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

[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.

 

[HopJim]

While I enjoy these threads, if our goal is to understand how UConn will succeed (i.e. National Championship) this year, perhaps this question can be answered a different way. With all the strong guard talent and relatively inexperienced bigs, forecast that Geno will develop a different offense than what we have seen in the past. PG may be less defined with many players in this role depending upon their in-season performance. Some will get the minutes, some not. Likely will change and evolve each game throughout the season. Should be interesting.

 

[Dogstar]

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).

Totally agree with you on all points 1-5,
Couldn't have said it any better myself.

 

[Alydar]

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).

I'm going to try and simplify my position and not get into details which have already been talked out.

Most of the lineup changes for the last 4 years were dictated by injuries or the need to fill holes.

While we all refer to Bueckers playing the 4 last year it's all based on who she guarded. On offense she played a guard position. On defense she guarded a forward but IMO she was a guard guarding a forward. Bueckers is not a 4, never was and will never be one.

This year, at this moment, UConn has no holes to fill. In fact they have multiple options in both the front and back courts. Players will be slotted at their best position. They will also fill other roles during a game but that will depend on their versatility and game situations.

How it all works out will be decided in the next 6 weeks. There is huge potential in this team.

 

[hoophuskee]

Most of the lineup changes for the last 4 years were dictated by injuries or the need to fill holes.

While we all refer to Bueckers playing the 4 last year it's all based on who she guarded. On offense she played a guard position. On defense she guarded a forward but IMO she was a guard guarding a forward. Bueckers is not a 4, never was and will never be one.

I still don't understand your pov . Your refusal to call Paige a Forward when a definition of a Wing is what easily fits her style along with your refusal to call her a pg when in fact has also played pg and only want to limit her by calling her a guard imo is confusing (which underrates her supreme versatility). You seem to be an enormous Paige fan as many of are so with the limitations of what you perceive what pg's are, and 3pt shooters needed, yet it doesn’t fit the success UCONN had this past year. What difference does it make what they had to do vs what they did? And we can acknowledge that Paige's performance was extra-ordinarily special, correct?

But in regard to Paige and what she did last year vs you refer to Sarah as playing the 2; Do you ever want Sarah guarding a perimeter player vs an inside player? And a “2” on Offense gives virtually no inside game and no offensive rebounding. This is what you feel comfortable restricting Sarah to play?

I just don't beleive Sarah should ever be a 2. .

 

[yhun89]

I still don't understand your pov . Your refusal to call Paige a Forward when a definition of a Wing is what easily fits her style along with your refusal to call her a pg when in fact has also played pg and only want to limit her by calling her a guard imo is confusing (which underrates her supreme versatility). You seem to be an enormous Paige fan as many of are so with the limitations of what you perceive what pg's are, and 3pt shooters needed, yet it doesn’t fit the success UCONN had this past year. What difference does it make what they had to do vs what they did? And we can acknowledge that Paige's performance was extra-ordinarily special, correct?

But in regard to Paige and what she did last year vs you refer to Sarah as playing the 2; Do you ever want Sarah guarding a perimeter player vs an inside player? And a “2” on Offense gives virtually no inside game and no offensive rebounding. This is what you feel comfortable restricting Sarah to play?

I just don't beleive Sarah should ever be a 2. .

Sarah should be a stretch 4, given her elite shooting ability and strong post skills. Kinda similar to a Dorka, but much more bully ball style of play and a better shooter.

 

[Alydar]

I still don't understand your pov . Your refusal to call Paige a Forward when a definition of a Wing is what easily fits her style along with your refusal to call her a pg when in fact has also played pg and only want to limit her by calling her a guard imo is confusing (which underrates her supreme versatility). You seem to be an enormous Paige fan as many of are so with the limitations of what you perceive what pg's are, and 3pt shooters needed, yet it doesn’t fit the success UCONN had this past year. What difference does it make what they had to do vs what they did? And we can acknowledge that Paige's performance was extra-ordinarily special, correct?

But in regard to Paige and what she did last year vs you refer to Sarah as playing the 2; Do you ever want Sarah guarding a perimeter player vs an inside player? And a “2” on Offense gives virtually no inside game and no offensive rebounding. This is what you feel comfortable restricting Sarah to play?

I just don't beleive Sarah should ever be a 2. .

I think a lot of people miss-define the role of a pg. It includes scoring, just like every other position but lately UConn fans hav. The leading scorers of a team can be centers, forwards and guards. You seem to think that wing is Bueckers' best role. I don't. I think her skills, passing, court vision, BBIQ and leadership are both the best on the team and the best suited for pg. Bottom line is that Bueckers is more dangerous with the ball in her hands and so is UConn.
Besides, positions are invisible in transition become vague in UConn's motion offense. Anyone who plays the point for UConn needs to be a scorer this year.

In her freshman season Geno said that when she was playing point he could sit and watch because she rarely made a decision he disagreed with. And yes, I am a huge Bueckers fan.

 

[hoophuskee]

I think a lot of people miss-define the role of a pg. It includes scoring, just like every other position but lately UConn fans hav. The leading scorers of a team can be centers, forwards and guards. You seem to think that wing is Bueckers' best role. I don't. I think her skills, passing, court vision, BBIQ and leadership are both the best on the team and the best suited for pg. Bottom line is that Bueckers is more dangerous with the ball in her hands and so is UConn.
Besides, positions are invisible in transition become vague in UConn's motion offense. Anyone who plays the point for UConn needs to be a scorer this year.

In her freshman season Geno said that when she was playing point he could sit and watch because she rarely made a decision he disagreed with. And yes, I am a huge Bueckers fan.

I don’t agree with the context. Too many people put players in boxes which you’re doing with Paige. Which is why I say so many underestimate her. I’ve mentioned twice Paige was extra-ordinary and all you want to focus on is pg, nor acknowledge that she was playing at times, pg. What I’ve asked or implied is that some of you stop putting Paige in a box. She brings the ball up the floor vs SoCal and runs the Offense at times and yet we can’t call her a part-time pg? Other times in that game Nika brings the ball up the floor then 40 feet from the basket she hands the ball off to Paige then runs 20 feet away while Paige starts the Offense and we can’t call her a part-time pg? When we were pressed by both Duke and SoCal, Paige was also assisting bringing the ball up between either KK or Nika – this is part of what a pg does. So why should we not give Paige the credit she deserves?

To further this, you had mentioned a pg needs to score. So, if you aren’t; acknowledging that Paige was a pg, then are you suggesting Nika was a subpar pg? And you had previously mentioned about the need for 3pt shooting so Paige can get open and KK and Shade as you stated aren’t elite. Yet you saw with your own eyes UCONN made the FF and seconds away from the Finals. If UCONN has Azzi with Paige why do you think UCONN wouldn’t be awesome in this regard if for example KK or Chen took Nika’s spot? This past year Paige got open a ton, bit now with either Chen or KK she can't open very well or they (KK and Chen) make it difficult for Paige to get open?

As far as your point about what I believe Paige is best at, I believe she is best playing basketball in all guard/wing phases. I’ve mentioned in the past she was a point-forward this past year. So, when you say I think Paige is best as a Wing, that doesn’t entirely define what I stated. She’s a point that played this past year combo Wing/Stretch 4 (ie."Point-Forward"). The thing is I value her overall basketball play more than you do. You have yet to even acknowledge Paige was extraordinary this past year. If you can’t acknowledge this, then how can you say you respect her game? Is she so one-dimensional in your eyes instead of acknowledging she is extra-ordinary? She proved ishe was extra-ordinary this past year, didn’t she? If she was so amazing this year and we have Azzi coming back, doesn't it stand to reason we will be awesome? The past guards got Paige the ball, but now all of a sudden they can't get the ball to either?

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

I think a lot of people miss-define the role of a pg. It includes scoring, just like every other position but lately UConn fans hav. The leading scorers of a team can be centers, forwards and guards. You seem to think that wing is Bueckers' best role. I don't. I think her skills, passing, court vision, BBIQ and leadership are both the best on the team and the best suited for pg. Bottom line is that Bueckers is more dangerous with the ball in her hands and so is UConn.
Besides, positions are invisible in transition become vague in UConn's motion offense. Anyone who plays the point for UConn needs to be a scorer this year.

In her freshman season Geno said that when she was playing point he could sit and watch because she rarely made a decision he disagreed with. And yes, I am a huge Bueckers fan.

“A lot of people mis-define the point guard position”. There again with the unsupported assertions.

I know I am breaking my no-utility-in-future discussions-rule, but this statement of yours is very revealing and merits rebuttal.

You are insisting on your “holes to fill” theory:

• which is a restatement of “elite at every position” theory — disproved here and here;
• which became “Kaitlyn and KK will be unguarded” theory — disproved here and here;

Now it is another arguing a hypothetical — the “holes to fill” theory knowing fully well that the injury-plagued years renders testing of that theory impossible;

• As noted before, Geno’s official reasons why he moved Paige from mostly point guard to a scorer moonlighting as a point guard on occasion, was that there were other point guards that are better at pushing pace and that the motion moves better because people don’t Paige watch;
• I have inferred with supporting evidence that Paige is being used similar to Diana so the defense won’t key-in on her which will maximize her scoring and playing point guard when needed, and will ensure as best possible that she will be relatively fresh for postseason play.

If there are “holes to fill”, Geno is the one doing the filling, not you. It is his predilections that matter here, not yours.

• Geno’s taking in Carla’s special mentee, which you have willfully ignored, is a market signal on his thinking about filling holes;
• I phrased my questions to you re: Kaitlyn (and KK) in a way to know whether you are ignoring such market signal (market signals filter the probable from the just possible);
• And you have.

You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion. Puffing up yours by denigrating others for “mis-defining the point guard position” is a bit much.

 

[Skeets]

“A lot of people mis-define the point guard position”. There again with the unsupported assertions.

I know I am breaking my no-utility-in-future discussions-rule, but this statement of yours is very revealing and merits rebuttal.

You are insisting on your “holes to fill” theory:

• which is a restatement of “elite at every position” theory — disproved here and here;
• which became “Kaitlyn and KK will be unguarded” theory — disproved here and here;

Now it is another arguing a hypothetical — the “holes to fill” theory knowing fully well that the injury-plagued years renders testing of that theory impossible;

• As noted before, Geno’s official reasons why he moved Paige from mostly point guard to a scorer moonlighting as a point guard on occasion, was that there were other point guards that are better at pushing pace and that the motion moves better because people don’t Paige watch;
• I have inferred with supporting evidence that Paige is being used similar to Diana so the defense won’t key-in on her which will maximize her scoring and playing point guard when needed, and will ensure as best possible that she will be relatively fresh for postseason play.

If there are “holes to fill”, Geno is the one doing the filling, not you. It is his predilections that matter here, not yours.

• Geno’s taking in Carla’s special mentee, which you have willfully ignored, is a market signal on his thinking about filling holes;
• I phrased my questions to you re: Kaitlyn (and KK) in a way to know whether you are ignoring such market signal (market signals filter the probable from the just possible);
• And you have.

You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion. Puffing up yours by denigrating others for “mis-defining the point guard position” is a bit much.

Hey folks, let's all take a deep breath. "Facts" have to substantiated. Opinions on a fan forum do not. Maybe we are being just a little bit picky?

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Hey folks, let's all take a deep breath. "Facts" have to substantiated. Opinions on a fan forum do not. Maybe we are being just a little bit picky?

A small nit but an important one. The poster was the first to engaged me. I was ignoring his opinions on this topic even when I knew of them and disagreed with them.

If you are going to engage another poster, it has to be a free exchange of ideas. If one is offering supported inferences, you do not counter with unsupported assertions.

But I agree with you. It is a fan forum where time is better spent enjoying rather than arguing fandom.