Tenn SC and UConn comin up

[Tonyc]

South Carolina and Tenn are very athletic and very quick. They will be keying on our Big 3 so we will need everybody else to step up, without hesitancy and shoot. We dont need our Big 3 to score 20 pts a game we need them to be a threat to score 20 pts a game which they are. They also shoot at a very high percentage and are unselfish. Being unselfish is where their passing comes in. We will need everybody else to step up. If their defense slacks off somebody will be open and that somebody could be Jana KK Kaitlyn. We will rely on them to score when needed. I don't think they will leave Ash open because she has shown she is not afraid to shoot and makes a good percentage of her shots. This is gonna be a battle but its not the end. If Tenn and SC can't stop our Big 3 it could be a long nite for them. Our Big 3 can put up a lot of points in a very short time and that threat is one of UConn's advantages. We haven't had that in a few years.

We are still young and developing. Will be be ready for these 2 big games? Will Griff be back and ready to go? Defensively having Griff and KK at 100% will take a lot of pressure off everybody else. We know how they both can impact the game on defense and that will be huge "IF" Griff can play. With that said Griff needs to see some playtime sooner then later to be effective.

SC is a very good team and UConns dominance has suffered because of injuries. Imagine a healthy Paige and Azzi show with a healthy Caroline and Griff over the past few years. SC may not have had 3 NC's and UConn may have more then 11 Something to consider. The point of me mentioning that is we now have our Big 3 back with Sarah filling Caroline's position who Im hopin and prayin we will see play again. I believe when we have Azzi and Griff at 100% we will show our dominance once again. If its not in these two big games then by March. Dont forget we have been playing with injuries and playing in and out of the lineup for the past few years which makes it tuff to build consistency and continuity and we still made the FF last season which imo was one of Genos greatest coaching seasons.

One of the biggest pieces of our improvement over the past few weeks is we are beginning to look for our shot without hesitation and without looking for Paige and Sarah and now Azzi. Azzi has shown us she can create her own shot and shoot it at a high percentage. Paige is a great facilitator and the attention she draws and her ability to find an open team mate could play huge in the big games coming up because for no other reason then Azzi and Sarah will be the recipients of many of those passes.

When you look back to the ND and USC games and our inexperience, which has grown, and playing those games without Azzi and we were in both those games and imo should've won the USC game with the come back we made I feel we will have very competitive games @ Tenn and SC. We have a more balanced attack then we did in those games.

For the next few games we will build on our improvement. Everybody else will continue to improve and gain confidence. We will be what we will be and we will have to accept that until be become what we know we will become. More than anything I am looking forward to see Paige Azzi and Sarah on the floor together. With the 3 of them on the floor together our ability to score a lot more points has just gone up. Our Big 3 is the nucleus of our team. I am expecting if we remain healthy we just may not to lose a game for the rest of this season. Again if we are healthy.

 

[Next 12]

South Carolina and Tenn are very athletic and very quick. They will be keying on our Big 3 so we will need everybody else to step up, without hesitancy and shoot. We dont need our Big 3 to score 20 pts a game we need them to be a threat to score 20 pts a game which they are. They also shoot at a very high percentage and are unselfish. Being unselfish is where their passing comes in. We will need everybody else to step up. If their defense slacks off somebody will be open and that somebody could be Jana KK Kaitlyn. We will rely on them to score when needed. I don't think they will leave Ash open because she has shown she is not afraid to shoot and makes a good percentage of her shots. This is gonna be a battle but its not the end. If Tenn and SC can't stop our Big 3 it could be a long nite for them. Our Big 3 can put up a lot of points in a very short time and that threat is one of UConn's advantages. We haven't had that in a few years.

We are still young and developing. Will be be ready for these 2 big games? Will Griff be back and ready to go? Defensively having Griff and KK at 100% will take a lot of pressure off everybody else. We know how they both can impact the game on defense and that will be huge "IF" Griff can play. With that said Griff needs to see some playtime sooner then later to be effective.

SC is a very good team and UConns dominance has suffered because of injuries. Imagine a healthy Paige and Azzi show with a healthy Caroline and Griff over the past few years. SC may not have had 3 NC's and UConn may have more then 11 Something to consider. The point of me mentioning that is we now have our Big 3 back with Sarah filling Caroline's position who Im hopin and prayin we will see play again. I believe when we have Azzi and Griff at 100% we will show our dominance once again. If its not in these two big games then by March. Dont forget we have been playing with injuries and playing in and out of the lineup for the past few years which makes it tuff to build consistency and continuity and we still made the FF last season which imo was one of Genos greatest coaching seasons.

One of the biggest pieces of our improvement over the past few weeks is we are beginning to look for our shot without hesitation and without looking for Paige and Sarah and now Azzi. Azzi has shown us she can create her own shot and shoot it at a high percentage. Paige is a great facilitator and the attention she draws and her ability to find an open team mate could play huge in the big games coming up because for no other reason then Azzi and Sarah will be the recipients of many of those passes.

When you look back to the ND and USC games and our inexperience, which has grown, and playing those games without Azzi and we were in both those games and imo should've won the USC game with the come back we made I feel we will have very competitive games @ Tenn and SC. We have a more balanced attack then we did in those games.

For the next few games we will build on our improvement. Everybody else will continue to improve and gain confidence. We will be what we will be and we will have to accept that until be become what we know we will become. More than anything I am looking forward to see Paige Azzi and Sarah on the floor together. With the 3 of them on the floor together our ability to score a lot more points has just gone up. Our Big 3 is the nucleus of our team. I am expecting if we remain healthy we just may not to lose a game for the rest of this season. Again if we are healthy.

Spot on TonyC, as usual. I go with what GENO said about the team, " when big games come up and the NCAA tournament games , The players move into another gear and play better. " The "rag-tag team from last year went to the final 4 and should have won the game with IOWA . That is the real Uconn team. So. Carolina won their first NC only because Miss.St. beat us in overtime in the last second. If we had won, SC at that time had never beaten us and we would have had NO 12.With GENO and CHRIS' coaching, I believe the team will up their scoring and defense to another level and not be denied . This team has the potential to be one of Uconn's best and bring Uconn back to dominance in BB kile they used to be. GO FRESHMEN!!!! GO SOPHOMORES!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!! Finish the task before you.

 

[oldhusky]

I think the clock is ticking on finding out who we are, and what lineups are best, hopefully before Tennessee. It appears that Jana has taken the starting C role for good, and Azzi has shaken off the rust and become our third big scorer. At PG I don't think we are sure at this point if it will be Kaitlin or KK as the starter, and when she returns, Aubrey could start or at a minimum change significantly the rotation.

My hope is that by the Tennessee game, we know what the rotation will be for the long run and have had at least a couple of games to use it before our next significant challenge. From that perspective, time is short, largely depending on Aubrey's return very soon. All of the uncertainties could of course be determined and play out after the two big games, but it would be a shame if we were not settled on our rotation and healthy for those big games since we were not for our only two losses.

Our ultimate seeding depends largely on those two games and how much much the top teams beat each other up in the power conferences. Unlike the last three years, there is the possibility that this year we might be healthier at year end, than the beginning. I think we are more than due for some good luck on that front.

 

[uconnfan68]

"Unlike the last three years, there is the possibility that this year we might be healthier at year end, than the beginning. I think we are more than due for some good luck on that front."

My thoughts exactly. We won't be completely whole, but we'll be better than we've been for a long time.

 

[msf22b]

I continue to consider:

that this season reminds me very much of the Stewie/Tuck/Moriah freshman campaign...
Where we got knocked around quite a bit...Stewie had a bad mid-season slump
and it all turned out fine in the end.

And so, I don't worry much about the big games coming up...
Win or lose, we'll still be in the hunt.

 

[Bone Dog]

At PG I don't think we are sure at this point if it will be Kaitlin or KK as the starter,

I’m not persuaded that this really matters at all. This season with all the ball handling talent among the top 6 or 7 players, the PG role doesn’t need to be determined very carefully.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

South Carolina and Tenn are very athletic and very quick. They will be keying on our Big 3 so we will need everybody else to step up, without hesitancy and shoot. We dont need our Big 3 to score 20 pts a game we need them to be a threat to score 20 pts a game which they are. They also shoot at a very high percentage and are unselfish. Being unselfish is where their passing comes in. We will need everybody else to step up. If their defense slacks off somebody will be open and that somebody could be Jana KK Kaitlyn. We will rely on them to score when needed. I don't think they will leave Ash open because she has shown she is not afraid to shoot and makes a good percentage of her shots. This is gonna be a battle but its not the end. If Tenn and SC can't stop our Big 3 it could be a long nite for them. Our Big 3 can put up a lot of points in a very short time and that threat is one of UConn's advantages. We haven't had that in a few years.

We are still young and developing. Will be be ready for these 2 big games? Will Griff be back and ready to go? Defensively having Griff and KK at 100% will take a lot of pressure off everybody else. We know how they both can impact the game on defense and that will be huge "IF" Griff can play. With that said Griff needs to see some playtime sooner then later to be effective.

SC is a very good team and UConns dominance has suffered because of injuries. Imagine a healthy Paige and Azzi show with a healthy Caroline and Griff over the past few years. SC may not have had 3 NC's and UConn may have more then 11 Something to consider. The point of me mentioning that is we now have our Big 3 back with Sarah filling Caroline's position who Im hopin and prayin we will see play again. I believe when we have Azzi and Griff at 100% we will show our dominance once again. If its not in these two big games then by March. Dont forget we have been playing with injuries and playing in and out of the lineup for the past few years which makes it tuff to build consistency and continuity and we still made the FF last season which imo was one of Genos greatest coaching seasons.

One of the biggest pieces of our improvement over the past few weeks is we are beginning to look for our shot without hesitation and without looking for Paige and Sarah and now Azzi. Azzi has shown us she can create her own shot and shoot it at a high percentage. Paige is a great facilitator and the attention she draws and her ability to find an open team mate could play huge in the big games coming up because for no other reason then Azzi and Sarah will be the recipients of many of those passes.

When you look back to the ND and USC games and our inexperience, which has grown, and playing those games without Azzi and we were in both those games and imo should've won the USC game with the come back we made I feel we will have very competitive games @ Tenn and SC. We have a more balanced attack then we did in those games.

For the next few games we will build on our improvement. Everybody else will continue to improve and gain confidence. We will be what we will be and we will have to accept that until be become what we know we will become. More than anything I am looking forward to see Paige Azzi and Sarah on the floor together. With the 3 of them on the floor together our ability to score a lot more points has just gone up. Our Big 3 is the nucleus of our team. I am expecting if we remain healthy we just may not to lose a game for the rest of this season. Again if we are healthy.

The other encouraging part of this past week [1/7/25 - 1/13/25] was that 12 teams lost in the top 25 (five losses to unranked teams) showing that many teams now believe they can make it to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and possibly the FF. Geno, CD, and Company are preparing the women to NOT over-look any opponent, and the women are working to win the play in front of them.

I believe this season's Huskies are destined for the Final Four, and while they are there, they might as well win NC #12!

Go Huskies!!

 

[uconnfan68]

I’m not persuaded that this really matters at all. This season with all the ball handling talent among the top 6 or 7 players, the PG role doesn’t need to be set overly carefully.

And if necessary, that’s what Paige does pretty well.

 

[Conndog]

Battle of the rebounds is key for me- preventing TENN and SC from crashing boards to generate 2nd & 3rd chance opportunities. Hope Geno is emphasizing boxing out in practice!

 

[visitingcock]

Too early.

See you in FEB.

 

[ConnMotors]

Tennessee coach will more than likely be on maternity leave. That will definitely give UConn an edge on the road.

 

[cancontent]

Battle of the rebounds is key for me- preventing TENN and SC from crashing boards to generate 2nd & 3rd chance opportunities. Hope Geno is emphasizing boxing out in practice!

Boxing out is one piece. Anticipation and pursuit is another that helps. Especially on rebounds from 3 pointers, like what we'll see with Tennessee.

 

[Rowdy831]

I think the clock is ticking on finding out who we are, and what lineups are best, hopefully before Tennessee. It appears that Jana has taken the starting C role for good, and Azzi has shaken off the rust and become our third big scorer. At PG I don't think we are sure at this point if it will be Kaitlin or KK as the starter, and when she returns, Aubrey could start or at a minimum change significantly the rotation.

My hope is that by the Tennessee game, we know what the rotation will be for the long run and have had at least a couple of games to use it before our next significant challenge. From that perspective, time is short, largely depending on Aubrey's return very soon. All of the uncertainties could of course be determined and play out after the two big games, but it would be a shame if we were not settled on our rotation and healthy for those big games since we were not for our only two losses.

Our ultimate seeding depends largely on those two games and how much much the top teams beat each other up in the power conferences. Unlike the last three years, there is the possibility that this year we might be healthier at year end, than the beginning. I think we are more than due for some good luck on that front.

I think that Geno pretty much has his rotation down right now. He has had to adjust a little because of the minor setbacks with Azzi and Paige but once they came back he went right back to his five. The only player I see moving is KC and I don't really see Geno doing anything with her. He likes the way she plays and quite frankly UConn has enough firepower to overcome the play of any one player on the roster regardless of who it is. To me the key to winning it all is Jana. She is the one player they have that is not interchangable and can create problems for opponents.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Tennessee coach will more than likely be on maternity leave. That will definitely give UConn an edge on the road.

You mean that may slow them down?

 

[stwainfan]

Tennessee coach will more than likely be on maternity leave. That will definitely give UConn an edge on the road.

I think the baby will be born very soon. The game is on Feb 6th. I think if Caldwell can be there she will be.

 

[Tngamecock]

Lots of “ifs” in this thread

 

[packwrap]

I think the baby will be born very soon. The game is on Feb 6th. I think if Caldwell can be there she will be.

Maybe she can press.

 

[Tonyc]

I dont care what defense we face Paige Azzi and Sarah are more than a hand full. As far as not scoring or scoring droughts. We are playing non starters and trying to get them up to speed without Paige Azzi or Sarah on the floor or on the floor for limited minutes. Paige and Azzi need rest and more importantly not to risk them getting injured again.

Finally we saw the Paige and Azzi show. Many of us have been waiting for. The 1st qtr showed what UConn can do with them on the floor.

The 2 most important things we can do now is 1 keep everybody healthy and rested and 2 get the non starters playtime which should get them up to speed.

 

[CL82]

We are still young and developing. Will be be ready for these 2 big games? Will Griff be back and ready to go? Defensively having Griff and KK at 100% will take a lot of pressure off everybody else. We know how they both can impact the game on defense and that will be huge "IF" Griff can play. With that said Griff needs to see some playtime sooner then later to be effective.

I have long felt that we need a third big to be successful against top teams. Originally, I was expecting that to be Patterson, later, I was hoping for Aubrey to return, it appears to me that Morgan has found a niche filling this role. She's doing very well too. I agree, though that a healthy Griffin would be huge for us. I could see her in any of the front court roles.

 

[Longtime fan]

South Carolina and Tenn are very athletic and very quick. They will be keying on our Big 3 so we will need everybody else to step up, without hesitancy and shoot. We dont need our Big 3 to score 20 pts a game we need them to be a threat to score 20 pts a game which they are. They also shoot at a very high percentage and are unselfish. Being unselfish is where their passing comes in. We will need everybody else to step up. If their defense slacks off somebody will be open and that somebody could be Jana KK Kaitlyn. We will rely on them to score when needed. I don't think they will leave Ash open because she has shown she is not afraid to shoot and makes a good percentage of her shots. This is gonna be a battle but its not the end. If Tenn and SC can't stop our Big 3 it could be a long nite for them. Our Big 3 can put up a lot of points in a very short time and that threat is one of UConn's advantages. We haven't had that in a few years.

We are still young and developing. Will be be ready for these 2 big games? Will Griff be back and ready to go? Defensively having Griff and KK at 100% will take a lot of pressure off everybody else. We know how they both can impact the game on defense and that will be huge "IF" Griff can play. With that said Griff needs to see some playtime sooner then later to be effective.

SC is a very good team and UConns dominance has suffered because of injuries. Imagine a healthy Paige and Azzi show with a healthy Caroline and Griff over the past few years. SC may not have had 3 NC's and UConn may have more then 11 Something to consider. The point of me mentioning that is we now have our Big 3 back with Sarah filling Caroline's position who Im hopin and prayin we will see play again. I believe when we have Azzi and Griff at 100% we will show our dominance once again. If its not in these two big games then by March. Dont forget we have been playing with injuries and playing in and out of the lineup for the past few years which makes it tuff to build consistency and continuity and we still made the FF last season which imo was one of Genos greatest coaching seasons.

One of the biggest pieces of our improvement over the past few weeks is we are beginning to look for our shot without hesitation and without looking for Paige and Sarah and now Azzi. Azzi has shown us she can create her own shot and shoot it at a high percentage. Paige is a great facilitator and the attention she draws and her ability to find an open team mate could play huge in the big games coming up because for no other reason then Azzi and Sarah will be the recipients of many of those passes.

When you look back to the ND and USC games and our inexperience, which has grown, and playing those games without Azzi and we were in both those games and imo should've won the USC game with the come back we made I feel we will have very competitive games @ Tenn and SC. We have a more balanced attack then we did in those games.

For the next few games we will build on our improvement. Everybody else will continue to improve and gain confidence. We will be what we will be and we will have to accept that until be become what we know we will become. More than anything I am looking forward to see Paige Azzi and Sarah on the floor together. With the 3 of them on the floor together our ability to score a lot more points has just gone up. Our Big 3 is the nucleus of our team. I am expecting if we remain healthy we just may not to lose a game for the rest of this season. Again if we are healthy.

I think we shall learn a lot, once we have played Tennessee and SC. At this point I think SC is definitely better than we are. I am not that confident about Tennessee being " better." However, we have yet to see our" BIG three" playing together, and dominating together, against a top foe. They are certainly a great trio with the capability to do so against anyone, . But this remains a team game, and three is not enough. If Jana is in the middle ( because we need a big line-up ), the offensive productivity remains a question mark. She is improving game by game, and it is visible. But from here to the "big time" is a large move. I also believe that KK is going to prove the better starting point guard than Katlyn. But I was disappointed when KK opted not to take some open threes against St. Johns, and chose instead to drive into a mess. So I am no longer so certain about this adjustment. I am not confident in Chen as a shooter. And KK is the better defender. ASH, to me, is key. She is a terrific athlete, and has a BB IQ of about 1 million. If she can be consistent with her shot ( and she is trending that way), she may be a scoring presence that those other teams just cannot defend, with so much of their attention on our Big three. I think ICE showed some fine defense against the Johnnies, and she can give a breather to Sarah. And Morgan does seem to be blossoming. What a nice development. Alli still has to prove that she can be relied upon. Those open shots have to go in. As coach says " it is all in her hands. " I don't think we shall see Aubrey until February, and I can't believe she steps on the court and is in Game A shape right away. So I have less confidence than others in her likely contribution. I think we beat Tennessee and lose to SC. But we should come out better for it.