Newest Husky Ines Bettencourt [Merged thread]

[CocoHusky]

Geno says a lot of things, not all of them turn out to be true . I still remember he said something about Courtney Ekmark being one of the best shooters he had seen at the time.

Add that Natalie Butler was supposed to be a "game changer" in UCONN recruiting.

 

[CocoHusky]

She is in a unique situation because as a point guard her main competition for playing time is against two PF's. What I mean by that is Nika, Azzi, Caroline and Lou will likely consume close to all of the minutes at 1-3, but not all, leaving a few per game for someone else, even if all the guards are healthy.

If Ines is competing against ANYONE in the UCONN front court for minutes-UCONN is in serious trouble!

 

[Carnac]

YOU once again NAILED it. Congratulation ole seer of the WEST.
I'm more than pleased Geno got her. Europeans, IMO, have done well to excellence for Geno. Anna comes to mind. She wasn't Stewie, DT, Paige--no she wasn't--but she was a darn good player that saved UConn's year. No, NC, FF, --but one heck of a better year than expected.
We aren't in that position now. Our year, IMO, was going to be good to great, but this helps us. That is, if she contributes as well as as ANNA could.

Thank you sir. Carnac is humbled. This was low hanging fruit. I figured if Geno and Jamelle were still overseas looking at 2022 class players as late as two weeks ago, they must want to recruit one. I can come back in off that limb now.

 

[Carnac]

If Ines is competing against ANYONE in the UCONN front court for minutes-UCONN is in serious trouble!

Most of us know better than that. This year she is nothing more than an insurance policy. I was in the group of fans that wanted Geno to replace Paige's spot on the roster with another player. It's going to take her some time to get to know life in the USA, Geno's system, College campus life, WCBB style of play at the "elite" level and her teammates. That will come. But, if needed, she can go in and give Geno some minutes. I don't think anyone here is naïve enough to think she'll be competing for minutes THIS season. She comes in on the end of the bench (depth chart) at #11. But we're very very happy to have her.

 

[cgshuskie]

Obtaining Ines is really great. The women Huskies truly needed another guard and specifically a point guard. As
a freshman she will have time to learn to play at Uconn wbb speed. A great pickup. She will enhance Ayanna's upcoming greatness!

 

[DEpup]

Most of us know better than that. This year she is nothing more than an insurance policy. I was in the group of fans that wanted Geno to replace Paige's spot on the roster with another player. It's going to take her some time to get to know life in the USA, Geno's system, College campus life, WCBB style of play at the "elite" level and her teammates. That will come. But, if needed, she can go in and give Geno some minutes. I don't think anyone here is naïve enough to think she'll be competing for minutes THIS season. She comes in on the end of the bench (depth chart) at #11. But we're very very happy to have her.

Insurance is important! Who thought last year's team would need Ducharme as much as they did.... injuries happen and the teams that make it far can absorb them.

 

[UcMiami]

As a freshman Nika carved out 24 minutes per game on a team with Paige, Evina, Christyn, and Anna. I doubt Ines will get that many minutes, but I think she will be a solid contributor. She certainly showed in the U18 competition this summer. And European training is a good introduction to the Uconn basketball system.

As for her initial JUCO commit ... a lot depends on connections to 'European' scouts as to D1 interest, if she didn't have connections to one of the big talent scouts then she would have a hard time generating interest and as far as I can see her first serious exposure came this summer. And thankfully she had done the prep work for a USA college or Uconn would likely not see her prior to second semester.

 

[Carnac]

Add that Natalie Butler was supposed to be a "game changer" in UCONN recruiting.

She was...................but not for UConn. Starred for George Mason AFTER she left UConn. She led the nation in rebounding and helped George Mason get an NCAA Tournament bid her red shirt senior year.

She left U-Conn and became college basketball’s leading rebounder at George Mason.

 

[CajunHusky]

So, are people thinking that she adds point guard depth? I’m not sure she does at the high D1 major level. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we’ve added her. I’m just not clear on where she fits in the rotation.

She hasn't met her teammates or been on campus .... I'm sure Geno doesn't know where she fits in either.

 

[Zarathustra]

I just watched 5 quarters of U 18 Fiba Women's "B" basketball, the
last two games for Portugal.
Portugal came back from 10 down to beat Serbia 62- 55 in the Semi. Ines
showed some pressure defense ( caused an important turnover ), she made an essential
rebound, good movement without the ball, speed bringing the ball
upcourt, and a respectable shot from the left side. I think that
Geno likes her crisp passing and scappiness when there is a loose ball and
obtaining the important tie- ups and jump balls. Clearly some work to be done
on many fronts but Portugal is in the " B" level for a reason. Then when Portugal reached the Finals
against Slovenia Portugal was embrassed by 15 points in a low scoring game.
Slovenia was much better than the + 15 margin. Ines scored 11 points in each game.
I don't recommend watching these videos...especially avoid the pain of the Finals game...
it's not the level of basketball that we are used to watching..
I'll stick with the highlights of Ines and her "Sportiva' Azores team.
So, good to have her on board, I anticipate more "added value"
toward the end of the season...not in the early stages of UCONN play..
Ines needs to learn the UCONN system, and time to adjust to a much more intense
level of play.... I'm hopeful ... and looking forward to her progress..
Will she be ...Molly Bent??? or more??? Z

 

[DEpup]

I wonder if she could be better than we all think... Rankings are just as much related to exposure as skill. Coming from the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean and a country not known for bball, she could be much better than anyone knows. We just need her to be solid and learn.

 

[JordyG]

This is really great news! She is a pure point guard with scoring ability. She has international recognition far beyond that of Nika and, recognizing Nika's large following, I fully expect Bettencourt to become a starter before year's end.

 

[Urshurak]

"I fully expect Bettencourt to become a starter before year's end."

ummm, never say never, but wow that's a stretch.

 

[Zarathustra]

This is really great news! She is a pure point guard with scoring ability. She has international recognition far beyond that of Nika and, recognizing Nika's large following, I fully expect Bettencourt to become a starter before year's end.

Hello, I just hit the pause button .... I posted a MOLLY BENT comment on the other blog
thread. I like her., very glad that she in a Huskie.... bu, Ines is " insurance".

 

[Charliebball]

I wonder if she could be better than we all think... Rankings are just as much related to exposure as skill. Coming from the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean and a country not known for bball, she could be much better than anyone knows. We just need her to be solid and learn.

I don't have great expectations for her this coming season..............the only thing we know she does better than anyone else on the roster is speak Portuguese............if she can help out in practice and hold her own for a few minutes in a game that's all we can ask for...........any additional help she can provide is gravy.......

 

[Longtime fan]

Yes

It will be interesting to see her future. Because, while UCONN is now desperate to have a back-up at the point, that won't be true when KK arrives next season.

 

[Longtime fan]

I don't have great expectations for her this coming season..............the only thing we know she does better than anyone else on the roster is speak Portuguese............if she can help out in practice and hold her own for a few minutes in a game that's all we can ask for...........any additional help she can provide is gravy.......

All true. I think if she can give 2-4 quality minutes per quarter ( resting Nika ), she will add value.

 

[Bald Husky]

This morning I wrote a post that said Geno would have to go the walk-on route as time is running out. Well, how about that, they couldn't come up with this news yesterday so I wouldn't have egg on my face. Thats ok, I like eggs.
Anyway, I am thrilled to get Ines signed up, and I have to admit she does look pretty good. Some people said she would start by seasons end ( ha,ha,), some said she would ride the bench. Well hello, we still only have 11 players, so no, she will not just ride the bench. This 11th hour signing would not happen if he just wanted a bench player, so yes, she probably will be counted on to play some minutes in most games. Maybe not in the first few since they are against the best in the nation, but I feel she will get in the rotation when she learns the system. She was brought in for insurance, but what good is insurance if they don't have any experience playing with the rest of the team. She will play, and how she does will indicate how much. At this point, we know nothing, and won't know anything until the season starts. I am very happy.

 

[oldhusky]

If Ines is competing against ANYONE in the UCONN front court for minutes-UCONN is in serious trouble!

She won't be competing with frontcourt players for frontcourt minutes, she will be competing with frontcourt players for backcourt minutes. Beyond the four guards we already had, the 5th player for backcourt minutes is either the new guard, or a frontcourt player, namely Aubrey or Ayanna. We probably use a 5th person at guard a few minutes even if the other four are healthy, so that competition exists to a limited degree at a minimum.

If any of the main four guards are injured, whoever Geno picks will probably play close to 20 minutes, and his main three choices will be Ines, Aubrey and Ayanna. A point guard or one of two frontcourt players that are probably best at the 4, so yes Ines will be competing with frontcourt players for who is the 5th best option to play guard. If she turns out to be much better maybe she winds up competing with Nika or Lou.

 

[CocoHusky]

This morning I wrote a post that said Geno would have to go the walk-on route as time is running out. Well, how about that, they couldn't come up with this news yesterday so I wouldn't have egg on my face. Thats ok, I like eggs.
Anyway, I am thrilled to get Ines signed up, and I have to admit she does look pretty good. Some people said she would start by seasons end ( ha,ha,), some said she would ride the bench. Well hello, we still only have 11 players, so no, she will not just ride the bench. This 11th hour signing would not happen if he just wanted a bench player, so yes, she probably will be counted on to play some minutes in most games. Maybe not in the first few since they are against the best in the nation, but I feel she will get in the rotation when she learns the system. She was brought in for insurance, but what good is insurance if they don't have any experience playing with the rest of the team. She will play, and how she does will indicate how much. At this point, we know nothing, and won't know anything until the season starts. I am very happy.

Well the 2020-21 team only had 10 players, 11 when Saylor joined a mid season, and 4 ( Autumn, Saylor, Piath & Mir) of those 11 players still rode the bench.

 

[ballerfan]

Sometime I would like to see all the international players—Aaliyah, Dorka, Lou, Nika, and Inês—on the court together.

 

[PvP]

How do you pronounce Ines? Is it literally In-ez?

Usually it is pronounced Eye-Nez

How do you pronounce Ines? Is it literally In-ez?

 

[Ozimoto]

So let's see. By the end of fall practice and before games begin they will know how to swear in English, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Croatian, and Portuguese...

 

[HopJim]

They certainly learned the need for depth last year so she will probably be needed for at least 4-5 games this year with significant minutes. I think she even changes things some. Maybe They go more with Nika and Inez at PG and rotate the other guards at 2 and 3. I’d be surprised a little if that happens but we don’t want these kids to get so tired they get hurt so I’d consider giving her even 10-15 minutes PT early in the season and see how it goes.

Maybe I missed it, but surprised no one mentioned the benefits this signing does for practice. Having a solid point guard for Nika and others to go against is invaluable.

 

[topogigio]

Geno says a lot of things, not all of them turn out to be true . I still remember he said something about Courtney Ekmark being one of the best shooters he had seen at the time.

Courtney was, in fact one, of the best shooters in her day, she just couldn't make many when someone was guarding her.

 

[Carnac]

She hasn't met her teammates or been on campus .... I'm sure Geno doesn't know where she fits in either.

What a "leap of faith" by this young lady!!! Somebody did a wonderful job of selling her and her parents on the idea of coming to the United States and attending UConn on a full-ride basketball scholarship; and the road she would travel if she were bold enough to accept the challenge. I have not read all of the other comments here, but I'm assuming she's never been to the USA.

Wow, thank God the shoe has dropped. A long July and August of delicious speculation and debate. I hope she becomes a regular contributor and enjoys her time at UConn.

Me too. Yesterday evening, I was beginning to get a little nervous.

 

[Bigboote]

From an article,
Inês Bettencourt (pronounced ee-NEDGE bet-ten-QUART)
She will wear #21.

MSN

I wouldn't write the pronunciation the way the article did, unless Azores Portuguese is absolutely nothing like Continental or Brazilian Portuguese.

Continental: ee-NAYSH bet-en-Coort

 

[BobbyJ]

Sometime I would like to see all the international players—Aaliyah, Dorka, Lou, Nika, and Inês—on the court together.

They should be out there at the first practice.

 

[drweo]

Oooorah! Carnac, the Great, called it. Very good news. In the video, it showed that she can make a layup.

AND the three!

 

[Bone Dog]

This keeps coming up — the problem isn’t with Nika’s scoring. If she gives us 6-8 points/g, that’s plenty. The issue is what sort of point these are. Shooting 3s and hitting layups on run-outs is fine, but if she’s playing point she needs to be able to score in the lane occasionally.

Currently she has no midrange, pull-up, step back jump shot, and seems unwilling to attempt a contested layup. Passing off the dribble, flashing through the lane, is just a lot more effective if she’s a threat to score in there, too. And it’s not just at UConn — she didn’t have these skills in Europe either.

These are essential tools for a point guard. KK and Ines already have these skills. I hope Nika plays Ines one-on-one a little bit everyday for the next few months. She could improve Ines’s D and Ines can help her improve her O.