Natalie Butler will be the 5th starter...don't doubt me on this..!

[CocoHusky]

I don't think UCONN needs to replace 6.5 3'ss a game. UCONN doesn't have to be the greatest 3pt shooting team in the history of wcbb or 2nd etc.

Last year we were all worried about losing Dolson's size/height. We found a different way to win. This time we can be real good shooting 3's just not as great as last year. IMO that is fine.

As it relates to 3 point shooting, I would disagree that UCONN found a "different" way to win without Dolson in the line up. Over three consecutive championship seasons now the Number of 3Pt attempts, 3Pt Shooting percentage, and ratio of 3pt shot attempts to total shot attempt has been remarkably consistent at >800: 35-37%: 1/3. The UCONN offense of the past three years was highly dependent on the 3Pt shot and the spacing it creates even with Dolson in the line up. The efficiency of KML from beyond the arc was the main ingredient that fueled this success. Simply put, take away KML 3pt numbers and UCONN remains only a slightly above average 3Pt shooting team but not elite. If you are talking about something different-like working through the post more I'm not sure I agree with that either. Why mess up a good thing? Keep the same offense/ratios & use the first 10 games of the season to get KLS 4-5 3pt shot attempts per game. If KLS shoots the 3 ball better than sophomore Bria Hartley (33%) UCONN will be just fine. If she shoots it better or as good as Freshmen KML (38%) you have created a potential beast! Now all we have to do is feed that beast instead of inventing it.

 

[Kibitzer]

In dire need of a bit of god cheer (Red Sox losing 6th in a row, 13-5) I accessed UConn vs. Dayton (Elite Eight last season). You may recall that UConn trailed by one point at halftime, then asserted themselves in the second half to win handily.

Kia, Morgan, and Moriah played well, and Stewie played as only Stewie can play. But the real difference-maker was Kaleena. Time and again, she hit treys that visibly broke the spirit of a spunky team. Nothing like offensive firepower to discourage and defeat an opponent. (Like Stephen Curry may do to the Cavs tonight.)

 

[Gus Mahler]

In dire need of a bit of god cheer (Red Sox losing 6th in a row, 13-5) I accessed UConn vs. Dayton (Elite Eight last season). You may recall that UConn trailed by one point at halftime, then asserted themselves in the second half to win handily.

Kia, Morgan, and Moriah played well, and Stewie played as only Stewie can play. But the real difference-maker was Kaleena. Time and again, she hit treys that visibly broke the spirit of a spunky team. Nothing like offensive firepower to discourage and defeat an opponent. (Like Stephen Curry may do to the Cavs tonight.)

Funny you should say that: I just watched the Texas game again. What a show. Stewie and Moriah were lights out, and Stokes had five or six superb blocks.

Up 42 on a five-seed with 16:30 to play!

 

[Suebird10fan]

Chong will play. Getting time for the other two is going to be close to impossible though.

I tend to agree, although Geno doesn't like to go very deep. If everyone is healthy, even Chong is at risk of DNP-CD in close games (of which there will only be a handful). Unless Geno decides he isn't comfortable with either Gabby or KLS at the 2, in which case Chong probably gets at least seven or eight minutes even in the close ones.

 

[PhillyCoach]

I would just say you seem to have forgotten Kaleena's freshman year and more recently Kia's - not saying you are wrong, but we have pretty recent experience of players coming in as freshman and proving they are up for the task.

UC - agree that there has been lots of success with freshman proving they are up to the task. However, I see a vision of Tuck coming in last year as a junior--(red-shirt soph-with some experience and a year watching and learning.) Likewise, I see the same vision with Butler in that Junior role (red-shirt soph-experience and one year watching/learning.) A buddy of mine said Butler will start, but about the 5th game the super frosh will be banging on the door.

 

[PhillyCoach]

Not sure how important the starting lineup will be next season. In games he anticipates will be competitive, Geno will mix and match-up and will throw multiple looks both offensively and defensively that the other teams will find it hard to deal with. On games that don't figure to be close talent-wise, he may stay with various lineups that he thinks need work.
And one thing is for certain.... any player that doesn't go 100% in practice and on the court will have plenty of time on the bench.

ocoandasoc - good point about practice, However, your statement about Geno mixing and matching and staying with certain line-ups that he thinks needs work--goes against his philosophy of finding the starting 5 and working it 25 to 28 minutes a game until its humming smoothly and seamlessly. Last year when he pulled Chong, the starting 5 was set quickly and stayed there. From what I have seen in the past, Geno does not experiment much and he does not put "next year's starters" on the floor to get them ready for next season. It is all about the here and now & how he can perfect it all before March.

 

[BigBird]

Is it over-simplifying things to say that Butler would take defensive pressure off of Stewie and Morgan? If opponents have to play one v. one defense across the front, it's lights out. Even in a zone, that front makes it difficult for a defense to collapse down low. What am I missing here?

 

[Kibitzer]

Nothing like offensive firepower to discourage and defeat an opponent. (Like Stephen Curry DID to the Cavs tonight.)

Offensive firepower wins games and championships.

 

[Geno-ista]

I love this thread- and Joe Pgh RSVP.
Butler appears the most likely candidate.
But she won't be if she can't drain a 13-17 ft shot fairly consistently. The same as Kiah Stokes.
Gabby, if she has broadened her horizons & an outside jump shot could be that candidate for. 5th starter . Butler subbing for Stewie & Tuck. KLS will be looming off the bench. I know Geno doesn't like to start freshmen - and he won't have to.
I personally think this team will be there bigest offensive juggernaut, possibly ever. And the prospect of Gabby, or KLS or Collier being the 5th player with our obvious core of 4 starters, will be so athletic and so quick up & down the floor- I'm tired thinking about it! Butler looks very athletic as well. The player with the mid range jumper will become our eventual full time starter!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Offensive firepower wins games and championships.

Steph may be both the best dribbler AND best shooter in the league. Possibly ever.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Geno is thinking about doing things that haven't been tried before because it needs a bunch of talented players! Now that he has such a crew we're going to see some WCBB that will be really awesome!
ND, SoCar and Baylor should be the next tier down but REALLY, REALLY DOWN the list!

 

[hoophuskee]

As it relates to 3 point shooting, I would disagree that UCONN found a "different" way to win without Dolson in the line up. Over three consecutive championship seasons now the Number of 3Pt attempts, 3Pt Shooting percentage, and ratio of 3pt shot attempts to total shot attempt has been remarkably consistent at >800: 35-37%: 1/3. The UCONN offense of the past three years was highly dependent on the 3Pt shot and the spacing it creates even with Dolson in the line up. The efficiency of KML from beyond the arc was the main ingredient that fueled this success. Simply put, take away KML 3pt numbers and UCONN remains only a slightly above average 3Pt shooting team but not elite. If you are talking about something different-like working through the post more I'm not sure I agree with that either. Why mess up a good thing? Keep the same offense/ratios & use the first 10 games of the season to get KLS 4-5 3pt shot attempts per game. If KLS shoots the 3 ball better than sophomore Bria Hartley (33%) UCONN will be just fine. If she shoots it better or as good as Freshmen KML (38%) you have created a potential beast! Now all we have to do is feed that beast instead of inventing it.

Ooopps - I wrote a long post why I disagreed with your post. Then I saw your 2nd to last sentence in bold which is one of the reasons why I think we'll be good enough.

IMO KLS has been compared to KML as her near equal in h/s vs h/s if not better or maybe slightly worse. So if KLS is equivalent to KML in h/s as shooters then I have to expect KLS will be at KML level when KML was a frosh. To further that, - imo this team in 2015-2016 is stronger than the team KML joined. thus KLS will get better looks overall. ANd because of height, she can get off more shots. That's why I thought we'd be "good enough."

 

[hoophuskee]

I love this thread- and Joe Pgh RSVP.
Butler appears the most likely candidate.
But she won't be if she can't drain a 13-17 ft shot fairly consistently. The same as Kiah Stokes.
Gabby, if she has broadened her horizons & an outside jump shot could be that candidate for. 5th starter . Butler subbing for Stewie & Tuck. KLS will be looming off the bench. I know Geno doesn't like to start freshmen - and he won't have to.
I personally think this team will be there bigest offensive juggernaut, possibly ever. And the prospect of Gabby, or KLS or Collier being the 5th player with our obvious core of 4 starters, will be so athletic and so quick up & down the floor- I'm tired thinking about it! Butler looks very athletic as well. The player with the mid range jumper will become our eventual full time starter!

I think if Butler can
1-- Defend and rebound.
2-- Be a pretty good threat to score in the paint (unlike Stokes was)
3-- And be able to pass

IMO she'll start all year.

 

[Bigpetunia]

No offense, but whenever ANYONE says, "don't doubt me on this," that is generally the moment that doubt begins to creep into my mind. I do not know who the fifth starter will be, although, as was the case last season, the starting five on opening night will likely not be the starting five a few games into the season. In my opinion, the two most improved players on next year's team will be Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams, both of whom will profit greatly from making the Freshman to Sophomore transition. I would be entirely unsurprised to see Gabby emerge as a starter, with Natalie being used in a role similar to Kiah Stokes last season. Furthermore, I have a feeling that one of the incoming Freshmen, most likely Napheesa, will prove very difficult to keep on the bench. The ONLY thing that looks pretty certain at this point is the cast of four returning starters.

 

[Intpseeker]

I don't agree about the triangle and two. When was the last time you saw UCONN play a junk defense?

If we didn't play a junk defense much when we had Dolson/Stewie and Stokes with KML. Or Stewie/Tuck and STokes with KML, why would we this time?

UConn's "junk" defense is face guarding the opponent's go-to shooter(s), letting who ever is left attempt to beat us.

 

[DavidinNaples]

No offense, but whenever ANYONE says, "don't doubt me on this," that is generally the moment that doubt begins to creep into my mind. I do not know who the fifth starter will be, although, as was the case last season, the starting five on opening night will likely not be the starting five a few games into the season. In my opinion, the two most improved players on next year's team will be Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams, both of whom will profit greatly from making the Freshman to Sophomore transition. I would be entirely unsurprised to see Gabby emerge as a starter, with Natalie being used in a role similar to Kiah Stokes last season. Furthermore, I have a feeling that one of the incoming Freshmen, most likely Napheesa, will prove very difficult to keep on the bench. The ONLY thing that looks pretty certain at this point is the cast of four returning starters.

The headline was a JOKE..!! Geez...no offense, but can't you read?

"I thought maybe we could all use a break from Caitlyn, Brittany & Glory, UNC, soccer, annulments & horse racing and get back to discussing something basketball related, like starting line ups…. And yes, the headline is a joke. Feel free to disagree, argue, malign, pout or even quit the BY if you think I’m wrong. Happens all the time"

The purpose of the OP was to get back to discussing basketball in this boring off season. 4,000 reads and 90 responses later, goal accomplished...at least for the moment...

 

[Bgillon]

I concede the point
View attachment 9775

Very gracious of you. This is a good example of how good this board and our bloggers are compared to other boards.

 

[CocoHusky]

The headline was a JOKE..!! Geez...no offense, but can't you read?

"I thought maybe we could all use a break from Caitlyn, Brittany & Glory, UNC, soccer, annulments & horse racing and get back to discussing something basketball related, like starting line ups…. And yes, the headline is a joke. Feel free to disagree, argue, malign, pout or even quit the BY if you think I’m wrong. Happens all the time"

The purpose of the OP was to get back to discussing basketball in this boring off season. 4,000 reads and 90 responses later, goal accomplished...at least for the moment...

Equal offense to both you and Big. I took the original posting and Big's response as jokes's -so there!

 

[UcMiami]

Is it over-simplifying things to say that Butler would take defensive pressure off of Stewie and Morgan? If opponents have to play one v. one defense across the front, it's lights out. Even in a zone, that front makes it difficult for a defense to collapse down low. What am I missing here?

Absolutely agree that Butler relieves Stewart (andTuck) in post defense just as Stokes did last year - and that is a very good thing. What I do not like that much with Stewart, Tuck, Butler playing together on defense is against teams like ND or Dayton that tend to play 3 guard offense - watching Stewart/Tuck chase around the perimeter smaller faster quicker guards is not a pretty picture, and Butler getting out on screens is probably worse.

Uconn has played more zone defense in recent years, and probably would do a lot more with those three in the game together, but I believe Geno's preferred defense remains man-to-man.

 

[Kibitzer]

watching Stewart/Tuck chase around the perimeter smaller faster quicker guards is not a pretty picture,

All guards are smaller than Stewie, few are faster or quicker, which is why Geno has her hassle those itty-bitty guards all over the court.

 

[Tonyc]

This is going to be one of the Greatest Rosters ever assembled. I think Butler starts however Lou Collier Williams and Chong all will get plenty of minutes. There is no competition for UConn this year. UConn will not have any close games, barring injuries. This team will be as powerful or more powerful then last years team and a lot of that is due our experience. NPOY will be between Stewie Mojeff and Tuck.

Ever year we talk about who we lost and how we will replace them. This year is no different. However Geno always finds a way to make his teams better and this season is no exception. One thing keep in mind is UConn graduates Mojeff and Stewie so it is very important to build chemistry cohesiveness and continuity with the players who will be replacing them. One thing UConn has maintained is a great nucleus to which Geno is able to replace players with players year in and year out. Therefore everybody on the roster will need playtime whether the plan is to start next season or come off the bench because they will all be needed to step up and be ready for battle with no hiccups. So gaining experience is essential and you get experience from playing in real games.

To say this team is loaded is an understatement. This team is overflowing with talent and ability. What they need is development and confidence and as far as playtime goes I don't think that's a problem. There will be plenty of minutes for everybody. UConns leads will be so big that Geno will play non starters to get them ready for next season and to avoid injuries to this years starters and to get next years roster ready for next season. So I don't see playtime a problem. I would think in the second half of the season we will have a good idea of who will start the following year and who will come off the bench. Hey UConn is gonna win big every game. Count on it. Look at the transfers, look at what UConn did last season and taking into consideration that Stewie Mojeff and Tuck are the 3 top players in WCBB who is gonna come close to UConn???

So does Butler start? I think so. Does that take pressure off Lou? I think so. Will Lou get a lot of playtime. From what Ive heard and seen if she performs like she did in AAU ball she is the next star at UConn. I really don't think it matters all that much who the 5th starter is, because UConn is so much better then any other team in WCBB its almost unfair. Geno will continue to mix and match players based on game situations so when Geno feels his underclassman are ready he will give them more playtime. Stewie Mojeff and Tuck will be at a different level then any other players in WCBB. Heck imo they are better then a lot of pros. That alone will guarantee UConn another NC and undefeated season. All this barring injuries.

 

[EricLA]

Great post by Tony. I thought Cat's comments were interesting in that she said starting Butler would make for horrible spacing, but I thought putting Stokes on the floor with Mo, KML, Morgan and Stewie was often our best team last year so i'm not sure why there would be a spacing issue if we "replaced" Stokes with Butler.

And Tony's right - losing possibly the best college player ever in Stewie and the best college PG ever in Jefferson is HUGE. The following season will be the best shot other teams have of dethroning UCONN. In order to plan for the future, Nurse and Chong will need to get even more comfortable at running the team at the 1 since as much as I love Dangerfield, planning on her being the starting PG from day 1 is dangerous (no pun intended).

Also as Tony said, when we lose players to graduation, the following season there is an adjustment. IMHO losing Stokes and KML is easier to replace than losing Dolson and Hartley, and what Dolson brought was the most difficult of all 4 to replace...

I think this is one of the seasons where the starting 5 is just so incredibly good that Geno will really have the time and ability to develop the 4 newbies and bring them along at their own pace. With the sheer depth of talent, I think it will be hard for Ekmark or Boykin to earn PT this year - but that depends partly on how healthy Boykin is (she has a nagging injury of some kind I believe) and how hard Ekmark worked on her fitness and her game over the summer.

I really think our team will consist of the 5 starters and 3 subs in "big" games (Moriah, Kia, Morgan, Stewie, and then Natalie, KLS, Napheesa, and Saniya). Unless Ekmark shows some marked improvement, I think Geno will use her the least of the remaining 2 since I Boykin has more potential and will be more "needed" down the road. And of course, the 2 walk ons will continue to be terrific teammates and will get minutes in the last 4-6 minutes of games...

 

[Bigpetunia]

The headline was a JOKE..!! Geez...no offense, but can't you read?

Oh, my....Well, first off, allow me to thank you for your kind and solicitous inquiry regarding my ability/inability to read the mother tongue, though I'm not certain how my skills (or lack thereof) in that area are called into question by my response to your post. However, for purposes of clarity, I, particularly at my age and stage, boast a serious predilection for diversions. Although I take a back seat to no one when it comes to the ardency of my support for UConn Women's Basketball, I sign onto the Boneyard (with some regularity) for NO other purpose but to mess around. Because they are ultimately so hopelessly inconsequential, I regard ALL of the postings that I read, and ALL that I personally offer, as jokes, particularly those musings about what the Coach will or will not do regarding his lineup preferences. So, yes, if it makes you feel better, I did not take your original post seriously, nor should you take any of mine.

 

[Bgillon]

Eric, you left Gabby out! Shame on you. You are benched for the remainder of this half.

 

[meyers7]

Call it what you want but I'm pretty confident that we are going see aggressive guard play to deny long shots and to funnel penetration to bigs. A zone concept protects Natalie and let's us exploit our height advantage.

How about we call it what it is? Either man to man or a 2-3 zone. (Although Geno has played a 3-2 (or 1-2-2) zone on occasion recently.) He really hasn't even gone box and 1, let alone a triangle and 2.