Starting 5 predictions for 2020

[Alydar]

That team from two years ago's big problem was size though, and it was as much a reason as any that they lost to ND in the Final Four. Lack of size killed them against South Carolina last season too. I don't think it's fair to ONO to have to take on so much responsibility by herself with those lineups.

And yet in 2017 UConn beat a S Car team that had Wilson and Coates starting against a UConn team of Samuelson, Collier, Williams, Nurse and Chong.
Now size is nice. I wish for the days when a Stokes was on the bench. But it isn't necessary.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

And yet in 2017 UConn beat a S Car team that had Wilson and Coates starting against a UConn team of Samuelson, Collier, Williams, Nurse and Chong.
Now size is nice. I wish for the days when a Stokes was on the bench. But it isn't necessary.

UConn was the better team that year and had three of the best players in the nation. Gabby played much bigger than her actual height. However, UConn also lost to a Mississippi State team they were 22-point favorites over in large part due to a rebound differential.

I'm not a stickler for five 6-5 players, but, again, that small lineup would make ONO have to work harder than need be.

 

[hoophuskee]

UConn was the better team that year and had three of the best players in the nation. Gabby played much bigger than her actual height. However, UConn also lost to a Mississippi State team they were 22-point favorites over in large part due to a rebound differential.

I'm not a stickler for five 6-5 players, but, again, that small lineup would make ONO have to work harder than need be.

I don't get the point you are making about SC. Nor do I get the point that you are making about Miss State. Nor do I get "making ONO work harder."

Regards to SC vs UCONN - during regular season the smaller team which was UCONN was better than SC. So why is size such a big deal in all instances? Further, SC won the championship when they played smaller.

Regards to Miss State - Kia Nurse and Crystal Dangerfield were a combined 2-9 from the field with a combined number of 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 turnovers. Overall the team had 11 assists and 17 turnovers. OFC you can get some assists with a good low post game but the Miss State game was also lost on the perimeter. Just a little more that just 7 points, or one more assists, or possibly one less turnover gets them the win. OFC you can say that about any 1 point game-- but the numbers I'm citing above are abnormally very bad considering the quality of the guards. It's not something you should expect.

In regards to ONO- if the perimeter players play to their tempo and execute to their abilities- there is a good chance ONO's play can be good enough to win. It doesn't matter how hard ONO is working if other players can punish their counterparts moreso. In other words. overall make more of the opposing teams players work harder by the overall quality of play you put back on them. As we saw with SC- it doesn't have to be the biggest wins.

If size is a such a big deal then back in 2016 - then why didn't it do better the following year when UCONN had Stevens- a 1st round WNBA draft pick?

And in those two years we lost at the buzzer- who beat us on last second shots? Guards.

 

[HGN]

I just checked the roster...

My prediction on the starting 5:

G - Bueckers
G - C Williams
G - Westbrook
F - Griffin
F/C - Nelson-Ododa

Sleeper of the bunch: Edwards... If she can play strong in the paint area she's going to get legit minutes. Footwork, touch is already there. Just want to see how strong she can be.


I think this team is dangerous folks... We have no one on this team shorter than 5' 10.. plenty of length... we also have what appears to be a bunch of high IQ players as well, that should blend quite well. Only concern I see is how we rebound in the paint. We got the warrior Griffin at only 6', but she's gonna need adequate support...


My 2 cents....

Ktuck911, I respectfully disagree on one selection. I do not think Bueckers will start on day one. I would replace her with Makurat. Bueckers will be just like most other superstars at Uconn beginning their freshman year, coming off the bench for a few games before starting.

Just my 1.5 cents.

 

[CocoHusky]

I don't get the point you are making about SC. Nor do I get the point that you are making about Miss State. Nor do I get "making ONO work harder."

In the 2017 South Carolina game Coates pulled down 15 rebounds 7 of which were offensive. In the 2018 FF game Jessica Shepard pulled down 11 rebounds 5 of which were offensive. Last year against South Carolina Boston pulled down 11 rebounds 5 of which were offensive In the vast majority of those cases especially the offensive rebounds Shepard, Coates & Boston were simply bigger than Gabby or Napheesa or Megan and did not have to work very hard to get those rebounds. If we are going to play with a small line up then ONO must become a dominat rebounder. ONO is a good rebounder but far from dominat having barely led the team in rebounding last year.

And yet in 2017 UConn beat a S Car team that had Wilson and Coates starting against a UConn team of Samuelson, Collier, Williams, Nurse and Chong.
Now size is nice. I wish for the days when a Stokes was on the bench. But it isn't necessary.

Size is still very necessary because this is basketball.

 

[Alydar]

In the 2017 South Carolina game Coates pulled down 15 rebounds 7 of which were offensive. In the 2018 FF game Jessica Shepard pulled down 11 rebounds 5 of which were offensive. Last year against South Carolina Boston pulled down 11 rebounds 5 of which were offensive In the vast majority of those cases especially the offensive rebounds Shepard, Coates & Boston were simply bigger than Gabby or Napheesa or Megan and did not have to work very hard to get those rebounds. If we are going to play with a small line up then ONO must become a dominat rebounder. ONO is a good rebounder but far from dominat having barely led the team in rebounding last year.


Size is still very necessary because this is basketball.

Helpful but not necessary. Very helpful. But UConn has won titles with a centers under 6'2". And they lost one with a 6'5" post sitting on the bench because she didn't have the talent for a NC game.
Give me 2 equally talented players I'll take the tall one, but players are rarely equal and at any given position I'd rather have the more skilled player than the tallest.

Barbara Turner (6') or Natalie Butler6'5"?

 

[UConnCat]

Tennesse routinely out-rebounded UConn when the two teams met in the Final Four in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In fact, if you look at the box scores of UConn's Final Four wins in those match-ups, Tennessee grabbed 15, 20, 20 and 17 offensive rebounds, respectively. Do I often wish UConn were a better rebounding team? Sure, but the program has had a lot of success while losing rebounding battles.

 

[jabstep]

Aaliyah Edwards was the youngest member of Canadian National Women Basketball team at age 17. Cannot wait to see her paly with the 6'5" Gabriel.

The thing that impressed me was that she was a junior in HS and she was playing against Phessa most of the time in the USA vs Canada in a preseason tournament. She did not look overmatched. Canada was very weak at the guard position and Edwards did not get the ball much but she rebounded and scored on put backs. She ran the court on breaks and played good team and individual defense. She also understood team offense such as screening and options of passing and movements to open spots very well. She will get her minutes and she will produce by sheer effort.

 

[jabstep]

I think everything hinges on Westbrook’s health. If her knee holds up, and she’s good to go, she starts. If not Bueckers starts at guard and learns “OJT“, just like Christyn and Kia did.

I’ve noticed that more and more posters have Aubrey in their starting 5. That was not the case back in April/May. Aaliyah was the consensus to fill that spot back then.

I totally agree that the starting lineup with Carnac the "Wizzard of Storrs" will be based on Health. And who can knock down three's will certainly play as well. Things can change over the summer and fall but we all have seen Anna after her
O for America early woes turn into a 3 ball terror. I have seen so many videos of Paige knocking down 3 balls as early as 8th grade and who hasn't seen the Bueckers vs Fudd shooting contests. Rebounding against Baylor type teams will be interesting. We will adjust to them or will they adjust to us. We also have GENO THE GREAT

 

[Alydar]

Tennesse routinely out-rebounded UConn when the two teams met in the Final Four in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In fact, if you look at the box scores of UConn's Final Four wins in those match-ups, Tennessee grabbed 15, 20, 20 and 17 offensive rebounds, respectively. Do I often wish UConn were a better rebounding team? Sure, but the program has had a lot of success while losing rebounding battles.

Most of those Tenn OB's were due to their poor shooting in close. Tenn was famous for sending 4 players to the offensive boards and just physically hammering their opponents. Summitt's style was long on effort and physical domination and short on team skills. But in those 2003 & 2004 games it was Barb Turner at 6' who got all the contested rebounds late.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Helpful but not necessary. Very helpful. But UConn has won titles with a centers under 6'2". And they lost one with a 6'5" post sitting on the bench because she didn't have the talent for a NC game.
Give me 2 equally talented players I'll take the tall one, but players are rarely equal and at any given position I'd rather have the more skilled player than the tallest.

Barbara Turner (6') or Natalie Butler6'5"?

I for one want both tall and skilled. I keep seeing these references to teams from the early 2000's. While I believe that highly skilled guards will always be a hallmark of great UCONN teams, I think that the game has changed dramatically just since the last UCONN National Championship. The teams that we have difficulty with are the teams with taller athletic players. The analogy I would use is Lamar Jackson and the NFL. Teams have adapted to the Ravens run-oriented offense. It's now time to diversify the offense again and add more and bigger playmakers. I think that Geno has recognized this for some time but recruiting challenges have precluded fielding teams with multiple athletic bigs. I am a big Liv fan but in my opinion one was/is not enough. Starting with Edwards this year and DeBerry, Brady and hopefully others in the near future, the team will be comprised of both multiple skilled backcourt and frontcourt players.

 

[HopJim]

I for one want both tall and skilled. I keep seeing these references to teams from the early 2000's. While I believe that highly skilled guards will always be a hallmark of great UCONN teams, I think that the game has changed dramatically just since the last UCONN National Championship. The teams that we have difficulty with are the teams with taller athletic players. The analogy I would use is Lamar Jackson and the NFL. Teams have adapted to the Ravens run-oriented offense. It's now time to diversify the offense again and add more and bigger playmakers. I think that Geno has recognized this for some time but recruiting challenges have precluded fielding teams with multiple athletic bigs. I am a big Liv fan but in my opinion one was/is not enough. Starting with Edwards this year and DeBerry, Brady and hopefully others in the near future, the team will be comprised of both multiple skilled backcourt and frontcourt players.

Totally agree with comments. ONO a potential All American but not very physical and tends to get in foul trouble when she is. Surrounding her with 3-4 guards can work but not ideal. Predict by end of year, Edwards will be getting significant playing time.

 

[Alydar]

I don't think Geno ever had a guard-oriented philosophy. I remember players like Walters and Lobo and there was someone who had 9 blocked shots against Tenn in the 2000 NCAA tournament.
In recent years he went after Turner, Cox, Collier, Wilson, Cardosa to name a few. Geno recruited them. They chose to go elsewhere.

 

[DEpup]

I don't think Geno ever had a guard-oriented philosophy. I remember players like Walters and Lobo and there was someone who had 9 blocked shots against Tenn in the 2000 NCAA tournament.
In recent years he went after Turner, Cox, Collier, Wilson, Cardosa to name a few. Geno recruited them. They chose to go elsewhere.

I have to say that is why I am happy seeing Piath recruited. Your list shows that maybe they have only been swinging for the home run when it comes to bigs and not finding the diamond in the rough....

 

[Alydar]

With the new transfer rule and the trend toward "3 & done" elite players I think Geno is going to a larger roster. 8 or 9 recruits over 2 seasons is a lot for Geno.

 

[Carnac]

Wow! One of weakest drafts I can remember. Would love to see Evina stay but withdrawing some of my previously posted comments and say this may be a good year for her to declare pro.

As many posters here have said, Evina would have to have a 1st Team All-American type season to leave after this year. She won't be hurt by spending another year here. Another year to hone and refine her skills and understanding of the game will only make her more attractive to coaches and GM's at the next level.

 

[Carnac]

I totally agree that the starting lineup with Carnac the "Wizzard of Storrs" will be based on Health. And who can knock down three's will certainly play as well. Things can change over the summer and fall but we all have seen Anna after her
O for America early woes turn into a 3 ball terror. I have seen so many videos of Paige knocking down 3 balls as early as 8th grade and who hasn't seen the Bueckers vs Fudd shooting contests. Rebounding against Baylor type teams will be interesting. We will adjust to them or will they adjust to us. We also have GENO THE GREAT

Thank you sir for the shout out. UConn has a lot of players that can shoot the basketball. Anna is a pistol. No more butterflies for that young lady. She's a sophomore now, knows the system and what she's doing. She's going to be a nightmare all season for UConn opponents.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Tennesse routinely out-rebounded UConn when the two teams met in the Final Four in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In fact, if you look at the box scores of UConn's Final Four wins in those match-ups, Tennessee grabbed 15, 20, 20 and 17 offensive rebounds, respectively. Do I often wish UConn were a better rebounding team? Sure, but the program has had a lot of success while losing rebounding battles.

Points are more important than rebounds.

 

[AgStatesman]

Last year's team was not capable of winning a national championship and the returning players less so. Paige will start every single game she is at UConn as long as she is healthy and academically eligible.

 

[eebmg]

I would have said Evina would have started but after listening to Geno today, I am not sure Evina is ready physically and the fact he said she is not really a great shooter but more a scorer was enlightening. And he is very very pleased with Paige in every way it seems to me so I am switching over to team Paige.

 

[Plebe]

By late January, starters will be:
Bueckers
Westbrook
Williams
Edwards
Nelson-Ododa

Bench players, in order of minutes:
Makurat
Griffin
Muhl
McLean
Gabriel
Chassion

 

[Kaizen]

By late January, starters will be:
Bueckers
Westbrook
Williams
Edwards
Nelson-Ododa

Bench players, in order of minutes:
Makurat
Griffin
Muhl
McLean
Gabriel
Chassion

Agree and I think it will be a 7 players rotation. Anna and Aubrey will get good minutes.

 

[hoophuskee]

I for one want both tall and skilled. I keep seeing these references to teams from the early 2000's. While I believe that highly skilled guards will always be a hallmark of great UCONN teams, I think that the game has changed dramatically just since the last UCONN National Championship. The teams that we have difficulty with are the teams with taller athletic players. The analogy I would use is Lamar Jackson and the NFL. Teams have adapted to the Ravens run-oriented offense. It's now time to diversify the offense again and add more and bigger playmakers. I think that Geno has recognized this for some time but recruiting challenges have precluded fielding teams with multiple athletic bigs. I am a big Liv fan but in my opinion one was/is not enough. Starting with Edwards this year and DeBerry, Brady and hopefully others in the near future, the team will be comprised of both multiple skilled backcourt and frontcourt players.

The game has not changed. If the game has changed dramatically then why is Stewart still so dominant? I bring up Stewart because on here during her soph year we heard from many saying how they would move her to SF (and let's go big!) because she is going to get beat up so much.

Just 4 years ago we went undefeated with a small lineup and got beat by a buzzer beater. How can the game "drastically change" when that particular team was not thought to be as strong as at least 3 of 4 of the Stewart teams and at least two if not 3 or maybe 4 of the Maya teams? And we got beat by a buzzer beater. In addition - why is it that South Carolina played better going small? If size meant so much how come the following year they were no better with Stevens? It was the exact same result.

And during Stevens year - when UCONN lost to Notre Dame in 17-18- UCONN won the battle of the boards. SO why is it that it is so "game changing" when we lose games on the glass but when we win on them and still lose it doesn't matter? Incidentally, in that Notre Dame FF game, it was ND's SG and SGF scored a combined 59 points. How is that showing anyone "that the game changed?"

In terms of adapting??? Are you suggesting that Geno- who has been to how many FF's in the past many, many years "isn't adapting?"

**************I mean "adapting" --> it also means adapt to the personnel you have. Are you suggesting that he should now play only one way-- the way you prefer the game to be played - and if he doesn't play "Baylor Basketball" that means he was/or is not "adapting?"

He had Collier then the terrible storm hit. He had Stevens but she left after 1 year. He thought he was getting a rugged physical Camara only that each year we held hope but it never came to fruition. And from everything I read here we thought we were the lead for Boston. And it appears Edwards is supposedly "tough." SO what I see is Geno trying but he has missed or injuries affected them.

Maybe some years the player's UCONN has just aren't better - and it has nothing to do with "the game changing?"

 

[hoophuskee]

I would have said Evina would have started but after listening to Geno today, I am not sure Evina is ready physically and the fact he said she is not really a great shooter but more a scorer was enlightening. And he is very very pleased with Paige in every way it seems to me so I am switching over to team Paige.

Whoa- that is disheartening regarding Evina.

And I was hoping her shot was good.

 

[UConnCat]

Whoa- that is disheartening regarding Evina.

And I was hoping her shot was good.

There was nothing disheartening about what Geno said. He said really positive things about Evina: her aggressiveness, she's a physical player who plays with a bit of an edge. He said she creates for herself and for her teammates. Nothing wrong with being a scorer as opposed to a shooter. Scorers draw more fouls and create shots for others. Geno cautioned that it may take a little time for Evina to get back to game speed since she hasn't played in 2 years but nothing I heard suggested she won't start and/or play a lot of important minutes.

 

[hoophuskee]

There was nothing disheartening about what Geno said. He said really positive things about Evina: her aggressiveness, she's a physical player who plays with a bit of an edge. He said she creates for herself and for her teammates. Nothing wrong with being a scorer as opposed to a shooter. Scorers draw more fouls and create shots for others. Geno cautioned that it may take a little time for Evina to get back to game speed since she hasn't played in 2 years but nothing I heard suggested she won't start and/or play a lot of important minutes.

So the below in bold is more of "game speed/in game shape" only? Thus eventual no lingering knee problems to limit minutes? The bold above is very good news then.


I am not sure Evina is ready physically

By the way cat-- if she is not a shooter- - in the college game- what do you think of her as "also" a slashing SF?

 

[Shorty Dee]

Christyn
Evina
Anna
Olivia
Paige
*Aubrey 6th man

 

[Sam.the.Man]

Hmmm, the way I see it Anna is/will be the best player on this team so it's hard to imagine her not being in the starting lineup. With her I expect the following: Williams, Nelson-Ododa, Westbrook (unless not physically unable), and Bueckers. It also won't surprise me if Griffin replaces any of these except Anna.

 

[Jingo]

Hmmm, the way I see it Anna is/will be the best player on this team so it's hard to imagine her not being in the starting lineup. With her I expect the following: Williams, Nelson-Ododa, Westbrook (unless not physically unable), and Bueckers. It also won't surprise me if Griffin replaces any of these except Anna.

Anna is a good one, you're right .. but IMHO I see Liv as the best player on the Huskies .. and Aaliyah as the most indispensable

 

[The CDR-Ret]

I think it depends on the sophomore jump of Griffin. If she doesn't have that big improvement, I think Paige starts, otherwise Paige gets significant minutes and may be a starter by season's end. If Griffin can perform like Gabby did, it would be hard to keep that athletic of a player from starting.

I think Griffin's sophomore jump will lead to slam dunks on fast breaks....