How will the minutes be distributed to all players next season?

[uconnfan68]

You’re all nutty. The minutes will be doled out just like any other year... minute by minute. Paige absolutely will not get 35 minutes a game. My prediction is no one averages over 30. Most don’t go over 25.

 

[cbraarj]

Luckily they already played the 1999-2000 season, no guessing where the minutes went. With Keirsten Walters not playing, only 12 players but still no player with over 28.4 min/gm. I found the minutes played by Sue, Svetlana and Shea at 28.4 to be, "can these three really have played the same minutes for the season?" I had to go back and recheck, sure enough that's what the media guide has, and provided here as well.

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With that team having 2 previously starters now 9-10 in the rotation shows how much talent they had. Geno told them he had to play the younger players. This years team is not as talented as the 2000 team was. Liv needs to step up or Geno will sit her next year just like Paige and Stacey. This team needs to establish chemistry on the court and make teams have to play there game instead of their opponents game. The players who will get the most minutes will be Christyn, Paige Evina, Liya, Azzi, Dorka, Nika, Deberry, Ducharme and Olivia. The others will be limited.

 

[cbraarj]

What if Geno created a designated “press team” and played them at strategically appropriate times during the game? With the incredible depth of this team it seems to me that having a rotating “press” squad of Aubrey, Mir, Nika, Christyn, and Liv say, that would come in and press full court, balls to the wall for 3 minutes, disrupt the other team completely, then bring the offensive team back in until the next strategic moment and then repeat. The players wouldn’t have to be locked in to those roles, we have enough talent where they could rotate in and out of the press team and assuming they are good enough offensively, they could rotate on the offensive team as well. I’m certainly not saying which players would be best suited for the pressing role or how often to implement it, just that it seems possible that it could be an effective way to utilize all the talent we are going to have over the next three - five years. Thoughts?

That press team only has 1 legitimate scorer and I don't see that happening at all. Mir and Aubrey are going to have a hard time getting in the rotation unless they improve on the offensive end.

 

[Bald Husky]

I think last year Geno got a false sense of security with Livs play against the Big Least, oh my bad, Big Easts schools. In most of those games she did very well, although she did struggle with a few of them. I'm sure after the end of our recent NC quest, he was privately really disappointed with her play, but I think he won't make the same mistake again next year. He knows with the talent he has now, and with another NC slipping away, he has to develop the new talent, and use the opportunity to set the tone for the next 4 years starting now. She may start, but her minutes will be drastically reduced, allowing the other bigs, even Amari, to get quality minutes. He knows that he can't waste a year having Liv as his main "big". The NC goal starts now, and I think he knows what to do.

 

[SVCBeercats]

So what happens to Piath, Saylor, Autumn, Mir, Aubrey, and Amari?

Same thing that happens every year to those who are not included in the trusted 6 to 8 player rotation - cheer squad and supporters. If they are smart and ambitious, they begin to plan their training, practice, and development for the next season in order to be in the trusted rotation. Having said that, my long, l o n g shot bet is on Piath as a surprise breakout player.

 

[uconnfan68]

Same thing that happens every year to those who are not included in the trusted 6 to 8 player rotation - cheer squad and supporters. If they are smart and ambitious, they begin to plan their training, practice, and development for the next season in order to be in the trusted rotation. Having said that, my long, l o n g shot bet is on Piath as a surprise breakout player.

I thought she (Piath) showed a few good moments late last year. I'm hopeful that she develops a good BB-IQ to help her rebounding and shot-blocking.

 

[Dokey]

Play the 5 best players 85% of the minutes and then let injuries and fouls determine the remainder of the minutes.

That is the way to guarantee we fail once again to win NC.

 

[AmeriConn]

Thank you for playing.

Another Happy Customer!

 

[Bigboote]

I think people are selling Saylor short. Anyone who thinks she's primarily a three-point shooter hasn't seen much of her. I would love to see her be Olivia's backup at the high post on offense. She's a crazy good passer, can put the ball on the floor and shoot from just about anywhere -- just the kid of player I'd want there. And she is an able individual defender and a great team defender. Even though she looked lost on the court late this year, those extra three months she'll have over the incoming freshmen will make a difference.

 

[dtbtbtb]

I'll give it a shot:
Paige: 25 min.
CW: 20 min.
AE: 19 min.
ONO: 18 min.
: 18 min.
EW: 18 min.
NM: 18 min.
DJ: 18 min.
AG: 12 min.
Caroline Ducharme: 10 min.
AD: 10 min.
SP: 5 min.
MM: 5 min.
PG: 2 min.
AC: 2 in.
Total: 200 min.
It will make a lot of players not very happy but it is close to impossible to keep so many good players happy with their minutes.

 

[Camiam88]

I'll give it a shot:
Paige: 25 min.
CW: 20 min.
AE: 19 min.
ONO: 18 min.
: 18 min.
EW: 18 min.
NM: 18 min.
DJ: 18 min.
AG: 12 min.
Caroline Ducharme: 10 min.
AD: 10 min.
SP: 5 min.
MM: 5 min.
PG: 2 min.
AC: 2 in.
Total: 200 min.
It will make a lot of players not very happy but it is close to impossible to keep so many good players happy with their minutes.

This feels the most accurate yet to me, give it take a few of the middle crew’s minutes (Nika down to Amari) getting moved up, probably to Paige and Azzi. I do think the odds of Paige playing less than 28-30 mpg are small, and I think Azzi will eventually clock at least 20. So take a minute or two from each of NM-AD and give it to paige/azzi/CW and I think we are in business here.

 

[Stymie]

What if Geno created a designated “press team” and played them at strategically appropriate times during the game? With the incredible depth of this team it seems to me that having a rotating “press” squad of Aubrey, Mir, Nika, Christyn, and Liv say, that would come in and press full court, balls to the wall for 3 minutes, disrupt the other team completely, then bring the offensive team back in until the next strategic moment and then repeat. The players wouldn’t have to be locked in to those roles, we have enough talent where they could rotate in and out of the press team and assuming they are good enough offensively, they could rotate on the offensive team as well. I’m certainly not saying which players would be best suited for the pressing role or how often to implement it, just that it seems possible that it could be an effective way to utilize all the talent we are going to have over the next three - five years. Thoughts?

This is an approach that I somewhat have in mind.

 

[CTBballfan243]

This feels the most accurate yet to me, give it take a few of the middle crew’s minutes (Nika down to Amari) getting moved up, probably to Paige and Azzi. I do think the odds of Paige playing less than 28-30 mpg are small, and I think Azzi will eventually clock at least 20. So take a minute or two from each of NM-AD and give it to paige/azzi/CW and I think we are in business here.

Paige isn’t playing less than 30 minutes a game. Just not happening.

 

[DEpup]

Paige isn’t playing less than 30 minutes a game. Just not happening.

This will be a maturation step for her.... I predict she will be in the 25-28 min range in most BE games. Probably 30-32 in big games.

I think she will be fine when she realizes her friends will get minutes if she sits and takes a breather. If she doesn't and demands to be a ball hog, her friends have to sit the bench. That wouldn't represent leadership, maturity, and professionalism.

With her skill, she should be able to be as much a help to her teammates from the sideline as on the court.

They need to be able to run offense without her.

 

[oldhusky]

Of course no one, including Geno and staff, have any idea about where the minutes will go next year but it sure is fun speculating about it. Last year so much was debated on Paige starting/not starting. There may have been ore or two people out there that made the call that she would lead the team in scoring. But the vast majority of us couldn't envision Paige just taking over the team from Day 1!!

For a moment, let's just imagine that Azzi arrives with guns a blazin' and Geno figures out after about 3 practices (like he confessed he did with Paige) that she is another 'generational' player who needs to be on the floor 35 minutes a game with her bestie Paige. It could happen!! And if it does we are in for a bigger minute squeeze than we thought! I do agree with many on BY that the minutes will be widely spread for most of BE games but when we play the heavy hitters I doubt Geno will play more than 7-8 players unless we see big offseason improvements with our #8-12 players.

Last year was probably my all-time favorite year of spectating UCONN Women's hoops but I have a very strong feeling that with Azzi, Dorka and the rest of the excellent newbies joining the party, 2021-22 will raise the bar again!!! Go Huskies

I guess the part of this I question, is not expecting Geno to go more than 7-8 players in the big games "unless we see big offseason improvements with our #8-12 players." You are completely right that Geno's track record when he doesn't trust all the BE rotation is to shorten it up. But it doesn't even require big offseason improvement because 8-12 last year and 8-12 this year can be completely different. Many of last year's 8-12 are in essence being upgraded and replaced by better incoming players. Piath doesn't have to improve, we have Amari instead. Mir doesn't have to improve, we have Dorka. Anna is gone but she is clearly improved with Azzi. Carolyn might very well be an improvement on Saylor.

It is possible that not one of those 8-12 players last year will be in the top 10 this year. I hope they do improve, but feel if Geno goes more than 7-8 deep against the good teams, it is far more likely it is because the additions were the real deal, than the improvement of Mir, Saylor, Piath or Autumn.

 

[hoophuskee]

The best player in wcbb - Paige- is not going get anything less than 29 minutes.

What if Geno created a designated “press team” and played them at strategically appropriate times during the game? With the incredible depth of this team it seems to me that having a rotating “press” squad of Aubrey, Mir, Nika, Christyn, and Liv say, that would come in and press full court, balls to the wall for 3 minutes, disrupt the other team completely, then bring the offensive team back in until the next strategic moment and then repeat. The players wouldn’t have to be locked in to those roles, we have enough talent where they could rotate in and out of the press team and assuming they are good enough offensively, they could rotate on the offensive team as well. I’m certainly not saying which players would be best suited for the pressing role or how often to implement it, just that it seems possible that it could be an effective way to utilize all the talent we are going to have over the next three - five years. Thoughts?

Any lineup in a big game that takes out the best player in wcbb and possibly Azzi is just as good if not better - without keeping one in --is a horrible idea.

Just because we say "press the other team" doesn't mean it's going to work. And there's a possibility that this "press team" costs you the game. And to think as the coach you're getting all these superstars and you go back on the recruiting trail trying to get the next Paige - how do you think they will react that you sat not only one but 2 superstars in a huge game which your move clearly cost the team the game?

You think "the next Paige" is going to want to play knowing her coach is going to sit her or another superstar instead of "letting at least one of them play?"

What you're suggesting is reckless imo.

 

[hoophuskee]

I'll give it a shot:
Paige: 25 min.
CW: 20 min.
AE: 19 min.
ONO: 18 min.
: 18 min.
EW: 18 min.
NM: 18 min.
DJ: 18 min.
AG: 12 min.
Caroline Ducharme: 10 min.
AD: 10 min.
SP: 5 min.
MM: 5 min.
PG: 2 min.
AC: 2 in.
Total: 200 min.
It will make a lot of players not very happy but it is close to impossible to keep so many good players happy with their minutes.

With this type of lineup I guess what you're saying is that you are sick and tired of getting the best player in WCBB and getting number 1 ranked h/s recruits.

Final Fours are not enough too? And if UCONN can't win it all - might as well blow the whole thing up?

Because the next Paige and the next Azzi are not going to come to UCONN with this lineup. You're suggesting benching Paige and Azzi who might be the top two players in wcbb for 37 of 80 minutes.

Yes there are potentially a lot of good players on this team but potentially Paige and Azzi are not just "good players" they are "superstars." How does just giving your superstars only 54% court-time make the team better? Nearly every team that has won a title is playing their superstar player well over 30 minutes per game -- so we should ignore that by punishing the superstars?

They'll just eventually go to other schools. Then the UCONN women could be just like the men. On that board they are over-the-top ecstatic when they get a number 30 ranked recruit.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Because the next Paige and the next Azzi are not going to come to UCONN with this lineup. You're suggesting benching Paige and Azzi who might be the top two players in wcbb for 37 of 80 minutes.

Yes there are potentially a lot of good players on this team but potentially Paige and Azzi are not just "good players" they are "superstars." How does just giving your superstars only 54% court-time make the team better? Nearly every team that has won a title is playing their superstar player well over 30 minutes per game -- so we should ignore that by punishing the superstars?

This seems a bit excessive. We don't really know how well Fudd is going to play. She has been in few competitive games since the summer of 2019 and was not yet back to old self when she returned. It's kinda presumptive to expect her to get massive minutes, especially with a loaded roster. As for Paige, Geno himself acknowledged she was playing way too many minutes this past season out of necessity. It's highly unlikely she will be at 36 per game again. If that gets scaled back to, say, 30 a game that's not all that big a difference from 25.

 

[hoophuskee]

This seems a bit excessive. We don't really know how well Fudd is going to play. She has been in few competitive games since the summer of 2019 and was not yet back to old self when she returned. It's kinda presumptive to expect her to get massive minutes, especially with a loaded roster. As for Paige, Geno himself acknowledged she was playing way too many minutes this past season out of necessity. It's highly unlikely she will be at 36 per game again. If that gets scaled back to, say, 30 a game that's not all that big a difference from 25.

Massive minutes? He or she is projecting 18. How is that massive? To further that, how much you want to bet she averages more than 18 minutes?

Secondly, I didn't say in my post that Paige is going to get as many minutes as she got last year. I said she'll get at least 29 (I made a mistake I said in prior post 30 not 29. she'll (Paige) get 29-30 minutes average.). That's a 6 minute decline. SO maybe she gets 30 or 31. It's still a decline.

In terms of minutes for guard superstars, check the history of super elite guards at UCONN that were regarded as one of the best 5 players in the nation of which Paige is 1st. After their 1st year can you find me even one that would play so few minutes of 25?

I just want to make it clear my post said nothing to what you are referring to about 36 minutes unless you are talking about a super tight game they need to win? I do think though in big games she'll get 36+ minutes as many superstar guards get if the game is tight. But she will not average 36- for sure.

And I disagree with you BIG TIME about 25 minutes vs 30 is not a big deal as an AVERAGE FOR A SEASON. You heard how Geno said late in season that Paige was telling him how he "owes her minutes." And I think you'll recall that it was stated in one of the Stewart-era games that Geno got wind of a player (or more) deliberately missing a foul shot so she can remain in the game.

 

[hoophuskee]

Massive minutes? He or she is projecting 18. How is that massive? To further that, how much you want to bet she averages more than 18 minutes?

Secondly, I didn't say in my post that Paige is going to get as many minutes as she got last year. I said she'll get at least 29. That's a 7 minute decline. SO maybe she gets 30 or 31. It's still a decline.

In terms of minutes for guard superstars, check the history of super elite guards at UCONN that were regarded as one of the best 5 players in the nation of which Paige is 1st. After their 1st year can you find me even one that would play so few minutes of 25?

I just want to make it clear my post said nothing to what you are referring to about 36 minutes unless you are talking about a super tight game they need to win? I do think though in big games she'll get 36+ minutes as many superstar guards get if the game is tight. But she will not average 36- for sure.

And I disagree with you BIG TIME about 25 minutes vs 30 is not a big deal as an AVERAGE FOR A SEASON. You heard how Geno said late in season that Paige was telling him how he "owes her minutes." And I think you'll recall that it was stated in one of the Stewart-era games that Geno got wind of a player (or more) deliberately missing a foul shot so she can remain in the game.

Sorry I said 30 minutes. I thought I said 29.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Massive minutes? He or she is projecting 18. How is that massive? To further that, how much you want to bet she averages more than 18 minutes?

Secondly, I didn't say in my post that Paige is going to get as many minutes as she got last year. I said she'll get at least 29. That's a 7 minute decline. SO maybe she gets 30 or 31. It's still a decline.

In terms of minutes for guard superstars, check the history of super elite guards at UCONN that were regarded as one of the best 5 players in the nation of which Paige is 1st. After their 1st year can you find me even one that would play so few minutes of 25?

I just want to make it clear my post said nothing to what you are referring to about 36 minutes unless you are talking about a super tight game they need to win? I do think though in big games she'll get 36+ minutes as many superstar guards get if the game is tight. But she will not average 36- for sure.

And I disagree with you BIG TIME about 25 minutes vs 30 is not a big deal as an AVERAGE FOR A SEASON. You heard how Geno said late in season that Paige was telling him how he "owes her minutes." And I think you'll recall that it was stated in one of the Stewart-era games that Geno got wind of a player (or more) deliberately missing a foul shot so she can remain in the game.

You are the one projecting relatively massive minutes, not the poster suggesting 18 that you thought was offensive.

You think Bueckers will get "at least 29 minutes" which could be 29 minutes, but you went berserk over the suggestion she'd get 25 minutes.

I never claimed you said Bueckers would play 36 minutes.

As for what other UConn greats have gotten, one has to look at the situations. How were the teams constructed overall and at those positions?

 

[hoophuskee]

You are the one projecting relatively massive minutes, not the poster suggesting 18 that you thought was offensive.

You think Bueckers will get "at least 29 minutes" which could be 29 minutes, but you went berserk over the suggestion she'd get 25 minutes.

I never claimed you said Bueckers would play 36 minutes.

As for what other UConn greats have gotten, one has to look at the situations. How were the teams constructed overall and at those positions?

Please point to the post where I said Azzi is going to get "massive minutes?" My post replied ot the poster that was giving Azzi 18 minutes. Read that poster. He said 18 for Azzi and 25 for Paige. That's 43 of 80 minutes. Again if you don't think Azzi will get 18 minutes on average I'll be happy to bet you.

And now you are exaggerating that I went "bezerk? So I disagree with someone and that means I went bezerk?

How are teams constructed that have won titles - they have used their star players as much as they could. Do I really need to bring up the stats for Maya and Stewart?

As far as 36 minutes you pulled that out for some reason and as I replied to you- read my post I said "I want to make it clear I didn't say it . . ."
I'm allowed to do that, right? You pulled 36 minutes out which had nothing to do with my post, right?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

To further that, how much you want to bet she averages more than 18 minutes?

Taurasi averaged 24 minutes a game as a freshman on a team about 9 deep in quality players, a number that surely was higher due to Abrosimova missing 16 games and Ralph missing 5. I don't have the individual boxscores, but I'd wager DT was closer to 22 in games all three of them played. Would 22 minutes a game for Fudd be an insult?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Please point to the post where I said Azzi is going to get "massive minutes?" My post replied ot the poster that was giving Azzi 18 minutes. Read that poster. He said 18 for Azzi and 25 for Paige. That's 43 of 80 minutes. Again if you don't think Azzi will get 18 minutes on average I'll be happy to bet you.

And now you are exaggerating that I went "bezerk? So I disagree with someone and that means I went bezerk?

How are teams constructed that have won titles - they have used their star players as much as they could. Do I really need to bring up the stats for Mya and Stewart?

As far as 36 minutes you puled that out for some reason and as I replied to you- read my post I said "I want to make it clear I didn't say it . . ."
I'm allowed to do that, right? You pulled 36 minutes out which had nothing to do with my post, right?

Suggesting elite prospects will turn down UConn because a freshman might only get 18 minutes a game is out there, however you wanna label it.

Yes, I brought up Paige's 36 minutes to make a point. I'm allowed to do that.

 

[hoophuskee]

Taurasi averaged 24 minutes a game as a freshman on a team about 9 deep in quality players, a number that surely was higher due to Abrosimova missing 16 games and Ralph missing 5. I don't have the individual boxscores, but I'd wager DT was closer to 22 in games all three of them played. Would 22 minutes a game for Fudd be an insult?

I just want to be clear here which point are we arguing Paige or Azzi?

Okay so we are no longer arguing Paige, right? SO you have accepted Paige will get 29-30 minutes and that poster that suggested 25 you don't agree with as well? Or are you arguing Paige with me here also as well as Azzi?

Otherwise tell me which player you are arguing - Paige or Azzi.

 

[hoophuskee]

Suggesting elite prospects will turn down UConn because a freshman might only get 18 minutes a game is out there, however you wanna label it.

Yes, I brought up Paige's 36 minutes to make a point. I'm allowed to do that.

And Im allowed to clarify my point as well. to make it clear I didn't say it. That's all I said. I said "I want to make it clear . . ." I'm allowed to say that.

And I think it's out there to suggest an elite guard of Azzi's stature will be fine taking 18 minutes - if you don't think other superstars won't pay attention - they do for minutes- don't they? You know it's possible Azzi will be elite early on, right?

If you wan to ignore Paige snipping at Geno for minutes and players missing free throws to stay in the game so be it. - Then believe what you will. UCONN loses players because of fear of minutes. Now Azzi might be a superstar and you think it okay possibly only give her 18?

 

[pvdoggy]

And Im allowed to clarify my point as well. to make it clear I didn't say it. That's all I said. I said "I want to make it clear . . ." I'm allowed to say that.

And I think it's out there to suggest an elite guard of Azzi's stature will be fine taking 18 minutes - if you don't think other superstars won't pay attention - they do for minutes- don't they? You know it's possible Azzi will be elite early on, right?

If you wan to ignore Paige snipping at Geno for minutes and players missing free throws to stay in the game so be it. - Then believe what you will. UCONN loses players because of fear of minutes. Now Azzi might be a superstar and you think it okay possibly only give her 18?

I don't know how to find the old stat but just out of curiosity, how many min per game did Breanna Stewart (one of the great college players) play as a freshman?

 

[hoophuskee]

I don't know how to find the old stat but just out of curiosity, how many min per game did Breanna Stewart (one of the great college players) play as a freshman?

Yahoo Sports if I am reading it right had her at 22 during reg season.
And in post season 31.

 

[pvdoggy]

Yahoo Sports if I am reading it right had her at 22 during reg season.
And in post season 31.

Thanks, hard to tell from individual games stat (too lazy to tally it myself) from the archive stat on the Uconn website. There were many games in her freshman year where BS only got 12-15 min per game. She avg 29 min/game in her sophomore year (as you expect Paige to do so next year). This past year is an aberration with Paige avg 36 min/game because of the lack of guard depth on the team.

 

[hoophuskee]

Thanks, hard to tell from individual games stat (too lazy to tally it myself) from the archive stat on the Uconn website. There were many games in her freshman year where BS only got 12-15 min per game. She avg 29 min/game in her sophomore year (as you expect Paige to do so next year). This past year is an aberration with Paige avg 36 min/game because of the lack of guard depth on the team.

Absolutely no way Paige is going to get 36 or 35 or 34. I think about 29-30 is about right. Azzi has knee issues has played very very little in comparison of what she was used to before her injury. I don't see 30, 29 or 28 with her. But I don't see 18 unless her knee is bothering her etc.