Starting lineup

[dtbtbtb]

While our amazing 5 have been performing admirably, we need Azzi and CD to be back and play as at this point the recipe to beat UConn is pretty clear: attach a player to Lou wherever she is on the court, pressure the ball, muscle Dorka and do you best with AE (as she is probably stronger then 99% players in the country), if you need to give up any 3's, let those shots be taken by AG but don't allow her to get to the basket. And in addition, work hard to get fouls on any of the UConn starting 5 as the bench is limited.
In order for the above not to work UConn needs Azzi and/or CD to present another reliable high % shooter from 3. That opens the driving lanes for AE and AG and allows to pass the ball inside where there is single coverage on AE and/or Dorka.
The last few games were amazing to see the growth and choosiness of the starting 5, where each of them knows and executes their role to close to perfection.

 

[Littlemin]

Last time I checked we had/have a Lieberman award winning in point guard on our team. Your statement is, with all due respect, ludicrous! You may think, erroneously, in my view, that Nika is better than Paige, but she’s obviously not the “only real point guard.” What is Ines? You are certainly free to think Nika is simply indispensable at that position, but there’s no need to change Paige’s position in order to justify it.

With all due respect, IMO, what you and so many others on this board miss is that your best team very often is not your best five players, it is how do you use your roster to put the BEST TEAM possible on the court. It makes absolutely no difference whether Bueckers is a better point guard than Muhl if the team is better with Bueckers off the ball as a primary shooter. And playing with a point guard that will make sure she gets the ball when she is open. Ever notice how many times when Muhl is pushing the ball she searched out Fudd when she was playing and Senechal all season long as they fan out to the 3 point line?
I am pretty sure that had Muhl been playing Bueckers would have gotten more than 13 shots in the games against SC and Arizona, games in which, oh by the way, she not only averaged only a hair over 3 shots a qtr but had a grand total of 6 assists and 4 TOs. Bueckers is a terrific player, there is no question, but she doesn’t walk on water and I have always asserted that Uconn would be a much stronger, tougher team with Bueckers off the ball and Muhl on it. And it has nothing to do with who is a “better point guard”.

 

[Carnac]

Good grief. Here we go again.

Hey Doggie, it's a slow day in the yard. Gotta have something to think/talk about.

 

[Carnac]

I was thinking this morning, first what if we had Lou for four years, and also what kind of damage a line up of Nika, Paige, Azzi, Lou, and Aaliyah with Dorka, Aubrey, Caroline, Ayanna, Ice, and Amari coming off the bench would do.

If all of these players were COMPLETELY healthy, I think you would have a team that would be very hard to keep up with, let alone beat.
You saw the 33 points UConn put up in the first quarter Thursday night. They made it look easy, and that was with them missing several bunnies.

For me, the word/thought that comes to mind with THAT lineup is "lethal." Two of those four shooters will be "on" on any given night. Lou hasn't had a bad game yet. She's steady and reliable as a morning sunrise. Two players that can't miss will kill you. Three shooters that are "on" will quickly demoralize you.

How much panic and concern do you think was on that Tennessee bench during the end of the period time out Thursday? It's probably been a l-o-n-g time (if ever) since any team came into UT's home arena and put up 33 in the first quarter. One more quarter like that and the game is over.

 

[PvP]

I was thinking this morning, first what if we had Lou for four years, and also what kind of damage a line up of Nika, Paige, Azzi, Lou, and Aaliyah with Dorka, Aubrey, Caroline, Ayanna, Ice, and Amari coming off the bench would do.

You jest of course. Yes Paige, Azzi and Lou in the backcourt, Paige at 1, Azzi and Lou at 2 and 3. I definitely agree with Aaliyah at 4 which leaves Nika at 5 right? Certainly Nika could handle Boston and any other bigs, right?
Why would we need Dorka at the post when Nika would be good for a double double every night grabbing those rebounds and making the putbacks in the middle of the scrum under the boards, right?

Look, we all love Nika, but she only has one position and that is point and in the roster you postulate, point would be in the hands of one of the great Huskies of all time, leaving no other position for Nika than cheering from the bench.

 

[Happydad745]

Again, NO. If Azzi is cleared to play by the medical staff and shows well in practive, Geno is going to start her. See Paige last year after her injury. Once Paige could prove she was physically and mentally ready, Geno started her. Same will happen with Azzi.

Last year we did not have Lou or Aubrey....You have look at it from Geno's point of view, which I cannot do, but I'd guess he will not jeopardize next years' team by forcing Azzi into a fluid lineup.

 

[Biff]

what's with this fetish about starting. it's a team game. just win.

Exactly.

 

[PvP]

You jest of course. Yes Paige, Azzi and Lou in the backcourt, Paige at 1, Azzi and Lou at 2 and 3. I definitely agree with Aaliyah at 4 which leaves Nika at 5 right? Certainly Nika could handle Boston and any other bigs, right?
Why would we need Dorka at the post when Nika would be good for a double double every night grabbing those rebounds and making the putbacks in the middle of the scrum under the boards, right?

Look, we all love Nika, but she only has one position and that is point and in the roster you postulate, point would be in the hands of one of the great Huskies of all time, leaving no other position for Nika than cheering from the bench.

I just love people who leave a dislike but don't express any reasons.

I guess they believe Nika is better than Paige at the point. They can't believe that she is a better shooting guard than Azzi or Lou. But they somehow believe that a fourth guard, Nika, will be more valuable than a 6'5" forward averaging a double double!

On what basis? They don't say so I guess we'll never know...

 

[MSGRET]

I just love people who leave a dislike but don't express any reasons.

I guess they believe Nika is better than Paige at the point. They can't believe that she is a better shooting guard than Azzi or Lou. But they somehow believe that a fourth guard, Nika, will be more valuable than a 6'5" forward averaging a double double!

On what basis? They don't say so I guess we'll never know...

Even Paige has stated that the team is better with Nika at Point, just like Geno has stated. The team is more intense with her in and she contributes on both offense by hitting the players that are open and is a lock down defensive player.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Sometimes I wonder if someday there will be a Boneyard Thread Topic Hall of Fame. We could nominate "The Nature and Nuances of Nika" as one under the section "Threads with Legs Covering Multiple Seasons."

As for the present, should we add to the discussion, "What would happen if Nika took a COVID year?"

 

[martyn]

I just love people who leave a dislike but don't express any reasons.

I guess they believe Nika is better than Paige at the point. They can't believe that she is a better shooting guard than Azzi or Lou. But they somehow believe that a fourth guard, Nika, will be more valuable than a 6'5" forward averaging a double double!

On what basis? They don't say so I guess we'll never know...

No one said Nika is better than Paige. As between a healthy both, Paige is the clear choice but Paige is out till next year and we are talking about the here and now.

 

[#12in21]

I just love people who leave a dislike but don't express any reasons.

I guess they believe Nika is better than Paige at the point. They can't believe that she is a better shooting guard than Azzi or Lou. But they somehow believe that a fourth guard, Nika, will be more valuable than a 6'5" forward averaging a double double!

On what basis? They don't say so I guess we'll never know...

Since you asked.... The OP asked for a scenario when everyone returns this season who starts. Paige is not returning this season. If you are talking about next season, Lou won't be here next season. So you only have two guards....maybe Nika can sneak in there rather than be demoted to cheerleader. Just a thought, since she leads the country in assists this season she might be able to dish a couple to those guys.

As long you're going to pose possible fantasy scenarios maybe you could throw in - if Horston or Boston had come to Uconn who would start? Or maybe if Catlyn transferred here for her senior campaign.......

 

[Bills Fan]

I think that Nika is a fixture now at PG, because she sets a high pace on O and slows the pace of the opposing PG on D. This should hold true even with a fully healthy Uconn going into next year, i.e. Bueckers and Fudd will be the wings, and Carolyn and Aubry will be swing (at the 3 or 4) as core rotation players, or starters even on go-small lineups. KK may be ready to back-up Muhl at PG, when/if ready but, if not, Paige slides over to PG to when Muhl out. Edwards is a fixture at the 4/5, and Jana, Brady, Patterson, Debarri can figure out who else fills at the 5/4. Shade may be ready sooner than later to grab a few minutes and the other freshman will be more of a development project

Having seen 2 of the 4 you list as potential 4/5s, I will take my chances betting on the two I haven't seen (Jana and Ice) as part of that rotation with Aaliyah. They amount of playing time our 2 incoming guards get, I'm afraid might be a function of injuries in the backcourt. Our 4th incoming recruit, Q, I am hoping eventually has similar skills to Aubrey.

I hope that Yanna's lack of impact this year is solely a function of so little playing time. I just finished watching the Iowa/Neb game and Iowa has a FR, #45, who is about the same size as Yanna but is light years ahead of her with knowing what to do on the court and how to play the game. However, I still think some good coaching by CD and JE might get Patterson over the hump. It certainly seems like JE was able to make a big difference with Aaliyah from last year to now.

In any case we will be loaded next year even without Lou, but I will miss listening to her French accent in interviews.

 

[Bills Fan]

I don't bet on games, DefenseBB, and I'm not about to bet on the starting lineup, especially since the odds are extremely high against Geno having all these options available. I thought this was just about having a friendly discussion. But thanks for the offer the chat.

As for Nika being the NCAA assist leader, that's very impressive. Conjecturing, Paige might not have as many assists if she were the Huskies point guard this season, but she'd be darned close to it, and she'd also be scoring 12-15 points per game more than Nika. Paige averaged nearly 6 assists per game as a freshman when she had lesser offensive weapons to feed than Nika has this season.


It isn't a matter of 'coming around, #12in21. I have always admired the positives Nika brings to the Huskies and am so thankful she's on the team. However, believing the team could be even better with some other combination of players starting is not a knock on Nika. It's more a recognition of the superb skills of those players who'd start before her.

If some of you insist on calling that 'hating on Nika,' that's your cross to bear. I am most appreciative Nika's on the team and understand that, with all the injuries, the Huskies are darned lucky to have her.

Actually, your last sentence would be more correct if you left out the "without all the injuries" clause!

 

[Bills Fan]

oldhuskie, your analysis of the team, both this year and next, in post #53. is the best I have read on this topic in the last 6 months. Great job. You hit the nail on the head.

 

[AJay11]

With all due respect, IMO, what you and so many others on this board miss is that your best team very often is not your best five players, it is how do you use your roster to put the BEST TEAM possible on the court. It makes absolutely no difference whether Bueckers is a better point guard than Muhl if the team is better with Bueckers off the ball as a primary shooter. And playing with a point guard that will make sure she gets the ball when she is open. Ever notice how many times when Muhl is pushing the ball she searched out Fudd when she was playing and Senechal all season long as they fan out to the 3 point line?
I am pretty sure that had Muhl been playing Bueckers would have gotten more than 13 shots in the games against SC and Arizona, games in which, oh by the way, she not only averaged only a hair over 3 shots a qtr but had a grand total of 6 assists and 4 TOs. Bueckers is a terrific player, there is no question, but she doesn’t walk on water and I have always asserted that Uconn would be a much stronger, tougher team with Bueckers off the ball and Muhl on it. And it has nothing to do with who is a “better point guard”.

I've been focused on this year's team, but the idea of Nika continuing to play pg, is probably one of the most interesting, exciting scenarios for next season. I abosutely love Beuckers, but last year's team (at times) seemed to lack fluidity and then it would come down for a battle to score the winning pts in the last couple minutes of few games (like the ugly UCF game). Clearly there were other factors in last year's champion lost. Nevertheless, I would love to see Paige share some of her pg role with Nika. I wouldn't mind watching 20+ wins almost every game.

 

[cgshuskie]

I'll have to join those who think Azzi should come off the bench. Too easily injured to take on full time duty. Aubrey should start for defensive purposes and transition. Azzi is too vulnerable!

 

[Skeets]

I just love people who leave a dislike but don't express any reasons.

I guess they believe Nika is better than Paige at the point. They can't believe that she is a better shooting guard than Azzi or Lou. But they somehow believe that a fourth guard, Nika, will be more valuable than a 6'5" forward averaging a double double!

On what basis? They don't say so I guess we'll never know...

Forget the Nika vs. Paige idea. I don't believe anyone is saying Nika is better than Paige. If we were choosing up sides for a pickup game, who would you pick first, Nika or Paige? That simply is not the discussion.

What I am saying, and I think others as well, is that Paige is better off the ball than Paige playing the point. If you subscribe to that then it makes a heck of a lot more sense for Nike to be your PG. Next year, if we are so blessed, I think we will see a 3 guard lineup of Nika, Paige and Azzi for about 20 or 25 minutes a game. Nika will facilitate the scoring for Paige, Azzi and whoever the other two players who happen to be on the court. When Nika needs a rest maybe (and I said maybe) Paige stills plays off the ball with KK or someone else playing point. Playing off the ball maximizes Paige.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Have a feeling if Fudd comes back they are gonna keep her in a plastic bubble and not run her into the ground by playing her a ton of minutes. Replacing Aubrey with Fudd means you lose the transition game and defense and rebounding that Aubrey brings just to have another shooter on the floor.

Fudd won’t come back until she can take everything that Geno and his staff can throw at her in practice. Same for Caroline.

 

[PvP]

Even Paige has stated that the team is better with Nika at Point, just like Geno has stated. The team is more intense with her in and she contributes on both offense by hitting the players that are open and is a lock down defensive player.

They were speaking of this year when Paige was out. No one can honestly say that Nika is a better point guard than Paige when she is fully healthy. When she was fully healthy she was National POY.

 

[PvP]

Forget the Nika vs. Paige idea. I don't believe anyone is saying Nika is better than Paige. If we were choosing up sides for a pickup game, who would you pick first, Nika or Paige? That simply is not the discussion.

What I am saying, and I think others as well, is that Paige is better off the ball than Paige playing the point. If you subscribe to that then it makes a heck of a lot more sense for Nike to be your PG. Next year, if we are so blessed, I think we will see a 3 guard lineup of Nika, Paige and Azzi for about 20 or 25 minutes a game. Nika will facilitate the scoring for Paige, Azzi and whoever the other two players who happen to be on the court. When Nika needs a rest maybe (and I said maybe) Paige stills plays off the ball with KK or someone else playing point. Playing off the ball maximizes Paige.

That wasn't the premise as originally stated which was the best line up if everyone was healthy THIS year so as to include Lou in the discussion.
The originator of the thread argued for a starting lineup of 4 guards and no Dorka which only made sense if Nika was the point over Paige which as you state is not the proper choice particularly when it means we would be effectively be choosing Nika over a forward averaging a double double.

 

[martyn]

That wasn't the premise as originally stated which was the best line up if everyone was healthy THIS year so as to include Lou in the discussion.
The originator of the thread argued for a starting lineup of 4 guards and no Dorka which only made sense if Nika was the point over Paige which as you state is not the proper choice particularly when it means we would be effectively be choosing Nika over a forward averaging a double double.

The argument is for mainaining the current lineup this year, not a four guard lineup.

 

[oldhusky]

Forget the Nika vs. Paige idea. I don't believe anyone is saying Nika is better than Paige. If we were choosing up sides for a pickup game, who would you pick first, Nika or Paige? That simply is not the discussion.

What I am saying, and I think others as well, is that Paige is better off the ball than Paige playing the point. If you subscribe to that then it makes a heck of a lot more sense for Nike to be your PG. Next year, if we are so blessed, I think we will see a 3 guard lineup of Nika, Paige and Azzi for about 20 or 25 minutes a game. Nika will facilitate the scoring for Paige, Azzi and whoever the other two players who happen to be on the court. When Nika needs a rest maybe (and I said maybe) Paige stills plays off the ball with KK or someone else playing point. Playing off the ball maximizes Paige.

I agree with this but, perhaps don't take it quite as far regarding where Paige is best. I'm not sure what is Paige's best position. I feel she could be an All American at the 1 or 2, and maybe the 3. The decision of who plays the point when Nika and Paige are in the game together though is an easy one IMO because Nika is not similarly versatile. Nika cannot be a good shooting guard and can be a good PG.

PG Nika and SG Paige is much better than the other way around, and we could see that last year. When Nika plays off the ball she doesn't score or pass much. As a full-time PG that doesn't have to share ballhandling responsibilities she has excelled. Having two great scoring options on the perimeter next year (Azzi & Paige) compliments her best ability (passing) and negates her biggest weakness (scoring) because there are 4 other players who can shoot and create scoring opportunities, so Nika's lack of point production doesn't hurt much.

The sum of the parts that compliment each other is greater than just stacking the lineup with another shooter that has to wait their turn for their shot, and in the meantime doesn't make everyone else better like Nika does.

 

[PvP]

The argument is for mainaining the current lineup this year, not a four guard lineup.

Plainly you haven't read the beginning of this thread.

 

[MSGRET]

They were speaking of this year when Paige was out. No one can honestly say that Nika is a better point guard than Paige when she is fully healthy. When she was fully healthy she was National POY.

No she wasn't, she had said it before the injury and has said it after it. Just like most people are saying here that UConn is a better team with Nika at the point and Azzi and Paige at the wings. They have more choices with the offense.

 

[Gordo]

All this bickering back and forth regarding who will start, who will play PG, who is a better PG, etc., etc., is totally meaningless. Not a single one of us will have a say in it. Geno will make those decisions! And, of course, some of us will think we know better than him (the greatest WCBB coach ever). We will express our opinions over and over again, stating stats, scoring abilities, defensive prowess, assists, rebounds, steals, and oh yes ... turnovers. But in the end, our opinions will not play a part.

 

[martyn]

Plainly you haven't read the beginning of this thread.

I wrote the beginning of this thread. Speaking of which if there was ever an argument for keeping Griffin in the lineup, it is today's game.

 

[uconnfan68]

Great shooter she is, but the larger point is the fluidity and effectiveness of the team. The current five is in a zone. Stanford in a home game for them beat Tenn by seven. Our starters almost entirely by themselves doubled it at their place.

Her bbiq allows her to fit right in with whoever is out there with her. There isn’t any dropoff.

 

[uconnfan68]

I'll have to join those who think Azzi should come off the bench. Too easily injured to take on full time duty. Aubrey should start for defensive purposes and transition. Azzi is too vulnerable!

She’ll be off the bench for a few games, maybe more. She’ll get a lot of minutes just reducing minutes for Nika, Lou, and Aubrey. She might be too vulnerable, but she’s also too valuable!

 

[cgshuskie]

IMO there is no way you can keep Paige out of starting at point. Add Azzi and Caroline, AE and Jana/Ice. Nika, whom I love, will have to come off the bench along with Aubrey. Paige is an all time Husky. No way she gives up the point.