The 2017-2018 UCONN Bench will be a top 10 Team

[MilfordHusky]

This will be hotly debated until November. I'm with you, Mil, that Crystal starts, but we are in the minority, and it would not surprise me one bit to see Azura start and have Geno use a guard-light lineup with only Kia as the player on the floor with guard skills that can hold up under pressure...

I'm NOT saying that Gabby and KLS do not possess "guard skills", but their ball handling is inferior to Kia's and Crystal's.

We are in the minority, but I'm ok with that. Unlike some others, I'm not SURE. I agree that starting Z over Crystal is not a bad choice. But I think Coach starts Crystal in November. We'll know in time. I think both play about the same number of minutes. How much someone plays and when she plays are more important than whether or not she starts. I see us as having a core 6, with Mikayla and Megan trying to force their way in. Batouly may as well.

 

[Carnac]

"About 90 percent of the teams we play in our non-conference schedule probably have a chance to go to the Final Four," Auriemma said. "That's a good thing. The more we do that the better it makes us, the better for our fans, the better for everyone. I don't know if it could get any stronger. It would be virtually impossible for us to have a better non-conference schedule than we have coming up. That's the way it is going to be from here on in."

That is a very strong statement. There are also some teams that figure to make the FF that are not on their schedule. Since there are only 4 invitations available for the last weekend, there will be an all out dog fight for them. Teams that have a legitimate chance of getting their ticket punched for the final weekend's activities, will no doubt sell out, and play all of their aces to get there.

Which is worse, to lose that final weekend, or fail to qualify for the final four? Many teams that feel they are good enough to go, and deserve to go, won't. UConn figures to be there. Who will the other three be? The usual invitees? i.e. Notre Dame, USCe, Maryland?, or other would be party crashers such as Baylor, Texas, Florida St, Louisville, Stanford, Miss St, Oregon St, UCLA, etc ? Baylor and Notre Dame where ranked in the top 4 all year, and failed to make the final four for the second year in a row. Will they slip on that banana peel, or stumble and fall once more as they approach the tape, and achieve the trifecta?

As interesting and competitive (and fun to watch) as last season was, this season should be even more interesting and competitive. Several teams that failed to live up to what could be considered moderate expectations, failed to do so. Teams that had an exceptional recruiting year, are looking to move beyond the log jam near the top, and position themselves to earn a top seed come March.

They want to make a statement and a strong one. Ten or so teams vying for 4 FF tickets. Teams once again, are going to be sent home during the tournament extremely disappointed, forced to regroup, and go back to square one. Who will they be?

 

[CocoHusky]

Well if you know me you know I know and if you dont know me you now know I know because when I know something for fact I post it. With my reputation on the line all the time I am careful to only post what I know as fact from reliable sources and I know what ever I post will be taken as fact so I dont post what I think I post what I know and I know the person to be fact or I wouldnt have posted it. Just for reference the 37 page violation by Tenn almost ruined me. I was once referred to as a walking NCAA violation of which Im not.

37 pages of garage "alleging" violations would be a more accurate description. No one deserved that.
So let's talk about something that you may or may not know. I've been meaning to get back to you about UCONN recruiting for 2018 class. When Danielle Cosgrove committed to ND you opined that since UCONN passed on Danielle UCONN "might" have other potential post in mind. I hoped it was ONO-might it still be? Do you know if Danielle Cosgrove ever visited UCONN?

 

[reno tony]

What if you split up the team into two squads..... could there be two top 25 teams? Put Gabby and Kia on one team and Pheesa and Lou on the other and build from there. Sorry, not trying to change the OP but I was just curious what some of you thought.

 

[SVCBeercats]

What if you split up the team into two squads..... could there be two top 25 teams? Put Gabby and Kia on one team and Pheesa and Lou on the other and build from there. Sorry, not trying to change the OP but I was just curious what some of you thought.

I think there is way too much Kool-Aid drinking. Just be thankful the team as a whole wins the NCAA championship.

 

[HopJim]

What about 2012-13 when you had Stewie, Tuck and Mo as part of the second team when they were freshmen?

Good example of why UConn's current 2nd team not top 10. Stewie was inconsistent until playoffs and Tuck and Mo minor pieces. Who cares as long as team is #1 at end of year.

 

[Tonyc]

37 pages of garage "alleging" violations would be a more accurate description. No one deserved that.
So let's talk about something that you may or may not know. I've been meaning to get back to you about UConn recruiting for 2018 class. When Danielle Cosgrove committed to ND you opined that since UConn passed on Danielle UConn "might" have other potential post in mind. I hoped it was ONO-might it still be? Do you know if Danielle Cosgrove ever visited UConn?[/QUOT

Danielle Patterson I think is who you mean and she did not visit UConn.

 

[Hope]

A storm of unbelievable power is about to rain down on college woman's basketball. The next two years will be the greatest display of pure college basketball supremacy that the world has ever seen. The bench alone will be a power few will be able to compete against.

I think you are being a wee bit, too optimistic. What do we know about Z and the Bat-girl? Are they big enough to dominate teams like Texas and Baylor? Who on this team is a proven scorer? Who can really knock down the 3 like Lou? I see a lot of unanswered questions, especially in our guards. Could we beat MissState this year if they run the clock down again on every play? What can we expect from Dangerfield? Stanford has good size at every position again. Notre Dame recruits well. I mean, will we really be that good? And what round will Pretty Boy Floyd take out McGregor? Can we really trust Geno to win another NC? C'mon, make me a believer why doncha.

 

[CocoHusky]

I think you are being a wee bit, too optimistic. What do we know about Z and the Bat-girl? Are they big enough to dominate teams like Texas and Baylor? Who on this team is a proven scorer? Who can really knock down the 3 like Lou? I see a lot of unanswered questions, especially in our guards. Could we beat MissState this year if they run the clock down again on every play? What can we expect from Dangerfield? Stanford has good size at every position again. Notre Dame recruits well. I mean, will we really be that good? And what round will Pretty Boy Floyd take out McGregor? Can we really trust Geno to win another NC? C'mon, make me a believer why doncha.

Oh my! Must have been the soggy cheerios from this morning.
Answers:
Quite a bit-how much time you got?
Yes.
Everyone.
KLS is still eligible-FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
Yes.
A Sophomore leap.
Yes.
It will go the distance and he goes by Money Maker not Pretty Boy.
Yes.

 

[bags27]

I think you are being a wee bit, too optimistic. What do we know about Z and the Bat-girl? Are they big enough to dominate teams like Texas and Baylor? Who on this team is a proven scorer? Who can really knock down the 3 like Lou? I see a lot of unanswered questions, especially in our guards. Could we beat MissState this year if they run the clock down again on every play? What can we expect from Dangerfield? Stanford has good size at every position again. Notre Dame recruits well. I mean, will we really be that good? And what round will Pretty Boy Floyd take out McGregor? Can we really trust Geno to win another NC? C'mon, make me a believer why doncha.

I don't agree with a lot of your specific concerns, and you seem to be doing just a bit of trolling here. This team is really, really loaded. Even Kara Lawson was in awe last year when watching UConn practicing (which included Z and Batouly), let alone with all the new talent that's come along subsequently. And now, it's not only loaded, but it's angry. Not sure the rest of WCBB should really have rejoiced at MissState's upset.

But, despite your trolling, I actually do agree with your overall tone. No one has played a moment of basketball yet. Stuff happens: injuries, attitudes (unlikely given how good the coaching staff is with the kids, but one never knows, especially since the bench might actually be too deep), cold shooting on a given night, emerging stars and defenses on other teams, etc. I loved last year, because it defied expectations. I'm less enthused about years in which fans are disgruntled with a 30 point win, and really don't like years in which fans have crowned the national champs before the first tip off. Which doesn't mean I don't love this team's prospects!

 

[Fightin Choke]

Oh my! Must have been the soggy cheerios from this morning.
Answers:
Quite a bit-how much time you got?
Yes.
Everyone.
KLS is still eligible-FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
Yes.
A Sophomore leap.
Yes.
It will go the distance and he goes by Money Maker not Pretty Boy.
Yes.

I think Dove was referring to the OP/thread title, so only the second team counts, yes?

 

[CocoHusky]

I think Dove was referring to the OP/thread title, so only the second team counts, yes?

Yes but.... there are a few BYers advocating that KLS or Gabby or Napheesa ( returning AA) would not start. Which is as silly as the OP/thread title.

 

[Wally East]

Yes but.... there are a few BYers advocating that KLS or Gabby or Napheesa ( returning AA) would not start. Which is as silly as the OP/thread title.

Ridiculous people are going to be ridiculous and thinking that Geno won't start a returning All-American is ridiculous.

 

[AAADog]

Let me put it this way---- This year there will be many games (if not all games) where the bench will get plenty of playing time in the 4th quarter, and I fully expect that unlike some years where the lead shrinks then, this year the bench will continue to build the lead. It will be partly pride, partly to prove something, partly to showcase their ability. Other teams, even the good ones, should not count on any let down from UCONN when the bench comes in.