Regarding starting

[Boreifs]

Very good point that KK and AS not used as starters isn't a diss, and may occur once more.
Blanca, MC, Jana, and K9 will also all be in close to 20 minutes, whoever starts.
Of course SW, SS, and Azzi will be in close to 30 minutes, at least in, well, I won't say close ones, but you know...

UConn will have three new starters,five new players and three returning from major injuries. It is a given that it will take time for everything to be operating on all cylinders.

 

[my2cents]

3 guards and 2 bigs to start- Azzi, KK, and Ash, with Sara and Jana.

Jana is not starting, a two time Big 10 player, Serah Williams will be starting.

 

[Skeets]

I can foresee Sarah Strong averaging about 37 minutes per game. The remaining minutes will be distributed among the rest of the team.

Maybe, but only in the most competitive games. There's no way Sarah averages 37 minutes per game with 20 BE games on the schedule. Geno would be nuts to wear her out like that, and he's not nuts.

 

[VaConnFan11]

Maybe, but only in the most competitive games. There's no way Sarah averages 37 minutes per game with 20 BE games on the schedule. Geno would be nuts to wear her out like that, and he's not nuts.

I agree. Paige is the only player to average more that 30 minutes this past season and she did 30.3. With the depth at every position and the weak BE, I would be surprised if anyone averaged more than 30. I think 2-3 players 25+ and 3-4 players 20-25 and a lot of players in the 10-15 range.

 

[jazz]

Last 15 games of the year against the top teams:
Starters: KK, Azzi, SS, SS and BQ.

GA brings Ash off the bench with similar or even better results from last year. In addition, a big battle as to who he brings first to relieve KK: will it be K9 or Kelis Fisher? I'm going with K9, and Kelis Fisher will play also if she picks up things quickly - I think she may be better than K9 and she can probably spell Azzi as well. So that makes 8. Then you have Jana and I think AP may surpass MC and Ice. Then there is Ali...Some really good players are not going to play much this year.

 

[DefenseBB]

A subplot to consider is foul trouble. Like it or not, UConn, while it has a reputation for "not fouling" does have some foul prone players.
I try to track player stats for top teams (and all players on UConn) and for next year, the 2025-26 season (I have 167 players in my database), UConn will have 5 players ranking in most prone to foul of the top 18.

Ayanna, during her freshman year, committed a foul every 6.2 min and would rank #3
Morgan, committed a foul every 7.8 min ranking #7
Jana committed a foul every 8.3 min ranking #9
Ice committed a foul every 8.8 min ranking #14 (in 2023-24 she was 8.6)
Serah at Wisconsin, committed a foul every 9.3 min ranking #17

I do have faith that all of them will improve their "proneness" to foul with Morgan, Jana and even Serah drastically improving due better teammates, understanding of the team defense and coaching. will improve. Ice is a worry and Ayanna has not played in 2 years so that is also a worry. Given the depth of the team, Foul issues are only a minor concern but still, these 5 are very "unUConnlike" and need to get better at positioning to avoid fouls.

 

[hookshot]

Last 15 games of the year against the top teams:
Starters: KK, Azzi, SS, SS and BQ.

GA brings Ash off the bench with similar or even better results from last year. In addition, a big battle as to who he brings first to relieve KK: will it be K9 or Kelis Fisher? I'm going with K9, and Kelis Fisher will play also if she picks up things quickly - I think she may be better than K9 and she can probably spell Azzi as well. So that makes 8. Then you have Jana and I think AP may surpass MC and Ice. Then there is Ali...Some really good players are not going to play much this year.

Nothing AP has done in the past would suggest she would surpass anyone, but who knows she may surprise. If Kelis Fisher is better than K9 that would be a WOW (lower ranked in HS), as well, but might take her a long time to prove it with limited playing time

 

[Charliebball]

One of the main strengths of last season championship team was that KK and Ash came of the bench and changed the dynamics of the game with their energy, tenacity and top-notch defense. I'm sure that Geno will be looking for a similar effect with this years team. Does it mean that KK and Ash will come from the bench again....probably not but Geno will look for the right players to fit this kind of role.

In addition to Shade, I think that Heckel, Fisher and Cheli will all be up to the task of energizing the team off of the bench........as far as the bench goes, I'm not sure that UConn has ever had this wealth of talent......

 

[Charliebball]

Good point, but different positions.

There is nothing like great play to earning PT. There will be plenty of blowout games and everyone will get their chance to prove they are deserving of more time.

Hopefully this depth leads to more watchable 4th quarters. At least for me, it often gets harder to watch the deeper they go down the bench (largely through factors other than pure talent).

I don't know how practical it is, but I'd like to see Geno sometimes mirror Tennessee and send in an entire second unit to spell the starters as opposed to always sending individual players in one at a time.....that continuity would lead to better team play in competitive games and those that have gotten a bit out of hand....

 

[ec33]

Then there is Ali...Some really good players are not going to play much this year.

It is very true that good players aren't going to play a ton of minutes (and Allie does appear a "likely target"), but I would be careful to assume who might make substantial leaps over the summer.

If anyone has the talent to make a dramatic step forward, I would think it is Allie Ziebell. With her ability to shoot, it would be awfully hard to limit her minutes if she translates that shooting into games.

A stronger K9 -- improving her ability to score around the rim -- would also be formidable.

I am not sure any of likely bench players are playing to their full potential. I think the early injuries to Ice and Jana stalled their progress and they may be ready to to unstuck. It has been a long time since we have seen what Carol and Ayanna could be in they can consistently practice.

Whoever plays the most outside the obvious suspects will have earned it.

 

[jazz]

I suppose there are only defos: Azzi, SS and SS. Then maybe not quite a defo but close would be KK. After that, there can be any number of combinations in the starting line up and top 8 or 9.

 

[Bigboote]

depends what you feel is exciting/
many folks -- even some BYers -- may get totally bored when watching a season of big blowouts night after night which is the way i expect the season to go. lack of competition kind of ruins the fun.

I'd rather watch a balletic blowout than a close rock fight. ; )

 

[Bigboote]

She needs to vastly improve her 3pt shooting - 21%. Bianca is not much better - 28%. Practice lots of 3pters this summer ladies. UCONN lost Paige (42%) and Kaitlin (35%). Will need players with 3pter skill.

Chen was below 30% her first two years. Things can change. (Not saying they will, but they might.)

 

[ConnMotors]

I seriously doubt that anyone on the team is going to average 30 minutes per game. There may be games that Azzi or Sarah play 30 minutes because of need. And the only team that would need would be South Carolina. With UConn playing in the Big East everyone on the team gets to play if they are healthy.

Can the team go undefeated? That’s a possibility. We will be 18-0 in BE play then 3-0 in the tournament. That’s at least 21 wins. I don’t know whom we play this year. That will come out eventually. One thing is for certain and that we will
Win 30 games.

 

[jazz]

Nothing AP has done in the past would suggest she would surpass anyone, but who knows she may surprise. If Kelis Fisher is better than K9 that would be a WOW (lower ranked in HS), as well, but might take her a long time to prove it with limited playing time

AP is far more athletic and scored and rebounded about the same her freshman year as MC did and Ice did her redshirt sophomore year. So not a lot of difference there. AP showed great promise as a freshman - and I think she can compete and surpass both. Not a given, but it could happen.

I'm no expert on HS rankings, but I've watched a bit of Kelis Fisher play as I have with K9, and I saw a dominate player in Kelis Fisher. It is hard to believe there are 25 or so better players in HS than her. I think she has a good chance to compete and possible pass up K9, who I think is a very good player and a very good pick up. Again, not a given, but it could happen. I think more than likely they play roughly the same amount of minutes, with GA going to one or the other based on what he needs at the time. But, KP could be the first one off the bench.

 

[Bone Dog]

AP is far more athletic and scored and rebounded about the same her freshman year as MC did and Ice did her redshirt sophomore year. So not a lot of difference there. AP showed great promise as a freshman - and I think she can compete and surpass both. Not a given, but it could happen.

I'm with you on Ayanna. If she's fully recovered, her potential seems very high. I'm mainly thinking about her as a contrast to Ice. They share the same virtue, namely being enormously strong, and their defensive skills seem roughly equivalent, but I think Ayanna has better quickness and footwork. Neither of them has been great on offense at the college level. If Morgan were significantly quicker than Ayanna, I could see her having an advantage that way. But I don't think it's true. On the other hand, she is a better ball handler than Ayanna and that seems to matter to Geno... a lot. I don't think he could use Ayanna to break a press near half court, but he could definitely use Morgan that way. All of this tells me the playing time competition among the three of them will probably be situational. When he needs strength, he'll opt for Ayanna and Ice. When he needs ball handling, Morgan will get the nod.

Looking ahead, Ice and Ayanna should probably work on improving their offense and their outlet passing off rebounds. Morgan needs to work on her finishing at the rim -- last season, she looked pretty raw as a scorer.

 

[jazz]

I'm with you on Ayanna. If she's fully recovered, her potential seems very high. I'm mainly thinking about her as a contrast to Ice. They share the same virtue, namely being enormously strong, and their defensive skills seem roughly equivalent, but I think Ayanna has better quickness and footwork. Neither of them has been great on offense at the college level. If Morgan were significantly quicker than Ayanna, I could see her having an advantage that way. But I don't think it's true. On the other hand, she is a better ball handler than Ayanna and that seems to matter to Geno... a lot. I don't think he could use Ayanna to break a press near half court, but he could definitely use Morgan that way. All of this tells me the playing time competition among the three of them will probably be situational. When he needs strength, he'll opt for Ayanna and Ice. When he needs ball handling, Morgan will get the nod.

Looking ahead, Ice and Ayanna should probably work on improving their offense and their outlet passing off rebounds. Morgan needs to work on her finishing at the rim -- last season, she looked pretty raw as a scorer.

I agree. I think AP has a chance to be really good. I saw a glimpse of a midrange as well her freshman year, so I can see her making a move with her quickness and then stopping and popping the 12 footer. She can also jump. Ice is a bit bigger and stronger and can probably set a better pick. MC can shoot the three. So they are all quite different players. I think AP is a bit like AG with uber athleticism and better overall offensive skills. I think she was top 3-5 in her HS class as well.

 

[Fore!]

I was moved by @PacoSwede's observation. If Storrs becomes blowout central, we may get bored and stop paying attention so intently.

As for who starts and whether "game changers" should come off the bench, I'd only say games change in many directions. Start KK and Kash [yeah, I went there. Deal with it.] and you'll get an opponent who is exhausted by the end of the 1st quarter. Then your game changer is to bring in the big lineup and pound them into submission. Start K9 and Blanca, you probably get the same result. Who does Geno need to start to get a different result? Maybe Ice, Jana and Ayanna along with Azzi and Blanca. Deal with that, opposing teams!

I’ve never been bored watching them play beautiful basketball; however, if play (during a blowout) devolves into sloppy, careless, selfish possessions (sort of like the Celtics), I won’t get bored, just agitated, as I excoriate and upbraid them for straying from their norm.

 

[Skeets]

I'd rather watch a balletic blowout than a close rock fight. ; )

Me too. My friends wonder why I fight the Hartford rush hour traffic to watch a blowout. It's because it's a beautiful thing. Why do people look at art, listen to music, etc.?

BTW balletic is a word? I don't think I've ever seen it before. It does get past my spell checker...

 

[SVCBeercats]

Chen was below 30% her first two years. Things can change. (Not saying they will, but they might.)

Not saying they won't as well. That is why I hope Geno told KK to practice her 3pters. I like her energy and defense and her offense sans 3pters %.

 

[Tonyc]

We can be pretty sure Azzi Sarah and Serah will start. The rest will depend on alot of things.
Health is number one. Our injured reserves will come back when? How long will it be for them to get back up to speed and be effective. It will take sometime. Hopefully we wont have any season ending injuries.

Second our underclassman and newbies. How fast can they adapt to play within Genos system.

Third our roster players who are healthy. Ive said this before. We are bringing back a nucleus who's defense controlled games and our defense turned into our offense. Unlike other teams who have lost key players they no longer dont have that nucleus. Its tuff to operate and run an offense when your playing alot of skilled players who havent played together. We will continue to win and should win big because of our nucleus which plays a suffocating defense.

Our Big 3 this season looks like Azzi Sarah and Serah. Their reputation and efficiency will demand attention from opposing defenses. With that said we have other players who can make an impact. We have so many weapons and their development will be fun to watch.

We have alot of talent and this season we have much more athleticism and speed. That will be very difficult to defend. Because of that all will contribute in their own way. With Paige gone and Azzi and Caroline graduating after this season, we will need more outside threats. We will see who can step up and be that person(s).

This team is rich in talent and is gonna be pretty much a steamroller even against top teams. We saw what they did last season when they were healthy. I feel as a team we can be even better. We can be better because we have some many more players to step up and make plays.

For many seasons many posters talked about lack of rebounding and height. Not this season. Add in their skill sets, ability to create, speed and athleticism and we have on heck of a team.

This is gonna be a season to remember and with this roster for many seasons to follow. For Geno and Chris is must be fun to continue to do what they love to do and watch their players become what they have become. Dream Big

 

[Gus Mahler]

I was moved by @PacoSwede's observation. If Storrs becomes blowout central, we may get bored and stop paying attention so intently.

As for who starts and whether "game changers" should come off the bench, I'd only say games change in many directions. Start KK and Kash [yeah, I went there. Deal with it.] and you'll get an opponent who is exhausted by the end of the 1st quarter. Then your game changer is to bring in the big lineup and pound them into submission. Start K9 and Blanca, you probably get the same result. Who does Geno need to start to get a different result? Maybe Ice, Jana and Ayanna along with Azzi and Blanca. Deal with that, opposing teams!

I like the way you think!

 

[Gus Mahler]

Can't speak for others, but I'm feeling thoroughly "initialized" from this thread. How many SS's do we have? Who is KP? Had to sit and think who MC was. Sheesh.

[Yes, I've used initials many times.]

 

[HuskyNan]

Can't speak for others, but I'm feeling thoroughly "initialized" from this thread. How many SS's do we have? Who is KP? Had to sit and think who MC was. Sheesh.

[Yes, I've used initials many times.]

Once again telling folks to use names instead of initials, please. This isn’t the first time the admins have said this

 

[MSGRET]

I can foresee Sarah Strong averaging about 37 minutes per game. The remaining minutes will be distributed among the rest of the team.

Paige only averaged 30.2 minutes a game this season, so I don't see Sarah averaging more than that. Especially with the two transfers that they have coming on board.

 

[CL82]

If Storrs becomes blowout central, we may get bored and stop paying attention so intently.