Paige back in a week!!! (merged)

[BBallF]

Why, BBallF? Ash is a healthy sophomore who has contributed a lot in a season and a half. She is much more likely to be there for the team down the stretch than Azzi, who continues to misfire even when she is playing.

I think you haven’t been watching the same games I have. Azzi hasn’t “misfired.” She hasn’t scored a ton, but her defense has been excellent, at least as good as what Ash is doing. I’m not sure what @BBallF is hoping for, but I’m hoping to see Azzi go off for 20+ pts. She has it in her and this may be the moment we get the full Azzi. And just a reminder, Azzi firing on all cylinders is significantly more formidable than Ash is right now.

I agree with Bone Dog. Azzi is that 3rd scorer who, if she gets beyond this tentativeness due to her injury, which is not an easy get, can take us to the Promised Land. She is one of the most pure shooters we have ever had, explosive, a great defender, smart as can be, has a great pull up, drive moves from both sides, has great body control, and is a clutch performer who can will her team to victory (Ole Miss).

I love Ash, but I don't see a fair comparison at this point. Having said that, Ash is more durable thus far and The deacon makes a solid point about the season stretch. So let's have our cake and eat it too. Azzi gets back to top form( she is physically stronger by the way this year) and Ash develops into an incredible 6th or 7th man( KK maybe as 6th) off the bench who can create instant offense, play great D, and bring total energy. Barring injury, this is a virtual certainty. There is a reason why Azzi started over Ash as soon as she could. She is that good. March is still 2 months away for the Big Dance but I am sure this is the game plan.

 

[Henry]

I live in NoVA and I'm going to the Georgetown game on Sat. I'll be taking Metro to get there. We're only expecting about 1" of snow Sat morning.

It doesn't take much to shut everything down here. Today was the 3rd day in a row with no school. From my yrs living in CT, with the same storm we had here, school would've been closed Mon, but probably only delayed Tues, and fully opened Wed.

 

[Vowelguy]

Hmm. I wonder who starts in her place. KK, Ash, or a dark horse Cheli. I know the logic says Ash and then KK from an experience point of view. But Paige technically plays the 3 so there is always the dark horse Cheli who could get the start since she has more size.

Nah. 75% Ash - 24% KK - 1% other

 

[Ozimoto]

I'll be coming to the game from just north of Baltimore. Depending on timing, one inch of snow could be the difference between the trip taking one to three hours to get there! Actually, the NWS Storm Prediction Center lists the chance of a severe storm as slight, but could change as we get closer to Saturday.

I am from the western part of Maryland originally from a small city named Frostburg. Sort of sums up what winters were like for me, (although the town was named for the founder, not the weather). Being in the mountains, we typically got several snow storms a winter usually ranging from six to 12 inches at a time with temperatures that kept snow around from December to late February so I grew up dealing with and driving in snowy conditions. I'm pretty confident in my ability to navigate, especially in my four wheel drive truck, as long as we don't have white out conditions or snow falling at a rate of more that an inch an hour. I'm not so sure about the "natives" who might see a significant snow storm once every couple of years. They either drive with their hazard lights on at five miles an hour and constantly get hung up on hills because the don't have enough momentum, or drive too fast for the conditions and end up skidding all over the place. The challenge is avoiding those folks. Sometimes it's just easier (and safer) to stay home.

 

[Bone Dog]

I'll be coming to the game from just north of Baltimore. Depending on timing, one inch of snow could be the difference between the trip taking one to three hours to get there! Actually, the NWS Storm Prediction Center lists the chance of a severe storm as slight, but could change as we get closer to Saturday.

I am from the western part of Maryland originally from a small city named Frostburg. Sort of sums up what winters were like for me, (although the town was named for the founder, not the weather). Being in the mountains, we typically got several snow storms a winter usually ranging from six to 12 inches at a time with temperatures that kept snow around from December to late February so I grew up dealing with and driving in snowy conditions. I'm pretty confident in my ability to navigate, especially in my four wheel drive truck, as long as we don't have white out conditions or snow falling at a rate of more that an inch an hour. I'm not so sure about the "natives" who might see a significant snow storm once every couple of years. They either drive with their hazard lights on at five miles an hour and constantly get hung up on hills because the don't have enough momentum, or drive too fast for the conditions and end up skidding all over the place. The challenge is avoiding those folks. Sometimes it's just easier (and safer) to stay home.

I grew up in northern New Jersey and did my college years in Annapolis and grad school in DC.

I learned to drive on snow and ice, and even took my driver’s license road test while it was snowing. Skidding is just another mode of getting from point A to point B for most kids from my neighborhood.

In Annapolis, there wasn’t much snow most years, but there would often be that one late storm that would dump a foot or so on the town. It would get piled up around campus and we’d bet on which heap would take the longest to melt.

In DC, snow tended to paralyze the city, and there was that one year when the Potomac froze and there was a shortage of heating oil. But the Metro ran well enough despite the snow In those days. But that was when it was new.

I used to use the library at GU and after one heavy snow I was walking across their campus, watching my feet to avoid ice, and I bumped into this tall fellow. I lifted my eyes and he just kept going. Turns out it was Patrick Ewing, and he had this look on his face as if to say, “Please don’t recognize me. I’m just trying to get to my dorm.” That weekend, the game that was supposed to be played at the Capitol Center had to be moved at the last minute to McDonough Arena (which is just the gym on campus) and the tickets I already had were good enough to get me and a buddy in. An amazing experience watching Patrick and the Hoyas in an intimate venue.

 

[Centerstream]

 

[Gus Mahler]

Allie and Q both suffer purely from a numbers issue.

Precisely! That raises the question: Will things be different next year.

 

[johnhelvete]

Precisely! That raises the question: Will things be different next year.

Might depend on a few decisions and if Geno goes after a player in the Portal, but Paige/Kaitlyn being gone will open a decent chunk of minutes. Add Aubrey hopefully to the mix this season, and whatever minutes are lost among the current players this season (with Aubrey's return) will also be available.

 

[Dugway]

We’ll see. But thank you doctor for your medical opinion.

He may be right, it may be all of January, who knows. Obviously, I don't know that, but if it were 'similar' to Azzi then it would be a good part of January anyway. Right now, I hope and believe that Paige will be back into the lineup within a week. My frame of reference for that 'week', is from an interview with Auriemma, but I admit that he has a bit of a reputation of soft selling these injuries.

Regardless, with or without Bueckers, the Huskies should win all of those Big East games, home or on the road! I REALLY hope that she is back, and firing on all cylinders, by February 6th. FWIW, we play the Lady Vol's, on the road, on Feb 6 and I would like to see us beat them like a drum on their home court!

 

[Skeets]

I grew up in northern New Jersey and did my college years in Annapolis and grad school in DC.

I learned to drive on snow and ice, and even took my driver’s license road test while it was snowing. Skidding is just another mode of getting from point A to point B for most kids from my neighborhood.

In Annapolis, there wasn’t much snow most years, but there would often be that one late storm that would dump a foot or so on the town. It would get piled up around campus and we’d bet on which heap would take the longest to melt.

In DC, snow tended to paralyze the city, and there was that one year when the Potomac froze and there was a shortage of heating oil. But the Metro ran well enough despite the snow In those days. But that was when it was new.

I used to use the library at GU and after one heavy snow I was walking across their campus, watching my feet to avoid ice, and I bumped into this tall fellow. I lifted my eyes and he just kept going. Turns out it was Patrick Ewing, and he had this look on his face as if to say, “Please don’t recognize me. I’m just trying to get to my dorm.” That weekend, the game that was supposed to be played at the Capitol Center had to be moved at the last minute to McDonough Arena (which is just the gym on campus) and the tickets I already had were good enough to get me and a buddy in. An amazing experience watching Patrick and the Hoyas in an intimate venue.

I was flying from Newark to Washington National (Now Reagan) on a $75 NY Air flight. While in line to get a boarding pass I looked up at the guy in front of me and said to myself: that is one huge human. Turned out it was Patrick Ewing who had just signed with the Knicks. Now ask yourself, why is a new millionaire on a $75 NY Air flight? Where did he sit? Unbelievable it was row 1. I have no clue how he managed to get in that seat. The leg room approaches zero.

 

[Longtime fan]

I agree with Bone Dog. Azzi is that 3rd scorer who, if she gets beyond this tentativeness due to her injury, which is not an easy get, can take us to the Promised Land. She is one of the most pure shooters we have ever had, explosive, a great defender, smart as can be, has a great pull up, drive moves from both sides, has great body control, and is a clutch performer who can will her team to victory (Ole Miss).

I love Ash, but I don't see a fair comparison at this point. Having said that, Ash is more durable thus far and The deacon makes a solid point about the season stretch. So let's have our cake and eat it too. Azzi gets back to top form( she is physically stronger by the way this year) and Ash develops into an incredible 6th or 7th man( KK maybe as 6th) off the bench who can create instant offense, play great D, and bring total energy. Barring injury, this is a virtual certainty. There is a reason why Azzi started over Ash as soon as she could. She is that good. March is still 2 months away for the Big Dance but I am sure this is the game plan.

A fully functioning AZZI is at Paige's level. ASH isn't there yet, but she is better than you think.

 

[BBallF]

A fully functioning AZZI is at Paige's level. ASH isn't there yet, but she is better than you think.

See now there are nuances here. First of all, a 100% Paige vs. a 100% Azzi is not even. Paige is the better player. Just remember the last quarter and overtimes against NC State in the Elite 8. Secondly, I don't think I ever quantified how good I thought Ash was. I only compared her to Azzi. In any event, the game plan is for Azzi to become fully rehabilitated, fully comfortable, fully back in game shape. I thought it was really intuitive how Geno pulled Azzi so quickly last game, let her watch and get her second wind and then put her back in. She is the key as far as I am concerned with Sarah and Paige also healthy. We need her for #12.

 

[Bone Dog]

See now there are nuances here. First of all, a 100% Paige vs. a 100% Azzi is not even. Paige is the better player. Just remember the last quarter and overtimes against NC State in the Elite 8. Secondly, I don't think I ever quantified how good I thought Ash was. I only compared her to Azzi. In any event, the game plan is for Azzi to become fully rehabilitated, fully comfortable, fully back in game shape. I thought it was really intuitive how Geno pulled Azzi so quickly last game, let her watch and get her second wind and then put her back in. She is the key as far as I am concerned with Sarah and Paige also healthy. We need her for #12.

I agree that there are nuances to be observed here. But I’m not sure you’ve exactly captured all of them here. In my view, Azzi is as skilled a player as Paige, though perhaps not quite as versatile. That is, I don’t see Azzi filling in as power forward for a season. But in most other senses, Azzi is Paige’s equal. In most… but not in one important sense: Paige is more of a leader than Azzi is. This has been true from the beginning of their friendship. In a one-v-one game, they’d probably play to a draw ending up exhausted. Paige simply seems to know how to wield the team as a weapon better than Azzi does. And perhaps her court vision is slightly better -- this is what teammates always gush about with Paige, that she anticipates the action better than anyone. If Azzi stays for one more season after Paige turns pro, she’ll have an opportunity to develop this aspect of her game, and I’d love to see it.

 

[kjkj3]

I'll be coming to the game from just north of Baltimore. Depending on timing, one inch of snow could be the difference between the trip taking one to three hours to get there! Actually, the NWS Storm Prediction Center lists the chance of a severe storm as slight, but could change as we get closer to Saturday.

I am from the western part of Maryland originally from a small city named Frostburg. Sort of sums up what winters were like for me, (although the town was named for the founder, not the weather). Being in the mountains, we typically got several snow storms a winter usually ranging from six to 12 inches at a time with temperatures that kept snow around from December to late February so I grew up dealing with and driving in snowy conditions. I'm pretty confident in my ability to navigate, especially in my four wheel drive truck, as long as we don't have white out conditions or snow falling at a rate of more that an inch an hour. I'm not so sure about the "natives" who might see a significant snow storm once every couple of years. They either drive with their hazard lights on at five miles an hour and constantly get hung up on hills because the don't have enough momentum, or drive too fast for the conditions and end up skidding all over the place. The challenge is avoiding those folks. Sometimes it's just easier (and safer) to stay home.

That sounds like the non-natives in CT or the young kids with their “muscle cars” (hah!) that they don’t know how to drive in good weather, never if mind snow!

 

[HuskyNan]

See now there are nuances here. First of all, a 100% Paige vs. a 100% Azzi is not even. Paige is the better player. Just remember the last quarter and overtimes against NC State in the Elite 8. Secondly, I don't think I ever quantified how good I thought Ash was. I only compared her to Azzi. In any event, the game plan is for Azzi to become fully rehabilitated, fully comfortable, fully back in game shape. I thought it was really intuitive how Geno pulled Azzi so quickly last game, let her watch and get her second wind and then put her back in. She is the key as far as I am concerned with Sarah and Paige also healthy. We need her for #12.

You can't compare performances that way. Did Paige get more points, and more opportunities, because NC State couldn't defend her as closely with Azzi and Christyn on the court? Or is she just "better"? We'll never know the answer to that.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

There is one answer to the question and I'll bet 90% of Boneyarders know thhe right answer.

 

[The deacon]

I think you haven’t been watching the same games I have. Azzi hasn’t “misfired.” She hasn’t scored a ton, but her defense has been excellent, at least as good as what Ash is doing. I’m not sure what @BBallF is hoping for, but I’m hoping to see Azzi go off for 20+ pts. She has it in her and this may be the moment we get the full Azzi. And just a reminder, Azzi firing on all cylinders is significantly more formidable than Ash is right now.

A fair response, except that Azzi's 31 percent three-point shooting and 38 percent overall shooting before Wednesday evening's game might be judged as 'misfiring' on many pundits' scorecards.

As for her defense, it is solid, although I believe not quite at the excellent level. And I've been watching all the games, my friend...

Anyway, it was fun to see Azzi 'fire' quite well that evening, and I know we both hope she continues to do so at a quality level when they play better teams... Xavier was embarrassingly poor.

 

[Bone Dog]

You can't compare performances that way. Did Paige get more points, and more opportunities, because NC State couldn't defend her as closely with Azzi and Christyn on the court? Or is she just "better"? We'll never know the answer to that.


View attachment 106140

It’s very telling that no one got more minutes in that game than Azzi. That’s a very revealing stat for trying to see who Geno values.

 

[HuskyNan]

There is one answer to the question and I'll bet 90% of Boneyarders know thhe right answer.

In the Xavier postgame presser, Geno said Azzi can do everything that Paige can do. That's what my eyes tell me, too.

 

[BBallF]

You can't compare performances that way. Did Paige get more points, and more opportunities, because NC State couldn't defend her as closely with Azzi and Christyn on the court? Or is she just "better"? We'll never know the answer to that.


View attachment 106140

Perhaps but Paige took that game over in a way that was Taurasi-esque. It was one of the greatest performances ever in women's basketball. It was her taking the ball up time after time, making moves, shooting, scoring and not missing in the vital moments. On that stage, she was magnificent. Could Azzi have a performance like that? I agree that it is two ships passing in the night and that we will never truly know except in retrospect many years from now but I think most talking heads would rank Paige as the superior all -around player this year. Look at what Paige did last year playing the 4 position so well. It was incredible, Hers is a great talent. Aziz's is also. I think we are all starting to see it once again. People forget. She made 23 points look effortless on Wednesday. If you were not being regularly told how many points she had during the game you would never have guessed it. The same is true for Sarah. It is a hallmark of greatness. As I said, if we have Sarah, Paige, and Azzi in top form, and these other cylinders firing, like KK, now Allie, maybe Morgan, maybe Aubrey, with even half a cylinder from Jana and Ice each, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with in April, which is an understatement.

 

[BBallF]

I agree that there are nuances to be observed here. But I’m not sure you’ve exactly captured all of them here. In my view, Azzi is as skilled a player as Paige, though perhaps not quite as versatile. That is, I don’t see Azzi filling in as power forward for a season. But in most other senses, Azzi is Paige’s equal. In most… but not in one important sense: Paige is more of a leader than Azzi is. This has been true from the beginning of their friendship. In a one-v-one game, they’d probably play to a draw ending up exhausted. Paige simply seems to know how to wield the team as a weapon better than Azzi does. And perhaps her court vision is slightly better -- this is what teammates always gush about with Paige, that she anticipates the action better than anyone. If Azzi stays for one more season after Paige turns pro, she’ll have an opportunity to develop this aspect of her game, and I’d love to see it.

I agree with everything you say here. I didn't try to be all inclusive but whenever I see Paige play close up, I watch her eyes and I watch her on defense. She anticipates the second pass. It's remarkable. She also has vision with the ball which is exceptional. I think we have not yet seen the new Azzi in top form yet. She is stronger than 2 years ago. She hasn't shot the pull up much this year. I theorize because it is the most physical of all shots to take and is the last bastion of a residual tentativeness from her injury. If she puts together a strong game against the Hoyas I will be greatly delighted and like I said, she is the key to April and winning the last game we play this year.

 

[Tonyc]

Let me say this. Having Paige Sarah and Azzi at full strength and with the development of Ash Allie Morgan Jana Ice and KK we are coming along just fine. We arent where I think we can be or should be but its coming. We will be tested by @ Tenn with their athletic press which Im sure we will throw our press at them. SC the same thing. We can score in a hurry when back to 100%.

 

[BBallF]

It’s very telling that no one got more minutes in that game than Azzi. That’s a very revealing stat for trying to see who Geno values.

Geno is doing that purposefully to get her back physically in shape and to get rid of mental tentativeness.

 

[BBallF]

A fully functioning AZZI is at Paige's level. ASH isn't there yet, but she is better than you think.

So at the end of the NC game, when we need a basket to win, who would you want to have the ball? If you say either Azzi or Paige, I disagree.

 

[Bone Dog]

Geno is doing that purposefully to get her back physically in shape and to get rid of mental tentativeness.

I was referring to the NC St game 3 years ago.

 

[Crossover]

So at the end of the NC game, when we need a basket to win, who would you want to have the ball? If you say either Azzi or Paige, I disagree.

Fwiw, Paige says Azzi.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Geno is doing that purposefully to get her back physically in shape and to get rid of mental tentativeness.

Ditto his remark which Nan sees as saying Azzi is as good as Paige. Most of her time at UConn has involved getting her more aggressive.

 

[BBallF]

Ditto his remark which Nan sees as saying Azzi is as good as Paige. Most of her time at UConn has involved getting her more aggressive.

I think that she is older and more mature now and that it is also getting into game shape, getting her second wind, and finally the injury tentativeness. I hope we see it. It will be special and memorable.

 

[ABCDFE]

A fair response, except that Azzi's 31 percent three-point shooting and 38 percent overall shooting before Wednesday evening's game might be judged as 'misfiring' on many pundits' scorecards.

As for her defense, it is solid, although I believe not quite at the excellent level. And I've been watching all the games, my friend...

Anyway, it was fun to see Azzi 'fire' quite well that evening, and I know we both hope she continues to do so at a quality level when they play better teams... Xavier was embarrassingly poor.

Azzi's case shouldn't be a mystery. Every time she has an injury or gets hurt, mentally she takes it slow before she allows herself to trust her body. And in doing so, I believe it affects her shooting and all around play. When she has no mental or physical obstacles, she has the ability to drop 30 on any team, and I mean any team.

Unfortunately, we've only seen small glimpses of top form Azzi, but when we've seen them, I know we can all attest that the ceiling for her game is at the player of the year type of level.

 

[oldude]

I like this “Paige or Azzi” debate. Which player is better? Well, the last time both players were healthy for an entire season was back in high school, during Paige’s junior season and Azzi’s sophomore season.

As a reminder, during that season the Gatorade & USA Today NHSPOY was Azzi, who averaged over 30 ppg for St Johns College HS in the tough Washington Catholic League. The following year, Azzi was injured and Paige won all the NHSPOY awards.

I’m not saying that one or the other is better. But it sure would be wonderful if we could all continue to have this debate right on through this season’s national championship game.