Next year | The Boneyard

Next year

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From France said:
We should probably have the two best players in the country, it happeared 3 times for us Sue & Swin & Dee, then Tina & Maya, then Breanna and Moriah, then NEXT YEAR
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You named some of my favorite Gampel players. Next YEAR--Azzi, Paige, Caroliine, Nika, ICE, Edwards, Ayanna I know i"m missing a few--the point is Geno has been blessed with great players---but I doubt he has had this many all at once.. If Uconn doesn't reach at least the FF next year it won't be for lack of talent and determined players.
 
TCC Kid said:
You named some of my favorite Gampel players. Next YEAR--Azzi, Paige, Caroliine, Nika, ICE, Edwards, Ayanna I know i"m missing a few--the point is Geno has been blessed with great players---but I doubt he has had this many all at once.. If Uconn doesn't reach at least the FF next year it won't be for lack of talent and determined players.
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As of what we know at this point, I would not include Yanna in that group, but I would add Aubrey. I hope we can include Jana in the list as we will need both her and ICE to man the 4/5 spots along with Liyah. I have to admit that I was very disappointed in Yanna who never seemed to progress thoughout the year as we needed her to. Still a foul every few minutes and no shooting ability at all, after a few promising games early on. I hope she develops as we hoped as it seems like the potential is there.

A couple of really good guards coming, but minutes will be tough (tuff, Tonyc) with the returning 1/2 position players, including Ines, who looked so much better at the end of the year.
 
Who will we have next year where? Here’s my sense of the possibilities, starters underlined:

PG: Nika Inês KK (with Paige and Azzi occasionally shifting over)
SG: Paige, Ashlynn (or Azzi sometimes)
W: Azzi (or Paige sometimes), Caroline
PF: Caroline, Aubrey, Q, Ayanna (sometimes Aaliyah or Ice)
C: Aaliyah, Ice, Jana, Amari (sometimes Aaliyah)
 
hoopsdiva said:
If everyone is healthy next year, I think we have three of the top four players in the country with Paige, Azzi and Aaliyah. But I also have to give props to Caitlin Clark.
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Ever heard of Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Olivia Miles???
 
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I think the starters will be Aaliyah, Paige, Nika, Azzi and then I think Jana will earn a starting spot. I was more impressed with her play from what I seen than Ayanna and Ice. I saw Ice and Ayanna in a couple of tournaments when they were seniors and they did not stand out.
But ya never know till its GO time so we'll see. But anyway you slice it I think we will have a great team.
 
From France said:
My starting 5 if everything is going good would be
Paige - Azzi - Nika - Caroline - Aaliyah
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Two many shooters on the floor at the same time. If Geno wanted to go with a similar lineup like we have now, I would insert Ice in Carolines spot.
 
This year’s lineup is one of my favorites. A traditional player in each role.

No one has proven themselves yet, but I’d be starting one of Amari, Ayanna, Ice or Jana alongside Aaliyah. Unless a proven portal big becomes available.

Rebounding and dominant post-play has accounted for every National Championship (maybe Stanford aside?) since UConn’s last. It’s the true key to winning, in my opinion.
 
I expect Jana will be a big deal next year: a 6'4 player who plays like a guard, and who has been practicing with the team since early this (calendar) year. The only other incoming player I've seen more than a few seconds of is Ashlynn Shade, who was sensational in last year's Indiana state championship.
 
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From France said:
My starting 5 if everything is going good would be
Paige - Azzi - Nika - Caroline - Aaliyah
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What happened to Aubrey ? I pray Caroline heals in the off season so she can contribute or I see her losing some time to Ashlyn
 
Bone Dog said:
Who will we have next year where? Here’s my sense of the possibilities, starters underlined:

PG: Nika Inês KK (with Paige and Azzi occasionally shifting over)
SG: Paige, Ashlynn (or Azzi sometimes)
W: Azzi (or Paige sometimes), Caroline
PF: Caroline, Aubrey, Q, Ayanna (sometimes Aaliyah or Ice)
C: Aaliyah, Ice, Jana, Amari (sometimes Aaliyah)
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Aubrey made tremendous strides this year and will only get better. Her defense, rebounding, athleticism and ability to go to the hoop is unique and needed. She will be a top 10 WNBA selection after 1 more year at UConn. We all pray for Caroline to heal 100 percent, but until that happens I cannot see her starting and Ashlynn may surprise many as another Caroline type player
 
Next year - Nika, Paige, Azzi, Aaliyah and Jana or Ice.

First off the bench - Aubrey (if she returns) and Caroline.
 
JellyBean said:
Holy smokes! We starting early on this next year stuff.
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More like back from a break - it seems these threads have appeared regularly throughout the season. For me, next season discussion can wait until after our guys cut down the nets this season! Absolutely love this group of warriors and will cherish every minute of the upcoming six games that remain for them to play.
 
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From France said:
We should probably have the two best players in the country, it happeared 3 times for us Sue & Swin & Dee, then Tina & Maya, then Breanna and Moriah, then NEXT YEAR
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You forgot Caitlin Clark..the best player in the country this year and the odds on favorite to be again next year not to mention are Paige and Azzi even going to be healthy..they haven't been these last 2 years
 
JBK said:
Aubrey made tremendous strides this year and will only get better. Her defense, rebounding, athleticism and ability to go to the hoop is unique and needed. She will be a top 10 WNBA selection after 1 more year at UConn. We all pray for Caroline to heal 100 percent, but until that happens I cannot see her starting and Ashlynn may surprise many as another Caroline type player
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Aubrey will not be a top 10 selection in the WNBA unless all of a sudden she learns how to shoot
 
darrell said:
Rebounding and dominant post-play has accounted for every National Championship (maybe Stanford aside?) since UConn’s last. It’s the true key to winning, in my opinion.
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It's not true. In fact, SC went small in 16-17. That's what won them the title. Balance that's what wins.

In 17-18 UCONN didn't lose to Notre Dame because of dominant post play. They lost because of guard/wing play.

And last year can we really say the if Dorka didn't get hurt unable to play, that Liv being hurt while playing along with Azzi being sick would have had no outcome on the final game? Not saying UCONN would have won but you can't say dominant post play is the answer if they didn't have to compete against the most skilled team in the country being at near the same levle of health if we are comparing "styles of play." It's only fair to compare when both are equally healthy.

And the same goes for this year. How can anyone draw a conclusion about comparing great post play vs great perimeter play when the most skilled team has been excessively hurt this year (and last)?

SC – their senior guard last year was terrific too, right?

Overall, Balance wins. Balance wins. Balance wins. Not one (post or perimeter) or the other- but you need both.

Next year there might be a lot of people wanting to anoint UCONN an easy title if they stay healthy. But that isn’t reality. The way transfers happen now and in addition, all it takes is one big “Ruth Riley” with balance on the perimeter it can possibly expose UCONN not being as balanced as they should be. Us UCONN fans tend to overrate national size though because it’s our Achilles heel. There are probably other teams that have had terrific post play but don’t have the perimeter play to win and they will probably say “you need quality guards to win.” We as Husky fans just take that for granted.
 
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Its not just size, but athleticism and speed. Aubrey's decision will be key. If she leaves for the WNBA, this UConn team may be slow.
 
From France said:
Or Aubrey and Caroline out of the bench
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I know many will disagree with this, but based on all the permutations and combinations of possible starting lineups that I suspect posters will suggest, you could have both Caroline and Aubrey starting or neither one. In the first scenario, Ice and Jana don't show enough early to start, and we could go small with Caroline at the 3, Aubrey at the 4, and Aaliyah moves to the 5. Paige at the 1 and Azzi at the 2.

If someone steps up at the 5, then Aaliyah stays at the 4, and both Caroline and Aubrey could be coming off the bench with Nika joining Paige and Azzi in the backcourt. Even if you assume everyone agrees that Paige, Azzi, and Aaliyah start, and they don't expect KK, Ashlyn, Q, Ayanna, Amari, or Ines to, there are still 10 different starting combinations to fill the remaining two spots with some combination of Nika, Caroline, Aubrey, Ice and Jana, so I think we can count on plenty of debate heading into next season.

I prefer Nika, Azzi, Paige, Aaliyah and either Ice or Jana at C, but obviously that assumes one of the freshmen is ready. The other 4 will be terrific. i would also keep my eye out for any really good C's in the portal that become available.
 
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