A few weeks ago I offered some thoughts about next season and am following up at this time.
Over the past few weeks several high profile players have decided to seek greener pastures, among the most prominent being Lauren Betts (now UCLA), Aneesah Morrow, Sedona Prince (signed with Texas Tech), and Hailey Van Lith. The Huskies have one scholarship available and, to the extent there is a perceived need, it is for a big. The most attractive from our standpoint was Lauren Betts, but she is going to UCLA and there is probably no one else available who might fit a UConn need. So it looks as though the Huskies are standing pat.
I also expressed concern about our lack of size because only Aaliyah Edwards is a proven 4-5. Brady, El Afry, and Patterson are all question marks. If two of the three can be significant factors next year, UConn should be in pretty good shape, but the team will likely still be out muscled by the likes of a South Carolina.
Finally, there is the looming question of the health of the players who missed significant or all time this past season, Bueckers, Ducharme, and Fudd. Given the fact that none of them have been close to completely healthy for the past two seasons, my hope is that two of the three will have injury-free seasons. If they and Griffin can play all of next season and, if the team gets good production from its front line players, particularly on the rebounding and defensive end, then 2023-24 will be the team’s best chance for a national championship since 2016.
I’m not sure that I agree with ESPN’s Charlie Creme postulating UConn as the top seed, especially since so many players wishing to transfer have not found landing spots yet. Still, two or three of the incoming freshmen may well by force of talent and/or injuries be significant parts of the 2023-24 rotation. With greater depth, there is more margin for injury.
Only seven months until the new season begins and, as the motto of the old Brooklyn Dodgers after disappoint was, “wait ‘till next year!”
Over the past few weeks several high profile players have decided to seek greener pastures, among the most prominent being Lauren Betts (now UCLA), Aneesah Morrow, Sedona Prince (signed with Texas Tech), and Hailey Van Lith. The Huskies have one scholarship available and, to the extent there is a perceived need, it is for a big. The most attractive from our standpoint was Lauren Betts, but she is going to UCLA and there is probably no one else available who might fit a UConn need. So it looks as though the Huskies are standing pat.
I also expressed concern about our lack of size because only Aaliyah Edwards is a proven 4-5. Brady, El Afry, and Patterson are all question marks. If two of the three can be significant factors next year, UConn should be in pretty good shape, but the team will likely still be out muscled by the likes of a South Carolina.
Finally, there is the looming question of the health of the players who missed significant or all time this past season, Bueckers, Ducharme, and Fudd. Given the fact that none of them have been close to completely healthy for the past two seasons, my hope is that two of the three will have injury-free seasons. If they and Griffin can play all of next season and, if the team gets good production from its front line players, particularly on the rebounding and defensive end, then 2023-24 will be the team’s best chance for a national championship since 2016.
I’m not sure that I agree with ESPN’s Charlie Creme postulating UConn as the top seed, especially since so many players wishing to transfer have not found landing spots yet. Still, two or three of the incoming freshmen may well by force of talent and/or injuries be significant parts of the 2023-24 rotation. With greater depth, there is more margin for injury.
Only seven months until the new season begins and, as the motto of the old Brooklyn Dodgers after disappoint was, “wait ‘till next year!”
