Natalie Butler and Saniya Chong

[DaddyChoc]

On the other hand, Natalie Butler came into the game in the first quarter and played short minutes frequently throughout the game. She really impacted the game while she was in and generated excellent stats for her limited minutes.

Running the court, she seemed slow -- the last UConn player down the court in transition when I noticed her. She will have trouble guarding other posts who can run the floor. But I think she will be able to play effectively against opponents like Alaina Coates, who is not known for her gazelle-like floor play either.

and those others are who?

Jefferson, Chong, Collier and Nurse will impede any "post" from breaking away... but which team got behind UConn's D for the baseball/pass easy lay-ins (Cincy or Maryland... I watched each back to back on "friday night" for the 1st time). that was interesting

 

[DaddyChoc]

Saniya is so calming and confident with her play. She is just the opposite from this time last year. You can see how happy Geno is with her.

this time last year she burned Stanford... we she call her "The Microwave"

 

[Icebear]

Also, I agree that Tina is the gold standard for a center going up and down the court but she had nothing over Stewie's speed racing down the court and making an intimidating block as Stewie has done so often. Regarding centers, Dolson excelled in the high post - no one in past years could pass and pick like Dolson - she thrived on it, whereas I think Natalie will "ow
n" the paint. Let KLS and Collier and Moriah fly down the court because Natalie will be dominating the defensive board and will be passing to those race horses. Everybody has their niche.

You are forgetting one player who was the role model for Stef playing out of the high post and was a true passing wizard. She did not have Stef's height, shot blocking or other parts of Stef's game but in the high post and shooting and passing from the top of the key she was simply amazing. Do you remember who I am talking about?

 

[VAMike23]

You are forgetting one player who was the role model for Stef playing out of the high post and was a true passing wizard. She did not have Stef's height, shot blocking or other parts of Stef's game but in the high post and shooting and passing from the top of the key she was simply amazing. Do you remember who I am talking about?

Kaili McLaren was outstanding in all aspects from the high post

Also, she had (IMO) the best hands of any UCONN player in the last 10 years, in a 2-way tie with KML.

 

[JoePgh]

Let me reply to a few points in this thread:

1. As I mentioned in a previous post, there are several opposing posts who could beat Natalie down the floor rather easily: Brianna Turner, A'ja Wilson, Bulgak (the center for Florida State), and possibly Brionna Jones (when she isn't winded). The Baylor bigs probably also fall into this category, although I haven't seen them play. This year, Stewie can neutralize those players, but after this year, I am not so sure that Tuck / Collier / KLS can do so because of the height difference. That doesn't mean that Natalie can't play a big role against the teams that those people play for, as Stef did.

2. Kaili McLaren did contribute a lot to the success of UConn in the years that she played, but not without some negatives related to her lack of mobility. The most serious problem was the need for UConn to play a zone (most of the time) when she was in the game, because of her inability to guard many opposing centers and forwards 1-on-1 due to lack of mobility. Stef was fortunately a lot more mobile than Kaili, and unlike Kaili, she did work to get herself into shape over the course of her four years at UConn.

3. When UConn had Stef but did not have Stewie, it was a Final Four team but not a National Champion. If Natalie at her best can be approximately equivalent to Stef, there probably needs to be a second "mobile forward" to keep UConn at an NC level. That might be Napheesa Collier, if she is big and strong enough to match up with the Wilsons, Turners, and Mompremiers of the WCBB world. Or it might be KLS if she is willing and able to add that dimension to her game. Those are the "big" questions for the next two years (pun intended).

 

[Icebear]

There were issues that limited Kaili's conditioning work. Kaili had foot issues that led to surgery post UCONN.

 

[Gus Mahler]

There were issues that limited Kaili's conditioning work. Kaili had foot issues that led to surgery post UCONN.

Someone said she was on campus last spring and looked great. Anyone know if she's playing somewhere?

 

[Kaizen]

Someone said she was on campus last spring and looked great. Anyone know if she's playing somewhere?

She is in Turkey.
http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Kaili_McLaren/Turkey/Urla_Eda_SK_Izmir/120396?Women=1

 

[Gus Mahler]

She is in Turkey.
http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Kaili_McLaren/Turkey/Urla_Eda_SK_Izmir/120396?Women=1

Thanks. Hope she doing well.

 

[Tonyc]

Natalie can shoot rebound and knows how to play the game. She is a soph this season. So this season and the next 2. I predict she will be a beast in the middle. I wont compare her to Tina or Steph or anybody else. She can play and at 6'5 she will create problems for opponents on both sides of the ball. As far as a NC this season its a given. I don't know what it would take for UConn to loose this season but so far there have been some teams who have played over their head and lost by double digits. Next season where so many are concern and imo because we have all been spoiled with so many superstars playing together at UConn it wont be the same. It will be a different team next season and it will be a top team next season again. Will UConn will every game by double digits????? Maybe not. Could they win a NC again. Absolutely. Don't doubt what Geno can do. Saniya and Natalie will be make a huge difference this season and next.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Tina is a physical specimen and definitely the gold standard for a post running the floor. Gold, as in Gold Medal in London and Gold Medal in Rio.

 

[Baroloboy]

Nat did a great job for her first game but it is premature to draw any conclusions one way or the other based on 15 minutes of one game where she entered with uconn up by a huge margin. The question is can she contribute some dominating minutes against competitive teams with physical bigs and make plays when it really counts. Will Geno have confidence to give her PT in those situations. True she did show some promising signs but the jury is still out in my mind as to what we can expect this year because her movement and athleticism will hinder her.
The comparison with the Steph is wishful thinking at this point. I certainly hope that she proves me wrong. Steph had a great BBIQ and contributed in so many ways that didn't appear in the stat sheet not the her numbers were shabby although it is teue that Steph only began to really contibute in her junior year..

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I think UCONN will need another big girl to remain dominant next season! That's why Boykin leaving leaves a void!
With Tuck, Butler, KSL, Collier, & Gabby UCONN can still be a powerhouse but that extra 6'2" to 6'3" athletic player would be a plus!
Nurse, Dangerfield (even as a freshman), Chong, KSL (switching 3 & 2), will be awesome together next year!
Bent and Irwin will help but they'll be freshmen and they'll need time to fit into their roles on the team!

 

[billnaples]

I actually thought Natalie was doing a good job up and down the court - she isn't beating the guards, but didn't really expect that, did you? She was doing fine in terms of being back on defense before the Cinci post players.

My observations - Natalie has a really sweet touch from the foul line and a very quick turnaround quick/high release shot. She is not a great leaper to say the least, and seems a little slow footed on defense - but she is tall with a good nose for the rebounds. I am hoping that the foot speed picks up with more games played. She certainly looked comfortable on the floor and in the offensive and defensive sets. She got most of her minutes with the bench players, so it will be interesting to see her integration with Stewart and Tuck - she seems to make good decisions with the ball. Her first action was a nice two man game with Chong - entry pass in and a quick double team from changes player so she passed back out to Chong, repositioned, got an quick return and turned for a 5 foot baseline swish.

Chong looked great! Good defense, great energy, and sweet shooting. She is very important as that third guard with Moriah and Kia.

That was one of the three plays that someone "beat up" Saniya for being reluctant to take an open shot. As to Nat's foot speed or lack of I know she didn't beat guards down the floor but agree that she was well ahead of other posts. BTW few if any guards can keep up with MoJeff let alone a 6'5" post.

 

[Huskylove3]

Considering it was Nat's first game for Uconn, even as a sophmore, I think it was great. She stayed within her comfort zone and didn't do anything crazy. As far as her being the last one down the floor, most 6'5" centers will be. Nat put in the time and lost over 20 pounds this summer. The coaches were so excited about her transformation over the summer. She unfortunately got hurt, but she put in the work. Let's give her some time in games, to get into game shape before we start making threads regarding her weight like we did to KML.

 

[EricLA]

I think UCONN will need another big girl to remain dominant next season! That's why Boykin leaving leaves a void!
With Tuck, Butler, KSL, Collier, & Gabby UCONN can still be a powerhouse but that extra 6'2" to 6'3" athletic player would be a plus!
Nurse, Dangerfield (even as a freshman), Chong, KSL (switching 3 & 2), will be awesome together next year!
Bent and Irwin will help but they'll be freshmen and they'll need time to fit into their roles on the team!

There are no bigs for UCONN to add for next year. Unless UCONN goes the JUCO route which I think is highly improbable. Unless someone decommits, or there is another transfer out there waiting to happen, we are done with the 2016 recruiting, and the incoming class of freshmen for next year - Bent, Irwin and Dangerfield. UCONN is still looking hard at some posts for 2017, but seem to be more focused on 2018 which is a richer class of elite post players. Doesn't mean we won't get someone from 2017, but it will be hard for UCONN to get back in with some of the kids they initially passed over (Danielle Patterson for example).

FWIW I'm hearing that Bent will be much better than her rankings and what people think, but I still believe she and Irwin will be role players. Would be nice to be wrong - I've said before if we are lucky, Irwin's ceiling is Sara Hammond, and Bent's would be Kelly Faris. I'm not saying either of those kids will rise to such heights, but they will be valuable and great teammates no matter how "good" their basketball skills end up being...

 

[UcMiami]

Let's give her some time in games, to get into game shape before we start making threads regarding her weight like we did to KML.

Or just skip them altogether!

 

[Huskylove3]

Or just skip them altogether!

FACT!