The Big O is one of 3 finalists for Gatorade POY

[BobbyJ]

She will be getting starter minutes next season at UConn. She is a student of the game and very very talented. JMO she will dominate next season for sure. It depends on how Jana and Gandy come along and if theyre ready next season which could move Oliva to a wing position. Thats 3 6'5 players. Oliva imo is right there with Lauren Betts with a better outside shot and better running the floor.

1) I wouldn't put any money on this.
2) Vukosa will never be a wing either offensively or defensively.
3) And if you're talking about the current Betts, other than a 3 point shot, you've got to be kidding about overall impact on a game.

 

[Woof]

Did Betts dominate in her freshman year? Did Tina Charles? I happen to personally think Tina had a solid freshman year, in contrast to the general opinion that she didn't "get it" until her junior year. I see that as a myth. However, she did have some growing pains. I find it amusing that UConn fans always assume their new players are going to be dominant out of the gate but, then, when reality doesn't match their expectations, they say that bigs take a long time to develop. Why not keep that in mind before expecting a freshman big is going to dominate? The funny part is that people often use Tina as an example whereas, in reality, she was pretty good as a freshman. Way better that, say, Ice or Jana were in their first seasons.

It is highly likely that Vukosa will have significant growing pains for a year or two. I, personally, hope we go to the portal again for a big. You can't count on a freshman and I think Jana has a ceiling. Just my opinion.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

This is pretty interesting considering who's in the class of 2026. Hall, Harpring, Edwards, Bjorn, Robinson etc.

Your glib familiarity is impressive @BobbyJ ...truly.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I think we are going to be over the moon with Olivia.

 

[DefenseBB]

Did Betts dominate in her freshman year? Did Tina Charles? I happen to personally think Tina had a solid freshman year, in contrast to the general opinion that she didn't "get it" until her junior year. I see that as a myth. However, she did have some growing pains. I find it amusing that UConn fans always assume their new players are going to be dominant out of the gate but, then, when reality doesn't match their expectations, they say that bigs take a long time to develop. Why not keep that in mind before expecting a freshman big is going to dominate? The funny part is that people often use Tina as an example whereas, in reality, she was pretty good as a freshman. Way better that, say, Ice or Jana were in their first seasons.

It is highly likely that Vukosa will have significant growing pains for a year or two. I, personally, hope we go to the portal again for a big. You can't count on a freshman and I think Jana has a ceiling. Just my opinion.

Yes, Tina Charles won the USBWA National Freshman of the year award. This has become a tired trope that “Tina was not good” until her Junior and Senior years. She also won the Big East FOY when the BE was a Marquee WB conference. So while you note Tina was pretty good, she was better than that but simply did not have as many other really good players with her yet. Back to Olivia, she will have a loaded roster she will be on and will have time to improve her deficiencies while maximizing her strengths. Hopefully the coaching staff finds an immediate way to utilize her.

 

[Woof]

Yes, Tina Charles won the USBWA National Freshman of the year award. This has become a tired trope that “Tina was not good” until her Junior and Senior years. She also won the Big East FOY when the BE was a Marquee WB conference. So while you note Tina was pretty good, she was better than that but simply did not have as many other really good players with her yet. Back to Olivia, she will have a loaded roster she will be on and will have time to improve her deficiencies while maximizing her strengths. Hopefully the coaching staff finds an immediate way to utilize her.

Don't get me wrong. I think she will play and be utilized. I just don't count on her hitting the floor as a high impact, national championship, caliber player. She will hopefully get there a year or two down the road.

 

[Woof]

1) I wouldn't put any money on this.
2) Vukosa will never be a wing either offensively or defensively.
3) And if you're talking about the current Betts, other than a 3 point shot, you've got to be kidding about overall impact on a game.

Agreed on all accounts. Betts was the #1 player in her class and, unlike Vukosa and her class, it was unanimous and a done deal for quite some time. And Betts had very little impact in her freshman year. People here didn't even want us to pursue her in the portal.

 

[SVCBeercats]

I think we are going to be over the moon with Olivia.

Some fans just zipped past the moon and now looking to outpace Voyager 1.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Don't get me wrong. I think she will play and be utilized. I just don't count on her hitting the floor as a high impact, national championship, caliber player. She will hopefully get there a year or two down the road.

Next season day one Olivia will have superior offensive skills and results relative to Jana for sure. Gandy? Who knows? Defensively Olivia seems to have better footwork and mobility than Jana, however, Jana will be better against the larger power centers. Jana is and will be stronger. Olivia needs to have a Dolson epiphany right now. Don't wait two seasons! She needs to get on a rigorous PT program between now and day one on campus. Conditioning and learning the UCONN way to play will be stumbling blocks. She should contact Sarah Strong for advice. Sarah certainly had a Maya-like impact as a freshman with no freshman wall whatsoever.

 

[hoophuskee]

1) I wouldn't put any money on this.
2) Vukosa will never be a wing either offensively or defensively.
3) And if you're talking about the current Betts, other than a 3 point shot, you've got to be kidding about overall impact on a game.

What I don't like about this is that I don't expect her to be as good early on as what's being clamied. As a result, if she isn't as good, then the questions come out, "What's wrong?"

I still have flashbacks with Tina Charles. Her frosh year she wound up being Honorable Mention A/A. her soph year she was 3rd team A/A and yet she was getting unnecessarily crushed. I hope that won't be the way with The Big O.

 

[VA Huskie]

If Olivia has as good a college career as Tina Charles, I’ll be thrilled!

 

[ERWUC65]

Certainly Olivia’s offensive skill set is similar to Stewie. But her size is similar to Steph. So she may be a Stewie/Steph clone? 😉

Really puzzled by this one. Maybe height, but Steph is slight and muscular and the best ever 3pt shooter. She is none of those things.

 

[oldude]

Really puzzled by this one. Maybe height, but Steph is slight and muscular and the best ever 3pt shooter. She is none of those things.

Now I’m puzzled. Steph is 6’5” with a big body. So is Olivia. I’m not sure what you mean by “best ever 3pt shooter” and who you’re referring to? What exactly are you disagreeing with?

 

[hoophuskee]

If Olivia has as good a college career as Tina Charles, I’ll be thrilled!

+1. That's my point. Too many expectatios on Tina to be a superstar her freshman and soph year. I hope that won't be the same with the Big O next year.

Defitnitely imo some odd selections by Gatorade. But the Big O defintely deserves to be on the list - but there were another name or 2 that should have been included. too imo

 

[Boreifs]

Agreed on all accounts. Betts was the #1 player in her class and, unlike Vukosa and her class, it was unanimous and a done deal for quite some time. And Betts had very little impact in her freshman year. People here didn't even want us to pursue her in the portal.

Betts was playing behind Cameron Brink. If a 6'2' No. 1 recruit came to UConn next season, how much impact would she have playing behind Sarah Strong?

 

[veivoli]

Now I’m puzzled. Steph is 6’5” with a big body. So is Olivia. I’m not sure what you mean by “best ever 3pt shooter” and who you’re referring to? What exactly are you disagreeing with?

A gender-neutral response, perhaps? I think they have the wrong Steph! Our one is normally referred to as Stef...

 

[Woof]

Betts was playing behind Cameron Brink. If a 6'2' No. 1 recruit came to UConn next season, how much impact would she have playing behind Sarah Strong?

She's already here. Her name is Blanca. Betts didn't play because she wasn't ready. Blanca is ready and plays.

 

[Cuango]

Agreed on all accounts. Betts was the #1 player in her class and, unlike Vukosa and her class, it was unanimous and a done deal for quite some time. And Betts had very little impact in her freshman year. People here didn't even want us to pursue her in the portal.

As I recall, the reason no one wanted to pursue Betts was because it was common knowledge that she (and her Mom) were very uninterested in UConn and would not have come here anyway.

Did Betts dominate in her freshman year? Did Tina Charles? I happen to personally think Tina had a solid freshman year, in contrast to the general opinion that she didn't "get it" until her junior year. I see that as a myth. However, she did have some growing pains. I find it amusing that UConn fans always assume their new players are going to be dominant out of the gate but, then, when reality doesn't match their expectations, they say that bigs take a long time to develop. Why not keep that in mind before expecting a freshman big is going to dominate? The funny part is that people often use Tina as an example whereas, in reality, she was pretty good as a freshman. Way better that, say, Ice or Jana were in their first seasons.

It is highly likely that Vukosa will have significant growing pains for a year or two. I, personally, hope we go to the portal again for a big. You can't count on a freshman and I think Jana has a ceiling. Just my opinion.

Obviously, Tina was better than Ice, Jana, and Betts! However, in defense of both Ice and Jana, Tina didn’t start out with a major injury as both of those two did. Now she (Tina) was unquestionably a better player but I for one, am convinced that those respective injuries affected those two in ways that went far beyond the injuries themselves. Ways that were exacerbated by them being bigs in a program that demands far more from it’s bigs than other programs.

It is possible that Geno will once again look for a good big in the upcoming portal but with Jana, who I am convinced will be a revelation next season, Olivia, and Gandy, (another potential revelation) we will be fine if he is unable to find one. Having Sarah and Blanca (and hopefully a healthy Morgan) really lessens the urgency of finding another big imo!

 

[oldude]

A gender-neutral response, perhaps? I think they have the wrong Steph! Our one is normally referred to as Stef...

Thanks for the clarification. That makes sense.

 

[oldude]

Betts was playing behind Cameron Brink. If a 6'2' No. 1 recruit came to UConn next season, how much impact would she have playing behind Sarah Strong?

You mean like Blanca this season? 🤫