Starting point guard

[Puertorock43]

Question. Who will be the starting point guard on day 1. I know everyone expects Paige but after the season nika muhl had and her durability do we really take the keys away? I mean Paige is amazing but do to injuries the past 2 years have been tough. What does everybody think? I say keep nika as the starting point.

 

[EricLA]

Nika will definitely be a starter. But I'm not sure there will be 1 defined specific PG. Nika, Paige, and even Azzi all have PG skills and I expect all 3 to start, and all 3 to be terrific.

It will NOT be like the years when we had Tiff Hayes and Caroline Doty, but no true PG. Paige and Nika are tremendous PG's and both have different strengths. I'm not sure Nika will lead the nation in assists again, but she will have lots of options to get the ball to, that's for sure.

Side note - love everything I've been reading about Nika. Taking the freshmen under her wing and teaching them plays, etc.? What a true leader she is.

 

[Kaizen]

1. Paige
2. Azzi
3. Nika
4. Caroline

 

[hookshot]

Always an interesting topic but isn't this thread bare - everybody eats

 

[Geew1992]

1. Paige
2. Azzi
3. Nika
4. Caroline

What list is this?

 

[Scud49]

1. Paige
2. Azzi
3. Nika
4. Caroline

Kaizen old buddy, Aaliyah is back on the bench? Or maybe she is your starter #5.

If not, man, that must have just been a shooting star in the night sky I saw last season.

 

[JellyBean]

What a luxury to have going into the season, the conversation of should Nika start? I just remember not too long ago when folks were debating if Nika should even get minutes on the court! Now, we are talking about her starting. How cool is that!? But for me, I would definitely have Nika starting, along with Paige, Azzi, Aaliyah, and Aubrey. I would have that option for starters because I would be looking to push the pace and spread the floor and be aggressive with pressing on the defensive end and wanting to attack the basket or knock down three's on the offensive end.

 

[Bone Dog]

I know everyone expects Paige

I certainly don’t expect Paige to start at PG. to the extent we have a definitive PG it will be Nika. After last season, there’s just no way Geno doesn’t start her — and if she’s on the floor she’s the PG. but @EricLA is right. There will be lots of minutes when there isn’t a single defined PG. The Gabby-Phee-Lou-Kia teams were like this. Any of them could bring the ball up and initiate the play. But if Saniya or Crystal was on the floor, they were there as the PG. and this year, if Inês or KK is on the floor, they’ll be there as the PG.

 

[Kaizen]

What list is this?

Oh sorry, my bad, I was thinking the starting point guard as the title said, Paige is first then Azzi then Nika then Caroline ....

 

[JBK]

Question. Who will be the starting point guard on day 1. I know everyone expects Paige but after the season nika muhl had and her durability do we really take the keys away? I mean Paige is amazing but do to injuries the past 2 years have been tough. What does everybody think? I say keep nika as the starting point.

Paige —if healthy can be equivalent to Caitlin Clark who is changing the college game and getting millions of viewers. I cannot tell you how many men viewers she brought to the college game last year.
10 million viewers
Caitlin destroyed the Ohio State press in 3 minutes and we looked like a grade school team or a deer In headlights !!!
Nika will have a big part of next years success, but will not deliver number 12 and if Paige is healthy - she needs to have the ball in her hands
Many boneyards have expressed that Nika does not need to score to win - but last year defenses did not guard her and doubled teamed our bigs and led to many loses and a disappointing finish

 

[DEpup]

Nika will play PG bringing the ball up and playing head of the snake defense against the opposing PG. Teams will pick their poison and leave her wide open while they are focused on Paige and Azzi. She will have the opportunity to get a lot done as Geno says by hitting the three, slashing to the basket, or getting an assist. I predict there will be some games where she lights the stat sheet up while Paige and Azzi are surrounded by 2,3, and even 4 defenders.

Paige will be some version of a combo guard/point small forward who scores and facilitates in the half court. She will do team defense on the perimeter and rarely be matched with the opposing PG unless a switch happens. Think professional DT. I think this role will be great for Paige and is what she'll be as a professional.

Azzi gets to play her natural SG position.

This of course only works if they are healthy.....

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

IMHO Nika will be the PG, Paige will be the SG, Azzi will be the Wing, Aubrey will be the SF, and Aaliyah will be the PF!
Geno really uses no positions as every player has a share in the total offense.
I also feel Caroline as a G/W and Ice as PF/C will be the first off the bench!
Geno will be using more players in his rotation this season as his trust goes 10 or 11 deep, maybe even 12 deep!
With the athletes Geno has (if healthy) he'll run and gun and press or a more aggressive defense all game!

 

[Galaxyshooter]

It's not about your favorite players it's about the team and the best starting 5 would be Paige Azzi Aliyah Ice and Aubrey with Nika Shade KK Ducharme and and either Amari, El Alfy or Patterson the second 5. As Herm Edwards said "You play to win the game" and a starting 5 of Paige Azzi Ducharme and Nika is gonna get killed on the board plus they"er all perimeter players. basketball is won when you play inside out.

 

[Blond D.]

Oh sorry, my bad, I was thinking the starting point guard as the title said, Paige is first then Azzi then Nika then Caroline ....

Caroline is NOT a point guard. Ines would start at point guard before Caroline. Nika will be the starting PG, then Paige.

 

[Huskyfan63]

My money's on Nika. I just get the feeling she is Geno's QB, she knows what he wants done out there, and is the most communicative.

 

[Happydad745]

Nika is a really good PG, but Paige is All-American/player of the year....so my money is on Paige, and with all the talent we have, Nika might not even be a starter in every game, depending on who UConn is playing.

 

[nwhoopfan]

How many years did Bird and Taurasi play together? Did it matter who the PG was? It's possible to have more than 1 PG at a time on the floor. 2 is fairly common actually. I'm pretty sure I've even seen 3 at a time.

 

[Bone Dog]

Nika is always a lightning rod for disagreement. That by itself is kinda cool about her. I think there’s no way she doesn’t start at pg. But it’s interesting that so many folks don’t see her as a starter.

The core of the team, in my view, is Nika Paige Azzi Aaliyah. That’s who will start pretty much every game. The fifth slot is up for grabs. Maybe it’s Caroline most nights, but Ice or Jana other nights. Aubrey started this past season out of necessity. But it was hard on her physically to play that many minutes, and she’s at her best as a disruptive 6th woman. When Caroline starts, Aubrey will spell her. If Ice starts, that’s who she’ll come in for.

 

[ballerfan]

As I’ve said in another thread, I expect and want Nika to start as point guard at the beginning of the season. Out of respect for her great season last year and because Paige might not be 100 percent right away. Although I want Nika to start at the point all season, I think Geno will eventually have Paige start as point guard, as he did during Paige and Nika’s sophomore year. Paige is the better point guard. She is the better passer. And although it’s not necessary to be at the point to be the team’s leader, for Paige it makes sense given her skill set. I say this as someone who wants to watch Paige and Nika on the floor together with Nika as point guard.

Nika is an important leader on the team. Paige is the leader.

Someone might say that UConn plays motion offense and so it doesn’t matter much who plays point guard. I respect that opinion, but I think it’s important.

Barring injuries, the only sure starters are Paige, Azzi, and Aaliyah.

 

[hoophuskee]

It will be 1 of two options not in order. Too many wildcards with injury. Below is the pg/sg/sf combo if Paige and Azzi are healthy. Imo Caroline is even more of a wildcard:

1--- Paige/Azzi/Caroline
2--- Nika,Azzi/Paige

 

[JBK]

Nika will play PG bringing the ball up and playing head of the snake defense against the opposing PG. Teams will pick their poison and leave her wide open while they are focused on Paige and Azzi. She will have the opportunity to get a lot done as Geno says by hitting the three, slashing to the basket, or getting an assist. I predict there will be some games where she lights the stat sheet up while Paige and Azzi are surrounded by 2,3, and even 4 defenders.

Paige will be some version of a combo guard/point small forward who scores and facilitates in the half court. She will do team defense on the perimeter and rarely be matched with the opposing PG unless a switch happens. Think professional DT. I think this role will be great for Paige and is what she'll be as a professional.

Azzi gets to play her natural SG position.

This of course only works if they are healthy.....

I hope you are right !! Nika is the heart and energy of the team, but has not really improved her offensive game much in 3 years. I hope she worked on her pull up in the off season.
Nika wants to play in the WNBA and they seem to draft guards that can score.

 

[CB360]

It should be Nika's to lose!! She's more then earned it......

 

[hoophuskee]

A. Although I want Nika to start at the point all season, I think Geno will eventually have Paige start as point guard, as he did during Paige and Nika’s sophomore year. Paige is the better point guard. She is the better passer. And although it’s not necessary to be at the point to be the team’s leader, for Paige it makes sense given her skill set. I say this as someone who wants to watch Paige and Nika on the floor together with Nika as point guard.

IMO completely different circumstance than this upcoming year if not for Caroline, and if team is healthy. UCONN needed scoring that year. CWill was inconsistent as was Azzi. There was little inside scoring to rely on as well. And Paige had to play and it was unsure when she would be ready to score. UCONN had to keep the other scorers (CWill and Azzi with significant minutes because he needed scoring.) in as well because it took Paige time and there was uncertaintly when she would "click." She clciked/turned it on in the nick of time.

This upcoming ear if UCONN is healthy they won't need the scoring near teh degree of that tema 2 years ago.. And having Paige passing "to lesser efficient scorers" rather than have her shoot imo isn't ideal. But ofc if Caroline is on a roll, then yeah it can be as you say too!!

I tend to believe though that there will always be a concern with Caroline's head.

 

[Bald Husky]

What kind of game do we want to play? When is UConn at their best? With so many options this year I would think that we want to press, we want to run, we want to score in transition. Who is the best PG to push the team, who will lead us in the press, who will get the ball to the two best shooters in the country? No brainer, Nika fits the bill. Nika at the point, Paige at the 2, Azzi on the wing. Obviously these players will be interchanged with the others off the bench and positions will change, but this combo will be lethal to start the game. Plug in Aaliyah, and either Aubrey or Ice, this line-up will be the best in WCBB. After last year, Nika has earned the starting PG position. The head of the snake on the press, the passer who will get the ball to the best opportunity, and will push the team at every opportunity. Paige does not push as well as Nika, but having her available to receive Nikas passes along with Azzi will give us a multitude of 3 pt opportunities in transition. All we have to worry about is will they convert, and I give us a pretty good chance of doing that. Nika is the PG.

 

[HuskyNan]

Oh sorry, my bad, I was thinking the starting point guard as the title said, Paige is first then Azzi then Nika then Caroline ....

Caroline has many talents but point guard-level ball handling isn’t one of them. We saw that last season.

Paige/Nika/KK/Ines are the designated PGs

(sorry, Ines, forget to mention you when I first typed this)