There’s been a Blanca sighting in Storrs | The Boneyard

There’s been a Blanca sighting in Storrs

Courtesy of Jana.

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Now that she's here, we can start speculating again about how good she could be, and where she will fit, in the roster, as a starter, key reserve, or reserve...

Side note - I'm just super happy she's on campus. I'll admit the worry-wart in me feared she might not make it...

edited for some super-bad English LOL.
 
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Scud49 said:
How close by is "the barn"...?
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It's on Horsebarn Hill which is a working farm about a five minute walk from the center of campus. Its a great place for a walk and to see the hundreds of livestock. (History 101 for Freshmen: The farm harkens back to when UConn was established in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School which became Connecticut Agricultural College in 1899 and ultimately the University of Connecticut in 1939 and finally into the world class university that it is today - besides being of course the Basketball Capitol of the World.)
 
EricLA said:
Now that she's here, we can start speculating again about how good she could be, and where she will fit, in the roster, as a starter, key reserve, or reserve...

Side note - I'm just super happy she's on campus. I'll admit the worry-wart in me feared she might not make it...

edited for some super-bad English LOL.
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The late arrival, the star power of Azzi, Sarah, and Serah, and the tremendous depth on the rest of the roster are all going to complicate her impending rise with-in the team. However, she might just be too good to be contained for long.

But that is Geno's problem. I just get to enjoy all this talent even when the games are well out of hand.
 
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ec33 said:
The late arrival, the star power of Azzi, Sarah, and Serah, and the tremendous depth on the rest of the roster are all going to complicate her impending rise with-in the team. However, she might just be too good to be contained for long.

But that is Geno's problem. I just get to enjoy all this talent even when the games are well out of hand.
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You do realize that Blanca was practicing and playing in games for Campobasso in the Italian professional league through April 25? I think she’ll be more than ready to compete with her teammates at UConn.
 
oldude said:
You do realize that Blanca was practicing and playing in games for Campobasso in the Italian professional league through April 25? I think she’ll be more than ready to compete with her teammates at UConn.
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Maye, but she'll need to be a quick study on UConn's offense and defense. Especially defense. Geno doesn't tolerate players who don't know what they need to do. The beautiful defense we are used to seeing is very complex.
 
EricLA said:
Now that she's here, we can start speculating again about how good she could be, and where she will fit, in the roster, as a starter, key reserve, or reserve...

Side note - I'm just super happy she's on campus. I'll admit the worry-wart in me feared she might not make it...

edited for some super-bad English LOL.
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I thought the first bit of speculation based on this picture would be about her height.......if Kelis really is 5'9" how tall is Blanca?
 
Skeets said:
Maye, but she'll need to be a quick study on UConn's offense and defense. Especially defense. Geno doesn't tolerate players who don't know what they need to do. The beautiful defense we are used to seeing is very complex.
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Yes. That also applies to Serah, Kayleigh, Kelis & Gandy, none of whom played professionally this past season.
 
Skeets said:
Maye, but she'll need to be a quick study on UConn's offense and defense. Especially defense. Geno doesn't tolerate players who don't know what they need to do. The beautiful defense we are used to seeing is very complex.
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I believe she's been working in a system that's as or more complex than what Geno runs........I don't expect a huge learning curve from that standpoint.........I think adapting to living in the USA and going to college is going to be as transitional for her as playing UConn basketball.....
 
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oldude said:
You do realize that Blanca was practicing and playing in games for Campobasso in the Italian professional league through April 25? I think she’ll be more than ready to compete with her teammates at UConn.
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You do realize I did not say it was a crippling deficit and that she would not see the court this season?

If she were here in June, she would be farther along in integrating with her teammates than she is currently is now, would she not? Supplanting a well-integrated seasoned veteran like Ashlynn is not going to be as easy as lacing up her sneakers and walking out onto the court.
 
ec33 said:
You do realize I did not say it was a crippling deficit and that she would not see the court this season?

If she were here in June, she would be farther along in integrating with her teammates than she is currently is now, would she not? Supplanting a well-integrated seasoned veteran like Ashlynn is not going to be as easy as lacing up her sneakers and walking out onto the court.
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I’m not particularly concerned. Blanca has 3 months to learn the system from the best coaching staff in WBB and she has the added benefit of being able to understand Geno when he yells at her in Italian……
 
Skeets said:
Maye, but she'll need to be a quick study on UConn's offense and defense. Especially defense. Geno doesn't tolerate players who don't know what they need to do. The beautiful defense we are used to seeing is very complex.
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It's not really that complex. It's just fundamentally correct defensive positioning combined with maximum effort. A kid willing to travel the world to chase her dream like her will have the commitment and effort and her footwork and quickness is as good or better than any freshman coming into college this year. For me her PT may be determined by how well she can find a way to impact the game offensively while the offense is justifiably being run through Strong and Fudd.
 
I've been tremendously impressed by both Blanca's maturity in her interviews and the videos demonstrating her incredibly smooth and athletic on court talent. She has a warm smile combined with maturity and poise in her comments and approach to life (economics as a major, living on her own starting at age 13...), team, and basketball.

I'm simply AMAZED by Blanca before I even see her in person, and soooo looking forward to this team and season!!!!!!!!!
 
I am stunned by the long interview with Blanca. I knew she was a pro player in Italy---but NO normal fan would expect that she played 6 years against 25 and 30 year old pros. The league had rookies that were 22-23 too. Here is what I see -
Maturity-she understood goal setting through and through. She actually left home at 13 to play pro ball in Italy. That's right, she started pro ball at 13.
Born with instinct - She has a NOSE for the ball.
Quickness with TIMING - smooth as ice.
Like Sarah, Blanca has superior Anticipation. Gretsky like.
Not a good outside shooter - - but can't be stopped GOING TO THE HOOP!
If KK can learn some new tricks from a 6 year PRO, UConn will have 2 drivers and 3 shooters.
Every talent I mentioned above is obvious from the film. I agree with many posters that "learning UConn defense" is complex and very challenging. Blanca could be off the Bench all season. Like KK last year, some players can make things happen quickly.
With Serah, a "Defender of the Year" in the Big 10, UConn will have 2 replacements that are proven defenders.
HOLY MACKERAL!!
 
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There have been a report or two from alleged Euro-savvy observers that say that she is the No 1 recruit of 2025. Bueckers Fudd and Strong all "fit in" from day one so there is precedent.

That's a lot of if's though.
 
PhillyCoach said:
I am stunned by the long interview with Blanca. I knew she was a pro player in Italy---but NO normal fan would expect that she played 6 years against 25 and 30 year old pros. The league had rookies that were 22-23 too. Here is what I see -
Maturity-she understood goal setting through and through. She actually left home at 13 to play pro ball in Italy. That's right, she started pro ball at 13.
Born with instinct - She has a NOSE for the ball.
Quickness with TIMING - smooth as ice.
Like Sarah, Blanca has superior Anticipation. Gretsky like.
Not a good outside shooter - - but can't be stopped GOING TO THE HOOP!
If KK can learn some new tricks from a 6 year PRO, UConn will have 2 drivers and 3 shooters.
Every talent I mentioned above is obvious from the film. I agree with many posters that "learning UConn defense" is complex and very challenging. Blanca could be off the Bench all season. Like KK last year, some players can make things happen quickly.
With Serah, a "Defender of the Year" in the Big 10, UConn will have 2 replacements that are proven defenders.
HOLY MACKERAL!!
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The only thing I would modify about your post is that Blanca’s shooting is a “work in progress.” She can certainly knock down shots from the arc. She just needs a little work to become more consistent, not unlike KK.
 
Alydar said:
There have been a report or two from alleged Euro-savvy observers that say that she is the No 1 recruit of 2025. Bueckers Fudd and Strong all "fit in" from day one so there is precedent.

That's a lot of if's though.
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I’d say those observers could be right. For comparison, at her present ability and experience would Dorka Juhasz, a WNBA pro, be the top incoming freshman this year? If so, Quinonez played successfully at her level against her a couple times this past season in the same league. And impacted the games just as much if not more. Different skill sets and position but at least the same impact. Sure there will be some adjustment but she’s not just a normal top 5 US HS recruit coming in.
 
BobbyJ said:
I’d say those observers could be right. For comparison, at her present ability and experience would Dorka Juhasz, a WNBA pro, be the top incoming freshman this year? If so, Quinonez played successfully at her level against her a couple times this past season in the same league. And impacted the games just as much if not more. Different skill sets and position but at least the same impact. Sure there will be some adjustment but she’s not just a normal top 5 US HS recruit coming in.
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The natural comparison might be to Juju. Judging from game film, she’s not the perimeter shooter Juju is, but she has a similar physicality and may be a better defender. What’s striking about each of them is how well they move at their size. Blanca may be slightly bigger and perhaps a little quicker. But she doesn’t drive directly into defenders the way Juju does. That’s a hallmark of Juju’s game and makes her really hard to defend. Blanca seems to prefer a shiftier style, though that may change as she gets used to D1 level play.

I don’t doubt that Azzi and Sarah will be happy to pass to Blanca. Serah is a good passer too, though she’s used to being the person who’s supposed to finish the play and not just pass it on. I think Blanca is used to thinking this way too. Give her the ball and she’s going to do something with it.
 
Bone Dog said:
The natural comparison might be to Juju. Judging from game film, she’s not the perimeter shooter Juju is, but she has a similar physicality and may be a better defender. What’s striking about each of them is how well they move at their size. Blanca may be slightly bigger and perhaps a little quicker. But she doesn’t drive directly into defenders the way Juju does. That’s a hallmark of Juju’s game and makes her really hard to defend. Blanca seems to prefer a shiftier style, though that may change as she gets used to D1 level play.

I don’t doubt that Azzi and Sarah will be happy to pass to Blanca. Serah is a good passer too, though she’s used to being the person who’s supposed to finish the play and not just pass it on. I think Blanca is used to thinking this way too. Give her the ball and she’s going to do something with it.
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I don't think the stage will be too big. She seems a lot more confident and self-reliant than I remember being at 18. Confidence is great as long as you can back it up. I think she's ready.

Not trying to hijack but a better matchup for JuJu is Strong. Bigger, stronger, just as quick and a better outside shot. Maybe we see that in a year and a half.

I hope for a Geno interview after Quinonez has a half dozen pickup games.
 
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