Just one?She will lead UConn to a national title
She's shown an awful lot of stamina against elite competition but perhaps she'll sign up for the Ashlyn Shade early morning workouts along with Allie Ziebell........I think her freshman year will depend on her commitment to defense and conditioning. She's already got everything else.
Strong is great and has played elite highschool competition. The college game moves at a much faster pace. Plus UConn speed is faster than that. I've only ever seen Maya and now Shade have UConn conditioning right out the gate. With a mini Stef Dolson regimen, Strong will kick it into a whole other gear.She's shown an awful lot of stamina against elite competition but perhaps she'll sign up for the Ashlyn Shade early morning workouts along with Allie Ziebell........
What about Paige?Strong is great and has played elite highschool competition. The college game moves at a much faster pace. Plus UConn speed is faster than that. I've only ever seen Maya and now Shade have UConn conditioning right out the gate. With a mini Stef Dolson regimen, Strong will kick it into a whole other gear.
I really haven't seen KK appear tired in a game but Paige has moments towards the end of games where her shots start to be short, a sign of fatigue..........that said she certainly doesn't show it on the defensive end......What about Paige?
Sales?
I thought KK was equivalaent to Shade.
Well you never know. Bueckers was supposed to lead UCONN to multiple titles. As of now, she's got 1 more shot at 1. Unfortunately, things happen.Just one?
Which I'm sure she has for herself as well as the coaching staff. has high ones probably For being as great as she has been by being the #1 recruit, she probably has that every day and if you go to a school and want to win it all - internally you probably want the same expectations that you have from teammates. You get to a power program you probably have been pretty fantastic most of your life.Once again we will be putting very high expectations on an incoming freshman.
Recall that it was Paige who attracted Azzi to UConn, and I have to believe that someone as smart as Srong must have considered what the opportunity to play with Bueckers will mean. I could add that Paige's contributions have kept UConn in the national conversation and thus may have affected the decision of other top recruits.I think the presence of Bueckers will be such a blessing for Sarah. Paige will take the heat from the media, she’s a proven bucket getter, and can make those big plays in big moments. It gives Sarah the space to be incredibly effective without the pressures freshman like Juju and Hidalgo experienced this year. Our roster is stacked on paper, but very inexperienced when you factor in all of the time missed with injuries. There’s opportunity there for her to claim lots of plying time, and even fight to be our 2nd or 3rd option. To me it’s a great space for her to be as a freshman, and likely step into a leadership role alongside hopefully a healthy fudd as a sophomore.
Actually, she’s got two more shots.Well you never know. Bueckers was supposed to lead UCONN to multiple titles. As of now, she's got 1 more shot at 1. Unfortunately, things happen.
What Sarah provides is hope and power. When you have a number 1 recruit some point out that a few have not lived up to that. But some have been extra-ordinary. Add this to that Sarah is going to be playing with a guard of extreme supreme ability. That ability spreads to making teammates much better.I expect that Sarah will contribute significantly her freshman year. Both of her parents are players and her dad is her coach. She has the fundamentals down pat, she is very coachable, and is a very hard worker. She came to UConn to improve and be pushed. She said that she doesn't care where she plays, she'll play wherever she is needed. Which shows how much of a team player she is. She has plenty of international experience and from what I've seen pressure doesn't seem to bother her. To me, she can play the 1-5 positions. I'm sure she will make some freshman mistakes, but I don't think we will be disappointed.
One year at a time....Just one?
I have seen several people who assume Jana will be starting at center. Upon what information is that based? She has not played a single second of Division 1 basketball. And how many of us regard some Egyptian league as a standard of excellence? Most of us didn't even know they played BB in Egypt. I hope you are right, and that she is brilliant. She will have to be because South Carolina already has an athlete on campus who they are touting as the next Boston ( 6'6' "with feet of a ballerina and hands of a coal miner " ). So we are likely outclassed no matter who we play at center. It is demoralizing.I believe Sarah will be a great addition. Starter??? Maybe, perhaps as the season progresses. I can see her at PF (a true #4) and Jana at C (a tru #5). Mix that with any combo of Paige, KK, Ash, Azzi, Aubrey, Q, Ayana, the 2 freshman Guards..and more..more..more!
Geno is going to have a lot of options. Gotta keep the positive energy high and the excitement going.
Sarah need not start on day one, but I hope she earns that role shortly thereafter. We really are likely to have only one player back at the season's onset,from the extensive injury list. Jana should be full healthy. And she has not played one second at this level. Azzi won't be ready until late January? I have no belief Caroline will play a full season again ( she may be fully recovered, but if she gets hit one time , by one ball, she could be gone ); Aubrey got injured late and will return late ( end of February?). Patterson didn't show much the season she arrived. Due to injury? So let's not get all goo-goo eyed at next year's roster, until players are back on the court at full strength. And until then, we have three incoming freshmen, Jana, three fine looking sophomores, and Paige. We may have help in the wings, but not at the beginning.Geno will have 2 months of practice to gage Sarah. I believe Sarah will start from day one and given a chance to show she is the real deal. I believe she is. This Uconn team will have the opportunity and challenge of starting a NEW unbeaten streak to Uconn's 111 win streak/ I purposely avoid the often mentioned In---y Bug words as not mentioned , not happening.