So much more fun with 7, 8, 9 player rotation

[caseyb7]

I must admit that I am having an absolute ball watching this year's squad - despite the Covid craziness.

Last night NINE players got double digit minutes and eleven UConn players got court time. I can't recall the last time I've seen that from a Geno team.

For my tastes watching a 6, sometimes even 5, player rotation isn't as much fun as a deep bench. I used to love seeing Kiah Stokes or Morgan Tuck coming in off the bench. More personalities, more styles, more unique strengths to watch and enjoy than playing with a thin squad.

Understand this is likely short-lived as Geno sorts out combinations and roles, but boy am I having a good time and I hope our squad - and Geno's style - develops where we can watch 7, 8, 9 or more players on a given night.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Yep.

 

[ConnMotors]

And, next year you get four studs coming in. For now no one is leaving at least not yet.

 

[dtbtbtb]

I hope it becomes a 10 player rotation with Saylor so it gives Geno some practice for next season when he'll need to find time on the floor for even more than that.

 

[Vowelguy]

Butler is probably the worst team on the schedule. Dont expect there will be that many minutes to go around in future games.

 

[AgStatesman]

The only fun I get out of these games is winning. The bigger the better.

 

[Go/huskies]

Butler is probably the worst team on the schedule. Dont expect there will be that many minutes to go around in future games.

I agree, the game vs Tennessee will likely give us a better fill for the rotation, vs more elite/ teams with decent talent.

And, next year you get four studs coming in. For now no one is leaving at least not yet.

I expect only Azzi to see major minutes next season, Ducharme will see some minutes since she sounds like a hard worker, I expect her to really push for minutes in the rotation. If the same 5 kids who started last night all return and remain in the starting line up for the foreseeable future, I think Azzi will move into the 6th man role, being an elite shooter Geno won’t have to ask Azzi to shoot more, she’s also an above average playmaker so I think it’s possible she will take minutes away from Mühl. Even with all the talent on next years team, I can’t really see Geno going deeper then 8 players, Fudd, Edwards, Makurat will likely fill out the rotation next season.

 

[CocoHusky]

I too would love to have a player like Kiah Stokes or a Morgan Tuck coming off the bench. On this team though neither Kiah Stokes nor Morgan Tuck would be coming off the bench. Both might average 40+ minutes per game in big games. That + would be to allow for OT. Geno tinkering with the lineup this late in the season is not a good thing.

 

[tchalla1]

I agree, the game vs Tennessee will likely give us a better fill for the rotation, vs more elite/ teams with decent talent.

I expect only Azzi to see major minutes next season, Ducharme will see some minutes since she sounds like a hard worker, I expect her to really push for minutes in the rotation. If the same 5 kids who started last night all return and remain in the starting line up for the foreseeable future, I think Azzi will move into the 6th man role, being an elite shooter Geno won’t have to ask Azzi to shoot more, she’s also an above average playmaker so I think it’s possible she will take minutes away from Mühl. Even with all the talent on next years team, I can’t really see Geno going deeper then 8 players, Fudd, Edwards, Makurat will likely fill out the rotation next season.

I foresee Amari DeBerry getting some minutes as well...

 

[EricSD]

I agree, the game vs Tennessee will likely give us a better fill for the rotation, vs more elite/ teams with decent talent.

I expect only Azzi to see major minutes next season, Ducharme will see some minutes since she sounds like a hard worker, I expect her to really push for minutes in the rotation. If the same 5 kids who started last night all return and remain in the starting line up for the foreseeable future, I think Azzi will move into the 6th man role, being an elite shooter Geno won’t have to ask Azzi to shoot more, she’s also an above average playmaker so I think it’s possible she will take minutes away from Mühl. Even with all the talent on next years team, I can’t really see Geno going deeper then 8 players, Fudd, Edwards, Makurat will likely fill out the rotation next season.

Next year the team will be one of the most unique in UCONN history. The lowest rated kid we have coming in, Poffenbarger, has already joined the team and will have a huge leg up compared to the 3 other kids due to the fact that she will have the next 10 months (now till November assuming she stays over the summer) to play, practice, get coached by, and work out with her teammates and coaches.

Even if Azzi, CD and AD all come in the summer, it likely won't be till July or so and Saylor will still have a 6-month head start. My point is every one of those kids is a legit top 20, and 3 of them are legit top 10. NONE of them are coming to UCONN to sit on the bench, even as freshmen.

Unless one of them is seriously worse than anyone thought, or gets injured, there is no way mop up minutes in blowouts will be acceptable to any of them. It will be up to Geno to figure out how to allocate minutes for 13 legit studs (assuming Evina does not leave early). I have no doubt he will have conversations with ALL the current roster telling them that no one will get over 25 minutes in a game unless it's against a top team. I totally agree with you that in big games the rotation will be less. 8 players seems reasonable, but much depends on how much the 4 newbies acclimate and improve.

Getting the current roster to buy into that will go a long way in keeping harmony - if none of them average over 25 MPG, and most in the 18-20 MPG range, he will have minutes for everyone. Of course injuries could shift the allocation of minutes, but we won't know until/if they happen.

Geno has always been the master of adjusting style of play to the strengths and weaknesses any team has had. Next year his challenge will be to adjust the minutes per game to help keep everyone engaged and motivated. Each of the 4 kids he recruited for next year knew how many people were on the team and how many players were legit going to be vying for minutes.

I would be shocked if any of the 15 are not fully aware that their minutes per game will be limited due to the sheer number of teammates. The competition will be fierce. The cream will rise to the top, and IF any kid is dissatisfied with their PT, they may seek a transfer. I am completely unworried about that prospect because we've never had a top recruit, big contributor, or starter transfer, and I don't expect to see that happen next year.

 

[itsasport]

Purposely tie every game in regular play and do several overtimes.

 

[CocoHusky]

Purposely tie every game in regular play and do several overtimes.

So you want the Swin Cash method?

 

[tchalla1]

So you want the Swin Cash method?

So Coco--how is that bucket scored? Would it go to the UCLA player closest to Swin, or to the UCLA player who had the last possession for UCLA? Just curious on that....

 

[ju6381]

So Coco--how is that bucket scored? Would it go to the UCLA player closest to Swin, or to the UCLA player who had the last possession for UCLA? Just curious on that....

Pretty certain the last UCLA player to touch the ball gets the points.

 

[CocoHusky]

So Coco--how is that bucket scored? Would it go to the UCLA player closest to Swin, or to the UCLA player who had the last possession for UCLA? Just curious on that....

Pretty certain the last UCLA player to touch the ball gets the points.

I was curious also so I looked it up. In Swin's case (NCAA) rule says a footnote is added and no player gets credit.

In NCAA basketball, the rules state: "When a player scores a field goal in the opponent’s basket, it shall count two points for the opponent regardless of the location on the playing court from where it was released. Such a field goal shall not be credited to a player in the scorebook but shall be indicated with a footnote."

In the NBA rules, the goal is credited to the player on the scoring team who is closest to defensive shooter and is mentioned in a footnote.

Under FIBA rules, the player designated team captain is credited with the basket.

The bonus I learned from looking it up is that even if Swin had stepped behind the 3Pt line UCLA would still only have been awarded 2 points.

 

[Vowelguy]

In youth basketball, an opposing player once scored on his own basket. The girl on our team who tried to stop him from scoring (co-ed in those days!, circa 1980) was given the points, since she was the closest.

 

[CocoHusky]

Ok More fun stuff. Never seen it happen just curious. A player standing outside the three point line bounces the ball inside the three point line, the ball is never touched by another player but ends up going through the hoop? How any points are awarded?

 

[tchalla1]

I was curious also so I looked it up. In Swin's case (NCAA) rule says a footnote is added and no player gets credit.

In NCAA basketball, the rules state: "When a player scores a field goal in the opponent’s basket, it shall count two points for the opponent regardless of the location on the playing court from where it was released. Such a field goal shall not be credited to a player in the scorebook but shall be indicated with a footnote."

In the NBA rules, the goal is credited to the player on the scoring team who is closest to defensive shooter and is mentioned in a footnote.

Under FIBA rules, the player designated team captain is credited with the basket.

The bonus I learned from looking it up is that even if Swin had stepped behind the 3Pt line UCLA would still only have been awarded 2 points.

Wow, a lot of variance in rules on this--thanks for the research, Coco!

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I too would love to have a player like Kiah Stokes or a Morgan Tuck coming off the bench. On this team though neither Kiah Stokes nor Morgan Tuck would be coming off the bench. Both might average 40+ minutes per game in big games. That + would be to allow for OT. Geno tinkering with the lineup this late in the season is not a good thing.

Keep in mind that the eighth game of the season in previous years was usually right after finals week in December, or the Friday before finals week (in mid-December). Until the 3 games per week is happening, I expect that Geno will continue the "mix & match" routine against unranked opponents.
Particularly due to Saylor clearing quarantine requirements at a currently unknown time (to me).....

 

[bluedevil]

Ok More fun stuff. Never seen it happen just curious. A player standing outside the three point line bounces the ball inside the three point line, the ball is never touched by another player but ends up going through the hoop? How any points are awarded?

4 if she is fouled and makes the free throw?

 

[oldhusky]

I agree, the game vs Tennessee will likely give us a better fill for the rotation, vs more elite/ teams with decent talent.

I expect only Azzi to see major minutes next season, Ducharme will see some minutes since she sounds like a hard worker, I expect her to really push for minutes in the rotation. If the same 5 kids who started last night all return and remain in the starting line up for the foreseeable future, I think Azzi will move into the 6th man role, being an elite shooter Geno won’t have to ask Azzi to shoot more, she’s also an above average playmaker so I think it’s possible she will take minutes away from Mühl. Even with all the talent on next years team, I can’t really see Geno going deeper then 8 players, Fudd, Edwards, Makurat will likely fill out the rotation next season.

If he doesn't go more than 8 deep next year, many will be extremely disappointed. This year I think we have established a 9 player rotation for the vast majority of games that are blowouts. More important, however, might be how many are used for games in doubt. I think that might be 8 if Nika comes on a bit, but if she doesn't could be as low as 7 against South Carolina, and maybe Tennessee and Arkansas.

 

[HuskylnSC]

I have no doubt he will have conversations with ALL the current roster telling them that no one will get over 25 minutes in a game unless it's against a top team.

Geno never promises minutes. Minutes are all earned and situational considerations. Game to game minutes can vary. Paige will continue to lead in minutes but other than that the maestro will conduct as the situations present themselves.

 

[ucbart]

Butler is probably the worst team on the schedule. Dont expect there will be that many minutes to go around in future games.

I gotta say, I mildly disagree. I think the rotation might shorten up a bit against better teams, but I think all 9 can see the court depending on matchups. We have seen this in every game, so it's clear that all 9 of those players in the rotation. We have blown out many teams over the years and our bench hasn't been utilized like this one.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Butler is probably the worst team on the schedule. Dont expect there will be that many minutes to go around in future games.

In the past Geno has said that he tightens the roster as we get deeper into the tournament. He might play 7 or 8 in the conference tourney but as he moves through the Natty he goes tighter. In the final 4 it's typically no more than 7, sometimes 6, players that get more than 2-3 minutes.

 

[Vowelguy]

I gotta say, I mildly disagree. I think the rotation might shorten up a bit against better teams, but I think all 9 can see the court depending on matchups. We have seen this in every game, so it's clear that all 9 of those players in the rotation. We have blown out many teams over the years and our bench hasn't been utilized like this one.

I was responding to the idea of 9 players getting double-digit minutes.

I do agree we could see a larger rotation than normal, tho for less rosy reasons. Geno doesnt typically extend the bench because the talent dropoff is too great and he's comfortable with what he's got. Neither of those are really true this year.

 

[Longtime fan]

I hope it becomes a 10 player rotation with Saylor so it gives Geno some practice for next season when he'll need to find time on the floor for even more than that.

I think Saylor will get time, but much like Autumn does. It will take her a long while to catch-up and
Geno will ( IMO) be inclined to use her for mop up minutes. In fact, she is likely to take minutes from Autumn, but perhaps not. In any case, the key things for Saylor will be integrating with the team, participating in practices
and " getting a taste" of college basketball. Incredibly valuable for next season. It adds more interest, for sure.