Could Meg not start next year? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Could Meg not start next year?

MilfordHusky said:
HoopGurlz rankings:

Lou 1
Pheesa 6
Crystal 3
Azura 23
Megan 1

Christyn 1

I expect we will have THREE #1 overall players on the court simultaneously. And the others are not exactly chopped liver. One was an All-American as a sophomore.
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And Crystal was the top-ranked guard in her class. So next year we could at times showcase 1,3,1,1.
 
cferraro04 said:
I know that Lou has worked very hard to be a more complete basketball player and this year she is needed in that capacity... However, that being said, next year we will not need Samuelson to be anything else but a shooter and a scorer. There will be no finer guard in the country than Dangerfield...with CW to back her up...that spot is rock solid. Azura Stevens will be a force in the middle...she will have a full season under her belt and when you combine her offensive footwork and her sure to be an eraser defense she will become the number one pick in the draft. Naphessa Collier...I have always maintained that she is the gem of her class. No one in the country will be more effective at the 4 than she. Megan Walker will show the nation next year why she was number one in her class as she will round out to a Maya Moore light. Now what in the world would we want Samuelson to do other than shoot the ball?
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Pass the ball and also be able to post up more effective. Not only take 3's, but to take 2's off the dribble and be able to pass from the post up. Just saw for example vs Memphis she took a reverse/over-the head shot for a score near the basket. In pats years she is either much slower with the shot or rushes it too quickly or gets bumped and goes flailing to the floor.

In addition Geno said years ago he wouldn't have "pinned" (my word) Griner in the post for her career. The 1st few games I saw Griner play in WNBA she had an outside shot. Baylor couldn't get the ball inside to Griner-- Geno would have had her also playing a bit on the outside. There was a player on Baylor that said she was forced to play on the outside like she was in a box. Geno will force AZ and Collier to play inside and out. Just as he is trying to get Lou to be tougher. There is no way no way that Miss State guard from last year should have been able to handle Lou in the post or even slightly outside of the post.

I'm not sure though from your post when you say the bold - what you mean by it. You don't mean "just to score from the outside," do you? IMO the reason why she came to UCONN was to work on other parts of her game and not just be an outside shooter. She already came in as a shooter. If she can't prove that she could take smaller guards like the Miss state guard down low in big games, it would be a pretty big disappointment. IMO I think she came here was to learn how to be tougher-- to be more like her idol Larry Bird. She was already a good 3 pt shooter before she came.

I would think overall it would be harder for other teams to stop UCONN if not only Lou got tougher on the inside but BOTH Collier and AZ became much more proficient from the outside. That's why they came to UCONN - to be more. ANd it's why overall UCONN is so hard to guard. For instance you already know AZ is going to get better by season's end playing inside. But if you also work her outside game and the inside game of Lou -- then in a game in E8 or FF or Finals you may very well need AZ's outside shooting and/or Lou's ability to punish smaller guards - if not this year then next. Don't let teams that have a big slow center and 3 small guards get away with their flaws.
 
[QUOTE="Gus Mahler, post: 2499784, member:
[If she's greater than 5'2" in stocking feet I'd be shocked!!!!!][/QUOTE]

Oh boy! Now you've done it.
 
First off the bench is a position of honor. As I remember, Ashley Battle started precious few games but was the spark that started lots of rallies.
 
todbo said:
First off the bench is a position of honor. Remembering Ashley Battle, who started precious few games but was the spark that started lots of rallies.
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Megan Walker has a far higher ceiling than Ashley Battle. She can be at least as good as Napheesa, and maybe as good as Morgan Tuck. Despite that, it doesn't look like she will start as a freshman this year, because she is still climbing the steep part of the learning curve. The same will be true for Christyn Williams next year.

Remember, Moriah did not start as a freshman. Is C. Williams better than Moriah?
 
As long as Geno uses a high-low post offense, there is no difference between two and a three! They are both guards who set up at the arc and cut when the ball is reversed. Since Megan is already a reliable 3-Point shooter from the wing, she is ideally suited for that position, as is Lou. The more interesting issue will be who becomes the back up point guard, a role that Kia successfully fills but is not a natural fit for either Lou or Megan. If CW can play the point, we will see another 7-player rotation
(three posts, four guards like this year); if she can only play wing, then an 8-player becomes necessary (two points, three wings, three posts).
 
Sometimes I think some of the BY posters think too old school with the defined positions on offense. Old school did not have 4/5's who worked out on the wing or 3's that were ball handlers.

UCONN predominantly has favored a free flowing offense that expects al players to handle, pass, and shoot from non traditional 4/5 spots on the floor. And that is what I love about watching them. It reminds me of the 86 Celtic team. Yes some are more skilled closer in and some are more skilled farther out. But they are still exposed to the motion offense and are expected to take the right shot even if it is non traditional. Geno does take advantage of some superior skill sets. i.e., making sure the ball is in Crystal's hands on the fast break of when facing full court pressure. When they run the offense she cuts through the middle looking for the pass and sets a pick on the other side just like the 4/5's.

The only time I have seen it differently in the last few years is when the personnel has a typical post player like Dolson or Butler. Then by nature the old school is forced into the mix.

Geno knows all his players can score. He is more focused on defense and that decides who will play. Not offense. And defensively Megan still appears unsure of her assignments. I have often seen her searching for her man, not making switches quickly enough. When she learns the defense, there will be no keeping her off the floor.
 
No she’ll start. She’s that good she’s just on a loaded team right now. To me she’s doing her Nykesha freshman year and we know where that ended up.
 
JoePgh said:
Megan Walker has a far higher ceiling than Ashley Battle. She can be at least as good as Napheesa, and maybe as good as Morgan Tuck. Despite that, it doesn't look like she will start as a freshman this year, because she is still climbing the steep part of the learning curve. The same will be true for Christyn Williams next year.

Remember, Moriah did not start as a freshman. Is C. Williams better than Moriah?
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Is C. Williams better then Doty?
 
Waquoit said:
You really think Tuck was better than Collier? I'd take Collier and I don't think it's even that close.
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I think it's kinda close. I think they are quite similar. Neither one was/is flashy, but quietly goes about getting her work done.

Offensively they can both work in the paint and around the basket, they could both shoot out to the 3 point line, both could drive to the hoop. I think Tuck was a better 1v1 defender, but Collier is a better shot blocker and rebounder. I think Tuck had a higher BB IQ, but Collier is much more athletic. (not sure how it would have been if Tuck didn't have all the knee problems). Tuck was a better leader.

I'd wait til after Collier has 4 years, but I think she'll win out, based mostly on her athleticism. Gonna make her offensively and defensively more potent. Although I think we sometimes underestimate how good Tuck was/could have been. Besides her knee, she was also overshadowed by playing with the 1 of the 3 GOATs and #1 -4, and arguably the #1-1 (Jefferson or Bird). Collier is getting 2-3 years to be one of "the stars". Tuck was like the Rodman to Jordan/Pippen, while Collier gets to be the Pippen. So it's easier to stand out.

(as an aside, I'm really, really looking forward to KLS/Collier as seniors. Cause right now, while they are really "the stars", they are still differing to the seniors and really good ones in Nurse/Williams. However next year as "the stars" and seniors.....the world will be their oyster.)
 
Go/huskies said:
I believe Doty was a starter from opening tip during her freshman year because she brought a skill set needed to the team, I think Christyn also has a good chance to start because the shooting guard spot will be open. Geno has said he didn’t start Z this year because it would move the other away from where they fit, so maybe he won’t move the best Small forward in college basketball out of that position. I would like to see better ball handling from Walker before she is moved to the back court.
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Hartley and Dolson started their freshmen year.
 
meyers7 said:
I think it's kinda close. I think they are quite similar. Neither one was/is flashy, but quietly goes about getting her work done.

Offensively they can both work in the paint and around the basket, they could both shoot out to the 3 point line, both could drive to the hoop. I think Tuck was a better 1v1 defender, but Collier is a better shot blocker and rebounder. I think Tuck had a higher BB IQ, but Collier is much more athletic. (not sure how it would have been if Tuck didn't have all the knee problems). Tuck was a better leader.

I'd wait til after Collier has 4 years, but I think she'll win out, based mostly on her athleticism. Gonna make her offensively and defensively more potent. Although I think we sometimes underestimate how good Tuck was/could have been. Besides her knee, she was also overshadowed by playing with the 1 of the 3 GOATs and #1 -4, and arguably the #1-1 (Jefferson or Bird). Collier is getting 2-3 years to be one of "the stars". Tuck was like the Rodman to Jordan/Pippen, while Collier gets to be the Pippen. So it's easier to stand out.

(as an aside, I'm really, really looking forward to KLS/Collier as seniors. Cause right now, while they are really "the stars", they are still differing to the seniors and really good ones in Nurse/Williams. However next year as "the stars" and seniors.....the world will be their oyster.)
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Tuck definitely had the leadership advantage over Phee but IMO basketball IQ is a push and most other basketball attributes favor Phee. By the way, its not just Lou and Phee as seniors.....Z will also play as a senior and that front court could be the best in WCB history.
 
Waquoit said:
You really think Tuck was better than Collier? I'd take Collier and I don't think it's even that close.
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I think most BY's would say it is much closer and harder to pick a favorite. The main seperation for me is Morgan's knee problems.
 
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