Fingers crossed that everyone is healthy. With that said, the competition for PT at guard will be intense. Paige never wants to come off the court. Azzi is one of the best shooters UConn has ever had. Nika is a fierce competitor who Geno loves. Caroline, Aubrey and Quadence are more wings than guards, but they will all eat up minutes that could go to a 3rd or 4th guard. Ines just keeps on working hard, and who knows whether or not she can force herself into the rotation. Finally, there is Ashlynn’s fellow freshman KK who possesses an ankle braking handle, with the ability to get her shot anytime she wants.
Ashlynn is smart, talented, strong and tough. But PT will be difficult to secure this coming season, and the distinct possibility exists that every other guard on the roster could return in 2024-25.
You got me thinking with the possibility that every guard candidate could return in 2024-25 and there are not enough minutes to give to some very talented prospects this year, if that doesn't give a clue as to what some of those 5th year decisions might be.
I think we can all hope that players like KK, Ashlynn and Q can as Geno might say, force him to play them. Even if they do not make the big game rotation we can look for signs of future stardom when they get their more extended opportunities. Those opportunities might not open up much, however, if everyone that could came back did, and then the candidates for available positions grows by two with Allie and Morgan.
It is speculation of course, but my best guess is Nika and Aubrey are in their last year. Nika has the game against her sister, and I believe she said she hoped her parents could come for that and senior day. Paige could return and there is an heir apparent PG that will get an apprentice year in KK.
Aubrey has already spent an extra year on campus because of her red-shirt year, and I think she made a reference to this as her last year, and she has demonstrated she had recovered from the back surgery. With another year from Caroline, Q learning and Morgan coming on board that position (3) is well covered as well.
So if those two departed and we add Allie and Morgan we would have as many candidates for 1-3 as we have this year, namely 8. If Paige left for the WNBA it would be a huge talent loss of course, but we would still have a very promising 7. Makes me think we are done for the class of 2024 for guards, but of course are still looking for bigs.
Regardless I look forward to seeing the future potential for all our newcomers, hope one or two of them wind up in a large extended rotation with more pressing, and I hope Paige comes back for another year. If she does, even if two others depart, we would still have a ton of candidates for 1-3.