Kaitlyn Chen

[FanFromMaine]

Kaitlyn is jumping over screens. It is wonderful to see players develop.

 

[blkkirk]

I think she is playing well and her offensive game has not emerged yet. Excited to see her look to score more like she did at Princeton.

 

[ERWUC65]

I think she is playing well and her offensive game has not emerged yet. Excited to see her look to score more like she did at Princeton.

She is a great addition to the team, has changed her role to fit Geno's needs and makes a great change of pace combo with KK. I expect she has something in reserve which we will see when needed.

 

[EricLA]

I'm not sure Kait needs to "look" to score. IF Ash continues to be a scoring threat, when Azzi comes back, that would make 4 legit scoring options. Oh, and by the way, she's averaging just under 7 PPG which is 5th on the team behind... Paige, Sarah, Azzi and Ash.

She's shooting 40% from 3 and averaging over 4 APG. And her A/TO ratio is 2.5/1. Not eye popping, but competent (the 40% on 3's is in the realm of "very good"). Paige and Sarah, believe it or not, both also have over 40 assists this season (Kait has 47), and their A/TO is just slightly better. It's KK with the best at over 4/1.

I think she's a solid and steadying presence. Not flashy or "great" at any 1 thing, but I'm so glad we have her and that she's starting and leading the team.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

If I have seen someone jump over a screen I don't remember it. Is that slang or are you talking reality and does she do it in her Superwoman outfit?

 

[HuskyNan]

And her A/TO ratio is 2.5/1. Not eye popping, but competent (the 40% on 3's is in the realm of "very good"). Paige and Sarah, believe it or not, both also have over 40 assists this season (Kait has 47), and their A/TO is just slightly better. It's KK with the best at over 4/1.

Nationally, Kaitlyn in ranked #38 in the country for A/TO, Sarah is #24, Paige is #23.

 

[Dugway]

She is a solid player! She has the ability to score some if the team needed her to. She is mature enough to understand that unlike her situation at Princton, she now plays on a team with big time offensive production players, and it isn't required of her to be the primary scorer. She contributes in other areas and lets the scoring production come from those high production players.

Real early into our season she was prone to turn overs and committing personal fouls, but I think that she is working her way through that, and her play seems steadier in that regards, at least as of recent. My opinion is that she is somewhere in the top 1/3 of point guards, certainly not in the top 4 or 5, but I've seen a lot worse! She is a solid player for the Huskies!

If I have seen someone jump over a screen I don't remember it. Is that slang or are you talking reality and does she do it in her Superwoman outfit?

I'm not 100% certain what this means, possibly that she is avoiding the screens well, mitigating her way around them, and playing good defense on the shooter. By in large, I believe that this is a weakness of the Huskies team-wide. Our defense on the perimeter is loooooose to say the least. Let's see how it plays out on Saturday, but we have been prone to give up lots of 3-point scores!

 

[Bone Dog]

She is a solid player! She has the ability to score some if the team needed her to. She is mature enough to understand that unlike her situation at Princton, she now plays on a team with big time offensive production players, and it isn't required of her to be the primary scorer. She contributes in other areas and lets the scoring production come from those high production players.

Real early into our season she was prone to turn overs and committing personal fouls, but I think that she is working her way through that, and her play seems steadier in that regards, at least as of recent. My opinion is that she is somewhere in the top 1/3 of point guards, certainly not in the top 4 or 5, but I've seen a lot worse! She is a solid player for the Huskies!




I'm not 100% certain what this means, possibly that she is avoiding the screens well, mitigating her way around them, and playing good defense on the shooter. By and large, I believe that this is a weakness of the Huskies team-wide. Our defense on the perimeter is loooooose to say the least. Let's see how it plays out on Saturday, but we have been prone to give up lots of 3-point scores!

I think it means not going “under” the screen, i.e. letting the screener get between the defender and the player with the ball. It requires fighting through the screen.

 

[oldude]

Kaitlyn Chen has sacrificed both her scoring and PT to be a part of this UConn team, and It’s a wonderful thing to see. Over the past 2 seasons at Princeton, Kaitlyn lead to Tigers in both scoring and minutes played while earning all-Ivy honors and one CPOY.

With UConn she has fully accepted the “Nika Muhl role” for setting up her teammates, while playing tough defense. She leads the team in assists while sporting a remarkable 3.0 A/TO ratio. While Kaitlyn doesn’t score a lot, she shoots an exceptional .545 from the field.

Chen has also accepted the fact that she shares the pg role with KK, who has become UConn’s instant energy off the bench in Aubrey’s absence. There were a bunch of top D1 programs that would have loved to have Kaitlyn Chen playing 30-35 mpg while scoring 15-20 ppg.

Kaitlyn Chen chose UConn.

 

[donalddoowop]

The only reason Chen does not score a lot is that she does not shoot a lot. For those who don't know, she has the ability.

 

[GoUconn7961]

My only critique - she picks up her dribble either too early, or too far under the basket w/o a plan.

 

[Bone Dog]

My only critique - she picks up her dribble either too early, or too far under the basket w/o a plan.

Yup. Geno has mentioned this too. But I think she’s getting better about hanging on to her dribble.

Eyeball assessment: Kaitlyn’s O maybe slightly better than KK’s and she manages the half court offense a little better. But KK’s defense is maybe a little better, i.e. fiercer.

 

[Kat]

Geno is working her into the system with plenty of playing time. Don't think she'll end up being a starter but she'll get significant minutes. I think her biggest adjustment is going from a half-court set offense to this team's approach, which depends on a lot of transition baskets.

 

[WiseWillie]

I think it means not going “under” the screen, i.e. letting the screener get between the defender and the player with the ball. It requires fighting through the screen.

Exactly. Double hard to fight through screens when the screener 1) thrusts out their hip or leans their body into the path of the defender, 2) spreads their feet out well beyond their shoulder width or 3) not remaining stationary and moving their feet into the path of the defender, all of which Kaitlin can be seen trying to fight through, around or over while at the same time trying to avoid a foul call on her defensive action rather than on the offensive player.

 

[Dabber]

Kaitlyn Chen has sacrificed both her scoring and PT to be a part of this UConn team, and It’s a wonderful thing to see. Over the past 2 seasons at Princeton, Kaitlyn lead to Tigers in both scoring and minutes played while earning all-Ivy honors and one CPOY.

With UConn she has fully accepted the “Nika Muhl role” for setting up her teammates, while playing tough defense. She leads the team in assists while sporting a remarkable 3.0 A/TO ratio. While Kaitlyn doesn’t score a lot, she shoots an exceptional .545 from the field.

Chen has also accepted the fact that she shares the pg role with KK, who has become UConn’s instant energy off the bench in Aubrey’s absence. There were a bunch of top D1 programs that would have loved to have Kaitlyn Chen playing 30-35 mpg while scoring 15-20 ppg.

Kaitlyn Chen chose UConn.

Right on, and think it also says slot that Carla was at the Georgetown game to see her former player doing her thing with HER former team...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Kaitlyn Chen has sacrificed both her scoring and PT to be a part of this UConn team, and It’s a wonderful thing to see. Over the past 2 seasons at Princeton, Kaitlyn lead to Tigers in both scoring and minutes played while earning all-Ivy honors and one CPOY.

With UConn she has fully accepted the “Nika Muhl role” for setting up her teammates, while playing tough defense. She leads the team in assists while sporting a remarkable 3.0 A/TO ratio. While Kaitlyn doesn’t score a lot, she shoots an exceptional .545 from the field.

Chen has also accepted the fact that she shares the pg role with KK, who has become UConn’s instant energy off the bench in Aubrey’s absence. There were a bunch of top D1 programs that would have loved to have Kaitlyn Chen playing 30-35 mpg while scoring 15-20 ppg.

Kaitlyn Chen chose UConn.

At UConn her scoring and turnovers have gone down. While there may be other factors at play, one huge one is she's playing with a team comprized of premium athletes and I think she's having a ball with it. At Princeton she had a lot of scoring pressure; here it is fair to say not so much. Have you noticed how her smile lights up the hardwood early and often?

 

[BBallF]

Kaitlyn is jumping over screens. It is wonderful to see players develop.

"Jumping over screens" means getting over the front of the screen so you stay with the offensive player. I assume that's what you meant and she is doing that. Offense will come. She is smart enough to have figured out that defense in Geno's world gets you and keeps you on the floor.

 

[oldude]

At UConn her scoring and turnovers have gone down. While there may be other factors at play, one huge one is she's playing with a team comprized of premium athletes and I think she's having a ball with it. At Princeton she had a lot of scoring pressure; here it is fair to say not so much. Have you noticed how her smile lights up the hardwood early and often?

Exactly. But here’s the thing. Kaitlyn doesn’t need to score on a team with Paige, Sarah, Azzi & Ashlynn. But I’ve seen her absolutely take over big games at Princeton when she needed to, seemingly scoring at will. So you can’t just play off her or she’ll make you pay.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Exactly. But here’s the thing. Kaitlyn doesn’t need to score on a team with Paige, Sarah, Azzi & Ashlynn. But I’ve seen her absolutely take over big games at Princeton when she needed to, seemingly scoring at will. So you can’t just play off her or she’ll make you pay.

I hope you are right on the scoring front. Her scoring has gone down primarily because, unlike Princeton, we are not looking for her to be a primary scoring option. But we cannot ignore that the defenses she faces at UConn are markedly better than the Ivies. Frankly, there are only 3 schools in the Ivies who take women's basketball seriously. What you saw from her at Princeton you won't see here but for a fluke or two perhaps.

 

[Rowdy831]

She is spectacular against weaker teams and solid against the better teams. Problem is she isn't a game changer over KK and she doesn't help UConn defend ND better and that is what they need if they play again. To me she is a great sub who can come off the bench for Paige or Azzi and be a shooter when needed and a point when needed.

My biggest complaint about Geno the last couple years is he has taken Paige and basically made her a role player in the offense instead of featuring her and making the others the role players. Yes she is versatile but she is also the best player in the country with the ball in her hands and that is where it needs to be.

 

[packwrap]

Right on, and think it also says slot that Carla was at the Georgetown game to see her former player doing her thing with HER former team...

I'm pretty sure this transfer was engineered a long time ago. The Ivy league does not allow 5th year/graduate play, which Carla and Chen knew even when Kaitlyn was a freshman at Princeton. Geno and Carla speak regularly, and the offenses are the same, so perfect fit.

Chen was a luxury for us (we really needed frontcourt), but she is a great insurance policy and it's a win win for all.

Think how much fun Chen must be having playing in USC v UConn on national TV, instead of Princeton v Columbia, and what a challenge the top level of the ncaa is for her.

She is for sure holding back on scoring, so we have her in reserve, if we get in a bind. Note when she does score, it comes in a flurry, like 3 posessions in a row when she turns on the jets.

I'm also 90% sure that KC completed her pre-med requirements, while at Princeton. So depending upon how she feels about a career in the sporting world v med school, we may some day be calling her Dr. Chen.

I really like her. True Husky!

 

[cabbie191]

I'm also 90% sure that KC completed her pre-med requirements, while at Princeton. So depending upon how she feels about a career in the sporting world v med school, we may some day be calling her Dr. Chen.

Perhaps some day she and Briana Pulido can start their own physician's practice!

 

[Jonathan14]

Perhaps some day she and Briana Pulido can start their own physician's practice!

I believe that Heather Buck is an RN, so perhaps she can join the practice as a nurse.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

"Jumping over screens" means getting over the front of the screen so you stay with the offensive player. I assume that's what you meant and she is doing that. Offense will come. She is smart enough to have figured out that defense in Geno's world gets you and keeps you on the floor.

I know it as getting around the screen or not going under the screen.

 

[oldude]

I hope you are right on the scoring front. Her scoring has gone down primarily because, unlike Princeton, we are not looking for her to be a primary scoring option. But we cannot ignore that the defenses she faces at UConn are markedly better than the Ivies. Frankly, there are only 3 schools in the Ivies who take women's basketball seriously. What you saw from her at Princeton you won't see here but for a fluke or two perhaps.

Kaitlyn owned the Ivy League. But in all honesty, she saved some of her best performances for nationally ranked teams. Two years ago during the Big Dance, Kaitlyn put up 22 in a stunning upset of NC State. Last year at UCLA, Princeton came within 2pts of shocking the Bruins as Kaitlyn scored 24. She can score anywhere against anyone.

She’s shooting almost at the 50/40/90 holy grail for basketball players. Currently Kaitlyn is .545 from the court, .400 from 3 and .875 from the FT line. In his pregame presser today, Geno praised Kaitlyn’s leadership while stating that, “She will make a great pro.”