Stokes should start

[DaddyChoc]

too much pressure for her to be coming off the bench... of course this is if she's practicing well

 

[msf22b]

We've had the 4-guard offense
How about the 4-forward offense.

Say. MoJeff Stewie, Stef, KLM and Stokes

or
Bria, Morgan, Stokes, Stewie, and Stef.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Next year?

 

[doggydaddy]

Over who?...

 

[Vowelguy]

Stokes should start what? A pizza restaurant? A car? A Justin Bieber fan club?

If you mean be in the starting lineup, you done lost your mind.

 

[UcMiami]

Actually I like the idea of starting Stokes, Chung, the two walk-ons and Morgan … think of the demoralizing effect that would have on the opponent when they looked at Uconn's bench!!! Three AAs and maybe the most unique talent in CBB and they can't even make it into the starting line-up! We're Doomed!

 

[VAMike23]

too much pressure for her to be coming off the bench... of course this is if she's practicing well

DC what are you smokin tonight? Some strong stuff ......

 

[DaddyChoc]

hahaha Mike... Stokes doesnt give them much off the coming off the bench. starting her would give them a defensive presence from the start and if an "offensive" player isnt clicking a "sparkplug" could come off the bench and replace her.

Stokes isnt going to spark much

 

[DaddyChoc]

Actually I like the idea of starting Stokes, Chung, the two walk-ons and Morgan … think of the demoralizing effect that would have on the opponent when they looked at Uconn's bench!!! Three AAs and maybe the most unique talent in CBB and they can't even make it into the starting line-up! We're Doomed!

especially in the AAC

 

[DaddyChoc]

Over who?...

Stewart... she's mentally strong enough to understand she'd be a great spark off the bench

 

[huskyharry]

I think she will start on a regular basis....in the 2014-2015 season

 

[diggerfoot]

hahaha Mike... Stokes doesnt give them much off the coming off the bench. starting her would give them a defensive presence from the start and if an "offensive" player isnt clicking a "sparkplug" could come off the bench and replace her.

Stokes isnt going to spark much

While I agree starting the "best" five talent wise is not always what you want, despite BudFrog getting a heart attack every time Shea Ralph did not start, you do want to start the game with best chemistry, the best cohesion, the five that can best work together in producing team offense and team defense to set the tone of the game.

This year it may not matter much who UConn starts, but you don't sacrifice what's best for the team for what's best for any single individual. Stokes does not have to be one of the best five, but if she can't be one of the five that plays best together the loss for the team is greater than the gain for the individual.

I'll add that I've noted there are times you like to start discussions. I'm guessing that's your real motive here, rather than a committed belief that Stokes should start.

 

[Vowelguy]

I think she will start on a regular basis....in the 2014-2015 season

Nah.

 

[DaddyChoc]

While I agree starting the "best" five talent wise is not always what you want, despite BudFrog getting a heart attack every time Shea Ralph did not start, you do want to start the game with best chemistry, the best cohesion, the five that can best work together in producing team offense and team defense to set the tone of the game.

This year it may not matter much who UConn starts, but you don't sacrifice what's best for the team for what's best for any single individual. Stokes does not have to be one of the best five, but if she can't be one of the five that plays best together the loss for the team is greater than the gain for the individual.

I'll add that I've noted there are times you like to start discussions. I'm guessing that's your real motive here, rather than a committed belief that Stokes should start.

wrong, you're not gonna get a lotta stats and paragraphs of info from me neither... but I liked what you said about chemistry, hopefully Kiah gets it just as much as the others.

starting her wouldnt hurt in the AAC

 

[Icebear]

Kiah's issues are not related to starting or coming off the bench. I don't think there is any pressure on Kiah coming off the bench. More than that I don't see her issues as being related to feeling pressure. Digger, I think you are spot on as relates to chemistry issues. Mostly, I think Kiah needs confidence and simply to feel the rhythm and play aggressively something she finds easier on the defensive end.

The bigger question is why would Geno mess with the chemistry it took all season to achieve as the kids, finally, took ownership for their roles. We have two changes in starters one significant in Kelly the other less so in Caroline. Which of the two do you replace with Kiah. If not either of them, who? There is no way I move Stewie to the bench because it was only when she returned to the starting line up at the end of the season that she regained her early form.

MoJeff, Bria, KML, Stewie, Stef start. Kiah, Morgan, and Brianna play strong off the bench. We'll see where Saniya fits.

 

[connboy77]

People don't make me laugh! As Icebear correctly stated, the starters will be MoJeff, Bria, KML, Stewie, and Stef.

 

[HiDribble]

Yes, and how about starting the walkons. I could arrive ten minutes after game time and miss nothing.

 

[MarlboroughMike]

Stokes should start........ building name recognition this year. I believe she in the running for All-American/ Defensive Player of the Year next year if she starts this year demanding the ball in the post and taking to the bucket, expecting that every rebound is hers and that no opposition's shot should go unblocked. Hope Geno is right that she has the "Just Do It" attitude this year. Go Kiah.

 

[msf22b]

We're really not taking this thread seriously are we?

 

[Wonkster]

We're really not taking this thread seriously are we?

Why not? We take Johnny One-Note (aka ciarlante) seriously.

 

[semper]

This thread is just more pre-season wheel spinning... man, do we need some GAMES.

 

[Blueballer]

Stewart... she's mentally strong enough to understand she'd be a great spark off the bench

I'm happy for Stokes apparent jump in the depth chart too but starting over Stewart will not and should not happen.

 

[meyers7]

too much pressure for her to be coming off the bench...

You don't think there would be more pressure on her if she were starting?

 

[vtcwbuff]

hahaha Mike... Stokes doesnt give them much off the coming off the bench. starting her would give them a defensive presence from the start and if an "offensive" player isnt clicking a "sparkplug" could come off the bench and replace her.

Stokes isnt going to spark much

Oh ye of little faith. DC, lets wait and see how Stokes plays. Comments from GA seem to indicate that she's come back as a much improved player. If the starting front line is as most think it will be (Dolson, Stewart and Mosqueda-Lewis) who are you going to bench? Besides, I don't think scoring is going to be as important as subbing this year.

 

[VAMike23]

Oh ye of little faith. DC, lets wait and see how Stokes plays. Comments from GA seem to indicate that she's come back as a much improved player. If the starting front line is as most think it will be (Dolson, Stewart and Mosqueda-Lewis) who are you going to bench? Besides, I don't think scoring is going to be as important as subbing this year.

I agree 100% --

The value I see with Kiah improving this season (if present trends continue) is two-fold:

1. She spells Stef for a much larger # of meaningful minutes (first half and early second half) in 2013-14, in addition to mop-up time. While we really don't have any evidence that Stef's stress injuries are *likely* to recur, if Stokes is performing there is really no reason to have Stef averaging heavy minutes. Last season, Stef averaged about 27 min / game. We could get that closer to 20 mins and really save Stef some wear and tear, keeping her fresh for those occasions and match-ups where Geno really does need her on the floor for big minutes.

2. She prepares for her senior campaign where she could (should) be the starting center on a team that will still have NC aspirations. This is a much different mental role than she has played thus far, excepting a few games like her freshman-year visit to Duke. She has not been the go-to player and any experience she can gain toward that end in 2013-14 will make next year a more natural transition.

In watching the Huskies with Kiah on the floor, she still seems (to me) to be a better back-up 5 than a complementary 4 alongside Stef. Yes , they have had Stef and Kiah on the floor at the same time for brief stretches here and there. And yes, she has been improving her face-up game per Geno. This combo may be called for in certain situations. But I really the combos with Kiah at the 5 much better - with either Stewie or Morgan on the floor, or even both. I don't see Kiah + Stef as a combo that we need to have on the floor for any real length of time.