Next Year's Roster | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Next Year's Roster

hoopsfan22 said:
I don't see Azzi starting no matter what happens. Geno is not in a position where he desperately needs to fill out a lineup. Every one of his starters is back next season (as far as we know), so why would you swap out any part of it for players with no experience? And if you do want to swap someone out, Edwards is going to be the replacement player as someone who has a year of experience under her belt and will be making the sophomore leap. Geno has the luxury of building a deep bench and bringing along newcomers slowly.
Expand ...
Did you miss the Arizona game?
 
Go/huskies said:
If Azzi is a consistent outside shooter with a lethal pull up jumper , it should allowed Paige to play her natural position at point guard. The two sharing the back court will take some scoring and playmaking pressure off Paige. If Azzi is a decent or above average defender, I think she will take over for Nika.
Expand ...
Won’t know ‘till fall?
 
Ono, Edwards, Paige, Azzi, and Williams to start- great offense & defense. Pick up lightning quick guard off transfer market too while you are at it. Mandatory offensive improvement homework for Ono (free throws, bunnies) and Aubrey ( footwork around basket, mid-range jumper) and we’ll be back in the winner’s circle. Make sure Ducharme gets some minutes & Deberry too.
 
If Azzi's defense is above average she will start. Another consistent outside shooter will open things up for CWill for drives and the post players (hoping that ONO and AE further develop). Nika may be a better defender, but I'd take this tradeoff. As for off the bench I need to see more of them play next season, but I would think Anna, Nika, and AG are the next 3.
 
.-.
I’d guess Paige, CW, EW, AE and ONO start. Uconn looked good when they had size on the floor. IMO Geno started Nika as much because of her defense as the ability it gave him to bring an impact player, AE, off of the bench.

Now that he has Azzi, she will be the spark off of the bench. NM will play backup point guard for Paige. Aubrey, Anna, and possibly Amari will round out the rotation.

I’d personally love to see a lineup of PB, , CW, EW, and AE. Those to me will be our most polished offensive players.
 
ABCDFE said:
If Azzi's defense is above average she will start. Another consistent outside shooter will open things up for CWill for drives and the post players (hoping that ONO and AE further develop). Nika may be a better defender, but I'd take this tradeoff. As for off the bench I need to see more of them play next season, but I would think Anna, Nika, and AG are the next 3.
Expand ...
No way does Nika not start
Rblack335 said:
I’d guess Paige, CW, EW, AE and ONO start. Uconn looked good when they had size on the floor. IMO Geno started Nika as much because of her defense as the ability it gave him to bring an impact player, AE, off of the bench.

Now that he has Azzi, she will be the spark off of the bench. NM will play backup point guard for Paige. Aubrey, Anna, and possibly Amari will round out the rotation.

I’d personally love to see a lineup of PB, , CW, EW, and AE. Those to me will be our most polished offensive players.
Expand ...
NM will start
 
lebronfan23 said:
I wouldn’t start Nika. Paige or Westbrook needs to be PG and I wouldn’t bring Nika off the bench first. I don’t understand the hype. One mistake last night was not letting Aubrey come off the bench first.
Expand ...
We needed scoring..she limits the offense
 
amishboy said:
Unless they improve at least 20%, I say Liv and Christyn better get ready to come off the bench. In three years, they’ve plainly demonstrated they’re not “ready for prime time” players.

The starters will be Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, Azzi, and Aubrey/Mir/Caroline/Evina.
Expand ...

Lighten up, already. Only on this board would a loss in the final four be considered a disappointment.
 
.-.
As early this season many here seem to discount what Nika brings to this team. It was no coincidence that both the team defensive intensity and offensive flow gelled when Nika became a regular starter. Several times Geno has said as much and shown it by keeping her in the lineup. Going into the tournament the team was playing it's best team ball, having built steadily as a cohesive unit with great communication and movement since the Arkansas loss.

Many have pointed out that Paige should be the point guard going forward. I don't argue that having her play with the ball in her hands a good amount of the time isn't an advantage for our squad but I don't believe that equates to her needing to run the point. I think her strength in coming around a screen or moving to a open spot and getting a quick feed for a quality shot are equally as significant. I would argue that Geno wants her to do both. With Azzi coming in we fill a need of another deadeye three point threat. Depending on matchups, because we will also have great options at 4 and 5, I think Nika at the point with Paige, Crstyn and Azzi would present a tough matchup for opponents, having to guard against both quick high percentage threes and equally as efficient slashes and pull-ups.

Nika came into this past season having only been playing basketball for about 4-5 years, understanding that she needed to improve her shooting and most importantly with a hunger to grow and a desire to do that as a Husky. She adjusted from being foul prone early on to being a tenacious disruptive defender. She challenged herself offensively to become a threat from outside and to take the ball into the paint. I would guess she knows she needs to continue to step her offensive game up and I have no doubt that that is exactly what she will focus on between now and the next time we see her in a Husky uniform. Nika is still becoming the player she will eventually be, with a great many strengths already and a very high ceiling. I think Geno sees and believes this as well and doesn't expect to see her sitting on the bench next season waiting to be called upon to play mop up minutes.
 
#12in21 said:
As early this season many here seem to discount what Nika brings to this team. It was no coincidence that both the team defensive intensity and offensive flow gelled when Nika became a regular starter. Several times Geno has said as much and shown it by keeping her in the lineup. Going into the tournament the team was playing it's best team ball, having built steadily as a cohesive unit with great communication and movement since the Arkansas loss.

Many have pointed out that Paige should be the point guard going forward. I don't argue that having her play with the ball in her hands a good amount of the time isn't an advantage for our squad but I don't believe that equates to her needing to run the point. I think her strength in coming around a screen or moving to a open spot and getting a quick feed for a quality shot are equally as significant. I would argue that Geno wants her to do both. With Azzi coming in we fill a need of another deadeye three point threat. Depending on matchups, because we will also have great options at 4 and 5, I think Nika at the point with Paige, Crstyn and Azzi would present a tough matchup for opponents, having to guard against both quick high percentage threes and equally as efficient slashes and pull-ups.

Nika came into this past season having only been playing basketball for about 4-5 years, understanding that she needed to improve her shooting and most importantly with a hunger to grow and a desire to do that as a Husky. She adjusted from being foul prone early on to being a tenacious disruptive defender. She challenged herself offensively to become a threat from outside and to take the ball into the paint. I would guess she knows she needs to continue to step her offensive game up and I have no doubt that that is exactly what she will focus on between now and the next time we see her in a Husky uniform. Nika is still becoming the player she will eventually be, with a great many strengths already and a very high ceiling. I think Geno sees and believes this as well and doesn't expect to see her sitting on the bench next season waiting to be called upon to play mop up minutes.
Expand ...
you're absolutely right on. BYers don't appreciate nika's key contribution, i guess, because they never seem to mention it: her intensity, focus, and great dynamism. they are vital to this team. it is the spark it needs to get its abundance of talent running in sync. Because of this alone, she is integral to the team's success.
 
Evina Paige Ono Christin Nika start.

Then Edwards and Fudd come off the bench in dual 6th person roles. How does any other team deal with that?

this team also has a very good passer in Makarut that should be worked back into the rotation.
There should be more minutes next year assuming a month of basketball isn’t cancelled due to Covid for young players to audition for roles.
Coaches have got to make a bigger commitment to giving players more playing time in blow out wins to ready them for significant roles in sweet 16 and beyond due to foul trouble, injuries or off shooting nights.
 
In hockey speak, we'll have 3 solid lines, nearly interchangeable. Don't sleep on Amari and Caroline Ducharme. Also, Piath runs the floor very well. She's a big body, with decent low post moves. A true 5.
 
Lets think for a minute and dream and think how good UConn could be next season. Piath aquires the skills Geno is looking for and can play the post along with Olivia and Amari. Thats 3 6'5 kids with skills. If that happens we dont have much to worry about when it comes to foul trouble. Next we have Edwards another big body with skills. Now we bring in the ariel attack by adding Caroline and a sharp shooter in Azzi Fudd. Add Saylor another great shooter and yeah UConn is loaded. Be patient because all these freshman need to be developed and need to learn to play Geno College BB. We're gonna be really good and so are alot of other teams.
 
I have no idea who is going to start or how the minutes will be distributed...and neither does anyone else...other than Paige (of course)...The new personnel may very well dictate a change of style of play...which make the question of minutes distribution even more problematic.

What we do know is this: amishboy's knock on Christyn is ridiculous. She was our most consistent threat all tourney.

Not so ridiculous re: Ono...She had a disappointing final game...If she had delivered her average effort, we might have prevailed...but no coach judges a player from one bad game, certainly Geno. But the does have height in next year's freshman class...and a competitive kid...For all positions on the team; you're going to have to win your minutes and then make good use of them.

Fudd's 3-point shooting is needed; she will play.

Surely Nika and Aalyiah will play

I predict (we'll know soon enough) that Westbrook will be back...her steadiness is required;
she hasn't been close to right, all season...a summer of rehab and strengthening may bring her back to close to her top form.

For the rest, its a crap shoot...I'm sure even the coaches have no idea both how to best make use of everyone, nor a possible distribution of minutes...I bet its going to be a subject of considerable debate (all summer)...Can you imagine practices...perhaps two top-ten teams going at one another.
 
Last edited:
.-.
PacoSwede said:
you're absolutely right on. BYers don't appreciate nika's key contribution, i guess, because they never seem to mention it: her intensity, focus, and great dynamism. they are vital to this team. it is the spark it needs to get its abundance of talent running in sync. Because of this alone, she is integral to the team's success.
Expand ...
True but she needs to become a scoring threat so that opponents have to defend everyone. She is capable of making 3s but if she drives to the basket she isn't a threat. This is probably why Azzi will be the on the floor during any crunch time.
I hope Nika makes a tremendous sophomore jump, much like she had after the infamous Butler game.
 
Lots of possibilities. IMO, the only definite starters are Paige and CW. I see ONO, AE, Azzi, Nika and Evina filling the other three spots. Depends on WNBA (Evina), health and progress over the summer.
 
Centerstream said:
True but she needs to become a scoring threat so that opponents have to defend everyone. She is capable of making 3s but if she drives to the basket she isn't a threat. This is probably why Azzi will be the on the floor during any crunch time.
I hope Nika makes a tremendous sophomore jump, much like she had after the infamous Butler game.
Expand ...
Wrong..when she drives to the basket she then kicks the ball out to an open teammate
 
browns said:
Wrong..when she drives to the basket she then kicks the ball out to an open teammate
Expand ...
That may be true but what I remember about her drives was, more often than not, that she was reckless and didn't have a plan, often ending up trapped and turning the ball over. I think it is referred to as reckless abandon.
 
.-.
from what I read many are assuming that everyone returns. hopefully so but I don't think that that is going to happen. to many players next year and a bunch of very good ones. wished that we had a MoJeff coming in to play some defense.
 
Can we get an experienced Big, as a transfer in?
And who's to be the #2 seed to us in Bridgeport ? Not Baylor ...(?)
 
amishboy said:
Unless they improve at least 20%, I say Liv and Christyn better get ready to come off the bench. In three years, they’ve plainly demonstrated they’re not “ready for prime time” players.

The starters will be Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, Azzi, and Aubrey/Mir/Caroline/Evina.
Expand ...
SMH Christyn finally makes real progress toward fulfilling her number one potential and you want to bench her!
 
Centerstream said:
That may be true but what I remember about her drives was, more often than not, that she was reckless and didn't have a plan, often ending up trapped and turning the ball over. I think it is referred to as reckless abandon.
Expand ...
she's capable of improving .... i was wait-and-see concerning her prospects pre-season; tapes and stats from overseas didn't show much promise as a perimeter threat ... early season wasn't encouraging either ... but then someone posted (or it was reported) that she was doing extra long distance shooting practice (with shea, i think) and by february she'd become reliable, if not extremely confident ... there was a question about her ability to adjust to american style of defending, but she did

nika's got what it takes to refine her game further. geno sees it, i think

i'm excited to discover how much more she can accomplish. she's no paige, but now i think she's a potential standout on any other team.
 
Dokey said:
Maybe Caroline, Aubrey is a spot player, Mir unlikely, but Evina would probably start. That lineup is short.

It’s an auto correct world. We self correct when reading posts.
Expand ...
Wow this may be your first post without telling us Anna should start or be the star
 
.-.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,510
Messages
4,579,683
Members
10,488
Latest member
Djw06001


Top Bottom