Portal Shopping List

[MilfordHusky]

Now that we know we have at least 2 scholarships available, whom do you want?

If she enters the portal, I’d grab Reagan Beers, as an experienced center is a need.

I’m curious about the 6’6” Aussie JuCo in New Mexico. Her recent videos are much improved.

I like Emely Rodriguez out of the Dominican Republic and Miami, though she may be a S. Carolina lean.

Kaitlyn Chen would be an intriguing option, and keeping her away from Stanford and UCLA could be a huge plus.

Though she plays on a pro team, I still have not heard anything definitive that Juste Jocyte is not an unpaid amateur. She’s really, really good. Think a 6’1” lean version of Kelsey Plum.

 

[HoopsGuy09]

Beers would be an excellent pick up but would want starter minutes. I suppose that would be better than relying on Jana immediately and really being the only 5–even though we saw teams like USC this weekend playing two 4s at the same time. An intriguing name for me is Grace Vanslooten. 6’3, can shoot, and has the height to play inside if needed, too.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Beers would be an excellent pick up but would want starter minutes. I suppose that would be better than relying on Jana immediately and really being the only 5–even though we saw teams like USC this weekend playing two 4s at the same time. An intriguing name for me is Grace Vanslooten. 6’3, can shoot, and has the height to play inside if needed, too.

Me too.

 

[maple]

I'd take Beers in a heartbeat. You could rotate her in as a starter for some games. I would imagine LSU would be really trying to grab her though. They need people for next season and I can Mulkey being willing to give her a starting role immediately.

Not so sure about Chen or VanSlooten. I think both could be solid off the bench players (but not 6th man).

 

[cancontent]

I'd take Beers in a heartbeat. You could rotate her in as a starter for some games. I would imagine LSU would be really trying to grab her though. They need people for next season and I can Mulkey being willing to give her a starting role immediately.

Not so sure about Chen or VanSlooten. I think both could be solid off the bench players (but not 6th man).

I wouldn't count out VanSlooten as a 6th man. Her ability to play inside and outside offers some flexibility in where she is on the court. Thought she handled herself well as a starter at Oregon in her freshman season.

 

[maple]

I wouldn't count out VanSlooten as a 6th man. Her ability to play inside and outside offers some flexibility in where she is on the court. Thought she handled herself well as a starter at Oregon in her freshman season.

I didn't get to see her play much, just looked at her season stats this year against the better teams. So you might be right.

 

[Martin]

I’d prefer to watch our players develop.

 

[cancontent]

I didn't get to see her play much, just looked at her season stats this year against the better teams. So you might be right.

I wouldn't hold this year against her. That Oregon team underperformed big time as a group in my opinion. Still perplexed as to what's gone wrong over there.

 

[Neptune76]

Beers... a no-brainer who should start over Jana, if one considers health and experience. No reason you can't play Beers 20-25 minutes a game, and Jana 18-20 her first season back. VanSlooten and Pania Davis also should be considered. I'd opt for Davis first.

I hate to say this, but SCARO is the post standard right now, and UCLA is about to make their mark with what they have and what's coming in. Just saying... Go Huskies!

 

[hoopsfan22]

I’d prefer to watch our players develop.

Me too. We saw what playing Shade and KK did for their development, I'd like to see this more. We have three freshman and Jana coming into the rotation for next season. Let's see what they've got before we decide we have holes that need plugging. I don't see too many impact players wanting to come here for a year or two just to be #14 and #15.

 

[Shenandoah]

I'd like to see Geno pick up a veteran big, and use her and Jana the same way Dan Hurley uses our bigs on the men's side. Geno likes to play an up tempo offense, and this would give him fresh legs everywhere, to wear out our opponents come the 4th quarter. If he gets a big for just one year, next year Jana gets the start, and Gandy gets the back up rotation. This way, everyone gets minutes, and stays fresh.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Me too. We saw what playing Shade and KK did for their development, I'd like to see this more. We have three freshman and Jana coming into the rotation for next season. Let's see what they've got before we decide we have holes that need plugging. I don't see too many impact players wanting to come here for a year or two just to be #14 and #15.

Considering we ended this Big East Tournament one injury away from having to disqualify, it seems prudent to have 15 bodies on the roster. 14 and 15 in Nov can easily be 7 and 8 by March.

 

[hoopsdiva]

Me too. We saw what playing Shade and KK did for their development, I'd like to see this more. We have three freshman and Jana coming into the rotation for next season. Let's see what they've got before we decide we have holes that need plugging. I don't see too many impact players wanting to come here for a year or two just to be #14 and #15.

Unfortunately, just like this past season, by the time we know we have holes that need plugging (through injuries, failure to develop or whatever), it will be too late to plug those holes. The calendar doesn't work that way.

 

[huskyblooz]

Without naming individuals. I'd like grad students. Unless, there is a foreign player. I'd like a 6'5"+ post with experience. And a 3/4 who can defend.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Beers isn't even officially in the portal yet, although it seems most expect her to be. If she does leave and goes to a team where she doesn't start, she needs to get her head checked.

 

[cancontent]

Beers isn't even officially in the portal yet, although it seems most expect her to be. If she does leave and goes to a team where she doesn't start, she needs to get her head checked.

Yeah, not sure how she would be seen as a bench player if she were to go somewhere else. At the same time, I don't know how much weight I put into rumours. Selfishly, I hope she stays with Rueck.

 

[DEpup]

Beers isn't even officially in the portal yet, although it seems most expect her to be. If she does leave and goes to a team where she doesn't start, she needs to get her head checked.

However, if I was her, in the portal, and Geno calls. I'd tell myself. Hmm. Edwards is gone, Ice was so so, and Jana is a freshman coming off an injury. I'm pretty good so that starting center job is mine...

 

[Sargassoc]

Liza Karlen? (Not a true center, but scrappy. Unless she follows Duffy to Va Tech.)

 

[UConnCat]

Gardiner (Oregon State) now in the portal.

 

[browns]

Definitly take Gardiner..her and Strong as power forwards woud be awesome if not if they ever could get Beers who will be the best post in the nation next year give them the trophy now because no one would come close to beating them

 

[Gus Mahler]

I'd like to see Geno pick up a veteran big, and use her and Jana the same way Dan Hurley uses our bigs on the men's side. Geno likes to play an up tempo offense, and this would give him fresh legs everywhere, to wear out our opponents come the 4th quarter. If he gets a big for just one year, next year Jana gets the start, and Gandy gets the back up rotation. This way, everyone gets minutes, and stays fresh.

Makes sense. Count me in.

 

[CONNCAN]

Villanova's Lucy Olsen now officially entered the Transfer Portal

 

[donalddoowop]

What position does Gardiner play and how tall is she?

 

[DaBball]

What position does Gardiner play and how tall is she?

She’s 6’3”, mostly a stretch-4 (over half of her attempts were from three) but can also score in the post and mid-range. Shot 39.5% from three and 88.5% on free throws.

 

[JellyBean]

Sorry but I rather watch our incoming and current players develop then add players through the portal and potentially lose current players because they aren't playing or getting minutes.

 

[huskeynut]

I don't beleive Geno has to go to the portal. He has 13 players right now.

Yes it is a young team in many respects, but this is how you keep the program relevant.

Develop the young talent. Live with their mistakes. Encourage them at every opportunity. Geno has the frontline depth now. No question he has the guards.

He may surprise us all and play 10+ players a game.

 

[ERWUC65]

Lots of great thoughts here, but not one mentions Hailey Van Lith. Controversial for sure, but think of the experience and knowledge of the top competition. Love to hear comments about her vs Chen.

 

[hoopsdiva]

I don't beleive Geno has to go to the portal. He has 13 players right now.

Yes it is a young team in many respects, but this is how you keep the program relevant.

Develop the young talent. Live with their mistakes. Encourage them at every opportunity. Geno has the frontline depth now. No question he has the guards.

He may surprise us all and play 10+ players a game.

And if we once again have 5 season ending injuries? Or just a couple, but all at the same position? Or a couple of newbies who don't pan out? Or a couple of players who don't recover from injuries as thoroughly or as quickly as we hope?

Having 15 players as opposed to 13 doesn't eliminate those risks, but it can mitigate the impact of some of those question marks. If Geno has 15 reliable and healthy players, I have every confidence that he'll find a way to play them.

 

[Blond D.]

If a player wants to get ready to go to the WNBA they will try to come to UCONN via portal like Lou and Dorka did. Geno might take someone from the portal but they would have to have the right mental state.

 

[BRS24]

I don't beleive Geno has to go to the portal. He has 13 players right now.

Yes it is a young team in many respects, but this is how you keep the program relevant.

Develop the young talent. Live with their mistakes. Encourage them at every opportunity. Geno has the frontline depth now. No question he has the guards.

He may surprise us all and play 10+ players a game.

Yes, 13 as of right now, however it's a reasonable guess that Aubrey won't play until the second semester, so that's 12. And that's assuming that Azzi, Caroline, and Ayanna will be ready in November. There's a lot of fluidity with who will be ready to go, especially as we won't know how much of the summer session these players participate in.