MAJRS / JMASK vs TASSK First Year

[NycUcWbbFan]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

 

[hoophuskee]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

Great fun post. TY for posting!!!!! Welcome!!!!!!!!

Can I ask - what are your thoughts as to if UCONN had Beers and were healthy -how awesome would the team be without pressing?

Secondly, at what point in the game (half time? Or mid-3rd qtr? Start of 4th qtr? Later? Other?) do you feel UCONN would have a 25+ pt lead vs about 70% of the opponents?

Third- when would you pull the press? How big of a lead and when would you pull it?

 

[oldude]

Most “first time posters” on the BY tend to be more limited with their initial post. I admire the fact that you did some serious analysis and commentary on a complex subject, the potential rotations that Geno will employ come tournament time and throughout the season. While it was a pretty hefty read for so early in the day, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Keep on posting!!!

 

[FormerCTrez]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

Thanks for this nice post, and welcome to the BY.

 

[JellyBean]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

Great post!! Thanks for sharing. No need for lurking (A little creepy but hey...I don't judge)

 

[ConnMotors]

We have a great group of guards, wings and post players that when healthy can compete with anyone.

Up Front

“Special K” K Arnold
“Jimmy” Paige Bueckers
“Triple AAA” Azzi Fudd, Ashlynn Shade, Allie Ziebell
Morgan “Freeman” Cheri
“Countless” Caroline Ducharme
“QScores” Qadence Samuels

In the Back

“Duchess” Aubrey Griffin
Sarah “300” Strong
Ayanna Patterson “Foundation”
Ice “Storm” Brady
“Queen” Jana El Alfy

 

[Bone Dog]

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.

Two points:

• Your parentheses are killing me
• Think how awesome it would be to have 5 great new threads instead of just one. As Orwell wrote in Animal Farm: One thread good, five threads gooder.

One question:

Why would the later reintroduction of experienced players be ironic?​

You don’t have to answer. I think I can guess what you have in mind — something to the effect that Geno’s rotation would get larger just as everyone else’s is getting smaller.

You have given the best case (with all the appropriate caveats) for Geno running a long rotation. BYers have long dreamt of a rotation of 5+5 or even 6+6, or other exotic uses of a long roster. The notion of opposing teams having to face what is in effect two different (Jekyll and Hyde, as it were) and really strong teams that never seem to get tired, has long tantalized us fans.

Instead of this, Geno might simply run the press/transition longer subbing liberally, though it’s not as easy to see how Raegan and Ice would fit in that scheme. Jana Sarah Morgan look more obviously like the sort of bigs who could thrive in such a game plan. Of course, most presses mainly rely on the guards running like crazy and a big or two who don’t have to run as hard anchoring the back of the defense.

Just to take an example, McGuff at tOSU has a few different versions of his excellent press. In one, 3 guards are stationed at the inbounds point with Mikulasikova hanging back. In another one, 4 guards worked the inbounds pass and Mikulasikova came out of the game. This shows how even less mobile bigs can function in a press, within limits.

One other feature of tOSU’s press is that it was best with more than one 3 point shooter. When Mikelson moved on last season and Sheldon became the main perimeter shooter it wasn’t quite as effective a game plan. But this season Geno should be blessed with a plethora of perimeter sharp shooters.

Great presses are sort of like fiddler crabs, using the oversized claw to intimidate the inbounders and the little claw to savage opponents once the turnover is achieved. Victims of a pressing team often think they can break it with a “hero pass” or by pressing the pressers. The first tactic just plays into the presser’s hands, the second is negated by great perimeter shooting.

 

[hoophuskee]

Two points:

• Your parentheses are killing me
• Think how awesome it would be to have 5 great new threads instead of just one. As Orwell wrote in Animal Farm: One thread good, five threads gooder.

One question:

Why would the later reintroduction of experienced players be ironic?​

You don’t have to answer. I think I can guess what you have in mind — something to the effect that Geno’s rotation would get larger just as everyone else’s is getting smaller.

The best rotation if healthy late in season would probbaly be 8 players (not counting CD as a rotation player due to time off.Not a question of health).

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Great fun post. TY for posting!!!!! Welcome!!!!!!!!

Can I ask - what are your thoughts as to if UCONN had Beers and were healthy -how awesome would the team be without pressing?

Secondly, at what point in the game (half time? Or mid-3rd qtr? Start of 4th qtr? Later? Other?) do you feel UCONN would have a 25+ pt lead vs about 70% of the opponents?

Third- when would you pull the press? How big of a lead and when would you pull it?

“What I think” or rather “What I think Geno would do” #, as he has formed many different championship teams including nearly-there championship teams:

Your questions require we play fantasy UConn Geno teams in a changed WBB landscape of increased player athleticism and skills (player parity), increased coaching parity (emulating Geno and others), and super-team formation parity (transfer portal).

Question 1: Raegan Beers effect.

Rebecca Lobo has compared Raegan to Stef Dolson in the UConn offense/defense. I would amplify that Raegan is potentially peak “Huskies of Honor” Stef for two years.

UConn’s 2024 team, even without Raegan, is comparable to the 1998 (pre-Sue injury running game) and 1999 (with KJ) UConn teams that won the 2000 national championship over athletic Tennessee. They did lose to Tennessee mid-season. The 2024 UConn teams distribution of wins/losses and margins can be gleaned from the 1998/1999 performance adjusted for parity. (See Thought Experiment 1).

Adding 20 minutes of peak Raegan (see Thought Experiment 2) would be overlaying aspects of the 2012 / 2013 Stewie championship teams, one of which was undefeated. Adding Raegan would make 2024 UConn more formidable especially against higher-echelon teams.

Adding Raegan is not zero-sum with respect to other (post) players. Raegan will increase the quality, efficiency and breadth of rigorously practiced (post) play for all UConn’s (post) players. This will translate to games which Geno considers extended practice.

Raegan can participate in spurts in a running offense as Stef did (especially with outlet-pass initiated possessions) or as a trailing 3-pt maker.

BoneDog’s post expounds on the use of Raegan in a pressing defense.

Question 2: 25+ pt lead vs about 70% of the opponents

As a guide, see Thought Experiment 1 (1998/1999 results) adjusted for parity and 2024 Geno (with his more extensive playbooks) vs 1999 Geno.

2024 Geno may direct more types/pace of offense/defense within games even during the competitive minutes of games that are not necessarily the quickest way to run up the score with an eye towards the NCAA tournament (see 2002 Sue, DT, Swin, Asjha and Tamika team).

Question 3: When to pull off the press.

See answer to Question 2.

Geno has always been mindful of respecting the opposition and not browbeat them beyond the competitive minutes of games.

AFAIK, Geno has only broken character once in the infamous Syracuse/Maya game.

===

Thought Experiment 1:

• 1998/1999 team: Sue, KJ, Shea, Svet, Asjha, Swin, Tamika, Amy Duran, Kelly Schumacher, Paige Sauer, Stacey Hansmaye

vs (the first 10-11 healthy players from):

• Paige, KK, [Azzi], Sarah, Ice, Jana, Raegan, Ash, [Aubrey], [Yanna] | Q, Morgan, Allie, [[Caroline]]

where [] denotes recovering injured, and [[]] denotes indeterminately recovering injured.

1998 record: 1998-99 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Connecticut Athletics

1999 record: 1999-00 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Connecticut Athletics

===

Thought Experiment 2

• 20 minutes of peak Raegan time with a lineup of: Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Ice/Jana, Raegan (Big lineup) or Kk, Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Raegan

vs (2013-2014)

• Bria, Kaleena, Stewie, Morgan, Stef (Big Lineup) or Moriah, Bria, Kaleena, Stewie, Stef.

===

# I give great deference to what Geno or his players want, say for example on adding a transfer. It’s their team and I enjoy being a follower. Whatever they decide, I would try to backwardly rationalize their decisions, and come to appreciate their decisions even more.

 

[diggerfoot]

A most excellent first post! Two comments.

Arnold would be the KJ corollary, or at least she will be if she comes off the bench because Bueckers is being used like Bird, only with better defense!

You focus on transfers, but don’t we still have one or two freshman offers still out there? Serious question, perhaps I am wrong. If those offers to freshmen still exist, they may represent the hold up to transfers not yet announcing.

 

[diggerfoot]

Great fun post. TY for posting!!!!! Welcome!!!!!!!!

Can I ask - what are your thoughts as to if UCONN had Beers and were healthy -how awesome would the team be without pressing?

Secondly, at what point in the game (half time? Or mid-3rd qtr? Start of 4th qtr? Later? Other?) do you feel UCONN would have a 25+ pt lead vs about 70% of the opponents?

Third- when would you pull the press? How big of a lead and when would you pull it?

You always ask the probing questions.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

WOW!!! Nice first post!

Welcome to the 'yard! Hopefully, this will bring Beers to UConn in the very near future...

 

[hoophuskee]

“What I think” or rather “What I think Geno would do” #, as he has formed many different championship teams including nearly-there championship teams:

Your questions require we play fantasy UConn Geno teams in a changed WBB landscape of increased player athleticism and skills (player parity), increased coaching parity (emulating Geno and others), and super-team formation parity (transfer portal).

Question 1: Raegan Beers effect.

Rebecca Lobo has compared Raegan to Stef Dolson in the UConn offense/defense. I would amplify that Raegan is potentially peak “Huskies of Honor” Stef for two years.

UConn’s 2024 team, even without Raegan, is comparable to the 1998 (pre-Sue injury running game) and 1999 (with KJ) UConn teams that won the 2000 national championship over athletic Tennessee. They did lose to Tennessee mid-season. The 2024 UConn teams distribution of wins/losses and margins can be gleaned from the 1998/1999 performance adjusted for parity. (See Thought Experiment 1).

Adding 20 minutes of peak Raegan (see Thought Experiment 2) would be overlaying aspects of the 2012 / 2013 Stewie championship teams, one of which was undefeated. Adding Raegan would make 2024 UConn more formidable especially against higher-echelon teams.

Adding Raegan is not zero-sum with respect to other (post) players. Raegan will increase the quality, efficiency and breadth of rigorously practiced (post) play for all UConn’s (post) players. This will translate to games which Geno considers extended practice.

Raegan can participate in spurts in a running offense as Stef did (especially with outlet-pass initiated possessions) or as a trailing 3-pt maker.

BoneDog’s post expounds on the use of Raegan in a pressing defense.

Question 2: 25+ pt lead vs about 70% of the opponents

As a guide, see Thought Experiment 1 (1998/1999 results) adjusted for parity and 2024 Geno (with his more extensive playbooks) vs 1999 Geno.

2024 Geno may direct more types/pace of offense/defense within games even during the competitive minutes of games that are not necessarily the quickest way to run up the score with an eye towards the NCAA tournament (see 2002 Sue, DT, Swin, Asjha and Tamika team).

Question 3: When to pull off the press.

See answer to Question 2.

Geno has always been mindful of respecting the opposition and not browbeat them beyond the competitive minutes of games.

AFAIK, Geno has only broken character once in the infamous Syracuse/Maya game.

===

Thought Experiment 1:

• 1998/1999 team: Sue, KJ, Shea, Svet, Asjha, Swin, Tamika, Amy Duran, Kelly Schumacher, Paige Sauer, Stacey Hansmaye

vs (the first 10-11 healthy players from):

• Paige, KK, [Azzi], Sarah, Ice, Jana, Raegan, Ash, [Aubrey], [Yanna] | Q, Morgan, Allie, [[Caroline]]

where [] denotes recovering injured, and [[]] denotes indeterminately recovering injured.

1998 record: 1998-99 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Connecticut Athletics

1999 record: 1999-00 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Connecticut Athletics

===

Thought Experiment 2

• 20 minutes of peak Raegan time with a lineup of: Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Ice/Jana, Raegan (Big lineup) or Kk, Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Raegan

vs (2013-2014)

• Bria, Kaleena, Stewie, Morgan, Stef (Big Lineup) or Moriah, Bria, Kaleena, Stewie, Stef.

===

# I give great deference to what Geno or his players want, say for example on adding a transfer. It’s their team and I enjoy being a follower. Whatever they decide, I would try to backwardly rationalize their decisions, and come to appreciate their decisions even more.

It is going to take me a while to soak this all in. Thank you for the well thought out post.

 

[hoophuskee]

You always ask the probing questions.

 

[Bone Dog]

don’t we still have one or two freshman offers still out there? Serious question, perhaps I am wrong. If those offers to freshmen still exist, they may represent the hold up to transfers not yet announcing.

Emely Rodriguez decided on USF already. I don’t think we have any other offers out there. Does anyone have better info on this?

 

[Topdawg]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

Welcome to the board! Thank you for your post and the thought you put into it.

Assuming we have a healthy team and depth in every position, this team can be aggressive on defense for the full 40 minutes. On offense, this team has the opportunity to do what the UConn men's team does, namely,
1. Continuous screening action for multiple 3-point shooters to get open
2. Cutters driving to the basket to score, draw fouls, or take mid-range shots
3. High-low action, particularly with bigs (e.g., Jana, Sarah, Ice) being able to take outside shots or dish it down low for a mis-match.

The continuous motion in the offense becomes difficult to guard when the motion is both on the arc and inside out and every player can score. UConn could resume winning with skill, depth, and speed!

In order to keep this note brief, I shall avoid getting into player level details.

 

[Bone Dog]

The way a player gets minutes is by working hard in practice and mastering the schemes, and above all by playing tough defense in games. If the competition is fierce for minutes, it will show up on team defense first. I almost feel sorry for the opponents who run up against that sort of defensive intensity. The Huskies won't be competing primarily against other teams. They'll be competing against each other to see who can throttle opposing offenses the best.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

A most excellent first post! Two comments.

Arnold would be the KJ corollary, or at least she will be if she comes off the bench because Bueckers is being used like Bird, only with better defense!

You focus on transfers, but don’t we still have one or two freshman offers still out there? Serious question, perhaps I am wrong. If those offers to freshmen still exist, they may represent the hold up to transfers not yet announcing.

My OP hinges on 1+ additional player(s) to complete a 10-player practice sessions, meaning a 5+-player incoming class.

When I wrote the OP, it is with the same understanding as BoneDog (see also post below). There is an outstanding q on where is Geno’s announcement of the incoming class who signed NLIs. Some are speculating he is waiting on any portal additions. I am not aware of any other outstanding 2024 non-portal offer.

Post 1: Thread 'Geno's Comments on Recruits'

On point guard use, there is a spirited thread on Paige as a point guard. My thoughts:

• It is very tiring to play pg for most possessions for the entire season.
• My OP does not necessarily mean KK as direct KJ analog (I.e. mostly coming from the bench) as 2024 Geno has a lot more playbooks than 1999 Geno such as 2023 (with Paige, KK, Morgan and Kaitlyn (if she comes) as point guards) or the Sue/DT years or the non-2016 Stewie years.
• On the times that Paige, who already can play at the WNBA-level for positions 1-3, is on the floor with other point guards, she may play pg in some of the possessions to allow other point guards to develop their off-ball game for the next level.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Two points:

• Your parentheses are killing me
• Think how awesome it would be to have 5 great new threads instead of just one. As Orwell wrote in Animal Farm: One thread good, five threads gooder.

One question:

Why would the later reintroduction of experienced players be ironic?​

You don’t have to answer. I think I can guess what you have in mind — something to the effect that Geno’s rotation would get larger just as everyone else’s is getting smaller.

You have given the best case (with all the appropriate caveats) for Geno running a long rotation. BYers have long dreamt of a rotation of 5+5 or even 6+6, or other exotic uses of a long roster. The notion of opposing teams having to face what is in effect two different (Jekyll and Hyde, as it were) and really strong teams that never seem to get tired, has long tantalized us fans.

Instead of this, Geno might simply run the press/transition longer subbing liberally, though it’s not as easy to see how Raegan and Ice would fit in that scheme. Jana Sarah Morgan look more obviously like the sort of bigs who could thrive in such a game plan. Of course, most presses mainly rely on the guards running like crazy and a big or two who don’t have to run as hard anchoring the back of the defense.

Just to take an example, McGuff at tOSU has a few different versions of his excellent press. In one, 3 guards are stationed at the inbounds point with Mikulasikova hanging back. In another one, 4 guards worked the inbounds pass and Mikulasikova came out of the game. This shows how even less mobile bigs can function in a press, within limits.

One other feature of tOSU’s press is that it was best with more than one 3 point shooter. When Mikelson moved on last season and Sheldon became the main perimeter shooter it wasn’t quite as effective a game plan. But this season Geno should be blessed with a plethora of perimeter sharp shooters.

Great presses are sort of like fiddler crabs, using the oversized claw to intimidate the inbounders and the little claw to savage opponents once the turnover is achieved. Victims of a pressing team often think they can break it with a “hero pass” or by pressing the pressers. The first tactic just plays into the presser’s hands, the second is negated by great perimeter shooting.

By “ironic”, I also meant what you thought but as an effect. But I thought that the cause is the preclusion of Geno’s proclivities as with recent (5)+2 play because he will have confidence from full rigorous 5x5 practices. In other words, the talented incoming class gets more rigorous practices and plays many minutes starting in November. All due to the unavailability of his experienced veterans other than Paige in November.

On many threads. I enjoy reading the BY and many threads in the offseason are great. My enjoyment is somewhat dampened as I read member meandering angst on great threads that already somewhat addressed their angst.

Hence my first post summarizing what others have said, possibly restated and adding a few of my own.

Agree with what the rest of what you said and I would like to add two points:

• The lack of full 5x5 practice teams in certain years caused by Geno’s recent predilection of 10-11 player teams which became negatively impacted by mass transfers out such as with the Megan Walker class, mass injuries such as with Azzi’s class is under-appreciated. Geno considers games as extended practices and loathes poor possessions that don’t reflect performance in practices. Geno’s recent 5+2 tendencies is directly caused by the lack of rigorous 5x5 practices in recent years.
• The litmus test would be whether the March rotation can win one-and-done with high probability against South Carolina, etc. and against their Achilles heels which seem to be great speedy, pace-setting unicorn-high-scoring point guards, pressing teams and top-down athletic teams that greatly out-rebound their opponents aggravated by inopportune foul trouble and bad calls.

 

[OldSchooler]

“What I think” or rather “What I think Geno would do” #, as he has formed many different championship teams including nearly-there championship teams:

Your questions require we play fantasy UConn Geno teams in a changed WBB landscape of increased player athleticism and skills (player parity), increased coaching parity (emulating Geno and others), and super-team formation parity (transfer portal).

Question 1: Raegan Beers effect.

Rebecca Lobo has compared Raegan to Stef Dolson in the UConn offense/defense. I would amplify that Raegan is potentially peak “Huskies of Honor” Stef for two years.

UConn’s 2024 team, even without Raegan, is comparable to the 1998 (pre-Sue injury running game) and 1999 (with KJ) UConn teams that won the 2000 national championship over athletic Tennessee. They did lose to Tennessee mid-season. The 2024 UConn teams distribution of wins/losses and margins can be gleaned from the 1998/1999 performance adjusted for parity. (See Thought Experiment 1).

Adding 20 minutes of peak Raegan (see Thought Experiment 2) would be overlaying aspects of the 2012 / 2013 Stewie championship teams, one of which was undefeated. Adding Raegan would make 2024 UConn more formidable especially against higher-echelon teams.

Adding Raegan is not zero-sum with respect to other (post) players. Raegan will increase the quality, efficiency and breadth of rigorously practiced (post) play for all UConn’s (post) players. This will translate to games which Geno considers extended practice.

Raegan can participate in spurts in a running offense as Stef did (especially with outlet-pass initiated possessions) or as a trailing 3-pt maker.

BoneDog’s post expounds on the use of Raegan in a pressing defense.

Question 2: 25+ pt lead vs about 70% of the opponents

As a guide, see Thought Experiment 1 (1998/1999 results) adjusted for parity and 2024 Geno (with his more extensive playbooks) vs 1999 Geno.

2024 Geno may direct more types/pace of offense/defense within games even during the competitive minutes of games that are not necessarily the quickest way to run up the score with an eye towards the NCAA tournament (see 2002 Sue, DT, Swin, Asjha and Tamika team).

Question 3: When to pull off the press.

See answer to Question 2.

Geno has always been mindful of respecting the opposition and not browbeat them beyond the competitive minutes of games.

AFAIK, Geno has only broken character once in the infamous Syracuse/Maya game.

===

Thought Experiment 1:

• 1998/1999 team: Sue, KJ, Shea, Svet, Asjha, Swin, Tamika, Amy Duran, Kelly Schumacher, Paige Sauer, Stacey Hansmaye

vs (the first 10-11 healthy players from):

• Paige, KK, [Azzi], Sarah, Ice, Jana, Raegan, Ash, [Aubrey], [Yanna] | Q, Morgan, Allie, [[Caroline]]

where [] denotes recovering injured, and [[]] denotes indeterminately recovering injured.

1998 record: 1998-99 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Connecticut Athletics

1999 record: 1999-00 Women's Basketball Schedule - University of Connecticut Athletics

===

Thought Experiment 2

• 20 minutes of peak Raegan time with a lineup of: Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Ice/Jana, Raegan (Big lineup) or Kk, Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Raegan

vs (2013-2014)

• Bria, Kaleena, Stewie, Morgan, Stef (Big Lineup) or Moriah, Bria, Kaleena, Stewie, Stef.

===

# I give great deference to what Geno or his players want, say for example on adding a transfer. It’s their team and I enjoy being a follower. Whatever they decide, I would try to backwardly rationalize their decisions, and come to appreciate their decisions even more.

Welcome to the BY.

Usually, I bone up in the Yard in preparation for games. Next year, I look forward to using the games as prep for your post-game analyses.

 

[MSGRET]

Long-time lurker, first post.

Questions have been raised in various forms whose answers hinge on how Geno will form his NCAA tournament rotation with a large incoming class (as large as TASSK (Tamika, Asjha, Sue, Swin, Kiersten Walters) in 1998, if he accepts at least one transfer). In November, with at least 4 veterans still potentially recovering or on a minutes restriction, Geno faces a situation similar to 1998.

Main Points:

• In 1998, Geno (a) played more than 5+2 and (b) employed a running game as the earliest team main offense / defense. This is probably because he had 10 healthy talented practice players (two 5x5 practice teams)), half of whom are highly touted incomers. With Paige being the only returning healthy veteran in November with more than 1 year of play, Geno may decide to duplicate this in 2024.
• A running offense / pressing defense can be easily implemented, giving Geno more time to implement more complicated offenses / defenses. With it, he can quickly mesh veterans and incomers to successfully go through the front-loaded tougher out-of-conference schedule on the road to producing the best rotation with the best possible resume by NCAA tournament time.
• With the possible transfer addition of Kaitlyn Chen (point guard) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is JMASK (Jana, Morgan, Allie, Sarah and Kaitlyn)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2023 final-four half-court offense (2-3 point guards, 1-2 designated sharpshooter(s) and 1-2 post players) where all players are 3-point/triple threats.
• With the possible transfer addition of Raegan Beers (center) (whereby the incoming 2024 class is MAJRS (Morgan, Allie, Jana, Raegan and Sarah)), Geno can subsequently more readily recreate versions of the 2012 / 2013 half-court (Stewie) offense with 2-3 bigs playing at the same time. (Or perhaps, the better analog is the 1999 versions of Tamika, Swin and Asjha since Raegan and Jana are already more experienced).
• The later reintroduction of recovering experienced players (especially Azzi and Aubrey, with whatever contributions from Caroline and Yanna a plus) can ironically help in producing the best rotation by NCAA tournament time.
• The 2024 rotation could be comparable to the 1999 team (1998 team + Kennitra Johnson) (with an Aubrey x-factor and aspects of the 2023 team and 2012/2013 Stewie teams with 2-3 post players playing at the same time) that won a national championship over an athletic Tennessee team (analog to the athletic 2024 South Carolina team).
• It should be noted that 2024 is better than 1998 in guard play: the point guards (Paige and KK and Kaitlyn, if she comes) are already experienced and guard play has final four experience. The 1998 team got derailed when its point guards (Sue and Kiersten Walters) became unavailable / ineffective due to injury. [The injuries to 1998 point guards is a reason that Geno fears not having enough guards.]
• The aggressiveness in a preferred game plan against an opponent can be sustained with less regard to foul trouble or bad calls (as has not been the case in recent years, particularly with Nika, Aaliyah and Ice).
• As with 1998, Geno will be salivating to incorporate the talents of Sarah (a shorter mini-Stewie/Boston hybrid), Jana (whom he has called probably the best in this class), Morgan (a (backup) point-forward and underrated Naismith finalist), Allie (best sharpshooter in class), and possibly top transfers Kaitlyn Chen (top Carla Berube mentee) and/or Raegan Beers (budding AA center).
• If Geno gets both Raegan and Kaitlyn (JMARKS incoming class) or only gets Raegan, the 2025 incoming class may be limited to Kellis and Gandy if Paige decides to stay for the Covid year.
• Above assumes incoming players have no problems learning UConn’s defenses and the recent rolling injury plague does not strike again (an assumption mitigated against downside risk by the addition of 1+ incoming transfer(s)).

Effect on Player Minutes:

• Assuming Geno follows his prior proclivities above, Geno will play a deeper rotation in 2024. A running offense / pressing defense requires bodies. Creators (players relied in broken play / ticking shot-clock situations and demand constant defensive attention that helps spacing) such as Paige, Azzi, Sarah, KK and Raegan (if she comes) will be expected to have comparatively larger minutes. There maybe other creators (Jana?, Ice?, Kaitlyn? (If she comes), Caroline (if available)) to be revealed in practice.
• Having a top-down talented and rigorously practice-tested roster, with many possible offenses that fit the various talents, can increase tactical use of the varied talents against different opponents.
• AFAIK, Geno has not platooned a pressing relieving team to give core players rest, but he potentially can with the 2024 team.

Player Development (especially of younger original recruits):

• As post below summarizes nicely, having full 5x5 talented practice players, and the delayed return of experienced recovering players, may make practice run more efficiently and demonstratively, giving Geno and the players confidence in playing 5+4+ during the competitive minutes of games all season.
• Post 41: Post in thread 'Ice Brady's Freshman Year'
• There is the potential to minimize the competitive minutes of games, thereby increasing in-game practice minutes (and resting core players for the season grind) of other players.
• Practiced depth gives Geno the luxury of judiciously doling out minutes to maximize player efficiency (no gassed players).
• There are previous UConn players like Napheesa on UConn super teams that didn’t get to showcase their development in rigorous practices until their second or later years.

Avoided: Starting 5 threads.

Great post, I believe that my first post was less than two sentences. It took me awhile before I had the nerve to post something like this. Welcome to the BY, looking forward to reading more of your posts.

 

[Bone Dog]

By “ironic”, I also meant what you thought but as an effect. But I thought that the cause is the preclusion of Geno’s proclivities as with recent (5)+2 play because he will have confidence from full rigorous 5x5 practices. In other words, the talented incoming class gets more rigorous practices and plays many minutes starting in November. All due to the unavailability of his experienced veterans other than Paige in November....

• The lack of full 5x5 practice teams in certain years caused by Geno’s recent predilection of 10-11 player teams which became negatively impacted by mass transfers out such as with the Megan Walker class, mass injuries such as with Azzi’s class is under-appreciated. Geno considers games as extended practices and loathes poor possessions that don’t reflect performance in practices. Geno’s recent 5+2 tendencies is directly caused by the lack of rigorous 5x5 practices in recent years.

I totally agree about the problem of not having 10+ players for practices. Nika and Aaliyah have complained about this, too. It's been a problem off and on for 3 years now. Having 13 (or more) this year ought to make a significant difference in the season because of the practices Geno can run. Opposing teams will get to hear UConn roar again.

The thing about the practice culture is that kids have to buy into it, and this is key to Geno's recruiting. He's looking for a certain kind of kid -- not just scorers, but also kids who will play team defense, where there isn't nearly as much glory to be had. Kids who value defense will value practice. And it's not merely that they work hard in practice. Tons of coaches require this. It's that they see the practices as being on a par with games in terms of importance. This takes a special kind of kid. They also have to bond with each other. Their primary competition isn't necessarily other teams (at least not until March), it's the kids they compete against in every practice, their best friends. This means even if they don't win the competition in practice, they are happy to cheer on their best friends on the court.

People wonder why kids who don't get much playing time in a given year stay. It's because Geno has built a special culture that makes them patient. Dawn works really hard on this, too, and to great effect. Tara, Terri Moren, Lisa Bluder, these are the coaches who build effective team culture. Maybe there's a few others, like Megan Duffy. I think they learned it from Geno and Tara.

By the way, look at this year's recruits and what you see is a master class in recruiting the right kind of kids. It's not just that they're supremely talented. It's also that they're consummate team players. They're kids cut from the same mould as Nika Aaliyah and Paige, the same as Ash and KK. These are the obvious ones, though they're all like this. Morgan really stands out as a team player in this year's group, a defensive player, a ball hawk, someone who gives her all for the team. Allie and Sarah are too, in their ways. But it's really hard to miss seeing it in Morgan. She seems like a mixture of Nika Aubrey and Caroline -- big, quick, relentless, and really clever with the ball.

I can hardly wait for November!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

We have a great group of guards, wings and post players that when healthy can compete with anyone.

Up Front

“Special K” K Arnold
“Jimmy” Paige Bueckers
“Triple AAA” Azzi Fudd, Ashlynn Shade, Allie Ziebell
Morgan “Freeman” Cheri
“Countless” Caroline Ducharme
“QScores” Qadence Samuels

In the Back

“Duchess” Aubrey Griffin
Sarah “300” Strong
Ayanna Patterson “Foundation”
Ice “Storm” Brady
“Queen” Jana El Alfy

But there's the rub: "when healthy..."

In fact, of the incoming fourteen players, seven have suffered serious injuries in the past.

In the front court, of the five players listed, only Sarah Strong comes in healthy and without having surgery.

In the front court, of the eight (now nine with Chen), three will be coming back from serious injuries.

So perhaps Coach Geno understands that the thirteen players on his roster pre-Chen might not be locks for comebacks, or to be counted on for either strong minutes or full seasons. He's made remarks about the likely need for Aubrey Griffin to limit her minutes due to her back injury.

Let's hope we do have a very crowded bench of healthy players just itching to get into the game. But then again, Chen and some others might just get more minutes than the headcount would suggest.

Fingers crossed.