Official 25-26 Starters Thread

[Bone Dog]

Sorry, Blanca is FROM Ecuador. But isnt the Pro league in Italy a lot like the pro league in Egypt that Jana played in?

Sorry, I thought you meant she'd only played in Ecuador and were implying that it is not as competitive as American high school ball. My point was that playing in a pro league in Italy against a lot of current WNBA players is actually much more competitive than American high school ball.

As far as I know from indirect accounts, the pro league in Egypt is not as competitive as the European leagues. Here, too, I take it you mean to imply that she'll be as unprepared for D1 college ball as Jana was. I think this is probably a mistake. You may want to watch some of her videos from Italy to see by how much.

 

[Zonepress]

KK, in the Iowa game and also in the SDS game was instrumental in the win and as Geno said " changed the game when she came in". My point here is that it's her intensity and defense and disruptiveness that is her hallmark, not directing the offense as a true PG. My comment about " there's a reason they're not starting" was not a negative at all, actually a positive for them providing Geno with something no one else has, two very good college players, who coming in off the bench, make UConn a unique challenge for any opponent. Read it again, please

Sure but I could not let your comments stand that KK does not have a high basketball IQ

 

[Vowelguy]

Sorry, I thought you meant she'd only played in Ecuador and were implying that it is not as competitive as American high school ball. My point was that playing in a pro league in Italy against a lot of current WNBA players is actually much more competitive than American high school ball.

As far as I know from indirect accounts, the pro league in Egypt is not as competitive as the European leagues. Here, too, I take it you mean to imply that she'll be as unprepared for D1 college ball as Jana was. I think this is probably a mistake. You may want to watch some of her videos from Italy to see by how much.

who are some of the W players in that league?

 

[Bone Dog]

who are some of the W players in that league?

Dorka, Sara Scalia to name just two.

 

[oldhusky]

Agree with this 100%.

KK: There is no one on the team who will be better at running it, and her elite defense will make KK a complete demon from the jump. I hope she continues to work on her 3 point shooting. People who want to point to that as a weakness are technically correct that her % is not great for the season (22%, actually lower than Jana), but she was much better the 2nd half AFTER Geno had that chat with her and basically said "use your energy and aggression driving more to the basket opening up opportunities either for you to score, or to dish to an open teammate". I still think sometimes she plays out of control, but you can't fault her effort.

Azzi: 2 years ago she started the season absolutely on fire (in a season Paige was out) and was being talked about as a possible NPOY candidate early on before her injury. Azzi has a COMPLETE game on both sides of the floor - and is much more than an elite 3 point shooter. I pray that she has a full season of 100% health and shows the country just how good we all know she can be...

Blanca: Having seen video of her, I believe she is one of the elite recruits of the class. I totally get that Geno doesn't like starting freshmen, but much like Sarah, I think Blanca will be too good to NOT start her. BUT if it's close, I could totally see Ash starting here...

Sarah: What more can you say about her? I knew she'd be good. I had no idea she'd be this good. (Sadly) with no Juju next season, I expect Azzi, Sarah, Hidalgo, Booker... to be among the folks being discussed early on as NPOY candidates. Can you imagine Sarah with a sophomore leap? The rest of WCBB should be worried about that LOL.

Center Transfer: If it's not Serah, I think Geno will go after another high quality center. Jana has shown she's just not quite ready. I do believe she has the talent and drive to be great, but it's a big ask for a freshman center to be great out the gate, especially after coming back from an injury. I think (obviously just IMHO) Geno has been a little too hard on her in yanking her out of games, and not putting her back in after dumb plays, but he knows what he's doing. Still, I'm not convinced, even with a sophomore leap, that Jana will start, unless he gets no one in the portal.

I hope Morgan comes back 100%. If so, we know what we will get from her, Ash, and Ice. I hope that Allie has a serious sophomore leap because as the #7 recruit out of HS, she was underwhelming this season. I also hope Jana has a nice sophomore leap. Then there are the question marks - Qadence, Ayanna, Carol, Gandy and Kelis.

Ayanna has never been healthy, but Carol has already seen time on the floor. I pray for both of them that they have great seasons - they deserve some good luck health-wise! I think Gandy will be a project. I don't see her as having AA potential, but will she be closer to Tina Charles or Heather Buck? Honestly I'd be thrilled if she was anywhere near close to ONO. Kelis is not highly ranked (top 30 for the most part), but has done well at AAU events. Qadence - she seems to have had no sophomore leap, and still is relegated to the end of the bench with minutes at the end of games. Not sure I see that changing next season.

I also would not be surprised to see Geno go after a backup PG. Not one he expects to start, but one who can backup KK. not sure Kelis will be ready for 15 MPG as the primary backup. Perhaps he uses Azzi in that role. Or even Morgan.

UConn loses a ton. Paige, Cait, Aubrey - but they also have a lot coming back, and another terrific freshman coming in. Go UConn!

Agree with most of this excellent analysis. As for Jana I think she sometimes gets a short hook too. As a team Uconn has very good decision making, good shot selection, passing, and relatively few mistakes like turnovers or dumb personal fouls. Geno uses playing time as his leverage to reduce those mistakes, which I understand up to a point.

Where I might question Geno would be if he sat a superior player who is more mistake prone, in favor of someone who does little to help the team but makes sound decisions. At times I think he might do that, the best player overall is not always the one who makes the fewest mistakes or has the best basketball IQ, if the talent differential is big enough.

Some people have great instincts and some don't, and Jana until this year played a different style of basketball, against vastly different competition, and this is the first time she has been asked to play like a traditional low post C. As much as I cringe with some of those mistakes, IMO she needs to be allowed to play thru more of those than Geno seems to accept with his quick hooks.

 

[mudblood]

I've seen other threads where she was referred to as "Carol" and was annoyed as I thought it was a dumb shortening of the name she actually has.

Then I heard or saw a quote recently where Geno called her Carol. So I had to accept that it is indeed a name used and presumably approved by Ducharme.

True. Let's put this one to bed by just looking at Geno's postgame after the recent game in which Carol played - last week, first round...

 

[Aluminny69]

I found the Australian podcaster, Back2 Sports, latest video interesting. ( Actually, I like most of his videos.) It is divided into three parts, with one part devoted to Azzi's return, and possible lineups for next year. The other two segments are also interesting.

 

[uconnfan68]

I found the Australian podcaster, Back2 Sports, latest video interesting. ( Actually, I like most of his videos.) It is divided into three parts, with one part devoted to Azzi's return, and possible lineups for next year. The other two segments are also interesting.

I find it hard to believe he couldn't figure out the Marisa Mosely was a UConn assistant coach.

 

[Zarathustra]

who are some of the W players in that league?

Dorka J. plays in the same league and there have
been video Highlights posted of Blanca vs Dorka in
a number of games. I believe that Diamond Miller,
previously at the University of Maryland and the LYNX of the WNBA
also played against Blanca. Dorka (LYNX) and Diamond (LYNX) were
on the WNBA ALL ROOKIE team. My guess is that with
a little research a fair number of WNBA players could
be identified throughout the Italian League. The
Egyptian league is more of a "club league". I think of it like the
competition that NIKA and her sister, Hana, played
against in the (age group) games in Croatia. Also, the FIBA African
"Championships" are "national" teams playing against each other
in the "AFRICIAN" Zone of FIBA. So literally and figuratively speaking,
that level of competition is not "in the same league" as the
Italian League. To make things more complicate, the European
national teams in FIBA move UP and DOWN in divisions ("A",
"B" and "C"). You have to know what "division" the team is
playing in to appreciate the level/quality of play. As an example,
I believe that the Croatian FIBA national team (an age group determined team)
has moved UP in ranking since "THE BIG O", Olivia Vukosa has been playing with
her Croatian teammates. One of her Croatian teammates has recently committed
to Stanford (I believe: Pilac?).

 

[BobbyJ]

Dorka J. plays in the same league and there have
been video Highlights posted of Blanca vs Dorka in
a number of games. I believe that Diamond Miller,
previously at the University of Maryland and the LYNX of the WNBA
also played against Blanca. Dorka (LYNX) and Diamond (LYNX) were
on the WNBA ALL ROOKIE team. My guess is that with
a little research a fair number of WNBA players could
be identified throughout the Italian League. The
Egyptian league is more of a "club league". I think of it like the
competition that NIKA and her sister, Hana, played
against in the (age group) games in Croatia. Also, the FIBA African
"Championships" are "national" teams playing against each other
in the "AFRICIAN" Zone of FIBA. So literally and figuratively speaking,
that level of competition is not "in the same league" as the
Italian League. To make things more complicate, the European
national teams in FIBA move UP and DOWN in divisions ("A",
"B" and "C"). You have to know what "division" the team is
playing in to appreciate the level/quality of play. As an example,
I believe that the Croatian FIBA national team (an age group determined team)
has moved UP in ranking since "THE BIG O", Olivia Vukosa has been playing with
her Croatian teammates. One of her Croatian teammates has recently committed
to Stanford (I believe: Pilac?).

Lena Bilic, 6-3 wing going to UCLA.

 

[Longtime fan]

Jana is not close to starting, in my view. And by that, I don't mean what she is doing now ( she does " start."). By "starting" I mean; she gets most of the court time at the post position (30 minutes, eg?) and is regular , dependable contributor. I hope she improves to that level, but she isn't there yet.

If she is as good as " advertised" she will start, just as Sarah did. They will be the two forwards, and the Wisconsin transfer ( if it occurs) will start at the post. ICE and Caroline and Morgan will back-up the forward spots. ASH will play anywhere for 30 minutes. AZZI will start at shooting guard and KK or the new kid at point. Everyone else will fill in. The numbers are huge.

 

[David54]

Recently saw a ranking of international players 25.
Bilic was first but blanc was 2 or 3 and makeer was behind her at 3 or 4.
I’ve been unsuccessful in finding this list doing google search but will edit a link if I do find it.

 

[jabstep]

KK,Azzi,Sara,Serah,Blanca
Ash- 6th woman
The rest will fight for time

 

[oldhusky]

I think one thing about Paige leaving that is underestimated, is how much her amazing versatility allowed Geno to generally put the other 4 best players on the floor with her. Her being exceptional at 1-4 solved a lot of problems. She was largely a 3 this year and rebounds and blocks shots fine for a 3, but that is not the same for the other "guards".

Ashlynn or Azzi at the 3 is completely different. They are both natural 2's and either at the 3 is far less effective than at the 2. Ashlynn rebounds at a rate that would be fine for a 2, but weak for a 3, and Azzi would not be an above average rebounder if she was playing the point, and would be severely weak as a 3. Both players are also significantly weaker trying to play the point, they are 2's pure and simple.

Ashlynn could be the third best player on the team and not start as long as Azzi is ahead of her on the depth chart at the 2. KK, although she played off the ball her first year, is a natural 1 and other than Sarah and Azzi she has the easiest path to a starting role largely by default.

Blanca looks like a 3 to me and I hope she is ready to be our 3 from day one. I know some would like to play her at the 4 and Ashlynn at the 3, but I have not seen enough rebounding in Blanca's stats or videos to suggest that is a strength for her, so I see that combo as weak on the boards and undersized at the 3 and 4, not just one position. If Blanca was out I could see Ashlynn playing some at the 3, vs, say the option of Morgan or even Allie, but more on a spot than regular basis.

So I have KK starting over Ashlynn even though I think Ashlynn is the better overall player, because KK would be at her best position where she has little competition, and Ashlynn has Azzi at her natural position and a new player likely star player coming in at her next best position.

Morgan might not have big time star potential, but if she turns out to be good enough to be in the regular rotation, she could like Paige provide 1-4 versatility (albeit at a different level) and reduce the need to use the other players outside of their natural position. I hope that happens and then Ashlynn and Morgan become the first guard and wing options off the bench, with Ice, Ayanna and Gandy competing for backup big minutes with Jana added to that group if we got Williams to start.

 

[Bone Dog]

Morgan might not have big time star potential, but if she turns out to be good enough to be in the regular rotation, she could like Paige provide 1-4 versatility (albeit at a different level) and reduce the need to use the other players outside of their natural position. I hope that happens and then Ashlynn and Morgan become the first guard and wing options off the bench,

I like your thinking here, especially about the question of rebounding. But I may be more optimistic about Morgan’s possible contribution in this area and elsewhere. Geno seemed to have great confidence in her before the injury, even though her stats didn’t leap off the page. He must have been seeing something in practices that hadn’t yet fully expressed itself during games.

On rebounding, the team averaged 36/g with about half coming from Sarah and the platoon of Ice and Jana. The rest came from the guards, with Paige getting ~4.5 and the 4-headed monster of Azzi Kaitlyn Kk and Ash combining for ~9. Morgan was good for 2.5 in her 13 minutes per game. If she plays 20 mins next season she might account for the rebounds Paige would have gotten. This is without taking account of Blanca or any new bigs who arrive.

I wonder what Geno imagines for Morgan and how she might contribute next season. She was a Swiss-army-knife type in high school who mainly worked from the PG position but who did much more. Perhaps he sees her in the mold of Evina but taller, who filled many roles for UConn. She is not nearly as confident or skilled a scorer as Evina was. I wonder if we’ll see any growth in this area next season.

I also share your question about Blanca as a rebounder. She seems like a scrappy defender and that might translate into rebounding numbers. But this is not nearly clear yet. If Sarah Blanca and the Big platoon combine for ~24/g, Geno will need another ~12 from everyone else. One new source, if she’s healthy enough to mix it up in the paint, is Caroline. In her first two seasons, she averaged 3.7 rebounds and 8.5 points per game. Could she fill the gap next season?

 

[Molisanos]

In this highlight
Lorena Cubaj - 1999 - (Atlanta Dream) Kuier Awak - 2001 -2nd overall draft pick by Dallas (second action Blanca scores over her) Matilde Villa - 2004 - (3rd round pick by Atlanta) Amanda Zahui - 1993 - (2nd overall draft pick by Tulsa) Ivana Djokic (New York Liberty) Dorka Juhazs -1999 - (New York Liberty) Caitlin Bickle - 2000 - (Connecticut) and against a lot of player with international experience. She finished the regular season with 10.7 ppg and her team finished in 3rd position the regular season. The fact that Blanca is not ranked in most of the rankings is because she's like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, she is not European and so she is not included in the euro rankings, she's not Italian and so she's not inserted in their rankings and Ecuador doesn't have international exposure... Not Jana or Nika had not even close the level of competition that Blanca had in the last 5 seasons...

 

[DRBackup]

I don’t mind this thread. I will take a shot at it. I won’t speculate on players that aren’t here though.

PG KK Arnold
SG Azzi Fudd
SF Blanca Quinonez
PF Sarah Strong
C Ice Brady

Bench rotation:
Shade
Jana
Fisher
Cheli

Seems odd that Jana is starting as a redshirt freshman, but won't start with another year of experience.

 

[ERWUC65]

Seems odd that Jana is starting as a redshirt freshman, but won't start with another year of experience.

I agree, with the expectation she will be tutored this summer, maybe a BIG camp, and much more confident with the injury long behind her. And, she, along with Gandy are the only true 5's, not sure here about Ayanna?

 

[Rowdy831]

Sarah can play the post but is not a post player and it wouldn't be fair to her to stick her in a position that isn't her wheelhouse. Azzi and KK are pretty sure bets and Jana will have huge growth in her second year and become a force. It would be nice if Uconn hired someone that can teach post players how to play post but I don't expect that to happen.

In the end they will 12 players all capable of taking the team to the FF like they always do barring injury.

 

[EricLA]

In this highlight
Lorena Cubaj - 1999 - (Atlanta Dream) Kuier Awak - 2001 -2nd overall draft pick by Dallas (second action Blanca scores over her) Matilde Villa - 2004 - (3rd round pick by Atlanta) Amanda Zahui - 1993 - (2nd overall draft pick by Tulsa) Ivana Djokic (New York Liberty) Dorka Juhazs -1999 - (New York Liberty) Caitlin Bickle - 2000 - (Connecticut) and against a lot of player with international experience. She finished the regular season with 10.7 ppg and her team finished in 3rd position the regular season. The fact that Blanca is not ranked in most of the rankings is because she's like Tom Hanks in The Terminal, she is not European and so she is not included in the euro rankings, she's not Italian and so she's not inserted in their rankings and Ecuador doesn't have international exposure... Not Jana or Nika had not even close the level of competition that Blanca had in the last 5 seasons...

My goodness - She literally can do everything. Great handle, great moves blowing by players, can use both her right and left hands, has a 3 point shot, a nice mid range stop and pop, plays great defense, dishes nice assists, and is shot blocker. You'd think she's 25, but no, she's only a teenager.

I get that those were her highlight plays, but it's hard not to think she's going to be special. Some have said she reminds them of Pheesa... for me, I think she reminds me of a more in control Joyce Edwards (gasp). Yep - the #2/3 player behind Sarah for SC.

Reports say she's 6'1". She looks taller, but all i can see are snips of her play, so maybe it's the fact that her wingspan looks to be immense that makes her seem taller...

 

[BobbyJ]

My goodness - She literally can do everything. Great handle, great moves blowing by players, can use both her right and left hands, has a 3 point shot, a nice mid range stop and pop, plays great defense, dishes nice assists, and is shot blocker. You'd think she's 25, but no, she's only a teenager.

I get that those were her highlight plays, but it's hard not to think she's going to be special. Some have said she reminds them of Pheesa... for me, I think she reminds me of a more in control Joyce Edwards (gasp). Yep - the #2/3 player behind Sarah for SC.

Reports say she's 6'1". She looks taller, but all i can see are snips of her play, so maybe it's the fact that her wingspan looks to be immense that makes her seem taller...

I agree completely with your first paragraph. But I see no comparison to Edwards. Apples and oranges, Quinonez is a pure wing/3 while Edwards is a 4 with no real perimeter game or open court passing/ballhandling skills yet. Edwards will be a very good inside player for SC and Quinonez should be a versatile in/out pairing with Strong. I’ll bet Auriemma can’t wait to get BQ in the gym.

 

[ConnMotors]

Am sorry but Jana is starting because of nessity. I honestly thought that she would be better after being a second year player. She has no shot and needs hand skills. But she is tall and that you can’t teach. If a good senior post arrives via the portal then that lady is going to start at the 5. KK will be the point. Azzi will be the 2. If Blanca is as good as advertised then she will start at the 3. While the silent assassin Sarah starts at the 4. Ash will get plenty of minutes but will be the 6th player of the year once again.

 

[Vowelguy]

Seems odd that Jana is starting as a redshirt freshman, but won't start with another year of experience.

KK and Ash are on line 1