Shortage of players

[uconnever]

Amari looked good to me last night, she may be on the Kiah Stokes plan. Next year a solid player off the bench. I was happy for her. Her brain farts were fine to me because she never a plays too long in a critical role. Given a chance she will be fine.

 

[uconnfan68]

Amari looked good to me last night, she may be on the Kiah Stokes plan. Next year a solid player off the bench. I was happy for her. Her brain farts were fine to me because she never a plays too long in a critical role. Given a chance she will be fine.

Now you're comparing her to arguably the best rebounder and shotblocker we've had. If Amari could do either of those things like Kiah, she'd be playing a lot.

 

[Rb335]

Yes we’ve been decimated by injury. But I’m choosing to be optimistic.

Dorka was a game time decision. Geno said it’s the mental aspect. She’ll be back very soon.

Nika looks to have a potential concussion. Unless crazy severe, she should be back soon, maybe even by Florida State given the week break after Maryland.

Lou said she’s fine, and it’s been an injury she’s been playing with. Pretty darn well at that. Anyone else realize she’s made more 3s on the same number of attempts as Azzi?! Incredible. She’ll be back soon, if not next game, if I were a betting man.

Azzi has the 3-6 week time table.

I personally won’t panic if we drop another one or two games in December. As long as the injury bug doesn’t strike again, it might not be so terrible.

The biggest concern to me is figuring out Caroline. If she can get back to peak performance, our team when healthy has a shot.

 

[airlac4]

I believe kids in the portal for December 1-15 can transfer and play immediately. See the other thread here. I think Verhulst is good enough to play at the UConn level, but maybe not as many minutes as she wants. There is certainly opportunity in Storrs in the short term.

According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Payton will have to sit out the rest of the year if she transfers during this current season. I don't know if that is accurate. Even if Payton could play this season, the future doesn't bode well for her if she wants playing time. Assuming everyone is back and healthy next season and with the arrival of Shade, Payton would likely be heavily challenged for playing time.

 

[EasyEd]

Back in our first championship, they had Jill Gelfenbien, a soccer player. And Kelly Schumacher was on the team but I think she ended up doing more in volleyball after UConn than basketball. So hopefully Geno and staff are at least considering looking for a walkon (or two).

 

[stamfordhusky]

Now you're comparing her to arguably the best rebounder and shotblocker we've had. If Amari could do either of those things like Kiah, she'd be playing a lot.

Amari had the same number of rebounds last night as I did, I.e. zero.

 

[pk1234]

Guys this isn't about being pro walk-on or anti walk-on. Walk-ons are great. They maybe should've looked to get a couple before the season.

It would be a waste of everyone's time to take one now, in the middle of the season, and have them have to learn the whole offense, fit in with the team, etc. all while being significantly behind everyone from a skill position. Ines is a legit D1 type of player, albeit not UConn level D1, but she is clearly still trying to play catch-up.

Anyone they would get now as a walk-on would either be D3 level (maybe, if that) or maybe a low D1 level athlete who plays another sport who hasn't touched a basketball in years. It would be better to just forfeit Sunday and regroup.

 

[hoophuskee]

Not sure why this is getting downvoted. A mid-season walk-on would not work.

The issue was the other comments and depending on what you mean by "would not work." : Forfeit games? Understood if injuries were a concern which the poster stated too. But the below in bold comments were off. The beauty of sports is about competition. So a game you feel you can't win (but still have chance to or at least give a good fight), you'd rather take the ball and go home rather than competing? So every team UCONN has crushed and had little chance they should have quit before the game too?

I know some fans think it's all about championship or bust. But the name UCONN means a lot more than running away from a challenge. Sometimes how a player conducts themselves you can be proud. If they lose in a super game you can be proud etc. The comments below seem to disregard all that. Injuries which that poster said - sure. If that is the concern. But quitting is what it sound like below. That's pretty bad. So I think the issue is "UCONN doesn't quit" (unless health) should be more of the statement.


"Don’t think that anybody associated with the WBB program, players, coaches, administrators would appreciate the suggestion.
Better to forfeit a game or even two rather than make a mockery of everything accomplished by the Huskies."

 

[pk1234]

The issue was the other comments and depending on what you mean by "would not work." : Forfeit games? Understood if injuries were a concern which the poster stated too. But the below in bold comments were off. The beauty of sports is about competition. So a game you feel you can't win (but still have chance to or at least give a good fight), you'd rather take the ball and go home rather than competing? So every team UCONN has crushed and had little chance they should have quit before the game too?

I know some fans think it's all about championship or bust. But the name UCONN means a lot more than running away from a challenge. Sometimes how a player conducts themselves you can be proud. If they lose in a super game you can be proud etc. The comments below seem to disregard all that. Injuries which that poster said - sure. If that is the concern. But quitting is what it sound like below. That's pretty bad. So I think the issue is "UCONN doesn't quit" (unless health) should be more of the statement.


"Don’t think that anybody associated with the WBB program, players, coaches, administrators would appreciate the suggestion.
Better to forfeit a game or even two rather than make a mockery of everything accomplished by the Huskies."

The resources it would take to bring a walk-on up to speed to the point where they weren't bringing the rest of the team down or risked getting injured would detract from the team's progress during the season. We are all significantly underestimating just how much more skilled and physical the UConn players on the current rosters are than someone off the streets on the volleyball team, or club team.

 

[HuskyNan]

@MilfordHusky and my posts were jokes. Some people took them a lot more seriously than intended

 

[MilfordHusky]

@MilfordHusky and my posts were jokes. Some people took them a lot more seriously than intended

Mine were light-hearted, but asking a real question. Do we need another body in case of emergency? Maybe someone who can keep us from playing 4 on 5? I understand that such a player wouldn’t provide much help, but a little bit of help could go a long way. The VB player with a BB background could get rebounds and perhaps make layups and FTs. Plus, she may be on only partial scholarship, so a full scholarship might be appealing.

I don’t think it’s insulting at all. Arguably the best team ever had 2 walk-ons, who responded to a request from the greatest winner ever.

It’s hard to say with injuries, but the list of players fully healthy for Sunday is likely Aliyah (with a broken nose), Aubrey (who had back surgery), Amari, Ayanna, and Ines. Paige and Ice are out, of course. Dorka is still healing. Azzi is likely out for weeks. Nika is uncertain. Lou is slightly hobbled. Caroline doesn’t look like herself. I, for one, am concerned about a roster of 5, 6, or 7.

 

[Stinger92860]

I believe it was Stef Dolson who did that, but that was when practice started. Recruiting walk ons now just isn’t in the cards; the practice players are suddenly even more important.

Many of the practice players are male students.

 

[Stinger92860]

I was just looking at the roster site. There are 13 coaches and support staff vs the possibility of having only 6 players. Incredible.

 

[Boreifs]

Many of the practice players are male students.

All of the practice players are male students. That’s the point of having practice players.

 

[Skeets]

Mine were light-hearted, but asking a real question. Do we need another body in case of emergency? Maybe someone who can keep us from playing 4 on 5? I understand that such a player wouldn’t provide much help, but a little bit of help could go a long way. The VB player with a BB background could get rebounds and perhaps make layups and FTs. Plus, she may be on only partial scholarship, so a full scholarship might be appealing.

I don’t think it’s insulting at all. Arguably the best team ever had 2 walk-ons, who responded to a request from the greatest winner ever.

It’s hard to say with injuries, but the list of players fully healthy for Sunday is likely Aliyah (with a broken nose), Aubrey (who had back surgery), Amari, Ayanna, and Ines. Paige and Ice are out, of course. Dorka is still healing. Azzi is likely out for weeks. Nika is uncertain. Lou is slightly hobbled. Caroline doesn’t look like herself. I, for one, am concerned about a roster of 5, 6, or 7.

How about the scholarship kids who are on the team? Do they want to forfeit or hide a walk-on somewhere on the court in the event of an extreme emergency? I'm going out on a limb here, but I bet if polled they would rather play with an under-skilled walk-on rather then roll over and play dead with a forfeit. I think they are too competitive to just accept a forfeit.

 

[Plebe]

You made my point, "they run SHORT distances"

If we're so desperate for warm bodies that we need to bring in volleyball specialists, any conditioning issues will be the very least of our concerns.

Looming quite a bit larger is the fact that such a fill-in (a) hasn't been playing or practicing basketball and (b) would be starting from zero in terms of team chemistry and flow.

 

[EdSaid]

Why not? The real question is whether or not she is interested in playing basketball. If I am mistaken, she would be eligible for 4 years.

Dog,
Div I rule is a running clock, 10 semesters to play four seasons of a sport. The covid rule would give another two semesters to play a fifth season. The volleyball player could play basketball this season and next, but she could also play a fifth season of Volleyball next year, so would she want to switch and then switch back?

Women's volleyball, as is women's basketball, is a head counter sport, so all recruited members receive a full scholarship. So no financial incentive to play. On the plus side, volleyball teams regularly have the highest GPA of any team sport, so the learning curve may be quicker.

Broadcaster Maria Taylor, I believe played four seasons of volleyball at Georgia, then played basketball her senior year. I think someone should call Andy Landers and find out how that worked out.

 

[wingsfan055]

If Lou and Nika cant go Sunday, I would try to reschedule or forfeit. Crazy to play at Maryland with 5 "healthy" players + CD who is clearly not 100%. Not fair to them.

 

[HopJim]

Amari looked good to me last night, she may be on the Kiah Stokes plan. Next year a solid player off the bench. I was happy for her. Her brain farts were fine to me because she never a plays too long in a critical role. Given a chance she will be fine.

???

 

[SCNCHuskie]

If Lou and Nika cant go Sunday, I would try to reschedule or forfeit. Crazy to play at Maryland with 5 "healthy" players + CD who is clearly not 100%. Not fair to them.

I personally can’t imagine that ever happening. The good thing is that after Maryland they will have a week off. Then, there’s two Big East games, and then another week off. Hopefully, with these two long breaks, it will give Dorka, Azzi, Lou, Nika, and Caroline all time to heal up and recover. Having only six players dressed is far from optimum, but clearly it is something that six college age basketball players should be able to handle for one game. I know very few basketball players who want to come out of a game, and now they will all have a chance to get extended minutes. As far as rescheduling, I can’t imagine another school taking pity on UConn and giving them time to get all their players back healthy.

 

[Centerstream]

At the end of the broadcast yesterday, Geno said he was going to see who showed up at practice today to figure out how to play the turtles. Has anyone seen any tweets about today's practice?

 

[Ct Dog]

If Lou and Nika cant go Sunday, I would try to reschedule or forfeit. Crazy to play at Maryland with 5 "healthy" players + CD who is clearly not 100%. Not fair to them.

You serious Clark?