"She looked OK today," Auriemma said. "I think every day she is getting a little closer.

[HuskyNan]

Sometimes I get a little frustrated with fans who think that deciding to come to UConn is all about them choosing where to play basketball. It's not, a recruit's decision is about where to go to college, where she'll play basketball when she's not busy being a normal freshman student.

I have two kids in college and I know all about needing a semester to adjust to college life. Student athletes not only have to adjust to college, they have to get used to a new team and coach, possibly while being away from home for the first time in their lives. I do have to bite my tongue (or fingers, uh, well....) when fans expect way too much from freshmen, expecting them to lead their team to the Promised Land immediately. These are kids, some are only 17, that are making a huge adjustment to the way they live.

Let's give De'Janae some understanding here and this isn't a request from a mod but as a fan - I think we should leave the kid alone. The last thing she needs is fans speculating about her. And yes, the kids know what goes on in the Boneyard. Reading about their play in a game is very different than reading what fans think of their personal lives.

 

[TitleTown]

Well if you're not practicing you should have time to study.
Something curious indeed.

Not really. Even though she is not actively practicing, she is still at practice.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Seems pretty clear to me at this point that Boykin should redshirt. She wouldn't even need to qualify for medical hardship if she doesn't play in a single game.

She could then get physically 100%, make sure the academics are in solid shape and come back next year ready to rock & roll with four years of eligibility left.

I certainly agree and have been thinking about this for some time. I've considered starting a thread on Geno's position on redshirting and discussing previous examples of it. Ultimately of course, we are left to wonder: What will Geno do? The injury may force his hand, who knows?

Many of us on this board know about the travails of going off to college at a big state university and struggling with the adjustment. Few of us know about the challenges of being a student-athlete in a high-pressure environment such as UCONN WBB. I'm not looking to dig up dirt on any player's personal life. I'm a fan who's a worry wart. In this case, I've been concerned about De'Janae for some time, not because I'm worried whether UCONN can win a national championship without her, but because I want her to succeed in this venture.

It's in my nature to root for young people to succeed, and it's in my nature to root for underdogs. For several reasons, De'Janae is a player I particularly want to succeed. Yes, she is a five-star recruit who is well decorated and accomplished in her own right. But she missed most of her senior year because of an injury incurred in her first game. Her senior year in high school! And of the three freshmen, Lou and Phee simply have star written all over them, and have had for some time. From rankings to comments from Geno, DJB has always seemed to be the third of three in the pecking order. And what must it be like for DJB to have played with those two girls two summers ago and win gold with them and now have to sit and watch them play and excel?

So, she's way behind basketball-wise and has five or six players ahead of her. It would sure make sense to redshirt her. I just hope through it all that things work out for her.

 

[DaddyChoc]

but sometimes Geno says too much... did we/reporters need to know about her academics

 

[HuskyNan]

I certainly agree and have been thinking about this for some time. I've considered starting a thread on Geno's position on redshirting and discussing previous examples of it. Ultimately of course, we are left to wonder: What will Geno do? The injury may force his hand, who knows?

Jess Moore redshirted her freshman year for two reasons; 1. she was a freshman when Swin, Tamika, and Asjha were seniors and playing time would have been hard to come by, and 2. she was talented but raw. I seem to recall Jess was a track & field star that took up playing bball seriously late. Redshirting paid off for her big time.

 

[UcMiami]

I only remember two 'healthy' redshirt freshman - Moore as Nan mentioned who came in from Alaska very raw and was I think always slated to redshirt, and Heather Buck who came down with mono and had to miss the first two months of the year, at which point the redshirt decision was made.

There are sometimes competing interests in redshirt decisions - the player and the team are not necessarily viewing it the same way. I suspect Boykin really wants to play this year and the team may be more inclined to suggest a 'reset' and a redshirt year. A good post player is never a bad thing to add to the team, but with Morgan, Williams, and Collier playing well and Butler about to be added, Boykin is not 'essential' to team success.

If the achilles responds in the next month I suspect she will start playing, if it is still playing up come January, I think they will have serious talks about a red-shirt. In some ways that could be a stress reliever for her - right now it is stop and start every day it seems, with likely attendant mood swings. Knowing that the clock has stopped ticking and you have 9 months to get fully healthy might be disappointing, but also a relief.

 

[bschwartz]

As a general matter for any injured player, I wouldn't think your first game ought be against the likes of Depaul or ND if possible. The team has been trying to develop a flow. Inserting one or may be two players for the first time in the season in one of your few competitive games, doesn't make sense to me regardless of academic standing.

That said, distribution of playing time is shaping up for me as of the more compelling storylines of the year.

Good luck, Boykin and Butler.

 

[WestCoastFan]

Lets not panic - it is almost exam time first semester freshman year, so everyone could use more academic time - especially a player who is not cleared to play, and cannot yet participate fully in practice. This was not a standard road game as it involved missing three days of school ten days before exams.
We all commiserate about Natalie's frustration at not playing yet this year, but it has been over a year now since Boykin has been completely healthy, too. I hope she is keeping her spirits up!

Having academic issues as a freshman in her fall semester? Go figger...I think I went to class as a freshman...I think?!

 

[Carnac]

I certainly agree and have been thinking about this for some time. I've considered starting a thread on Geno's position on redshirting and discussing previous examples of it. Ultimately of course, we are left to wonder: What will Geno do? The injury may force his hand, who knows?

Many of us on this board know about the travails of going off to college at a big state university and struggling with the adjustment. Few of us know about the challenges of being a student-athlete in a high-pressure environment such as UCONN WBB. I'm not looking to dig up dirt on any player's personal life. I'm a fan who's a worry wart. In this case, I've been concerned about De'Janae for some time, not because I'm worried whether UCONN can win a national championship without her, but because I want her to succeed in this venture.

It's in my nature to root for young people to succeed, and it's in my nature to root for underdogs. For several reasons, De'Janae is a player I particularly want to succeed. Yes, she is a five-star recruit who is well decorated and accomplished in her own right. But she missed most of her senior year because of an injury incurred in her first game. Her senior year in high school! And of the three freshmen, Lou and Phee simply have star written all over them, and have had for some time. From rankings to comments from Geno, DJB has always seemed to be the third of three in the pecking order. And what must it be like for DJB to have played with those two girls two summers ago and win gold with them and now have to sit and watch them play and excel?

So, she's way behind basketball-wise and has five or six players ahead of her. It would sure make sense to redshirt her. I just hope through it all that things work out for her.

Nice post Gus. We can usually can only get 1 or 2 sentences out of you. It's obvious that you feel strongly about this. I completely agree with you my friend.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Nice post Gus. We can usually can only get 1 or 2 sentences out of you. It's obvious that you feel strongly about this. I completely agree with you my friend.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.