Confirmed UConn pursuit of Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams

[HuskyNan]

Only if they are justified.

We will not speculate, folks

not addressed to you @Crossover , just tagging the thread

 

[oldude]

Would that make sense considering the optics of what has been alleged? It makes sense from a UConn connection perspective, but curious as to whether the claims of her former players impacts that idea.

In addition, a current UConn coach would have to leave for an assistant coaching job to open up. I don’t think anyone on Geno’s staff is going anywhere.

 

[Hist-teacher]

As I recall, the interest in Weimer on the BY was rather mixed. Williams looks like a clear asset to any team, but may fit UConn better than any portal prospect. That said, I don’t think Geno actually needs her. But she would be a good addition.

I’d compare the situation to UNC where Coach Banghart has two quality first year posts in Thomas and Toomey who have benefited from playing in the shadow of Gakdeng. Injury made this necessary last year and it’s worked out well.

The only caveat about getting Williams, and it may not matter much in the larger scheme, is that the post position may feel a bit crowded. Sarah, Jana, Ice, Ayanna, Gandy and Serah. And if Geno gets his way, Serah will be replaced by Olivia Vukosa the following year. I can’t remember a time when the post slot was so crowded. And it will feel even more crowded if Geno continues to use the small lineup style he’s favored the last two seasons and that Sarah really thrives in.

Sarah and Ayanna aren't really post players per se. More like #4 (power forwards) and SS may play more the 3 next year (depending on Azzi's decision.

 

[Dogstar]

I'm sortve on this wavelength as well. She seems like a really good player and I love the opportunity for players like her to try to compete at the highest level. But I do think it's a crowded front court with most of them lacking more in experience than anything. All of the bigs, yanna,ice, Jana, have red-shirted and spent considerable amount of time watching from the sidelines. I feel they all have talent but lack experience. So adding another post does crowd things.

I hear the comparison to adding Kaitlyn and Azzi returning this year, but there was no question KK and Ash were going to be pieces and part of the rotation. I thought maybe they wouldn't get the same amount of shots or minutes but they'd be given the chance to be difference makers.

Even when ice was injured, Jana didn't play over 20 minutes. And ice even when healthy doesn't play big minutes. And ice was a top 10 recruit, Ayana was as well. We also have Morgan who got minutes and is kinda like a 3/4. I guess Geno could play her at backup point next year. IDK, for me I'd prefer to give the players on the roster an increased role

We also have Morgan who got minutes and is kinda like a 3/4. I guess Geno could play her at backup point next year.

As a backup PG?

 

[Alydar]

Heather Buck graduated from UConn’s School of Nursing with a BSRN.

The requirements of the nursing program can hinder how many hours can be dedicated to basketball. I think that had a lot to do with Buck being an end-of-bencher despite having really good size/strength/speed.
I don't think Geno wants a part-time player from the portal.

 

[donalddoowop]

I'm all in for bringing experienced talent. Competing with her every day will only make Jana and Gandy better in the long run. They can still go small if it suits them and have Sarah play center for spurts and it lets Ice focus on being a backup 4, which I think she can handle.

Some Boneyarders did not want Geno to go after Cardoso when she was available because they said UConn already had enough post players. SC had a number of posts also but went after Cardoso any way. Getting Williams may spur Ice and Jana to work even harder over the Summer.

 

[Zarathustra]

Oh I know, but let's focus on bringing that "6 degrees of separation" in a little closer.

It's hard for me.... just ask my wife!... but I'll try!! Thanks for the feedback. Z

 

[Alydar]

In addition, a current UConn coach would have to leave for an assistant coaching job to open up. I don’t think anyone on Geno’s staff is going anywhere.

Right now. If Berube and/or Ralph win a couple of games AD's will look at who else is available. After a super bowl win the winning team's coaches get lots of offers. I think AD's would act just like NFL GM's.

 

[Zarathustra]

The requirements of the nursing program can hinder how many hours can be dedicated to basketball. I think that had a lot to do with Buck being an end-of-bencher despite having really good size/strength/speed.
I don't think Geno wants a part-time player from the portal.

Yes, but... Serah Williams played 30 out of 30 games at Wisconsin, for 32 minutes
a game with the (well known) stats of: FG % 49.3, 3-point % of 0. 83 % (she
doesn't take them), Free Throw 78 %, 19.2 ppg, 9.8 rebounds per game and 69
blocks. Maybe Serah decided her career interests are in a new (more "rounded"
arena?) or... she competed her clinical rotations and now has only "electives"
remaining for her degree? She can take any number of non-time conflicting
courses and complete her nursing requirements at her leisure!
BTY: Have you heard of Ilona Maher (pronounced "Mar")
with the USA 7X7 women's rugby team? She majored in Nursing at Quinnipiac
and now is with the Bristol Bears (15X15 women's rugby club in England). Nurse
Maher is playing to play for the USA in the upcoming 15X15 World Cup in
England this summer (2025). Check out her highlights on GOOGLE. She is a "petite" (I joke) 5 ' 11",195 pounds of muscle, very fast Bronze Medal Olympian (SUMMER, August 2024 in France).

 

[cancontent]

The requirements of the nursing program can hinder how many hours can be dedicated to basketball. I think that had a lot to do with Buck being an end-of-bencher despite having really good size/strength/speed.
I don't think Geno wants a part-time player from the portal.

If you view her stats and her playing history, she's far from being a part time player. Not to mention she also balanced USA basketball commitments to play with the U23 squad last summer.

A lot of these athletes make their schedules work to manage their commitments. How else do we see athletes graduating early or with multiple degrees in four years? This comes across very short sighted.

 

[cordarone]

Buck's course work was never mentioned as a cause of her lack of playing time when she was at UConn, as far as I can recall, either here on the yard or in anything the Horde wrote.

 

[packwrap]

Sarah and Ayanna aren't really post players per se. More like #4 (power forwards) and SS may play more the 3 next year (depending on Azzi's decision.

I realize that Sarah has skills to be a 3. I also realize this year she was even nominated for the national awards at 3.

Still I just can't envision her moving away from frontcourt next year, and possibly ever. We have loads of good guards, and not much frontcourt. If Sarah plays 3 with Jana and Ice(or newcomer) at 4 and 5, only 2 of our guards can play. Unless we really have great options at 4,5 that trade off won't actually help.

More importantly in the UConn system, what can Sarah achieve at 3 that she cannot achieve at 4,5? The system is so flexible that she can be everywhere on the floor in the frontcourt, usually with a mismatch. Really only on defense do we have more traditional forward and center roles.

I think we will see a lot of KK, Ash, Azzi/Caroline, Sarah and a platoon of players as the second frontcourt player. Naturally with bigger, healthier roster and freshmen there is plenty of depth behind this group too. Like this year with good health, there will again be 12-13 quality players.

 

[Alydar]

If you view her stats and her playing history, she's far from being a part time player. Not to mention she also balanced USA basketball commitments to play with the U23 squad last summer.

A lot of these athletes make their schedules work to manage their commitments. How else do we see athletes graduating early or with multiple degrees in four years? This comes across very short sighted.

I wasn't clear. Buck was on the bench for every game and as far as I know was at every practice. What she couldn't do was put in several hours every day working on her game outside of team activity. Playing for UConn probably takes as much time and hard work as pre-med. Maybe more. When I was at UConn a nursing degree was a 5 year program and very few easy credits. Buck made nursing her priority and as long as Geno was OK with it I was too.

 

[hookshot]

The requirements of the nursing program can hinder how many hours can be dedicated to basketball. I think that had a lot to do with Buck being an end-of-bencher despite having really good size/strength/speed.
I don't think Geno wants a part-time player from the portal.

Buck's end of the bench status was consistent with her on-court performance, where she appeared reluctant or hesitant to demonstrate offensive skills. I'm persuaded that she has made great use of her nursing skills

 

[huskyblooz]

I believe I saw Heather on the bench for the Conard girls, who finished in the top10 in the state.
Saw them 3x this year.

 

[Bone Dog]

Sarah and Ayanna aren't really post players per se. More like #4 (power forwards) and SS may play more the 3 next year (depending on Azzi's decision.

This is sort of true and sort of false. Sarah is a post player in much the same way Paige is a PG. She rebounds and blocks shots like a demon and is a brilliant scorer on the low post and is especially good at receiving passes into the post. But she doesn’t look like a post player because she’s not 6’5”. More importantly, she does so much else a post player doesn’t typically do.

As for Ayanna, she looks very much like a typical post player to me. She rebounds and defends well and knows how to muscle taller players off the block. She may not be the scoring talent Sarah is and doesn’t have a midrange or perimeter shot like Sarah. Also, she’s not 6’5”. But that’s not really necessary. She plays big. If we can get that Ayanna back, the one who is strong and quick in the low post, she’d be a real asset.

Consider our main rival, SC. They don’t start a post player larger than 6’3”. And yet no one thinks they don’t have a post presence.

 

[PJCLaw]

As I recall, the interest in Weimer on the BY was rather mixed. Williams looks like a clear asset to any team, but may fit UConn better than any portal prospect. That said, I don’t think Geno actually needs her. But she would be a good addition.

I’d compare the situation to UNC where Coach Banghart has two quality first year posts in Thomas and Toomey who have benefited from playing in the shadow of Gakdeng. Injury made this necessary last year and it’s worked out well.

The only caveat about getting Williams, and it may not matter much in the larger scheme, is that the post position may feel a bit crowded. Sarah, Jana, Ice, Ayanna, Gandy and Serah. And if Geno gets his way, Serah will be replaced by Olivia Vukosa the following year. I can’t remember a time when the post slot was so crowded. And it will feel even more crowded if Geno continues to use the small lineup style he’s favored the last two seasons and that Sarah really thrives in.

It may seem that way, but SS can play 3-5, so he can utilize an extra big lineup with Jana/Serah at the 5, Ice/Ayanna at the 4 and SS at the Wing/Small Forward. Gandy is a project and will most likely only see time in blowout BE games. It's a one-year rental, so I don't see it being too crowded. I can only imagine it will be an embarrassment of riches if we can have an overabundance of quality post players.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

The problem with too much depth is not that the right players won't get minutes. It's that you might create a morale problem if the bench is clogged with too many players not getting significant PT. Kids who came to Storrs out of high school being suddenly upstaged by a portal newcomer may feel disappointed by that.

Fortunately, the culture Geno has instilled on his team is that you earn minutes in practice. Caroline even mentioned this in an interview, that every player knows someone else could take their minutes away. I'm sure he'll make it clear in practice that Serah will earn minutes like the rest of them. None of them came to UConn to get an easy path. They came to compete. If Serah comes to Storrs, it means she's accepted this reality and thinks she can compete successfully in Geno's practices.

This year proves that Geno’s new large roster blueprint is viable and sustainable.

Geno was pursuing Lara Somfai this year and is pursuing Olivia Vukosa for 2026;

• so, I think, the coaching staff is well aware of the pros and cons of adding another big this year;
• imo, the calculus of a one-year post transfer harnesses more of the pros and less of the cons in the prior recruitment of Lara;
• having successfully navigated the delicate balancing act this year of adding another guard, in a near full roster, for 40-minute peak postseason barrage play, I have renewed faith that Geno and CD can replicate this year’s blueprint &0;
• And maybe, the team can fare better next year in the brutal early OOC schedule &1 so the Committee has less protocol-driven discretion not to seed UConn closer to its peak postseason form (i.e. without the anchor of lagging indicators in the form of early season losses). &2

As to your earlier point about Geno’s preference this year for small ball, it is more or less dictated by the guard-strength of this year’s roster.

• In future years, we might see a return to the Stewie years augmented by notably quick athletic players (KK, Kellis, Q, Blanca, Gandy and Jana).

&0 As others have alluded to, this year illustrates that Geno has arrived at an equilibrium solution to the super team quandary heralded by the paradigm shift of NIL and the portal and the understandable need to be inoculated from the (biblical) ravages of injuries and out-transfers;

• the overarching goals of the program (win conference regular season, win conference tourney, win national championship) remain the same;
• Geno and CD’s 40-year honed best-in-class training program that produces peak postseason “basketball players” collectively intuitively making basketball plays to optimally win possessions against any opponent remain the same;
• what has changed is Geno’s embrace (harkening back to the TASSK years) of full (or nearly full) rosters of across-the-board high quality talent playing a 40-minute barrage of mix-match diverse “position-less” offense and relentless defense;
• full intense quality practices and strategic judicious (around 20 minutes or less for most players) full-throttle minutes aggregating to 40-minutes of starter-level play that optimizes diverse talents and minimizes weaknesses, makes sustainable Geno’s revised approaches with respect to recruiting and the portal;
• in the new irreversible era of Super Teams, being a starter-level rotation (5)+5 player in Geno’s Super Team, with the attendant increased exposure, and Geno and CD’s best-in-class training will continue to draw top talent and transfers.

&1 Next year, there are currently 3 incomers and 3 returning walking wounded, comparable to the 5 incomers and 4 walking wounded this year, who are going to need some time to get their sea legs.

&2 This, imo, is the only true downside of UConn WBB (helmed by Geno and CD) being in the Big East vis a vis the program’s overarching goals, despite the near-constant drip of amusing complaints.

 

[jaydee602]

Would that make sense considering the optics of what has been alleged? It makes sense from a UConn connection perspective, but curious as to whether the claims of her former players impacts that idea.

Good point!
Geno is a staunch supporter of his ex- players. But he is determined to maintain the positive culture that he has built.
I wonder if he would get input from Serah about Moseley's controversial tenure at Wisconsin.

 

[Forego]

It would appear that some forum members have implied that the UConn School of Nursing is responsible for a player’s bench position. When you have teammates that include Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Tiffany Hayes, Stef Dolson, Bria Hartley, Kelly Farris, Morgan Tuck, Kiah Stokes, and Stewie, to mention a few, I expect that it might be a tad difficult to be part of the starting rotation, regardless of your major. When it comes to performing well off the bench I only have two words for you: Brittany Griner. How much time a player devotes to basketball or scholastics is a personal choice, and it would appear that Heather chose wisely.

 

[Jonathan14]

Nice! We also have Que Que.

Not to mention a Queue!

 

[FormerCTrez]

To clarify, I do agree with "cancontent", about the better analogy of Serah with
Aaliyah Edwards and an ONTARIO connection). My "loose association" (see thread # 37, above) was a somewhat (?) sly reference to Serah Williams being a "nursing" student at Wisconsin and that Kia Nurse is, well, a "NURSE"!!

I think most, or some of us got your humor!!!

 

[cancontent]

I wasn't clear. Buck was on the bench for every game and as far as I know was at every practice. What she couldn't do was put in several hours every day working on her game outside of team activity. Playing for UConn probably takes as much time and hard work as pre-med. Maybe more. When I was at UConn a nursing degree was a 5 year program and very few easy credits. Buck made nursing her priority and as long as Geno was OK with it I was too.

That may be so in Buck's case but it's not fair to apply that to Williams' situation. Every person and how they handle their course commitments are different. For all we know Williams takes care of the clinical requirements during the summer when it's easier to fit it in. We don't know, however with UConn pursuing her, I don't think it matters.

 

[oldude]

Would that make sense considering the optics of what has been alleged? It makes sense from a UConn connection perspective, but curious as to whether the claims of her former players impacts that idea.

The player in question at WI was a little used reserve who apparently was seeing a counselor for her mental health as well as being on some type of medication. After 2 seasons at WI she transferred to Ball State. Hopefully that player is doing better at her new school, but unless WI uncovers a pattern of abuse, I doubt that much will come from their investigation.

With that said, Moseley is just 43 years old, with substantial experience and success as both a top assistant and HC. Someone will inevitably hire her.

 

[HopJim]

Putting the names aside, the Huskies have a key need at the 5 position. We are lacking in:

-Shot blockers. With many schools stacking their team with quick guards that are adept at driving to the basket, UConn needs a true shot blocker. Jana is not the answer here and Gandy will need time to develop. All other "bigs" will do OK in league games but lacking the skills needed against top 10 teams.
-Mid-range and low offense. Conn's offense will likely continue to be 3 point oriented so having talent that can pull defenders off the guards and Strong has multiple benefits. A midrange game is always valuable when other shots don't fall.
-Rebounding, both defensive and offensive. While UConn has done an adequate job this year boxing out, they have no one who excels at going after the ball. Ice has more movement and aggressiveness than others, but Jana typically is fixed on one spot and often is pushed too far under the basket.

Suspect if there is a player out there with proven talent in these areas, Geno is likely showing interest. UConn has demonstrated that transfers exit with greater skills and name recognition.