Geno says next season will be UConn's best chance for a national championship since 2016

[Carnac]

Geno has been reading my posts. I've been saying that all season.

“If we can stay healthy and avoid some of the pitfalls that we've had the last two years, the team that we have coming back, mixed in with the players that we've recruited that are coming in, I think we will have the best chance to win a national championship since 2016,” he said. “Everything has to has to fall into place,” Auriemma said. “And I don't want to say, like, we deserve it. But we deserve a break.”

Geno says next season will be UConn's best chance for a national championship since 2016

The coach has high hopes for his team in 2023-24 – if they can stay healthy.

uconnwbbweekly.substack.com

 

[JellyBean]

I would agree. If everyone stays healthy, everyone works on their game and comes back with a new mindset, we develop a pressing system on defense; 2-2-1, 1-2-1-1, something that will get the team playing aggressive, next season could be something special.

 

[MSGRET]

And they all get an extra month to gel because of the European trip. Can't wait to watch them in Europe on YouTube this summer.

 

[JellyBean]

And they all get an extra month to gel because of the European trip. Can't wait to watch them in Europe on YouTube this summer.

And I think that extra month is going to be a huge plus for the team. I can't wait to watch them play on YouTube either.

 

[hoopsfan22]

It was too bad we couldn't send Dorka and Lou off with a parade this weekend, so hopefully in a year from now we can give Aaliyah, Paige, Aubrey, and Nika a proper basketball capital of the world send off!

 

[AzzisBraids]

I agree. I think this offseason is key. I want Paige, Azzi, Caroline, Edwards and Ice Brady to rest, heal, and recover. No basketball activities until training camp.

I want Geno and his staff to vacation to tropical islands in between recruiting trips. This offseason is rest and recovery.

 

[Huskie02]

I would agree. If everyone stays healthy, everyone works on their game and comes back with a new mindset, we develop a pressing system on defense; 2-2-1, 1-2-1-1, something that will get the team playing aggressive, next season could be something special.

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

Amihere is going pro.

 

[Blond D.]

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

Its not the size of the Huskie in the fight, its the size of the fight in the Huskie.

 

[Geew1992]

I agree. I think this offseason is key. I want Paige, Azzi, Caroline, Edwards and Ice Brady to rest, heal, and recover. No basketball activities until training camp.

I want Geno and his staff to vacation to tropical islands in between recruiting trips. This offseason is rest and recovery.

Pretty sure there will be plenty of basketball activities. These girls never rest

 

[Carnac]

I agree. I think this offseason is key. I want Paige, Azzi, Caroline, Edwards and Ice Brady to rest, heal, and recover. No basketball activities until training camp.

I want Geno and his staff to vacation to tropical islands in between recruiting trips. This offseason is rest and recovery.

Amen!!!

 

[Conndog]

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

Just not having Boston (she's going pro, isn't she?) will help tremendously. She is/was just so strong, and she also had some kind of referree whistle repellant that was very effective at keeping her in the game.

 

[bovwa10]

Yep, next year is make or break for this generation of UConn players imo

 

[Carnac]

Yep, next year is make or break for this generation of UConn players imo

This is reported to be Paige's last year at UConn. That's one reason why most Husky fans believe it now or never. Paige should be preparing for the WNBA draft this time next year, despite having eligibility remaining. She reported earlier that she would return for one more year to play with Azzi.

 

[Geew1992]

This is reported to be Paige's last year at UConn. That's one reason why most Husky fans believe it now or never. Paige should be preparing for the WNBA draft this time next year, despite having eligibility remaining. She reported earlier that she would return for one more year to play with Azzi.

I don't remember hearing that. I believe she said her college career wasn't over yet. When was it said this coming year would be her last?

 

[JellyBean]

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

I love Coach Staley and watching South Carolina play but Iowa had a pretty good game plan and with a 100% healthy roster, we follow Iowa's blueprint, UConn can get past South Carolina.

 

[Bald Husky]

And they all get an extra month to gel because of the European trip. Can't wait to watch them in Europe on YouTube this summer.

If I remember correctly, the incoming freshmen will not be allowed to travel with the team to Europe. Its been a while, but pretty sure that's the case. On the other hand, since Jana enrolled last year she would be eligible to go with the team. It would have been a great time for them to bond and practice with the team before they have to report to campus.

 

[BRS24]

If I remember correctly, the incoming freshmen will not be allowed to travel with the team to Europe. Its been a while, but pretty sure that's the case. On the other hand, since Jana enrolled last year she would be eligible to go with the team. It would have been a great time for them to bond and practice with the team before they have to report to campus.

Freshmen can go, per this article dated 2020:

NCAA Basketball: Importance of annual preseason foreign tours for teams

NCAA Basketball are about to participate in a "foreign tour" before the season starts. What are the benefits for the teams who do this?

bustingbrackets.com

"They can only go every four years, so ideally for a program everybody would get to experience it. Incoming freshmen can go, so when they’re graduating seniors they would’ve already been gone when another freshmen class goes."

However:
"If you’re following along with your favorite team and see that an undergraduate or graduate transfer is not joining the team for the tour, the NCAA permits a NCAA Basketball player to only partake in a foreign tour with one institution. If that transfer has participated in a foreign tour with their previous university, they are unable to participate in another foreign tour with their new institution. Incoming freshman, however, is able to participate in their team’s foreign tours."

 

[DrummerDee]

Just not having Boston (she's going pro, isn't she?) will help tremendously. She is/was just so strong, and she also had some kind of referree whistle repellant that was very effective at keeping her in the game.

Amihere declared for the draft, and Watkins is as wet behind the ears as Patterson was last year. This front court is not a formidable as UConn's will be.

 

[DrummerDee]

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

SC will not be an issue if we play UConn ball. They lost 7 players. Boston, Beal, Amihere, Fletcher, Saxton, Cooke and Thompson. Cardoso is the only player with any substantial playing experience.

 

[Pharos]

Signaling to the Transfer Portal?

 

[Carnac]

Freshmen can go, per this article dated 2020:

NCAA Basketball: Importance of annual preseason foreign tours for teams

NCAA Basketball are about to participate in a "foreign tour" before the season starts. What are the benefits for the teams who do this?

bustingbrackets.com

"They can only go every four years, so ideally for a program everybody would get to experience it. Incoming freshmen can go, so when they’re graduating seniors they would’ve already been gone when another freshmen class goes."

However:
"If you’re following along with your favorite team and see that an undergraduate or graduate transfer is not joining the team for the tour, the NCAA permits a NCAA Basketball player to only partake in a foreign tour with one institution. If that transfer has participated in a foreign tour with their previous university, they are unable to participate in another foreign tour with their new institution. Incoming freshman, however, is able to participate in their team’s foreign tours."

Thanks for the clarification. That would be a pretty lousy trip if ALL 14 roster players could not go.

 

[veryolddog]

Someone already said it above and it is to have a "healthy" team will be a key factor. If Paige and Azzi can get by bad legs, and Caroline truly recover from a concussion, then yeah, maybe. Nothing is for sure. But, then again, there is always a contrarian like me that says the safeway to a final four is going to be with 6ft 5 inch players or above that are busters in the paint. South Carolina really showed that these big players are essential to getting defensive rebounds but extremely important in getting the offensive rebound and scoring. That is how South Carolina wins so many games. If UConn wants to get that 12th National Championship, it needs Jana and another monster in there that will get those offensive rebounds and score.

 

[Ardenque]

Geno has been reading my posts. I've been saying that all season.

“If we can stay healthy and avoid some of the pitfalls that we've had the last two years, the team that we have coming back, mixed in with the players that we've recruited that are coming in, I think we will have the best chance to win a national championship since 2016,” he said. “Everything has to has to fall into place,” Auriemma said. “And I don't want to say, like, we deserve it. But we deserve a break.”

Geno says next season will be UConn's best chance for a national championship since 2016

The coach has high hopes for his team in 2023-24 – if they can stay healthy.

uconnwbbweekly.substack.com

If everyone is healthy the backcourt appears loaded for bear.
I think a lot of it depends on the performance of the bigs which at this point is a substantial unknown.

 

[donalddoowop]

Someone already said it above and it is to have a "healthy" team will be a key factor. If Paige and Azzi can get by bad legs, and Caroline truly recover from a concussion, then yeah, maybe. Nothing is for sure. But, then again, there is always a contrarian like me that says the safeway to a final four is going to be with 6ft 5 inch players or above that are busters in the paint. South Carolina really showed that these big players are essential to getting defensive rebounds but extremely important in getting the offensive rebound and scoring. That is how South Carolina wins so many games. If UConn wants to get that 12th National Championship, it needs Jana and another monster in there that will get those offensive rebounds and score.

Send your post to Iowa and see if they agree with you.

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige will not leave before Azzi does.

You heard it here first.

 

[BobbyJ]

Paige will not leave before Azzi does.

You heard it here first.

I actually came to this same conclusion back in October and of course it's JMO. If they had been able to play this season with no injury problems I would hesitate to predict it. But it's just my thought that nothing in the somewhat isolated world of European pro ball and the financial setup of the WNBA, probably playing on different teams, can match the enjoyment of playing with your best friend in the spotlight of UConn and possibly winning a NC during the best years of their lives. If the injury bug stays away they could possibly run it back on future Olympic teams but if I were Bueckers, I'd feel like I got cheated out of a couple of years and wouldn't leave them on the table for those pro leagues given her fortunate financial situation. But of course that's just my thinking and I'll be interested to see what she does.

 

[tchalla1]

Still need to find a way to get by South Carolina. Front court is huge again with Cardozo at 6’7”, Amihere at 6’4”, and Watkins at 6’3”.

Yes, SC's frontline is formidable, but Amihere is gone to the WNBA... SC needs perimeter shooting...

 

[Geesworld]

The best shot was this year. Only if we had a healthy roster. But hey like my grandfather always used to say, "If, if was a 5th we'd all be drunk."

If healthy, I'm scared we will be going small ball again. Amari would have to grow immensely for that not to be a reality and Ayanna would have to become a more improved option on the offensive end. No way Geno is playing limited post players for the sake of growing into his offense. Biggest Portal transfer is wherever Alyssa Morrow ends. She could change the dynamic for a few teams.

Best chance for next season is all about health!
The Two things that have to happen next season for all things to be true.
1. Caroline and Aubrey have to take another forward step offensively. The team goes as they go.
2. Ayanna and ICE have be able to develop quickly. Boards/Defense will be key. Mixed in with Passing and finishing around the basket. They both should be a nice compliment to Aliyah next season.

 

[Fossil]

Amihere declared for the draft, and Watkins is as wet behind the ears as Patterson was last year. This front court is not a formidable as UConn's will be.

If South Carolina were to entice Morrow to join their squad, she makes them very formidable. South Carolina still has a deep squad with the foundation of 6 foot seven at Center. And that’s just talking about one transfer Dawn may be in the market for a few. But I would like to see the NCAA regulate, the officiating D1wide. All officials college wide should be on the same page. When the rulebook says it’s a foul you call it.