Liza Karlen?

[uconnfan68]

I believe that the OP was exactly correct in that Auriemma is friends with and has tremendous respect for the other coaches within the Big East. He talks up their programs, how talented they are, how the conference is stacked with good teams, etc. He has also spoken out about the transfer portal, particularly the star players of his competitor Big East teams, leaving those programs. Geno doesn't like the transfer portal, particularly the "unlimited free agency potential for every single player, every single year". He has mentioned that if a player commits to a program, that he would like to see that player honor that commitment for four-years, with the exception being a fifth year (typically a redshirt year of eligibility).

The Big East had two really quality players enter the portal this year, basically the MVP's of their teams, both were seniors with the COVID year availability; Liza Karlen from Marquette and Emma Ronsiek from Creighton. I believe that Auriemma would have picked up the phone and called Jim Flanery if UConn's desires were to connect with Ronsiek. We will never know, she signed with Colorado State about two weeks ago. I honestly think Auriemma would have done the same and called Megan Duffy directly related to Karlen; simply picked up the phone and had that conversation. Almost certainly he would have done so with Doug Bruno from DePaul if there were one of his players out there, as those two are best friends.

So related to Liza and the respect that Auriemma has towards his fellow Big East coaches, Megan Duffy in particular at Marquette as that is the team Karlen is departing. As others have previously noted within this thread, Duffy left the Marquette program about two weeks ago herself! I don't blame her for moving up, taking the job over at Virginia Tech was a huge opportunity. But what are we talking about here? The need for a rival program to pass on a player if they are within the same conference out of respect for that rival program, even after the coaching staff had ditched the program? FWIW, Liza was in the portal even prior to Duffy accepting the Va. Tech job.

Marquette went on to replace Duffy with Cara Consuegra as their new head coach. Okay, who is Cara Consuegra? Well, she was an Assistant Coach there within the Marquette program. BUT that was several years ago; you see, Consuegra had also left Marquette for greener pastures! She had no loyalty herself, and now she has left that other team to return back to Marquette! As with Duffy, I do not blame Consuegra for taking a better job. But from a 'can't sign any players who've entered the portal, due to an unwritten 'loyalty' contract to the conference'?

There is no Loyalty in this transfer portal thing. Let's face it, there is very little loyalty in collegiate athletics anymore. Other than the fan base of a school, who will stick with their team through thick and thin, decade after decade, nobody within a program really has any unwavering loyalty!

Missed Lucy Olsen of Villanova (now to Iowa).

 

[donalddoowop]

Are you of the opinion that UConn would be best off if they simply did not fill the available roster spot at all?

Yes, if they don't fill with a true, talented post player.

 

[Skeets]

Technically, since all scholarships are year-to-year, the coach can non-renew a player's scholarship even if she doesn't enter the portal. So, you are correct that the coach doesn't "have to" take her back, but then he actually never did have to take her back.

It's true that in women's basketball, it's rare for coaches to non-renew a player's scholarship if she wants to return, but usually teams aren't maxed out for scholarship slots, so letting a player return and sit at the end of the bench costs almost nothing. But when scholarship slots are scarce, I can imagine coaches having some conversations with players at the end of the season where they deliver the message that "you didn't get many minutes this year, and I don't think you're going to get any more minutes next year given who we have coming in, so it might be in your best interest to transfer to another school where you can earn more minutes." And I think most players would get that message and enter the portal.

But @Sifaka's statement that "Ms. Karlen has, by entering the portal, ceased her affiliation with Marquette" is not correct. She didn't burn any bridges, unless it was with the new coach at Marquette. I wouldn't be totally surprised if she ends up returning to Marquette if she likes the new coach and the coach likes her.

If a player's scholarship is withdrawn without cause what a great public relations situation it would be for a tearful, young player to go on TV and accuse the coach and the school of reneging on their commitments and how it has grossly harmed her, etc. etc. I imagine, if nothing else, it would wreck recruiting at such a school. Who in their right mind would go there? Remaining players would be saying "Hello Portal". Would Geno still be the GOAT if he said to Ines "Adios, we don't need you this year, don't let the door hit you on the way out"?

I can't recall any instance where a player was removed from a team without cause or mutual consent. Has this ever happened? Ugliness yes (on both sides), but unprovoked removal?

 

[Skeets]

Are you of the opinion that UConn would be best off if they simply did not fill the available roster spot at all?

Consider this, for 3 years running we've been discussing the impossible job Geno will have in spreading minutes to so many good players, and for 3 years running it hasn't been a problem. I say fill all the spots (if possible) and hope we actually have a minutes problem next year.

 

[oldude]

If a player's scholarship is withdrawn without cause what a great public relations situation it would be for a tearful, young player to go on TV and accuse the coach and the school of reneging on their commitments and how it has grossly harmed her, etc. etc. I imagine, if nothing else, it would wreck recruiting at such a school. Who in their right mind would go there? Remaining players would be saying "Hello Portal". Would Geno still be the GOAT if he said to Ines "Adios, we don't need you this year, don't let the door hit you on the way out"?

I can't recall any instance where a player was removed from a team without cause or mutual consent. Has this ever happened? Ugliness yes (on both sides), but unprovoked removal?

Coaches let players know that they’re not in the plan for the upcoming season, effectively encouraging them to transfer. Geno is no different. After the season, he meets with each “returning” player to review their performance and set expectations for the upcoming season. I have no doubt that Geno met with Ines and Amari after the season ended to let them know they would have a better opportunity to play at another school.

 

[my2cents]

Coaches let players know that they’re not in the plan for the upcoming season, effectively encouraging them to transfer. Geno is no different. After the season, he meets with each “returning” player to review their performance and set expectations for the upcoming season. I have no doubt that Geno met with Ines and Amari after the season ended to let them know they would have a better opportunity to play at another school.

Geno did not have to talk to Ines and Amari after the season to tell them that they were not going to get much playing time next year. It was self-evident this year, that he had given up on both, based on how they were used this year. Only garbage time when the team was totally depleted by injuries.

 

[Mandoo]

I don't know why we are comparing Karlen to Caroline, Morgan or Sarah. The more relevant comparison is to Ayanna and Ice. Karlen is a better rebounder than Ayanna, Ice, Caroline and probably Morgan. She is more a 4 than anything else, and our benefit in getting her is to upgrade the big backups behind probably Jana and Sarah.

Everybody on the roster is pretty talented but if you had to pick the biggest area of relative weakness, it is potentially having to use Ayanna and Ice for significant minutes. If that is your biggest weakness then granted the team is pretty good, but Karlen is proven at a much higher level than Ayanna and Ice have shown thus far. Those two would have to show a quantum leap, not just a little improvement to even get close to Karlen's level last year.

If we get Karlen at least we know we have one quality big backup when the season starts, and will get another who could play there in Aubrey later in the season. Right now we have two bigs who have unperformed expectations in their one season so far. I hope they do make a major leap, and they might, but for now they are the one part of the roster that could most easily be improved via the portal, but the options are going fast.

Can Ayanna, fully healed, gain some shooting finesse? She was brutal around the basket when she last played. I'm all for Karlen joining the team. Let's face it, there are unknowns on the team and we don't know if/when all those injured will be tiptop once again.

 

[Bald Husky]

Coaches let players know that they’re not in the plan for the upcoming season, effectively encouraging them to transfer. Geno is no different. After the season, he meets with each “returning” player to review their performance and set expectations for the upcoming season. I have no doubt that Geno met with Ines and Amari after the season ended to let them know they would have a better opportunity to play at another school.

Thats true, but I think Amari should have left last year while she had 2 years remaining. It's hard breaking into a new system in one year with new teammates and coach. I'm glad Ines moved because I think she has an upside for any other team, and she deserves a chance to play meaningful minutes at this level. I could see the look on her face sometimes last year at the end of the game when everyone else is put in except for her. I don't like losing players to the portal, but I really support Ines and am really happy that she made the decision. It was the best move for her, and I wish her the best of luck at Gonzaga and will follow her progress next year as if she was still a Husky. (In my mind, she still is).

 

[yhun89]

She’s not really that big though? She’s shorter than AE was at 6’2. Is she really she big we need? I get being a veteran and all but I mean… she’s not the 6’4 big we want.

Her coming to UConn would allow the younger, less experienced players to mature and develop. I would love to have her be a Husky. It would be only for one year right? Win-Win!

 

[Geew1992]

Yet we don’t even know if there’s any interest in both parties

 

[oldude]

Geno did not have to talk to Ines and Amari after the season to tell them that they were not going to get much playing time next year. It was self-evident this year, that he had given up on both, based on how they were used this year. Only garbage time when the team was totally depleted by injuries.

While I agree that both Ines and Amari could see the writing on the wall, I am certain that Geno sat down with both players at the end of the season to confirm as much.

 

[BBallF]

While I agree that both Ines and Amari could see the writing on the wall, I am certain that Geno sat down with both players at the end of the season to confirm as much.

Absolutely. Not doing that would be anti-everything Geno is about.

 

[oldude]

She’s not really that big though? She’s shorter than AE was at 6’2. Is she really she big we need? I get being a veteran and all but I mean… she’s not the 6’4 big we want.

At this point it will come down to which players are interested. In all 3 games vs UConn this past season, Karlen scored in double figures with good rebounding numbers. She plays physical defense and she can knock down shots from the arc.

Beers, Iriafen and Weimer are gone from the portal. Dauda & Barker are still available. But we don’t know if there’s mutual interest. At the end of the day, the question is whether bringing in Karlen as a grad transfer makes UConn better or not?

 

[stamfordhusky]

If a player's scholarship is withdrawn without cause what a great public relations situation it would be for a tearful, young player to go on TV and accuse the coach and the school of reneging on their commitments and how it has grossly harmed her, etc. etc. I imagine, if nothing else, it would wreck recruiting at such a school. Who in their right mind would go there? Remaining players would be saying "Hello Portal". Would Geno still be the GOAT if he said to Ines "Adios, we don't need you this year, don't let the door hit you on the way out"?

I can't recall any instance where a player was removed from a team without cause or mutual consent. Has this ever happened? Ugliness yes (on both sides), but unprovoked removal?

Scholarships are non-renewed frequently, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player tearfully going to the media to complain. Usually the player just transfers to another school and no more has heard of it. But it will happen a number of times in men’s basketball this year and many hundreds of times in football.

 

[CTrefugee]

Unless she can play as a "big" I don't think she will be offered. I am still hoping for an overseas pickup and I think (hope) it will happen. It might not be announced until after the olympics.

 

[Rowdy831]

This isn't the type of player you pick up at the risk of hurting the future of the program. The Portal is a dangerous game to play and once you start playing in the portal you must be ready to lose your players to the portal. So far UConn has lost players that really weren't major contributors but if you are always looking to upgrade then your players will start to do the same thing.

UConn has a whole roster of players that came out of HS as top 10-15 recruits. If that isn't good enough then they need to do a better job of developing their players

 

[ERWUC65]

At this point it will come down to which players are interested. In all 3 games vs UConn this past season, Karlen scored in double figures with good rebounding numbers. She plays physical defense and she can knock down shots from the arc.

Beers, Iriafen and Weimer are gone from the portal. Dauda & Barker are still available. But we don’t know if there’s mutual interest. At the end of the day, the question is whether bringing in Karlen as a grad transfer makes UConn better or not?

With one slot left, and so many unknowns about the return (and abilities) of the injured, it would seem only a grad transfer or possibly an international would be prudent.

 

[Dugway]

The stacked part of the schedule will be the first third, and then of course the NCAA Tournament. We are seven months away and the team already has injuries that will be sidelining players at the start of the season. Having half of your team out for the entire season is goobstoping and one would expect as very unusual, but then again we’ve experienced it three years running. Having one or two players get seriously injured is likely, it’s very unfortunate but that is basketball, every team in the league has one or two.

Then there are the week to week injuries; someone is not available due to jamming their thumb. A rolled ankle is common in this game, an elbow to the face, and certainly a tweaked knee. Then there are illnesses, a bout of COVID runs through the squad. Possible that someone has a personal thing, a bereavement period when they are off to a grandparents funeral.

My crystal ball is just not very good. Maybe none of that happens to UConn next season and/or it would only happen during the portion of the season that it is less impactful. However, …..

It seems that if it were a situation where Jana were unavailable, and Ayanna is currently unavailable, this team would be under sized and inexperienced at the post. Is there a backstop available that would sign with UConn?

 

[Dugway]

This isn't the type of player you pick up at the risk of hurting the future of the program. The Portal is a dangerous game to play and once you start playing in the portal you must be ready to lose your players to the portal. So far UConn has lost players that really weren't major contributors but if you are always looking to upgrade then your players will start to do the same thing.

UConn has a whole roster of players that came out of HS as top 10-15 recruits. If that isn't good enough then they need to do a better job of developing their players

The other two players who have been discussed are Juniors. Liza has just one season of availability. Which scenario is more likely to push others on the team into the portal?

 

[Centerstream]

She’s not really that big though? She’s shorter than AE was at 6’2. Is she really she big we need? I get being a veteran and all but I mean… she’s not the 6’4 big we want.

Yeah, because experienced "bigs" in the portal or playing overseas are a dime a dozen.
If the coaching staff is looking for a player to supplement Jana, Ice and/or Ayanna, currently there are only about 3 known players available. And as the OP post pointed out, some writer stated that Liza was of some interest by UConn, so...6'2" may be the only option at this point...IF the coaching staff is looking.

 

[Bone Dog]

Can Ayanna, fully healed, gain some shooting finesse? She was brutal around the basket when she last played. I'm all for Karlen joining the team. Let's face it, there are unknowns on the team and we don't know if/when all those injured will be tiptop once again.

I’ve already said that I think Karlen could be a good addition for all the reasons that folks have mentioned, and most of all for her maturity, which we’ll be short on at the beginning of the season. But I should say something in defense of Ayanna, whose position at the 4 Liza would naturally be competing for.

Ayanna is not a great scorer and may never be. She is a good defender and rebounder who could become a great one. She is very strong, one of the strongest bigs in D1. She is also quick and runs the floor very well, which suggests a role in the transition game could be developed this season, both defending in high hedges and getting out on the break. I think of her as somewhat like Kiah who was a solid member of the team and utterly reliable on defense and rebounding.

Liza is a good shooter, a smart defender and a capable rebounder. She is not nearly as quick or strong as Ayanna. But she doesn’t make mistakes or often find herself out of position for rebounds or defense. I’m confident she’d pick up Geno’s system quickly. Defending at the top of the key in high hedges is not something she did much of in Megan Duffy’s defense, so this might be a stretch for her.

Ayanna defended Czinano well two seasons ago, largely because she is at least as strong as Monica and has quick feet. I doubt Liza would have done nearly as well in such a matchup. What this tells me is that Liza’s minutes would be important in the first half of the season and would shrink in February and March if Ayanna and Caroline resume their previous roles.

This also tells me that Liza is not an essential addition though she could be a good one. She will rarely be the indispensable player, but she’ll play a steady role in the offense Paige runs. This could be quite enjoyable for her and the rest of the Huskies could enjoy playing with her very much. And a team bound together by affection trust and respect is a good thing.

 

[Cuango]

Can Ayanna, fully healed, gain some shooting finesse? She was brutal around the basket when she last played. I'm all for Karlen joining the team. Let's face it, there are unknowns on the team and we don't know if/when all those injured will be tiptop once again.

I wonder if Yanna has spent a lot of time during her rehab working on her shot? If she has, it is possible she may surprise us all. She could be almost unstoppable if she develops a reliable 8- foot shot, hook, & post moves w/layups. I’d be very surprised if she isn’t vastly better at scoring around the basket when she returns!

 

[Geew1992]

While I agree that both Ines and Amari could see the writing on the wall, I am certain that Geno sat down with both players at the end of the season to confirm as much.

I’d be surprised if Geno didn’t sit with every player and let them know where they stand, what they need to work on and how to get more time

 

[Bone Dog]

I’d be surprised if Geno didn’t sit with every player and let them know where they stand, what they need to work on and how to get more time

I would be stunned to hear he didn't do exactly this. For the ones playing behind someone else, he must explain to them what he thinks is holding them back and how to overcome it. For the starters, he must explain what's keeping them on top, how to improve in other areas, and how to help the kids behind them to get better... and even challenge them for more minutes. This is the primary way to build a sense of mutual trust and community on the team.

 

[BBallF]

Personally, I think another big is very good insurance against injuries, illness, etc. the likes of which have been almost biblical for us for several years. We are flush at the 1/2/3 positions, or so it seems at present, so why not use the one scholarship available to shore up a potential weakness? Karlen or Dauda would be solid pick ups. I always hated the way Karlen played against us which means I really liked the way she played.

 

[Charliebball]

I have a feeling that Karlen will end up at Notre Dame.............then again, I've been wrong before.........plenty.........

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I have a feeling that Karlen will end up at Notre Dame.............then again, I've been wrong before.........plenty.........

This maybe an instance of getting a reliable 'big' so uNd does not....

I vote for picking up Karlen for that reason alone!

 

[MilfordHusky]

At this point it will come down to which players are interested. In all 3 games vs UConn this past season, Karlen scored in double figures with good rebounding numbers. She plays physical defense and she can knock down shots from the arc.

Beers, Iriafen and Weimer are gone from the portal. Dauda & Barker are still available. But we don’t know if there’s mutual interest. At the end of the day, the question is whether bringing in Karlen as a grad transfer makes UConn better or not?

I think Liza would clearly be a positive addition. She's a better offensive player than Ayanna and Ice at this point and at least as good a rebounder. She isn't the dominant center (Boston, Cardoso) that we need, but she would be our only experienced, accomplished front court player. Because she had just 1 year left, she does not directly affect 2025 recruiting.

One way to look at the portal--assume Paige and Azzi come back for 2024-25 only. It's incumbent on Geno to maximize the talent for next year while Paige and Azzi are still around to give us the best chance for a championship.

 

[mordecai]

I think Liza would clearly be a positive addition. She's a better offensive player than Ayanna and Ice at this point and at least as good a rebounder. She isn't the dominant center (Boston, Cardoso) that we need, but she would be our only experienced, accomplished front court player. Because she had just 1 year left, she does not directly affect 2025 recruiting.

One way to look at the portal--assume Paige and Azzi come back for 2024-25 only. It's incumbent on Geno to maximize the talent for next year while Paige and Azzi are still around to give us the best chance for a championship.

Agree 100%.. Certainly can’t hurt to add the security of another forward.. Plus it will add the benefit of having the inexperienced bigs practice against a proven player.. something I think they desperately need.. Liza benefits with the experience of being coached by Geno and building her resume for possibly the WNBA..

 

[Skeets]

Coaches let players know that they’re not in the plan for the upcoming season, effectively encouraging them to transfer. Geno is no different. After the season, he meets with each “returning” player to review their performance and set expectations for the upcoming season. I have no doubt that Geno met with Ines and Amari after the season ended to let them know they would have a better opportunity to play at another school.

No doubt coaches do that and players transfer. I would call that a mutual agreement, not a "get out I'm yanking your scholarship" situation. Does Geno encourage players to transfer? I have no clue, but I do know he works the phones to find a good landing spot for his players in good standing that choose to transfer.