Is UConn's Roster A Forward Short?

[Charliebball]

He could make a play for Azura as many have noted.

I would be thrilled if she came north to UConn but remember she has to sit out a year.................this would actually really help her game in my estimation................and after watching the highly rated bigs at Boo Williams today, I would gladly give Azura one of the Huskie's scholarship spots even if for only two years..................................she's miles ahead of anybody that I observed

 

[BroadwayVa]

He could make a play for Azura as many have noted.

It would appear there as many who think Geno will not "make a play for Azura" as believe he shall. I have day dreams that he'd at least check out the possibilities. There are those that believe he won't accept most transfers (Butler came recommended by people Geno trusts). Juco's ? Boo? It may be premature (yes it is) to think a very sick (must have been to be hospitalized) Geno will leave a recovery platform and toddle after a "potential" recruit. Remember he is after all 62 and in recovery.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I would be thrilled if she came north to UConn but remember she has to sit out a year.......this would actually really help her game in my estimation......and after watching the highly rated bigs at Boo Williams today, I would gladly give Azura one of the Huskie's scholarship spots even if for only two years.........she's miles ahead of anybody that I observed

I too would be welcoming her with open arms --even if we must wait 1 year to see her talent. That one year, if used properly, could acquaint her with Geno's methods, the seriousness of his practices and for her to learn some new ways of looking at her position.
All this without ever speaking to Delores Hart in Bethlehem

 

[Charliebball]

It would appear there as many who think Geno will not "make a play for Azura" as believe he shall. I have day dreams that he'd at least check out the possibilities. There are those that believe he won't accept most transfers (Butler came recommended by people Geno trusts). Juco's ? Boo? It may be premature (yes it is) to think a very sick (must have been to be hospitalized) Geno will leave a recovery platform and toddle after a "potential" recruit. Remember he is after all 62 and in recovery.

I simply don't understand this concept that "UConn doesn't take transfers"...................so that means that if Stewie had gone to Syracuse and after two years decided that she'd made a huge mistake and wanted to transfer to UConn, Geno would say sorry, we don't do transfers??? Somehow I think he might make an exception................

From my perspective, I can understand that transfers are not optimal and can be disruptive to the team concept.......................however when conditions are such that a specific transfer player can fill a major hole in the roster brought about by injury, transfer or graduation, I say go for it..............................

 

[BroadwayVa]

I simply don't understand this concept that "UConn doesn't take transfers"....so that means that if Stewie had gone to Syracuse and after two years decided that she'd made a huge mistake and wanted to transfer to UConn, Geno would say sorry, we don't do transfers??? Somehow I think he might make an exception......

From my perspective, I can understand that transfers are not optimal and can be disruptive to the team concept........however when conditions are such that a specific transfer player can fill a major hole in the roster brought about by injury, transfer or graduation, I say go for it.....

Charlie---Obviously Geno does NOT have a hard fast rule on Transfers--he took Natalie. You presented some reasons not to take some.
But our problem here is: We are trying to understand and read Geno's mind. But who knows maybe Stevens hasn't made it known she wants Uconn, maybe some one from the UConn admin contacted her as was rejected OR may be both Stevens and Uconn are trying to work their way thru the process for her to transfer.
No matter what--Charlie, I too would like to see Stevens playing for Uconn --much more than I'd like her at USC, UTn, ND, Baylor, Tx,or even Lullyville

 

[Charliebball]

Charlie---Obviously Geno does NOT have a hard fast rule on Transfers--he took Natalie. You presented some reasons not to take some.
But our problem here is: We are trying to understand and read Geno's mind. But who knows maybe Stevens hasn't made it known she wants Uconn, maybe some one from the UConn admin contacted her as was rejected OR may be both Stevens and Uconn are trying to work their way thru the process for her to transfer.
No matter what--Charlie, I too would like to see Stevens playing for Uconn --much more than I'd like her at USC, UTn, ND, Baylor, Tx,or even Lullyville

I agree with what you are saying...................if a player decides that she does not want to play at UConn that's on her, my sole concern is that the coaches don't get stuck in some antiquated system that just refuses to consider transfers as a possible way to enhance the team..................I would bet that we will never know whether it was made clear to Stevens that UConn was interested (thru intermediaries like everybody else does), that just adds to the frustration about the team's stand on the issue...............as evidenced by NB, I would hope that it is on a case by case basis......................

 

[BroadwayVa]

I agree with what you are saying....if a player decides that she does not want to play at UConn that's on her, my sole concern is that the coaches don't get stuck in some antiquated system that just refuses to consider transfers as a possible way to enhance the team...I would bet that we will never know whether it was made clear to Stevens that UConn was interested (thru intermediaries like everybody else does), that just adds to the frustration about the team's stand on the issue.....as evidenced by NB, I would hope that it is on a case by case basis.......

GOT YA!! You stated frustrations I've seen and lived with all my life---you can't do that! Why not? Because it's always been done this way!!! No you can't talk to her she only talks through the CBS or NBC or the CIA--write down your question and and the Lettered groups will get back to you!!!!!!!! B.S.

Usually Geno and Christine Dailey will never talk about the player or the process before, during or after--they are consummate professionals. But once in a while, probably after the fact, Geno in his frustrations with the system will divulge some bit of relative information.

Your point I think is that Uconn should not stand on Methodology, old processing, or stand-in's . It would seem it should be: Do you want us--We want you!!

 

[HuskyNan]

I agree with what you are saying....if a player decides that she does not want to play at UConn that's on her, my sole concern is that the coaches don't get stuck in some antiquated system that just refuses to consider transfers as a possible way to enhance the team...I would bet that we will never know whether it was made clear to Stevens that UConn was interested (thru intermediaries like everybody else does), that just adds to the frustration about the team's stand on the issue.....as evidenced by NB, I would hope that it is on a case by case basis.......

I don't have any doubt whatsoever Geno would take Azura Stevens in a heartbeat if she wanted to go to UConn.

In general, Geno would prefer not to take transfers because he says it takes a year to two to break players of bad habits. He's had a lot more bad experiences with transfers (Tihana Abrlic, Rashidat Sadiq, Jessica McCormack) than good ones (Brittany Hunter, Rita Williams). But a player the quality of Stevens - or Hunter or the imaginary Stewart transfer mentioned above - would absolutely be worth the risk.

 

[hoophuskee]

The recent news about NC's hip surgery just underlines my level of concern regarding UConn's forwards or lack there of.....I absolutely hope and pray that Ms. Collier has a quick and full recovery.....since she had this injury from the beginning of last season, it's possible that she will be in better shape then she was last year..... if on the other hand the effects of the surgery linger into the regular season, the team will have a gaping hole to fill..even of Kyyla Irwin turns out to be an incredibly quick study, I'm not sure how NC's loss can be overcome through the season....hate to be the voice of doom but I really, really wish they had an additional forward on the roster (yes I know Boykin is the missing piece but that's another story)

She had successful surgery did she not? What does successful surgery mean if she is hurting during the season?

How is that different than being worried any other year with injuries?

You can worry yourself to death over every little thing. But "sometimes" when they report surgery is successful - it really is. And "sometimes" you don't go through impactful injuries.

 

[UcMiami]

Geno has stated he really doesn't like 15 player rosters - 11/12 is his ideal. Protection against injury and not too big that players get lost, under-utilized, individual coaching gets spread too thin, etc. and in scrimmage you have a full 5 player team sitting out all the time.

I doubt there are any players that Uconn has not done enough research on already playing in the 'Unsigned/JC' showcase so I would be mildly surprised if Uconn even sends a coach to that event. Taking a 'flier' on a player they passed on once is not a recipe for happy results - they went down that route earlier in his coaching career with bad results. They might have talent, but they also might screw up team chemistry.

 

[hoophuskee]

Brown and Mompremier will often play together next season. Brown will be the one that Geno can use that strategy on but he will have to deal with the other big, also.

Why can't he double with one of his small forwards while keeping the other big defended by the player that doesn't help out? I know you spoke a lot of your guard - Jones I think - but to me she doesn't look like a pg. Anyhow how much room do you think you are going to have inside? Not saying you can't overwhelm us, but I don't get the "have to deal with the other big" if we double point you made.

I haven't seen enough of your team and know enough about the transfers and other recruits besides Cox. As good as I think Cox is, and is good as I think Nina is, I question why you'd even want to play Brown and Mompremier. Just because they can play together doesn't mean they should. KLS can bring the ball up the court and be a pg, it doesn't mean she should. I agree with you big time for anyone thinking Cox isn't a fit etc. Cox is tremendous and will get minutes in big games - so it's other players that see the bench. There is nothing that will hold her back for minutes. She will BE BETTER than your others (other than Davis) as the season progresses.

 

[Charliebball]

She had successful surgery did she not? What does successful surgery mean if she is hurting during the season?

How is that different than being worried any other year with injuries?

You can worry yourself to death over every little thing. But "sometimes" when they report surgery is successful - it really is. And "sometimes" you don't go through impactful injuries.

Yes I admit I am a born pessimist but this is a pretty significant injury...................from what I've read it's outcome can be more unpredictable then an ACL/MCL tear..............successful surgery means that the doctors have performed the procedure without incident......................that is great news but it tells us nothing about her future condition...................her recovery will hopefully be complete by the time preseason starts but there is no guarantee of that.............there are athletes that have had this procedure that have never fully recovered athletically......................if the team had other players that could take NC's spot I would feel awful for her but a bit better for the team...................from what I can see they don't..................that's the risk you take when you carry very few forwards and only 11 players on your team...................I am always worried about injuries when it comes to UConn, every season for that very reason.................

 

[Charliebball]

Geno has stated he really doesn't like 15 player rosters - 11/12 is his ideal. Protection against injury and not too big that players get lost, under-utilized, individual coaching gets spread too thin, etc. and in scrimmage you have a full 5 player team sitting out all the time.

I doubt there are any players that Uconn has not done enough research on already playing in the 'Unsigned/JC' showcase so I would be mildly surprised if Uconn even sends a coach to that event. Taking a 'flier' on a player they passed on once is not a recipe for happy results - they went down that route earlier in his coaching career with bad results. They might have talent, but they also might screw up team chemistry.

I would agree 11/12 players would be ideal if the players were made of titanium but they are not!!...............last year was amazing in many ways, one being the lack of long term injuries to the starters, well until KLS that is.........................I would think 13, 12 at a minimum is a safer number..........and it's not just total numbers, it's the number of players that can play a specific role on the team..........if Ms. Collier is unavailable, it will significantly weaken front line performance and force UConn to use NB in situations for which she may be ill suited...................I agree with you about that showcase..............I just happened to notice it and thought the timing was somewhat interesting in my state of "desperation"..................I suppose the players available would be serviceable at best, walk-ons at worst............................

 

[hoophuskee]

Yes I admit I am a born pessimist but this is a pretty significant injury....from what I've read it's outcome can be more unpredictable then an ACL/MCL tear....successful surgery means that the doctors have performed the procedure without incident.......that is great news but it tells us nothing about her future condition....her recovery will hopefully be complete by the time preseason starts but there is no guarantee of that...there are athletes that have had this procedure that have never fully recovered athletically.......if the team had other players that could take NC's spot I would feel awful for her but a bit better for the team....from what I can see they don't...that's the risk you take when you carry very few forwards and only 11 players on your team....I am always worried about injuries when it comes to UConn, every season for that very reason.......

Please don't ever take this the wrong way. I usually doubt the "eternal pessimist." Please never be offended if my posts come off in any bad way. So as it pertains to this injury - what is known as to do we know how many that have had successful surgery for the elite athlete that the injury doesn't come back vs those that have had and it does come back? If it is 98% vs 50% - I think that would be a huge difference.

 

[UcMiami]

Please don't ever take this the wrong way. I usually doubt the "eternal pessimist." Please never be offended if my posts come off in any bad way. So as it pertains to this injury - what is known as to do we know how many that have had successful surgery for the elite athlete that the injury doesn't come back vs those that have had and it does come back? If it is 98% vs 50% - I think that would be a huge difference.

It appears to have a very high success rate, few complications, and an average return to sport of about 2.5 months. There are reports of people walking without aid within days to weeks and people running within weeks, but there are all sorts of variety within the specific issues pre and post op. It also appears bone 'shaving' is present in most situations and the bone is likely at least somewhat responsible for the issue with the cartilage.
It also appears that the pain pre-op is wildly divergent with some unable to walk without pain and others still running marathons.

 

[Charliebball]

Please don't ever take this the wrong way. I usually doubt the "eternal pessimist." Please never be offended if my posts come off in any bad way. So as it pertains to this injury - what is known as to do we know how many that have had successful surgery for the elite athlete that the injury doesn't come back vs those that have had and it does come back? If it is 98% vs 50% - I think that would be a huge difference.

No offense taken..............I truly hope that Napheesa comes back at 110%...........................she is such a great athlete........it would be a sin if her abilities were curtailed in the least.............She is my daughter's favorite player..........I was the high bidder for her game worn uniform for the Play4Kay Charity game, it is proudly up on the wall in my daughter's bedroom

 

[Charliebball]

Here we go again with the post players: Louisville is bringing in two highly ranked 6'4" post players next season (Johnson, Shook) plus they already have DeGrate 6'4", Fuehring 6'3" who are sophs ..............now they're working on a highly ranked 2017 big.........

UConn has N Butler and..................................................Where are we at UConn???????

Raoul ‏@Raoul_000 10h10 hours ago
WBB: Loretta Kakala—6-3 C, Manteca HS (CA)—is heading to Louisville today for an official visit; #26 player in 2017

Blending power and finesse, strong and physical on block with nimble footwork in paint; interior game delivers in traffic; pounds glass, rebounds and initiates fast break; mobile in uptempo game; higher motor effort on both ends of the floor adds to next level impact; an elite prospect in the class of 2017.

 

[Longtime fan]

Most Uconn recruits can play multiple positions. And if they can't when they are recruited.. they learn by the time they leave. Ekmark and Nurse could potentially move over to the Fowards... Gabby wasn't a forward when she was recruited... Nothing to worry about... Geno knows what he's doing

Why does anyone think Ekmark will ever be any good?

 

[Longtime fan]

I realize I'm confused most of the time, but I've become MORE confused than usual.
UCONN has just lost 2 bigs, both AA's Stewart at 6'4" Forward and Tuck at 6'2" Foward/Center. Not only are there openings at Forward/Center but it's with the best team in WCBB with the best coaching staff in Div. I. Lauren Cox #1 HS player at F/C signs with Baylor who has 3 very talented bigs that are 2 freshmen , and a sophomore that are all 6'4" or taller! Limiting Cox's PT to about 12 to 18 minutes a game.
Now A. Stevens a 6'6" very talented sophomore is transferring from Duke and rumor has it she might be interested in SoCar where they have 3 very talented freshmen and sophomores, all 6'4" or taller. An her playing time will be cut also.
What are these and other big girls afraid of, and I know some say they want to stay close to home, but when a kid goes to college he/she is making the break and they basically won't go home again to stay, they'll graduate get a regular job or go on to play pro BB either in the WNBA or for a Foreign team. They've become an adult and cut the strings.
IMHO this is an easy out, they'll still have individual glory, their WCBB team might have a slim chance to win a National Title, and they can coast through 4 years but they don't have to give everything they've got every second of every practice and every game!
I also know I'll be condemned here on the BONEYARD because I'm being nasty to 18 & 19 year old girls, but it's an easy choice really, there are openings at UCONN for talented Forwards & Centers and there's not many players with guts to sign on for the hardest but best experience they'll have in WBB!

I think you are right on. The kids willing to come to Uconn know that they will have to work harder than they have ever worked. They also know and want to use the experience to become, " the best that they can be." And they know they must be team players, above all, able to contribute in all phases of the game. For that, the championship trophies loom.

Not many young athletes fir this profile, or are comfortable with it. I always wonder about those recruits who transfer out. Like Boykin, for example. Did she really just decide that the demands at Uconn were too high? " playing closer to home" is a cop-out. What is the truth? So she will play for Penn State, have a fun basketball experience, and win nothing.

If it was simple ( come to Uconn and win championships) there is no reason any top player would not come here> The legacy is there. The best coaches are there. But so is the intensity.

 

[winlots]

CB: am not known for short posts. But the short answer to your question as posed, "Is UCONN roster a forward short?" seems at this point to be, "Not NOW." At least not year after next.

 

[Charliebball]

CB: am not known for short posts. But the short answer to your question as posed, "Is UCONN roster a forward short?" seems at this point to be, "Not NOW." At least not year after next.

Ha...........I was thinking the same thing myself until the pessimist in me retook control.........................AS has had several injuries in the past, the worst being a tear of her plantar fascia for which she had season ending surgery several years ago............so I'll say the front court will be far more solid in 18 months...........................if it remains injury free....................................

 

[bags27]

I don't have any doubt whatsoever Geno would take Azura Stevens in a heartbeat if she wanted to go to UConn. .

Nah, no way!

 

[floridauconn]

Yes I am a worrier and a bit of a pessimist but am I wrong in thinking that the Huskies face a potential shortage of forwards next season? Last season the team was relatively injury free with Chong and Tuck the only players to miss considerable time. So what happens next season if there are injuries in the front court? I count four forwards including Gabby Williams and KLS and that includes a true freshman KI..am I forgetting anybody?..I know Geno doesn't worry about the traditional guard/forward/center roles and that he frequently carries a short (#) bench but is he cutting it a little too close?

51 Natilie Butler 6-5 Center
12 Saniya Chong 5-8 Guard
24 Napheesa Collier 6-1 Forward
22 Courtney Ekmark 6-0 Guard
20 Tierney Lawlor 5-7 Guard
11 Kia Nurse 6-0 Guard
33 Katie Lou Samuelson 6-3 Guard/Forward
15 Gabby Williams 5-11 Guard
Kyla Irwin 6-2 forward/center
Crystal Dangerfield 5-6 Guard
Molly Bent 5-10- Guard

Azura Stevens.......NOW WE CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE.

 

[mdakota]

Why does anyone think Ekmark will ever be any good?

Why wouldn't anyone?? Shes on the best team... She has the best coach... He didn't recruit her for nothing... Geno's opinion is the only one that matters... to me

 

[bags27]

Why does anyone think Ekmark will ever be any good?

Why wouldn't anyone?? Shes on the best team... She has the best coach... He didn't recruit her for nothing... Geno's opinion is the only one that matters... to me

I don't know if the question is whether she's "any good". Courtney seems a little slow for her position as a UConn starter, but she's very steady and seems to get the system. She's a role player, and she can be a "good" role player, especially after Saniya graduates, although I believe there was a game or two late this year when she was brought it ahead of Saniya (who appeared to be healthy then). So she may get more work next year, especially as Crystal needs time to transition.