Long Article on Caroline Ducharme from Mike Anthony

[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?

 

[BobbyJ]

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.

I don't disagree with this POV at all. However, I think Bueckers has the potential to break down a defender but what's preventing it is that she needs to get physically stronger to use her body to shield and tighten up her handle because she exposes the ball a little too much. This probably stems from HS where defenders couldn't get up into her for fear of her going by them with no real post help D in HS ball. Her mind and vision are so quick that I think she'll make whatever adjustments are needed as she goes.

 

[Bigboote]

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

Kelly Faris wasn't any more of a scoring threat than Nika and was an integral part of two championship teams.

 

[Littlemin]

I don't disagree with this POV at all. However, I think Bueckers has the potential to break down a defender but what's preventing it is that she needs to get physically stronger to use her body to shield and tighten up her handle because she exposes the ball a little too much. This probably stems from HS where defenders couldn't get up into her for fear of her going by them with no real post help D in HS ball. Her mind and vision are so quick that I think she'll make whatever adjustments are needed as she goes.

Agreed; she is a freshman and obviously should improve; it certainly seems she has the intelligence and work ethic to do do. Of course scoring one on one as you describe is a different skill set than breaking down defenses forcing switches and rotations. While Muhl turned the ball over too often, she certainly showed the quickness to break down defenders going to the basket. Frankly, I look for improvements from both of them.

 

[Vowelguy]

.I said talent like that doesn't sit on a bench at the start of a game

And yet talent like Maya Diana Shea did sit on the bench.

Paige started because she was exceptionally talented AND there was an opening at PG given Crystals departure.

I will be surprised if Azzi starts.

 

[Vowelguy]

Is her name pronounced

Doo shar may
Doo sharm
?

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Is her name pronounced

Doo shar may
Doo sharm
?

The second one.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Is her name pronounced

Doo shar may
Doo sharm
?

Might as well hear it from the horse's mouth.

 

[Charliebball]

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.

I don't take any offense to the idea but from what I've seen Bueckers can get her shot off pretty much any time she wants.............she simply doesn't force shots or monopolize the ball.............it's simply not in her nature............I think you'll see her with the ball far more this coming season when she won't be the only true three point shooting threat on the team.....

 

[Charliebball]

@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.

defense is every coaches priority..................unless they have a scorer like Azzi Fudd.............

 

[Littlemin]

I don't take any offense to the idea but from what I've seen Bueckers can get her shot off pretty much any time she wants.............she simply doesn't force shots or monopolize the ball.............it's simply not in her nature............I think you'll see her with the ball far more this coming season when she won't be the only true three point shooting threat on the team.....

Why would you possibly take offense over an observation about a basketball player?

 

[Charliebball]

Why would you possibly take offense over an observation about a basketball player?

I was responding to the poster's statement that some on the BY might take offense about his comment.........it takes more than that to offend me......

 

[Littlemin]

I was responding to the poster's statement that some on the BY might take offense about his comment.........it takes more than that to offend me......

So you responded to another poster by responding to me. Interesting, and my last comment on the subject, ridiculously unbelievable.

 

[jabstep]

Interesting points of view as usual at the yard. Azzi Fudd may not start in the first game but she will be playing major minutes if healthy. She has one attribute that others don't have which is the ability to drive and break down her defender with her pull-up J out which she can shoot or pass. I agree that Paige against a superior defender such as Ari Mac or Didi Richards she needed screens to get herself open. If you watched her off-season workouts you will notice that she was working quite a bit on a stepback jumper which would create space off the dribble for her shot. Paige will get better every year as well as Azzi why because they work and work and work at their games. That's why they are the best. If you watched closely at the Arizona game you would see Ari go by Nika like she wasn't even there. She can't guard quick guards. Big east guards yeah sure, except for the Seton Hall PG. Just my observation.

 

[Charliebball]

So you responded to another poster by responding to me. Interesting, and my last comment on the subject, ridiculously unbelievable.

I'm sorry you were so offended...........feel better.........

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Geno "loves" Nika as he sees a lot of himself in her!
His roots going back to Italy and Nika's going back to Croatia, the European mind-set/values that a person born and raised in the good old USA isn't raised with!
So just as CD2 had Geno's respect and admiration and started, Nika will start because Geno trusts her to give 110% every minute, not that other UCONN players don't but Nika's values are different!
IMHO, the 5 starters for the 1st 4 or 5 games will be:
Paige Bueckers SG
Nika Muhl PG
Christyn Williams SF
Aaliyah Edwards PF
Dorka Juhasz C
The 1st players off the bench will be:
Olivia Nelson-Ododa C and Azzi Fudd G ( Azzi will still average 28 to 30 minutes a game)
Remember though Geno really doesn't have Positions they are interchangeable parts to the puzzle!
As the season progresses I wouldn't be surprised to see Evina Westbrook, Azzi, and ONO, starting!

 

[wolfe613]

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.

if she was the only player to show emotion in a final four game then there's a bigger problem

 

[Littlemin]

if she was the only player to show emotion in a final four game then there's a bigger problem

Well, the problem was, as Williams admitted, the team took Arizona lightly; it is up to the coaching staff to decide the size of the problem. Auriemma has already publicly challenged the 3 seniors, so it was a problem.

 

[wolfe613]

Well, the problem was, as Williams admitted, the team took Arizona lightly; it is up to the coaching staff to decide the size of the problem. Auriemma has already publicly challenged the 3 seniors, so it was a problem.

well if that's the case then they deserved to lose, incredible the entitlement to think that a final 4 team was a bye

 

[Littlemin]

well if that's the case then they deserved to lose, incredible the entitlement to think that a final 4 team was a bye

Absolutely agree, and since the indictment came from one of the team leaders, it certainly seems that was the case.

 

[nuna23]

Geno "loves" Nika as he sees a lot of himself in her!
His roots going back to Italy and Nika's going back to Croatia, the European mind-set/values that a person born and raised in the good old USA isn't raised with!
So just as CD2 had Geno's respect and admiration and started, Nika will start because Geno trusts her to give 110% every minute, not that other UCONN players don't but Nika's values are different!
IMHO, the 5 starters for the 1st 4 or 5 games will be:
Paige Bueckers SG
Nika Muhl PG
Christyn Williams SF
Aaliyah Edwards PF
Dorka Juhasz C
The 1st players off the bench will be:
Olivia Nelson-Ododa C and Azzi Fudd G ( Azzi will still average 28 to 30 minutes a game)
Remember though Geno really doesn't have Positions they are interchangeable parts to the puzzle!
As the season progresses I wouldn't be surprised to see Evina Westbrook, Azzi, and ONO, starting!

dorka will never start over olivia, may be the same starter from last year (liv paige nika CW evina) or he will add a big (dorka or Edwards