Your original question was “ is Nika the X factor”. In terms of a PG, you pretty much just answered your own question. She’s basically the only factor unless you want to crank up Autumn and fire her in there. And I don’t see that happening.
isn't that true for many young players though? Obviously if Geno didn't see potential beyond just another bench player he wouldn't have traveled to Europe to sign her. I'm not saying she's going to be a starter at UConn because we all know she's not. The question is whether she can play any kind of helpful role off the bench in the next three years. I'm hoping she can.......
We are all hoping for the same thing. I just pointing out that she is here now and we need to get over her prior hype tapes-I would say the same for for any players.
Yes, as a judge might rule, “Asked and answered.” But it’s a little more than Nika being the only factor. I am also laying down the predicate that if she continues to develop and is able to limit her mistakes, she might just be a “good answer” to the guard rotation challenge at UConn. Of course, time will tell.
That is exactly the point. I was very effusive in my praise of Nika based on those tapes. In addition to overlooking her "perceived" short coming as a shooter I also projected her to be a very useful to UCONN on perimeter defense. The Nika in those videos is not performing like the Nika currently in a UCONN uniform. I listed a list of reason why that might be; "the level of competition, the ability to finish and the physique". To clarify the level of competition is the difference between where she was in Croatia and DI competition she is facing now. It happens to many high school players not just Nika. I was not expecting her to come in and perform as Paige has nor was I expecting Piage to perform as well as she has. BTW Coombs was not lacking offensively she was McDonalds AA and averaged over 25 Points per game in HS and had a reliable (although somewhat quirky) jump shot.
hey don't laugh at 14%...........she was at 0% for the entire season.........one good shooting game and she's golden!!.........
Yea making a layup of two might also shut this whole thread down then I've have to find something else to complain about. 
I have to comment on the idea that Mikayla Coombs had a reliable jump shot in HS, something she’s never demonstrated at UConn or UGA. Other than on her HS highlight tapes, where she makes 100% of all her outside shots because they wouldn’t be included in a highlight tape if she didn’t make them, there is little indication that Coombs possessed a reliable jump shot.
One thing that Coombs has done well which I did not expect is playmaking.
Yes, as I’ve said before, when UConn signed her she appeared to check all the boxes: great defender, talented athlete, ability to attack the basket and good passer. While her ability to shoot the ball was suspect, I don’t think Geno and his staff had any idea how fundamentally flawed her shooting mechanics were.
Your request was for suggestion to alter the rotation for this season. Awful myopic of you to just be looking at the next game for which Saylor will likely not be available.
No, I actually appreciate the fact that you answered my inquiry. I just don’t think Saylor will have an impact this season, although I would be delighted to be proven incorrect.Your request was for suggestion to alter the rotation for this season. Awful myopic of you to just be looking at the next game for which Saylor will likely not be available.
I don't see how they could have missed it. They had to have decided to overlook it. I don't know about them but the first thing I look at is if the kid can shoot. They either can or they can't. At that point I'd decide if it's fixable and if I don't think it is, they'd have to be elite in the other areas or I'm moving on. But of course that's their business and recruiting prerogative they followed. What's surprising to me is that neither she nor they seem to have attempted any changes. It's not like there was any risk to her results involved. And that would include her HS coach.
We don’t know what went on at practice with Coombs shot, but IMO, by the time you get through HS, with fundamentally flawed shooting mechanics, it’s almost impossible to correct.
I agree with you that it should have been noticed and fixed in HS or UCONN. I also could understand why it wasn't. At UCONN there simply isn't enough time and I struggle to think of any player who has rebuilt shot mechanics while playing for a top 10 program. In HS is the classic problem. 99.9999 of HS & AAU coaches don't have a player as talented as Mikayla. Those that do are so happy with having a player of that caliber improvement is the last thing on their minds.
To me it looks like pretty much nothing. She was the same going out as she was coming in. I agree that in some cases bad mechanics can be unfixable. I won't bore anyone with details but I believe hers were correctable.
I 100% agree with your AAU reasoning however I'll throw out one name who just fixed her own this past offseason. Aaliyah Boston, from the foul line and 3 point line. Plus she's done in one offseason what ONO hasn't done in 2 at UConn, she's learned how to turn and shoot a jumpshot AND a baby hook with no dribble. The kid just has to know they need it and want it.
I’ve seldom seen worse shooting mechanics. Coombs sort of slings the ball from her waist. You would almost need to completely scrap her current mechanics and start from scratch. I guess it’s possible to fix, but it would be the basketball equivalent of Anne Sullivan teaching Helen Keller to communicate, kind of a basketball miracle worker.
LMAO, if she calls me I'll still give it a shot!
LOL, wish I knew how to do this stuff.
