The Un-Guardable Line-up

[my2cents]

Because we have had many more players available this year. ( Current injuries aside). There have been many different combos on the floor this year, as Geno searches for the most effective one.
I think he has found one that is virtually un-guardable.
We know the base or core of Paige, Azzi and Sarah is a given. All three pose a serious challenges to the opposing coaches. They can all score from the anywhere on the court. All are just a really difficult cover one on one and mostly demand help.
Now you add two more players Chen and Shade, that have shown much improved efficiency scoring. You now have the perfect storm on offense.
Tony Bozzelli after the game stated that his strategy was to leave Chen open. Didn't really work out as she shot 6/7. He said when they play loose they are easily the best team in country. I agree.
Let's hope it continues into March.

 

[boontonbomber]

Because we have had many more players available this year. ( Current injuries aside). There have been many different combos on the floor this year, as Geno searches for the most effective one.
I think he has found one that is virtually un-guardable.
We know the base or core of Paige, Azzi and Sarah is a given. All three pose a serious challenges to the opposing coaches. They can all score from the anywhere on the court. All are just a really difficult cover one on one and mostly demand help.
Now you add two more players Chen and Shade, that have shown much improved efficiency scoring. You now have the perfect storm on offense.
Tony Bozzelli after the game stated that his strategy was to leave Chen open. Didn't really work out as she shot 6/7. He said when they play loose they are easily the best team in country. I agree.
Let's hope it continues into March.

Gotta have Aubrey for the boards and inside defense.

 

[Rowdy831]

Because we have had many more players available this year. ( Current injuries aside). There have been many different combos on the floor this year, as Geno searches for the most effective one.
I think he has found one that is virtually un-guardable.
We know the base or core of Paige, Azzi and Sarah is a given. All three pose a serious challenges to the opposing coaches. They can all score from the anywhere on the court. All are just a really difficult cover one on one and mostly demand help.
Now you add two more players Chen and Shade, that have shown much improved efficiency scoring. You now have the perfect storm on offense.
Tony Bozzelli after the game stated that his strategy was to leave Chen open. Didn't really work out as she shot 6/7. He said when they play loose they are easily the best team in country. I agree.
Let's hope it continues into March.

I don't buy that a perfect lineup consists of 4 guards and a forward. That team would have no chance against the bigger teams and a few of them are near the top of the rankings so they are good and tall. I still think Azzi, Paige and Sarah are all you need as shooter and then you need two that can defend the lane and make the defense honor the paint.

 

[packwrap]

I don't buy that a perfect lineup consists of 4 guards and a forward. That team would have no chance against the bigger teams and a few of them are near the top of the rankings so they are good and tall. I still think Azzi, Paige and Sarah are all you need as shooter and then you need two that can defend the lane and make the defense honor the paint.

The good thing in ncaa '25 is that we don't run into bigger teams that can maul our small ball team until earliest the elite 8.

Another positive is that Jana continues to make nice progress and showed against SC that it's not pressure and 18,000 hostile fans that cause her lapses. That means she and 'Final Four Ice' may be able to help vs a Betts or TX in an ncaa tourney game.

Still Geno likes and keeps tinkering with the small line ups. In the smaller one with KK, Ash, Paige, Azzi and Sarah, he goes with Paige at 4 and Sarah at 5. Subbing Aubrey for KK gives you Aubrey at 4, Sarah at 5. He has even now started to play Aubrey at center, to prepare for case where Sarah gets in foul trouble.

The positive of all these small line ups, is that all our players can shoot and score, forcing tall opponents to come out and guard our shooters. As long as our small frontcourt can defend opposing bigs we are in good shape. This was the case against SC as Kitts, Feagin, Edwards did not dominate vs Paige, Aubrey and Sarah.

I even go so far as to say Paige, Aubrey and Sarah will provide better defense vs TX or UCLA than Jana/Ice. They are not tall, but they are quick, mobile and can jump.

After SC, Geno has to be licking his chops to play TX. If TX shoots 1-10 from 3, and UConn shoots 9-20 from 3, it will be very hard for TX to win by dominating in the paint. Someone from TX will have to come out of the paint to guard us, or else we just keep bombing away wide open.

Plenty of games left to watch these small groups develop. Geno also appears to like the confusion that switching from big to small causes the opponent. He starts the big group, so he definitely plans to use both strategies.

 

[Skeets]

Geno needs an effective small lineup. He also needs an effective larger lineup. It all depends on what the situation calls for. So, basically Geno needs an effective lineup, no matter what. QED (I think that's a math thingy.)

 

[huskeynut]

Geno has established his rotation. He can play big or he can play small.

All can play the good defense.

We have seen, big or small, the line ups are effective. Now it's just playing time together in games.