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Message: [QUOTE="Alydar, post: 3451014, member: 730"] As usual, a thoughtful and well reasoned post. I'll only alter that starting lineup by putting Westbrook in for Bueckers. (and maybe listing both Makurat and Walker as 3/4's) Historically: 1. Geno loves having a 6th man who can change the tempo/energy of the game. Bueckers fills that in spades and would also rouse up the crowd, both home and away. 2. Geno has a history of not starting freshman unless forced to by his roster. UConn will be deep, talented and experienced at 1-3. 3. Geno has a history of playing seniors. He also has a history of playing those who are looking for a high draft position (Walker & Westbrook). A big part of UConn's allure is their pipeline to the W and with the new proposed transfer rule that pipeline becomes an even bigger lure. Specific to Bueckers 1. Bueckers can be effective at the 1 or the 2. And Geno can move Westbrook from the 1 to either the 2 or 3. That gives Geno the choice of who comes out for Bueckers. 2. Geno likes to make sure his star freshmen succeed when they play. Bueckers will be much better if she can observe the play for a while and see what needs to change, who needs the ball more, what is working and what isn't. She is a prodigy and a basketball savant, of that I have no doubt. But she lacks experience running an offense like UConn. Having her on the bench initially allows him to mentor her early in the game. 3. Bueckers doesn't have either the strength nor the stamina to play long minutes over an entire college season. If she were to start and be successful it would mean Geno wouldn't want to take her out and she could be over-used. I remember the beatings Taurasi took, especially in her last 2 years. Now I know Bueckers has a fighter's mentality and would play through the rough stuff but she would be much better off late in the season if her legs were still fresh. 4. Bueckers can watch her defensive assignment live and that can only help her. (BTW) We met at Dave Fletcher's. Don't remember who UConn played but I enjoyed the pizza, beer and even that horse-sized lap dog of Dave's. LOL [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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