PG for this season: Paige, Azzi, KK, Kaitlyn, Morgan

[Bone Dog]

Geno could use Cheli (as time goes on) as a transition/fast break passer, as that was probably her best use of court vision in HS.

I may be misreading this remark, but if you mean that Morgan wasn't the primary PG on Mitty in HS, that's a mistake. I'm mainly relying on my memory of games from her senior season, and she was the starting PG and the floor general in pretty much every game. Her back up spelled her for a few minutes only.

I think Cheli and Ziebell have the same odds of seeing time at pg. Zilch.

And on this point, @Alydar may be right for this season. But it wouldn't surprise me if Morgan saw some minutes at pg next season. She definitely has the drive and the skills for it. I often assume that everyone has seen her play -- if you haven't, a number of her games are still findable on YouTube. They are eye-opening. And we know from the way he used Evina that Geno likes the idea of a big PG, and Morgan has a lot of the same skill set Evina has and the same drive and sense of the moment. Picture a PG with Evina's head and heart for the position and roughly the dimensions of Fran Belibi.

 

[yhun89]

I may be misreading this remark, but if you mean that Morgan wasn't the primary PG on Mitty in HS, that's a mistake. I'm mainly relying on my memory of games from her senior season, and she was the starting PG and the floor general in pretty much every game. Her back up spelled her for a few minutes only.

Huh? No I meant at UCONN she won’t be the primary PG.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Positionless basketball = all of the above. However, when the game is on the line, Paige will have the ball in her hands.

Well she didn’t against Iowa and we know how that ended.

 

[oldude]

Well she didn’t against Iowa and we know how that ended.

Yea. That last pay was set up to screen off Paige’s defender with Nika then handing her the ball in a position to win the game. Unfortunately, Aaliyah was called for a moving screen. It would have been simpler to just let Paige bring the ball up the court and set a high screen with Aaliyah, allowing Paige to read the defense and create something. Either way, that last play was set up for Paige to win the game.

 

[Skeets]

If Chen makes the adjustments needed to be UConn's PG, then I think the job is hers, with KK for backup. Paige is too important to bring the ball down court every play and it is better for the offense if she is free to get open for a shot or a pass. Lots of talent on this team makes the opportunity to run the floor and bring in replacements. I think we will see 2 or 3 different PG's in a game...

Paige is clearly the best PG on the team. She's also the best SG/wing on the team. Bringing the ball up court when the defense is being pesky burns energy. I want Paige burning her energy scoring, not trying to shake off pesky defender. I want Paige to receive the first pass, not make the first pass. With the other legitimate PGs on this team there is very little reason to play Paige in that position on a regular basis.

I think Chen is going to be a nice surprise and do very well this season.

 

[oldude]

Paige is clearly the best PG on the team. She's also the best SG/wing on the team. Bringing the ball up court when the defense is being pesky burns energy. I want Paige burning her energy scoring, not trying to shake off pesky defender. I want Paige to receive the first pass, not make the first pass. With the other legitimate PGs on this team there is very little reason to play Paige in that position on a regular basis.

I think Chen is going to be a nice surprise and do very well this season.

As this past year demonstrated, Paige is also the best power forward on the team….

 

[PacoSwede]

Paige is clearly the best PG on the team. She's also the best SG/wing on the team. Bringing the ball up court when the defense is being pesky burns energy. I want Paige burning her energy scoring, not trying to shake off pesky defender. I want Paige to receive the first pass, not make the first pass. With the other legitimate PGs on this team there is very little reason to play Paige in that position on a regular basis.

I think Chen is going to be a nice surprise and do very well this season.

chen doing very well would not be a surprise. anything else would be.

 

[JellyBean]

Paige is clearly the best PG on the team. She's also the best SG/wing on the team. Bringing the ball up court when the defense is being pesky burns energy. I want Paige burning her energy scoring, not trying to shake off pesky defender. I want Paige to receive the first pass, not make the first pass. With the other legitimate PGs on this team there is very little reason to play Paige in that position on a regular basis.

I think Chen is going to be a nice surprise and do very well this season.

I am loving the addition of Chen to the roster. I just love her confidence and attacking mindset! Hopefully during fall workouts, the other PGs are asserting themselves and making it tough on everybody! So, when the coaches are looking at rotations. We got some serious talent on this roster.

 

[oldude]

As this past year demonstrated, Paige is also the best power forward on the team….

While I joke about Paige at PF again this season, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. We’ve all concluded that UConn’s lineup will include some combination of Jana with Ice/Sarah, with Aubrey coming back and Ayanna healthy. But what if UConn’s best lineup is once again a Big (Jana?) and 4 guards (Paige, Kaitlyn, Ashlynn, KK or Azzi)?

If everyone is healthy, Geno will have a dizzying array of options.

 

[yhun89]

As this past year demonstrated, Paige is also the best power forward on the team….

She's the best anything, except a center. But we haven't even let her take a crack at it so who knows...

 

[JellyBean]

While I joke about Paige at PF again this season, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. We’ve all concluded that UConn’s lineup will include some combination of Jana with Ice/Sarah, with Aubrey coming back and Ayanna healthy. But what if UConn’s best lineup is once again a Big (Jana?) and 4 guards (Paige, Kaitlyn, Ashlynn, KK or Azzi)?

If everyone is healthy, Geno will have a dizzying array of options.

This is the part that has me so excited about this season. If everyone is healthy and playing with a "player led" mindset vs a "coach led" mindset, I see great things for this team. We could be dangerous! I just keep thinking about how dangerous Ayanna is going to be. We only got a small peek. She still has so much potential. Same with Q, Ashlynn, KK, and Ice. And the newbies! OMG!! They could be scary as well.

 

[Bone Dog]

Paige is the best shooting guard (and PG) in the game. Azzi may well become that, but right now, she is definitely behind Paige. I would also have to say she is behind Juju as well.

You're right about Paige, obviously. The percentages all support it. But I wonder why that is so. Dawn says Paige is a very selective as a shooter and rarely takes bad shots. This is why she often passes or drives instead of hoisting up a 3 pointer. Now, I ask myself, is that really what a, SG is?

Much of the ballyhoo about Azzi coming out of high school was about how perfect her form is and how quickly she can get her shot off on the perimeter. As Geno said on a couple of occasions, the form is always the same and she catches the ball ready to shoot. What I'm getting at is that Geno doesn't want her to catch the ball on the perimeter and weigh her options. He wants her to shoot, and to keep shooting even through slumps. Maybe it's just me, but this is what I have always thought a shooting guard is. And if I'm right, we might expect her percentages will be a little lower than Paige's.

And, by the way, this is exactly how Q was used in high school. Her coach stationed her on the wing for almost every offensive play in catch-and-shoot position. That was her assignment. They ran very few (if any) plays for her other than this.

As for Juju, I'm not sure she really is an SG. I mean, granted that she's not a PG, though she could certainly play that position if asked, but it would be a waste of her talents. She gets most of her points mixing it up in the paint and from the free throw line. Plus her shooting percentages are pretty low except for free throws. And this, by the way, seemed to me to be the main weakness of SC last season. Gottlieb didn't want to use Juju as a PG, but didn't have any great alternatives -- certainly not Padilla or Williams, or even Forbes who didn't really come on as a consistent scorer until the second half of the season. I wonder if getting Van Oelhofen will change that calculus for them this season. She's also more of an SG at heart, even if the shooting percentages do not bear this out. But she's got better PG skills than who Gottlieb could turn to last season.

And one last thought concerning Allie. She was the steadiest ball handler on her team in high school and so could be mistaken for a PG. She has the shooting skills to be understood as a 'shooting' guard. But what she really is, instead of these, is a big kid who can score through contact and who can also shoot the 3 well. In this respect, I think of her as sort of like a slightly smaller Caroline.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

In the shoot-dribble-pass halfcourt read-and-react motion offense, I would distinguish passes into two kinds: pass (motion) and pass (point).

• pass (motion) is the generic pass to move the defense;
• pass (point) is the initial pass in the sequence leading to a shot once an offensive opportunity has been recognized.

All Geno-recruited players have the requisite BBIQ and skills for both types of passes, but “point” types have better pass (point) abilities than others. Bonedog’s initial post identifies these players.

The number of point guards that can beat a full court press is smaller. Paige demonstrated one way to do this in the 3-(point) guard lineup in a post-Ohio State game (vs Providence in 2024 BET). Morgan can be the Paige analog in beating the press (or in a 3-4 guard lineup), but most likely not this year.

In a running game, Sarah and Morgan (and Paige) can be especially lethal after a rebound in initiating the fastbreak towards streaking players at the other end.

Geno likes to control pace that increases odds of winning. And he likes quick surgical starts. With an efficient offense, this means a faster pace (more possessions), hence the need for quick downhill point guards, which Nika was and which KK and Kaitlyn are. So, for most possessions, KK or Kaitlyn will be bringing up the ball.

This year, with clear moving threats at the 3-point line and in the lane, the mid-range will be especially open (as will backdoor cuts, pick-and-rolls/pops, high-low). Kaitlyn is crafty in the mid-range. I suspect, with better offensive teammates, Kaitlyn’s 3PT% will increase, as will everyone’s, including KK’s. KK has better opportunities this year to concentrate on improving her offense.

For the above reasons, and because Kaitlyn and KK are defensive menaces that can matchup defensively against ND and Southern California, that I suspect Geno’s Day 1 starting lineup would be Kaitlyn, KK, Paige, Sarah and Jana.

I’ve suggested before that this year’s team bears some resemblance to TASSK’s first year, which resulted in the running game being a major weapon for UConn in its frontloaded brutal OOC schedule. One key difference is the wealth this year’s team has in seasoned point guards and players with half-court point abilities.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

You're right about Paige, obviously. The percentages all support it. But I wonder why that is so. Dawn says Paige is a very selective as a shooter and rarely takes bad shots. This is why she often passes or drives instead of hoisting up a 3 pointer. Now, I ask myself, is that really what a, SG is?

Much of the ballyhoo about Azzi coming out of high school was about how perfect her form is and how quickly she can get her shot off on the perimeter. As Geno said on a couple of occasions, the form is always the same and she catches the ball ready to shoot. What I'm getting at is that Geno doesn't want her to catch the ball on the perimeter and weigh her options. He wants her to shoot, and to keep shooting even through slumps. Maybe it's just me, but this is what I have always thought a shooting guard is. And if I'm right, we might expect her percentages will be a little lower than Paige's.

And, by the way, this is exactly how Q was used in high school. Her coach stationed her on the wing for almost every offensive play in catch-and-shoot position. That was her assignment. They ran very few (if any) plays for her other than this.

As for Juju, I'm not sure she really is an SG. I mean, granted that she's not a PG, though she could certainly play that position if asked, but it would be a waste of her talents. She gets most of her points mixing it up in the paint and from the free throw line. Plus her shooting percentages are pretty low except for free throws. And this, by the way, seemed to me to be the main weakness of SC last season. Gottlieb didn't want to use Juju as a PG, but didn't have any great alternatives -- certainly not Padilla or Williams, or even Forbes who didn't really come on as a consistent scorer until the second half of the season. I wonder if getting Van Oelhofen will change that calculus for them this season. She's also more of an SG at heart, even if the shooting percentages do not bear this out. But she's got better PG skills than who Gottlieb could turn to last season.

And one last thought concerning Allie. She was the steadiest ball handler on her team in high school and so could be mistaken for a PG. She has the shooting skills to be understood as a 'shooting' guard. But what she really is, instead of these, is a big kid who can score through contact and who can also shoot the 3 well. In this respect, I think of her as sort of like a slightly smaller Caroline.

I would refine your points on Azzi by adding:

• Azzi in the Stewie-KML teams would be comparably lethal to KML;
• the available players in Azzi’s playing seasons (excluding games where Azzi was clearly hobbled but was playing) did not move the defense quite as well, and led to Azzi being comparatively more tightly guarded than KML was.

 

[Bone Dog]

the available players in Azzi’s playing seasons (excluding games where Azzi was clearly hobbled but was playing) did not move the defense quite as well, and led to Azzi being comparatively more tightly guarded than KML was.

Absolutely right. I can think of a few exceptions to this, but not many and generally against teams who didn't matchup well with UConn's athletes. Azzi has yet to benefit from having a full season with a stable team that can hone its offense into a fine machine. This is what we want to see this year: the Paige & Azzi show!

Now for the exceptions that prove the rule:

• In her freshman season, she dominated Tennessee and Marquette in dazzling second half performances. And in the tournament, once Paige had returned, she could count on Paige Evina and Christyn to keep defenses honest.
• The games against NC State and Stanford were against top defenses and it was a little harder for Paige Evina Christyn to move those defenses off Azzi. Finally, in the 4th quarter and two overtime periods, they were able to take over. Against Stanford, the defense was even better and she was held in check... until those late free throws she sank to close them out.
• In her sophomore year, she dominated NC State Texas Duke and Iowa before her injury, and in part this was because in addition to Nika and Aaliyah, she had Lou to perplex otherwise fine defenses. In the Iowa game, she outplayed Clark at a moment when they were the chief contenders for NPOY, early though it was. Once she returned from the knee injury -- too early, in my view -- teams feared her shot and she used this to open up things for the rest of the team. It wasn't until the second half of the Baylor game that she finally found her legs and effectively destroyed Baylor singlehandedly with a 17 pt third quarter (iirc).

This could be our last shot at the Paige & Azzi show and I am as nervous (and happy) as a cat at the prospect. I really want to see what the two BFFs can do together given the chance.

 

[hoophuskee]

You're right about Paige, obviously. The percentages all support it. But I wonder why that is so. Dawn says Paige is a very selective as a shooter and rarely takes bad shots. This is why she often passes or drives instead of hoisting up a 3 pointer. Now, I ask myself, is that really what a, SG is?

Much of the ballyhoo about Azzi coming out of high school was about how perfect her form is and how quickly she can get her shot off on the perimeter. As Geno said on a couple of occasions, the form is always the same and she catches the ball ready to shoot. What I'm getting at is that Geno doesn't want her to catch the ball on the perimeter and weigh her options. He wants her to shoot, and to keep shooting even through slumps. Maybe it's just me, but this is what I have always thought a shooting guard is. And if I'm right, we might expect her percentages will be a little lower than Paige's.

In regard to Paige, what is your deintion of a sg? Taking bad shots? In her frosh year she took 4.8 three's per game. Her soph year-- 3. This past year 5.2. That disqualifies her from either being a SG or SF or Wing?

In regard to Azzi, Geno does want her to weigh her options if she isn't open. In addition, she did show in her soph year that she can put the ball on the floor. I count even one dribble then take a shot as "putting the ball on the floor," though. I do specifically recall Iowa playing a Triangle-and-Two on her and Lou, she did take a dribble or two. And on one play she drove to teh basket and hit a floater.

Azzi is built strong for her size. When she gets her groove back - she's big-time.

 

[Bone Dog]

In regard to Paige, what is your deintion of a sg? Taking bad shots? In her frosh year she took 4.8 three's per game. Her soph year-- 3. This past year 5.2. That disqualifies her from either being a SG or SF or Wing?

In regard to Azzi, Geno does want her to weigh her options if she isn't open. In addition, she did show in her soph year that she can put the ball on the floor. I count even one dribble then take a shot as "putting the ball on the floor," though. I do specifically recall Iowa playing a Triangle-and-Two on her and Lou, she did take a dribble or two. And on one play she drove to teh basket and hit a floater.

Azzi is built strong for her size. When she gets her groove back - she's big-time.

We're straying mighty close to that other discussion on whether the traditional position designations are still useful. But you already know what I think about this.

As for whether Paige is an SG or not, you can take that up with Dawn. I have no opinion. However, Geno has said about Azzi (and Caroline) that he wishes they would not aim for perfection and simply shoot the ball whenever they get it. Q has this mentality, I think. And, this is not about taking shots that aren't open, or dribbling once. That's a total red herring in this discussion.

 

[hoophuskee]

For the above reasons, and because Kaitlyn and KK are defensive menaces that can matchup defensively against ND and Southern California, that I suspect Geno’s Day 1 starting lineup would be Kaitlyn, KK, Paige, Sarah and Jana.

IMO Geno liked to feature offense and the 3-point shot more than Defense. I don't know much about the SoCal team but as for ND, imo Geno can use that lineup as you say but I recall many years ago Chris Dailey on WTIC stating that UCONN prefers to have teams forced to match up to them. So that game on Dec 12th Azzi should be healthy enough and her game is more mirrored by Ashlynn. While Kaitlyn's 3pt shot will get better - it wasn't good unlike Lou from Fairfeild when she came to UCONN she was already a 40% 3pt shooter.

If you have Ashlynn, Paige, and Sarah on the floor for example, then this grouping would allow Kaitlyn or KK to be more of what they like to do, and that's penetrate.

So, I've had your same starting lineup with the exception of Ashlynn over KK (then eventually Azzi over Ashlynn). Let's see how ND can stop our lineup. Though ND is very fomidable.

 

[hoophuskee]

We're straying mighty close to that other discussion on whether the traditional position designations are still useful. But you already know what I think about this.

As for whether Paige is an SG or not, you can take that up with Dawn. I have no opinion. However, Geno has said about Azzi (and Caroline) that he wishes they would not aim for perfection and simply shoot the ball whenever they get it. Q has this mentality, I think. And, this is not about taking shots that aren't open, or dribbling once. That's a total red herring in this discussion.

Yes I know. But you brought up though the qeustion about SG. So I wanted your further take. And I had asked why you think Paige wasnt a SG? I just added Wing/SF. You brought up SG, not Dawn. .. Dawn only mentioned she doesn't take bad shots. Thus my question to you about your interpretation as to why you felt Paige wasn't a sg.

As far as Geno, I believe you are taking his comment way too literal. So,if Azzi is being tightly guarded you think he meant for Azzi to take the shot anyway rather than get the ball back to Paige, for example? So ofc he wants her to weigh her options.

If Geno wanted Paige and Azzi just to shoot then we'd see then take 30+ shots a game like UCONN did last year in Exhibtion with Azzi over the summer.

 

[DEpup]

Yes I know. But you brought up though the qeustion about SG. So I wanted your further take. And I had asked why you think Paige wasnt a SG? I just added Wing/SF. You brought up SG, not Dawn. .. Dawn only mentioned she doesn't take bad shots. Thus my question to you about your interpretation as to why you felt Paige wasn't a sg.

As far as Geno, I believe you are taking his comment way too literal. So,if Azzi is being tightly guarded you think he meant for Azzi to take the shot anyway rather than get the ball back to Paige, for example? So ofc he wants her to weigh her options.

If Geno wanted Paige and Azzi just to shoot then we'd see then take 30+ shots a game like UCONN did last year in Exhibtion with Azzi over the summer.

I've heard Geno talk about Azzi's shooting decisions. What I took from it was she likes to take shots that have a 95-99% chance of going in and he'd like her to move that number down to taking shots that have like an 80% chance of going in. I've never thought that he wants Azzi to become a CC or Arike and take any shot.

 

[Skeets]

While I joke about Paige at PF again this season, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. We’ve all concluded that UConn’s lineup will include some combination of Jana with Ice/Sarah, with Aubrey coming back and Ayanna healthy. But what if UConn’s best lineup is once again a Big (Jana?) and 4 guards (Paige, Kaitlyn, Ashlynn, KK or Azzi)?

If everyone is healthy, Geno will have a dizzying array of options.

We are very likely to see a 4 guard lineup again this season, but not as a steady diet.

 

[Bone Dog]

Yes I know. But you brought up though the qeustion about SG. So I wanted your further take. And I had asked why you think Paige wasnt a SG? I just added Wing/SF. You brought up SG, not Dawn. .. Dawn only mentioned she doesn't take bad shots. Thus my question to you about your interpretation as to why you felt Paige wasn't a sg.

As far as Geno, I believe you are taking his comment way too literal. So,if Azzi is being tightly guarded you think he meant for Azzi to take the shot anyway rather than get the ball back to Paige, for example? So ofc he wants her to weigh her options.

If Geno wanted Paige and Azzi just to shoot then we'd see then take 30+ shots a game like UCONN did last year in Exhibtion with Azzi over the summer.

Technically, I asked if Paige was what an SG is, not whether she’s an SG. There’s a difference. The implication should have been obvious: Paige is a selective-effective scorer. I’ve mentioned this dozens of times in recent years (ie the Paige era), namely that bucket does more than just score. A bucket is like a guarantee. When you need a score, or when the opponent is emotionally struggling, a bucket steps up. That’s Paige.

And it would be fair to say that Dawn’s comment doesn’t sum Paige up. But is a salient feature of her game. A player who is that selective is not my notion of an SG. They are a bucket.

When I hinted at this last time, you took me to mean Azzi would have license to actively choose bad shots. I think that was a distortion of what I meant or could have meant. An SG these days is someone who is always ready to fire from outside. This doesn’t mean they can drive to the hoop, and we all know Azzi is awesome on the drive. But she is very good at making herself ready, and Geno designs plays to get her the pass that she can shoot on.

That’s what an SG is. Paige isn’t somehow less than an SG, which you seemed to be suggesting. She’s much more. Azzi is also more than that simple definition of an SG, but it just seems more marked.

And now we’re here again, finding the limits of the usefulness of that old terminology. Do we have SGs? Yes. Q for one, Ash for another. Allie may cover some of that turf, too. But to call Paige that would be to miss what she really is entirely: a bucket.

 

[hoophuskee]

Technically, I asked if Paige was what an SG is, not whether she’s an SG. There’s a difference. The implication should have been obvious: Paige is a selective-effective scorer. I’ve mentioned this dozens of times in recent years (ie the Paige era), namely that bucket does more than just score. A bucket is like a guarantee. When you need a score, or when the opponent is emotionally struggling, a bucket steps up. That’s Paige.

And it would be fair to say that Dawn’s comment doesn’t sum Paige up. But is a salient feature of her game. A player who is that selective is not my notion of an SG. They are a bucket.

When I hinted at this last time, you took me to mean Azzi would have license to actively choose bad shots. I think that was a distortion of what I meant or could have meant. An SG these days is someone who is always ready to fire from outside. This doesn’t mean they can drive to the hoop, and we all know Azzi is awesome on the drive. But she is very good at making herself ready, and Geno designs plays to get her the pass that she can shoot on.

That’s what an SG is. Paige isn’t somehow less than an SG, which you seemed to be suggesting. She’s much more. Azzi is also more than that simple definition of an SG, but it just seems more marked.

And now we’re here again, finding the limits of the usefulness of that old terminology. Do we have SGs? Yes. Q for one, Ash for another. Allie may cover some of that turf, too. But to call Paige that would be to miss what she really is entirely: a bucket.

Everything you said here I view things much differently. Oh well. I don't understand how you look at postions and intepretation of them. I was trying to get an understanding of that. Not saying you are wrong but I don't even understand what you are speaking of in terms of "Paige Buckets" and your view of SG in relation (or not) to Paige. And your points about Azzi.

At times we'll run into these situations but I believe we are very friendly. So, no big deal. Please don't take offense if I question - sometimes I can't help it. I mean no offense. If this is how you look at things - that's fine. Because even when Paige leaves we'll have other players we'll speak of., and I'm sure we'll have a much different view as to what they are. But I will be more cognizant of the differences between your view and mine in the future - will not try to respond at anything I feel is near minutia.

 

[sun]

I think that how Geno utilizes the PG's will be based on the results of the tougher OOC games.
Paige will draw a lot of attention from defenses no matter which position she plays which should open up more passing opportunities for other players.
And which other players receive the passes requires court vision & experience.
I can't imagine anyone being better than Paige in those areas or who has as much of Geno's trust.
it can also depend on who is the primary SG & if they're able to make their shots.
I think that Geno will react to how well plays are being executed on the court.
Another important factor is that Paige hasn't had as much recent experience at PG becaue of Nika & also KK playing it.
That makes it all the more important for Paige to re-establish her leadership position as being the primary PG.
There aren't that many tough games on the schedule.
If Paige is not the primary PG then that could mean the team is lacking an effective SG, or isn't able to execute as well as it should.
If this year's ream is going to be Paige's team then she needs to run the team as it's QB and know when to pass & when to shoot because she's going to be drawing a lot of attention.
The other PG's & players are going to need to learn how to penetrate, shoot & score efficientlly or else they'll become too over reliant on Paige to do all of the hard work to score.
It's better that Paige is the primary PG for the most part so she can decide who gets the passes & draw the defense away from the others.
She has the best court vision & BB IQ.
Nika was a very good PG, as is Chen & KK.
But I don't trust that any of them really know how to creatively distribute the ball to other players as well as Paige can.
But all of the players should know how to penetrate & score when Paige passes them the ball, if she's not shooting.

 

[Bone Dog]

Everything you said here I view things much differently. Oh well. I don't understand how you look at postions and intepretation of them. I was trying to get an understanding of that. Not saying you are wrong but I don't even understand what you are speaking of in terms of "Paige Buckets" and your view of SG in relation (or not) to Paige. And your points about Azzi.

At times we'll run into these situations but I believe we are very friendly. So, no big deal. Please don't take offense if I question - sometimes I can't help it. I mean no offense. If this is how you look at things - that's fine. Because even when Paige leaves we'll have other players we'll speak of., and I'm sure we'll have a much different view as to what they are. But I will be more cognizant of the differences between your view and mine in the future - will not try to respond at anything I feel is near minutia.

Don’t worry. I was in no way offended. Plus, I probably contributed to the misfire between our posts. I was writing on my phone which tossed in a few stray ‘autocorrects’ to undermine my own clarity.

My main point, as ever, is that the greatest players are really hard to fit in a category. This is why I like the term ‘bucket.’ It isn’t a simple position. Buckets, like Paige or Maya or Diana or even Stewie, do whatever is needed to make their team win. They may resemble a PG or an SG or a PF or a stretch-4 or even a C. But they always seem to be something more.

 

[sun]

Nothing would be worse than seeing Paige get overworked just to be able to touch the ball.
That would be more exhausting than simply bringing the ball upcourt.
That 's what happened with Lou when she was constantly harrassed without fouls being caalled when she tried to get free to receive passes & to make her shots.
The more that Paige is able to touch the ball, the more protection that she'll have from fouls, and the freedom to make the game winning decisions about whether to pass, shoot, make assists or fakes etc...
Since she's got the moves & the vision, she should be able to exercise the freedom to use her gifts to the fullest extent to win the big games.
New teammates will require her to practice more as the primary PG.
She'll be working in tandem with others & won't always be on the floor, but more often than not Paige will need to work on exercising her will to learn how to conttol the offensive flow & the outcome of the big games.
IMO there's really no other way to have the Paige & Azzi show.
Caitlin Clark was allowed the freedom to do it and so should be.

 

[my2cents]

Positionless basketball = all of the above. However, when the game is on the line, Paige will have the ball in her hands.

"ball in her hands.....most of the time" Point guard will become a nonnamed position soon.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

A look back and a look ahead for Azzi:

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Nothing would be worse than seeing Paige get overworked just to be able to touch the ball.
That would be more exhausting than simply bringing the ball upcourt.
That 's what happened with Lou when she was constantly harrassed without fouls being caalled when she tried to get free to receive passes & to make her shots.
The more that Paige is able to touch the ball, the more protection that she'll have from fouls, and the freedom to make the game winning decisions about whether to pass, shoot, make assists or fakes etc...
Since she's got the moves & the vision, she should be able to exercise the freedom to use her gifts to the fullest extent to win the big games.
New teammates will require her to practice more as the primary PG.
She'll be working in tandem with others & won't always be on the floor, but more often than not Paige will need to work on exercising her will to learn how to conttol the offensive flow & the outcome of the big games.
IMO there's really no other way to have the Paige & Azzi show.
Caitlin Clark was allowed the freedom to do it and so should be.

DT was the best offensive guard on her UConn teams and can play point guard. Yet, Sue Bird and Maria Conlon were her point guards on her national championship teams.

Even when in the past few seasons UConn was short-manned, and by your logic Paige should have played point guard to preserve her, Geno chose otherwise with Evina, Nika and KK as her point guards that brought up the ball.

Paige will be harassed wherever she plays because she is UConn’s best player. But she has managed it. As noted above, contrary to your claim, being the primary ball handler and table setter is very physically demanding. You probably don’t want more defensive attention on Paige.

Paige can play 1-4 efficiently and Paige did play the most point guard minutes her freshman year. But players in her freshman season tend to Paige-watch when she’s the point guard, impairing the motion offense. Geno moved her from point guard because he needs the offense to flow better and he needs her to score in the motion offense that will find her the best shot.

There are times when Paige will play point, such as in crunch time (of any game including big games), when the other team is pressing or to settle the team in a deliberate offense. But overall Paige plays fewer possessions as a point guard than at other positions.

As noted before, Carla Berube chose Azzi as the point guard in the U17 super team that featured Azzi, Paige, Haley Jones, Horston and Boston as its starting five.

So it’s not just Geno. But it is Geno’s team and it is his predilections that matter here.

[About Caitlyn. Her most effective game is being a ball-dominant point guard which worked for Iowa and the Fever].

 

[WiseWillie]

I guess that's what we are left with in these "Days Of Waiting" to try to conjecture about a PG and/or starting lineup. It's especially challenging to do with players who have yet to take the floor in a Div I college game and/or coming off significant injuries. I know. I know. There's AAU experience etc. but to me that's not exactly the same experience. Anyway, color me with chicken feathers because I prefer to not go out on a limb when there is so little actual info to go on at this point. But, please, don't stop the conjecturing. It's fun to read all the responses. Some of them might even be right!