The new starting 5 will be...

[CocoHusky]

Napheesa Collier has to start and play 30+ minutes in competitive games. She is the best rebounder on the team -- better than Natalie or Gabby. She will be able to contend with opponents' size -- probably better than Natalie.

Gabby is the best rebounder on the team, collecting 1 Rebound for every 3.32 minutes played=213 Rebounds in 708 minutes played.
Napheesa is almost as good but not quite as good as . Napheesa collects 1 rebound for every 3.31 minutes played= 197 rebounds in 653 minutes.
Natalie is not shabby either. Natalie collects 1 rebound for every 3.00 minutes played=108 rebounds in 325 minutes.
Natalie is 6'5" and thick. Napheesa is 6'1" and slightly built. Both KLS & Napheesa were grown woman handled by Imovbioh of South Carolina last year- a player of similar size. Natalie might be out skilled but it would surprise me if she gets handled against anyone this year. UCONN will need her size.

 

[BroadwayVa]

UConn will need to start 2 good ball handlers in the starting lineup. Nurse Chong and CD will all see time. When CD gets enough experience at the college level and Geno feels he can trust her in the game she will start. I cant see CD facing Baylor as a starter and if she is overwhelmed and makes silly mistakes well that wont be good. She needs to get to a good start, develop confidence and mature at the college game.

TonyC---Not to agrue---Geno has stated his starting 4 --and that before long Crystal will play point. The only questions that remains are:
Who will STAY as Post/Center, who will sub Kia in the mean time. In every scenario he presented --no mention of Chong was evident. It would appear From her absence in the discussion that Geno either knows she can't play or isn't Starting material.
Crystal, has lots of USA experience, has to learn D and Geno's offense. If she plays at all with Baylor--Geno will be speaking about who his PG is for the season. But I suspect Kia will play point against Baylor--maybe sub a bit with Crystal--she'll make Freshman mistakes--she is after all a Freshman. Crystal will not be overwhelmed--she's played plenty of BB. If the USF game shows she is a top guard--she'll lead this team from the point--Kia will be the vocal on court leader..

 

[chrissaran]

Eventually Crystal will start st the point. They will need her quickness all over the floor on D and O. Who sits when she starts? Not Kia or Lou. It depends on how well Natalie plays. If she plays well, Napheesa sits, but she will still get 25-30 minutes a game.

 

[Carnac]

Just so we are holding everyone accountable prior predictions are in this Thread.

UCONN Starters for 2016-17 Season are.

Upon reviewing that thread, My opinion has not changed. I'm in the majority, the 47%. I still like the same 5 today, as I did back then. Kia, Gabby, Phee, Lou & Natalie. Nothing has happened to make me change my mind. It doesn't mean I'm right, it just means I'm consistent. If those 5 play up to their full potential, UConn will be hard to beat, home or on the road. I think we can expect the freshmen to give the starters a blow for 2-3 minutes without a severe drop off.

 

[Vowelguy]

Molly can be a guard. Kyla is good for defense with her size.

Molly & Kyla are not going to start.

 

[cbraarj]

I remember that game very well. Odyssey did start and made three 3-point shots, 2 in quick succession, because Bria Hartley (also a freshman) was lackadaisical in guarding her. At least that was Geno's definite view. But late in the game, after Baylor had taken (as I recall) an 8-point lead with only a few minutes left, Kelly Faris grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Bria, whom Odyssey had left open. Bria made that 3-pointer which launched the comeback that was ultimately successful (by a single point).

I don't believe Bria started that game, but she played a ton of minutes and had a decisive role.

That was also the game where Geno observed that Stef Dolson (who, as a freshman, played about 8 minutes before fouling out trying quite unsuccessfully to guard Griner), had more offensive rebounds in those minutes (1) than Griner had in her 35 minutes or so. Which is somewhat to be expected since Griner played 12-15 feet from the basket for the entire game when Baylor was on offense. I never understood why Kim Mulkey thought that was a good idea.

Bria started against Baylor just watched game. Doty had torn her ACL again. Sims didnt start for Baylor Hayden or Harden a Soph did.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Eventually Crystal will start st the point. They will need her quickness all over the floor on D and O. Who sits when she starts? Not Kia or Lou. It depends on how well Natalie plays. If she plays well, Napheesa sits, but she will still get 25-30 minutes a game.

Butler, unless her conditioning changed a lot--and it should have--will need someone to "spell" her. Gabby and Napheesa have shared small forward for a lot of the second half of last year. Geno broke his reluctance to play frosh last year by playing Katie Lou and Collier a lot--I hope he has the same confidence in Crystal and Molly--even Kyla in the post (3 subs)

 

[Carnac]

Bria started against Baylor just watched game. Doty had torn her ACL again. Sims didnt start for Baylor Hayden or Harden a Soph did.

I vaguely remember that game (11/16/2010) I remembered it differently though. I thought Sims started, so I did a little research, and found the box score for that game. You're right, Sims played, but did not start.
Kimetria Hayden did. Sims did start later in the season. As I recall, the player that was supposed to start at guard for Baylor walked off the team, forcing Mulkey to start Sims. A move Mulkey never regretted.
UConn squeezed out a 1 point win 65-64.

Baylor Official Athletic Site - Women's Basketball

 

[BroadwayVa]

Upon reviewing that thread, My opinion has not changed. I'm in the majority, the 47%. I still like the same 5 today, as I did back then. Kia, Gabby, Phee, Lou & Natalie. Nothing has happened to make me change my mind. It doesn't mean I'm right, it just means I'm consistent. If those 5 play up to their full potential, UConn will be hard to beat, home or on the road. I think we can expect the freshmen to give the starters a blow for 2-3 minutes without a severe drop off.

That's the trouble with you---consistency! My opinion is a revolving door. First Crystal, then Crystal, a bit later Crystal, and finally Crystal. Change, Change, Change.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Eventually Crystal will start st the point. They will need her quickness all over the floor on D and O. Who sits when she starts? Not Kia or Lou. It depends on how well Natalie plays. If she plays well, Napheesa sits, but she will still get 25-30 minutes a game.

It is obvious----When Crystal goes to the bench either Collier or Butler will take her place at point. So they are the option to be the ones to be replaced by Crystal--- Do I know my team or WHAT???

 

[Carnac]

UConn will need to start 2 good ball handlers in the starting lineup. Nurse Chong and CD will all see time. When CD gets enough experience at the college level and Geno feels he can trust her in the game she will start. I cant see CD facing Baylor as a starter and if she is overwhelmed and makes silly mistakes well that wont be good. She needs to get to a good start, develop confidence and mature at the college game.

Amen brother!!!! .....when he feels he can trust her.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Amen brother!!!! .....when he feels he can trust her.

Geno has 4 ball handlers he has identified---also, if any one on the squad is NOT a good ballhandler--I doubt they will see much action.
Geno's game is based on movement--movement of people, feet, hands, and movement of the ball. Katie Lou has often in this past season brought the ball up the floor under pressure--that's ball handling 101--Gabby a former guard is good to very good. Kia--nearly professional in her BB abilities--Butler is a very good passer--not so much with the ball on the floor--Collier passes well--in the USA;s she put the ball on the floor and attacked the basket often. Obviously, Bent and Crystal are good to excellent ball handlers--
The only questions I have, and one shouldn't be asked, will Butler be a problem with putting the ball on the floor--He-l NO.
Kyla, with a coaching mom--if the kid isn't fundamentally (handling) sound--her mom should be fired.
As far as trust in Crystal----apparently Geno has seen what we have seen--she is a good to great PG--yet she is a Freshman, let us not forget that and give her room to grow.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Molly & Kyla are not going to start.

That is unfortunate---I had Molly starting in place of Butler and Kyla starting in Kia's stead. I guess I'll have to rewrite my starting line up.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Gabby is the best rebounder on the team, collecting 1 Rebound for every 3.32 minutes played=213 Rebounds in 708 minutes played.
Napheesa is almost as good but not quite as good as . Napheesa collects 1 rebound for every 3.31 minutes played= 197 rebounds in 653 minutes.
Natalie is not shabby either. Natalie collects 1 rebound for every 3.00 minutes played=108 rebounds in 325 minutes.
Natalie is 6'5" and thick. Napheesa is 6'1" and slightly built. Both KLS & Napheesa were grown woman handled by Imovbioh of South Carolina last year- a player of similar size. Natalie might be out skilled but it would surprise me if she gets handled against anyone this year. UCONN will need her size.

Isn't 1 rebound in FEWER minutes a better stat?

 

[mudcat]

Gabby is the best rebounder on the team, collecting 1 Rebound for every 3.32 minutes played=213 Rebounds in 708 minutes played.
Napheesa is almost as good but not quite as good as . Napheesa collects 1 rebound for every 3.31 minutes played= 197 rebounds in 653 minutes.
Natalie is not shabby either. Natalie collects 1 rebound for every 3.00 minutes played=108 rebounds in 325 minutes.
Natalie is 6'5" and thick. Napheesa is 6'1" and slightly built. Both KLS & Napheesa were grown woman handled by Imovbioh of South Carolina last year- a player of similar size. Natalie might be out skilled but it would surprise me if she gets handled against anyone this year. UCONN will need her size.

Aren't those rankings backwards? It seems that if you're getting 1 rebound in less time played you would be the better rebounder.

 

[mudcat]

Isn't 1 rebound in FEWER minutes a better stat?

Guess I should read to the bottom of the thread before replying!!

 

[Carnac]

Checkmate , you have a very valid point in your thought of GABBY providing a spark off the bench. And Geno certainly may opt to bring her off the bench if no one else can be found to fill that role. I guess its a good problem to have , but Gabby is a valuable commodity regardless whether she starts or comes off the bench.

I too would like to think that Gabby is a lock. BUT Gabby has been foul prone in the past. If she can't stay out of foul trouble as a starter, then Geno will be forced to use her as his 6th man. If so, this opens up a starting spot for another player.......Chong perhaps? Or maybe Kyla Irwin after the first of the year?

 

[CocoHusky]

Isn't 1 rebound in FEWER minutes a better stat?

Yes.

Guess I should read to the bottom of the thread before replying!!

Yes.

 

[Blair]

Isn't 1 rebound in FEWER minutes a better stat?

Here are some interesting minutes played stats...

Top 7 players--- Points per min

…………………..Min…PTS….P/Min
Stewart……….811…548…(0.676)
Butler………….253…127…(0.502)
Williams……..552…273…(0.495)
Tuck……………623…295…(0.474)
Samuelson….658…300…(0.456)
Jefferson…….870…368…(0.423)
Collier…………523…191…(0.365)

Top 7 players --- Rebounds per min

…………………..Min…Reb…R/Min
Butler…………253…..85…(0.336)
Collier…………523…166..(0.317)
Williams……..552…169..(0.306)
Stewart……….811…240..(0.296)
Tuck……………623…136…(0.218)
Samuelson….658….95…(0.144)
Ekmark……….241….32…(0.133)

Top 7 players --- Blocks per min

…………………..Min…Blk…B/Min
Stewart……….811…97...(0.119)
Collier…………523….41…(0.078)
Butler…………253….18…(0.071)
Williams……..552….12..(0.023)
Tuck……………623……8…(0.012)
Samuelson….658…..5…(0.007)
Nurse………….805…..6…(0.007)

 

[CocoHusky]

Here are some interesting minutes played stats...

Top 7 players--- Points per min

…………………..Min…PTS….P/Min
Stewart……….811…548…(0.676)
Butler………….253…127…(0.502)
Williams……..552…273…(0.495)
Tuck……………623…295…(0.474)
Samuelson….658…300…(0.456)
Jefferson…….870…368…(0.423)
Collier…………523…191…(0.365)

Top 7 players --- Rebounds per min

…………………..Min…Reb…R/Min
Butler…………253…..85…(0.336)
Collier…………523…166..(0.317)
Williams……..552…169..(0.306)
Stewart……….811…240..(0.296)
Tuck……………623…136…(0.218)
Samuelson….658….95…(0.144)
Ekmark……….241….32…(0.133)

Top 7 players --- Blocks per min

…………………..Min…Blk…B/Min
Stewart……….811…97...(0.119)
Collier…………523….41…(0.078)
Butler…………253….18…(0.071)
Williams……..552….12..(0.023)
Tuck……………623……8…(0.012)
Samuelson….658…..5…(0.007)
Nurse………….805…..6…(0.007)

You may want to cross check your numbers with these stats.
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/2015-2016/teamcume.html#TEAM.IND.
For example per this link Collier played 653 Minutes and grabbed 197 rebounds.

 

[HGN]

I too would like to think that Gabby is a lock. BUT Gabby has been foul prone in the past. If she can't stay out of foul trouble as a starter, then Geno will be forced to use her as his 6th man. If so, this opens up a starting spot for another player..Chong perhaps? Or maybe Kyla Irwin after the first of the year?

Carnac, very good point again on Gabby being a little foul prone the past 2 years. if she can learn to play without getting into foul trouble early , maybe she is the 5th starter. If not she will fill the 6th man role.

Either way I think the role of 5th starter , or 6th man , is between Gabby and Pheese. Geno is going to need a spark and some experience coming in off the bench to fill a 2, 3, or 4 position. and Gabby or Pheese is that player.

 

[Blair]

You may want to cross check your numbers with these stats.
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/2015-2016/teamcume.html#TEAM.IND.
For example per this link Collier played 653 Minutes and grabbed 197 rebounds.

You are correct...
This was copied from a post in march...
I should have stated season ending stats...does not include post season numbers....sorry for the confusion...
Not to take anything away from Collier...she is amazing. Still interesting though....

 

[JSB60]

I think KLS, Kia, Phee are in the lineup regardless. When Crystal starts at the point, which I think she will sooner rather than later because Geno is always up for using a true point when he has one, the question is Gabby vs Natalie for the fifth spot. Not sure which way it will go, but I'd choose Natalie for two reasons. First, she will need more breathers and starting gives her that chance, and second, it's better to start the half court player and come to the better open court player after a while, when opponents start to get tired and the game gets a little less structured.

 

[CajunHusky]

I think Chong will start. And I think she will get the CD treatment.... she will stay the starter but will lose minutes to Crystal and Molly.
If Gabby has got that three pointer working she has the advantage over Phee. So Phee or Natalie who do you start?

Question is will Geno go back to Stef type offense?

Natalie passes well, and her screening is good. And she clogs up the middle on defense. But she tends to put the ball on the floor even when she is going nowhere... and she is foul prone .... don't expect more that 20 to 25 minutes a game.

KLS will be the center of attention this year and she is going to get beat up bad .... remember Stewie's freshman year?

and come January you can throw all this out.

 

[Carnac]

Carnac, very good point again on Gabby being a little foul prone the past 2 years. if she can learn to play without getting into foul trouble early , maybe she is the 5th starter. If not she will fill the 6th man role.

Either way I think the role of 5th starter , or 6th man , is between Gabby and Pheese. Geno is going to need a spark and some experience coming in off the bench to fill a 2, 3, or 4 position. and Gabby or Pheese is that player.

Agreed. Either way, we can't lose. Gabby is going to see a lot of floor time the next two years. The capacity in which she sees it, is up to her (as a starter or coming off the bench). We (the honorable and distinguished members of the Boneyard), can suppose, predict and wish all we want to about who is going to be the starting 5. What we do know is that Geno is going to start the 5 players that he feels gives his team the best chance to win. And that's alright with me.

 

[Carnac]

I think Chong will start. And I think she will get the CD treatment.... she will stay the starter but will lose minutes to Crystal and Molly.
If Gabby has got that three pointer working she has the advantage over Phee. So Phee or Natalie who do you start?

Question is will Geno go back to Stef type offense?

Natalie passes well, and her screening is good. And she clogs up the middle on defense. But she tends to put the ball on the floor even when she is going nowhere... and she is foul prone .... don't expect more that 20 to 25 minutes a game.

KLS will be the center of attention this year and she is going to get beat up bad .... remember Stewie's freshman year?

and come January you can throw all this out.

Cajun, I'm not throwing darts at your take. I'll just piggy back on your comments, and highlight the fact that Lou is not a freshman anymore. That ship has sailed. She'll begin this season with a different attitude, more resolve, and slightly more mature approach to the team's overall goals. She's got a new team around her, unlike a raw & unrefined freshman, she's got a year of experience in her back pocket, and I'm suggesting (guessing) that Geno will run a new and different set of offensive plays that are conducive with this new group of starter's skill sets, that will maximize not only Lou's, but the rest of the group's ability to score.

Lou will no doubt be the team's first option to shoot 3's. Plays will be run for her to do so. Stewie passed that torch/baton to her before she left. Lou has already intimated in interviews over the summer that she intends to become a team leader this season.

As to your question of will Geno go back to "Stef" type offense? I think that depends on how closely/successfully Natalie can match Dolson's skill set (knock down shots from the top of the key) and command of the offense, which as we all remember, worked very well for them. She is a good passer, and after two years in the system, should know the plays.

And lastly, I agree that Collier has to start. The numbers she put up last year demand that she becomes a starter.

 

[CajunHusky]

Cajun, I'm not throwing darts at your take. I'll just piggy back on your comments, and highlight the fact that Lou is not a freshman anymore. That ship has sailed. .

ugh .... thanks for pointing that out .... I really meant Stewie's sophmore year ... I remember play by play analysts repeatedly saying that opposing teams were being much more physical with Stewie in her second (and succeeding years). I liked Lou's spunk fighting with the big guys underneath in the NCAAs, particulary Lang and Boyette. Gabby, Phee, Natalie and Kyla are built for that, but can Lou take 30+ games of that punishment? Certainly she will be stronger and more experienced this year, but she will also be the focus of attention this year as the presumed primary scorer.

 

[Carnac]

ugh .... thanks for pointing that out .... I really meant Stewie's sophmore year ... I remember play by play analysts repeatedly saying that opposing teams were being much more physical with Stewie in her second (and succeeding years). I liked Lou's spunk fighting with the big guys underneath in the NCAAs, particulary Lang and Boyette. Gabby, Phee, Natalie and Kyla are built for that, but can Lou take 30+ games of that punishment? Certainly she will be stronger and more experienced this year, but she will also be the focus of attention this year as the presumed primary scorer.

Every team does not have a "designated goon" to dish out that type of punishment. Geno is not going to put Lou in harm's way. Only a small number of teams have players that can be extremely physical, while staying out of foul trouble. I suspect she'll experience some rough physical contact, but rare is the player that can dish it out for 40 minutes while staying out of foul trouble. Most goons are not that coy, where they can be physical on the sly, and not get caught. No doubt the staff will prepare her in practice for these types of tactics, and she'll be ready for them.

 

[CBear01]

KLS will be the center of attention this year and she is going to get beat up bad ....

She'll be fine....and tough....remember that video they put up of her a few weeks back doing those hammer curls?? Lol

 

[ktuck911]

My gut says starting 5 is:
Chystal, Nurse, Lou, Pheese, Gabby

Chong and Butler will get plenty of burn though... along with spells from Irwin and Bent.. We'll need all 9