Geno Mic'd Up

[Papa33]

KK with the stiff arm She’s going to break some hearts as a Husky. Love the aggressiveness of this freshman class!

Using the elbow to fend off a defender or clear a path as she drives . . . is that strictly legal? I'm not sure about that.

 

[Alydar]

Perhaps having the recently minted three category Uconn assist record holder on the court with our three best scorers who is always looking to set her teammates up to score would be a persuasive argument with a bonus that she has been and would be the head of the snake of our return to an aggressive defense. I would suggest a slight edit to Bald Husky's line above, Nika has played very effectively with them in and out for 2 years and great chemistry matters so she should be there.

I agree Geno isn't going to automatically include anyone. Specifically in Nika's case we know that to be true, remember how he said if she didn't change going into this season he would sit her ass down even if he had no other guards? Then he added if she does what the team needs her to do and that he knows she can do she will have an exceptional season. She accepted and delivered on the challenge in spades and he has acknowledged more than once that she has grown tremendously on and off the court and the impact that that has had on the teams' success. So she has and will again earn her spot in the starting five.

And without her those three still include the best pg in wcbb and the likely three top scorers for UConn this season also. So what is lost? Those three need help in the front court far more than they need another guard.

I agree with everything you say about Muhl. UConn will have a three-headed monster at guard this coming season. I just think they will play 2 at a time most of the time unlike their namesake.

 

[Dezoworld]

Yall are focused on the shot you seen in the highlight clip. What about the shots she missed that wasn't on film. Nika is an ok shooter who needs to fix her form. She needs a consistent stop and shoot jumper, she can work on making shots with a hand in her face. She also want to work on coming off a screen squaring up and knocking it down. But what Geno said her shot is looking better this summer hope it can translate to the season

 

[Skeets]

And without her those three still include the best pg in wcbb and the likely three top scorers for UConn this season also. So what is lost? Those three need help in the front court far more than they need another guard.

I agree with everything you say about Muhl. UConn will have a three-headed monster at guard this coming season. I just think they will play 2 at a time most of the time unlike their namesake.View attachment 89324

And therein lies the debate that cannot be won. I believe more often than not Geno goes with 3 guards. He will not have Paige or Azzi running their tails off harassing the opposing PG to chew seconds off of the shot clock when he has the BE DPOY to do that. If Edwards and the best 5th option can't handle the front court then Geno can and will go with different line ups.

I also think there's a chance (maybe not a big chance) that if Nika needs a breather that we will see KK, Shade, or Ines play PG before we see Paige play PG. Playing PG is just a dumb way to manage Paige's energy budget when she's just as good, or maybe even better, as a SG.

Oh BTW, I don't know if it's obvious, but it's my opinion that Nika, Paige, Azzi, Edwards and the best 5th player ARE the best 5 players that you can put on the court.

 

[Bone Dog]

In the first game of the season, I have a feeling Nika will seem like she’s been fired out of a cannon at the opposing pg. Incoming!

 

[Huskyfan63]

She has always been a decent outside shooter when she is wide open and has the time to square up and plant her feet. I'll be impressed when one of the coaches says "I'm shocked when she misses. I assume that every time she shoots it's going in". When the coaches say that I'll consider her a likely starter.

Hmmm, I don't recall hearing that particular comment by anyone referring to Mo during her 9.9ppg career here, yet she's considered one of the very best to play the position at UConn (my opinion, the best - I love defense and she has a big edge there). I don't think that position, using #4 as an easy example, needs to produce 15 ppg....it needs to provide leadership, communication, defense, toughness, intensity, confidence and everything else that keeps the other four in the right mindset and producing. First, I think there's no question she's on the floor to start games this year, as long as the team produces and continues to function to expectations. Second, I wonder who the replacement will be next year - because those are some big qualities that are going to be missed when she leaves.

 

[Bone Dog]

Mo demoralized SC in one game when she grabbed the rebound under the opposing basket and beat everyone else down the court -- even Cuevas, who was supposed at the time to be quicker. She could do stuff like that.

Nika isn't nearly as speedy as Mo. But she also knows how to make the morale-breaking play at the right moment, whether it's the dagger they dared her to shoot, or the quick-step drive to the hoop. It's not that she's a great offensive player. She's good enough and can be a heady one. And I hope she develops that midrange jumper this summer.