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Traffic Jam For Playing Time Next Year

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vowelguy said:
I said contingent. Some players get going faster, others don't (witness tuck and MoJeff In their frosh years). And then there's necessity. Nurse HAS to play.
Gabby is also needed given the thin front line. But she has been brought along deliberately. Again with more depth, she probably would be coming along a bit more slowly.
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I feel confident that Collier and likely KLS will be ready to play heavy minutes immediately.

Look at it this way: if a starting five of Stewart, Jefferson, Tuck, Butler, and Nurse average 140 minutes combined, possibly a conservative estimate, that would leave 60 for the six-player bench.

vowelguy said:
Stewart could be down to high 20s if there were more good players.
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I don't think Stewart is being "forced" to play more minutes because UConn is short of quality players, but even if she were, a few extra minutes per game taken from her isn't going to change anything next year.
 
Buzzyboy said:
I really don't see any reason that Stewart or Jefferson NEED to get over 30 minutes. It's not about what they want but what the team needs. If there is need to give some deserving kid some minutes out on the floor to keep them ready for contingency situations, then so be it. The idea that Sue had ONLY 27 minutes a game and all the other quality players on that team (Geno's best, it is said) had less suggests that it isn't some kind of horrific situation that players like MoJeff and Stewie could possible end up with less than 30. The same goes for Tuck. We're losing a couple of exceptional players this year and we're having 3 come in. Are all three going to be primed and ready to undertake a whole bunch of minutes. That's surely questionable. I don't think it'll be a major problem and if we were to have a devastating injury (hopefully not), than our depth would be a major plus. Why are we making something an issue when I doubt it's any issue with Geno & company?
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We have 4 coming in when you include Butler who will see major minutes. Geno said she was a game changer!
 
I think our starters are getting more minutes so far this year is that the team needs to get in synch more. Last year's team was more experienced at at a high level all year. This year's team has lots of room to grow. I can see Stewie playing less in blowouts next year.
 
I have no idea why people are worrying over a non-issue. with more able players, Geno can afford to apply more aggressive strategy, playing pressing, he will be more able to foul and rattle the opponents, and the fresh legs can give opponents a run for their life and put the game away earlier. I do not think anybody will play more than 30 min, Stewie might play 25 min, other players might play more than 25 min in certain game, but average wise, nobody would. The starters will play a bit above 20 min while the bench players will play 15-20 min average wise.
 
Before we can move Gabby to the outside at either the 3 or even possibly the 2- she is going to have be draining a good % of outside shots from at least- if she can't, no one will have to go out there to guard her. If they don't have to go out there to guard her, her quick first step wont mean as much. Geno usually mixes the line up to have at least 4 scorers on the floor.
Mo Jeff, Nurse, Morgan are a sure thing- I think KLS will be our 3 for sure, and Butler when we need a traditional center, and Gabbie when we don't ---depending on the match ups each game!!! I hope Gabbie refines her outside skills and ball handling. One of my only concerns is that we only have 3 true guards - and I'm not sure that really changes next season. Gabbie would be the next obvious player to me to fill that role.
 
We can look at playing time issues over the average of the entire season or break it down in terms of games that matter and games that are forgone conclusions. Geno will find a way to get most people happy on the later but he generally deploys a 6-8 person rotation on games that matter, of which there are only a handful prior to the NCAA tourney.
Stewie, MoJeff, Tuck , Butler, Nurse, Williams and possibly Chong will eat up almost all the minutes in games that matter. That is not to say we won't see the freshmen see some court time in those games but bank on Nurse, Stewie, Tuck and MoJeff averaging 30 or more> It will be interesting to see how Gabby and Butler split minutes. Given Gabby's incredible rebounding skills and all court presence , it would not surprise me if she started.
 
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hussybulldog said:
Stewie might play 25 min, other players might play more than 25 min in certain game, but average wise, nobody would. The starters will play a bit above 20 min while the bench players will play 15-20 min average wise.
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That would be a dramatic reduction in minutes for Nurse, Stewart and Jefferson. Butler played 36 per game at Georgetown. I just don't see those numbers as plausible.
 
Stewie -- She gets 30. The best player in WCBB has to learn how to play with impact newcomers of which we expect at least two to be a big impact. The newcomers have to learn how to play with Stewie too. They can't learn if Stewie is on the bench. One of the top priorities to see how all the players fit with Stewie. Not how number 8 and 9 players on depth chart fit with one another.

Tuck - 25 . IMO Stewie and Tuck are locks. for these minutes.

MoJeff/Nurse - 50-55 minutes total. If either doesn't play as well - more minutes opportunities for the below (not above).

Butler/KLS --- 40-50 Heard too much about Butler. She is going to get every opportunity to show what she has. KLS is the number 1 high school recruit. There is no way the number 1 recruit gets just 10-12 minutes. She is getting near 20 up to 25.unles she flounders. I doubt 15. I think she'll be close to 25 but it could just as ealiy be 21 because of the many blowouts.

Gabby/Collier/Chong -- 35-45. One player can get 20 and one 10 and one 5.Or all three can get 15 totaling 45. Gabby and Collier are wildcards. If Gabby can shoot and dribble, same with Collier - they are rubbing heads with Butler and KLS. Hard to imagine they would overtake them but it is conceivable Butler/KLS get 46 minutes while Gabby/Collier get 40. Chong is a good player - will be upperclassman next year. The 8 aforementioned could be "great" players.

Boykin/Ekmark - 10 -whoever slips up from above -minutes will increase.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
We heard this before with this same topic yet Stewart and KML are averaging 31/game and Nurse 29 as a starter. Jefferson's minutes are actually down a bit. I'll be surprised if they don't approach last year's eventually.
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With the level of talent coming in, I think Geno will want to give them a decent chunk of minutes but that doesn't necessarily translate into 25 minutes or more. Why would he want to or need to have Stewie and MoJeff on the court for 32 minutes or even more when he could give them a "little" more rest in order to integrate other players and have them ready if need be. Particularly in a multitude of games where we are on cruise control??? He would have an opportunity to really work a bunch of combinations of players and how would that not be better for the team. We talk about players sacrificing their individual stats for the good of the team and why would there be a need to keep Breanna and Moriah on the court for that length of time when the people that would replace them are exceptional players themselves. Don't you think that is a greater possibility of injury if a player is fatigued than if a player is well rested. There's absolutely no reason for players to be approaching 35 minutes a game while there is a fresh and capable person that could be playing and getting valuable game experience. I'm not suggesting that there isn't a specific game where they might not approach those minutes but why, on a regular basis, would you want to give them those minutes when there is nothing to be gained by it?????
 
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It's funny to see how some people in this thread basically writing off Courtney Ekmark. I don't know if she will ever become an impact player or anything, but here is a player that Geno has said to be one of the best shooter he has ever seen at any level, and she was actually getting pretty decent playing time before she got hurt. I have to think that Courtney will get a chance to shoot herself in or out of a spot on the main 8 players rotation. People tends to have short memory. I remembered lots of people here raving about CE last year, just like they are doing right now about KLS. I am not saying CE is at the same levelk as KLS, but just that people seems to be fascinated with newer toys.
 
The starting assignments don't necessarily matter that much as with CD in her senior year with limited minutes. Geno looks for a system that works best and sometimes that means his most explosive unit is formed when "bench" players come in, as with the big surges in the first half when Stokes and Chong come in.

Indeed, having the option to play extended pressure defense as UConn often did in the late 1990s through 2001 when the team had a more flush squad and could press like crazy, rack up the steals, and pump up the scores with easy lay-ups could be nice. The downside is as with KY, it only works some of the time so you shouldn't become too dependent on it or your "40 Minutes of Dread" turns into "40 Minutes and Dead." Also have a feeling that spending too much time in the press may increase injury risk, but it is great to have as an extra limited option.
 
Basically, there are three ways that this works out:
1. Players get injured, so other players get playing time. This year, EkMark, last year Tuck, KML.
2. Players transfer: e.g. Sadie Edwards
3. Players accept their fate, and play limited minutes for four years. It is difficult for me to think of any scholarship players who fit this category, but Tahirah Williams comes to mind.
 
Think about it...MilfordHuskey is right!

1st team
Morgan Tuck (5)
Brianna Stewart (4)
Katie Lou Samuelson (3)
Kia Nurse (2)
Moriah Jefferson (1)

2nd Team
Natalie Butler (5)
De'Janae Boykin (4)
Napheesa Collier (3)
Gabby Williams (2)
Saniya Chong (1)

Courtney Ekmark (2/3)
Tierney Lawlor (1/2)
Briana Pulido (1)
 
Aluminny69 said:
Basically, there are three ways that this works out:
1. Players get injured, so other players get playing time. This year, EkMark, last year Tuck, KML.
2. Players transfer: e.g. Sadie Edwards
3. Players accept their fate, and play limited minutes for four years. It is difficult for me to think of any scholarship players who fit this category, but Tahirah Williams comes to mind.
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Cassie kerns
 
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People seem to see Collier having an easier road to minutes than DeJanae Boykin. I don't see it. First, all this future gazing is a little wobbly, but I see Collier's competition heavier than De'Janae's. How these kids adapt to the college game (at the highest level) will be critical, but off her USA experience I would not sell Boykin short.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
People seem to see Collier having an easier road to minutes than DeJanae Boykin. I don't see it. First, all this future gazing is a little wobbly, but I see Collier's competition heavier than De'Janae's. How these kids adapt to the college game (at the highest level) will be critical, but off her USA experience I would not sell Boykin short.
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I believe Collier could play with the Huskies right now. She's way ahead of Boykin on the developmental curve from what I've seen. In fact, I think she's less likely to be held back than KLS due to her fundamentals and superior defensive abilities.
 
I hate posts like this. First, in the past 20 years, name one big time player who transferred because of playing time...

Crickets...

That's because you can't. EDD left before she even started and it had everything to do with her family. Same for Samarie Walker. Of the other kids who have left (Johnson, Englen, Banks, Edwards), none of them were starters and none were going to ever get the PT they thought they wanted/needed.

You'd have to go back to the Sherwood, Wright and Robinson class to find anyone who left when there was plenty of PT to be had, and those 3 were just a bad fit for UCONN. Geno has done a much better job since then of identifying kids earlier and getting the right kids.

Traffic jam? Hardly. We lose 2 hugely important players to graduation - Stokes and KML. We get 3 really talented kids coming in, and one more who becomes eligible. Geno NEVER starts freshmen unless it's a necessity. Even the best of the best (Dee, Maya, Stewie) have learning curves when arriving at UCONN. Expect the same for the trio coming in.

Bottom line, the kids who are the best, practice the best and play the best will get PT. Those who struggle in any way in practice or games will be developed, but won't get as much PT. If they don't like it, they are free to follow others who have left for greener pastures.

UCONN is the best of the best. This is not t-league where everyone plays and everyone gets a trophy. UCONN stands alone as the premier WCBB program in the nation by a mile.

Kids do NOT come to UCONN expecting 35 MPG. Kids (or parents) who have approached Geno and UCONN with that attitude are shown the door.

There will be no logjam because that implies there's a problem. Between injuries, transfers, kids being better or worse than anticipated, it will all work out. And if by some miracle we have no injuries or transfers, TEAM UCONN will be a wonderful and supportive place for the kids to play.

Last thing - UCONN has ALWAYS been about the team first. Geno simply does not want kids who aren't like that. And if by some error he accidentally gets one, they won't stay very long. By all accounts, the chemistry on this team is terrific now and there's no reason to think it won't be just as terrific next year.

What is the goal of kids who come to UCONN? Is it to carve out a bunch of PT? If so, then there's the door, and I have no problem with kids who want more PT and go to a smaller school to get it. Lauren went to BC. Michala went to Wisconsin. Brianna went to PSU. A kid like Kiah or Saniya could go to 99% of the schools out there, be a starter, and get 35 MPG. They chose UCONN not because of PT, but for a ton of other reasons including NC's.

This whole logjam concept is something that is made up and that opposing coaches use against UCONN. "Don't go there and sit on the bench. Come here and get lots of PT". And the myth gets perpetuated as people continue to make threads that talk about it over and over. I doubt threads or posts will encourage or discourage any potential recruits, but it's a myth people.
 
ericsandiego said:
I hate posts like this. First, in the past 20 years, name one big time player who transferred because of playing time...

Crickets...

That's because you can't. EDD left before she even started and it had everything to do with her family. Same for Samarie Walker. Of the other kids who have left (Johnson, Englen, Banks, Edwards), none of them were starters and none were going to ever get the PT they thought they wanted/needed.

You'd have to go back to the Sherwood, Wright and Robinson class to find anyone who left when there was plenty of PT to be had, and those 3 were just a bad fit for UCONN. Geno has done a much better job since then of identifying kids earlier and getting the right kids.

Traffic jam? Hardly. We lose 2 hugely important players to graduation - Stokes and KML. We get 3 really talented kids coming in, and one more who becomes eligible. Geno NEVER starts freshmen unless it's a necessity. Even the best of the best (Dee, Maya, Stewie) have learning curves when arriving at UCONN. Expect the same for the trio coming in.

Bottom line, the kids who are the best, practice the best and play the best will get PT. Those who struggle in any way in practice or games will be developed, but won't get as much PT. If they don't like it, they are free to follow others who have left for greener pastures.

UCONN is the best of the best. This is not t-league where everyone plays and everyone gets a trophy. UCONN stands alone as the premier WCBB program in the nation by a mile.

Kids do NOT come to UCONN expecting 35 MPG. Kids (or parents) who have approached Geno and UCONN with that attitude are shown the door.

There will be no logjam because that implies there's a problem. Between injuries, transfers, kids being better or worse than anticipated, it will all work out. And if by some miracle we have no injuries or transfers, TEAM UCONN will be a wonderful and supportive place for the kids to play.

Last thing - UCONN has ALWAYS been about the team first. Geno simply does not want kids who aren't like that. And if by some error he accidentally gets one, they won't stay very long. By all accounts, the chemistry on this team is terrific now and there's no reason to think it won't be just as terrific next year.

What is the goal of kids who come to UCONN? Is it to carve out a bunch of PT? If so, then there's the door, and I have no problem with kids who want more PT and go to a smaller school to get it. Lauren went to BC. Michala went to Wisconsin. Brianna went to PSU. A kid like Kiah or Saniya could go to 99% of the schools out there, be a starter, and get 35 MPG. They chose UCONN not because of PT, but for a ton of other reasons including NC's.

This whole logjam concept is something that is made up and that opposing coaches use against UCONN. "Don't go there and sit on the bench. Come here and get lots of PT". And the myth gets perpetuated as people continue to make threads that talk about it over and over. I doubt threads or posts will encourage or discourage any potential recruits, but it's a myth people.
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+1

well done eric. merry christmas!
 
JoePgh said:
I realize that it's a little too early to fret about next year, and I also appreciate that the problem noted here is a classic "good problem to have". But it still seems like a BIG problem.

Next year UConn will have (by my count) no less than 11 players capable of making an impact, possibly all at a "near-All-American" level. It's also true that they are spread nicely by position:

"Bigs" (4 and 5 players): Butler, Stewart, Tuck, Collier, Boykin
Wings: Samuelson, Williams, Ekmark
Guards: Jefferson, Nurse, Chong

And it's true that several of these players are flexible as to their position -- Stewie can be a 3 or 4; Williams can be a 1, 2, or 3 (probably); Samuelson can be a 2, 3, or 4; Ekmark can possibly be a 2 or a 3.

Despite all this, how can Geno possibly give all of them a reasonable amount of playing time in competitive games, or in the first half in other games so that they are not just playing in garbage time?

If you assume that Stewie will get 30 minutes and Morgan will get 25 minutes in a competitive game, that leaves 145 minutes for 9 other players -- an average of 16 minutes per player. Is that really enough for marquee freshmen such as KLS or Napheesa? Or for Moriah or Kia Nurse? Or for Gabby Williams? Or for Natalie Butler (who may have to play more than that against opponents with good size)?

I'm sure Geno will figure it out (or injuries or other issues may solve the problem on their own -- hopefully that will not be the case). But I'm not sure he has ever had to deal with that much talent on one team, even in 2000 or 2001.
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(Just kidding) Geno could do what the KY men are doing this year. 2 five player units that play at full speed for a few minutes and then rest. Nobody worries about foul trouble.
 
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RockyMTblue2 said:
People seem to see Collier having an easier road to minutes than DeJanae Boykin. I don't see it. First, all this future gazing is a little wobbly, but I see Collier's competition heavier than De'Janae's. How these kids adapt to the college game (at the highest level) will be critical, but off her USA experience I would not sell Boykin short.
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Because, in my opinion, she is!!!
 
cferraro04 said:
????????
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I meant as a Starter, or playing significant minutes. Of course, she was a fantastic person, who made the most of her UConn experience. Sorry for any confusion.

Merry Christmas!
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
People seem to see Collier having an easier road to minutes than DeJanae Boykin. I don't see it. First, all this future gazing is a little wobbly, but I see Collier's competition heavier than De'Janae's. How these kids adapt to the college game (at the highest level) will be critical, but off her USA experience I would not sell Boykin short.
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I think that both Collier and Boykin will get significant playng time.
 
I think Napheesa's high school team plays tougher competition than De'Janae's team.

Napheesa is known for playing exceptionally hard. Think Maya.

Napheesa is a high percentage shooter from most spots on the floor, including the FT line.

Geno seemed to think that Napheesa was THE KEY recruit in 2015.

For these reasons, I think Napheesa will be more ready for playing time than De'Janae. I like both players and think both have AA potential. I think Napheesa is close to Lou and Asia Durr as the best in her class.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
People seem to see Collier having an easier road to minutes than DeJanae Boykin. I don't see it. First, all this future gazing is a little wobbly, but I see Collier's competition heavier than De'Janae's. How these kids adapt to the college game (at the highest level) will be critical, but off her USA experience I would not sell Boykin short.
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Without taking anything away from Collier because she may well be the key 2015 recruit, IMO the UCONN fan base ( and more importantly Geno) will come to love Boykin's game. She is so fundamentally sound, has a knack for being in the right spot for rebounds, has strong defensive posture, and doesn't just say team first but has an advanced knowledge of the concept. Some of us believe she will be a bigger, stronger Kelly Farris with superior scoring skills from 12 feet in. We are blessed with this class.
 
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