How good is Blanca

[Longtime fan]

This is exactly what I have been thinking. We won an NC this season with a smallish team, which ought to put paid to all the noise about having to have super-bigs to compete. Next season, we'll be bigger in a few ways: 1) we have 3 post players who are >6'4", 2) and 6 medium big players at 6'2" or taller 4 of whom have very good handles in the open court, and 3) of these 9 players, 5 have excellent speed and quickness. Blanca is at the core of this feature of the team.

Geno can still play his small-ball lineup which was so effective this season. But he has other options besides the traditional 'big front court -- quick backcourt' scheme. Blanca again could open these up for him. I can hardly wait to see what becomes possible next season. This season, he worked on a lineup featuring Morgan at the 4 and Sarah at the 5 along with 3 of the speedy guards. The key was to have perimeter shooters, but also to have a lot of team speed. When Morgan went down to injury, the small lineup got a little smaller, and maybe a bit better, since they were even quicker and the defense was even fiercer. Picture someone as speedy as Blanca in some version of this lineup.

I don't think the noise about super bigs is just noise. It depends on who the super Big is and what surrounds her. South Carolina with Boston and Wilson dominated for nearly 8 years, and had everyone calling South Carolina " the new Uconn." And when they had the 6'7" player from Brazil ( by way of Syracuse ), they won again. In pretty easy fashion. This year, the test welcome from UCLA, I think. Betts, Betts and more. UCONN, of course, will be a well rounded contender with a great ( and big ) front court, as well as terrific guards and forwards.

 

[Bone Dog]

Forgot to mention Ash, does she start at the three? I was impressed with her weakside rebounding and even though she gives up a few inches, that means a three is going to have to chase Ash around the arc. She also brings a fiery temperament, has a solid pull-up, plays very good D, help D included, and is a smart, opportunistic player. She seems to make a lot of little plays that help win games, not to mention big shots like the one that sent SC crying going into half-time.

I agree about Ash. I suspect she'll start in November but maybe not after December. It all depends on how Blanca and maybe Morgan develop.

 

[jazz]

I agree about Ash. I suspect she'll start in November but maybe not after December. It all depends on how Blanca and maybe Morgan develop.

I like Ash coming off the bench and if she does, then it means the Blanca or maybe Yana or even Morgan as you suggest, are playing really well. My guess is in the order I named them.

 

[HuskyNan]

Tamika Catchings. (one of the 3 Meeks) . And I've read/heard the same thing.

“I have a major superstar on my team: Blanca [Quiñones] from Ecuador; 15 years old, no way,” [former LA Tech guard Betty] Lennox said. “She reminds me so much of Tamika Catchings. She has a huge upside, and… I don’t think Tamika was that good at this age.”

The worlds best prospects take on NBA Academy
www. the next hoops.com/features/the-worlds-best-prospects-take-on-nba-academy

Copy and remove the spaces, it should say www period thenexthoops period com

It’s like they don’t want people to read their articles

 

[HuskyNan]

I don't think the noise about super bigs is just noise. It depends on who the super Big is and what surrounds her. South Carolina with Boston and Wilson dominated for nearly 8 years, and had everyone calling South Carolina " the new Uconn." And when they had the 6'7" player from Brazil ( by way of Syracuse ), they won again. In pretty easy fashion. This year, the test welcome from UCLA, I think. Betts, Betts and more. UCONN, of course, will be a well rounded contender with a great ( and big ) front court, as well as terrific guards and forwards.

It’s not enough to just be big, the player also needs to be talented, like Lauren Betts.

6-9 Abby Boutilier, Texas - DNP - injured freshman & sophomore seasons

6-8 Arek Angui, UCF -> Auburn - freshman season, 2 games 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds

6-8 Phillipina Kyei, Oregon - 32 games, 19.6 min per game, 7.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg

6-8 Nene Sow, Utah senior - 7 games, 2.1 min avg, .7 ppg, .7 rpg

Tallest women’s college basketball players for 2024-25 season

The tallest women’s college basketball players for the 2024-25 season include underclassmen ready to make their mark on the court.

bvmsports.com

 

[jazz]

How tall is Blanca? I see 6, 6'1, 6'2 and 6'3 on the internet. Most often, I see 6'1. But maybe she has grown some over the years. She looks at least 6'2 to me. She looks really tall standing out on the three point line.

The competition she has faced looks pretty good to me and many players have some height, strength and some skill. The game speed and some athleticism from the competition is also there. So, overall seems like good competition.

She may be a day 1 starter. No matter what happens, I can't see how she does not make the rotation and has some kind of impact for us this coming year. I'm hoping for more though.

 

[jaundicedeye]

“I have a major superstar on my team: Blanca [Quiñones] from Ecuador; 15 years old, no way,” [former LA Tech guard Betty] Lennox said. “She reminds me so much of Tamika Catchings. She has a huge upside, and… I don’t think Tamika was that good at this age.”

The worlds best prospects take on NBA Academy
www. the next hoops.com/features/the-worlds-best-prospects-take-on-nba-academy

Copy and remove the spaces, it should say www period thenexthoops period com

It’s like they don’t want people to read their articles

Thanks, Nan. My favorite line in the article by Gabriella Lewis was "But the overall tournament standout is 15-year-old Blanca Quiñones. The 6’3 forward dominated games, led in scoring and had obvious generational court vision."

There's that word "generational" again.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't think the noise about super bigs is just noise. It depends on who the super Big is and what surrounds her. South Carolina with Boston and Wilson dominated for nearly 8 years, and had everyone calling South Carolina " the new Uconn." And when they had the 6'7" player from Brazil ( by way of Syracuse ), they won again. In pretty easy fashion. This year, the test welcome from UCLA, I think. Betts, Betts and more. UCONN, of course, will be a well rounded contender with a great ( and big ) front court, as well as terrific guards and forwards.

Sure. That’s a fair point. People did say stuff like that. But I seem to recall that UConn nearly beat SC in the regular season with Boston and Cardozo and all we had in the frontcourt was Dorka and Aaliyah and a gimpy Ayanna who only played a few minutes. And we only had the one perimeter threat, Lou and barely 6 healthy players. Nika engineered that which shows how important the backcourt is and how exaggerated most of the demands are that Geno recruit super bigs or we’re doomed. And that point was driven home this season yet again.

 

[Charliebball]

So we're saying Blanca is this year's Sarah Lite?

What we really need is a thread that discussed who ISN'T going to see any playing time next year, because every game only 200 minutes to spread around and by my count (going by BYers) at least 8 who should be getting 25-30 minutes a game... 9 if Heckel signs.

Sure it all changes if there's another rash of injuries, but assuming last year's health, who gets those 5 minutes a game in a blowout?

I'm not.......

 

[Charliebball]

If the games were played in the Multiverse UConn would not be limited to only 200 minutes per game…….

She's certainly not like Sarah except that she has the same kind of natural basketball smarts that are a rarity these days.......their skill sets are very different, but we can hope she makes a percentage of the difference that Sarah made on the team last season........no Sarah....no National Championship...

 

[hookshot]

How tall is Blanca? I see 6, 6'1, 6'2 and 6'3 on the internet. Most often, I see 6'1. But maybe she has grown some over the years. She looks at least 6'2 to me. She looks really tall standing out on the three point line.

The competition she has faced looks pretty good to me and many players have some height, strength and some skill. The game speed and some athleticism from the competition is also there. So, overall seems like good competition.

She may be a day 1 starter. No matter what happens, I can't see how she does not make the rotation and has some kind of impact for us this coming year. I'm hoping for more though.

1.08 Hartley Units

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Sure. That’s a fair point. People did say stuff like that. But I seem to recall that UConn nearly beat SC in the regular season with Boston and Cardozo and all we had in the frontcourt was Dorka and Aaliyah and a gimpy Ayanna who only played a few minutes. And we only had the one perimeter threat, Lou and barely 6 healthy players. Nika engineered that

Actually, UConn had Aubrey as well. Patterson played 14 minutes and was a non-factor. As is always the case against SC, they lost a possession game due to rebounds and turnovers.

South Carolina 81-77 UConn (Feb 5, 2023) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the South Carolina Gamecocks vs. UConn Huskies NCAAW game from February 5, 2023 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

 

[Bone Dog]

Actually, UConn had Aubrey as well. Patterson played 14 minutes and was a non-factor. As is always the case against SC, they lost a possession game due to rebounds and turnovers.

I don’t recall denying that Aubrey played. Lots of details were omitted in the name of brevity. In particular, a close game turned on a blown call on an illegal inbounds pass by SC which forced UConn to start fouling for possessions. Any other questions?

The point is we played the classic “superbig” team practically even with a skeleton lineup and no superbigs.

 

[angelo]

If I remember correctly in an interview she said to be 1.89 m tall

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I don’t recall denying that Aubrey played. Lots of details were omitted in the name of brevity. In particular, a close game turned on a blown call on an illegal inbounds pass by SC which forced UConn to start fouling for possessions. Any other questions?

The point is we played the classic “superbig” team practically even with a skeleton lineup and no superbigs.

I had no questions. I added Aubrey since you didn't while listing the frontcourt UConn went into battle with.

 

[donalddoowop]

I'm sure that most folks recognized that his first "can't" was meant to be a "can".

That is a pretty good gift you have knowing what most folks recognize.

 

[Bone Dog]

I had no questions. I added Aubrey since you didn't while listing the frontcourt UConn went into battle with.

I guess I tend to think of Aubrey as a wing, not a frontcourt player, though her rebounding may blur the distinction a little.

 

[BBallF]

Even with Serah and all the Bigs Geno will have on his roster next season, he will find it very difficult to completely abandon his small lineup with Sarah at the 5. You need only look at how that small lineup sliced through UCLA’s big frontline with beautiful movement, sharp passing and deadly outside shooting to realize that no team in the country could defend it.

The small ball lineup featured tight, lock down, pressure defense on the opposing guards and wings with pressing at times, shutting down open 3s, making passing difficult by closing off lanes, with textbook switching, maybe the best ever seen in women's NCAA Final Four history.

It also featured tremendous team speed both with and without the ball. Couple that with the shooting, unselfish passing, and great conditioning and you are really reminded of the '64 and '65 NCAA championship UCLA mens teams with Gail Goodrich and Henry Bibby often with nobody above 6'3" on the floor. Didn't matter for those teams just like it didn't matter for us. We were an unstoppable freight train in the Big Dance and truly a great and memorable team.

 

[MHD789]

Thanks, Nan. My favorite line in the article by Gabriella Lewis was "But the overall tournament standout is 15-year-old Blanca Quiñones. The 6’3 forward dominated games, led in scoring and had obvious generational court vision."

There's that word "generational" again.

I guess my hang-up is that I keep seeing the same reference to a 15 year old. Plus, she's apparently shrinking from 6'3" to 6'2"!

Seriously, I'd love to see any recent respected evaluations (not by us UConn homies). I have tried to google but come up empty.