Seems it's time... Who will start?

[Majic Hands]

I'm answering this as of Game 1 in November, based on what we know about injury recovery. I see that a handful of folks agree with me on all 5, though my picks are not the highest ranking.

I am pleased that all 131 voters so far see Paige as a starter. She's the likely NPOY, especially if the team record is excellent.

In addition to Paige, I see Kaitlyn starting. She was a 3-year starter at Princeton (Covid wiped out her first year) and was Conference POY as a junior. She's experienced and highly versatile, strong on both ends of the floor. I don't think Geno recruited her to play her off the bench for the single year that she will be at UConn.

I think Ashlyn also starts, in a 3-guard rotation. She's more versatile and a better shooter than KK, in my opinion. Though KK started last year, I think she comes off the bench as a spurt of energy. She has 3 years remaining and will be a starter next year. By about January, Azzi should be a starter.

I don't think Geno uses a 4-guard rotation. That was done out of necessity this past season. If she were available, Aubs could get this slot, but I think Sarah is a starter. She's THAT good. She can score, rebound, and pass. I think we need the size. Maybe Aubs will start when she's healthy.

I see Jana as the starter at center. She is the tallest and most skilled. She's also very physical. Ice will back her up and also play some power forward.

My guess is that Azzi and Aubrey will not play in Game 1, but should be back 1-2 months later.

I’ve similar thoughts as you.

I picked ice over Sarah for two reasons. Experience with the UConn system and I saw Ice get it done when Aaliyah wasn’t available.

As of now I’ll only be surprised if Paige doesn’t start on day one.

 

[Bone Dog]

I’ve similar thoughts as you.

I picked ice over Sarah for two reasons. Experience with the UConn system and I saw Ice get it done when Aaliyah wasn’t available.

As of now I’ll only be surprised if Paige doesn’t start on day one.

I'm with you on Ice. But wouldn't it be cool if Sarah and Jana and Azzi started on day 1? I mean it would mean something wonderful was in the offing!

I mean, if anyone other than the usual suspects started, that would be awesome. For example, if Q starts, it would have to mean she showed Geno something amazing in October.

 

[jabstep]

As with most of the other posters, the starting five could vary during the season depending on the health of the team. So my first game prediction is as follows.
Paige at the 3
Shade at the 2
KK at the 1
Strong at the 4
Ice at the 5
This is based on the finish of last year and recovery from injuries which is not known yet.
I like if all are healthy
Paige at the 3
Azzi at the 2
Chen at the 1
Strong at the 4
Jana at the 5

 

[MSGRET]

200 minutes 14 players on the roster, if all healthy a nice problem to have. ElAlfy, Brady, Strong, Griffin, Patterson all front line people.
Paige, Azzi, Shade, KK, Chen, and the rest back court and wings. The if factor of health and when are they ready is key. Time will resolve
it all. As UConn fans we are blessed to have that talent and Geno and Chris, Jamelle, and Tonya(?) apologies I forgot the other assistant.

Geno Auriemma - Head Coach
Chris Dailey - Associate Head Coach
Jamelle Elliot - Assistant Coach
Morgan Valley - Assistant Coach
Tonya Cardoza - Assistant Coach
Ben Kantor - Assistant

 

[boontonbomber]

Paige and Azzi( if she's fit), and 3 others.

 

[Kaizen]

Paige,
Chen,
Azzi,
KK and
Strong.

 

[Majic Hands]

Who's Griffen?

Aubrey

 

[jdote33]

I was thinking about Azzi's recovery. I remember Paige waited almost a full year until she was cleared. She didn't play right away in Europe. Everyone is different but I wonder if Azzi takes a full year to be fully cleared (which would mean December) and then a couple weeks to play. That would probably be the USC game or slightly before it. This is all hypothetical of course.

 

[leepaul]

In the spirit of Coach Dale, I got my four-- Azzi, Paige, Jana and Sarah.

Odds for the 5th spot, likely Ash, because Coach trusts her- "reminds me of Shea." -unless either Ice or Ayanna can channel the grit of Jamelle,.

Aubrey is the spark plug, best off the bench- KK can be the same.

Kaitlyn? I think Coach picked her up for the Tourney. You need that one player who is inured to pressure in big games- hopefully, Kaiitlyn's that player.

Would love to see Q surprise everyone. -)

 

[Steelerone]

I think that at this point Paige is the only one who I would hands down bet to be starting.

 

[boontonbomber]

Aubrey

No, she's Aubrey Griffin.

 

[ashfan]

In the spirit of Coach Dale, I got my four-- Azzi, Paige, Jana and Sarah.

Odds for the 5th spot, likely Ash, because Coach trusts her- "reminds me of Shea." -unless either Ice or Ayanna can channel the grit of Jamelle,.

Aubrey is the spark plug, best off the bench- KK can be the same.

Kaitlyn? I think Coach picked her up for the Tourney. You need that one player who is inured to pressure in big games- hopefully, Kaiitlyn's that player.

Would love to see Q surprise everyone. -)

Azzi? Azzi? Google ACL and see what is said. The best case: she's brought along cautiously and regains her ability in due time. The worst case: ugh; see what is said about ACL recurrences.

 

[Topdawg]

Paige, Ashlyn, KK, Q, and Ice. The team that played the final four last year.

 

[Dugway]

I was thinking about Azzi's recovery. I remember Paige waited almost a full year until she was cleared. She didn't play right away in Europe. Everyone is different but I wonder if Azzi takes a full year to be fully cleared (which would mean December) and then a couple weeks to play. That would probably be the USC game or slightly before it. This is all hypothetical of course.

Regarding an ACL: Six or Seven years ago, the standard would be to push athletes back into the game 9 to 10 months after surgery. Now, you are correct, it seems to be closer to one full year before being activated. And, once they are activated, although physically cleared and told that 'the knee is 100%', in essence, go out there and stress that knee as if the injury never occurred, there always is some degree of apprehension to do so!

Azzi ruptured her ACL in practice last year on November 14th. This coming season UConn opens against Boston University on Thursday, Nov. 7 before hosting South Florida on Sunday, Nov. 10. The Huskies host Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday, Nov 20, and Holy Cross on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Doesn't seem that the team really requires Azzi to play in those games and still walk away at 4-0 at that point in the season.

 

[Dugway]

Regarding an ACL: Six or Seven years ago, the standard would be to push athletes back into the game 9 to 10 months after surgery. Now, you are correct, it seems to be closer to one full year before being activated. And, once they are activated, although physically cleared and told that 'the knee is 100%', in essence, go out there and stress that knee as if the injury never occurred, there always is some degree of apprehension to do so!

Azzi ruptured her ACL in practice last year on November 14th. This coming season UConn opens against Boston University on Thursday, Nov. 7 before hosting South Florida on Sunday, Nov. 10. The Huskies host Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday, Nov 20, and Holy Cross on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Doesn't seem that the team really requires Azzi to play in those games and still walk away at 4-0 at that point in the season.

Oh crud, didn't see this part of the article: UConn faces North Carolina in Greensboro, N.C., on Friday, Nov. 15. then travel to the Bahamas to play two games on Nov. 25 and 27 in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship (opponents TBA).

So check that stat; after the Holy Cross game, the Huskies will be 7-0!

 

[UConnFanMSM]

I think those returning from major knee surgeries - won't be playing in games until it's been at least 1 year from their surgeries.

...Go Huskies!!!!

 

[Rowdy831]

If the idea is to win a NC then I would think they need to develop a team that has the size and athleticism to beat the top 4 or 5 teams in country. With that said I would favor a taller lineup since most if not all the players in the running can shoot and pass the ball. The real question to me is how healthy are the players that are coming off injury and how much will Ice improve her game after a really good tournament run last year.

Paige
Azzi
Sarah
Ice
Jana

 

[HuskyPhan]

I so enjoy all this discussion on Day 1 starting lineup. What I love the most this year, is that there are so many possible options and honestly, every option I've seen so far looks like a killer lineup! This year is going to be off the charts exciting and enjoyable to watch If, as I expect, Jana, Sarah and Azzi are 100% healthy and playing to their full potential by February, we will be looking at a true Super Team!!!!!

 

[hookshot]

While the discussion is stimulating and unavoidable, most would agree that it is relatively unimportant, particularly at this early juncture. But, you have 9 vote getters, so that would be a full rotation for most clubs and then the question would be who else can squeeze themselves in including the two other incoming freshman as well as Samuels, without even conjecturing on CD becoming playable. Bounty of riches

 

[Vowelguy]

Paige, Ashlyn, KK, Q, and Ice. The team that played the final four last year.

Q played 21 total minutes in the 5 NCAA games, including 0 in the F4.

 

[MSGRET]

Paige, Ashlyn, KK, Q, and Ice. The team that played the final four last year.

Actually it was Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, Ashlyn and KK that started, with Ice getting 15 minutes of playing time.

 

[drweo]

Ben

Ben

Ummm....Morgan Valley???

 

[JellyBean]

I am waiting for the status report in September/October before I vote.

 

[PacoSwede]

I am waiting for the status report in September/October before I vote.

interesting thread ... finally got around to reading it all.

lots of good thoughts, but what most intrigued me was the support for jana -- at this point second only to paige! wowsa.

i sure hope this is justified. it would be great if it turns out to be what happens.

but it seems to be largely (entirely?) based on hopes rather than verifiable facts (such as: she is tall and a rah-rah teammate). no BYer has yet to see if she actually can perform at the level they imagine. it's a nice dream, but at this point that's all it is.

 

[EricSD]

interesting thread ... finally got around to reading it all.

lots of good thoughts, but what most intrigued me was the support for jana -- at this point second only to paige! wowsa.

i sure hope this is justified. it would be great if it turns out to be what happens.

but it seems to be largely (entirely?) based on hopes rather than verifiable facts (such as: she is tall and a rah-rah teammate). no BYer has yet to see if she actually can perform at the level they imagine. it's a nice dream, but at this point that's all it is.

Fan's enthusiasm for Jana isn't exactly happening in a vacuum. Geno had tons of praise for her before and after her injury:

“The more we see some of the things she does, the more we miss her because we realize what she could bring to our team,” he said. “I can't wait for people to see her play. She just has a real unique personality that I think people are going to really fall in love with.”

To put it another way: UConn is adding the No. 1 player in the class of 2024 with Sarah Strong, a 6-2 forward. Auriemma believes El Alfy would’ve been the top prospect in the class of 2023 had she hailed from North America instead of Egypt. He pointed to the FIBA U19 World Cup in which she led the entire tournament in scoring at 21.4 points per game — despite not even turning 18 yet — as proof.

“She was the best player out there — by far. By far,” he said. “These are the best [19] and under players in the world — including the US — and every coach that came back said she was the best player there.”

So... for all the hype surrounding Sarah (rightfully so), IF Coach is correct, and Jana is (or has the potential to be) the best player in the class of 2023, that's incredibly high praise considering that class featured Juju Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Mikayla Williams, and Milaysia Fulwiley.

 

[PacoSwede]

...

So... for all the hype surrounding Sarah (rightfully so), IF Coach is correct, and Jana is (or has the potential to be) the best player in the class of 2023, that's incredibly high praise considering that class featured Juju Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Mikayla Williams, and Milaysia Fulwiley.

true enough. let's just hope geno's not just blowing smoke (and playing psychological games with his players) as he does frequently.

 

[DEpup]

I doubt CD would have gone all the way to Egypt and rode a camel if she wasn't really really good. I say she is the starting C from day 1.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Day 1 #1 starting five: Kaitlyn, KK, Paige, Sarah, Jana:

• the starting lineup will have the three-point guard offense with 3 incomers: Sarah, Jana, Kaitlyn (there are five incomers);
• the running game will be available from the jump;
• presses (an Achilles heel) won’t work (see fourth quarter, BET 3/9/2024: Providence);
• the starting lineup matches up better with Notre Dame (Game 7: December 12) and Southern California (Game 8: December 21);
• the starting lineup checks with Geno’s requirements: optimal defense and offense, effective pace, effective motion, efficient possessions;
• further developing KK’s lead point guard skills would be beneficial for next year’s team when Kaitlyn and Paige have moved on to the next level;
• Geno’s (5)+3 would be Kaitlyn, KK, Paige, Sarah, Jana, Ash, Ice and Morgan. But if the running game becomes an effective weapon, Geno will go (5)+5.

Why KK, not Ash?

• Either lineup would suffice for the first 6 games of the tough OOC schedule;
• Ash, while better offensively than KK, would only be the fourth scoring option behind Paige, Sarah and Jana;
• Ash would be the guard scoring threat when there is a need to rest Paige during competitive minutes of games. Of course, Paige and Ash will also play together.

#1 Day 1 Assumptions and Observations

• There are 10 available players: Paige, KK, Ash, Kaitlyn, Sarah, Jana, Ice, Morgan, Qadence, Allie;
• There are 5 available point players in the half-court offense: KK, Kaitlyn, Paige, Morgan, Sarah;
• Theoretically, there are 20 minutes per available player;
• Paige is the best scorer. The 5 best are Paige, Sarah, Jana, Ash, Kaitlyn;
• Preserving Paige for the postseason is paramount and dovetails with the obvious need to spread minutes to develop 5 incomers: Sarah, Morgan, Allie, Jana and Kaitlyn;
• The 3 point guard offense may feature prominently in most possessions because of the many incomers;
• The running game may feature prominently in the early part of the tough out-of-conference schedule;
• The 12-game tough OOC schedule is backloaded with the first major test in North Carolina (#17 on Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2024-25 - ESPN) on the third game and the final 6 games with Louisville (#12), Notre Dame (#4), Iowa State (#10), Southern California (#2), Tennessee and South Carolina (#1).
• The walking wounded (Azzi, Aubrey, Ayanna, Caroline) may be available for the Tennessee (February 6) and South Carolina (February 16) games.

Starting five for South Carolina game: Kaitlyn, Azzi, Paige, Sarah, Jana.

 

[Bone Dog]

the starting lineup checks with Geno’s requirements: optimal defense and offense, effective pace, effective motion, efficient possessions;

I agree with everything in your well-reasoned post except for this one point. On Day 1 (and maybe Day 2), Kaitlyn Sarah and Jana are not optimal defensive choices. I hope they will be before we get to the really challenging opponents, like ND or USC. But to be optimal in a complex defensive scheme requires at least a little bit of game experience. Kaitlyn has a lot of analogous game experience and generally a lot of D1 experience. But none directly with these teammates and Geno's version of the schemes she's seen under Carla. Sarah and Jana have no game experience of either D1 play or of Geno's defensive schemes.

I think there's a case to be made for your reading of the situation, if we take into account the fact that the early games aren't going to be as hard as Geno's OOC often is. Not until the end of November will we see anyone tougher than UNC, though December looks to be very tough. This might mean a non-optimal starting lineup may be useful just to get ready for December. By the way, I don't mean to dismiss UNC, but they don't really compare to the teams we'll see in December. They look to me like an excellent early game to measure the youngsters against. Of course, I thought that about NC St. last season and look where that got us.

But even taking the ease of the first few games into account, I suspect Geno may prefer to have the most experienced players to start just to set an example for the rest of the roster of what the defense is supposed to look like.

 

[PacoSwede]

I agree with everything in your well-reasoned post except for this one point. On Day 1 (and maybe Day 2), Kaitlyn Sarah and Jana are not optimal defensive choices. I hope they will be before we get to the really challenging opponents, like ND or USC. But to be optimal in a complex defensive scheme requires at least a little bit of game experience. Kaitlyn has a lot of analogous game experience and generally a lot of D1 experience. But none directly with these teammates and Geno's version of the schemes she's seen under Carla. Sarah and Jana have no game experience of either D1 play or of Geno's defensive schemes.
....

i was hoping someone would point out that defense is a humongous factor in a team's success; for some weird reason that's overlooked in many BY discussions, which consistently focus on other aspects of the game.

for uconn especially this is fundamental. it's a major reason why it's a consistent winner. and uconn always focuses on TEAM defense, which absolutely requires everyone to be on the same page. individual skills are great -- but they're secondary to the coordination of the whole team. and that requires chemistry and practice, practice, practice. plus smarts. it doesn't come easily and takes a lot of time -- if ever -- to be effective.

it's amazing that geno & company usually pull it off.