Semi-OT Do you think Azura | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Semi-OT Do you think Azura

Scoop said:
Comment noted. We see it differently. I do agree with parts of your narrative. Unless you have inside information I don't (and will share), I remain of the opinion that how she was being used played a significant role in her decision to leave. It's also possible that she was leaving after she was eligible to graduate regardless. If someone can enlighten me with information on this that I don't currently have, then of course my opinion on this can certainly change. Did you read some of the other posts in this thread?
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"I know the fans think X, Y and Z about different things, but the bottom line is I wasn't unhappy. This was just my choice and my decision to just move on to a new adventure.”
Azura Stevens Says She Loved Her UConn Experience But Won't Delay WNBA Dream
 
eebmg said:
I disagree with the narratiI also ve that Geno wanted her to play mainly in the post because she is 6' 6" and they needed her there. I think he tried to do with her what he does with all his players. Identify weaknesses and have them get better at them. To completely shy away from the post as a 6' 6"player would have been a great disservice. I have no doubt he saw Azure as a Stewie type player who should be dangerous at every location of the floor. This is the language he now uses to describe Stewie with obvious pleasure. Unfortunately, Azure herself scuttled that plan by shooting so poorly from 3 that he had to push her to the post even more to be useful. If she could have hit at a 30% clip from 3, I think he would have gladly let her maneuver in and out of the lane.
The fact that she is playing a wing position in the WNBA is a good peace of luck for her with Cambage taking on so much center duties as well as simply hitting her shots. If Azure wants to be an All Star however, she better diversify her game and looking at how Stewie does things is a pretty good place to start.
In all, I agree that she was smart to leave. For whatever reason, she was not reaching her full potential at Storrs but the fault had nothing to do with how she was being used.
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It is probably a greater disservice to compare Azura to Stewie who is a once in a generation type player who has always had a reliable three ball. Slightly different take on investment not utilization: In the year that Azura was sitting out UCONN developed 3 AA players at her primary positions SF-KLS, PF-Collier, C-Gabby Williams and also signed the #1 recruit in the nation also a SF/PF. Buy any measure & even in hindsight Geno choice to start Crystal turned out to be the right investment. I also believe that the loss of Natalie Butler for that squad has been too easily forgotten and is being underestimated. At 5'10" & playing center Gabby had to rely too much on hops and quickness. Even at 6'6" playing center Azura could be pushed around. Natalie wasn't going to out quick anyone but noone was going to push her around either.
 
Scoop said:
Comment noted. We see it differently. I do agree with parts of your narrative. Unless you have inside information I don't (and will share), I remain of the opinion that how she was being used played a significant role in her decision to leave. It's also possible that she was leaving after she was eligible to graduate regardless. If someone can enlighten me with information on this that I don't currently have, then of course my opinion on this can certainly change. Did you read some of the other posts in this thread?

Here's one:
I think Z started to get the feeling that if she kept playing the low post in the UConn system, her status as a "unique" player viewed through WNBA eyes may have been disrupted (not to mention some already superalative assessments of her game that may come as a surprise to some at the BY). Also, if she is going to the Sky, Dolson and Coates will most likely be able handle the bruising stuff down low and she will be able to roam like her instincts want her to.

Recognize this post? :eek: You should, it's yours from April 10. ;)
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I do not think I am being inconsistent or if I am, I am not trying to be. :eek:

All I am saying is that I believe (no inside information) that Geno wanted her to be a threat from both inside and outside much like Stewie is (even if not on the scale of) but her shooting from 3pt range over the entire season simply would not allow a good mixture. I think necessity forced Geno to emphasize the post more than he wanted but even so, he probably thought he had 2 years with her so she could rebound and show the world the game he wanted her to have. Oh well. :(

Anyhow I am glad she was able to show the WNBA that she does have the ability to be a strong wing player and found a team where she can float alot on the wing but I still would like her to be pushed hard to become the all court threat she could be.
 
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CocoHusky said:
It is probably a greater disservice to compare Azura to Stewie who is a once in a generation type player who has always had a reliable three ball. Slightly different take on investment not utilization: In the year that Azura was sitting out UCONN developed 3 AA players at her primary positions SF-KLS, PF-Collier, C-Gabby Williams and also signed the #1 recruit in the nation also a SF/PF. Buy any measure & even in hindsight Geno choice to start Crystal turned out to be the right investment. I also believe that the loss of Natalie Butler for that squad has been too easily forgotten and is being underestimated. At 5'10" & playing center Gabby had to rely too much on hops and quickness. Even at 6'6" playing center Azura could be pushed around. Natalie wasn't going to out quick anyone but noone was going to push her around either.
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Perhaps it is a disservice to compare Azure to Stewie (especially on the intangibles i.e I came her to win 4 championships / better instincts and overall game) but I think he saw Azure as a special all around offensive/defensive threat and wanted desperately for her to develop that and show the world. I am just glad that she found her 3 pt shot in the WNBA but reiterate that she needs to be pushed hard to develop the all around game that Geno envisioned in her. Still, I cringe when I see Azure taking her shots so quick in the shot clock (another difference between Azure and Stewie) because she does not want to probe the post. Maybe that is a function of the Wings having a shooting guard running the show.
 
Seems clear it was the culmination of many factors. The essence, however, was that she saw herself as a professional, wanted to make good money as a professional, and went for it.

She's about to head overseas to a six-figure payoff after about $50k in the WNBA. So in the twelve months that she would have been a UConn athlete, she might pocket a quarter million bucks. And that is a season and money that she wouldn't know whether or not she could have earned, given the high potential for career-ending injuries in women's basketball.

Though it would have been nice to have her one more season, she had to look out for Number 1.
 
Fairfield Fan said:
Seems clear it was the culmination of many factors. The essence, however, was that she saw herself as a professional, wanted to make good money as a professional, and went for it.

She's about to head overseas to a six-figure payoff after about $50k in the WNBA. So in the twelve months that she would have been a UConn athlete, she might pocket a quarter million bucks. And that is a season and money that she wouldn't know whether or not she could have earned, given the high potential for career-ending injuries in women's basketball.
Though it would have been nice to have her one more season, she had to look out for Number 1.
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Don't think the bolded part is either "clear" at all. Your analysis doesn't make sense. Azura was good enough to earn a six figure salary overseas at the conclusion of her freshmen season at Duke. The risk of injury is the same risk for all athletes not just Azura. That comment about her looking out for number 1 makes her seem selfish. She was the opposite of that. Azura chose to come to UCONN-The ONLY SCHOOL in AMERICA WHERE SHE WOULD NOT BE a GUARANTEED STARTER once eligible. Azura was also the third consecutive player to leave UCONN with eligibility remaining Tuck & Butler were the other two. Wish we could be more like Geno and wish them well. They came to UCONN, they played hard and they went on with their lives=best we can hope for.
 
.-.
CocoHusky said:
"I know the fans think X, Y and Z about different things, but the bottom line is I wasn't unhappy. This was just my choice and my decision to just move on to a new adventure.”
Azura Stevens Says She Loved Her UConn Experience But Won't Delay WNBA Dream
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Agree with you or not I respect your posts . In this case it's agree; when she opted to move forward I was in favor of her decision. I thought it the right one for her; bad go Uconn. I would have consuled any student to review the pro-s and con's and do what THEY thought best for themselves. I believe she did just that. I have no clue why she took the road she did but give her credit for doing her own thing.
 
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