How will Sarah do as a freshman? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

How will Sarah do as a freshman?

Charliebball said:
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........;)
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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.
 
DEpup said:
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.
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What about Paige?

Sales?

I thought KK was equivalaent to Shade.
 
If we are talking about being in UConn shape, Paige was skinny and didn't really have the strength in my opinion day one. Her talent allowed her to compensate. Paige is at a whole other level now.

I am not old enough to speak about Sales with any authority.

KK in my opinion didn't start out with the conditioning that Shade had and that's why Shade had more early success before KK started catching up. Shade doesn't even break a sweat. You could tell me she was bionic and I'd half believe you.
 
Sarah has starting talent. When and if she gets into Uconn shape, she ll definitely be starting and qualify for AA status. She has all the skill set already. I expect she will adjust to D1 speed by the beginning of her freshman year, i.e., adjust during the first summer sessions. I'd add KK to the list of portential AA's in the future, like maybe her junior year
 
Blueberries said:
Just one?
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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.
 
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Once again we will be putting very high expectations on an incoming freshman.
 
Ozimoto said:
Once again we will be putting very high expectations on an incoming freshman.
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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.
 
Sara has it all..she does have to get in better shape but she's admitted that.Watching the MD AA game she has a terrifict shot but her passing is elite..she may take over from Clark as the best passer in wcbb..that's how good she is
Morgan was so so in that game but Ziebell is supposedly the best 3 point shot comin out and showed it in the MDAA winning the 3 point contest
 
Rb335 said:
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.
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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.
 
There's always the transitional moments over the summer and fall for the fans.

Before, the recruits are just names and stats, a few highlight videos, and a ton of our unrealistic expectations. All we think about is what might be possible.

After the first pressers, when we actually get to see them in UConn gear and answering questions, we recognize them as kids, full of hope and bluster and nervous about the new adventure.

Finally, in the first couple of games in November, they'll be sitting on the bench watching the veterans play and eager to get in the game themselves. And once they get on the floor, nervous as cats and fumble-fingered, they'll be mortified by little mistakes.

Eventually, they'll develop the confidence Geno's program is designed to produce, they'll have honed their skills and learned the ways of the team and figured out Geno's schemes, and they'll be a joy to watch.
 
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.
 
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KCD said:
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.
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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.

We have an insdie-out player that appears like she can be a relentless offensive player. And it looks like she's going to be a brutal rebounder. Year 1 playing with Paige - there is a possibility of some extremely special play.
 
Me likey ...

1712854278633.jpeg
 
I haven't watched hours of Sarah playing basketball but from what I have seen she is the first player in a long while that can be a spot up shooter from 3pt range. She is smooth and can shoot that range with very little effort. She is also taller than many other options UConn has on the wings and that will also be a plus.

What does she need to work on prior to next season in my opinion? Her conditioning and her strength in general. She currently has the conditioning level you would expect for a high school player but to contribute for UConn she will need to be in college shape and expect she will by November.
 
PAHuskeyFan said:
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.
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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.
 
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I’ve only seen Sarah Strong in McD’s All Star Game, and the various videos in circulation, but she has a killer shit iut to 3, and a good handle. It remains to be seen how long it will take her to get in UConn shape, especially on defense. Once she gets there, she will be a force.
 
Next 12 said:
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.
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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.
 
If you are going to cast the shadow of #1 recruits who came to UConn and how they performed in their freshman year, you should include everyone one of those #1 recruits. You will find that they did depend primarily on roster composition and how they adjusted to GA and the coaches, including style of play.....of course, beyond their own specific personalities. Most of them did well and most became starters as the year moved on, unless they were injured (e.g. Azzi Fudd) or the roster was loaded in their position.

Given the evident skill set and size of Ms. Strong, she does have an open berth to compete for with likely Ayanna Paterson. Because of her shooting range and passing skills, she may eventually have an advantage over Ayanna but the two together would allow good and flexible coverage of a post position (PF) - she could even be deployed on the wing against big teams. How her skill set that one can see is very good is deployed by her with confidence will determine how she is used.

If her passing skills are anywhere near as good as Gabby Williams, which could go with Paige's, you would likely see the best of UConn's movement patterns continued at a high level. This, to go with her rebounding potential, would help elevate the team on areas missed this past year because of injuries.

And, if all the injured players come in full health and play at the level they were capable of, UConn would be a more complete and flexible team able to counter any roster combination they will face.

UConn will be more motivated to win every game they play next year and if Ms. Strong delivers enough of what has been advertised, it would give them a good margin of error......that might see season-end without a loss.

Keeping fingers crossed, especially for the return of Azzi and Caroline to their full potential and for Jana to finally have a chance to show the kind of player she is (if you believe the coach).
 
Rowdy831 said:
I haven't watched hours of Sarah playing basketball but from what I have seen she is the first player in a long while that can be a spot up shooter from 3pt range. She is smooth and can shoot that range with very little effort. She is also taller than many other options UConn has on the wings and that will also be a plus.

What does she need to work on prior to next season in my opinion? Her conditioning and her strength in general. She currently has the conditioning level you would expect for a high school player but to contribute for UConn she will need to be in college shape and expect she will by November.
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Strength is there
Im
Sure conditioning will be
And yes she shoots effortlessly from 3
And im
Convinced she will
Score in the post as well!’
 
Rb335 said:
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.
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Juju and Hidalgo did pretty well, the last time I looked...pressure and all
 
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Its really hard to say who will start but if everyone is healthy we have
Paige
Azzi
Caroline
KK
Shade and
Aubrey who are proven starters.

Then we have Ice, Q and Ayanna who we pretty much know their skill set but have only had one year. Will they improve over the summer now that they know what its like and what they need to improve on?

And last we have
Jana
Morgan
Allie and
Sarah who come with high recommendations but who we havent seen play against college talent.

Its really hard to say who will emerge as our starting 5.
 
msf22b said:
Juju and Hidalgo did pretty well, the last time I looked...pressure and all
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Last time I looked our number 1 player is returning in which she made less heralded freshmen this past year shine in big moments, and will probably be much better support for our current #1 recruit than your Juju and Hidalgo had.
 
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BBallF said:
Do not be surprised if you see Sarah in the starting lineup at some point during the season if not in the opener.
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She may not start game 1, but I'd be extremely suprised that she isn't starting when our 1st game vs a tough team begins.
All the players (projected at 4/5) that either played or were hurt have not had a season they would be penciled/locked in. Sarah's strengths are more impactful. IMO I can't see them risking a game just to make a point that you don't start freshmen even if they are much superior. IMO that philosophy has long since passed.
 
hoophuskee said:
She may not start game 1, but I'd be extremely suprised that she isn't starting when our 1st game vs a tough team begins.
All the players (projected at 4/5) that either played or were hurt have not had a season they would be penciled/locked in. Sarah's strengths are more impactful. IMO I can't see them risking a game just to make a point that you don't start freshmen even if they are much superior. IMO that philosophy has long since passed.
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Not that Geno ever had that philosophy. Paige started from Day 1, as did Katie Lou Samuelson, Stef Dolson, Renee Montgomery, and many others.
 
hoophuskee said:
Last time I looked our number 1 player is returning in which she made less heralded freshmen this past year shine in big moments, and will probably be much better support for our current #1 recruit than your Juju and Hidalgo had.
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Jury's out and your answer is not exactly responsive to my post.
If your point is that Page's presence assists the development of frosh...Absolutely, I agree.

But Juju and Hidalgo did more than shine...they were immediate stars with or without (seemingly without) a mentor figure.
 
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