New Starting 5 | The Boneyard

New Starting 5

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Jronp

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Should be Nika, Paige, Ev, Cw, Olivia...even when Anna returns. Even though she’s still a bit raw... she is ready and already a natural leader on the floor. When Nika is in the ball moves and she provides defense, relentless effort, scoring, and they will be able to get out in transition more. And If she can consistently knock down her shot, she will be the surprise of this years squad! Also you can move Paige off the ball more when needed to the 2 and the offense will flow more with two great passers also on the floor. Also I like Aubrey off the bench more. So that teams can’t sag in the lane and this will open up the floor. Then along with her bring AE, Anna, and McLean off the bench! Just my opinion after watching the last few games.
 
Jronp said:
Should be Nika, Paige, Ev, Cw, Olivia...even when Anna returns. Even though she’s still a bit raw... she is ready and already a natural leader on the floor. When Nika is in the ball moves and she provides defense, relentless effort, scoring, and they will be able to get out in transition more. And If she can consistently knock down her shot, she will be the surprise of this years squad! Also you can move Paige off the ball more when needed to the 2 and the offense will flow more with two great passers also on the floor. Also I like Aubrey off the bench more. So that teams can’t sag in the lane and this will open up the floor. Then along with her bring AE, Anna, and McLean off the bench! Just my opinion after watching the last few games.
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I know positionless basketball is a thing, but what are you suggesting:

1) Nikka
2) Page (or vice versa)
3) Christyn
4) Evina
5) Ono

I'm not sure that works.

I think for most teams I'd go:
1) Paige
2) Christyn
3) Evina
4) Ono (she really wants to be more of a stretch 4 anyway)
5) Edwards (provided that she can avoid fouls)
 
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Paige, Evina, Christyn, Aubrey, Aaliyah. From the bench: Anna, Nikka, Mir then ONO. I would love to see Liv get hungry. This team is so young. I love this team. Give them time. When you consider the interruptions in practices, games etc. etc., they are doing pretty well. THe entire NCAAW has been bizarre this year with top teams loosing to unranked teams etc. In a year, they could be unbeatable.
 
ABCDFE said:
I still prefer a healthy Anna.
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Agreed! Perhaps someone can explain how a healthy Anna is less productive than NM cause I’m not seeing it? She is a better shooter, bigger, at least as good a passer, far more experienced, less prone to silly fouls, knows the offense (and defense) and is far more versatile than Nika. I like Nika and have no doubt that she will be a productive player but I just don’t think she is as impactful on the game as Anna!
 
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Centerstream said:
Saylor should be starting just because I like her name, she's from Frederick County, I too know how to coach and I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.
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I'm from Montgomery County. Bunch of farms in Frederick County ain't it. Like Jimmy Chitwood- got a hoop in the grass out in the back field. Closest neighbor- 5 miles away. (just kidding)
 
This would be a fun poll to do throughout the season! Different lineups work against different teams and some players just have better chemistry either because of skill set, playing time together, etc. So far this year there is a core 4 and then a 5th who joins based on their practice habits.

Right now, I’d like:
  1. Paige
  2. Christyn
  3. Evina
  4. Aubrey
  5. Aaliyah
It’s not the best shooting combination, but it does have a similar mix of shooters, playmakers, athleticism, and post presence that most of UConn’s successful teams had. Whatever the starting lineup is game by game, I will trust that Geno made his decision based on who is performing the best in practice and who works best together.
 
I'd like to see Geno with a bit of a quicker trigger/hook in the first quarter. Occasionally he will pull someone for something egregious, but too often he leaves player out there, maybe in the hope they will "play thru" what ever issue they are having. He seems to have a VERY long rope for certain players, and a super short one for others.

Geno has said recently that he had discussions with Christyn about her being "ucoachable", and the reasoning was he or the staff would tell her something, she'd do it for a few minutes, then revert back.

I'm not sure if he was referring to games or practices, but nothing like riding the pine to drive a point home. He should have the same policy with all the starters.

"You are to do X and Y when on the floor and NOT do Z". Then if they don't do X/Y, or they DO do Z, then sit their asses down. Liv is a junior. There is no reason for her to continually bring the ball back down and try to dribble only to get striped or tied up. Catch high, turn, keep ball held high, shoot. And make her spend time at practice every day till she breaks her bad habits. Whatever the staff has been doing is NOT working.

Christyn is a streaky 3-point shooter, bordering on crappy. If she misses her 1st 2 shots, she should be banned from shooting the 3 for the rest of the half. NO EXCEPTIONS. I don't care how wide open she is.

He seems to think/hope that miraculously they will "get it" by leaving them on the floor. Maybe they are incapable, maybe they don't see any repercussions from NOT doing what they are supposed to, but given we almost won the game with no Anna, a craptastic Liv, and Christyn wasting bombs from deep, he was forced to play the freshmen anyway.

Good grief, he sat Stewie and Morgan for an ENTIRE game during their tenure at UCONN. It's time for him to enact some tough love with Liv and Christyn.

As for the starters, I think it is what it is. Hopefully a healthy Anna comes back. IF she's healthy, she may be a better starting option than Aubrey - but... there are pros and cons to each. Anna brings a great court vision and ability to pass we well as keep the offense flowing. Aubrey brings an energy and scoring ability that is superior to Anna at this time. Anna was playing poorly and it cost her the starting spot, but I wonder if part of the reason was her injury.
 
At this point in time, I do not believe Olivia Nelson-Ododa will be a dominant center in the college game.

I do think ONO’s mobility and defensive instincts are enough to pique interest of WNBA coaches and GMs, but not as a center. I’m starting to think ONO’s best chance to make it as a pro is as a hybrid four. I wish she could play on the wing — with her height and build, she’d be unstoppable.

You might ask why I’m thinking about any of this at the midpoint of her junior season. At the end of the day, player development is essential for the next level, and these women’s careers extend beyond the 2020-21 season. Neither ONO nor CW have fully panned out in the minds of the Husky loyal, and it feels increasingly unlikely that either fully will.
 
CL82 said:
I know positionless basketball is a thing, but what are you suggesting:

1) Nikka
2) Page (or vice versa)
3) Christyn
4) Evina
5) Ono

I'm not sure that works.

I think for most teams I'd go:
1) Paige
2) Christyn
3) Evina
4) Ono (she really wants to be more of a stretch 4 anyway)
5) Edwards (provided that she can avoid fouls)
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I like this also...but Edwards needs to be on the block to score. She Hasn’t developed the 15 foot game yet. But I think she will. Therefore her and Liv I don’t think would work well yet.
 
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CTisballers said:
Starting 5 is fine how it is. One bad game and lost and you’d freak out about nothing. UConn will bounce back. They are young and have to put the pieces together
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It’s not about freaking out. It was my opinion just like you have one!
 
I would love to see how a small team would play

Paige
Anna
Evina
Aubrey
Nika
 
Jronp said:
It’s not about freaking out. It was my opinion just like you have oneYour opinion is a negative one for one lost by 3 on the road to a solid team on the road. Point is the only freshman that should be starting is starting. No need for a 3rd playmaker to start Nika is good but still needs work. I’m a fan of AG starting because she makes the hustle plays offense rebounds, steals,blocks and the offense looks better early in the game. It didn’t work against Arkansas because they was hot like really who will lose shooting over 50% from 3s and have an elite score like Dungee. Don’t forget ONO AG or Paige play the minutes they usually do. WE GOOD!!!
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I remember many times that Geno complained in past years that the team was good but had no one that wanted the ball in their hand when it counted for the winning shot. I do remember a practice video where he was trying Kia in that position and after said to Shea that they still don't have one. It seems to me that this year that problem is solved.
 
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Rewatched the Arkansas game tonight. in the late 3rd quarter I saw Paige cut through the lane several times open with her hand in the air and no one saw her or passed to her. Arkansas ignored the cutters because those out on the arc only passed the ball to each other or occasionally to a high post but never to a cutter.
 
Its very evident to me that after the Ark game the non starters have proved themselves and earned some confidence. If a starter isnt doing what Geno wants he will pull them and put somebody else in. He now has seen they belong and what they can do...he also saw that from his starters.
 
MD#12Fan said:
I'm from Montgomery County. Bunch of farms in Frederick County ain't it. Like Jimmy Chitwood- got a hoop in the grass out in the back field. Closest neighbor- 5 miles away. (just kidding)
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I lived in Gaithersburg before moving to Frederick County.
 
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