Should Azzi Start over Caroline?

[Happydad745]

Other than Evina, who does Geno think will do the best job coming off the bench? I'm sure somebody will ask him that question soon enough.........not sure he'll answer with anything but "we'll find out."..........

It depends on who is on the bench...

 

[Next 12]

I think some of you are giving Caroline a bums rush. She has been the top scorer in the last 8 games and Azzi has this one game and one other to her credit. Let Caroline start and have Azzi prove herself over say 5 games. Then make the comparison on who starts and who comes in off the bench. Next year it will not make any difference as they will both be starters. Look at what she has done to date and remember.... she's only a freshman. Give her her due!

 

[Carnac]

I'm still mind boggled. Who cares who starts but Azzi, Caroline, CW, and Paige all should dominate the guard minutes. What is most exciting to me is that the strength at guard if Paige comes back strong enables Caroline as the 4 with Paige, CW and Azzi at 1,2 and 3. That stretches the floor big time. If the other team has strong rebounding go with ONO and Dorka in the lineup. Now we have lots of scoring coming off the bench for once. Lot's of it. No loss in talent even with the main subs in.

It really does not matter. They’re both going to get starter’s minutes. Both of them will probably be in the game in the waining minutes if the game is still in doubt. In Geno I trust. He’ll put his best unit on the floor to start the game.

 

[hoophuskee]

I think some of you are giving Caroline a bums rush. She has been the top scorer in the last 8 games and Azzi has this one game and one other to her credit. Let Caroline start and have Azzi prove herself over say 5 games. Then make the comparison on who starts and who comes in off the bench. Next year it will not make any difference as they will both be starters. Look at what she has done to date and remember.... she's only a freshman. Give her her due!

I'm not in on this argument but Azzi has had 3 big games (USF, DePaul, and Tenn) not two. Other than that, I think it absurd to not start CW unless she tanks but ofc whatever Gneo sees is super-fine. We have a weakness in allowing guard penetration and she is our most athletic guard in preventing that. Plus she gives good team speed for fast breaks. Plus in halfcourt sets she can set up CD and Azzi. How much does CD set up Azzi? On the flip side, CD is more of a natural SF than CWill. With that said, CWill was the sf last year for a FF team.

With all this said, do we forget that last year CWill had one helluva of an NCAA Tourney? Now all of sudden that doesn't count?

With all this said--- I don't care. I think though CWill is the lock. But overall for the time being I just don't care just as I think nearly everyone I think feels the same way. The ending counts more.

With all this said, most importantly, I want to see UCONN make as many teams as possible in the NCAA Tourney pay for what has happened to us this year. And burn all the snipers snipping at us with their individual pettiness this past year and past couple too. I'm hoping I can watch them all pay. I don't give much of a damn Scarlett who starts.

 

[Boreifs]

I think some of you are giving Caroline a bums rush. She has been the top scorer in the last 8 games and Azzi has this one game and one other to her credit. Let Caroline start and have Azzi prove herself over say 5 games. Then make the comparison on who starts and who comes in off the bench. Next year it will not make any difference as they will both be starters. Look at what she has done to date and remember.... she's only a freshman. Give her her due!

As has been pointed out several times, they play different positions. Azzi can’t play a traditional three; it would only work in two-wing sets when the opponent is consistently playing 2-3 zone.

 

[Cuango]

YES! YES! A million times yes! Azzi shoots a MUCH higher percentage, specifically .211 points higher from 3 and is able to involve other teammates into the game. Caroline doesn't. We fell in love with Caroline because she filled a void no one else could. Azzi is flat out a better player with much higher upside. Next season it will be a moot point, but if the goal this year is to win a national championship, Azzi gives a chance to do that that Caroline simply does not.

Caroline should continue to start! Azzi should replace Nika and the guards should be either CD, , and CW or those three + Nika! (We’re really only talking about three to five games anyway, as I believe Paige will be back pretty soon now) Nika is not going to be the long term starter that some people so desperately want her to be! As soon as Paige gets healthy Nika goes back to being the spark plug backup! I think we will see a four guard lineup consisting of PB, , CW, CD, and ONO! Nika, Dorka, AE, and E will all be coming off the bench. Of course, depending on matchups that lineup can and will likely change.

In the unlikely event Nika suddenly starts shooting 48%+ from two and 37%+ from three, all bets are off! Next year Dorka or AE will replace ONO but the guards will remain the same in the starting lineup. At that point, our bench will be a scary thing! Don’t forget, Aubrey should be back and healthy and we will have AD, PG, IB, AP, and perhaps a transfer guard (likely a sharpshooter three point specialist!) l’m looking forward to many happy dreams over the next off-season!!!

 

[NU2BY]

As has been pointed out several times, they play different positions. Azzi can’t play a traditional three; it would only work in two-wing sets when the opponent is consistently playing 2-3 zone.

This just might be the best post in this thread.

 

[jchusky]

As has been pointed out several times, they play different positions. Azzi can’t play a traditional three; it would only work in two-wing sets when the opponent is consistently playing 2-3 zone.

not to mention Caroline is a much much better defender, her length gives other opponents to second guess trying to shoot it over her.

 

[SJF]

Let it go! Let it go!

 

[Childhood]

They are not competing for the same position.

 

[Littlemin]

As others have pointed out, a teams five best scorers are very rarely the best five to have on the court. But just beating a dead horse. Having a dynamic scorer off the bench is a beautiful weapon, see John Havlicek, Vinnie Johnson, etc. and I would bet that’s the way Auriemma goes, but we shall see.

 

[CL82]

Fyi current team per player scoring ranking:

Paige 21ppg, Christin 14, Caroline 12, Azzi and ONO 10.
(Sorry I couldn’t get them all in a screenshot points per game from memory - feel free to correct them.)

 

[GoUconn7961]

Who cares who starts?

 

[NU2BY]

@GoUconn7961 - The players!

 

[TCC Kid]

Wondering if Azzi should start over Caroline Its obvious that Azzi is the teams best three point shooter and the more minutes she plays the more opportunities she'll get shooting 3's. It seems when she comes off the bench it takes her awhile to get into the flow of the game, especially on defense. Azzi did miss a lot of shots today, but made up for it by making 7 of 9 three point shots. Today besides scoring 25 points, was Azzi's best game on defense. It seems if Geno wanted to start both Caroline and Azzi then Christyn Williams probably goes to the bench. IMO Nika is needed in the starting lineup as she does a good job running the offense and gets UConn into their transition game. Geno likes starting two post players and I would not sit one of them.

Would you start Azzi over Carolina or do you have a lineup where both would start?

HuskyNan has said it and often. It doesn't matter who starts, it is who plays and plays to their potential.

 

[TCC Kid]

@GoUconn7961 - The players!

Only if they don't believe the coach. Starting for some is an ego trip. Players like Caroline, Muhl, --heck, nearly all Uconn kids, are basketball players and all players want is playing time. Have you played??

 

[TCC Kid]

There are aspects to Caroline's game that others don't have, including Azzi. That said, it would be great to have them both on the floor before next year.

Nice to see you again. Long island vacation?? Or snowed in in Montana??

 

[Huskie02]

YES! YES! A million times yes! Azzi shoots a MUCH higher percentage, specifically .211 points higher from 3 and is able to involve other teammates into the game. Caroline doesn't. We fell in love with Caroline because she filled a void no one else could. Azzi is flat out a better player with much higher upside. Next season it will be a moot point, but if the goal this year is to win a national championship, Azzi gives a chance to do that that Caroline simply does not.

Absolutely!!!!! She has a much better shot and plays under control. Caroline commits to many turnovers and sometimes takes wild shots.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I think that we are seeing an evolution of coaching in teams like UCONN, SC, Stanford, etc. with so many talented players. I saw it in the game yesterday where who was on the floor was tailored to where are we having issues. You don't need to pull out all your tools to fix every job. And everyone was happy. I was certain Nika would have her footprint all over the TN game, not for her scoring, but for her defense. She cut the head (PG) off the TN offense. And even after 2 fouls...UCONN left her on the floor to finish what she started. Make no mistake...this game was over at halftime. To quote Evina..."They were done."

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Nice to see you again. Long island vacation?? Or snowed in in Montana??

Very mopey Husky fan. Geno refused to train me back up. Been slow to dig myself out of my self dug ditch.

 

[Mrhoops33]

i belive you go with the hot hand.

 

[Dogstar]

Trun, you get a

Had to know this was coming. Oy

I'm still mind boggled. Who cares who starts but Azzi, Caroline, CW, and Paige all should dominate the guard minutes. What is most exciting to me is that the strength at guard if Paige comes back strong enables Caroline as the 4 with Paige, CW and Azzi at 1,2 and 3. That stretches the floor big time. If the other team has strong rebounding go with ONO and Dorka in the lineup. Now we have lots of scoring coming off the bench for once. Lot's of it. No loss in talent even with the main subs in.

Geez you get a shiny new toy and you wanna throw last weeks favorite, tht works perfectly fine in the toy box?

 

[Dogstar]

LOL! Funniest post of the year.

Maybe not the funniest. But in the top 10

 

[NU2BY]

Only if they don't believe the coach. Starting for some is an ego trip. Players like Caroline, Muhl, --heck, nearly all Uconn kids, are basketball players and all players want is playing time. Have you played??

I've played at a very high level, and I have never known one player who had talent that didn't want to start. Have you played?

 

[rt bb fan]

Azzi should start in place of Chrystin. Let's get the Azzi and Caroline opening act going for when the headliner Paige comes back.

I don't think Geno will pull CW from starting line up. Her psych is already bad, he wouldn't want to damage it more. CW might play less minutes depending on her play for that game.

 

[itsasport]

Caroline who?

Of course, she starts.

The mad bomber off the bench to crush the enemy.

 

[AmeriConn]

Carolina?

North or South

 

[NU2BY]

@AmeriConn - Good question, but you'd have to ask the original poster for the answer.

 

[HuskyNan]

Geno will go with the same starting lineup but play the players that ”have it going” that night, as Geno would say. Some teams have players that are just a bad matchup for some Huskies. If that Husky is having a off night, Geno now has enough options that he can find someone who’s on.

 

[Longtime fan]

Wondering if Azzi should start over Caroline Its obvious that Azzi is the teams best three point shooter and the more minutes she plays the more opportunities she'll get shooting 3's. It seems when she comes off the bench it takes her awhile to get into the flow of the game, especially on defense. Azzi did miss a lot of shots today, but made up for it by making 7 of 9 three point shots. Today besides scoring 25 points, was Azzi's best game on defense. It seems if Geno wanted to start both Caroline and Azzi then Christyn Williams probably goes to the bench. IMO Nika is needed in the starting lineup as she does a good job running the offense and gets UConn into their transition game. Geno likes starting two post players and I would not sit one of them.

Would you start Azzi over Carolina or do you have a lineup where both would start?

Let's discuss. You are all now the head coach. I work backwards; Olivia starts and so does Williams. I think Nika Mühl starts ( best ball handler ( although AZZI may change that...and we know about Paige ); incredible energy on defense, and starting to find her shot ); I think Caroline starts because she earned it and delivered as starter. We are also investing in the future here. And you just have to start AZZi. Really, she is that good. Next issue, however, can cause an adjustment; Who are we playing and how do they match-up? It could require that Edwards or Dorka starts along with Olivia. I think Westbrook definitely comes off the bench. And Caroline can as well. Anyone can ( maybe not Williams or Olivia ) I think AZZI showed how complete a ballplayer she is and, if her body is up to it, she just must remain as a starting guard. Every moment of court time is going to see her get better...Geno can play around for a while and see how players respond. But AZZI is a stater now. For me. It is an amazing challenge. Particularly when you know who shows up ( which I don't expect until March ).