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Message: [QUOTE="Majic Hands, post: 5055400, member: 8345"] [CENTER][B] Walking Wounded[/B][/CENTER] Due to suffering injuries “during” last season I have no expectations for [B]Caroline, Ayanna, Azzi, Aubrey.[/B] I’m trusting that their treatment was as successful as possible and that they are on track with their rehab. I can’t remember if Caroline was concussed last year or the year before. I’m understanding that “time” without being concussed again is critical for recovery. [B]Jana[/B]. Goodness. Sat on the bench and attended practices for almost a full season in order to keep a full yeah of eligibility and suffered the injury the following summer. Sat out the following season. It’s my understanding that she has been practicing & working out for quite a while and the last I heard was she operating at 80-90% of what she was capable of. Let’s be realistic. It seems to take about half a season for players coming off injury to really get their mojo back. So again, if a player isn’t getting minutes by December. I have no expectations. Keeping in mind we’re expecting these kids to be competing at the UConn level against the best players in the country. [CENTER][B]Freshman[/B] [/CENTER] [B]Allie, Sara, Morgan[/B] our freshman. It seems most seem to think playing time beginning this fall would be Sara, Morgan, and then Allie. I’ve not seen any games or player activity that would cause me to have a different opinion. [CENTER][B]5th Year Player [/B][/CENTER] [B]Kaitlyn[/B]. I’m thinking this young lady is very intelligent and has a very high basketball IQ. Competed at a high level in a system very similar to UConn’s for 4 years. [LEFT]I remember a comment from GA while watching another 5th year player who came in to play for UConn from a little college called Fairfield. It was something to the effect that someone who thought they would be a starter was going to be disappointed. The 5th year player was simply operating at a higher level. It’s my thought that this may very well be a similar situation this year. Just a different 5th year player. Everything being equal someone playing in their 5th year is going to be better than their counterparts playing their 1st or 2nd year.[/LEFT] [CENTER][B]Who’s Left?[/B][/CENTER] [B]KK, Paige, Q, Ice, Ash[/B]. Hum. I guess one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to suggest we can expect to see [B]Paige[/B] in the starting lineup this fall. I think it’s very possible that [B]KK[/B] will get to spend time learning. My expectations is that Kaitlyn will be starting. Can’t believe I’m saying this but she “might” be bringing more to the PG position than Nika. This is going to be an entirely different team. The personality of Nika is gone and the leadership vacuum must be filled, quickly. Sorry for you Nika haters but this team “was” Nika’s. With the players she had around her she done a yeoman’s job. Personally, I think it would have still been Nikas even if we didn’t have so many damn injuries. We would have just won more game and perhaps a a Championship or two. At the end of last season KK was still driving into a crowd around the basket with no where to go and turning th ball over. I’m sure her game improved over the season but I can’t recall or point to an area of her game that was noticeably better than when the season started. Having said that, I’m looking forward to watching KK grow for 3 more years. [B]Q[/B]. I see a “very” competitive kid. It seemed to me that her game was suffering towards the end of last year. Not because of her skills or talents but because she recognized that she needed to be a more complete player. I saw her spending more time working on her defensive contributions and contributing offensively in ways other than just jacking up 3’s. I’m high on Q and looking forward to seeing what her growth over the summer looks like. [B]Ice[/B]… Perplexing. The only time I really remember her performing at a high level was when Aaliyah wasn’t available to play. Again, she was coming in off an injury. Out of shape. I’m looking forward to see how she looks early this fall. [B]Ash[/B]. Okay, before I go any further it needs to be understood that The Ash is currently my favorite player. I was leaning towards Jana in anticipation but she was out with injuries and I got to watch The Ash for a year. My wife went to Planet Fitness and participated in Ashlynn’s NIL promotion to support her and get us improving our fitness level. What I really liked was how she allowed the game to come to her. A consummate “tea” player. I saw so many mistakes & errors…. Once. When she screwed up she demonstrated the ability to recognize what and how it happened and corrected her game. That is an amazing ability. Additionally, NO one. Absolutely No one is going to out work, out hustle, out practice, out compete, The Ash… well maybe Jana, yet to be seen. [CENTER][B]Starters Before We Know Diddley[/B][/CENTER] Paige, Kaitlyn, Ash, Ice, Jana. Currently I see this as the core of this team today before the fall term has even stared. I can see every other player subbing in without the team losing any level of competitiveness. Actually, I see any substitution as causing complications for the opponent because the new player on the floor will be bringing a different set of talents. Due to the number of past key players having been out with injuries combined with the number of talented players available GA should be able to bring our walking wounded in gradually and build their confidence along with recollecting their skills and integrating themselves back into the flow with the team. Yep. My opinion. Unchangable. Won’t be surprised if this is the first lineup. Won’t be surprised if it’s not. Just looking forward to watching the season unfold for the team I love to watch. I’m thankful that it’s looking like I might be here for another season. I admire and appreciate how the kids are tough to play and conduct themselves at UConn. It a joy to watch, win or lose. These kids learn to be successful. [/QUOTE]

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