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Message: [QUOTE="JonathanXIV, post: 4813130, member: 9217"] It wasn't so long ago that we were looking at this team during their early summer practices, having our first look at the freshmen, and feeling incredibly optimistic about the 2023-24 season. Looking at UConn then, I felt that there were three characteristics would be key to our success and the possibility of a 12th title. They were (1) excellent outside shooting, with Paige and Azzi as two of the best shooters in the country, along with Caroline, which would prevent teams from doubling any one player and opening up the floor to negate bigger lineups; (2) more depth in the frontcourt, with Ice, Aubrey, Jana, and Ayanna competing to team up with our potential All-American, Aaliyah; and (3) seemingly unlimited depth that would allow Geno to utilize a variety of lineups and apply defensive pressure for 40 minutes. Flash forward six months and things look a lot different. Two players are out for the season, Caroline looks like she's still snake-bitten with injuries, and Ayanna has yet to play. UConn has three losses by December 3rd, is ranked 17th and some UConn fans are yelling that the sky is falling. I get that it might feel that way but it seems to me that there is a lot of time and a few reasons to think that the season might still turn out okay. The first thing to remember is that the success of the season is determined by how well we are playing in March, not November. This is easy for UConn fans to forget, given how accustomed we have become to wire to wire dominance. The second is that a lot of our early problems are due to turnovers and sloppy play. Not an altogether surprising result with the four freshmen pressed into unexpected situations because of injuries, and new lineups still not able to play sustained UConn-level defense (not to mention a brutal early schedule). Ironically, I think many of the same keys to the season are the same, which just will have to get there a different way. Can Ayanna or Ice develop quickly enough to shore up our frontcourt and help out Aaliyah? Will our outside shooting be supplemented by Q or Shade? Will the freshmen develop quickly enough to fill the holes left by injuries to more experienced players and give us, not just depth, but some scoring and defense? I don't know the answers, but I don't think the cupboard is bare yet. We still have a player of the year in Paige; an All-American level big in Aaliyah; a lot of talented players who can still step up to support Paige/Aaliyah; and, oh yeah, the best coach in the business. I don't know if we will get there (there being in the Final Four and in the running for title 12), but I'm looking forward to the ride. [/QUOTE]

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