The Bench of UCONN

[nwhoopfan]

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I'm just not seeing it. Doesn't appear to be superior to other benches.

 

[MSGRET]

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Did not realize that the UConn Bench was that old and withered. Does it still have any eligibility left?

 

[Rb335]

So UConn is not a Top 10 team even with the starting 5? While I think that the bench without the starting 5 would be better than Indiana, Iowa, or Oregon.

I think its a bit of a stretch to think they would be better than Iowa. Iowa returns all 5 starters/their top 5 scorers, from a team that was by no means blown out by Uconn's starters last year. It's exciting to think about our bench depth, but you also have to respect the level of talent in WCBB these days.

 

[Heytherego]

I think its a bit of a stretch to think they would be better than Iowa. Iowa returns all 5 starters/their top 5 scorers, from a team that was by no means blown out by Uconn's starters last year. It's exciting to think about our bench depth, but you also have to respect the level of talent in WCBB these days.

I don’t know I honestly think a lineup of Nika, Azzi, Caroline, Aubrey, Dorka (assuming AE is the 5th starter) would have a really good chance of beating Iowa. At the minimum I think they could keep it close.

 

[Plebe]

Did not realize that the UConn Bench was that old and withered. Does it still have any eligibility left?

Gives new meaning to "can't even guard a chair".

 

[Biff]

I'm just not seeing it. Doesn't appear to be superior to other benches.

Well for starters (see what I did there?) last year's bench is clearly much shorter.

 

[MSGRET]

I think its a bit of a stretch to think they would be better than Iowa. Iowa returns all 5 starters/their top 5 scorers, from a team that was by no means blown out by Uconn's starters last year. It's exciting to think about our bench depth, but you also have to respect the level of talent in WCBB these days.

Please read the first sentence. The poster that I was replying to, left UConn off of the Top 10 altogether.

 

[CocoHusky]

The question is: Would UConn have the Top ranked Bench?

Afraid not. See the graphic in the first post of this thread. The answer to your question is yes but SC would be close as @bballnut90 is pointing out.

 

[Rb335]

Please read the first sentence. The poster that I was replying to, left UConn off of the Top 10 altogether.

Read the second sentence. Where you say our bench without the starting 5 would be better than Iowa.

 

[visitingcock]

Afraid not. See the graphic in the first post of this thread. The answer to your question is yes but SC would be close as @bballnut90 is pointing out.

Would love to see a “junior varsity” game between SCar and UConn with the five newcomers to both teams as the starter

word out of our Fall camp on newcomers
Cardosa: ready. Great strides in better discipline in her
Rivers: offensive ability/skills off the chart. Defense is a work in progress
Hall: most well-rounded O & D
Johnson: could lead most teams at PG but still adjusting to speed of this team.
Feagan: needs consistency. Gets a little frustrated going against all the other bigs in practice. Learning that things she did in hs don’t work as well at this level

biggest veteran news from camp is Boston has lost 23 pounds and is running with the team on breaks. Message to bitchy fans: Beal is not going to the bench despite your bitching about her offensive numbers. She contributes too much to our starting rotation in other ways.

BTW: Stanford had great bench depth last year and used their bench more than either UConn or Scar in tight contests. 10 players got minutes vs SCar and 11 got minutes vs Arizona. Two one point wins in final four so no mop up minutes in either game.

 

[hoophuskee]

Would love to see a “junior varsity” game between SCar and UConn with the five newcomers to both teams as the starter

word out of our Fall camp on newcomers
Cardosa: ready. Great strides in better discipline in her
Rivers: offensive ability/skills off the chart. Defense is a work in progress
Hall: most well-rounded O & D
Johnson: could lead most teams at PG but still adjusting to speed of this team.
Feagan: needs consistency. Gets a little frustrated going against all the other bigs in practice. Learning that things she did in hs don’t work as well at this level

biggest veteran news from camp is Boston has lost 23 pounds and is running with the team on breaks. Message to bitchy fans: Beal is not going to the bench despite your bitching about her offensive numbers. She contributes too much to our starting rotation in other ways.

BTW: Stanford had great bench depth last year and used their bench more than either UConn or Scar in tight contests. 10 players got minutes vs SCar and 11 got minutes vs Arizona. Two one point wins in final four so no mop up minutes in either game.

The problem with Stanford relative to UCONN and SC is that they lost their best player.

 

[visitingcock]

The problem with Stanford relative to UCONN and SC is that they lost their best player.

I agree, but they are still deep and talented. They are not rebuilding - they are reloading.

 

[Zanzman]

I agree, but they are still deep and talented. They are not rebuilding - they are reloading.

But their second and third best players should develop more and be ready to lead

 

[visitingcock]

The problem with Stanford relative to UCONN and SC is that they lost their best player.

Stanford average minutes last year (in bold). They played a LOT more players in real games than either of us. Example they all played in one-point, final 4 games against SCar and Arizona. The only time we went near that deep was in the blowout of Texas. Yes, Williams will be missed but they also have game time experienced, talent-in-waiting

23	Williams, Kiana	33	33	1066	32.3	173	422	.410	82	214	.383	34	38	.895	462	14.0	7	60	67	2.0	34	101	50	44	1
30	Jones, Haley	32	32	881	27.5	183	335	.546	6	17	.353	50	69	.725	422	13.2	54	184	238	7.4	49	92	78	25	23
12	Hull, Lexie	32	32	845	26.4	125	328	.381	45	128	.352	76	93	.817	371	11.6	49	113	162	5.1	55	55	52	51	12
22	Brink, Cameron	32	20	591	18.5	126	217	.581	11	30	.367	55	85	.647	318	9.9	69	141	210	6.6	88	28	42	17	88
05	Belibi, Francesca	33	13	485	14.7	102	192	.531	0	1	.000	39	61	.639	243	7.4	69	96	165	5.0	45	34	49	21	19
33	Jump, Hannah	32	0	514	16.1	77	177	.435	57	132	.432	2	4	.500	213	6.7	23	46	69	2.2	12	27	16	21	2
11	Prechtel, Ashten	30	0	423	14.1	68	151	.450	23	62	.371	14	23	.609	173	5.8	44	90	134	4.5	39	39	36	12	33
03	Wilson, Anna	33	33	779	23.6	54	106	.509	28	62	.452	17	23	.739	153	4.6	24	99	123	3.7	52	68	24	49	2
24	Hull, Lacie	31	1	477	15.4	35	78	.449	16	42	.381	7	15	.467	93	3.0	29	49	78	2.5	45	43	25	21	10
04	Van Gytenbeek, Jana	28	0	236	8.4	20	51	.392	13	36	.361	5	6	.833	58	2.1	1	7	8	0.3	16	32	14	8	0
10	Jerome, Alyssa	28	1	202	7.2	16	44	.364	8	27	.296	2	4	.500	42	1.5	9	26	35	1.3	15	15	5	1	5
02	Emma-Nnopu, Agnes	22	0	127	5.8	7	18	.389	1	4	.250	2	4	.500	17	0.8	21	16	37	1.7	16	9	7	2	1

 

[eebmg]

With such a high level bench, let's get it upholstered

 

[nwhoopfan]

I agree, but they are still deep and talented. They are not rebuilding - they are reloading.

That's honestly debatable. Leading scorer yes, but that doesn't automatically mean best player.

Williams scored a combined 13 points in the 2 Final 4 games, and Stanford still won both. Something tells me they'll be okay this year without her.

 

[visitingcock]

That's honestly debatable. Leading scorer yes, but that doesn't automatically mean best player.

Williams scored a combined 13 points in the 2 Final 4 games, and Stanford still won both. Something tells me they'll be okay this year without her.

What did she do in the regular season against Arizona and UCLA? (Too lazy to search )

 

[nwhoopfan]

What did she do in the regular season against Arizona and UCLA? (Too lazy to search )

I looked at all her box scores a while ago for another thread. She had a number of subpar games against ranked teams in which Stanford still won.

Not saying they won't miss her, but they have a whole bunch of players who stepped up in different games during the season. I don't think there's any one thing she did that is irreplaceable. Wasn't really a play maker (assists). Yeah she was their leading scorer, but 14 ppg isn't a huge amount to make up from a deep roster. Very good perimeter defender, but they still have Wilson and the Hulls, plus add Hamilton from Northwestern who I think is also a noted defender, so I don't really see any change there. Biggest thing is her volume of 3 point shots. No one player will fill that void, but just about everybody on their roster can hit from deep, so they can still spread defenses out.

 

[hoophuskee]

Stanford average minutes last year (in bold). They played a LOT more players in real games than either of us. Example they all played in one-point, final 4 games against SCar and Arizona. The only time we went near that deep was in the blowout of Texas. Yes, Williams will be missed but they also have game time experienced, talent-in-waiting

23	Williams, Kiana	33	33	1066	32.3	173	422	.410	82	214	.383	34	38	.895	462	14.0	7	60	67	2.0	34	101	50	44	1
30	Jones, Haley	32	32	881	27.5	183	335	.546	6	17	.353	50	69	.725	422	13.2	54	184	238	7.4	49	92	78	25	23
12	Hull, Lexie	32	32	845	26.4	125	328	.381	45	128	.352	76	93	.817	371	11.6	49	113	162	5.1	55	55	52	51	12
22	Brink, Cameron	32	20	591	18.5	126	217	.581	11	30	.367	55	85	.647	318	9.9	69	141	210	6.6	88	28	42	17	88
05	Belibi, Francesca	33	13	485	14.7	102	192	.531	0	1	.000	39	61	.639	243	7.4	69	96	165	5.0	45	34	49	21	19
33	Jump, Hannah	32	0	514	16.1	77	177	.435	57	132	.432	2	4	.500	213	6.7	23	46	69	2.2	12	27	16	21	2
11	Prechtel, Ashten	30	0	423	14.1	68	151	.450	23	62	.371	14	23	.609	173	5.8	44	90	134	4.5	39	39	36	12	33
03	Wilson, Anna	33	33	779	23.6	54	106	.509	28	62	.452	17	23	.739	153	4.6	24	99	123	3.7	52	68	24	49	2
24	Hull, Lacie	31	1	477	15.4	35	78	.449	16	42	.381	7	15	.467	93	3.0	29	49	78	2.5	45	43	25	21	10
04	Van Gytenbeek, Jana	28	0	236	8.4	20	51	.392	13	36	.361	5	6	.833	58	2.1	1	7	8	0.3	16	32	14	8	0
10	Jerome, Alyssa	28	1	202	7.2	16	44	.364	8	27	.296	2	4	.500	42	1.5	9	26	35	1.3	15	15	5	1	5
02	Emma-Nnopu, Agnes	22	0	127	5.8	7	18	.389	1	4	.250	2	4	.500	17	0.8	21	16	37	1.7	16	9	7	2	1

Yes.

But they lost their best player.
UCONN and SC lost no one.

 

[hoophuskee]

I looked at all her box scores a while ago for another thread. She had a number of subpar games against ranked teams in which Stanford still won.

Not saying they won't miss her, but they have a whole bunch of players who stepped up in different games during the season. I don't think there's any one thing she did that is irreplaceable. Wasn't really a play maker (assists). Yeah she was their leading scorer, but 14 ppg isn't a huge amount to make up from a deep roster. Very good perimeter defender, but they still have Wilson and the Hulls, plus add Hamilton from Northwestern who I think is also a noted defender, so I don't really see any change there. Biggest thing is her volume of 3 point shots. No one player will fill that void, but just about everybody on their roster can hit from deep, so they can still spread defenses out.

When you lose your best player and is she getting the most minutes on her team that won a title- there is a reason why the HOF coach played her as much as she did. Your best player in some cases goes beyond the numbers.

And just because Stanford is reloading doesn't mean UCONN and South Carolina have not reloaded to a higher degree.

And in regards to irreplaceable that is all very subjective. Maria Conlon "replaced" Sue Bird and UCONN went on to win two titles. SO how much was "Sue Bird" missed? So UCONN won two titles - so how much was Sue Bird missed?

However we all know that Sue Bird was superior and UCONN was not stronger when she left. The same goes with Stanford when they lose their best player for a title team in which she led the team in points, minutes, shot attempts, and assists. Stanford still lost "some very good value." And the other players didn’t get as many stats as her is due to the fact they weren’t as good as her.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Just gonna have to agree to disagree. Kiana Williams had a nice career at Stanford. I have reason to think they are going to keep rolling along without her. I guess we'll find out one way or another very soon.

 

[hoophuskee]

Just gonna have to agree to disagree. Kiana Williams had a nice career at Stanford. I have reason to think they are going to keep rolling along without her. I guess we'll find out one way or another very soon.

But that's not what I said or even near suggested. Not even close.

Anyhow, I'm giving the higher ceiling by a smidgen to UCONN and South Carolina. These 3 are all elite. And as for a floor I put UCONN at the bottom of the 3 - the other two - higher. These three are all gonna roll. But just because "Willie Mays is better than Hank Aaron" doesn't mean Henry wasn't awesome too.