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Natalie Butler Not Playing until Christmas

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Butler sustained the injury in practice two weeks ago. Eventually it was determined surgery would be required. She will be in a cast, and then rehab, to rebuild the strength in her hand and wrist, a process Auriemma expects to take at least eight weeks.

"It used to be every team had a kid like Natalie Butler," Auriemma said. "Everybody had a 6-5 kid who could really play. Now, those players don't exist, so if you have one, you have something nobody else has. We're very anxious to get her back."


http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...-basketball-notebook-1027-20151026-story.html
 
ed4ourgirls said:
While this is disappointing for us, imagine how disappointing this must be for Natalie.

I feel bad for her, but hopefully she can stay positive and follow the rehab plan to get
back in action as quickly as possible.
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UCONN does an outstanding job of keeping injured players engaged in the day to day play by play of the games. I first noticed it with Caroline Doty and it carried over to Morgan and KML in the 2013-14 season. It is almost like they become mini coaches complete with clip boards and special assignments talking to players that are playing certain positions as they come off the court during time outs.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Butler sustained the injury in practice two weeks ago. Eventually it was determined surgery would be required. She will be in a cast, and then rehab, to rebuild the strength in her hand and wrist, a process Auriemma expects to take at least eight weeks.

"It used to be every team had a kid like Natalie Butler," Auriemma said. "Everybody had a 6-5 kid who could really play. Now, those players don't exist, so if you have one, you have something nobody else has. We're very anxious to get her back."


http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn...-basketball-notebook-1027-20151026-story.html
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I could say I told you so!;) But, I'll just say WOW!!:) She's worth the wait. (Maybe L. Cox figured that out too? :oops:
 
Thinking positively. It is better to have the surgery now than later.
Butler can still play next year for the tournament and NC game.
 
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If there is anything positive about her loss, maybe it's that UConn will play tOSU, Notre Dame, FSU & possibly even Mary. without her. All those teams are FF candidates and facing her as part of the team in April will be a new experience for them.
 
Kaizen said:
Thinking positively. It is better to have the surgery now than later.
Butler can still play next year for the tournament and NC game.
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If everything goes well then she will only end up missing 9 games.
 
This is heart breaking news. One silver lining is that the start of her year will be largely against the lesser competition of the AAC. She'll be able to ease in and build up her confidence.
 
Bad moon rising. The other day I wrote that we had no weaknesses. That was then. What we don't have this year is a rebounding, shot-blocking Kiah to come in. I still think we'll do fine but ND should be a test.
 
mrmojack said:
Bad news for sure, but not devastating news. We're a March/April team anyway. I feel for Natalie, she
has worked hard to get on the floor. This will give others some immediate playing time to develop
quicker.

Lets hope this is the extent of lengthy injuries this team will have to deal with this year.
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MR MO: as I say annually (typically before we have any injuries) the injury question is not "Will we have any injuries? " but rather "Who will be injured and how significant will those injuries be?" This post usually comes up in response to another post which says s.t. to the effect of: "I predict thus and so, assuming that we will not have any injuries this year." Unfortunately, an assumption of that nature is usually off the mark these days.

It has to be hellishly frustrating for Butler to be experiencing this on the heels of an enforced year off. Have been there (m9re than once) and know intimately the feeling attendant upon being injured early in a much anticipated season. Get well soon, young lady...we' re all pulling for you.
 
How do you not get that a 6'5" post player, who can rebound, defend the rim and provide an inside presence on offense is more valuable than a 5'10" guard? Natalie will be able to lessen the load on Morgan and Breanna. Wouldn't you rather have Breanna out on the break instead of getting mauled underneath, which we all know other teams often do. They're not going to maul Natalie. The break, with her at center, could be their best ever. She's already a better defender and rebounder than Stef, though not nearly as good offensively, yet. However, with Breanna, Mo, Morgan, Kia, Katie Lou, Napheesa, Gabby, Saniya, Courtney and De'Janae, there is more of a need for a defender and rebounder and a physical presence.
 
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BroadwayVa said:
We can hypothesize why and how we don't need Butler--but wasn't it a bit more comfy when an 6 ft 5" (hopefully Steff like) was sitting there waiting to come in?? Big bad bummer..
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Wasn't hypothesizing on why or how we don't need Butler. I definitely think we need another big in the rotation. I was just guessing Williams was gonna start out of the gate.
 
Zorro said:
Who do you reckon will play where?
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Similar to last year. Tuck at the 5, Stewart at the 4, Nurse at the 2, Jefferson at the 1 and Williams at the 3. However it wouldn't be the spot up 3 that KML played last year, but a more slasher 3. I think Williams can get out on the break and Nurse can spot up in the transition game.
 
meyers7 said:
Wasn't hypothesizing on why or how we don't need Butler. I definitely think we need another big in the rotation. I was just guessing Williams was gonna start out of the gate.
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I agree with there is another big needed in the rotation. Since reportedly she won't be back before Christmas, I wonder Butler's absence will impact the Ohio State and Notre Dame games.
 
jdubct said:
I agree with there is another big needed in the rotation. Since reportedly she won't be back before Christmas, I wonder Butler's absence will impact the Ohio State and Notre Dame games.
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I imagine it will. ND would be a tough game anyway. Not having an extra big in there to battle with Turner, Reimer, Westbeld, could be a problem. However, UCONN will still be putting Stewart, Tuck , Boykin up against them. And Collier can probably help with the rebounding too.

ND may not be quite as dangerous early in the year with the loss of Loyd. Until the Freshmen get up to speed.
 
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meyers7 said:
I imagine it will. ND would be a tough game anyway. Not having an extra big in there to battle with Turner, Reimer, Westbeld, could be a problem. However, UCONN will still be putting Stewart, Tuck , Boykin up against them. And Collier can probably help with the rebounding too.

ND may not be quite as dangerous early in the year with the loss of Loyd. Until the Freshmen get up to speed.
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I hope JB's wrist is cleared to play. Haven't seen anything on that, though have yet to check Nan's News.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
I hope JB's wrist is cleared to play. Haven't seen anything on that, though have yet to check Nan's News.
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Read in one of the reports that she was practicing.
 
It is amazing to read that Natalie will be missed so much when many said she would not start and only play 15 minutes. I never read where we would really need her for the ND and SC games. And I forgot the ones who said she only played against a weak Big East (compared to a great High School schedule).
 
chrissaran said:
How do you not get that a 6'5" post player, who can rebound, defend the rim and provide an inside presence on offense is more valuable than a 5'10" guard? Natalie will be able to lessen the load on Morgan and Breanna. Wouldn't you rather have Breanna out on the break instead of getting mauled underneath, which we all know other teams often do. They're not going to maul Natalie. The break, with her at center, could be their best ever. She's already a better defender and rebounder than Stef, though not nearly as good offensively, yet. However, with Breanna, Mo, Morgan, Kia, Katie Lou, Napheesa, Gabby, Saniya, Courtney and De'Janae, there is more of a need for a defender and rebounder and a physical presence.
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She is better offensively than Dolson was as a sophomore, which is what she is. That year under her belt will prove to be very significant in a positive way, imo.
 
I have, for quite some time, been in the camp that believes that Natalie B. likely would not start most games this season, and that Gabby W. probably would. This is not in any way to denigrate what Natalie can bring to the table, nor is it to suggest that the potential contribution of one is more important than that of the other. It is, rather, a reflection of my perception of a style to which Geno seems to have developed a great affection, with the results to show for it. Ironically, I think it was the early inconsistency demonstrated by Kiah Stokes that contributed most to this evolution in his thinking. It strikes me that he ardently loves the up-tempo transition game and likes storming out of the gate in games with his five fastest, most athletic players on the floor, even if it means sacrificing some early height advantage. Stewie said it best when interviewed in the immediate aftermath of the NC game vs. Notre Dame: "We knew they probably didn't want to run with us." I think that after jumping out to an early lead, Geno then loves to bring in his big, intimidating shot blocking and rebounding presence in the post, a very demoralizing prospect for opponents that have already fallen behind. One role is just as important as the other, which is why Geno is, understandably, publicly lamenting Natalie's temporary absence from the lineup. Could that absence cost the team in terms of a possible regular season loss, most likely vs ND? Sure, it could possibly do so. We UConn fans are so spoiled that we view such a possibility as rather catastrophic, which, of course, it isn't. Natalie's injury will not prevent her from staying in tip-top shape, and she'll be available when the important phase of the season rolls around...then, look out! While the depth and talent of this team affords Geno the luxury of bringing his Freshmen around slowly, I have a feeling that Napheesa, who, I think, is the most college-ready performer of the three right now, might be pressing Gabby hard for that starting slot as the season progresses.
 
As most have expressed feeling badly for Butler and her missing several weeks with this thumb injury. To the debate desk we go and there will be no answer to the question of would/could/should Natalie get the 5th spot in the starting lineup on 11/16. So what can we do but move on to the remaining options, and for giggles let's say the others (Boykin, Collier, KLS, Williams, Chong, Ekmark) are all on semi equal footing. We are going to try to predict what goes on in the next near three weeks of practice and in two exhibition games and more importantly the minds of Geno and staff. Let those discussions begin. We think we know what we'll get from the returning four starters so the question is what does staff see as the need and who do they think best fills that need. My take is Gabby, Katie, or Napheesa and probably leaning toward Gabby but only by a thin margin. Time marches on to set us straight.
 
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We have bodies to fill her spot, but the larger problem is that UConn would play a different game with her in. Since we won't see until December, the team loses the non-conference portion of the schedule to adjust to having her in place. I think this unfortunate injury changes her role this year and that's a shame. Still it is good that we have options. It will be interesting to see how Geno adapts. I'm guessing Gabby as the 5th starter.
 
meyers7 said:
Wasn't hypothesizing on why or how we don't need Butler. I definitely think we need another big in the rotation. I was just guessing Williams was gonna start out of the gate.
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Aww, after all that speculation, now we'll never know who would have started. I should have given the universal answer, "It depends."

As in, it depends on who is 100% healthy. ( I think that you will find that "It depends" safely answers almost all questions.)
 
Well that sucks. I was looking forward to finally seeing her play.
 
Bgillon said:
It is amazing to read that Natalie will be missed so much when many said she would not start and only play 15 minutes. I never read where we would really need her for the ND and SC games. And I forgot the ones who said she only played against a weak Big East (compared to a great High School schedule).
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Selective memory. Most thought Natalie would start since she won the the poll. Many stated that she would be needed to specifically get Stewie out of the post against teams with big front lines like ND and South Carolina. Though we had effectively killed that weak Big East nonsense also. Natalie was the 5th best rebounder in WCBB as a Freshmen. Did anyone actually look up the conferences of the 1-4 best rebounders? Of course not, then you have to also go look up what conferences Iona, Rice, Robert Morris play in. Natalie also pull down more rebounds than Jennifer Hamson of BYU.
 
CocoHusky said:
Selective memory. Most thought Natalie would start since she won the the poll. Many stated that she would be needed to specifically get Stewie out of the post against teams with big front lines like ND and South Carolina.
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Agree. Not sure what Bgillion was remembering. Butler won the poll handily.
 
meyers7 said:
Read in one of the reports that she was practicing.
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Thanks, I saw that too. But, as you know, there is practice and real practice and scrimmaging and ready for the bumps of a game. Distinctions lost on UT fans when discussing DD for example. :oops::rolleyes:
 
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