It’s official - Ayanna out for the season

[cancontent]

You learned a valuable lesson--never accept a negative diagnosis. It may be best to travel out of your area to get the help you need. Doctors are human, often large ego's if surgeons, and don't know everything.

Easier said than done though my friend. So many factors involved, especially because healthcare is done differently in Canada.

In my case, this was back in the mid-90s so the knowledge we have now is different compared to back then. Secondly, my father didn't think much of it and trusted our doctor's insight. Thirdly, if I wasn't a teenager at that time, my visits to the specialist wouldn't have been covered by our provincial health care system. My father wouldn't have been in a position to cover those costs even with his health insurance through work.

 

[uconnever]

I guess taking a positive out of it is that if we can’t recruit any good bigs, we’ll have Patterson, Ice and Jana going forward and hopefully they will be enough which I think is a possibility. Just sucks for this years seniors.

 

[Florida Fan]

At some point, we need to stop accepting the 'they've been injured since High School' excuse. If that were the case, the responsible thing for the team to do would have been to deal with it last year.

Is there a better way to deal with orthopedic vulnerabilities? Playing less, more time in the pool less time on the floor? There was quite a lot of info on Azzi's two knee operations in high school. A compilation of players at all colleges lost for the season or longer would be helpful. Then fans would know if it's business as usual for women's college basketball or are we particularly snake bit?

 

[CTBballfan243]

Best wishes to Ayanna on speedy recovery for next season. UConn can now lock in their rotation moving forward.
Bueckers
Muhl
Arnold
Shade

Edwards
Brady
Griffin
Samuels

That is not a bad 8 player rotation going forward. UConn should be able to compete with most teams if Bueckers is the center piece.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

But Patterson had a surgical procedure in the spring. No acknowledgement that that procedure failed? What was it, and what went wrong?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

UCONN needs to find some new orthopedic doctors.

Perhaps so. I recall that the New York Mets had contracted with a particular medical group to deal with their players' issues, and to perform surgeries. But after a number of Mets players' surgeries and recoveries did not go well, the Mets fired that medical group. One hopes that the university is monitoring outcomes, and making sure that they aren't unusually negative.

 

[BRS24]

Is there a better way to deal with orthopedic vulnerabilities? Playing less, more time in the pool less time on the floor? There was quite a lot of info on Azzi's two knee operations in high school. A compilation of players at all colleges lost for the season or longer would be helpful. Then fans would know if it's business as usual for women's college basketball or are we particularly snake bit?

Well, patellar tendonitis is a funny thing. You can get it from overuse, incorrect footwear, post-surgery, etc. I've had both YKWs replaced in my knees and one was fine, and the other gets a lil tendonitis every once in a while. There's no one cause and no one solution. A while ago, I read that surgery to correct this issue is somewhat last resort.

 

[Cuango]

I'm like others in wondering why they didn't fix it right after last season. This surgery has a pretty quick recovery and she might have missed the summer circuit but certainly would have been ready for the new season. I have a feeling that Caroline is evaluating her future too. Having seen first hand what a serious head injury can do to an athlete I would certainly err on the side of caution.

I’m pretty sure the standard for all injuries is to avoid surgery unless it is absolutely necessary. It’s very possible they initially hoped they could resolve the issue without surgery.

 

[BRS24]

But Patterson had a surgical procedure in the spring. No acknowledgement that that procedure failed? What was it, and what went wrong?

IMHO not our business to know what occurred in the summer. The players, and sometimes parents, are the gatekeepers of what information gets released.

 

[CTBballfan243]

But Patterson had a surgical procedure in the spring. No acknowledgement that that procedure failed? What was it, and what went wrong?

I am sure Ayanna, her family, her doctors, and the team know the details of her situation. I think that pretty much covers everyone who needs to know.

 

[psconn]

At some point, we need to stop accepting the 'they've been injured since High School' excuse. If that were the case, the responsible thing for the team to do would have been to deal with it last year.

I would think this step is the decision of Yanna and family. "The team" can't do squat if the athelete and family aren't on board.

 

[cancontent]

Is there a better way to deal with orthopedic vulnerabilities? Playing less, more time in the pool less time on the floor? There was quite a lot of info on Azzi's two knee operations in high school. A compilation of players at all colleges lost for the season or longer would be helpful. Then fans would know if it's business as usual for women's college basketball or are we particularly snake bit?

It's a combination of both if you ask me.

Since joining Boneyard, I've seen threads posting injuries every season where this same question comes up.
This year's injuries thread on the general board is littered with teams dealing with several players being injured or out for the season.

Teams (e.g. Xavier) have already cancelled/forfeited games due to lack of players being available. Some teams have resorted to adding volleyball players to their roster because of injuries.

UConn situation is no different however how it's affected the depth chart these last few seasons does give the impression the team is snake bitten.

 

[sun]

The bottom line is that the buck stops with the head coach.
The coach decides which recruits receive offers & which don't based on all of the information at his disposal.
The coach can influence training methods & who serves on the staff.
If fans can't pinpoint the solution then they can certainly expect the head coach to pinpoint the problem.
The team is a reflection of the head coach & their salarly is commensurate with their level of responsibilty, acumen & the expectations of the team's success rate.
To Geno's credit, at least he increased the roster size this year to help offset all of these concurrent injuries.

 

[Longtime fan]

We knew this was a risk based on statements recently from Geno. Now there is some closure to her status for the season. Board doesn’t have to speculate anymore and hopefully this surgery went well and she can come back ready to play in 24-25

More likely '25-'26. She'll be about thirty when fully healthy to play for UCONN. By then she'll be closing in on her second PHD. Another gut punch to UCONN Women Basketball.

 

[Longtime fan]

I've pretty much gone numb on the issue of injuries and, frankly, the season. But I recently stayed at a Best Western and want to weigh in on patellar tendonitis. That is a broad term that covers a number of afflictions, from a bone spur at either end of the tendon to "high kneecap misalignment" to calcification of an old tear in the tendon and probably more. So there is a broad range in estimated rehabilitation times.

What does staying at a Best Western have to do with your response? Do they have Knee seminars? How was the free breakfast?

 

[SJF]

We think it’s just us but there are injuries all over College ball. I reiterate this again these young ladies have played thousands of games and even more practices and private workout sessions year round since probably 1st grade. And this issue is just getting worse. With less emphasis on recruiting during school season these young ladies are finishing school ball then going straight to AAU ball with never any rest. These young ladies have been failed at home when someone should have said you know what this summer be a kid and let’s go to the pool or to the lake.

 

[LarryLegend]

Oh thats just great. Something needs to be re-evaluated here.

 

[my2cents]

Why!

If she has been dealing with a chronic injury since high school that could be repaired with surgery, why the long wait? Regardless of the basketball season, seems she has been needlessly in pain.

 

[hoopsfan22]

If she has been dealing with a chronic injury since high school that could be repaired with surgery, why the long wait? Regardless of the basketball season, seems she has been needlessly in pain.

Didn't she already have surgery on it last April or May?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

What does staying at a Best Western have to do with your response? Do they have Knee seminars? How was the free breakfast?

I couldn't remember the real hotel/motel chain that had a series of ads with people being brainiacs because they slept there last night. The knee seminars are next door at a surgery center called Cheap, Sorta Okay. Scrambled eggs are nice and moist; the sliced apple, cinnamon and pure sugar sauce is superb!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

More likely '25-'26. She'll be about thirty when fully healthy to play for UCONN. By then she'll be closing in on her second PHD. Another gut punch to UCONN Women Basketball.

Man, you have it worse than me!

 

[Geew1992]

If she has been dealing with a chronic injury since high school that could be repaired with surgery, why the long wait? Regardless of the basketball season, seems she has been needlessly in pain.

Maybe she didn’t want the surgery.

 

[cancontent]

I couldn't remember the real hotel/motel chain that had a series of ads with people being brainiacs because they slept there last night. The knee seminars are next door at a surgery center called Cheap, Sorta Okay. Scrambled eggs are nice and moist; the sliced apple, cinnamon and pure sugar sauce is superb!

Sounds better than Holiday Inn Express to me!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

How appropriate:

 

[Zanzman]

But Patterson had a surgical procedure in the spring. No acknowledgement that that procedure failed? What was it, and what went wrong?

I commend you for being consistent. Wrong but consistent.