Should UCONN's seniors be concerned?

[Eagle4]

Rather than being worried, I would hope that everyone is MOTIVATED. I have a sense that Azzi and Dorka are very talented players who will get major playing time. I love Edwards to also be a key contributer. Paige is a given. The other returnees who played a lot last year all have thier plusses and minuses. At the beginning of the season some of the vets may start but my guess is that they will have to perform better and more consistently or they will be pressed by the talented newcomers. I personally would like to see a running and pressing team that uses fresh legs to wear down opponents. I dont care who starts or who plays the most mintes.

What I am hoping for is improvement over last year. We proved again to not be quite good enough to get what we all want- another Championship (that's been the case over the last 4 painful endings). The competion for the ultimate prize is going to be strong next year and we need to get better, so improvement is what I am looking for- whether it comes from the vets raising their game or the newcomers, what matters is that the TEAM gets better. we need more and better (consistent) weapons on offense, a better inside game, and better defense. It would be great if we get the boost we need from EVERYONE. Time will tell and the players and coaches will sort it out. Everyone seems to be working hard and the internal competition can only serve to raise everyone's game.

 

[Bama fan]

Another unknown...the number of "minutes per game/starting lineup" threads that will be started each day, week and/or month between now and November. Also the variations on each thread title is unknown but could be interesting.

It may as yet be unknown, but it is approaching infinity.

 

[MooseJaw]

NO! The question itself stinks. To be thinking of your minutes at this time is the epitome of selfish basketball and far from the UConn model of a team. This time of year the focus is to get ready to do whatever is required to win games. I don't think there are any idiots on this team and only an idiot would think that the arrival of Dorka and Azzi won't alter the distribution of minutes.

I have been chastised on the BY for being less forward than your post. That said, you only speak common sense, the obvious.

 

[BostonBay]

Seniors will get their minutes. UConn will have plenty of blowouts to ensure that. The key question will be how many minutes will they get against the elite competition and the Elite 8 & Final Four games. That should be based on who gives the team the best chance to win. Its Titles or Bust at UConn...that is the mindset.

 

[Cheddie]

NO! The question itself stinks. To be thinking of your minutes at this time is the epitome of selfish basketball and far from the UConn model of a team. This time of year the focus is to get ready to do whatever is required to win games. I don't think there are any idiots on this team and only an idiot would think that the arrival of Dorka and Azzi won't alter the distribution of minutes.

To phrase this a bit differently - Geno recruits bright young women and from everything I've read for years he never promises playing time. In fact, the seniors know well by now that if they don't perform per his expectations, they will sit - even in "big" games. So everyone - seniors to freshman - should know the score.

I would also guess that the seniors would be thrilled - even with fewer minutes on court - to be cutting down the nets in Minneapolis.

 

[wolfe613]

A bigger intrigue for me is how much is the loss of Shea Ralph gonna have on the guards. I still say not having her in the bubble was a big loss, one of the best communicators with players and I know she will do a fantastic job at Vanderbilt. Was not a fan of her replacement, went 4-30 at Hartford and then just decided to quit on the team and comeback. I realize some hc's are bad hc's and that doesn't mean they can't be good assistants but to me it was not a good look.

 

[jazz]

CW will start. I have never understood this criticism of her.

She was expected to be a game changing dominate first team All-american. She is not even close to that. Quality player but has not come close to becoming the type of player that she once was thought to become. Even GA criticized her this year which he has never done to CW (from what I can remember).

 

[wolfe613]

She was expected to be a game changing dominate first team All-american. She is not even close to that. Quality player but has not come close to becoming the type of player that she once was thought to become. Even GA criticized her this year which he has never done to CW (from what I can remember).

if there's one player I hope doesn't read the forum it's definitely her. The scrutiny she gets is just unreasonable to me, yea she was #1 in her recruiting class but she still contributes to her team. She was the only player who had a good game in the Final 4 and there's reaction like she went 0-10.

 

[Alydar]

and there lies the problem, the big east games are basically just auditions but they don't get the team ready for the final four. Adding some non conference games vs Sc and Louisville are good, but it's just not up to par when Sc and Stanford and even teams like Maryland get way tougher tests week to week.

Maryland will play a lot of B1G teams ranked 14-25 but Brenda doesn't play many top 5 teams. That may partly explain her early exit. The PAC12 has exploded in the last 5 years but for a long time it wasn't a deep conference and yet Tara has a great record in getting to FF's.
The games that help prepare teams for the final four are top 5 games, on national TV in front of a sellout. UConn may not play as many top 25 games but they play as many or more 1-2 games than anyone. Last year they played and beat 2 No 1 teams. I like the BE a lot more than the AAC where physicality replaced a lack of skill.
UConn is going to roll over all but a small handful of teams this season. And that would be true in any conference.

 

[jazz]

1. CW will start the entire year but her minutes will be dramatically reduced as the year goes along, assuming can play defence. In big games in the tournament, I believe will play 30 minutes and CW could go less then 15. I think GA will be more confident in than he will in CW.

2. If Liv does not improve dramatically, I think she is in danger of losing her starting job to Dorka. Liv's best attribute is protecting the rim and some good passes from the high post. In big games in the tournament, I believe she could be down to 15 minutes a game, in particular if AD emerges. I just don't think GA will have the confidence in her game when he has others he can go to.

3. EW's time will go down as well, in particular if CD III (or is it IV) emerges. I think she is the one player who could really take off and do a lot of things on the court that isn't being talked about as much (in light of the talk). She has better size, shooting ability and skills than EW. If CD III can play defense, she will steal a lot of minutes from EW.

By year end and/or big games in the tournament, I think the players in the game at crunch time will be: PB, , CD III, AE and Dorka. That is a formidable 5 there.

 

[HopJim]

Another "who will start, who will play more minutes," post. Yawn!

 

[jazz]

if there's one player I hope doesn't read the forum it's definitely her. The scrutiny she gets is just unreasonable to me, yea she was #1 in her recruiting class but she still contributes to her team. She was the only player who had a good game in the Final 4 and there's reaction like she went 0-10.

That reaction is not from me. She had a solid-good game overall. Not great. She may have been our best player bc the others just were not very good.

She still only shot 7-17, gave up 12 points on defense in the first half, threw up an airball, missed some wide-open threes and missed at the rim multiple times. She did play better defence in the second half and I thought she was good on the boards (might be the first time I've ever said that). She certainly was a lot better than 0-10. I'm not sure I've seen anybody be that critical of her, and if I'm correct, I believe I am the most critical of her.

Good player, not great and not on par with what GA thought she would be as evidenced by his own remarks earlier in the year.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Dorka should start over Liv. Liv disappeared too many times in big games. The other starters should be Paige, E, CW and AE. CW is our best defensive player and can drive to the basket and get her own shot. Now maybe Azzi and E rotate more but E is the heart and soul of this team.

 

[wolfe613]

That reaction is not from me. She had a solid-good game overall. Not great. She may have been our best player bc the others just were not very good.

She still only shot 7-17, gave up 12 points on defense in the first half, threw up an airball, missed some wide-open threes and missed at the rim multiple times. She did player better defence in the second half and I thought she was good on the boards (might be the first time I've ever said that). She certainly was a lot better than 0-10. I'm not sure I've seen anybody be that critical of her, and if I'm correct, I believe I am the most critical of her.

Good player, not great and not on par with what GA thought she would be as evidenced by his own remarks earlier in the year.

she gave up 12 cause she had the tough task on being on Mcdonald that's the knock on Paige as great as a scorer she is, her defense is just not good enough at least not yet. I feel Williams took all the blame and she earned my respect for her press conference basically saying the team didn't take Arizona as serious. She was front and center postgate while the other teammates were just doing skype or zoom interviews.

 

[jazz]

she gave up 12 cause she had the tough task on being on Mcdonald that's the knock on Paige as great as a scorer she is, her defense is just not good enough at least not yet. I feel Williams took all the blame and she earned my respect for her press conference basically saying the team didn't take Arizona as serious. She was front and center postgate while the other teammates were just doing skype or zoom interviews.

CW is the junior. That is life for upper class men.

I for one, think PB is a better defender than CW. CW is really good in stretches and then tends to fall asleep sometimes and doesn't fight through screens enough. She has been torched during the year. Stopping McD was a tough match-up for her but she needed to rise to the occasion. There were times where she didn't get out on her quickly enough on the three and times she didn't show a sense of urgency fighting through screens. One time, GA about lost his mind. As I said, she was better in the second half.

 

[Alydar]

How do you measure the value of what will be 4 years of practicing together? Or having played a load of "huge games" together? SCar & Baylor had transfers when they won. That mental maturity that comes from experience can be very valuable when the pressure is on.
Geno will showcase his seniors and I think that Bueckers and Fudd won't mind at all as long as they win.

 

[wolfe613]

CW is the junior. That is life for upper class men.

I for one, think PB is a better defender than CW. CW is really good in stretches and then tends to fall asleep sometimes and doesn't fight through screens enough. She has been torched during the year. Stopping McD was a tough match-up for her but she needed to rise to the occasion. There were times where she didn't get out on her quickly enough on the three and times she didn't show a sense of urgency fighting through screens. One time, GA about lost his mind. As I said, she was better in the second half.

no you ask the national player of the year to do it

 

[jazz]

no you ask the national player of the year to do it

well that is exactly what I think should have been done and I think PB has much better instincts on the perimeter and can use her length to disrupt. CW is tougher once the player gets in the lane. I think GA had a big job in this game and that was to stop McD from getting off to a hot start and I think he chose the wrong player for the job. I would have even preferred AG for the job but then everybody would have blamed her for the offense majorly stalling for most of the game.

 

[Spaceman213J]

I think Liv will have a lot of say in her minutes. If she starts to fall in love with playing outside, like she tended to do at times last year, she will lose minutes. But if she stays down from the top of the key and in (and mostly in) she will see significant minutes. With the potential of Paige, Azzi and Ducharme out on the perimeter (also Muhl, Westbrook, Williams) and Edwards 'hunting' screens, it could really open things up for ONO down low.

The margin of victories will also play a big role when you have a team with depth.

 

[CL82]

I want them to know that they have a "spider" on their back

 

[Stymie]

Regardless of who starts on day one or the first handful of games, the cream will rise to the top and it will become obvious which players should be on the floor for the opening tip or get the most minutes.
While Geno may show loyalty to returning seniors, I do not believe this is a habit he can continue to indulge.
Woman’s College BB has evolved a great deal in past several years.
My question is—If you were a top tier HS player—dedicating several years to develop into a top national talent--would you risk precious college years attending a program where you had to “wait your turn” while a less productive returning player got the minutes you earned in practice?
I will concede that a Senior or returning player must be outplayed to lose their position, and a tie goes to the returning player.
Any other approach could damage the recruiting process.
JMHO

 

[MSGRET]

A bigger intrigue for me is how much is the loss of Shea Ralph gonna have on the guards. I still say not having her in the bubble was a big loss, one of the best communicators with players and I know she will do a fantastic job at Vanderbilt. Was not a fan of her replacement, went 4-30 at Hartford and then just decided to quit on the team and comeback. I realize some hc's are bad hc's and that doesn't mean they can't be good assistants but to me it was not a good look.

Apparently Geno disagrees with your assumption on Morgan. He stated that she has brought a different perspective that Shea, JJ, Tonya never had and that she's been an asset to the team and she was with her prior teams as an Asst Coach. At Washington she coached Kelsey Plum and the other guards, Kelsey had stated that Morgan made her a better player and would not be where she is today if not for the efforts of Morgan. While at Arizona she helped coach the guards and I believe that it was Aari McDonald that stated she helped her improve and up her guard play while Morgan was there. All of the head coaches that she worked for had nothing but praise for Morgan. Let me ask you if you were the head coach at Hartford, a University that was contemplating at the time of going to Div III, and UConn offered you a Asst Coaches position what would you do? If it was me, and I had a chance to learn from one of the best coaching staffs in college basketball or stay as a Head Coach at a University that may decide to go to Div III and make recruiting impossible during the transition period, I would choose UConn.

 

[HuskyNan]

and there lies the problem, the big east games are basically just auditions but they don't get the team ready for the final four. Adding some non conference games vs Sc and Louisville are good, but it's just not up to par when Sc and Stanford and even teams like Maryland get way tougher tests week to week.

The AAC was a worse league than the Big East and UConn won 4 championships in 7 years while in that league

 

[MSGRET]

Regardless of who starts on day one or the first handful of games, the cream will rise to the top and it will become obvious which players should be on the floor for the opening tip or get the most minutes.
While Geno may show loyalty to returning seniors, I do not believe this is a habit he can continue to indulge.
Woman’s College BB has evolved a great deal in past several years.
My question is—If you were a top tier HS player—dedicating several years to develop into a top national talent--would you risk precious college years attending a program where you had to “wait your turn” while a less productive returning player got the minutes you earned in practice?
I will concede that a Senior or returning player must be outplayed to lose their position, and a tie goes to the returning player.
Any other approach could damage the recruiting process.
JMHO

Please enlighten me on who did Geno do this to last year. Paige, a Freshman, started every game that she played in. While Nika and AE started more games then Anna and Aubrey. Geno has almost always started the BEST 5 players over the past years. While UConn hasn't won the NC during the past few years, you do have to make it to the Final Four for a chance and UConn is the ONLY team to have gone to the FF over the past 13 years. With that type of consistency, he has a big leg up on many coaches who haven't even made it to the Final Four.

 

[msf22b]

and there lies the problem, the big east games are basically just auditions but they don't get the team ready for the final four. Adding some non conference games vs Sc and Louisville are good, but it's just not up to par when Sc and Stanford and even teams like Maryland get way tougher tests week to week.

Seemingly, this was not a big problem in the past, especially during the Stewie era.
(Of course in her first year they were being smacked around by ND...and Rutgers and
De Paul were worthy opponents). they jus went about their business walloping most and went into the tournaments ready.
___________________
About the question the OP raised ...Geno has already indirectly addressed it with the talk of competition...So my answer is a conditional yes....

Geno has a long tradition of taking care of his seniors whenever possible; this season may well challenge that custom.

Consider how much Stanford relied on underclassmen in crunch-time and rode them to a national championship this past season, Geno certainly observed that.

It just may be impossible to sit Dorka, Ducharme, Deberry aside from the usual suspects and of course Azzi.

Makes for much conjecture on this forum, a great deal of healthy competition (already happening), serious self introspection among the vets and a great many difficult decisions for coach and the staff.

 

[CL82]

Too bad they did not say a "deadpool" on their back...

I actually was looking for the seen in Indiana Jones where the spiders are all over the Zapata‘a back, but I stumbled onto this and thought it was funny.

 

[Stymie]

Please enlighten me on who did Geno do this to last year. Paige, a Freshman, started every game that she played in. While Nika and AE started more games then Anna and Aubrey. Geno has almost always started the BEST 5 players over the past years. While UConn hasn't won the NC during the past few years, you do have to make it to the Final Four for a chance and UConn is the ONLY team to have gone to the FF over the past 13 years. With that type of consistency, he has a big leg up on many coaches who haven't even made it to the Final Four.

No necessary enlightenment.
Last year is over and done with.
I’m on to this year.
2/3 players will put HUGE pressure on an upperclasswoman.
Last two games (where the rubber hits the road) were abysmal.
You don’t pay dividends in the Big East.
You pay them in the “Dance”.
We’ll see.

 

[Zanzman]

A bigger intrigue for me is how much is the loss of Shea Ralph gonna have on the guards. I still say not having her in the bubble was a big loss, one of the best communicators with players and I know she will do a fantastic job at Vanderbilt. Was not a fan of her replacement, went 4-30 at Hartford and then just decided to quit on the team and comeback. I realize some hc's are bad hc's and that doesn't mean they can't be good assistants but to me it was not a good look.

Yes her record was not very good but her school dropped to Div 3 I think that was a major part of her leaving UHart

 

[FormerCTrez]

Should Connecticut’s seniors be concerned? Probably. Hyper inflationary economies are toughest on those who are living on a fixed incomes.

Or did you mean something different?

Lol Your sense of humor is killing me over here in SoCal. Keep it up as it serves as my free facial therapy.

 

[oldhusky]

CW, EW and Ono have two distinct advantages. They are both incumbent starters and seniors. Those factors mean a challenger, of whom there are several, probably has to clearly beat them out to start. Having said that, I believe one returning player (Aaliyah) is probable to be a better player than all three this year, another (Azzi) could very well be better her first year, and depending on how you look at it, both Nika and Aaliyah are returning starters.

From that perspective we have 6 returning players that could consider themselves returning starters, one of which has to sit, before even considering challenges from Azzi or Dorka. A player doesn't have to lose a starting position, sometimes they could even improve a little and still be replaced if a star comes along. But clearly the burden is on the challengers to make the decision a clear cut one before changes are likely.

Azzi and Aaliyah could be substantially better than a returning senior, and Dorka is possible but not as likely in my opinion. To me the only returning starter that is a lock is Paige and only Paige.