Looking Ahead

[Tonyc]

Paige was a guard and a leader who drew alot of attention from defenses. This helped free up Azzi and Sarah. Most teams could not guard all three effectively (Paige Azzi and Sarah). Most teams were forced to come out and guard all three. This year it will be Azzi and Sarah and if there is another scorer who would demand attention that would take alot of pressure off Azzi and Sarah. Right now we dont know who that could be. With that point there is no team with a Azzi and Sarah.

Blanca is very athletic, very quick, and just a terrific athlete. She will need to be coachable in learning UConns game. Im sure she will. It will take her time to adjust to UConn BB. There will be a learning process there. As of now we need another guard who can shoot and handle the point. Our defense fueled our offense. The Terror Twins (KK and Ash) are great defensively and defense is what got us where we are. That wont change next season with the nucleus of our defense still here. As new players come in they will learn from those who were here the past season or two when our defense was just great.

Caroline Im hoping will be back next season. She has come along way and still has a way to go before she can give us 25 minutes every nite. She could be the third scorer.

Any pollster who picks any preseason team ahead of UConn imo is silly. We still have a proven defense. They also proved that you dont need a big to win it all. This team won it all because they had scorers/shooters and a devastating defense that humbled most teams. Geno has been able to take the players he's had and mold them into a great team. A couple of years ago with all the injuries they made the FF only to loose on a questionable call imo. Then this season come back healthy to win it all.

Next season we are in better shape then we were starting this season. The players we have this season have gotten healthy and have grown. Our team chemistry is solid. We will see what the off season brings.

 

[Topsail]

I hope kk works on her confidence To shoot from 3 and pull up jumpers.

 

[Aluminny69]

Jana needs to work on her hand strength. She seems to lose many rebounds. She could work with Sarah, who has excellent hands, and also is great around the basket. Jana seems to be on the threshold of greatness. Just needs to hold on to rebounds and make those shots around the basket.

For Azzi, she needs consistency. There is a wide gap between her best game and her worst game. I wonder how much is mental, and how much is physical. She will be counted on every game next year. No pressure.

Excited to see how these two develop.

 

[Topdawg]

A few thoughts:

1. Azzi: bring the final 4 mentality to every game. Develop leadership skills and learn to control the game as Paige was doing.
2. Sarah: Continue to be aggressive and grow a “you can’t stop me“ mentality
3. KK : learn to control pace so you can increase shooting percentage while attacking the basket. Develop mid- and long- range scoring
4. Ash: learn a few ball handling moves from Azzi so you can get to open spaces and hit that mid-range shot
5. Jana: Develop a consistent shooting rhythm so you can become an offensive force down low. Work on free throws.
6. Ice: Work on taking quick shots and more shots. You need to become an offensive threat.
7. Morgan and Ally. Work yourselves into the rotation by playing strong defense and regaining your offensive fluency at college speed.
8. Caroline and Yanna. Work on catching up to the current UConn game speed and the confidence that allows you to not worry about your injuries
9. the newbies: learn, learn, learn
10. any other adds: learn the UConn way and leverage your talents to help the team succeed!

 

[hookshot]

Need a pure shooter to take some defensive heat off Azzi (who will be the defacto PB next year, that attracts the defensive attention) - possibly that could be Alli in concert with Ash. Chelli will be the Swiss army knife. Caroline, Patterson, Jana, Brady , newbee recruits and portals are all mysteries as significant until until proven, but Alli has alrady shown herslf to be a scorer in practices and som game action this year

 

[Topdawg]

Need a pure shooter to take some defensive heat off Azzi (who will be the defacto PB next year, that attracts the defensive attention) - possibly that could be Alli in concert with Ash. Chelli will be the Swiss army knife. Caroline, Patterson, Jana, Brady , newbee recruits and portals are all mysteries as significant until until proven, but Alli has alrady shown herslf to be a scorer in practices and som game action this year

Allie won the 3 point contest in last year’s McDonalds all American games. She beat all the women first and then the best male. Looking for her to show that prowess in College games.

 

[browns]

It bodes well for Uconn that Paige had an ordinary 2 games in the FF while Uconn was able to destroy both teams with Azzi and Sara leading the way

 

[Bone Dog]

Some excellent posts in this thread. But besides @Tonyc (who has now reached the level of prophet in my eyes), I was moved by what @Topdawg had to say to Azzi and KK in his list.

• I want all of them, but especially Azzi, to bring the mentality they showed in the final four all season next year. Make that the starting point.
• And KK also needs to build out from the brilliant "attack the basket" mind set she showed against SC. The Big 3 were great in that game, but KK also contributed nicely in the second half, effectively shutting the door on them with a string of brilliant driving layups. Bring that to the team next season, but build out to a midrange game. You can do it, girl!

Also I am very moved by what @Tonyc says about making it difficult to guard everyone. Paige and Azzi were instrumental in this. But by the end of the season, Sarah had made herself impossible to guard for opposing teams. The guards aren't big enough to keep her out of the lane if they're stuck trying to contest her perimeter shots. And the bigs give up too much to the other shooters if they try to contest at the perimeter and they lack the foot speed to stay with her if she takes it to the rim from out there. Just watch Feagin or Betts or Barker or Beer trying to guard her at the perimeter and you'll see it clear as day. This is the Devil's Paradox Sarah forces on other teams. I expect she'll be even better at it next season. She is the most difficult defensive assignment in WCBB and will continue to be so next season.

The only question is how much of Paige's magic can KK Ash and Blanca make up for next season. I noticed KK and Azzi made a few of those pic-roll passes to Sarah that Paige had so much fun with this season. I want to see tons of this next season. Now just imagine Blanca either making those passes or making those back-cuts. The system is already mainly in place -- it's not like she has to reinvent the wheel in Storrs. I think she'll figure it out pretty quickly. And once that's working, so much else will open up for her and the team.

And the transition game is poised to fly next season. KK Ash Azzi Sarah and Blanca are already proven transition scorers, I think Geno will unleash them as early as November. The only question is how quickly it will take Morgan and Allie to get in on the act.

 

[Zonepress]

Allie won the 3 point contest in last year’s McDonalds all American games. She beat all the women first and then the best male. Looking for her to show that prowess in College games.

winning at three-point contest has very little, if anything to do with the ability to play at the UConn level

 

[uconnfan68]

Jana needs to work on her hand strength. She seems to lose many rebounds. She could work with Sarah, who has excellent hands, and also is great around the basket. Jana seems to be on the threshold of greatness. Just needs to hold on to rebounds and make those shots around the basket.

For Azzi, she needs consistency. There is a wide gap between her best game and her worst game. I wonder how much is mental, and how much is physical. She will be counted on every game next year. No pressure.

Excited to see how these two develop.

Both players were coming off significant injuries. They’ll be much better next year.

 

[Fore!]

I hope kk works on her confidence To shoot from 3 and pull up jumpers.

Not as concerned about her confidence as I am in her competence

 

[ConnMotors]

Tony I read your stuff always but this post should have waited until the end of April. We don’t know for sure who is still going to be on this team. I would hope that all of them remain but I’ve come to find out that life changes constantly.

 

[Skeets]

Allie won the 3 point contest in last year’s McDonalds all American games. She beat all the women first and then the best male. Looking for her to show that prowess in College games.

If I'm not mistaken, Allie won the 3 point contest on First Night.

 

[topogigio]

Ash, I believe, will be a star next season. She accepted her role this year and deferred to the "superstars". I don't buy the "consistency" jab many have given her this year. She was one of the most consistent players on the team her freshman season, and you could count on her 9-12 points per game, and her always amazing hustle. Remember, she played almost the entire game, every game!

 

[Bone Dog]

Ash, I believe, will be a star next season. She accepted her role this year and deferred to the "superstars". I don't buy the "consistency" jab many have given her this year. She was one of the most consistent players on the team her freshman season, and you could count on her 9-12 points per game, and her always amazing hustle. Remember, she played almost the entire game, every game!

Me neither. Ash does what she needs to do every game. Sometimes that's launching a barrage of 3s. Other times, it's hunting that smooth midrange jumper. Sometimes it's clawing rebounds away from opposing bigs. Every time it's hustling every second she's on the floor.

 

[Jonathan14]

Ash, I believe, will be a star next season. She accepted her role this year and deferred to the "superstars". I don't buy the "consistency" jab many have given her this year. She was one of the most consistent players on the team her freshman season, and you could count on her 9-12 points per game, and her always amazing hustle. Remember, she played almost the entire game, every game!

Me neither. Ash does what she needs to do every game. Sometimes that's launching a barrage of 3s. Other times, it's hunting that smooth midrange jumper. Sometimes it's clawing rebounds away from opposing bigs. Every time it's hustling every second she's on the floor.

At our house, we discuss how there needs to be a "rebounds per inch" statistic to account for Ashlynn's full impact that somehow handicaps for her height. Is there anyone else at her height who gets as many rebounds as she does? (To be fair, in the game vs. SC on Sunday, Raven Johnson looked like a contender.) It's not just how many rebounds she gets but her willingness to fly in, at her size, and mix it up with the trees without fear.

 

[Bills Fan]

winning at three-point contest has very little, if anything to do with the ability to play at the UConn level

Maybe not, but it's a really good start.

 

[ERWUC65]

Like this past year, Ash will continue to play a relegated role along with KK. For a couple of reasons: First, they are the absolute best at what they do and are instrumental in Geno's strategy. Second, Ash plays the 2 and as long as Azzi's there she will not start. The reason UConn is a championship program is due to players like Ash who fit a role and are willing to give their all in that capacity.

 

[Bone Dog]

At our house, we discuss how there needs to be a "rebounds per inch" statistic to account for Ashlynn's full impact that somehow handicaps for her height. Is there anyone else at her height who gets as many rebounds as she does? (To be fair, in the game vs. SC on Sunday, Raven Johnson looked like a contender.) It's not just how many rebounds she gets but her willingness to fly in, at her size, and mix it up with the trees without fear.

I’d pick Ash over Raven any day of the week. She’s a better scorer though Raven may be a better passer and is a little quicker, and they seem to be a wash as rebounders and defenders.

 

[hookshot]

winning at three-point contest has very little, if anything to do with the ability to play at the UConn level

Well its a good start !!! Azzi up until the final 4 was raising a concern that she may have been largely a three point contest specialist but how do we like her now

 

[hookshot]

At our house, we discuss how there needs to be a "rebounds per inch" statistic to account for Ashlynn's full impact that somehow handicaps for her height. Is there anyone else at her height who gets as many rebounds as she does? (To be fair, in the game vs. SC on Sunday, Raven Johnson looked like a contender.) It's not just how many rebounds she gets but her willingness to fly in, at her size, and mix it up with the trees without fear.

I like that stat, let's make it happen. Mugsy Bouges, Calvin Murphy and several others will wish you had invented it back in the day. Bueckers and Griffin would look on that one, as well and what about Murrow (LSU).

 

[Conndog]

Allie won the 3 point contest in last year’s McDonalds all American games. She beat all the women first and then the best male. Looking for her to show that prowess in College games.

I root for Allie whoever she gets into the game- one issue is her athleticism, though, she doesn’t seem to move quickly, and on defense she seems slow. She didn’t get too many minutes last year to get used to game speed or show off her shooting; maybe this year will be different. Paige, who could elevate so easily (did anyone ever block a shot of hers?), is going to be sorely missed.

 

[uconnfan68]

I root for Allie whoever she gets into the game- one issue is her athleticism, though, she doesn’t seem to move quickly, and on defense she seems slow. She didn’t get too many minutes last year to get used to game speed or show off her shooting; maybe this year will be different. Paige, who could elevate so easily (did anyone ever block a shot of hers?), is going to be sorely missed.

That will be her task for next year. Getting stronger and faster. Her bbiq and shooting will get her pt if she’s physically ready.

 

[Next 12]

Ash, I believe, will be a star next season. She accepted her role this year and deferred to the "superstars". I don't buy the "consistency" jab many have given her this year. She was one of the most consistent players on the team her freshman season, and you could count on her 9-12 points per game, and her always amazing hustle. Remember, she played almost the entire game, every game!

I also believe Ashlynn will be the #3 star shooter next year. She has all the tools to be a great 3 point shooter and pull up shooter.Ashlynn is a die-hard Huskie from her toes to her head. She embodies the Uconn mentality team first. In her first 2 years she has scored 729 points,has 241 rebounds, 94 steals, 117 3-pointers, 108 assists and ONLY 63 turnovers. She averaged 9.4 points a game. She would be on any ones team. She deserves a starting spot and is a BIG asset to the team.I posted before that Blanca after she learns the Uconn way, will be a huge scorer also. I HAVE FAITH that the 25/26 team will be NO.1 all the way. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!

 

[Huskie02]

Ash, I believe, will be a star next season. She accepted her role this year and deferred to the "superstars". I don't buy the "consistency" jab many have given her this year. She was one of the most consistent players on the team her freshman season, and you could count on her 9-12 points per game, and her always amazing hustle. Remember, she played almost the entire game, every game!

Don’t agree. I love her tenacity but she doesn‘t score consistently. She had zero points in the semi final and 4 or 5 in the final. She will score in double figures in one gams and be blanked in the next.