Fairfield standout potential transfer to UCONN - article

[Millenial23]

Fairfield basketball standout Lou Lopez Senechal is seeking new challenge. Could she land at UConn?

Lou Lopez Senechal, who averaged 19.6 points as a senior at Fairfield, is in the transfer...

www.stamfordadvocate.com

"Lopez-Senechal said she has spoken to UConn assistant coach Morgan Valley and will possibly visit the Storrs campus soon. She will announce a decision in the next couple weeks."

 

[Charliebball]

Fairfield basketball standout Lou Lopez Senechal is seeking new challenge. Could she land at UConn?

Lou Lopez Senechal, who averaged 19.6 points as a senior at Fairfield, is in the transfer...

www.stamfordadvocate.com

"Lopez-Senechal said she has spoken to UConn assistant coach Morgan Valley and will possibly visit the Storrs campus soon. She will announce a decision in the next couple weeks."

we know she can shoot..........the question is can she play defense?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

There is also the question of how well she was guarded. 19.6 is a handsome scoring average though. The article says she's getting a lot of interest and will make her decision relatively soon - about 2 weeks she says. I get the feeling we are late to the table.

 

[Kaizen]

Lopez-Senechal is #11. I am more impressed by Manhattan's #1 performance.

 

[Huskee11]

We need an additional backcourt player, period. To replace the departing seniors, provide depth, protect against injury, help with practice.

Here is a 40% three point shooter who was unanimous player of the year in her conference. Plus one year of eligibility left so not blocking the guards coming in from the class of 2023.

It may be a tough decision for her to move to a supportive role from a starring role, but this is not a tough decision from UConn`s perspective.

Audrey Warren from Texas is also very intriguing - imagine her and Nika coming in together to play defense - but I have heard nothing linking her to UConn.

 

[EricLA]

There is also the question of how well she was guarded. 19.6 is a handsome scoring average though. The article says she's getting a lot of interest and will make her decision relatively soon - about 2 weeks she says. I get the feeling we are late to the table.

Not sure where you get that from the article, or any of her comments - not saying we AREN'T late to the table, just wondering what makes you think that?

“Having interest from one of the best schools in the country — maybe even the best school in the country — is great and I was very humbled by it,” she said. “The conversation has been great. I’m trying to see what’s best for me, but it definitely has been really good with them and I’m very happy that I’m able to be in the conversation with them.”

“One of my goals is to play professionally,” Lopez-Senechal said. “I think the possibility of going to a bigger school is important to me, to play at a higher level, against better competition, practicing against the best players every day. I think it’s very important to prepare me, physically and mentally, for a higher level. That’s what I’m looking for, a challenge for myself. One year, it can go by fast, but it can also give me a lot. I’m trying to use that the best way possible.”

No better program, IMHO, in preparing players for the WNBA. Many coaches in the W have said (in various versions) that they love drafting players from UCONN - they come in with a great work ethic, mentality, and are pro-ready.

 

[jchusky]

realistically idk how she would fit, this would mean someone else loses minutes mostly Nika who already won't start. This is a player that prob feels she should be getting 25-30 min easily and at Uconn that doesn't seem possible.

 

[HuskyNan]

realistically idk how she would fit, this would mean someone else loses minutes mostly Nika who already won't start. This is a player that prob feels she should be getting 25-30 min easily and at Uconn that doesn't seem possible.

She would take some of Christyn & Evina’s minutes

 

[CocoHusky]

Fairfield basketball standout Lou Lopez Senechal is seeking new challenge. Could she land at UConn?

Lou Lopez Senechal, who averaged 19.6 points as a senior at Fairfield, is in the transfer...

www.stamfordadvocate.com

"Lopez-Senechal said she has spoken to UConn assistant coach Morgan Valley and will possibly visit the Storrs campus soon. She will announce a decision in the next couple weeks."

Soon would have to be next weekend 22-24 April. Per the recruiting calendar she will not get another opportunity to visit campus until 26-31 July.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Not sure where you get that from the article, or any of her comments - not saying we AREN'T late to the table, just wondering what makes you think that?

“Having interest from one of the best schools in the country — maybe even the best school in the country — is great and I was very humbled by it,” she said. “The conversation has been great. I’m trying to see what’s best for me, but it definitely has been really good with them and I’m very happy that I’m able to be in the conversation with them.”

“One of my goals is to play professionally,” Lopez-Senechal said. “I think the possibility of going to a bigger school is important to me, to play at a higher level, against better competition, practicing against the best players every day. I think it’s very important to prepare me, physically and mentally, for a higher level. That’s what I’m looking for, a challenge for myself. One year, it can go by fast, but it can also give me a lot. I’m trying to use that the best way possible.”

No better program, IMHO, in preparing players for the WNBA. Many coaches in the W have said (in various versions) that they love drafting players from UCONN - they come in with a great work ethic, mentality, and are pro-ready.

That quote is certainly encouraging. But I got the late to the table thought out of her saying she will possibly visit Storrs and she thinks she'll have a decision in 2 weeks.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

She would take some of Christyn & Evina’s minutes

L L-S seems like she could play wing too.

Beyond that, Azzi, Paige, and Nika all have assorted injury histories.

 

[LoboDays]

Another guard doesn’t get us any closer to addressing the deficiency that allowed SC to dominate us.

 

[Carnac]

Fairfield basketball standout Lou Lopez Senechal is seeking new challenge. Could she land at UConn?

Lou Lopez Senechal, who averaged 19.6 points as a senior at Fairfield, is in the transfer...

www.stamfordadvocate.com

"Lopez-Senechal said she has spoken to UConn assistant coach Morgan Valley and will possibly visit the Storrs campus soon. She will announce a decision in the next couple weeks."

She appears to be exactly what UConn is looking for, a 1 year "rental" that can score, has experience and hopefully can play some defense.

 

[TeamFirst!]

Uconn is probably favored at this point right? I could see her looking at Louisville and some other options as well though. To prepare for a pro career Uconn would seem to have a lot advantages for her.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She appears to be exactly what UConn is looking for, a 1 year "rental" that can score, has experience and hopefully can play some defense.

Carnac you can't say "rental". Tennessee will turn UConn in to the NCAA!

 

[CocoHusky]

realistically idk how she would fit, this would mean someone else loses minutes mostly Nika who already won't start. This is a player that prob feels she should be getting 25-30 min easily and at Uconn that doesn't seem possible.

25-30 minutes based on what? Let's not get carried away here- this is a player of the year in the MAAC. The RPI for the MAAC 24th best conference. UCONN has had an equally heraled transfer from a similar conference that was not able to make an impact at UCONN. If she happens to take Nika's minutes that's on Nika and a good thing for UCONN.

 

[Carnac]

Carnac you can't say "rental". Tennessee will turn UConn in to the NCAA!

You're right Rocky, I lost my head. What was I thinking?

 

[CocoHusky]

Another guard doesn’t get us any closer to addressing the deficiency that allowed SC to dominate us.

Sure it does. UCONN graduated two guards, without replacements the deficiency would be greater no?

 

[jchusky]

25-30 minutes based on what? Let's not get carried away here- this is a player of the year in the MAAC. The RPI for the MAAC 24th best conference. UCONN has had an equally heraled transfer from a similar conference that was not able to make an impact at UCONN. If she happens to take Nika's minutes that's on Nika and a good thing for UCONN.

again Idk the schools going after her, but if a school let's say Creighton said you'd be our starter would she choose that over going to Uconn struggling for playing time?

 

[HuskyNan]

L L-S seems like she could play wing too.

Beyond that, Azzi, Paige, and Nika all have assorted injury histories.

Paige, Nika - PG
Paige, Azzi, Caroline, possibly Lou - SG
Caroline, Ayanna, Amari, possibly Lou - Wing
Caroline, Dorka, Aaliyah, Amari, Ice - Forwards

 

[CocoHusky]

Paige, Nika - PG
Paige, Azzi, Caroline, possibly Lou - SG
Caroline, Ayanna, Amari, possibly Lou - Wing
Caroline, Dorka, Aaliyah, Amari, Ice - Forwards

Caroline is not a SG. UCONN has 3 returning guards (Paige , Azzi, Nika) that is it. You also forgot Aubrey as a wing.

 

[Alydar]

Not sure where you get that from the article, or any of her comments - not saying we AREN'T late to the table, just wondering what makes you think that?

“Having interest from one of the best schools in the country — maybe even the best school in the country — is great and I was very humbled by it,” she said. “The conversation has been great. I’m trying to see what’s best for me, but it definitely has been really good with them and I’m very happy that I’m able to be in the conversation with them.”

“One of my goals is to play professionally,” Lopez-Senechal said. “I think the possibility of going to a bigger school is important to me, to play at a higher level, against better competition, practicing against the best players every day. I think it’s very important to prepare me, physically and mentally, for a higher level. That’s what I’m looking for, a challenge for myself. One year, it can go by fast, but it can also give me a lot. I’m trying to use that the best way possible.”

No better program, IMHO, in preparing players for the WNBA. Many coaches in the W have said (in various versions) that they love drafting players from UCONN - they come in with a great work ethic, mentality, and are pro-ready.

I've read that same thing in so many "I pick UConn" announcements. She appears more interested in where she will be in a year than in how many points she scores during that year.

 

[oldhusky]

realistically idk how she would fit, this would mean someone else loses minutes mostly Nika who already won't start. This is a player that prob feels she should be getting 25-30 min easily and at Uconn that doesn't seem possible.

She won't get a guarantee of 25-30 minutes from Geno, but I think she could conceivably get that many minutes, but it would mean beating out Caroline as a starter at the 3. I don't think that is likely but I think it is possible.

I believe we can pencil in Paige for about 35, and Azzi and whoever starts at the 3 for another 30. That leaves about 25 minutes to split between the 4th and 5th guard. I assume Nika will get all of Paige's limited backup minutes (5). In essence Caroline, Nika and potentially Lou are then competing for backup minutes at the 2 and 3, but one of Caroline or Lou would probably start.

So strictly from Lou's standpoint if she came here she could get 30 minutes on the high side if she starts over Caroline, and at the other extreme if Nika clearly beats her out as the best backup guard which may not be likely, then Nika could get maybe 20 minutes and Lou only 5. If Lou was clearly the better backup guard maybe she gets close to 20 with Nika limited to being Paige's backup.

My best guess is that Caroline would start, but Lou might get more of the backup minutes than Nika, maybe around 15 minutes to 10 for Nika if everyone is healthy. Of course with any injury and only 4, the backup would get closer to 25 minutes and if we have two out at the same time we would be in big trouble, so getting a 5th guard is vital even if their role is just the 5th guard with minimal minutes.

 

[oldhusky]

Caroline is not a SG. UCONN has 3 returning guards (Paige , Azzi, Nika) that is it. You also forgot Aubrey as a wing.

I think Caroline is a natural SF/3 who could play the 2 and the 4, but is much better as a 3. Aubrey and Ayanna are hard to figure. In both of their cases, I have no doubt they could be great defenders at the 3, but both are also apparently lacking the 3pt threat that is pretty important at that position. As an occasional defensive specialist they could be great, but to me they will probably be better at the 4 where they can defend, rebound and score inside.

If it was a last possession end of quarter situation on defense, I would love to see a line-up of Nika, Aubrey and Ayanna at the 1,2,and 3 respectively.

 

[ju6381]

A "yes" for me. She fits a spot I think as a 1 year, 2/3 player, who shoots the ball well from three. Also think we need a post player but this is role that needs to be filled.