Serah Williams Commits to UConn

[Golden Husky]

I’m not suggesting any offensive set 100% of the time. Next year, Geno will have the roster to beat teams a lot of different ways. Sarah at the high post is just one way.

You will also see Sarah & Azzi in the 2-man game that was so devastating with Sarah & Paige this season. You will see a 5-out offensive set with KK attacking her defender off the dribble, like she did repeatedly in the national championship game vs SC.

You could spend all day coming up with offensive sets for UConn to run next year with the personnel that the Huskies will have, and you will barely scratch the surface of the number of options that Geno has in his head.

@oldude for MVP: Most Voluble Poster. Aw, Most Valuable Poster, too.

 

[oldude]

"When I first stepped on campus at UConn and met the players and staff, it felt like the right place for me to spend my last year in college both on and off the court," Williams said. "The winning environment and atmosphere were everything I was looking for."

Hmmm. Come to UConn to be part of a “winning environment.” What a novel idea.

 

[oldude]

How about Serah and Sarah. How you going to defend that? If somehow you manage, Sarah makes a quick dish around the perimeter to Azzi. Shade and KK in the corners stretching the defence. Can't double on Serah bc you have 4 three point threats to defend. I think this will be a main set for next year. I really don't see how you can defend it.

Sometimes these threads drive me crazy. If you go all the way back to my original post in this string of back and forths, you will see that Serah & Sarah was exactly what I suggested.

 

[BRS24]

"When I first stepped on campus at UConn and met the players and staff, it felt like the right place for me to spend my last year in college both on and off the court," Williams said. "The winning environment and atmosphere were everything I was looking for."

Thanks for adding this quote. I copied it and then forgot and posted the link.

 

[jazz]

Sometimes these threads drive me crazy. If you go all the way back to my original post in this string of back and forths, you will see that Serah & Sarah was exactly what I suggested.

sorry oldude. I should have known you would have already suggested this!

 

[jazz]

true

I like your trend of thought, but KK has yet to matriculate into the 3 point club. She'll hit the occasional 3, usually from the left corner, but reliability is not there yet. I hope it is one the top of her summer training list.

True rocky. but i suspect she will improve and in any case, sticking her in the corner, makes somebody take notice on defense. If she can shoot in the low 30s, Id be happy with that.

 

[BobbyJ]

Hmmm. Come to UConn to be part of a “winning environment.” What a novel idea.

And it looks like she'll be able to help out Strong with some serious interior defense. The last two seasons she's had 84 and 69 blocks respectively. By comparison, Strong has been excellent with 66.

 

[BBallF]

I’m not suggesting any offensive set 100% of the time. Next year, Geno will have the roster to beat teams a lot of different ways. Sarah at the high post is just one way.

You will also see Sarah & Azzi in the 2-man game that was so devastating with Sarah & Paige this season. You will see a 5-out offensive set with KK attacking her defender off the dribble, like she did repeatedly in the national championship game vs SC.

You could spend all day coming up with offensive sets for UConn to run next year with the personnel that the Huskies will have, and you will barely scratch the surface of the number of options that Geno has in his head.

Truly. I particularly like the high-low game with Serah and Sarah. Serah seals her man like a pro and Sarah is a great passer. Serah also has a very strong finish underneath. When Sarah has a vulnerable defender on her (almost everyone) then Serah can throw the entry pass. As you indicate, the permutations, combinations, and experimentations are legion.

It will be interesting to see what Geno does with a strong offensive low post game. I include Jana in that as well because her improvement and play in the biggest games was both surprising and great at the same time. A summer of work outs and skills will do wonders. She came back from a very difficult injury and did not play for over a year. There was a good amount of lost timing, learning the defensive and offensive schemes, etc. You can look at film and charts all you want but doing is a different thing. What we saw was the tip of the iceberg I think and Geno's words about Sarah as a freshman are especially true for Jana.

Above all else, last year was a work of art. At times it was ballet with a ball. That "tap" pass by Paige to KC on the break and KC's "tap" pass to Sarah also on the break were thrilling to any basketball fan, men's or women's.

 

[Charliebball]

Top 3 all year, finished first for the season, per NCAA

View attachment 109175

It seems pretty clear that UConn needs to get to the foul line a heck of a lot more, grab more rebounds, and play better defense against the three point shot...........if they get those things figured out, they might get somewhere next season........

 

[Charliebball]

There is a report that Geno made a statement in which he expected both players to commit after their visits. I don’t have any idea how credible that report is/was, it doesn’t sound like sometime he would say but I did see it.

there's no way that Geno would make a statement about players committing until after the fact......not his style......

 

[Bone Dog]

There’s a bit of a chess game Geno was working this season involving the small lineup and Sarah. If the opposition runs a big lineup, they’ll have an advantage rebounding and in low post offense but a significant disadvantage in team speed and defending the perimeter. If Sarah is the only big on the floor, then the opposing big has to guard her on the perimeter and the lane is open for backcuts. This is because she’s both a great perimeter shooter and a great passer.

With Serah in the lineup next to Sarah, Geno loses some of this advantage, but gains a rebounder, rim protector and low post scorer. Sarah is still a problem for teams to guard on the perimeter, but it’s no longer simply a problem for the opposing center. Now a 4 can guard her, which is a little more manageable… unless Serah develops a perimeter shot. Then the whole merry-go-round can be cranked up again.

I think this means Geno will press Serah to improve both her perimeter shooting (she’s already a good midrange shooter) and her hi-post passing game. And this only concerns one lineup Geno might use. The small lineup will still be available if he sees a use for it in any game.

Ideally, both ice and Jana will also be developing these same skills alongside Serah in preparation for the following season, when they will be the primary post options again.

 

[Charliebball]

There’s one other thing I reluctantly mention. These kids are also students. Kayleigh Heckel is completing her freshman year of college with finals next week. She’s been traveling for visits to Michigan, Vandy, ND & UConn over the past few weeks. Perhaps she’s studying?

Students you say???? hmmmm......

 

[oldude]

And it looks like she'll be able to help out Strong with some serious interior defense. The last two seasons she's had 84 and 69 blocks respectively. By comparison, Strong has been excellent with 66.

One of the things I really like about Serah is that she’s really quick off the floor, just like Sarah. UConn’s offense will come along as the season progresses. But the defense will very likely be even better than this past season when the Huskies led the nation in scoring defense.

There will also be an interesting competition between the 2 before the season over which one jumps center next season.

 

[Cuango]

Geno knows what he has in KK and Shade. And he wants on Heckel on the team.

I would think Geno has earned our trust. If he thinks she would be valuable, then this would be a good player to have on the team.

Why that doesn't suffice is what I fail to understand.

I think it does suffice for most of us, but where’s the fun in that? The fun part is getting to yammer on about our beloved Huskies while knowing deep down that Geno & CD have it covered far better than my/our often ridiculous plans/opinions could.

 

[BBallF]

I think it does suffice for most of us, but where’s the fun in that? The fun part is getting to yammer on about our beloved Huskies while knowing deep down that Geno & CD have it covered far better than my/our often ridiculous plans/opinions could.

I thought Geno and CD got all their ideas from the Boneyard? If you go back and read every single post this past season I’m sure we covered everything.

 

[ec33]

People are discussing the potential transfer and its implications for the team. That’s fine. The Boneyard is here for people to discuss the team

I didn't realize I suggested otherwise. I was replying to a person who didn't understand how some people can suggest that Kayleigh Heckel would move straight into the starting lineup (which does seem a stretch to me) and I -- personally -- don't understand the reluctance to add a player that Geno wants added to the roster.

I don't think I implied that people aren't free to disagree with me (or my appeal to authority). That would be foolish as that line of argument is one of the famous logical fallacies and Geno can in fact be wrong.

 

[jazz]

We will win in a more balanced way this coming year.

Last year, we almost had no post presence outside of Sarah. I can't remember a team (men or women) who won with such a weakness inside. This coming year we essentially replace the greatness of PB with a low post presence in Serah. In my view, if Azzi can be more consistent game to game and become the dominate 18-20 pt scorer that she should be, we will be even better next year. We will be more balanced and better on the interior. It will be hard to keep us from scoring at least 80 a game.

 

[HopJim]

Actually he ran Kiah and Stewie between the Olivia/Dorka and the Stef/Stewie lineups.

Jana limited offense, similar to Kiah's, would limit the success of a typical "twin tower" approach. Suspect Geno 99% of the time will continue to use the same offensive flow that has gotten UConn to the NC finals the past two years.

 

[Crossover]

We will win in a more balanced way this coming year.

Last year, we almost had no post presence outside of Sarah. I can't remember a team (men or women) who won with such a weakness inside. This coming year we essentially replace the greatness of PB with a low post presence in Serah. In my view, if Azzi can be more consistent game to game and become the dominate 18-20 pt scorer that she should be, we will be even better next year. We will be more balanced and better on the interior. It will be hard to keep us from scoring at least 80 a game.

Did you watch the UCLA game?

 

[Zarathustra]

Students you say???? hmmmm......

In reference to Kayleigh Heckel. The documentation is
there about K9 being a scholar-athlete: She was an
honor student in H.S. while playing volleyball, basketball,
and softball. She also played AAU ball with Exodus NYC.
Spent part of the summer with the USA U18 Gold Medal team. I know
this comment was probably in the context of many
"pro-caliber" NCAA student (on many teams), but I
I couldn't avoid expressing my opinion that it should
probably not apply to Ms. Heckel. As they say: IMHO.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Officially official.

So Serah comes in with 1,494 career points. With a big year, she could end up as a 2,000-point career scorer. Might be a little harder with all the talent and scorers on this UConn team.

 

[Zonepress]

Did you watch the UCLA game?

JAE in the ucla game
23 mini 6 pts 8 rebounds and 4 assists
her defense especially in the first have on Betts
set the tone for the game, and was as much responsible for the win anything else
quite certain the team had a “ post presence”

Did you watch the UCLA game?

 

[Charliebball]

In reference to Kayleigh Heckel. The documentation is
there about K9 being a scholar-athlete: She was an
honor student in H.S. while playing volleyball, basketball,
and softball. She also played AAU ball with Exodus NYC.
Spent part of the summer with the USA U18 Gold Medal team. I know
this comment was probably in the context of many
"pro-caliber" NCAA student (on many teams), but I
I couldn't avoid expressing my opinion that it should
probably not apply to Ms. Heckel. As they say: IMHO.

agreed........I was making a comment about the current state of college sports where NIL money is more important than the quality of an education in making recruiting/transfer choices......

 

[BBallF]

We will win in a more balanced way this coming year.

Last year, we almost had no post presence outside of Sarah. I can't remember a team (men or women) who won with such a weakness inside. This coming year we essentially replace the greatness of PB with a low post presence in Serah. In my view, if Azzi can be more consistent game to game and become the dominate 18-20 pt scorer that she should be, we will be even better next year. We will be more balanced and better on the interior. It will be hard to keep us from scoring at least 80 a game.

If you meant offensive post presence exclusive of Sarah it was definitely limited. However, JAE had big games when it mattered most and they were what we used to call "floor games". Rebounds, defense, steals/deflections and some put backs and layups. I would go so far as to say she had 3 great critical floor games, twice against SC and also against UCLA. Bear in mind that she was a true freshman last year after missing a full year of playing with a serious injury to come back from. She did what was needed in order for us to win and will have a whole summer to develop offensively. Serah is a strong inside offensive presence. She has advanced moves, seals better than Betts, and can play defense. This is nothing but good for Jana. She will be a different player come next March after playing against Serah in practice. Just watch what Geno will do with all of these crazy options and here's the kicker- an improved Sarah?

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

I'm just thinking of how competitive these Uconn practices will be next year. Serah stands out to me the most really because she played in the Big Ten conference, a very good conference at that. And to almost average a double double per game, in the big ten conference, speaks volumes about her overall game. I do agree with some posters here that she would need to develop her .I'd range shot a bit more, but that won't be so hard of an adjustment for her because she'll have the luxury of shooting, and even if she misses, the chances of an offensive rebound are in Uconns favor.

 

[jazz]

Did you watch the UCLA game?

hmmm yeah. Did you watch any other games this year?

I saw betts dominate and go for 26 while Janna and Ice went for a combined 11 (which was a fairly good game for them combined). Surely we will be much better with and balanced with Serah.

Also if Azzi can have great games vs top opponents as she did against UCLA on a consistent basis, this will help clear the post for Serah to go one on one.

 

[jazz]

JAE in the ucla game
23 mini 6 pts 8 rebounds and 4 assists
her defense especially in the first have on Betts
set the tone for the game, and was as much responsible for the win anything else
quite certain the team had a “ post presence”

yes JAE had a very good game, but you can surely see that Serah would be much better.

Some games you failed to mention: Why couldn't JAE follow this game up with a good game against SC where she had 2 points, 2 rebounds and 4 fouls in 12 minutes. How about the USC game before at 0 pts and 3 rebounds. Did she give us the much of a post presence in these games?? How about OK with 0 points again but a very good game on the boards at 9 rebounds.

So the last 4 games, even with a very good game against UCLA, JAE averaged a paltry 2 pts and 5 rebounds. Would you call this a post presence? You can't just cherry pick one game. what about the rest??

How about the rest of the season, where JAE averaged 5 points a game and 5 rebounds? We can do better in the post and evidently GA agrees.

 

[oldude]

One universal constant at UConn is that players get better each and every season. Jana improved significantly over the course of this past season. She has an enormous upside and will continue to improve. Serah will probably be better than Jana at the start of next season. But it won’t be by a lot. The competition for playing time will make both better basketball players.

 

[CL82]

Sarah adds a little more

 

[GoUconn7961]

Gotta hand it to Geno, he knows how to use the portal even though he’s not a fan of it. he’s strategic.