Bingo! A secondary ballhandler isn't the same thing as a second point guard. We saw the importance of a secondary ballhandler in a few games when Nika was all UConn had.
Just thinking out loud: what do a historic amount of ball handlers (especially at the W/F positions) and posts, a stacked full roster and mix-match portend, if anything?
Wonderful post! Lots of food for thought.
Predict that KK and Kayleigh will be in different rotations. KK will bring unlimited energy and be replaced by Kelis. Little drop off in speed or energy. Pity the poor competitive players who have to keep up with those two.
The Big Fish may prove to be lightning in a bottle. Wouldn’t that be fun? I wonder if KK will become a role model for her.
You have Jana starting instead of Serah..can't see that happening
Duo? UConn had no less than 5 players on their team who played pg in HS, and were capable of initiating the offense this past season, 6 if you count Sarah. The others were Paige, Kaitlyn, KK, Ash & Allie. For opposing teams it was “death by a thousand point guards.” 😎
and morgan
If KK starts the season as the PG, which I believe she will, Kayleigh Heckel will come off the bench the whole season or only start if someone gets hurt. KK is not relinquishing her starting role once she gets it back. She has experience starting and coming off the bench, but she will do what she needs to do to ensure she starts and remains the starter. In KK I trust!
Agree with the principal, but I think it doesn't take into account that KK and Shade are known quantities that understand Geno's fairly complex "read and react" system. To an extent, they don't need to "earn" the coaches' trust because they've already earned it over two seasons, playing significant roles. That said, I fully agree that minutes are earned during practice, and the best players will play, but given their considerable headstart in experience, it is highly unlikely that anyone just coming into the system could surplant them.
Agree. I think we already have a good idea of who the starters are. To me the more interesting question is who is the first off the bench. Geno as long said he wants that first sub to "make the team better" so it'll be interesting to me to see who he feels feels that "spark plug" or maybe "fifth gear" role.
I would suggest a slight modification to the idea that, “minutes are earned during practice.” I think it’s clear that players earn the opportunity to play during practice. But their actual performance in games determines whether they continue to play meaningful minutes in games or not.
We’ll have to see how they gel, but Kayleigh and either Blanca or Morgan could fill the disrupters role that KK and Ashlynn filled last year. If Allie finds her shot, she could be the instant floor-spreading offense that’s sometimes needed.
Agree. I think Kayleigh is our backup point guard. So her primary function will be to rest KK or give her a chance to sit if she is in foul trouble. But yeah Blanca, Morgan, Allie, Kelis or Carol could all end up filling that role. It will be interesting to see who emerges.
Hey Olddude, I guess I was not clear about my post. For all meaningful games Kaitlyn started at PG and then was replaced by KK. They were the point guard "DUO". Geno knew when one was tired or not firing on all cylinders. Those two were the "Dynamic Duo of PGs."
Here’s the thing. On UConn WBB multiple players handle the ball, pass and cut. Geno will run his offense through any number of players on the court at anytime. That’s what makes UConn nearly impossible to defend.
I agree with everything you’re thinking here as well as your forecasts of who the starters will be. But I think my earlier post did account for KK and Ash’s experience with the read and react system. This gives them a competitive advantage in practice which is where they’ll earn playing time. But it’s not a ‘get out of jail free card’ or an inside track.
Their knowledge of Geno's system has a far bigger impact in games. They need to be able to see plays developing and know what to do. That's not an easy skill, as we've heard from standouts in the WNBA, such as Napheesa Collier. In fact, it is probably the central factor that differentiates former Connecticut players from other players in the WNBA.
In position name yes, in reality the team ran thru Paige, she was the point of attack, she ran the team. Call the others whatever you want, Paige was the point guard and the best at it in the country.
I agree that we don’t really disagree. In fact, I think we weigh experience (especially in terms of chemistry) very much in the same way.
The only reason I would not call Paige a PG in last seasons team is because she was not restricted to typical PG defensive responsibilities. Yes, on offense the ball almost always passed through her hands, and she often brought the ball up the court. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of what a PG does. One example: the PG is responsible for maintaining court balance to prevent the opponent’s fast breaks, and is usually the last line of defense in such cases. Paige did not often do this. And a sign of it is all the blocks and defensive rebounds she got. This is not typical of a PG.
This is a fascinating question. Tall is important, no doubt. But quickness and intensity sometime matters more, I suspect. A speedy 5’9” may be more valuable than slower 6’1” in some game situations. I have a feeling this is a tension Geno will be grappling with all season. I expect we’ll see a lot of experimentation with precisely this.