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

[hoophuskee]

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].

I love this post. I'll just add that if Paige has to work extremely hard to get the ball when playing off-the-ball then something is very, very, very wrong. UCONN didn't get Chen to make it harder for Paige. UCONN didn't get #1 recruits Azzi and Sarah to make it harder for Paige. UCONN didn't get a top International 6'5 recruit in Jana to make it harder for Paige. The minutes that KK, Ashlynn, Q, and Ice got with an expectation that at at least sime will improve isn't going to make it harder for Paige -- etc. Just because Paige makes other players better that doesn't mean others can't make Paige better too.

This year isn't supposed to be like the the 3 tyears though we say it every year that the team isn't supposed to go through mega-injuires. This team is projected to be much stronger than the actual mega-injury teams once injuires occurred.

 

[Bone Dog]

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.

Maybe it dates me, but when I think of the PGs I watched growing up what sticks in my mind is that they have a lot more responsibility than just bringing the ball up the court or driving and dishing. Yes, they initiate the offense. But even on the offensive end of the floor they are also minding the defensive side.

• A long rebound on a missed shot or a live-ball turnover is their responsibility to get back on defense for. They are the first line of defense against the opponent's transition game.
• This is what I mean when I say the PG is responsible for maintaining floor balance. It she dives to the basket on pick-and-roll or similar play, they have to make sure someone else takes over at the top of the key, even if they make the layup.
• And on the defensive end of the court, they are typically tasked with defending the opposing PG. These are extremely high energy players, maybe more than any other on the team.
• They also tend to be the loudest player on the floor. This was one of Nika's super powers. And just an observation from my youth: quiet teams tend to lose. The PG is the motivator, the floor general, the organizer, and the visionary.

There is nothing about this position that would be restful for Paige. It is most suited to "Energizer Bunnies" like KK and Kaitlyn (and Morgan), and Kelis starting next year. These kids have energy to burn.

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.

Exactly! Paige can certainly play PG, and may well do so at the next level. But we've all seen what happens at this level when she takes this much control of a game: the team watches her and the motion offense becomes stagnant. This happened a lot her freshman year. When Geno said "the team plays better with Nika on the floor," one thing he may have meant is that there's less Paige-watching. Even this season there was still Paige-watching especially in the high pressure games, and this is to be expected with a lot of freshmen in the lineup. Geno can minimize this by having other PG options besides Paige, and this is exactly what he will have this season. Put KK or Kaitlyn at PG, and station Paige at one wing and Ash or Azzi at the other and no one will be cheating into the paint to double up Jana and Ice or Sarah. That is, Paige influences opposing defenses even when she doesn't have the ball.

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.

Just a tangent, but I remember this series like it was yesterday. Azzi was the youngest player on the floor and yet she was awesome. And that summer and the next, Jordan Horston was unleashed, launching her into D1 WBB. I think the presence of other great players really opened up the floor for her. And she was a demon on defense.

 

[sun]

When Paige is on the floor playing PG, I see Chen as being more of a Chrstyn Williams type of player because she can move, elevate and is a 3 level scorer,.
If Azzi is in the game then she becomes the SG.
That's what makes the most sense to me.
KK would be a sub for Chen or if Paige needs a break.
If Azzi if not ready to go then Allie, Shade, Carol or Morgan can be called on.
But no way do I see 3 PG's in the game at the same time.
That would be too much redundancy.
Paige can play SG but the PG needs to be a 3 level scoring threat and the best decision maker on the team responsible for the offensive flow, decision making & the outcome of the game.
Geno will want to help Paige to showcase her PG abilities because of the WNBA draft & because she's been the backbone of the team for so long,
Paige can best decide who to feed the ball to because UConn can't win with Paige being the only superstar,
Everyone else will need to step up.
Paige will take some of the heat off them by drawing the defense, but they also need to take the heat off of her by making their shots when she feeds them the ball.
Paige can find the weaknesses of the other teams better than Chen.
And when it comes to feeding Jana, Satah, Chen or Azzi or whoever, Geno already trusts her.
A NC winning year requires some new ideas, better shooting & better execution then in recent losing years.
After all, Paige is the ultimate UConn Alpha gal.
She doesn't need to play PG on defense, but UConn will need her to play PG on offense.

 

[Alydar]

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.

Bird didn't play the point because she was a better point than Taurasi, it was because Taurasi was a better sg than Bird. Bueckers played sg because Muhl's scoring wasn't good enough to be a 2. If UConn had had more scorers in 2003-2004, and in 2021-2024 then Bueckers would have played the point.

The fatigue of bringing the ball up is overblown. Defenders can be much more physical with a player without the ball in her hands.

From what I see at this point in time UConn will not be having long offensive possessions this season. With the depth they have UConn will emphasize up-tempo, pushing the ball even after made baskets. That does require that the 1st year players adapt and become contributors but I'm very optimistic on that happening.

 

[Alydar]

Exactly! Paige can certainly play PG, and may well do so at the next level. But we've all seen what happens at this level when she takes this much control of a game: the team watches her and the motion offense becomes stagnant.

That wouldn't happen now. Fudd, Strong, Ziebell, Samuels, Ducharme and Shade all shoot without hesitation and are all efficient shooters.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Bird didn't play the point because she was a better point than Taurasi, it was because Taurasi was a better sg than Bird. Bueckers played sg because Muhl's scoring wasn't good enough to be a 2. If UConn had had more scorers in 2003-2004, and in 2021-2024 then Bueckers would have played the point.

The fatigue of bringing the ball up is overblown. Defenders can be much more physical with a player without the ball in her hands.

From what I see at this point in time UConn will not be having long offensive possessions this season. With the depth they have UConn will emphasize up-tempo, pushing the ball even after made baskets. That does require that the 1st year players adapt and become contributors but I'm very optimistic on that happening.

My post is in response to the statements in the quoted Sun’s post that said (paraphrased):

• (a) “if the best offensive player (Paige) who happens to also be a point guard is having to exert a lot of effort to receive a pass, she would probably better off being the point guard”;
• (b) “if Paige were to avoid the abuse that Lou experienced, she’s better off being the point guard”;
• (c) “since Paige is the best player who is also the best point guard, the offense would work better if she is the point guard”.

Geno has already decided that (a), (b) and (c) don’t hold water for him based on how he has utilized Paige, the other point guards and the other players.

Re: Sue. DT is the analog to Paige in (a) in 2000-2003. DT was not the point guard in DT’s championship years. Full Stop.

• That Diana / Paige was the better shooter in their teams, while true, was not the main point in Sun’s point (a) (a point which Hophuskee has pointed out to be dubious).

Re: Paige as PG. Geno said a while back in Paige’s freshman year that all the players said Paige was the best player.

• He also said in jest that Paige is the best passer and the best scorer and that the offense would be best if she could pass to herself to score;
• In the same vein, he said the players tend to watch Paige (which we could all see);
• And, of course, he decided to move Paige off-ball (more below) and exhorted Paige to be aggressive.

Re: Nika as PG because she is not a lethal shooting guard.

• Geno said he likes Nika as point guard since Nika pushes pace and the resulting offense moved better;
• it is also true that Nika was not lethal as a shooting guard; yes, both things can be true at the same time;
• Geno’s official reason is what he says.

Re: your assertion that Paige would be point guard if everyone were healthy and there are enough scorers:

• how do you know for certain that would be Geno’s thinking?
• this is arguing a hypothetical, and nothing you or I say at this point # can be dispositive;
• I could point out that in DT and Sue’s two Superteams, DT was not the point guard as a window into Geno’s thinking;
• I could also point out that whenever Geno had another point guard, he has decided to move Paige off-ball with his official reasons noted above.

# I am aware that you have always thought Paige should be the point guard. We will know by this season, on Day 1 as well as when Azzi returns whether Geno would use Paige as the point guard instead of both Kaitlyn and KK.

===

Re: Point guard duties being overblown.

• Have you seen Swin defend Tamika Catchings (who is not a point guard)?
• Have you seen Nika defend Caitlyn Clark?
• If a player has that kind of season-long intense defense focus, it will wear that player down.
• And Geno expects Paige to be the best scorer. Do you remember Sue to be the best scorer on her teams?

 

[hoophuskee]

My post is in response to the statements in the quoted Sun’s post that said (paraphrased):

• (a) “if the best offensive player (Paige) who happens to also be a point guard is having to exert a lot of effort to receive a pass, she would probably better off being the point guard”;
• (b) “if Paige were to avoid the abuse that Lou experienced, she’s better off being the point guard”;
• (c) “since Paige is the best player who is also the best point guard, the offense would work better if she is the point guard”.

Geno has already decided that (a), (b) and (c) don’t hold water for him based on how he has utilized Paige, the other point guards and the other players.

Re: Sue. DT is the analog to Paige in (a) in 2000-2003. DT was not the point guard in DT’s championship years. Full Stop.

• That Diana / Paige was the better shooter in their teams, while true, was not the main point in Sun’s point (a) (a point which Hophuskee has pointed out to be dubious).

Re: Paige as PG. Geno said a while back in Paige’s freshman year that all the players said Paige was the best player.

• He also said in jest that Paige is the best passer and the best scorer and that the offense would be best if she could pass to herself to score;
• In the same vein, he said the players tend to watch Paige (which we could all see);
• And, of course, he decided to move Paige off-ball (more below) and exhorted Paige to be aggressive.

Re: Nika as PG because she is not a lethal shooting guard.

• Geno said he likes Nika as point guard since Nika pushes pace and the resulting offense moved better;
• it is also true that Nika was not lethal as a shooting guard; yes, both things can be true at the same time;
• Geno’s official reason is what he says.

Re: your assertion that Paige would be point guard if everyone were healthy and there are enough scorers:

• how do you know for certain that would be Geno’s thinking?
• this is arguing a hypothetical, and nothing you or I say at this point # can be dispositive;
• I could point out that in DT and Sue’s two Superteams, DT was not the point guard as a window into Geno’s thinking;
• I could also point out that whenever Geno had another point guard, he has decided to move Paige off-ball with his official reasons noted above.

# I am aware that you have always thought Paige should be the point guard. We will know by this season, on Day 1 as well as when Azzi returns whether Geno would use Paige as the point guard instead of both Kaitlyn and KK.

===

Re: Point guard duties being overblown.

• Have you seen Swin defend Tamika Catchings (who is not a point guard)?
• Have you seen Nika defend Caitlyn Clark?
• If a player has that kind of season-long intense defense focus, it will wear that player down.
• And Geno expects Paige to be the best scorer. Do you remember Sue to be the best scorer on her teams?

Love your post! With that said this year - everything is on the board. From Paige being the primary PG to being something else and maybe we go very small or very big. And maybe a player like Q fits like a glove this year with Paige and the others etc. This year is crazy. All is on the table.

 

[Majic Hands]

Ever since I began visiting the BY I’ve appreciated, admired. Per-haps even been a little envious at times at the intelligence and ability to express ideas and concepts demonstrated by my fellow UConn fans.

Yes, here comes the “but”.

I swear, it seems as if many seem to think that if Paige isn’t the “designated” PG somehow all her talents and abilities magically disappear!

Bringing up Caitlyn Clark as justifying having your best player at Point is a straw man argument. Iowa only had 2 high level players until last year when they had 3.

In grade school, high school, yes you tend to have your best player at PG. or someone who can dribble the damn ball.

When you get to D1 at a top 10 level institution and you have to put your best player at point. . . You’re not even in the top 30.

Hells bells our injury ridden team nearly beat Iowa last year in the final four.

Somehow, many seem to forget, at UConn, the coaching staff is going to place players on the floor to maximize “everyone’s” talents in a team structure to win.

If Paige is the “PG” this season I’ll just quit trying to apply intellect though to team structure and the approach I’ve observed from UConn for several years now.

I expect to see Kaitlyn Chan as point, followed by KK and perhaps a freshman to see how they handle themselves in a real game.

I expect to see Jana Al Alfie owning the paint. Followed by I don’t care.

In regards to the other 3 players on the floor and who’s available to play I’m sure there are a number of BY’ers here that could calculate the number of possible combinations available. I could probably find a webpage where I could plugin the numbers and get an answer. . . But I don’t care.

There is not a single kid on this team I don’t hope the best for and look forward to watching them grow up and learn to play the game as it’s taught at UConn.

Final thought. . . Based on what I’ve seen in the past, I expect to see Paige, Ashlyn, Ice or Sarah on the flood as well when the season begins.

 

[sun]

Ever since I began visiting the BY I’ve appreciated, admired. Per-haps even been a little envious at times at the intelligence and ability to express ideas and concepts demonstrated by my fellow UConn fans.

Yes, here comes the “but”.

I swear, it seems as if many seem to think that if Paige isn’t the “designated” PG somehow all her talents and abilities magically disappear!

Bringing up Caitlyn Clark as justifying having your best player at Point is a straw man argument. Iowa only had 2 high level players until last year when they had 3.

In grade school, high school, yes you tend to have your best player at PG. or someone who can dribble the damn ball.

When you get to D1 at a top 10 level institution and you have to put your best player at point. . . You’re not even in the top 30.

Hells bells our injury ridden team nearly beat Iowa last year in the final four.

Somehow, many seem to forget, at UConn, the coaching staff is going to place players on the floor to maximize “everyone’s” talents in a team structure to win.

If Paige is the “PG” this season I’ll just quit trying to apply intellect though to team structure and the approach I’ve observed from UConn for several years now.

I expect to see Kaitlyn Chan as point, followed by KK and perhaps a freshman to see how they handle themselves in a real game.

I expect to see Jana Al Alfie owning the paint. Followed by I don’t care.

In regards to the other 3 players on the floor and who’s available to play I’m sure there are a number of BY’ers here that could calculate the number of possible combinations available. I could probably find a webpage where I could plugin the numbers and get an answer. . . But I don’t care.

There is not a single kid on this team I don’t hope the best for and look forward to watching them grow up and learn to play the game as it’s taught at UConn.

Final thought. . . Based on what I’ve seen in the past, I expect to see Paige, Ashlyn, Ice or Sarah on the flood as well when the season begins.

If you saw what happened at the end of the Iowa game last year, then you know that our PG play at the very end of the game was less than stellar.
I don't blame it on Nika because Geno is the playmaker-in-chief.
In hindsight it seems like more than a coincidence that most of UConn's losses last season were to teams that had All-American quality PG's such as Iowa, Notre Dame, UCLA & Texas.
And that's not including the loses to NC State or SCAR.

It's been mentioned that Paige had to play power forward due to injuries.
However that won't be the case this year.
Paige & Azzi haven't played together for 2 years now.
It's about time that they get to play together & while playing their positions of strength before that window of opportunity closes.
Chen & KK or great PG's but they're not close to being All-American PG's yet.
Paige won all of her national awards in her freshmen year as a PG because she was sensational.
If I were Geno, I would give strong consideration to which position that Paige wants to play.
She has the tools & the heart, now she just needs the opportunity.
I think that Geno owes her one for all of her years of sacrifices.

 

[Alydar]

Re: your assertion that Paige would be point guard if everyone were healthy and there are enough scorers:

• how do you know for certain that would be Geno’s thinking?
• this is arguing a hypothetical, and nothing you or I say at this point # can be dispositive;
• I could point out that in DT and Sue’s two Superteams, DT was not the point guard as a window into Geno’s thinking;
• I could also point out that whenever Geno had another point guard, he has decided to move Paige off-ball with his official reasons noted above.

# I am aware that you have always thought Paige should be the point guard. We will know by this season, on Day 1 as well as when Azzi returns whether Geno would use Paige as the point guard instead of both Kaitlyn and KK.

===

Re: Point guard duties being overblown.

• Have you seen Swin defend Tamika Catchings (who is not a point guard)?
• Have you seen Nika defend Caitlyn Clark?
• If a player has that kind of season-long intense defense focus, it will wear that player down.
• And Geno expects Paige to be the best scorer. Do you remember Sue to be the best scorer on her teams?

how do you know for certain that would be Geno’s thinking?

Am I the only one who needs to "know for certain"? This thread is 100% speculation. Even the comments about the past are based on speculation.

• I could point out that in DT and Sue’s two Superteams, DT was not the point guard as a window into Geno’s thinking;

I already said that Taurasi played the 2 because she was a far better scorer than Bird. It had nothing to do with their pg skills. They were likely the 2 best pg's in wcbb that year but only Taurasi would have been an AA at the 2. any coach would have played them the same way.

• I could also point out that whenever Geno had another point guard, he has decided to move Paige off-ball with his official reasons noted above.

To my eyes, in 2024-2025 UConn has elite level players at every position IF Buckers plays pg. If Bueckers moves somewhere else then they are elite everywhere BUT at pg. Both Arnold and Chen may change my assessment but not yet.
If Geno had had another scorer with a 3pt shot in 2021 then Bueckers would likely have stayed at the point. At this time UConn has a number of elite-level off-guard scorers this coming season but only one at pg, Bueckers. None of the other current pg candidates would be called "elite". Maybe one will emerge but not right now.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Since a related topic is active on the general board, perhaps we might chew on this over here too. I have a few observations.

• Paige is clearly the best PG in WBB, but there may be reasons not to use her in that spot this season, or at least not exclusively. She is a dazzling playmaker and floor general, as she has proven many times. But she is great in more ways than this, and if Geno uses her exclusively as a PG he may eclipse other players who aren't quite as versatile.
• Azzi could be a good PG, but this doesn't seem to fit her as well as it does Paige. I'm reminded of the Texas game 2 seasons ago, where she was brilliant as the PG, dominated the game, but it still seemed like a loose fit for her. SG seems so much more clearly to fit the way she thinks and reacts on the court. She is probably the pre-eminent SG in the game right now.
• KK is Geno's budding PG, but she may not be all the way there yet. On defense, she seems ready, but her offense is still rounding into form. The puzzle is how else to use her if not as PG. She is not quite SG material on offense which means she'd cost Geno a shooter when she's the on the floor as anything other than a PG.
• Kaitlyn is a fully fledged PG, as she has demonstrated over the past two seasons. She is solid at both ends of the floor, but can also be a second scorer at the SG spot.
• Morgan has the intensity on defense to be an excellent PG, and her size makes her a matchup nightmare for most other teams. She's not the shooter that Paige or Azzi (or Sarah) is, but she can crash the boards with the best guard in the game. At her best, Morgan is playmaker and a rebounder and full court defender, but she may need to develop the "court balance" mentality the best PGs have.

You may have noticed that Ash and Allie are not in this list. I don't doubt that if pressed, either could cover the spot for portions of a game. But it is clearly not Ash's best spot, and I suspect Allie will also seem out of place as a PG.

Finally, what about Sarah? She has good handles and a fabulous perimeter shot, as well as awesome rebounding and scoring skills in the paint. She may not have the foot speed to keep up with the quickest opponents on the perimeter. But she has really quick, strong hands and that may make up for a lot. I'm not seriously suggesting she play PG, merely because there are lots of other things Geno will want to use her for. But I can also imagine that her skillset may end up overlapping with whoever the PG is at any moment.

To the question asked in the thread title by the OP, YES!!! [My wife's favorite answer to either/or multi-choice questions].

Any three of them should be able to break the Ohio State Press or anyone imitating them, with any combination of Sarah, Ice, AP, Jana, Griffin, Q, and Ash.

Outstanding Defense & fast break opportunities should also follow.

Go Huskies!

 

[The CDR-Ret]

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.

By PF, I believe you are saying "Point Forward" [Maya & Stewie, and hopefully Sarah Strong] vice Power Forward.

I believe the term that applies to most of the Huskies this season is "outstanding handles" so passing should be crisp, and able to be put through very small windows quickly, and good hands {as well as outstanding anticipation by those receiving the passes} to set new records for assists as they all can "put the ball in the hoop."

Go Huskies!!!

 

[ashfan]

A look back and a look ahead for Azzi:

Wouldn't the most sensible thing be to put her in off the bench to spell the more durable Ashlynn? That would protect her and allow the post-Page leader, Ash12, to assert herself as she comes of age.

 

[Bone Dog]

By PF, I believe you are saying "Point Forward" [Maya & Stewie, and hopefully Sarah Strong] vice Power Forward.

I probably meant to type PR, you know for Power Ranger.

 

[Alydar]

By PF, I believe you are saying "Point Forward" [Maya & Stewie, and hopefully Sarah Strong] vice Power Forward.

I believe the term that applies to most of the Huskies this season is "outstanding handles" so passing should be crisp, and able to be put through very small windows quickly, and good hands {as well as outstanding anticipation by those receiving the passes} to set new records for assists as they all can "put the ball in the hoop."

Go Huskies!!!

That should only get better as the season goes on and they get to know each other better. .

 

[Cuango]

When Paige is on the floor playing PG, I see Chen as being more of a Chrstyn Williams type of player because she can move, elevate and is a 3 level scorer,.
If Azzi is in the game then she becomes the SG.
That's what makes the most sense to me.
KK would be a sub for Chen or if Paige needs a break.
If Azzi if not ready to go then Allie, Shade, Carol or Morgan can be called on.
But no way do I see 3 PG's in the game at the same time.
That would be too much redundancy.
Paige can play SG but the PG needs to be a 3 level scoring threat and the best decision maker on the team responsible for the offensive flow, decision making & the outcome of the game.
Geno will want to help Paige to showcase her PG abilities because of the WNBA draft & because she's been the backbone of the team for so long,
Paige can best decide who to feed the ball to because UConn can't win with Paige being the only superstar,
Everyone else will need to step up.
Paige will take some of the heat off them by drawing the defense, but they also need to take the heat off of her by making their shots when she feeds them the ball.
Paige can find the weaknesses of the other teams better than Chen.
And when it comes to feeding Jana, Satah, Chen or Azzi or whoever, Geno already trusts her.
A NC winning year requires some new ideas, better shooting & better execution then in recent losing years.
After all, Paige is the ultimate UConn Alpha gal.
She doesn't need to play PG on defense, but UConn will need her to play PG on offense.

I don’t think there will be any “showcasing” of Paige’s talents! There is plenty of film showing what Paige is capable of. Geno will absolutely play her in whatever way that provides this team with its best chance to win a title! If the GMs in the W don’t already know what kind of player Paige is, they are in the wrong business!

 

[Cuango]

Not-so-much for Caitlyn last night vs. the Sun; however, I don't remember the last time Caitlyn was at least slightly off two games in a row....

Well, I’d say that being gouged in the eye might have had something to do with it! Not sure I’ve ever seen a player try to block a shot with her fingers pointing down like a claw! They’re gonna mess around and lose their golden goose!

 

[sun]

I don’t think there will be any “showcasing” of Paige’s talents! There is plenty of film showing what Paige is capable of. Geno will absolutely play her in whatever way that provides this team with its best chance to win a title! If the GMs in the W don’t already know what kind of player Paige is, they are in the wrong business!

Paige will be showcased just by being given PG duties.
How else will Paige in her own words be able to be more aggressive & a less passive player if she isn't given more touches with the ball to doi her thing which includes her fabulous passing abilities?
Even though she'll probably be sharing PG duties, no one touches the ball more than the PG or can affect the outcome of a game as much.
UConn's hopes for a NC will be riding on her in a very big way & we all know that Geno wants to help her achieve it using any means possible.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Paige will be showcased just by being given PG duties.
How else will Paige in her own words be able to be more aggressive & a less passive player if she isn't given more touches with the ball to doi her thing which includes her fabulous passing abilities?
Even though she'll probably be sharing PG duties, no one touches the ball more than the PG or can affect the outcome of a game as much.
UConn's hopes for a NC will be riding on her in a very big way & we all know that Geno wants to help her achieve it using any means possible.

I guess Diana was not her most aggressive self by playing a position other than point guard?

• End-of-season fatigue — due to playing the 4 with mostly 6-7 players — was a major factor in the drop-off in Paige’s aggressiveness that was noticeable in the Iowa game, no? Something a full roster will fix, no?

As already pointed out, Paige is already very well known:

• expected number 1 draft pick,
• former NPOY as a freshman, and
• an All-American powering a team that was mostly written-off to two points short of last year’s finals.

As to your other points:

Paige can still do point guard duty within the half-court read-and-react shoot-dribble-pass (motion)-pass(point) motion offense:

• without being the point guard that brings up the ball past mid-court;
• without being the point guard that initiates the offense past mid-court.

She can do so:

• by making passes within the motion read-and-react offense once she recognizes offensive opportunities (pass-point);
• in a reset of the possession, after a few fruitless seconds in the possession, where she becomes the point guard.

Effectively thus, in normal-flowing possessions of the motion offense, she becomes one of four off-ball scorers that the defense needs to guard.

All the above minimizes defensive pressure on Paige without sacrificing Paige as a scorer or Paige’s passing abilities.

If Geno follows your seeming suggestions (which he hasn’t in most of Paige’s playing career thus far):

• If Paige has the most minutes of the point guard responsibilities (ball handler, table setter, primary team barker, safety, scorer), the defense will key-in on her. Stop UConn by bodying up on Paige all the time — when she has the ball (most of the time) and when she doesn’t!
• Even when Diana was not the point guard, she still wore down in the long seasons when Sue was not her backcourt mate. Imagine Diana’s aches and pains if she was the main point guard. Diana possibly would not have been able to get her last two championships due to more intense aches and pains.

But we won’t have to wait long to see what Geno will actually do with a full roster.

 

[Bone Dog]

• expected number 1 draft pick,
• former NPOY as a freshman, and
• an All-American powering a team that was mostly written-off to two points short of last year’s finals.

I wonder what Paige's chances for a second NPoY are.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Am I the only one who needs to "know for certain"? This thread is 100% speculation. Even the comments about the past are based on speculation.




I already said that Taurasi played the 2 because she was a far better scorer than Bird. It had nothing to do with their pg skills. They were likely the 2 best pg's in wcbb that year but only Taurasi would have been an AA at the 2. any coach would have played them the same way.



To my eyes, in 2024-2025 UConn has elite level players at every position IF Buckers plays pg. If Bueckers moves somewhere else then they are elite everywhere BUT at pg. Both Arnold and Chen may change my assessment but not yet.
If Geno had had another scorer with a 3pt shot in 2021 then Bueckers would likely have stayed at the point. At this time UConn has a number of elite-level off-guard scorers this coming season but only one at pg, Bueckers. None of the other current pg candidates would be called "elite". Maybe one will emerge but not right now.

Speculation without proffered evidence is an unsupported assertion. (In law, unsupported assertions (called speculation) are objectionable).

Offering unsupported assertions to counter evidence-backed inferences is not conducive to a marketplace of ideas.

Re: Kaitlyn. Geno discussed Kaitlyn — who only has one year of eligibility left and has aspirations for the next level — with Carla knowing he already has Paige and KK.

• Do you think Geno will utilize Kaitlyn very differently from Carla who already made Kaitlyn a much-coveted transfer?
• Do you think KK will not be given extensive point guard minutes by Geno in preparation for next year?
• By elite at every position, who is the Wing — Caroline? Morgan? Q? Allie?
• And you consider Kaitlyn or KK as not as elite as point guards relative to a player (other than Paige) at the wing?
• Do you think Geno’s current calculated use of Paige will be abandoned, per your speculation, and both Kaitlyn and KK will have less point guard minutes than Paige?

That said, my earlier post remains germane to your current post. We will just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Alydar]

• Do you think Geno will utilize Kaitlyn very differently from Carla who already made Kaitlyn a much-coveted transfer?

No idea. I'd guess she would play either guard position.

• Do you think KK will not be given extensive point guard minutes by Geno in preparation for next year?

Based on last year I would expect her to play pg for less minutes than last year. She may have added more offense which would expand her role and her minutes. I don't think the 2025-2026 season will have any influence.

• By elite at every position, who is the Wing — Caroline? Morgan? Q? Allie?

The wings are Ducharme, Cheli and Strong. There will often be 3 guards and no wings. It's impossible at this point to say what combinations will emerge from practices.

• And you consider Kaitlyn or KK as not as elite as point guards relative to a player (other than Paige) at the wing?

Right. As of last April neither Shade nor Arnold were elite. I expect them to be better as sophomores but neither has shown to be an elite 3pt shooter. Players like them have been the reason Bueckers had to focus on scoring instead of being the quarterback. Ducharme, despite her stats, proved her worth from behind the arc before she was injured as a freshman. Bueckers and Fudd are elite guards.

• Do you think Geno’s current calculated use of Paige will be abandoned, per your speculation, and both Kaitlyn and KK will have less point guard minutes than Paige?

What current calculated use? Do you mean pf? Last year was necessitated by injuries. Do you think that Geno had Bueckers pencilled in as a 4 before El Alfy and Patterson were lost? I think there is more chance that Strong will play the 2.

If a pg isn't a major threat to score the defense can focus on guarding the other 4. With someone like Bueckers who is almost as good a 2 as a 1, the defense has to help on them and that leaves 3 defenders on 4 teammates. And if 2 of those teammates are elite 3pt shooters then scoring becomes much easier. That's what I think will happen this season.

I'm going to see two practices in about 10 days. That should answer a lot of questions for me.

 

[Skeets]

Will Geno play Paige differently this year? Maybe, he appears (fingers crossed) to have more players and options available to him. However, I think we'll see Kaitlyn and KK more often at PG than Paige.

If Paige isn't at the point, then she's probably reducing the minutes for Shade which would be unfortunate.

 

[Stagnant]

I have thought about it a bit more. And I have come to the conclusion that Chen will play a lot of point guard.

The big east is down. The team is healthy. Another weaker team was added to the schedule (Oregon state). So, I think UConn will blow out a lot of teams. And that means garbage time.

Even during garbage time. Geno has to watch the game. So, he doesn’t watch disorganization and poor play. Last year. He played a lot of Nika during garbage time. And she was a stabilizing force with Q, Deberry, Ines, and others. I see Chen being in that role a lot. She’s the one with experience. KK is probably 1A or 1B point guard with Paige. So, I don’t see him wanting to risk those two. It will be Chen imo.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

No idea. I'd guess she would play either guard position.


Based on last year I would expect her to play pg for less minutes than last year. She may have added more offense which would expand her role and her minutes. I don't think the 2025-2026 season will have any influence.

The wings are Ducharme, Cheli and Strong. There will often be 3 guards and no wings. It's impossible at this point to say what combinations will emerge from practices.

Right. As of last April neither Shade nor Arnold were elite. I expect them to be better as sophomores but neither has shown to be an elite 3pt shooter. Players like them have been the reason Bueckers had to focus on scoring instead of being the quarterback. Ducharme, despite her stats, proved her worth from behind the arc before she was injured as a freshman. Bueckers and Fudd are elite guards.


What current calculated use? Do you mean pf? Last year was necessitated by injuries. Do you think that Geno had Bueckers pencilled in as a 4 before El Alfy and Patterson were lost? I think there is more chance that Strong will play the 2.

If a pg isn't a major threat to score the defense can focus on guarding the other 4. With someone like Bueckers who is almost as good a 2 as a 1, the defense has to help on them and that leaves 3 defenders on 4 teammates. And if 2 of those teammates are elite 3pt shooters then scoring becomes much easier. That's what I think will happen this season.

I'm going to see two practices in about 10 days. That should answer a lot of questions for me.

“Calculated use” in my post is a hyperlink to post 82 of this thread, which says in relevant part:

“All the above minimizes defensive pressure on Paige without sacrificing Paige as a scorer or Paige’s passing abilities.”

His approach to Paige’s use (being an off-ball scorer which is also # in my post) reminds of his approach to Diana when he had Maria Conlon be the point guard.

It’s a pattern. In all my posts, I talk about Geno’s predilections — it is his team.

Re: your other points.

• Sarah playing the wing is a definite possibility for her sophomore year, especially if we don’t land Agot Makeer; but Geno needs her more at the 4 this year, especially with her spectacular rebounding; Caroline is elite, provided she can play and nobody here knows that;
• So the entire premise for your position has now boiled down to your assumption that Kaitlyn and KK will be left unguarded;
• It is a motion offense (which will be more robust this year) — they can easily score the way they always efficiently have especially now when the mid-range and drives will be more open; Sarah or Jana can flash to make a 3 or a mid-range jumper;
• Moriah Jefferson did improve on her 3-point shot; Kaitlyn and KK may improve on their 3-point efficiency with a full roster.

# I think everyone here knows that Paige played out of necessity last season and you could have easily inferred that I wouldn’t have meant power forward as an off-ball scorer;

• That and not reading between the lines about what it means for Geno to agree to take in Carla’s special mentee;
• At this point, there are diminishing returns on further discussions when the season is right around the corner.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Geno did not bring Kaitlyn onto the roster if he didn't intend to use her at PG!
She will be Nika Muhl 1A!
IMHO Paige will most likely be the SG or Wing when Azzi is totally healthy, which maybe the middle or end of December!
KK and Ashlynn will get 20 minutes which ever way Geno goes!

 

[yhun89]

Geno did not bring Kaitlyn onto the roster if he didn't intend to use her at PG!
She will be Nika Muhl 1A!

Kaitlyn is an elite midrange scorer and driver. He can use her at PG if he chooses, but she's also an incredibly effective scorer. Especially on a team like this, where spacing is abundant, it will give her more room to drive or to pull up uncontested. Pair her with 2-3 floor spacers, like Azzi, Sarah, Allie, or Paige, and she'll make mincemeat out of a team.

I watched her at Princeton for a while. She's a scoring PG, who will look for her teammates, but will also just go for the aggressive pull up jumper if they aren't open.

 

[Bone Dog]

Kaitlyn is an elite midrange scorer and driver. He can use her at PG if he chooses, but she's also an incredibly effective scorer. Especially on a team like this, where spacing is abundant, it will give her more room to drive or to pull up uncontested. Pair her with 2-3 floor spacers, like Azzi, Sarah, Allie, or Paige, and she'll make mincemeat out of a team.

I watched her at Princeton for a while. She's a scoring PG, who will look for her teammates, but will also just go for the aggressive pull up jumper if they aren't open.

Sorry, if I'm in a mood, but I really loved this post and the one above it. Especially the "mincemeat" line. I couldn't help imagining Kaitlyn making mincemeat out of both teams! Of course, she'll play within the system. But the thought of someone with her scoring ability and propensities and Nika-level aggressiveness seems really amusing this morning. Go Nika 1a!

 

[hoophuskee]

Right. As of last April neither Shade nor Arnold were elite. I expect them to be better as sophomores but neither has shown to be an elite 3pt shooter. Players like them have been the reason Bueckers had to focus on scoring instead of being the quarterback. Ducharme, despite her stats, proved her worth from behind the arc before she was injured as a freshman. Bueckers and Fudd are elite guards.


What current calculated use? Do you mean pf? Last year was necessitated by injuries. Do you think that Geno had Bueckers pencilled in as a 4 before El Alfy and Patterson were lost? I think there is more chance that Strong will play the 2.

If a pg isn't a major threat to score the defense can focus on guarding the other 4. With someone like Bueckers who is almost as good a 2 as a 1, the defense has to help on them and that leaves 3 defenders on 4 teammates. And if 2 of those teammates are elite 3pt shooters then scoring becomes much easier. That's what I think will happen this season.

I'm going to see two practices in about 10 days. That should answer a lot of questions for me.

No idea. I'd guess she would play either guard position.


Based on last year I would expect her to play pg for less minutes than last year. She may have added more offense which would expand her role and her minutes. I don't think the 2025-2026 season will have any influence.

The wings are Ducharme, Cheli and Strong. There will often be 3 guards and no wings. It's impossible at this point to say what combinations will emerge from practices.

Right. As of last April neither Shade nor Arnold were elite. I expect them to be better as sophomores but neither has shown to be an elite 3pt shooter. Players like them have been the reason Bueckers had to focus on scoring instead of being the quarterback. Ducharme, despite her stats, proved her worth from behind the arc before she was injured as a freshman. Bueckers and Fudd are elite guards.


What current calculated use? Do you mean pf? Last year was necessitated by injuries. Do you think that Geno had Bueckers pencilled in as a 4 before El Alfy and Patterson were lost? I think there is more chance that Strong will play the 2.

If a pg isn't a major threat to score the defense can focus on guarding the other 4. With someone like Bueckers who is almost as good a 2 as a 1, the defense has to help on them and that leaves 3 defenders on 4 teammates. And if 2 of those teammates are elite 3pt shooters then scoring becomes much easier. That's what I think will happen this season.

I'm going to see two practices in about 10 days. That should answer a lot of questions for me.

1--- I don't want to reference too much on this but I can't help it. Let me get this straight - you won't acknowledge that Paige as a "Wing" yet you are willing to say Strong will play the 2? I've had arguments with others and I think even with you arguing with me when I callee Paige a "Forward" (whether it be point-forward or anything else associated) this past year to her as a "Forward", yet you are referring to Sarah as a possible 2?

2---In regard to you say that Shade and Arnold you expect to be better despite not being elite. Yet both players beat out Ice for minutes forcing UCONN to play extreme small ball. Yet you've referred to Sarah as a probable top Wing candidate which when you do this and have Azzi and Paige in the game, where does this leave Shade and KK? So, who is the other big (until Aubrey comes back)? You have Jana at center no doubt, so who is beating out Shade and KK? You think Chen will and she'll be moslty the 2 and play behind Azzi? Or?

3--- If you assume Shade and Arnold will be better, and they were good enough to help UCONN get to FF and seconds away from the Finals, then why isn't their improved play which you expect to happen won't translate into a more potent offense for this year?

4--- As I've said many times imo you (and others) vastly underrate Paige. ,You are referring to a team needs a pg to be a major scoring threat yet you minimize that Paige had pg responsibilities last year. Again I refer to watch the entire 4th qtr vs SoCal. How is it that anyone can't see that Paige was playing pg quite a bit of the time? In addition, you say the PG needs to be scoring threat, yet Muhl only averaged 7 ppg, and you have also acknowledged that KK and Shade weren't elite scorers, and if Paige wasn't playing pg, then doesn't this highlight how extra-ordinary Paige was not playing pg in your view? So, if she is that exceptional and she has Azzi coming back you don't think she is capable of getting open enough to be even greater this year if she isn't the #1 pg?

5---- UCONN wants to run the ball. Hoop is not halfcourt only. No way KK plays as much as she did last year. But UOCNN probably runs better when either KK or Chen are in playing alongside Paige. And in this manner they will probably mutually share pg responsibilities (KK or Chen playing alongside Paige) just as they have done this past year whne UCONN had Nika and KK play (instead of using for example Ice or Q more).

 

[hoophuskee]

Kaitlyn is an elite midrange scorer and driver. He can use her at PG if he chooses, but she's also an incredibly effective scorer. Especially on a team like this, where spacing is abundant, it will give her more room to drive or to pull up uncontested. Pair her with 2-3 floor spacers, like Azzi, Sarah, Allie, or Paige, and she'll make mincemeat out of a team.

I watched her at Princeton for a while. She's a scoring PG, who will look for her teammates, but will also just go for the aggressive pull up jumper if they aren't open.

Yes she can score- which makes her very attractive to have her take enough shots as one of the top-tier scorers. With that said, she played for Princeton which had no shot be an elite team. In this case, their is a good chance that at least 4 others are more efficient as a scorer that she is (Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Jana).. IMO overall it is always better to have more efficient elite "scorers" (Not just "a shooter."). However on the flipside she is a perfect fit to play with these other 4 thus you could have games she excels as a "scorer" exceptionally well.