Sarah Strong | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Sarah Strong

A young Sarah Strong with her Mom playing overseas.

1743920828613.jpeg
 
Sarah is the real deal. Her basketball skills are way ahead of most. Her basketball IQ is up there with Paige's. She plays with such a calm demeanor that belies her age. And we are finally starting to see some emotional breaks outs!!

As to her potential for team leadership, it's there. She knows Paige is this team's leader. She is learning from Paige. Her time will come and she knows it.

She will be one of all-time greats for UConn. And she does remind me a lot of Maya.

As to next year and who's the numbers 1's, UConn will be right there in the discussion. We have to see how at portal plays out and what players decide to move on. And if JuJu returns next season, which I seriously doubt. If Southern Cal is smart, they will not let her play.
 
As to her potential for team leadership, it's there. She knows Paige is this team's leader. She is learning from Paige. Her time will come and she knows it.
I hope she doesn’t dread it.

When I think of team leaders, there’s not just one kind. Some lead by example, and some lead with their voice. Personally, I don’t see Sarah giving direction in team huddles next season or barking out orders from the high post in games or even in practices. But she will probably lead by example all the time.

Also, in my experience, which is admittedly limited, great teams tend to be loud. Someone’s voice gives direction on the court and in the on-court huddles. Will UConn have a loud voice in games next season? If so, who will it be? Maybe it will be KK, since it seems natural for a PG to yell a lot. It tended to be Nika the previous couple seasons, and Paige gradually took over the role. Maybe it will be Azzi, since she has the natural cred for the role even though she doesn’t seem naturally loud. Are there other candidates?
 
scary thought:

i think uconn will be better next year.
Let's see --

We lose Paige, Kaitlyn, and Aubrey
We get back (hopefully healthy) Caroline, Morgan, and Ayanna
We add freshmen Blanca, Kelis, and Gandy (and possibly someone from the portal.)

I don't know. We lose a lot of talent and experience, and some teams, like UCLA, don't lose anyone. But there certainly is a lot of fresh, young talent coming in. Roles will have to change. I think we will just have to wait and see what happens when Geno hands KK the keys to the Ferrari.
 
Let's see --

We lose Paige, Kaitlyn, and Aubrey
We get back (hopefully healthy) Caroline, Morgan, and Ayanna
We add freshmen Blanca, Kelis, and Gandy (and possibly someone from the portal.)

I don't know. We lose a lot of talent and experience, and some teams, like UCLA, don't lose anyone. But there certainly is a lot of fresh, young talent coming in. Roles will have to change. I think we will just have to wait and see what happens when Geno hands KK the keys to the Ferrari.
it's down to how much better strong and el alfy and shade will be next year.

i think azzi is known entity at this point.

Geno was already running the lineup during the ucla game. he ain't dumb... get that lineup minutes against an elite team now
 
.-.
24 points, 15 boards, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals in the national championship game going up against a very good South Carolina frontcourt is just insane. I would’ve picked her for MOP but Fudd was incredible too. Congrats.
 
I don't think so. The team will definitely take a step back next season without Paige, and we're not going to have much of a bench next season. Much of the rotation from this season will either be in the starting lineup or is moving on after the season. No one's going to feel bad for Geno trying to build a team around a core of Strong, Fudd, Shade, KK, and Jana, but make no mistake Paige is the straw that stirs the drink and there's no one with her leadership qualities on this team or coming to this team anytime soon.
Wait until you see Blanca Quinonez.
 
.-.
24 points, 15 boards, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals in the national championship game going up against a very good South Carolina frontcourt is just insane. I would’ve picked her for MOP but Fudd was incredible too. Congrats.

Only player in NCAA history with 20 points, 15 rebs, and 5 assists in a title game.
 
You are forgetting a few names that will be on the team next year.Uconn has Sarah, Azzi,JANA, Shade KK, Morgan ,Brady, Caroline, Allie, Kellis Fisher. Gandy Malou , Q and one other that escapes me now. Plus a pick-up from the portal. Uconn has 3 positive scorers, the still the best defense in the game and I remembered the one I couldn't Bianca Quinonez, A bonefied starter and scorer. I believe Uconn will not lose anything as we still have GENO and CHRIS to not let that happen. Think positive, have faith in the team and believe in them as I do!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!
Only Paige and Chen are out in 2025-2026 years,

 
I'm just a casual fan of the women's team. I don't watch all the games but get into all the big games. I said it earlier in the season, I think Sarah Strong is going to be the best player UConn has ever had.

This is also the most fun team I can remember. So glad they're finally healthy or close to it.

Dominant performance.
You're not a "casual fan" of any uconn team. Don't be silly.
 
.-.
Sarah has been my favorite player since I saw her in a preseason game. I felt from the start that she could be an all-time great and she has gotten nothing but better. I have to chuckle at her, um, conciseness in interviews. Guess she is a New Englander at heart, so had to come to UConn.
 
Strong is the best athlete on the court in every game she plays. Her presence is even more pronounced against an athletic team like South Carolina. They are not used to an athlete considerably above their skill level - and make no mistake South Carolina is an athletic team. UConn made SCar look out of sorts. But there is no game planning for Sarah Strong.

UConn’s run similar to Indiana’s 1981 championship team. No one was going to beat them. The comparison to a men’s team is apt - elite level basketball is elite level basketball.
 
.-.
i posted after Sara committed that after seeing her play against and beat Joyce Edwards hs team that
she would change the trajectory of the program
many were skeptical ,,
the improvement in her level of fitness over the past 2 years is extraordinary!!
would never have believed she could play 40
minutes!
kudos to Sara for all the hard work!!
 
scary thought:

i think uconn will be better next year.
Pretty difficult to agree, given that Paige is so dominating a talent. In every dimension, she is irreplaceable. But the team, overall, could be amazing. And they could be “better’ if several factors develop; CAROLINE Ducharme , for example, becomes the star she was destined to become. ALLIE AND Morgan emerge as starting quality talents. Jana and Ice continue to develop. KK and ASH dominate as experienced juniors. The incoming class is just world quality good. AZZI and Sarah dazzle. It is possible.
 
Pretty difficult to agree, given that Paige is so dominating a talent. In every dimension, she is irreplaceable. But the team, overall, could be amazing. And they could be “better’ if several factors develop; CAROLINE Ducharme , for example, becomes the star she was destined to become. ALLIE AND Morgan emerge as starting quality talents. Jana and Ice continue to develop. KK and ASH dominate as experienced juniors. The incoming class is just world quality good. AZZI and Sarah dazzle. It is possible.
Jana an Ice were both terrible in the championship game
.They played so well against UCLA but yesterday showed the weakness of next year's team will once again be the post players
 
Every body loves Azzi and she had 2 great games but Sara had a great game against UCLA and a phenomenal performance in the championship game..one for the ages..to me she was clearly the MOP of the FF
 
Sarah's 6-game NCAA tourney averages:

19 points, 11.7 rebs, 4.3 assists, 2 blocks, 1.5 steals, 64.4% FG, 50% 3-PT, 78% FT
They posted a graphic on the last 3 games specifically and it blew me away.

Sarah Strong in:
Elite 8: 22 points, 62% FG, 17 rebounds
Semifinal: 22 points, 69% FG, 8 rebounds
Final: 24 points, 67% FG, 15 rebounds

Average over last 3 games: 22.7 points, 66% FG, 13.3 rebounds
 
.-.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,046
Messages
4,550,864
Members
10,432
Latest member
lkcayoho1


Top Bottom