Official 25-26 Starters Thread | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Official 25-26 Starters Thread

I'm just going to assume everyone's healthy and ready to go. Why bother assuming anything else, after all? I'm also going to distinguish November/December starters from January/February starters.

Nov/Dec Starters: Azzi, Sarah, Jana, KK, Ash
Small Lineup: Azzi, KK, Blanca, Sarah, Caroline
Interestingly, the small lineup is in some respects bigger than the starting lineup​

Jan/Feb Starters: Azzi, Sarah, Jana, KK, Caroline
Small Lineup: KK, Ash, Sarah, Blanca, Morgan

If Khamil or Serah come to Storrs, they may challenge Jana for her starting spot.

As for the rest of the roster, I suspect rather like this season, we'll see a large rotation that gradually contracts to 8 or 9 players. My guess is the rotation by the end of February will be Ash, Caroline, Ice and Morgan. But to be honest, the competition for the rotation is going to be intense and I wouldn't be surprised to see a) lots of experimentation through January and b) some situational variation even into March.
 
hoopsfan22 said:
KK, Azzi, Ashlynn, Sarah, Jana.
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I think Sarah and AZZI are guaranteed. I believe ICE is going to emerge in this year's NCAA tournament, and she might start as well. Hard to imagine ASH not on the floor. ..as a mature junior, who is proving herself as a Sophomore. KK is a logical choice unless Geno wants her as an, "energy insert on defense." That would leave the door open for the new freshman guard, who is supposed to be an " end to end" player. I don't see Cheli starting as a wing, because her season was cut short, and we really haven't seen enough of her. Allie hasn't shown much yet, and Q will remain a " development " player. I don't see an unknown, freshman wing from Ecuador starting. And I don't think Ducharme will be healthy enough to play ( Her getting zero minutes vs. South Dakota was telling ). Paterson won't start and nor will the BIG from the incoming class. And we are all forgetting " the portal." UCONN is interested ( or so we hear ) in a graduating senior from Wisconsin, who plays in the paint. If that link is made, she will start in the post.
 
I think everyone is disrespecting Ash.

I'd say KK, Ash, Azzi, and Sarah are the for sures. It's that 5 spot for me that is up in the air between Jana, Ice, and a mystery transfer.... I think it will be a true big since the wing spot will be a guard IMO.
 
DEpup said:
I think everyone is disrespecting Ash.

I'd say KK, Ash, Azzi, and Sarah are the for sures. It's that 5 spot for me that is up in the air between Jana, Ice, and a mystery transfer.... I think it will be a true big since the wing spot will be a guard IMO.
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I don’t think we are disrespecting Ash. I think some of us are married to a more conventional lineup. PG, SG, SF, etc. and to me Azzi and Ash are shooting guards. So in the shooting guard competition; who would you start? I went with Azzi.
 
Bone Dog said:
If Khamil or Serah come to Storrs, they may challenge Jana for her starting spot.
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who?

Oh I see that Pierre is leaving Vanderbilt.
I would be very very surprised if Geno had interest. If she doesn't want to play Shea, why would she be a fit with UConn? And just on a personal level, it would hurt even more if my mentor accepted one of my best players.

Geno has spoken disdainfully of players getting developed at place A and then leaving the coach/school that helped get them there. (I suspect he was at least partially referring to his pal Bruno & Morrow, but also more generally.)
 
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Longtime fan said:
I think Sarah and AZZI are guaranteed. I believe ICE is going to emerge in this year's NCAA tournament, and she might start as well. Hard to imagine ASH not on the floor. ..as a mature junior, who is proving herself as a Sophomore. KK is a logical choice unless Geno wants her as an, "energy insert on defense." That would leave the door open for the new freshman guard, who is supposed to be an " end to end" player. I don't see Cheli starting as a wing, because her season was cut short, and we really haven't seen enough of her. Allie hasn't shown much yet, and Q will remain a " development " player. I don't see an unknown, freshman wing from Ecuador starting. And I don't think Ducharme will be healthy enough to play ( Her getting zero minutes vs. South Dakota was telling ). Paterson won't start and nor will the BIG from the incoming class. And we are all forgetting " the portal." UCONN is interested ( or so we hear ) in a graduating senior from Wisconsin, who plays in the paint. If that link is made, she will start in the post.
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Blanca is only an unknown to you. She’s been playing against pro players, including WNBA players, in Europe for a few years
 
KK at the point
Azzi at the shooting guard
Sarah at whatever position you want to call it.
Transfer/Jana at the center
....wait for it

Caroline at the wing! I was at the Ark State game and was really impressed with how aggressive she was, not fearing mixing it up underneath, driving to the hoop and taking her normal shot. Her confidence seemed back "pre-injury". Probably wishful thinking on my part but I was always a sucker for a feel good movie.

Ash first off the bench, Blanca, Morgan, Ice. Kelis will have to spell KK but unlike CharlieBB, I think we would do well to keep an eye out for any PGs in the portal.
 
Now that Azzi has confirmed her return…

Geno will have the luxury of a possibly (5)+6 competitive-time rotation for his 40-minute mix-match starter-level barrage that can alternate between lineups that feature Two Bigs, small ball, Big Lineup (Sarah/Blanca + 2 Bigs&1), etc.
  • I also like EricLA’s starting lineup with Blanca; I would go with it if Blanca improves(?) on her outside shot or KK improves on hers; Azzi will be more closely guarded next year.
  • Kellis as second wave pg &2 &3 and Morgan’s status in the early tough OOC schedule complicates things.
Early tough OOC:
  • First: KK, Azzi, Caroline/Ash, Sarah, Big&1
  • Second (6-player): Kellis, Morgan/Allie &2, Caroline/Ash, Blanca, Big&1, Big&1
  • Third: Morgan/Allie, Q, Big&1, Gandy
Big East:
  • First: KK, Azzi, Caroline/Ash/Blanca, Sarah, Big&1
  • Second (6-player): Kellis, Morgan &2, 2 of Caroline/Ash/Blanca, Big&1, Big&1
  • Third: Allie, Q, Big&1, Gandy
Assumptions:
  • If Caroline reverts to her best form, she starts;
  • &0 The open 15th scholarship will be filled by a telegraphed-need 1-year “rental” Big; it seems Aubrey returning is implausible;
  • &1 Bigs: Jana, Ice, Big&0, Ayanna; Ayanna will probably be the last rotation big as she needs next year to develop;
  • &2 Kellis as the second-wave newcomer point guard will be a relative weakness in the early tough OOC; with Morgan’s walking-wounded timetable uncertain, Kellis will play pg alongside other guards with pg skills such as Azzi or Allie (shades of Maria Conlon) or Morgan when she returns. Geno will need to fast-track Kellis’ point guard &3 development for the team’s peak postseason form;
  • &3 Sue was not a point guard coming out of high school. On paper, Geno seems to intend to use Kellis as a point guard. For the next level, Kellis’ best position is probably point guard.
 
I think that to start next season we'll have: KK, Ash, Azzi, Sarah and Jana (or Serah if she comes to UConn).
By December the starting 5 will be: KK, Azzi, Sarah, Blanca and Jana (or Serah if she comes to UConn) with Ash being the first player of the bench. This is not because Ash is not performing but to have a taller team on the court.
Rotation from the bench (in order): Ash, CD, Jana (if Serah is at UConn), Morgan, Ice, Allie, Yana, Kelis, Gandy and Q.
 
I had Ice as a starter. But Jana has started all year. So, it makes sense that she could start next year.

Shade, Fisher, Ice/Jana (the non starter), and Cheli are the most likely to contribute off the bench imo. Maybe Allie can make a second year leap? With Paige gone, we could seek some additional shooting? It is really hard to forecast Ayanna anywhere. But I was excited about her because I thought we lacked athleticism and she could potentially help in a big way there.
 
Vowelguy said:
Oh I see that Pierre is leaving Vanderbilt.
I would be very very surprised if Geno had interest. If she doesn't want to play Shea, why would she be a fit with UConn? And just on a personal level, it would hurt even more if my mentor accepted one of my best players.

Geno has spoken disdainfully of players getting developed at place A and then leaving the coach/school that helped get them there. (I suspect he was at least partially referring to his pal Bruno & Morrow, but also more generally.)
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This would be true of almost every single transfer Geno has ever accepted. As for taking a protégé’s player, I don’t know if it’s ingratitude or something else motivating Khamil. She may well be looking for a better platform to launch herself into the W, in which case Shea herself may have recommended UConn to her.
 
Kk. Azzi, Ashlynn, Sara, and Jana, will be starting.

Idk if we will get a big from the portal, and if we do, it’s not a given they will start, i.e. Azura
 
Hayven said:
Kk. Azzi, Ashlynn, Sara, and Jana, will be starting.

Idk if we will get a big from the portal, and if we do, it’s not a given they will start, i.e. Azura
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I was almost over my angst from that season and here you go drudging all that frustration up again. Why not post the GIF of Arike making that shot....

I would hope Geno learned his lesson from that egregious mental lapse.....A starter who's name sounds like Sarah but is spelled differently should/would absolutely start (see Chen this year).

Now back to my local bar and try to drown my woes again....
 
meyers7 said:
Carol? WTF is Carol? We got a Ducharme, a CD, a CFD, a Caroline Ducharme or a Caroline. But ain't no Carol.

Agree though, not sure what you're gonna get from Ducharme. She's played a couple games, looked pretty good Sat, but then had to sit out yesterday. I could see her next season playing a couple games, then sitting out a week or two, then a couple games, etc. I hope I'm wrong.
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Geno calls her Carol. I tend to feel he is more qualified to determine whether that is an appropriate appellation than you.
 
HuskyNan said:
Blanca is only an unknown to you. She’s been playing against pro players, including WNBA players, in Europe for a few years
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Ya really looking forward to seeing her.
Really missed your advanced stats charts the past two games.
 
Stagnant said:
I don’t think we are disrespecting Ash. I think some of us are married to a more conventional lineup. PG, SG, SF, etc. and to me Azzi and Ash are shooting guards. So in the shooting guard competition; who would you start? I went with Azzi.
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Both. They are big enough to make it work. It's not like one of them is 5'8" or smaller.

When has Geno been married to a traditional line up? Right now we start 2 PGs, SG, SF, and a C for barely 2 minutes before going to a small line up with either 3 PGs/1SG or 2 SGs/2 PGs and a SF.

Come on people. Positionless Bball is here.
 
Geno's positionless basketball.:D

Without even considering transfers and freshmen, we have a nice group of guards, and front court players available next year, plus 3 stars who are versatile!

Guards: KK, Ash, Morgan, Allie, Q
Front Court: Jana, Ice, Ayanna
Stars: Sarah, Azzi, Caroline(healthy)

This group can be mixed an infinite number of ways, but key is everyone on the list is at worst a 'competent D1 rotation player'.

Traditional lineup: KK, Ash, Azzi, Sarah, Jana.
Tall lineup: Azzi, Caroline, Sarah, Ice, Jana
Power small ball: Morgan, Azzi, Sarah, Caroline, Allie.
Quick small ball: KK, Ash, Azzi, Morgan, Sarah.

If freshmen and transfers can crack the line up, even better!

To me what's great is how many fundamentally sound, versatile players we have...and all can score.

KK&Ash appear to be ready for stardom. Morgan showed amazing speed and quickness at 6'2". Allie has 'that shot'. If someone in the Ayana, Ice, Jana group can step up...we can be dangerous.
 
DefenseBB said:
KK at the point
Azzi at the shooting guard
Sarah at whatever position you want to call it.
Transfer/Jana at the center
....wait for it

Caroline at the wing! I was at the Ark State game and was really impressed with how aggressive she was, not fearing mixing it up underneath, driving to the hoop and taking her normal shot. Her confidence seemed back "pre-injury". Probably wishful thinking on my part but I was always a sucker for a feel good movie.

Ash first off the bench, Blanca, Morgan, Ice. Kelis will have to spell KK but unlike CharlieBB, I think we would do well to keep an eye out for any PGs in the portal.
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Caroline is my favorite player. An ideal wing. Good size, can handle a bit, can shoot threes, can rebound. Her next to Sarah seems like a lot of fun. I just don't think you can start the year starting her or playing big minutes. I hate to be that guy as nothing would make me happier. But I think coming off the bench, and being a 6th women and also a stabilizer is a good fit. Especially early on
So I think the starters will be KK, Azzi, Ash, Sarah, and Jana. I agree though, Ash is kind of a small wing. I just think she's really good, and deserves a crack at starting. Admittedly I don't know anything about the freshman. Last spring I wasn't sure if Sarah would start and she's been the second best player on the team. It seems ppl are really high on Bianca. She could very well be that type of impact player, which I'm actually not sure if it would move Jana or Ash to the bench.
 
EricLA said:
Sorry but you are wrong. Geno calls her Carol all the time. Take it up with him. ;)
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Nope. Never, ever heard him say that. Nor anyone, EVER. Except you. I suppose you think USC is S. Carolina too, huh?

You've been on here almost as long as me, you know I'm never wrong. :cool:
 
To be honest, I don't know if I am happy with 14 players, and maybe 15 if we get the girl from Wisconsin. It's not just 15 players, its 15 talented players. As far as a line-up, obviously Azzi, Sarah, Ash, KK, Jana. I won't talk about the other players because there is no way that anyone can predict what will happen in the next 8 months. I thought this discussion was early and annoying when it was starting in the summer, but this season is still going on, and the thought that this will go on all summer is crazy. LOL. With so much talent, we could go with 3 line-up that can really play. I certainly don't advocate what Kim Caldwell is doing, but Geno has a lot to figure out when September rolls around.
 
Bald Husky said:
To be honest, I don't know if I am happy with 14 players, and maybe 15 if we get the girl from Wisconsin. It's not just 15 players, its 15 talented players. As far as a line-up, obviously Azzi, Sarah, Ash, KK, Jana. I won't talk about the other players because there is no way that anyone can predict what will happen in the next 8 months. I thought this discussion was early and annoying when it was starting in the summer, but this season is still going on, and the thought that this will go on all summer is crazy. LOL. With so much talent, we could go with 3 line-up that can really play. I certainly don't advocate what Kim Caldwell is doing, but Geno has a lot to figure out when September rolls around.
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Hahaha! Geno said after last game, when asked about depth, that it’s such a nuisance. Assistant coaches are always yelling in his ear to get this kid or that kid in the game. The previous two seasons were peaceful by comparison because he had almost no one to sub. There were no hard decisions to make.
 
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