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Starting Five and....

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Nika has been a loyal soldier who has been one of the players to be there through all of the troubles not to mention a 2 time conference player of the year. There is no way Geno stabs her in the back her senior year and doesn't start her. The question is do you go defense and rebounding with Aubrey or as potent and offensive attack as possible with Caroline?

Aaliyah - Paige - Azzi - Nike; absolute locks to start
Aubrey - Caroline; could go either way - both worthy of starting
Everyone else

Stab in the back? For not starting? Since when has Geno said that loyalty results in a starting position? Last year Muhl was not going to be a starter until Bueckers was injured.

Uconn has more than five potential starters. I see seven and three are locks.
 
Eh, not as much as the other two.

Over the past 3 years, Aaliyah played 102 games, and Nika played 92 games. Over the past 4 years, Aubrey played 96 games. I think they are similar.
 
That is why they're in my starting lineup. In Paige, Azzi, and Aaliyah, he has scorers that can basically get what they want when they want it. Scoring points this year will not be an issue for UConn. Geno needs at least one "lockdown" defender on the floor. Aubrey and Nika are lockdown defenders. Some would have them come off the bench. I want them on the court from the jump. Nika brings an energy her teammates feed off of. There will always be good-to-great players (opponents) you would like to see disappear for the entire game. These two can make it happen. Timing is everything. You can always bring in subs at the appropriate time.

When you can take a team's leading scorer that's averaging 15-20 ppg, completely out of the mix, you also upset their chemistry, and someone else will have to make up that deficit. There may not be another player on that team that can do that. i.e., if you neutralize Caitlin Clark (Iowa), or in her case slow her down with 15 or less, who takes up the slack? Clark often scores 25-33 % of her team's points. You're just trying to in the game. Not make any statements.

If you can take out a team's two best scorers, the result shouldn't be hard to figure out. I would tell them (Aubrey/Nika) they only have ONE JOB to do......make their man disappear. I wouldn't care if Nika or Aubrey didn't score a point or got a rebound the entire game. Neutralize your man, and you've done your job. I've got other players that can/will score and rebound. Pull the tiger's teeth, then they become harmless and can't hurt you. It won't always be that dramatic, but there will be teams UConn will play that feature a dynamic player(s) that needs to be "dealt" with.
Kinda like Nika did last year to Clark! I remember during the game, Clark being quoted during a timeout to get that bug (or something like) that off of her Nika was driving her crazy.
Then of course there is that top 25 returning players, ranking where Nika is #13. We're going to be something really special if the 13th best returning player in the USA can't make our starting lineup!!!;)
 
Not a good rebounding starting five. A good recipe for some losses. Nika’s minutes go down this year, maybe a lot. If Ducharme is 100% she definitely starts, Ice also starts or shares minutes 50/50 with Griffin. If KK and Shade are the real deal, Nika’s minutes definitely go down. She just isn’t a threat to score. It also allows the opposing defense to easily double Paige or Azzi.
My goodness you have zero concept of what Nika brings to this team. I'll take 5 pts /game from her and be overjoyed. We don't need, or probably want, 5 scorers on the court at all times. Somebody has to get those outstanding scorers the one ball that is used in a game Have you ever listened to Geno and Chris talking about what she brings to the team---leadership, intensity, 100% hustle, passing to the open "scorer", and all-conference defense.

Maybe that's why the independent writer ranked her as the 13th best returning player in the country in the other thread posted tonight.
 
Agreed. I am a big Nika fan and last years turnover problem was a team issue. - twenty something in our last game. Caitlin Clark broke the OState press and made them remove it in a few short minutes.
I would just say that I would like the ball in Paige’s hand for the majority of the time she is on the court. But for the 15 minutes she may be sitting initially - Nika is my choice.

The turnover issue was almost entirely due to UConn having only two guards, with one of them being totally inexperienced. Fans forget that Senechal was a 6'1 wing forced into playing guard.
This year UConn has 6 or seven guards and three of them will rotate, keeping them fresh all season and giving UConn easily the most powerful backcourt in the country.

PS I'm one of the lucky posters who will be eating free pizza a few months. :D
 
It's clear some of you have never been anywhere near a sports team. The coach/player relationship only works if there is trust. It is paramount to building a successful team. Another way to say trust is loyalty. When a player has done everything asked of them for 3 years, yes, there is an expectation that the coach will reward that.

Geno and I are both similar in that we know the psychology of the game better than you guys. There is zero chance of Nike not starting. If she is not the starting PG opening day, I will jump off the George Washington Bridge. I guarantee beyond any shadow of a doubt that she starts. If not because of her talent, then because Geno knows the right thing to do ethically, morally, honorably, principally, and conscionably.
 
Kinda like Nika did last year to Clark! I remember during the game, Clark being quoted during a timeout to get that bug (or something like) that off of her Nika was driving her crazy.
Then of course there is that top 25 returning players, ranking where Nika is #13. We're going to be something really special if the 13th best returning player in the USA can't make our starting lineup!!!;)

Exactly. That's how good we may be.
 
My argument for Nika coming off the bench, which I know is a hard decision given her record assists last season but, both Azzi and Paige are back...redundancy may not be in UConn's best interest
The problem with your comment is that you are suggesting that if Page and Azzi were on the Wing with Nika out front that the "redundancy" is a bad issue.

Why would you think (1) having two of arguably the most efficient scorers in wcbb along with (2) both being terrific passers along with (3) both can put the ball on the floor and at an elite level hit mid-range jumpers (4) while being among the best in doing this is an in any way a bad redundancy?

And before anyone jumps in about Paige should be the pg. She WILL ALSO BE the pg. UCONN will have TWO pgs on the floor. Even if Paige runs the offense while Nika is in, Nika is also a PG and vice-versa. Because UCONN does not play "Iowa" basketball. They play TEAM basketball. UCONN has two pgs. It just so happens one the two pg's is also a super scorer.

UCONN runs a motion offense. UCONN runs a motion offense. The pg will NOT dominate the ball like Clark does for Iowa. Thats why UCONN has beaten Iowa. Because they have a TEAM, And it's why they continue to get top recruits. Because they don't feature just one player.

SO if UCONN is making 3, 4, 5 passes - wouldn't it stand to reason that Paige or Azzi would have at least touched the ball? How is this bad? We have to stop disrespecting Paige and Azzi. They are so much "more" than "just a pg." Or "Just a sg." They are potential superstars period. The only way we should be referring them as being redundant, is redundant in greatness (if they hit their ceiling or near it).
 
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Stab in the back? For not starting? Since when has Geno said that loyalty results in a starting position? Last year Muhl was not going to be a starter until Bueckers was injured.

Uconn has more than five potential starters. I see seven and three are locks.
Geno’s job is not to base his starting lineup on loyalty but rather on who gives this team the best chance of winning! I seriously doubt Nika would have a problem with coming off the bench if it meant a better chance of winning! Clearly, whether she starts or not, Nika will be a vital cog in this team. I don’t care who starts! Just win!
 
If you want to discuss your opinions on the starting five, fine, but we are NOT having yet another thread rehashing opinions on Nika. It’s all been said a million times already
 
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