is unparallelled. She is also a very good rebounder for a guard and totally unselfish. On almost any other team in the country she'd be one the focal points of the offense and probably average close to 20 points and 8-10 assists. Kayleigh Heckel is a fine player and will hopefully continue to improve and learn the Husky system and be a boon to the team but anyone who is claiming that she is more talented or a better defender or faster than KK or should be starting instead of her is just ridiculous. If she hadn't been in crowded talented backcourts with Paige and Nika and Ash 2 years ago and Paige Azzi Kaitlyn and Ash last year she'd be capable of putting up stats where she'd be considered an AA candidate. There's a reason why she was unanimously chosen as Top Dawg at Kelsey Plum's select camp of the top college guards training for the WNBA, she is an elite talent and we are lucky to have her for 2 more years.
 
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