Serah Williams Commits to UConn

[my2cents]

I dunno. Rebekka Brunson went to Georgetown, EDD went to Delaware, and Courtney Williams went to Miami. They’re just a few from less elite schools that have had great to outstanding pro careers. If a player is good enough, she’ll go pro.

That said, Geno & staff can dig out and refine skills beyond scoring to make a more rounded and desirable player. For the record, so can Dawn and other top coaches. As a UConn fan, I can believe Geno does that better than anyone else, but I’m a homer, so….

I don't think Lou Lopez-Senechal or Kaitly Chen would have been drafted based on their Fairfield or Princeton careers.
You are correct that Geno's system prepares players for other opportunities. But the UConn program gets these players exposure against the best competition in WCBB.
How many times did Serah Williams get national TV exposure while playing for Wisconsin?
Would she have been drafted , probably , but winning a Championship will get her drafted much higher.

 

[oldude]

I don't think Lou Lopez-Senechal or Kaitly Chen would have been drafted based on their Fairfield or Princeton careers.
You are correct that Geno's system prepares players for other opportunities. But the UConn program gets these players exposure against the best competition in WCBB.
How many times did Serah Williams get national TV exposure while playing for Wisconsin?
Would she have been drafted , probably , but winning a Championship will get her drafted much higher.

I would go even further on Serah. All things being equal, her decision to transfer to UConn has already elevated her draft stock to perhaps a top 5 pick and maybe even a lottery choice. When you consider who will be available around the country, other than possibly Betts, Azzi, Latson & Miles, I don’t see any other senior going ahead of Serah in the draft.

It’s worth noting that despite putting up big numbers in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, while earning 1st team all-conference overall and defensively, Serah was not named on a single AA team, even honorable mention. That speaks to the obscurity she played in at Wisconsin.

Well, Serah is coming to the Basketball Capital of the World. The last thing she will ever be in Storrs is obscure.

 

[tower1]

Blanca, Morgan, Caroline, Shade, Jana, Ice, and Allie. There is no shortage of players who will supply the points. However, for some of the posters who are predicting an undefeated season or another NC, just remember SC, UCLA, and LSU are feeling the same way about their team. I think like ERWUC65: Nothing is given.

What ever happened with Heckel? Is she still a a possibility to join Uconn ?

 

[psconn]

Something to consider. After winning the national championship in dominant fashion and losing the best player in WBB to the W, the Huskies just might be better next year. For sure adding Serah makes UConn better on defense, following a season when the Huskies lead the nation in defense. Offense will take some work. But all those pieces to mix and match, including now a legitimate low post scoring Big who can also step out and hit midrange shots.

When does the season start?

With ZERO actual game-based evidence, proposing that any team will be better without a player of Paige's enormous on- and off-the-court impact is a flight of purest bleed-blue fantasy. I do admire the optimism though, and you appropriately used the qualifier "might".

COULD this team be better than the one that just ripped through the post-season like a buzz saw? That is one of of the many segments of the possibility pie, but absent any real world input, no more likely than many of the others. Chemistry and adaptation will critical. Roles will change and playing time will be precious. Geno will be challenged to make these talented players a championship quality team without a vocal, swaggy superstar pulling the train. He's a good'un though - the G.O.A.T.

As always, the season will be a process and I'm going to love watching it unfold with great hope and modest expectation.

Have you read Geno's "The Same River Twice"? If not, I recommend it for all UConn fans. Highly apropos.

 

[angelo]

Nice pick! But championships must be earned.....Second thing, not so important really : she looks a bit shorter than 6'4'', for instance compared to Iriafen.

 

[oldude]

With ZERO actual game-based evidence, proposing that any team will be better without a player of Paige's enormous on- and off-the-court impact is a flight of purest bleed-blue fantasy. I do admire the optimism though, and you appropriately used the qualifier "might".

COULD this team be better than the one that just ripped through the post-season like a buzz saw? That is one of of the many segments of the possibility pie, but absent any real world input, no more likely than many of the others. Chemistry and adaptation will critical. Roles will change and playing time will be precious. Geno will be challenged to make these talented players a championship quality team without a vocal, swaggy superstar pulling the train. He's a good'un though - the G.O.A.T.

As always, the season will be a process and I'm going to love watching it unfold with great hope and modest expectation.

Have you read Geno's "The Same River Twice"? If not, I recommend it for all UConn fans. Highly apropos.

As I have said many times, “I am a glass half full guy.” I refuse to traffic in Chicken Little doom and gloom. Through the years, I have been right a lot more often than I have been wrong. That doesn’t make me prescient when it comes to UConn WBB. It just means that I trust Geno to put the best product on the court that he possibly can each and every season. With all the talent he will have next season, that product should be amazing.

 

[Crossover]

I would go even further on Serah. All things being equal, her decision to transfer to UConn has already elevated her draft stock to perhaps a top 5 pick and maybe even a lottery choice. When you consider who will be available around the country, other than possibly Betts, Azzi, Latson & Miles, I don’t see any other senior going ahead of Serah in the draft.

It’s worth noting that despite putting up big numbers in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, while earning 1st team all-conference overall and defensively, Serah was not named on a single AA team, even honorable mention. That speaks to the obscurity she played in at Wisconsin.

Well, Serah is coming to the Basketball Capital of the World. The last thing she will ever be in Storrs is obscure.

This is all true, and would be true as well if Serah had transferred to LSU or SC or a handful of other quality programs.

 

[Zonepress]

With ZERO actual game-based evidence, proposing that any team will be better without a player of Paige's enormous on- and off-the-court impact is a flight of purest bleed-blue fantasy. I do admire the optimism though, and you appropriately used the qualifier "might".

COULD this team be better than the one that just ripped through the post-season like a buzz saw? That is one of of the many segments of the possibility pie, but absent any real world input, no more likely than many of the others. Chemistry and adaptation will critical. Roles will change and playing time will be precious. Geno will be challenged to make these talented players a championship quality team without a vocal, swaggy superstar pulling the train. He's a good'un though - the G.O.A.T.

As always, the season will be a process and I'm going to love watching it unfold with great hope and modest expectation.

Have you read Geno's "The Same River Twice"? If not, I recommend it for all UConn fans. Highly apropos.

really liked your post
I think, was fair to say, is that Uconn has the potential to be a very good team, that adding Serah Williams
could be very significant and they are one of perhaps 5-6 teams that are Nat Championship
contenders

 

[oldude]

This is all true, and would be true as well if Serah had transferred to LSU or SC or a handful of other quality programs.

Maybe. But UConn is the gold standard for WNBA GM’s. How else can you explain Aubrey being drafted while missing a good part of the season due to ongoing knee problems that clearly continued to be a problem right through the end of the season.

 

[Crossover]

Maybe. But UConn is the gold standard for WNBA GM’s. How else can you explain Aubrey being drafted while missing a good part of the season due to ongoing knee problems that clearly continued to be a problem right through the end of the season.

Certainly the gold standard for Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. Of course it helps that she served as Geno's assistant coach when he was head coach of the Olympic team.

 

[browns]

I don't need your advice! People can post their opinions without trying to put my down.

And if Kayleigh commits to come here, she's not doing so to ride the bench! She left USC because of that. Wise up!

Kayleigh and Howell were expected to be the startng backcourt for USC this year

 

[HuskyNan]

I don't think Lou Lopez-Senechal or Kaitly Chen would have been drafted based on their Fairfield or Princeton careers.
You are correct that Geno's system prepares players for other opportunities. But the UConn program gets these players exposure against the best competition in WCBB.
How many times did Serah Williams get national TV exposure while playing for Wisconsin?
Would she have been drafted , probably , but winning a Championship will get her drafted much higher.

Maria Collin played on national tv and won as many championships as Taurasi. It’s not enough to simply have exposure

 

[DemonDeac22]

Maria Collin played on national tv and won as many championships as Taurasi. It’s not enough to simply have exposure

Maria Conlon

 

[Zarathustra]

A wonderful Serah Williams Highlight reel. I was (again)
impressed by Serah's three level scoring, as well as her
rebounding and running the floor (LEADING the transition
game). I look forward to the "upside" to Serah's game
playing on the UCONN ROSTER and in the Husky System!

 

[HuskyNan]

Maria Conlon

Autocorrect

 

[oldude]

Maria Collin played on national tv and won as many championships as Taurasi. It’s not enough to simply have exposure

Not a valid comparison. Maria “Conlon” was a good college basketball player. But she never had the potential to play in the W. Lou & Kaitlyn are both significantly more talented with the potential to play professionally. Per My2cents post, the exposure they got at UConn likely elevated their draft stock. I agree.

 

[my2cents]

Maria Collin played on national tv and won as many championships as Taurasi. It’s not enough to simply have exposure

You still have to back the exposure with "game".

 

[my2cents]

I would go even further on Serah. All things being equal, her decision to transfer to UConn has already elevated her draft stock to perhaps a top 5 pick and maybe even a lottery choice. When you consider who will be available around the country, other than possibly Betts, Azzi, Latson & Miles, I don’t see any other senior going ahead of Serah in the draft.

It’s worth noting that despite putting up big numbers in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, while earning 1st team all-conference overall and defensively, Serah was not named on a single AA team, even honorable mention. That speaks to the obscurity she played in at Wisconsin.

Well, Serah is coming to the Basketball Capital of the World. The last thing she will ever be in Storrs is obscure.

I knew after my post that Old Dude would be able to go , "one step further'. lol.

 

[BBallF]

To my earlier point, Geno had Maria Conlon playing like an AA in the Big Dance. She was never a W player, but she is now the head coach at Western Connecticut State and will do well there and beyond I am sure. She doesn't get that job if she played someplace else. It's not just the basketball here, it's the pedigree.

 

[Rings R Us]

Love Maria Conlon...but can we get back to how great of a pickup Serah Williams is for us?

 

[BBallF]

Love Maria Conlon...but can we get back to how great of a pickup Serah Williams is for us?

Ok we can. SO GREAT.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Very fundamentally sound player. I like the way she sets a pick, clean with no movement. I like the way she seals underneath. Just pro level. I like the way she can shoot a short push shot or jumper and how she runs the floor on a break. She has to be covered at all times anywhere from 15 feet in (even more at times). Imagine what that means for Sarah. If Serah takes her post defender outside that leaves the key open for Sarah. Who can cover her one on one underneath with her moves? If Sarah is being defended by a 4 outside, that leaves the key open for Serah underneath.

I believe Serah will be able to show (may be greater development at UConn) that she can be an effective passer for assists to complete her skills sets before the WNBA.

It is also wonderful for Serah to be closer to home for her senior year, including the road games. Last year had California road trips, etc. with the expanded Big Ten.

The "Big" benefit is the other bigs can learn from Serah's use of the glass, which simplifies the physics of the close-in game, for layups and put backs inside the paint, particularly through contact. Then, it will be the "Sky Hook" or the Majic Johnson mini-hook...

Go Huskies!!!

 

[psconn]

I'm gonna go way out on a limb here... that Williams kid might be pretty good. Her nose for the ball and relentlessness on the boards reminds me of her new teammate, Sarah.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Just watched a highlights reel on her. I'd put it here but I don't want a time out if the source is not approved. Anyway what struck me was how many 2 handed layups she makes.

One other thing struck me. Her first Gampel crowd is going to blow her mind in a good way.

The two-hand layup comes from getting hacked repeatedly as you approach the rim. The glass-work comes from knowing the physics of the bounce path to the center of the rim, and possibly background in pool, billiards, or snooker.

Regardless, I am very happy Serah is with the Huskies for her Senior year!

Go Huskies!!!

 

[Bald Husky]

To my earlier point, Geno had Maria Conlon playing like an AA in the Big Dance. She was never a W player, but she is now the head coach at Western Connecticut State and will do well there and beyond I am sure. She doesn't get that job if she played someplace else. It's not just the basketball here, it's the pedigree.

Maria didn't become a factor until her junior year. She was basically a mop up player until then, but she got in better shape and we needed a point guard for Diana. Give her a huge amount of credit becoming the player that she did, becoming a key factor as an upperclassman to Crocket, Turner, and Strother.