Natalie Butler Not Playing until Christmas

[mrmojack]

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.

 

[Aluminny69]

Damn! So the starter will be Gabby, Napheesa, or Lou.

Get well, Natalie!

The consensus on Boneyard is that Geno won't start Freshmen unless he absolutely has to. ( Not exactly true, BTW). If that is true, then Gabby gets the nod.

 

[HoopsFan21]

We're talking about replacing one starter - KML - who was our 3-point specialist with those back breaking 3s that shifted momentum when we needed it most. I say start KLS and get her in a good shooting rhythm from 3. She may never be Kaleena, but if she is anywhere near as good at knocking down the long range shots, then this year's team should put up similar numbers to last year considering Nurse will be better (potentially significantly so), Tuck will be better one year removed from rehab, and you know what you're going to get from Mo and Stewie. I don't know if I would want to tinker with the formula that worked so well last year. We lost a #1 recruit from Mater Dei that was great at knocking down 3s. Guess who we have coming in? A #1 recruit from Mater Dei that is great at knocking down 3s.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Does anyone know which hand, shooting or non shooting?

Left thumb.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

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.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

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

 

[CocoHusky]

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.

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.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

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

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?

 

[DICKG]

Had Surgery on her torn ligaments in her thumb and is out until Christmas or later according to Geno.

When did this injury occur.?

 

[Zorro]

My bet was always on Williams anyway. Even when Butler was healthy.

Who do you reckon will play where?

 

[Kaizen]

Thinking positively. It is better to have the surgery now than later.
Butler can still play next year for the tournament and NC game.

 

[Alydar]

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.

 

[TitleTown]

Thinking positively. It is better to have the surgery now than later.
Butler can still play next year for the tournament and NC game.

If everything goes well then she will only end up missing 9 games.

 

[Gus Mahler]

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.

 

[ballhawk]

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.

 

[winlots]

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.

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.

 

[chrissaran]

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.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

She's already a better defender and rebounder than Stef, though not nearly as good offensively, yet.

I don't see how anyone could know how Butler stacks up to Dolson when Butler hasn't played one second for UConn and only onr year of college ball overall.

 

[UcMiami]

When did this injury occur.?

Happened a day or two before first night which is why she couldn't participate in the scrimmage.

 

[meyers7]

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..

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.

 

[meyers7]

Who do you reckon will play where?

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.

 

[jdubct]

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.

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.

 

[meyers7]

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.

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.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

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.

I hope JB's wrist is cleared to play. Haven't seen anything on that, though have yet to check Nan's News.

 

[meyers7]

I hope JB's wrist is cleared to play. Haven't seen anything on that, though have yet to check Nan's News.

Read in one of the reports that she was practicing.