Long Article on Caroline Ducharme from Mike Anthony

[Sluconn Husky]

Auriemma began recruiting Ducharme about two years ago but didn’t immediately offer a scholarship.


“She was under the radar a little bit,” Auriemma said. “When you first look at her, you’re not quite sure she can play at the highest level. But then when you play against her, watch her on the court, you can see like, wow, that kid’s really good. What I like the most about her is that during the recruiting process, I had to say to her a couple times, ‘We have no idea what our scholarship situation is. If you can hang in there with is, I think it’s going to work out great. But if you need to make a decision and go someplace [else], I truly understand.’ The kid was like, ‘No, Coach, just be honest with me, tell me where I stand and I’ll make my decision based on that.’ I told her I just need to sort some things out — who’s coming back, who’s not. I knew all along that I wanted her to be here and I’m really excited about her coming. She’s kind of an edgy kid, which I really like.”

UConn freshman Caroline Ducharme went from ‘under the radar’ after injuries to the No. 5 recruit

Ducharme is the fifth-best player in the high school Class of 2021, according to ESPN....

www.ctpost.com

 

[jabstep]

With Paige, Azzi and Caroline we will not be the worst shooting team on America. I also expect Nika to be better 3 point threat.

 

[jcoton56]

Gotta love her approach. She has already proved to be mentally tough.

 

[eebmg]

“Coach basically said [to Caroline], ‘I’m going to tell you what I’ve told every one of my recruits, including Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, that if you come here and you play well, you’ll play, and if you suck, you won’t,’” Todd Ducharme said. “And she said, ‘I’m in. Where do I sign.’ That literally was the line like, ‘I’m going to work so hard that you have to play me.’”

 

[bluedevil]

I'm all for feel good stories..but they are often only that. I hope Caroline Ducharme is for real. Btw did she face good competiton in HS?

 

[Mdoggie]

Who else recruited her?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Who else recruited her?

Oregon, Tennessee, Maryland, Michigan, Stanford, Oregon State, North Carolina

 

[Centerstream]

With Paige, Azzi and Caroline we will not be the worst shooting team on America. I also expect Nika to be better 3 point threat.

With the options of Paige, Azzi, Caroline and Saylor, Nika should not have to shoot any 3s...just require her to bring up the ball and focus on her very good defensive abilities.

 

[Littlemin]

With the options of Paige, Azzi, Caroline and Saylor, Nika should not have to shoot any 3s...just require her to bring up the ball and focus on her very good defensive abilities.

Fudd, Ducharme and Poffenberger have not played a serious minute of D1 basketball yet. I don’t think Muhl chose to stay in the US at the expense of playing for her country to settle for bringing the ball up and playing defense.

 

[huskeynut]

Caroline is edgy. Nika is the hard nose guard, Paige is the field general and Azzi is the sharp shooter. Add Christyn as the aggressor and E as the heart and soul and you have a deadly back court combination. These young ladies have no intention of sitting on the pines. This coming season is going to be a lot of fun.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Fudd, Ducharme and Poffenberger have not played a serious minute of D1 basketball yet. I don’t think Muhl chose to stay in the US at the expense of playing for her country to settle for bringing the ball up and playing defense.

For some UConn fans Muhl will never earn their respect. She could score 20 a night and people would still be looking to cut her minutes or replace her with someone else. I don't get it. Like what does she have to do to be worthy?

 

[Bigboote]

Fudd, Ducharme and Poffenberger have not played a serious minute of D1 basketball yet. I don’t think Muhl chose to stay in the US at the expense of playing for her country to settle for bringing the ball up and playing defense.

Nika herself said she'd rather get an assist than a basket. She's fine with the others shooting bombs.

 

[EricSD]

Nika herself said she'd rather get an assist than a basket. She's fine with the others shooting bombs.

There's a story (I think it was when Geno watched her play, but it might have just been on video), where she dishes an assist to one of her teammates who scores. Nika ran back up the court celebrating like she just won a trip to Disney.

She literally LIVES to not only do the dirty work (things on the court other players would rather not do), but to make everyone around her better. She truly is a gem. Not only will she start next season, IMHO she will get more minutes than any other guard not named Paige (and maybe Christyn).

 

[BobbyJ]

Auriemma began recruiting Ducharme about two years ago but didn’t immediately offer a scholarship.


“She was under the radar a little bit,” Auriemma said. “When you first look at her, you’re not quite sure she can play at the highest level. But then when you play against her, watch her on the court, you can see like, wow, that kid’s really good. What I like the most about her is that during the recruiting process, I had to say to her a couple times, ‘We have no idea what our scholarship situation is. If you can hang in there with is, I think it’s going to work out great. But if you need to make a decision and go someplace [else], I truly understand.’ The kid was like, ‘No, Coach, just be honest with me, tell me where I stand and I’ll make my decision based on that.’ I told her I just need to sort some things out — who’s coming back, who’s not. I knew all along that I wanted her to be here and I’m really excited about her coming. She’s kind of an edgy kid, which I really like.”

UConn freshman Caroline Ducharme went from ‘under the radar’ after injuries to the No. 5 recruit

Ducharme is the fifth-best player in the high school Class of 2021, according to ESPN....

www.ctpost.com

Boston girls are tough and she'll figure out a way. She's got the mean streak and she'll be one of my favorites.

 

[Littlemin]

Nika herself said she'd rather get an assist than a basket. She's fine with the others shooting bombs.

No doubt, but “bringing the ball up” has a “dribble past half court, give it up and get out of the way“ intimation to it; at least to me. Maybe the poster didn’t mean it that way but that’s how I took it and my reply was based on that.

 

[Boreifs]

Caroline is edgy. Nika is the hard nose guard, Paige is the field general and Azzi is the sharp shooter. Add Christyn as the aggressor and E as the heart and soul and you have a deadly back court combination. These young ladies have no intention of sitting on the pines. This coming season is going to be a lot of fun.

Six players for three positions. With Dorka and Amari available, Geno isn’t thinking four guard lineups. Time for a 10-player rotation, just like the NBA has done for 60 years.

 

[CL82]

For some UConn fans Muhl will never earn their respect. She could score 20 a night and people would still be looking to cut her minutes or replace her with someone else. I don't get it. Like what does she have to do to be worthy?

I, for one, support any player who scores 20 points a night for us. They can score more than that if they want too. I’m flexible.

 

[HuskylnSC]

With the options of Paige, Azzi, Caroline and Saylor, Nika should not have to shoot any 3s...just require her to bring up the ball and focus on her very good defensive abilities.

point guards have to shoot 3's so the defense can't sag off of her. it's part of her job description to keep the defense honest and she did a great job of making the D pay any time they tried to sag off. IMO, I expect improvement from her and it's going to be very difficult for any player to move Nika to the bench.

 

[mdakota]

In all of our championship teams, every person on the floor had to be a scoring threat. Nika will shoot when she's open. I hope that she still starts next year.. Her demeanor on the court was awesome, once she stopped fouling

 

[wolfe613]

For some UConn fans Muhl will never earn their respect. She could score 20 a night and people would still be looking to cut her minutes or replace her with someone else. I don't get it. Like what does she have to do to be worthy?

I have not seen anything that was outrageous all was criticizing how she was playing from other posters there's nothing wrong with that. In that Arz game she looked wreckless and out of control.

 

[Charliebball]

There's a story (I think it was when Geno watched her play, but it might have just been on video), where she dishes an assist to one of her teammates who scores. Nika ran back up the court celebrating like she just won a trip to Disney.

She literally LIVES to not only do the dirty work (things on the court other players would rather not do), but to make everyone around her better. She truly is a gem. Not only will she start next season, IMHO she will get more minutes than any other guard not named Paige (and maybe Christyn).

if NM gets more minutes on the court then the best shooter in amateur basketball (Azzi Fudd), then that means Fudd had a serious injury...................I really hope that's not the case.......

 

[EricSD]

if NM gets more minutes on the court then the best shooter in amateur basketball (Azzi Fudd), then that means Fudd had a serious injury...................I really hope that's not the case.......

We will see. Listen to Geno's comments this past season about Nika. He absolutely raved about how good she was, how important she was to the team, and most importantly, how much better the team played with her at full health. Some are overly salivating about the prospect of Azzi playing major minutes - a large number even penned her in as a starter ahead of Nika.

Azzi may be a scorer, but Nika is the engine that drove the train, and frankly, the most important player on the floor. Just ask anyone who has seen Bird at her best. And there is no better, or more intense, guard defender on the team.

One other tidbit - Nika passed on going back to Croatia to play on her national team and opted to stay at UCONN saying something like "UCONN is my national team now". I don't have the quote handy but it was something like that. Her dedication and commitment will not go unnoticed by Geno and the staff.

Any minutes reduced to make room for Azzi IMHO will come from Evina, Christyn, and maybe even Paige (also Mir/Aubrey). Why? Because IMHO Nika will be the starting PG. When she comes out, Paige will replace her as the PG. Azzi will play the 2/3. That means she will be competing for minutes with Christyn, Evina, Caroline, Saylor, and to a lesser extent, Mir and Aubrey.

Just my opinion obviously. I have no doubt you, and others, may disagree. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I am sure Geno doesn't even know yet. He has no idea how Caroline and Azzi will mesh and develop. What a blessing to have so much talent and depth at literally all positions - 1 thru 5. Can't wait for this season to start!!
.

 

[bluedevil]

Six players for three positions. With Dorka and Amari available, Geno isn’t thinking four guard lineups. Time for a 10-player rotation, just like the NBA has done for 60 years.

Remember they play 48 minute games......hmmm

 

[Charliebball]

We will see. Listen to Geno's comments this past season about Nika. He absolutely raved about how good she was, how important she was to the team, and most importantly, how much better the team played with her at full health. Some are overly salivating about the prospect of Azzi playing major minutes - a large number even penned her in as a starter ahead of Nika.

Azzi may be a scorer, but Nika is the engine that drove the train, and frankly, the most important player on the floor. Just ask anyone who has seen Bird at her best. And there is no better, or more intense, guard defender on the team.

One other tidbit - Nika passed on going back to Croatia to play on her national team and opted to stay at UCONN saying something like "UCONN is my national team now". I don't have the quote handy but it was something like that. Her dedication and commitment will not go unnoticed by Geno and the staff.

Any minutes reduced to make room for Azzi IMHO will come from Evina, Christyn, and maybe even Paige (also Mir/Aubrey). Why? Because IMHO Nika will be the starting PG. When she comes out, Paige will replace her as the PG. Azzi will play the 2/3. That means she will be competing for minutes with Christyn, Evina, Caroline, Saylor, and to a lesser extent, Mir and Aubrey.

Just my opinion obviously. I have no doubt you, and others, may disagree. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I am sure Geno doesn't even know yet. He has no idea how Caroline and Azzi will mesh and develop. What a blessing to have so much talent and depth at literally all positions - 1 thru 5. Can't wait for this season to start!!
.

If Fudd is at 100% she starts every game she plays in a UConn uniform..............I remember having this argument last year about PB starting.............many thought she would be worked in slowly..............I said talent like that doesn't sit on a bench at the start of a game and I think we will see the same thing with ...........not only is she a superb basketball player, she also already has a relationship on the court with PB so they will hit the ground running...........if they both stay healthy we should enjoy watching one of the greatest back court combos in the history of women's college basketball.........NM will still play an important role as an intense ball hawking presence off the bench allowing Geno to rest his starting guards far more then in the past and after watching her last season I believe she will relish that role............

 

[HuskylnSC]

if NM gets more minutes on the court then the best shooter in amateur basketball (Azzi Fudd), then that means Fudd had a serious injury...................I really hope that's not the case.......

I don't think we can look at last year in an attempt to determine minutes this year nor can we predict how the freshmen will adapt.
Nika and Azzi play different positions. Azzi's minutes will come from E and CW. Paige or E can take over the point when Nika needs a break.
E particularly will see fewer minutes because there is competition at the 4 where she filled in admirably last year.
Geno has already stated that unless she improves, O will see her 'touches' reduced to Aaliyah.
That comment was made before the commitment of Dorka.

But the bottom line is this; playing time is determined by how well you play defense.

 

[HuskylnSC]

If Fudd is at 100% she starts every game she plays in a UConn uniform..............I remember having this argument last year about PB starting.............many thought she would be worked in slowly..............I said talent like that doesn't sit on a bench at the start of a game and I think we will see the same thing with ...........not only is she a superb basketball player, she also already has a relationship on the court with PB so they will hit the ground running...........if they both stay healthy we should enjoy watching one of the greatest back court combos in the history of women's college basketball.........NM will still play an important role as an intense ball hawking presence off the bench allowing Geno to rest his starting guards far more then in the past and after watching her last season I believe she will relish that role............

@Charliebball, I don't remember having a different take on any of your posts. But coming into this team as a freshman is not at all like the team PB came into. Last year we were sure of only 4 starters. This year, they are all back and six deep. (I count the 5 starters and Aaliyah as locks) A freshman coming into this team is more like DT's freshman year. I think she will have a season like Diana did her first year. Also, I can't see her taking minutes from Nika. Nika is unique to this team and she too has an on court relationship with PB. Also remember Geno's priorities are defense over offense.

 

[Littlemin]

I have not seen anything that was outrageous all was criticizing how she was playing from other posters there's nothing wrong with that. In that Arz game she looked wreckless and out of control.

Come on, she was the ONLY Uconn player who brought emotion and passion to the court. The ONLY Uconn player willing to accept the Arizona intensity challenge and leave it on the court and that was while playing hurt.

 

[Eagle4]

I have to add some heresy here. I dont get the boneyatd's fascination with Muhl. She is a nice kid and a hard worker. She is NOT the second coming of Sue Bird, at least not yet. I wish her well and hope she improves her offensive game. She had difficulty in most games making outside shots and also had some very awkward efforts even with layups. A championship team needs complete two way players at all positions as well as depth . Starting a "specialist" that the opponents don't have to guard (or a big who cant finish under pressure) leaves you vunerable. It's just as bad as starting an offesive player who cant guard people. We saw how those issues ultimately led to UConn's demise last year. I think starting and minutes will be hard earned this year(harder earned than last year). The people who improve and deal with their weaknesses will play. Geno is going to have options and, unlike last year, will have the depth to hopefully sort out a rotation that consists of complete two way players.

Another point to be made is sometimes the 5th starter is not a better player than the 6th or 7th player because you want the first and second subs to be players who can spark a team when they come in.

If Fudd is as good as Beckers, I dont see how she doesn't wind up playing major major minutes...and that doesnt even consider how ready Caroline might be .... and then there is Dorka.... yikes.... a lot of talent coming in...

 

[Littlemin]

I don't think we can look at last year in an attempt to determine minutes this year nor can we predict how the freshmen will adapt.
Nika and Azzi play different positions. Azzi's minutes will come from E and CW. Paige or E can take over the point when Nika needs a break.
E particularly will see fewer minutes because there is competition at the 4 where she filled in admirably last year.
Geno has already stated that unless she improves, O will see her 'touches' reduced to Aaliyah.
That comment was made before the commitment of Dorka.

But the bottom line is this; playing time is determined by how well you play defense.

I will offer another view that many here will take offense at; a view that was shared with me and others by a HS WBB coach in NJ at one of the consistently top teams in the state. She felt Auriemma moved Bueckers off the ball so quickly because he realized she was not a PG at this level. While acknowledging that WITHOUT A DOUBT she is a GREAT player, this women’s opinion was that she has one weakness in her game in that she can’t really break down defenses, that she is not a great one on one player, in other words she needs picks, movement AWAY from the ball, etc. to get her offense.
Interesting because she knew Bueckers game quite well and cited how as the season went on, teams overplayed and took away her one signature half court move, the drive right to the baseline or just off the baseline jumper. This was offered as no knock on Bueckers at all and I don’t offer it as such either; just an opinion from one whose view comes IMO from a very objective angle.
In point of fact, it was offered during a discussion of Auriemma and his ability to put players into positions to succeed, offered as proof of the premise, not as a criticism of Bueckers.

 

[Littlemin]

I have to add some heresy here. I dont get the boneyatd's fascination with Muhl. She is a nice kid and a hard worker. She is NOT the second coming of Sue Bird, at least not yet. I wish her well and hope she improves her offensive game. She had difficulty in most games making outside shots and also had some very awkward efforts even with layups. A championship team needs complete two way players at all positions as well as depth . Starting a "specialist" that the opponents don't have to guard (or a big who cant finish under pressure) leaves you vunerable. It's just as bad as starting an offesive player who cant guard people. We saw how those issues ultimately led to UConn's demise last year. I think starting and minutes will be hard earned this year(harder earned than last year). The people who improve and deal with their weaknesses will play. Geno is going to have options and, unlike last year, will have the depth to hopefully sort out a rotation that consists of complete two way players.

Another point to be made is sometimes the 5th starter is not a better player than the 6th or 7th player because you want the first and second subs to be players who can spark a team when they come in.

If Fudd is as good as Beckers, I dont see how she doesn't wind up playing major major minutes...and that doesnt even consider how ready Caroline might be .... and then there is Dorka.... yikes.... a lot of talent coming in...

Forget posters here, what about Auriemma’s publicly stated several times over opinion of Muhl?