To be honest, I was very impressed with DJC the last time I saw her play. She played with an almost reckless abandon that demonstrated a passion for the game. I greatly enjoyed what she added to the game. In light of a one year transfer, I question what she can add to the current UConn team. I understand the only 10 player argument in regards to travel practice, but that is of small concern to me. The primary need is finding post backup for Olivia. Someone who can spell her for 3 minutes 3 times a game without a significant drop off on the defensive end. Piath may develop into that player, but that remains to be seen. I would love to see a seasoned post banger to play while Piath develops. We are adding 6 new players to the team, that probably is going without the typical summer scrimmage/bonding time. Adding a 7th will just add to the integration and team chemistry issues.
Agree with all of this, and like many I view a Liv backup that is ready to go as the best potential addition. In some ways if healthy we can cover for that now, not with Piath, but rather with short stretches of Liv being out handled by playing Alliah at the 5 and bringing Aubrey in at the 4. That would be a little undersized but with enough talent to make it work.
The issue with DJC as I see it, is how she would be used. I could see her perspective and Geno's potentially being very different. Of course most any coach would love to have her as "insurance", but her recent interviews suggest she wants an important role, and she also talks about the WNBA.
Some things fit and others don't. This team could use a player that takes it aggressively to the basket and draws some fouls. As a team we didn't get to the line much. On the other hand I think Geno is so turnover adverse that he frequently weens that trait from some players. CW in particular I believe could drive the lane and go all the way or pull up for a mid-range jumper, but seems to struggle a little with how aggressive to be and then turns into a spot up three point shooter.
If you didn't know her size in advance and looked up her stats, you might think DJC was a 4. She certainly rebounds like one, but her ball-handling numbers look like one also. Sometimes coaches try to fit a square peg in a round hole. Those are usually systems coaches looking for players that will adapt their game to your system. Others at least for talented players adjust the system to the player's strength. Geno is mostly the former but has also done a fair amount of the later, maybe Gabby being the best example of finding a way to use her gifts to be effective offensively.
So with the chess pieces we have how could she best fit? To me it would be competing with Anna for small forward minutes. Between the two you have pretty much every skill covered. Great outside shooting and passing from Anna, great rebounding, penetration/drawing fouls, and good defense from DJC. Her rebounding edge could make her a better SF fit than the other alternatives, namely playing small-ball with SG's there, Evina or CW, or going with another rebounder, but far less skilled and inexperienced (Mir).
If doing that on a probable final four team, with lots of exposure is enough of a role and helps her enhance whatever WNBA prospects she has, then maybe the right role from both the player and the coaches perspective can come into sync.
