Starting five?

[SVCBeercats]

Yikes. How do you know this for a fact? Have you attended practice sessions? Been taking to the coaching staff? Got some inside scoop?

Just like 99% of what is posted to a sports, it is opinion. Not unlike your post and perhaps even mine.

 

[Stymie]

But it is interesting that no one is talking about Amari's progress: not Geno, her teammates or the media.

I did notice that.
Has been a somewhat glaring omission to me.
Never a word.
Not even a whisper.
Motivation (?)<—hopefully.

 

[CocoHusky]

I noticed in one of the recent threads (Big East interviews?) something that Dan Hurley said. In the context of Paige being absent, he said something to the effect: They'll have to play cleaner -- sharper cuts, better setting screens, better using screens. . .

Screens were a problem all last year. They were just a little bit sloppy. Screeners were frequently late, leading to moving-screen fouls. Cutters often went to wide around them, allowing space for defenders to fight over them.

I hope they're doing a LOT of work on this during the preseason. UConn has exactly the team to benefit from this: strong bigs to set picks and shooters to use them. All of the players are skilled and taught the multiple options opened up by a good screen.

++++ 1000 on this post. Proper screening has been an issue for UCONN WBB for a while now not just last year.
Lack of proper screening as you correctly point out has a compounding negative effect on the half court execution. Proper screening used to be a hallmark of the UCONN program and I not sure why it has been so elusive for the past 3 UCONN seasons. The moving screens on the UCONN post players are very noticeable but the screens by the wing players and guards have also been very poor which allows the defense to recover quickly. UCONN has also become predictable about where the screens are coming from and the better coaches have taken advantage. If you go back and look at the SC games from the past seasons you will see that the SC defender are calling out the screens and jumping over them before they actually take place.

Copied from a post earlier:

It has been the same offense and what I believe you are severely underestimating is both the time it would require to implemented a new scheme and the lack of fundamentals of the of the UCONN front court players over the past few years. Geno has tweaked the hell out and simplified the UCONN offense over the past three years but unfortunately those tweaks go unnoticed by most fans who tend to focus more on the bottom line of wins and losses and and the playing time of their favorite players vs what is actually happening on the floor from game to game and even quarter to quarter. Even Geno's most brilliant adjustments will never be enough to overcome the lack of fundaments. Since you mention that dribble handoff the reason it is not working for UCONN is because the defense doesn't have to honor that action. Many times the post player handing off the ball is not a credible threat to do anything besides hand off that ball, The UCONN post players lack the patience to let the play start with a proper ball screen and develop according to how the defense reacts. These are really fundamental things that are not going to get fix by moving to a different offensive scheme because those same fundamentals are required regardless of which scheme you decide to move to.

 

[Bone Dog]

++++ 1000 on this post. Proper screening has been an issue for UCONN WBB for a while now not just last year.
Lack of proper screening as you correctly point out has a compounding negative effect on the half court execution. Proper screening used to be a hallmark of the UCONN program and I not sure why it has been so elusive for the past 3 UCONN seasons. The moving screens on the UCONN post players are very noticeable but the screens by the wing players and guards have also been very poor which allows the defense to recover quickly. UCONN has also become predictable about where the screens are coming from and the better coaches have taken advantage. If you go back and look at the SC games from the past seasons you will see that the SC defender are calling out the screens and jumping over them before they actually take place.

Copied from a post earlier:

I totally agree about the screens. I remember something Paige said two years ago, and Meg Culmo and Kara Wolters confirmed it, that the problem is often not with the bigs setting the screens. It can be a mistake by the guards, either not cutting closely enough behind the screener, or not waiting for the best moment. I guess it’s a timing question that the front and back court players have to get in sync with. It only got worse last year with all the disruptions to the lineup.

 

[npignatjr]

I noticed in one of the recent threads (Big East interviews?) something that Dan Hurley said. In the context of Paige being absent, he said something to the effect: They'll have to play cleaner -- sharper cuts, better setting screens, better using screens. . .

Screens were a problem all last year. They were just a little bit sloppy. Screeners were frequently late, leading to moving-screen fouls. Cutters often went to wide around them, allowing space for defenders to fight over them.

I hope they're doing a LOT of work on this during the preseason. UConn has exactly the team to benefit from this: strong bigs to set picks and shooters to use them. All of the players are skilled and taught the multiple options opened up by a good screen.

Yes learning how to set screens and on the ball handler to set up the defender and screener. She also has not learned finesse, often just bowling over her defender, which is interesting as she is so good at positioning to get charges called against the opponent.

 

[npignatjr]

++++ 1000 on this post. Proper screening has been an issue for UCONN WBB for a while now not just last year.
Lack of proper screening as you correctly point out has a compounding negative effect on the half court execution. Proper screening used to be a hallmark of the UCONN program and I not sure why it has been so elusive for the past 3 UCONN seasons. The moving screens on the UCONN post players are very noticeable but the screens by the wing players and guards have also been very poor which allows the defense to recover quickly. UCONN has also become predictable about where the screens are coming from and the better coaches have taken advantage. If you go back and look at the SC games from the past seasons you will see that the SC defender are calling out the screens and jumping over them before they actually take place.

Copied from a post earlier:

When did Married leave?

 

[jabstep]

The starting 5 if healthy will be as others have stated Nika, Azzi, Caroline, Dorka and Aaliyah. We will miss Liv's defense and screening. We need Dorka to take her duties hopefully and enhance them. Aaliyah needs to get better on screens with no fouls. She is very good on the roll and did it well with Paige. I think nika has to be able to do this and also be enough of a threat for the pull up if they dont switch. Caroline is great at running her defender off the screen and creating position down low and she scores so quickly I didn see anyone stop her on this. Even SC didnt do it and she scored 9 points with more time she would have had more. This year is her time. Azzi is a threat in so many ways and could score over 20 a game if healthy. We all are interested in seeing Aubrey's health and potential in our offense. We know she is a great defender and rebounder. Lou I believe will subb if our offense is stalling to help add another weapon. I know they are working on her defense beacuse from what I saw she played the wavo zone defense down low for Fairfield. We all hope Amari has worked hard and shows improvement. Ayanna and Ice will take some time to intergrate themselves to the offense. Ice would be a perfect screener on the elbow and outside shooter to keep the defense honest. Ayanna could be a Aubrey clone of her freshmen year. Defense and rebounds. Soon the speculation will be over and the games begin. Go Huskies!!!!!

 

[cgshuskie]

Ayanna and Ice will become the Wicks and Rowe of UCLA fame, for UConn, this year. By February 2023. It is a new day. Rest easy. BY seems so unhinged about this season without Paige. Relax! Talent wins over all. Go Huskies

 

[Dogstar]

Are you assuming Azzi can't be a playmaker who can score? Paige is a playmaker who can score the only difference between her and Azzi and Paige is that Azzi came into college with a rep as a shooter because of her shot and she played SG because of it but Azzi is very capable of being a playmaker and can create her own shot it's only because of injuries she was used primarily as a catch and shoot guard last year but now she's healthy and will attack the rim pull up and catch and shoot I predict She'll be Paige 2.0..don't get me wrong Nika will be needed but if Uconn thrives with Nika still playing backup after Paige's injury then they will be ahead of the game IMHO

Hate to disagree but she won't be Paige 2.0, she'll be Azzi, the 1.

 

[CocoHusky]

When did Married leave?

I assume you mean Marissa. If so she left in 2018.

 

[Boreifs]

Caroline/Aubrey at the Three seems logical.
Nika, Azzi, Lou at the one/two also seems logical.
Aalijah/Ayanna could be another good fit.
Whether Ice or Amari backs up Dorka seems like the biggest unknown right now. However, basketball is hardly ever logical when it comes to playing time.

 

[Bone Dog]

When I try to imagine what Caroline will do this year, I think of the Louisville game. It was a loss, the first game after Paige’s injury when we’d had a chance to practice. It was a close loss largely because of Caroline. I think she scored 24 and was generally a monster all over the court. I remember thinking if this is what she can do as a raw freshman with hardly any practice time, effectively making it up as goes along, she will be awesome once she’s fully integrated into the O and D schemes.

We saw indications of this in the next several games. But her hip began to bother her more and more, and she wasn’t able to sustain that level of athletic energy, and her minutes and production tailed off. If she’s feeling 100% and doesn’t aggravate another old injury, I think we’ll have something special with Azzi and Caroline on the court together. Add Lou to the mix and the rest of WCBB better look out!

 

[TeamFirst!]

As great as Caroline's Louisville game was, and I saw it again recently, she wasn't good on defense that game, and she was obviously tired from having to play virtually the entire game. Her best half was the 2nd half though. We really need the front court to help some offensively and my bet is that Ice can be this year's Caroline. When watching her with USA basketball she was consistently a force on the boards and scored at a very high percentage as well. Ice is a little slow but she can shoot and she can rebound. She has the ability to hit that shot from the foul line that our bigs have not been able to convert well for years now. She can give us 10-15 points a game if she plays. I also think she can defend against most bigs better than Amari.

 

[Bone Dog]

Ice is a little slow but she can shoot and she can rebound. She has the ability to hit that shot from the foul line that our bigs have not been able to convert well for years now. She can give us 10-15 points a game if she plays.

I mainly agree. But I wouldn’t say Ice is slow. She’s as quick as most 5s, but maybe slow for a 4. But she’s definitely not “lumbering,” that way some bigs are.

 

[Stymie]

But it is interesting that no one is talking about Amari's progress: not Geno, her teammates or the media

I noticed that also.
Not a comment.
Not a whisper,
Motivation or not to much good to say?
Hopeful it’s the former.

 

[Stymie]

I mainly agree. But I wouldn’t say Ice is slow. She’s as quick as most 5s, but maybe slow for a 4. But she’s definitely not “lumbering,” that way some bigs are.

I’m not sure it’s fair to label Ice a little slow until we see her on the big stage.

 

[Bone Dog]

I’m not sure it’s fair to label Ice a little slow until we see her on the big stage.

I agree. I’m only thinking of what I saw in the FIBA games this summer. She ran the court just fine. A lot quicker than AD Rosario. Also, her moves around the basket are plenty nimble. She runs the floor much quicker than Betts, from what I remember of the previous summer. All of this is to say she looks like a natural 5. Against quick 4s, like Aubrey for example, she may not seem quick enough. I think we’ll be very pleased with Ice’s talent and athleticism.

 

[Cuango]

Are you assuming Azzi can't be a playmaker who can score? Paige is a playmaker who can score the only difference between her and Azzi and Paige is that Azzi came into college with a rep as a shooter because of her shot and she played SG because of it but Azzi is very capable of being a playmaker and can create her own shot it's only because of injuries she was used primarily as a catch and shoot guard last year but now she's healthy and will attack the rim pull up and catch and shoot I predict She'll be Paige 2.0..don't get me wrong Nika will be needed but if Uconn thrives with Nika still playing backup after Paige's injury then they will be ahead of the game IMHO

The biggest difference between Paige and Azzi is that Paige has already shown what she can do while Azzi has not. Hopefully, that will be addressed soon! I’m not saying she can’t be as good as Paige, only that I pray she is! Just imagine, if she is, it would basically be like signing Dee and Maya in consecutive years!

 

[TeamFirst!]

Every player has at least some weakness in their game. I'm saying Ice is probably our best rookie this year and can do a lot of things we have been missing. We get enamored with the players we have, attached to them as fans, but objectively it wouldn't surprise me at all if Ice ends up our best big. My sense is she can shoot and she knows how to play. She's probably faster now than she was in high school. Asking her to top Dorka or AE is a big ask but I think both she and Ayanna have potential to be great. Should we automatically assume both Ayanna and Ice are sub standard rookies when both were rated at about the same level as Caroline last year? Ice showed a lot in the USA basketball games. She was maybe their best player last year, on the team she played for. Put up great numbers and played better against the best teams. She was fine against opposing bigs. Chances are she is for real. Chances are Ayanna is also. I think we should anticipate that before year end both will be major contributors.

 

[npignatjr]

When did Married leave?

Marisa

 

[npignatjr]

I assume you mean Marissa. If so she left in 2018.

Yes spellcheck got me

 

[hoophuskee]

don't get me wrong Nika will be needed but if Uconn thrives with Nika still playing backup after Paige's injury then they will be ahead of the game IMHO

Why? In Paige's frosh year around the GTOWN game Geno put Nika as the PG and Paige was the SG. It was to get Paige off the ball. In fact UCONN beat SC with Nika starting and Paige as the shooting guard.

So why can't Azzi do what Paige did in a manner of speak by beating players off the dribble etc as the sg just as Paige did? That was the year Paige was NPOY.

 

[ballerfan]

Are you assuming Azzi can't be a playmaker who can score? Paige is a playmaker who can score the only difference between her and Azzi and Paige is that Azzi came into college with a rep as a shooter because of her shot and she played SG because of it but Azzi is very capable of being a playmaker and can create her own shot it's only because of injuries she was used primarily as a catch and shoot guard last year but now she's healthy and will attack the rim pull up and catch and shoot I predict She'll be Paige 2.0..don't get me wrong Nika will be needed but if Uconn thrives with Nika still playing backup after Paige's injury then they will be ahead of the game IMHO

According to Azzi, Paige, Geno, and many others, they are very different players with different strengths and weaknesses. Peanut butter and jelly, as Paige and Azzi say. I think Azzi is clearly the best player left on the team, but in my opinion, if Azzi makes a sophomore jump, it will be as a healthier, more experienced Azzi, not as a replacement for Paige.

 

[Galaxyshooter]

Why? In Paige's frosh year around the GTOWN game Geno put Nika as the PG and Paige was the SG. It was to get Paige off the ball. In fact UCONN beat SC with Nika starting and Paige as the shooting guard.

So why can't Azzi do what Paige did in a manner of speak by beating players off the dribble etc as the sg just as Paige did? That was the year Paige was NPOY.

I believe Geno did that because the shooting guard at the time CW was not shooting well and was very inconsistent. If CD and or Lou is better and more consistent than with Azzi at the point they will be better this is not a knock on Nika because I believe they won't win without her but her strength is on the defensive end and if she's struggling to get her offense to match her defense then the team will suffer but this is all moot because these are good problems for Uconn deciding on who to play because they have so much talent...this is a good thing

 

[hoophuskee]

I believe Geno did that because the shooting guard at the time CW was not shooting well and was very inconsistent. If CD and or Lou is better and more consistent than with Azzi at the point they will be better this is not a knock on Nika because I believe they won't win without her but her strength is on the defensive end and if she's struggling to get her offense to match her defense then the team will suffer but this is all moot because these are good problems for Uconn deciding on who to play because they have so much talent...this is a good thing

What would you think if Nika equaled her 3pt% of 38.3% (once Geno put her in the starting lineup vs Gtown on 1/23 and before her injury) as a freshman? A 16 game run in her frosh year in which Geno started giving her minutes/she overcame her injuries (she was hurt dnp in 4 of the first 9) beginning on 1/23 - nothing wrong with starting her if she performs at this level I think we can all agree, can we? Just saying its' possible.

 

[Carnac]

My starting five will also be, Azzi, Caroline, Dorka, Aaliyah and Nika.

I post this question because several people in Twitter discussed the possible of Ayanna in starting five because of this photo in the media day.

​

Kaizen, we’re on the same page, and drinking the same cocktail. I also think those 5 will start at least the first two games. No prediction after the Texas game. Not saying he will, but Geno has pulled starters early in the season before. 2014 = Saniya Chong and Kiah Stokes out, Kia Nurse and Morgan Tuck in.

 

[Rb335]

Well, from an offensive perspective, we graduated 41% of last years points, lose 9% to injury, and 1.5% to transfer.

Returning just 48% of our offensive output to me signals that we aren’t the most experienced team, and will rely on those most experienced to start the season.

Muhl, Fudd, Ducharme, Edwards, Dorka. My view of experience is experience within the Uconn system. Of course, may change as the year progresses.

 

[Stymie]

From my perspective, we return 3.5 starters from last rears team, based on playing time and experience
Azzi, Aayliah, Dorka and Caroline/Nika.
Lou should prove to be a better scorer than Mama.
Paige missed most of last season, so someone else became a starter.
Aubrey back in support.
Two frosh bigs better than any size we had in reserve last year.
To me the only unknown are can Aubrey shake off the rust and refine her game and will Amari be able to step up.
Most anxious to see how this group melds into a dominating machine.

 

[sno-cat]

With two of 12 not playing this year; how do we get some more backup players??

 

[Bone Dog]

With two of 12 not playing this year; how do we get some more backup players??

10 is what we have. Let’s hope it stays that way. We can win with these 10. But no cavalry is coming over the hill. The core veterans are going to carry the load. Lou Ayanna Aubrey Amari Ines will have to be ready.