The Best Group of Guards Ever?

[MilfordHusky]

This is the standard. The Gold standard. The 5-time Gold standard.

 

[oldude]

This is the standard. The Gold standard. The 5-time Gold standard.

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Yes, but what if you need 4 guards on the floor at the same time?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Yes, but what if you need 4 guards on the floor at the same time

Simple--clone them.

 

[eebmg]

A bit baffling. In HS Aubrey scored from everywhere, including from the 3-pt line.

She should just imagine all the players on the other team look like Geno.

 

[Alydar]

A bit baffling. In HS Aubrey scored from everywhere, including from the 3-pt line.

I recall that in her freshman year the game announcers stated that Geno had given her the green light to shoot 3's so she definitely made enough in practice. I suspect that her scoring will come in transition and from putbacks of other's misses. She may never be a shooter but things happen when she is on the floor, mostly good.

 

[Alydar]

Paige lead UConn with 66 steals and played surprisingly good defense all season imo. Other than Aari McDonald who was guarded by Christyn, the rest of the AZ team didn’t do much against UConn.

Bueckers isn't a good on ball defender yet but as a disruptor she is great.

 

[oldude]

I recall that in her freshman year the game announcers stated that Geno had given her the green light to shoot 3's so she definitely made enough in practice. I suspect that her scoring will come in transition and from putbacks of other's misses. She may never be a shooter but things happen when she is on the floor, mostly good.

There’s no denying Aubrey’s disruptive ability. During UConn’s 19-0 run against Baylor, Aubrey held NaLyssa Smith, the Wade Trophy winner, to 0 shots, and also managed to switch off Smith on 3 occasions to force 2 charging calls on Carrington & 1 traveling call on Egbo.

 

[Alydar]

There’s no denying Aubrey’s disruptive ability. During UConn’s 19-0 run against Baylor, Aubrey held NaLyssa Smith, the Wade Trophy winner, to 0 shots, and also managed to switch off Smith on 3 occasions to force 2 charging calls on Carrington & 1 traveling call on Egbo.

That's what I mean.

 

[oldude]

Bueckers isn't a good on ball defender yet but as a disruptor she is great.

I respectfully disagree. In HS Paige was not a good on ball defender, but once she got to UConn, she made a commitment to play solid defense, probably so that Geno would have one less thing to complain about.

Paige moves her feet and gets her hands up well. As I have remarked in other posts, Paige’s commitment to play solid defense was the most surprising element of her game at UConn.

 

[Alydar]

It's premature to compare a UConn backcourt that has a handful of olympic rings to another that has 1 year of college between the 2 of them. But Bueckers has already showed that she may be better than both of them as a college player. And I only care about their college performances.

I suspect that this argument will still be going on 20 years from now.

 

[Vowelguy]

I never cease to be amazed at folks obsession with player ratings from 4 years ago. Who cares that CW was the #1 player in high school evaluations. It says nothing about her current playing status. And I don’t think anyone would say she’s had the top college career of that 2018 class.

Similarly sure EW was highly ranked but injuries have meant she’s not exactly the same player.

paiges #1 ranking is also irrelevant. We know she’s a great player not because she was #1; winning POY last year does that.

 

[Vowelguy]

As far as guard play these were not too bad:
2000 with Bird KJ Shea Svet
2009 Renee lorinD Doty Hayes Maya Kalana gardler
2010 same as 2009 but with Faris instead of Renee

 

[Boreifs]

Yes, but what if you need 4 guards on the floor at the same time?

I respect your basketball acumen greatly, but I just don’t see a four-guard set as a regular feature. Keeping two of those post players on the bench doesn’t look like winning basketball to me. I guess we will see who is right.

 

[oldude]

I respect your basketball acumen greatly, but I just don’t see a four-guard set as a regular feature. Keeping two of those post players on the bench doesn’t look like winning basketball to me. I guess we will see who is right.

I wouldn’t have expected Geno to go with a 4 guard lineup last year against SC. He surprised the hell out of me, but it worked.

I know others may feel differently, but here’s the way I look at it. If UConn has a starting lineup of Paige, Christyn, Evina and Liv +1. Is the team better off with Aaliyah, Dorka or Azzi as the +1?

You can switch Liv & Dorka if you wish, but imo Azzi will ultimately force Geno to put her in the starting lineup in the same way that Nika did last season.

 

[Boreifs]

I wouldn’t have expected Geno to go with a 4 guard lineup last year against SC. He surprised the hell out of me, but it worked.

I know others may feel differently, but here’s the way I look at it. If UConn has a starting lineup of Paige, Christyn, Evina and Liv +1. Is the team better off with Aaliyah, Dorka or Azzi as the +1?

You can switch Liv & Dorka if you wish, but imo Azzi will ultimately force Geno to put her in the starting lineup in the same way that Nika did last season.

Ultimately, it will come down to match ups. Besides, to me the starting lineup is immaterial; I want to see which five are on the court in a close game during the late stages of the fourth quarter.

 

[oldude]

I never cease to be amazed at folks obsession with player ratings from 4 years ago. Who cares that CW was the #1 player in high school evaluations. It says nothing about her current playing status. And I don’t think anyone would say she’s had the top college career of that 2018 class.

Similarly sure EW was highly ranked but injuries have meant she’s not exactly the same player.

paiges #1 ranking is also irrelevant. We know she’s a great player not because she was #1; winning POY last year does that.

HS rankings certainly have their limitations, but they are one measure of evaluation, just like POY. However, I will reiterate my earlier prediction that Christyn & Evina will be the first 2 guards taken in the WNBA draft this coming year, in the first round, in no particular order.

 

[oldude]

Ultimately, it will come down to match ups. Besides, to me the starting lineup is immaterial; I want to see which five are on the court in a close game during the late stages of the fourth quarter.

So here’s the plan. Start the game with 4 guards and build up a 20+ lead. Then bring in the Big lineup to beat the opponents into submission……

 

[Vowelguy]

HS rankings certainly have their limitations, but they are one measure of evaluation, just like POY.

HS ranking is great ... when you're evaluating a HS player.

Ask any W scout if they care what the players HS rank was.
Ditto for any coach evaluating a grad transfer.

 

[Vowelguy]

to me the starting lineup is immaterial; I want to see which five are on the court in a close game during the late stages of the fourth quarter.

 

[oldude]

HS ranking is great ... when you're evaluating a HS player.

Ask any W scout if they care what the players HS rank was.
Ditto for any coach evaluating a grad transfer.

OK, but my premise that UConn’s group of guards may be the deepest and most talented “in college” still stands. If you have another group that you think is better, tell me who they are and why.

 

[eebmg]

I never cease to be amazed at folks obsession with player ratings from 4 years ago. Who cares that CW was the #1 player in high school evaluations. It says nothing about her current playing status. And I don’t think anyone would say she’s had the top college career of that 2018 class.

Similarly sure EW was highly ranked but injuries have meant she’s not exactly the same player.

paiges #1 ranking is also irrelevant. We know she’s a great player not because she was #1; winning POY last year does that.

In the present context, it is relevant since the pressure CW feels to excel which was the issue being addressed is certainly magnified.

 

[baggerbob]

Too much talk about offense. The best teams win with defense and rebounding. Nika is quick and tough, Williams has really developed into a good defender, but after that there is a lot of flash but not enough consistency. Jefferson, Hartley and Faris were quick and tough. The backline must help and rebound; think Stewart and Tuck. That 2016 undefeated team could have Stewart, Jefferson, Tuck, Nurse and Gabby on the court at the same time. They gave up just 51 points per during the tourney. Certainly they are not the only UConn team that has played that kind of shutdown defense. It was great fun to watch those UConn teams frustrate teams with a defensive effort that they obviously took great pride in. That Arizona team last year really shut down UConn, and they did the same to a really good Stanford team, though couldn't score enough. With the talented teams that are out there, I don't see UConn just going out and out-scoring them all. If they don't get much better at they defensive end I don't see them winning it all.

That Tournament game against Mississippi State might have been the greatest defensive team effort in tournament history. Stewie had 5 blocks 3 in one possession.

 

[Vowelguy]

OK, but my premise that UConn’s group of guards may be the deepest and most talented “in college” still stands. If you have another group that you think is better, tell me who they are and why.

2000

Possibly 2009

 

[oldude]

2000

Possibly 2009

Shea, Sveta & Sue and Tiffany, Renee & Kalana were excellent guard trios. I would make the case that this year’s team is certainly deeper at the guard spot, and since the season hasn’t started yet, I guess we’ll have to wait awhile to see if they’re better.

 

[BBallF]

I think you are talking about currently and I don't think there is any question that they are the best "group" of guards in the country right now. I agree that if the opposing team is playing 2 guards and they play us even or close to even it makes little difference. I also agree that you will see 4 guards starting at first for UCONN . Paige, Nika, Evina and CW with ONO in the pivot. The problem is defense because you are giving up size at the 3 and 4 position with that line up. However, this will be a different team on defense I predict.

I don't see them getting winded, or having to play when tired or worn down in a physical game because of the power and depth underneath with Edwrds and Dorka and because of at least one X factor defender there in Aubrey. You have Azzi as well, who I think is a very good on ball defender. Great teams play great defense and championship teams always do.

They had to worry about scoring at times last year but less this year. If ONO is having a FF type game, you have Dorka or Edwards. If Paige is off, you have Azzi. If CW is off, let CD III or Saylor shoot the 3s. If Evina is off, someone won't be and she will get the ball to them. Their mantra has to be defense because they can still have an off night on offense and suddenly an Arizona type team appears and you are done.

The only proven way to avoid that is with defense. I think Geno is going to emphasize that and we are all going to be surprised. It's the logical type of game a deep, athletic team like ours can always excel at and it is about will, desire, and toughness, qualities that were not apparent in our last game last year.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

UConn WBB has a long history of outstanding backcourts. But I cannot recall a team with a deeper and more talented group of guards than the current one. UConn has 4 of the last 5 guards rated tops in their HS class. The only exception is Jordan Horston at TN. Add in Nika, one of the toughest and most tenacious players on the team, and UConn legitimately goes 5 deep this season at guard. Pending how Caroline & Saylor develop, that number could grow.

UConn’s guards have size, they can all play defense, and they can all knock down 3’s. At least 4 can run the offense (Paige, Evina, Nika & Azzi). There are several definitions of what a “combo guard” is. A simple definition might be that a combo guard is a pg that doesn’t have to play pg, because they have the luxury of playing with another pg. So, UConn has 4 combo guards.

Paige, Evina, Christyn & Azzi can all break down their defender off the dribble and hunt their own shot, pulling up for a midrange jumper or taking the ball all the way to the basket. The fact that UConn has so many players who can shoot it, pass it or attack the basket puts tremendous pressure on opposing defenses.

I know that many BY’ers justifiably believe that UConn’s starting lineup will include 2 of the following 3 players: Liv, Aaliyah or Dorka. Whether or not that’s the case remains to be seen. UConn went with a 4-guard lineup for much of this past season, and Geno will likely try out a 4-guard lineup in some fashion this coming season to spread the floor, move the ball and force opposing teams to make difficult choices on who to guard and who to leave open.

When the ball is moving and the shots are falling, UConn will put up a lot of points. Can any team in the country outscore the Huskies? MD? Stanford? We’ll see. One thing is for sure. Opposing coaches will face a significant challenge trying to figure out how to defend a UConn team with Paige, Christyn, Evina, Nika and Azzi, not to mention Liv, Aaliyah, Dorka, Aubrey, Mir, Piath, Sailor, Caroline & Amari.

I see there will be at least three mismatches on the court all the time: Best guard, 2nd best guard, 3rd best guard, and most likely the second best "big" - regardless of who UCONN has on the court.

Geno will be able to create other mismatches as he brings in fresh players.... more "bigs" or more guards will be interesting of their effects.

 

[huskiemaniac]

With the caveat that it may be a difference of definition, I don't agree that the entire group of PB, , CW, and EW can break their defenders down off the dribble. While PB and CW do have that ability (CW more than PB, imo) to a certain extent, I don't consider either one an ankle-breaker. Obviously, hasn't played a minute of college ball yet, but there was little evidence of this in the FIBA games this summer. EW just isn't that type of guard, perhaps due to the knee.

 

[oldude]

I see there will be at least three mismatches on the court all the time: Best guard, 2nd best guard, 3rd best guard, and most likely the second best "big" - regardless of who UCONN has on the court.

Geno will be able to create other mismatches as he brings in fresh players.... more "bigs" or more guards will be interesting of their effects.

Exactly. There’s possibly 3 teams in the country that can play the “matchup game” with UConn: Stanford, SC & MD. SC comes up a little short shooting the ball and MD doesn’t quite have the size.

That leaves Stanford. The similarities between the two teams in terms of depth and talent are remarkable. If it comes down to the Huskies and the Cardinal, it’s going to be a hell of a battle.

 

[Skeets]

Great guard duos, but if you are talking about life time achievement how in the world is any duo going to surpass Sue and the GOAT? (If limited to WCCB I also like Svet and Shea, shame about the injuries, but they were fun to watch...)

 

[CocoHusky]

I wouldn’t have expected Geno to go with a 4 guard lineup last year against SC. He surprised the hell out of me, but it worked.

I know others may feel differently, but here’s the way I look at it. If UConn has a starting lineup of Paige, Christyn, Evina and Liv +1. Is the team better off with Aaliyah, Dorka or Azzi as the +1?

You can switch Liv & Dorka if you wish, but imo Azzi will ultimately force Geno to put her in the starting lineup in the same way that Nika did last season.

Nika "forced" Geno to put her in the starting lineup last year? Geno Auriemma? Did Nika use a gun?