I think we must have been. Maria Conlon was clearly the pg on both those teams. Diana did so much more than what a pg is responsible for that it’s easy to mistake her for a pg in those seasons.
The mindset is certainly different. Yes, Ash's job is to hunt her shots and do her part in running plays. Geno will probably never sub-out KK for Ash. Having said that, I believe Ash's experience at PG in HS and her familiarity with the offense and basketball IQ would enable her to play PG in a pinch. I don't believe UConn would suffer greatly with Ash at the point. Are the better options at PG? I hope so, but you never know...
Last year it was on 10/23. So probably sometime next week.
I’m calling it now. Nov. 26 your Blue Devils will outscore SC and win a close game at Colonial Life Arena! No, no, don’t thank me. I just calls em as I sees em! 😎
I saw that game too, and I share your assessment of Morgan. She is a viable pg — she’s got the quickness and her size gives her a special advantage — but most of all, she’s a natural floor general. This was easy to see in that game, and really in all the games from her senior season. I discount her as a pg candidate this season because of her injury situation. But I think it’s distinctly possible in future seasons. The game against LuHi that season is also quite revealing of her abilities, and Kayleigh is her opposite number in that one.
Duke may edge the Gamecocks November 26 but not at Colonial Life. The will play at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, home of the WNBA Champion Aces. Ya think Aja Wilson will be there supporting her alma mater?
How about making it a Vegas Aces Alumni match? A'ja's Gamecocks vs Chelsea's Blue Devils with them both as guest coaches on the sidelines. 😁
Very good points Nan. A good point guard is necessary to win big games. UConn has enough talent to get by however we need Kayleigh to gain experience quickly, Kelis to learn our system which will take time and KK to get better at running the point. Point guards need to be a threat to score, control the game, and not make turnovers. They are the general on the floor. Paige and Chen were very good at it.l As for Morgan she will need to get healthy and gain experience. My fear is Morgan is not ready and when will she be ready.
I think by the tournament, KK showed she was as good as Kaitlyn at running the point. I have no concerns about her. Kayleigh needs to get there, too, and like Kaitlyn she will need some time to get acclimated to a read-and-react scheme. I have every confidence she’ll figure it out soon enough. As for Kelis, I won’t expect anything from her this first year. She just needs to let the system percolate through her for a while.
I saw that game also (and a few other Mitty games against top H.S. opponents).
My bad! Sorry, but I still think Duke will win that game!
Media day is Tues in NYC so I would expect it then. One of the UConn media staff is staying at my house the night before. I will advise them of all our concerns and hopes….
I too think that Ash could handle the PG position not starting but certainly as a backup. When you look at her she seems to almost look like a "distributor" the way she handles the ball and moves.
Yup. It's not about downgrading anyone. It's about recognizing what their talents are. The fact is Morgan thinks like a pg, or at least she did at Mitty HS, and she probably can again. Jazzy is not that kind of player. She's a talented creator on offense and a clever defender. In that respect, she's a little like Paige was at Hopkins HS. But she doesn't think in terms of the entire floor, or at least she wasn't asked to do that at Clackamas HS. Maybe she'll develop more of that mindset at USC. But just to put this in perspective, Paige had that mindset when she first started at Hopkins HS in 8th grade. Morgan is not the offensive creator Jazzy is, but she's every bit the defender she is.
