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Not surprised to see "Little Mabrey" transferred from Virginia Tech to Notre Dame. (guess she decided that playing for Muffett was better than trying to carve out her own legacy)
Is that confirmed by anyone? I know we all "suspect" it but until I see Raoul post it, I am not a believer...Not surprised to see "Little Mabrey" transferred from Virginia Tech to Notre Dame. (guess she decided that playing for Muffett was better than trying to carve out her own legacy)
In his chat with Rebecca, Geno said he has talked to a few kids. I bet Cochrane is one of them. If she can get immediate eligibility for 20-21, I think she is skilled enough to help. If she has to redshirt, with DeBarry and then Brady coming, do they really need another player like this? Would be great if there was room.
I know this has been said before on the Boneyard but I'd like to add my two cents - Dillon, your un-erring eye, ability to honestly assess ANY situation at any school, and strength in your capacity to avoid a lot of the baloney that occasionally rears it's ugly head here is truly refreshing. It is an utter joy to read your posts !!That's Baby Mabrey to you, hrrumphh!
@CocoHusky reminded me that Ms. Mikesell and ND had a spat of "mutual interest" before she committed to Maryland, ND stayed in Ohio and went in the other direction with ball-hawking defensive whiz Abby Prohaska (who we very much missed this year while she recovered from illness).
ND has a mess of off guards and wings/small forwards coming back next year and they're seemingly trying to go after another off-guard in 2021. (So far, no commitments, but MM has said they're aiming for the sky, which tells you the kind of players they're after.)
So, where would guards like Mikesell, Mabrey or Slocum (although I'm not sold on that one) fit in?
Well, right now MM's plan for lead guard next year is to split it between returning off-guard Katlyn Gilbert and incoming frosh Alasia Hayes. Then, go after a point guard hard in 2021 (Olivia Miles or Ari Wiggins, perhaps?). If the NCAA can ever get around to deciding if and when first-time transfers could immediately play, that would be helpful.
If approved for 2020-21, I could see Mabrey or Mikesell helping the Irish for two years, working with Hayes and the incoming frosh, leaving Gilbert to impnrove on her pretty good first full year at off guard.
If not approved until 2021, maybe Slocum, who has graduated and can play immediately. Still, if Destiny was uncomfortable playing as a facilitator for Rueck, I can't see her being given free rein under Muffet. That's not what MM wants (see Allen, Lindsay).
Lucy Cochrane initially caught my eye, but I'm not sure we need another like her, given Danielle Cosgrove's slow development. Plus we've got will o' the wisp Nat Marshall coming in at 6'5". If we go after any transfer post, I'd be interested in Maryland transfer Olivia Owens. The Irish could use a post to back up Mik Vaughn and provide paint oover for Marshall and ND's wings, Sam Brunelle and Kat Westbeld.
The thrown-off timing makes things even crazier....while some top recruits are deciding to go all in, some might like to, you know, see a coach and campus face to face? Imagine!
Is that confirmed by anyone? I know we all "suspect" it but until I see Raoul post it, I am not a believer...
Ha I had her "penciled in" for Notre Dame with a wink and a smirk in a lighter shade of font, but when I copied the data from the other thread it lost the shading effect. AFAIK she has not announced yet. I'll be professional about it and delete that entry for nowNot surprised to see "Little Mabrey" transferred from Virginia Tech to Notre Dame. (guess she decided that playing for Muffett was better than trying to carve out her own legacy)
Ha I had her "penciled in" for Notre Dame with a wink and a smirk in a lighter shade of font, but when I copied the data from the other thread it lost the shading effect. AFAIK she has not announced yet. I'll be professional about it and delete that entry for now
I would keep liking this a thousand times if I could and certainly hope our 2nd effort with an Aussie big turns out better than our last effort. My only real concern is Kelly is similar to Geno (and the two of them are fairly close) so if Lucy didn't see a future with Kelly, why would she see a future with Geno and our incoming recruits? I do know the NCAA was scheduled to meet yesterday to talk about the immediate transfer eligibility and then vote on it during the May 20th meeting for effect THIS FALL. Do we know if any of the coaches/team are following Lucy or if Lucy is following any of UConn's team/coaches on the various social media apps? That would be a positive indication of interest.
I whole heartedly agree Lucy is probably the only one left in the portal I would consider. I don't want Mikesell or Slocum but ND is free to get both and little Mabry. Anyone under 5'10" is allowed to go to ND....
You and Coco might need to have an offline chat to find the middle ground...I have seen Lucy play in person. She is a project type of player. With Sedonia Prince, younger Sabally, Lydia Giomi and some freshmen coming in (Watson) Kelly said Lucy saw the handwriting on the wall as far as playing time.
Probably not a UCONN level htype of player from what I have seen out in Oregon. Still she would have a good fit somewhere.
Probably not a UCONN level type of player from what I have seen out in Oregon.
2016-17 seems like a lifetime ago-let's talk about 20-21. For this 20-21 coming season Edwards will be a Freshman. That Freshman must start at PF and play well for UCONN to have a successful season. I define success as a FF team. How well does Edwards have to play as a Freshman for this to happen? She has to play at AA level because she will be starting at a position that has an AA player in that position from 2014-2020 -or Stewie, Morgan, Napheesa, Gabby and Megan). Numbers wise that equates to about 15 PPG and 8.5 rebounds. That is a lot to ask of Edwards as a freshman especially sine NONE of the previously mentioned players did this as Freshman. Not even Stewie who was taking the floor with handful of players who were or would achieve AA status. The right fit is very important and should not be overlooked. Primarily though the 20-21UCONN roster needs more talent in the post to return to the glory days. I miss the glory days. A return next year would be preferable to a return the year after. There is talent in the transfer portal and I'm sure UCONN is looking.Does UCONN get Fudd?
And how good is Edwards? If Edwards can't play the PF at least decent level then she would be a wasted recruit imo.
We've seen in our 2016-2017 season how size was overrated. We got beat by a buzzer beater. Miss State was not better than UCONN. They just outplayed UCONN one night. But the next game a team that went small beat them for the title. .
But imo right now, DeBarry and Brady are not on the team. We've seen verbals reverse. If any player is a quality player it can't hurt as long as she fits the style UCONN wants to play.
And this is not all about what UCONN wants. For any kid looking to transfer for more than 1 year, can they see themselves good enough to earn minutes? Because they have a "want" too. More than likely it's a certain view in which they feel they can play.
So in this case we just don't get a kid because she is tall/big. She has to be a quality player or content to be a backup 5-7 minute player content on winning a title and that's it. It's rare anyone less than a sr will transfer for that. Quality is key not size. The 2016-2017 season showed us that not just with UCONN going 36-1 but South Carolina winning by going small. Some of the greatest teams ever in wcbb had small power forwards. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get a big pf. It's imo about quality and the right fit.
You have every reason to feel good. Me? I defer to the most optimistic among us-@TonycGee, here I was feeling pretty good about the Huskies.
We're looking at some great talented kids coming in over the next couple of seasons. What we really need is another post to back up ONO. Gabriel will need to be developed, Edwards will need to be developed.
2016-17 seems like a lifetime ago-let's talk about 20-21. For this 20-21 coming season Edwards will be a Freshman. That Freshman must start at PF and play well for UCONN to have a successful season. I define success as a FF team. How well does Edwards have to play as a Freshman for this to happen? She has to play at AA level because she will be starting at a position that has an AA player in that position from 2014-2020 -or Stewie, Morgan, Napheesa, Gabby and Megan). Numbers wise that equates to about 15 PPG and 8.5 rebounds. That is a lot to ask of Edwards as a freshman especially sine NONE of the previously mentioned players did this as Freshman. Not even Stewie who was taking the floor with handful of players who were or would achieve AA status. The right fit is very important and should not be overlooked. Primarily though the 20-21UCONN roster needs more talent in the post to return to the glory days. I miss the glory days. A return next year would be preferable to a return the year after. There is talent in the transfer portal and I'm sure UCONN is looking.
Lol. Five (Evina, ONO, Paige, CWill & Anna) AA candidates for UCONN on the 20-21 roster? That's half the roster and a bit ambitious. I honestly hope all your AA projections are realized but that may still not be enough. We are talking about AA when we should be talking about contributors- more on that later.I don't agree other than the point about the glory days. I agree about the glory days. My definition of "the glory days" is being favored to win championships and going undefeated/or 1 loss and wiping teams out by 30+. This team can't do that regardless who they pick up a pf. .
But imo barring injuries, this team is definitely a favorite to be in the final four as it is currently constructed. The team that needs to beat them - probably in CT in the E8 game-- needs to have guards that can handle pressure, guards that can shoot and two front-line players that are a combination of excellent passers and excellent finishers. Teams that probably have that are probably top 3. That's a unique team. Just like this year UCONN was the 5th best team in the country, and frankly if they got a shot at Maryland that game was probably 50-50.
You might be right that next year they don';t make the final four but they can get production other than what you cite from the PF to get there. Though it would be nice to have it ofc. For example, if Lucy can transfer and is that player-- sure I'll take it too! But she had better been able to pass and finish. But if they don't -- they still are a terrific team the 2 key players - not necessarily the best are Evina and Paige. They are the biggest keys for the season. How "great" is Evina? And how much of an impact can Paige be? These two players can possibly nullify or come close to nullifying Walker and CD.
Evina is a 1st team all-american candidate, isn't she? Probably no worse than 2nd team. ONO is probably 2nd team a/a but say anywhere between 1st team and 3rd team. Paige and CWill are potential 3rd team all-american candidates of which the other would get honorable mention.
So we have at least two probable A/A's this year vs one last year and we have at least two Honorable mentions next year vs 3 honorable mentions last year - and we Anna which may become an honorable A/A. even if she isn't the core 4 of ONO, Evina, CWill and Paige is slightly better. Even if we want to call it even-- the bench is far superior this upcoming year more than likely.
The game hasn't changed with much significance 16-17. Part of the problem is that their problem was size but also that their guards weren't that great. They were good but not great. Chong, Nurse, and frosh Crystal vs potentially Evina, CWill and Paige would be much better. These guards potentially make the game easier for a legit all-american sized post better (ONO) and vice-versa. ONO is a legit a/a terrific post this year. To get to the FF-- the guards are probably good enough to go along with ONO. Winning it all is different ofc.
Lol. Five (Evina, ONO, Paige, CWill & Anna) AA candidates for UCONN on the 20-21 roster? That's half the roster and a bit ambitious. I honestly hope all your AA projections are realized but that may still not be enough. We are talking about AA when we should be talking about contributors- more on that later.
Boston was second team AP AA last year Elissa Cunane was 3rd team. Both players were ahead of ONO who was honorable mention. ONO must separate herself from the honor mention pack which includes (Ila Lane,Unique Thompson, & NaLyssa Smith) to become a true AA candidate.
Christyn Williams prospects of making AA as a guard next season are also not very good. I'll gently remind you that many were doing last year what you are doing this year- pencil Christyn in as an AA. At the guard position returning to college basketball this season will be 1st Team AA Rhyne Howard, 2nd Team AA Aari McDonald & Dana Evans and a slew of honor mentions Rennia Davis, Arella Guirantes, Ashley Joens, Lindsey Pullman,& Kiana Williams.
Evina Westbrook is an AA candidate-IF HEALTHY. Evina was still rehabbing at UCONN last month.
Hard for me to envision Anna ever becoming an AA when she was not among the top 10 best freshman in the country-per ESPN.
What is way different from 16-17 is the composition of the roster. The 16-17 bench included 2 reliable productive players in Natalie Butler and Crystal Dangerfield. Those were two players that could and did contribute to UCONN non-conference wins which included at #2 ND, at #4MD , #2 Baylor, #6 SC, #14 Texas, at #12 FSU).
What's a UCONN. contributor? A player that has earned her way into the regular rotation and allows the 5 starter NTE 30 MPG especially in UCONN's non-conference games. A contributor does not hamper the UCONN offense or defense. UCONN needs more contributors in the post. Lucy Cochrane can contribute.
Then I’m glad you’re not still in the classroomIn my opinion, Edwards is strong and physical enough to play the 4. I hope they have enough bigs to develop DeBerry slowly while she gets stronger. As thin as Cochrane is, I can't tell if she can handle the bigger, stronger 5s. Could she guard Boston for example? (I know, can anybody?).
Finally, I refuse to acknowledge that there may not be a 20-21.
I also want to make it clear that I also said candidates:We're on complete opposite pages here.
1-- I want to make it clear I said "candidates to be All-American." not "All-Americans." I said there were two definite all-Americans. Not 5 all-Americans.
Lol. Five (Evina, ONO, Paige, CWill & Anna) AA candidates for UCONN on the 20-21 roster? That's half the roster and a bit ambitious.
I also want to make it clear that I also said candidates:
2016-17 seems like a lifetime ago-let's talk about 20-21. For this 20-21 coming season Edwards will be a Freshman. That Freshman must start at PF and play well for UCONN to have a successful season. I define success as a FF team. How well does Edwards have to play as a Freshman for this to happen? She has to play at AA level because she will be starting at a position that has an AA player in that position from 2014-2020 -or Stewie, Morgan, Napheesa, Gabby and Megan). Numbers wise that equates to about 15 PPG and 8.5 rebounds. That is a lot to ask of Edwards as a freshman especially sine NONE of the previously mentioned players did this as Freshman. Not even Stewie who was taking the floor with handful of players who were or would achieve AA status. The right fit is very important and should not be overlooked. Primarily though the 20-21UCONN roster needs more talent in the post to return to the glory days. I miss the glory days. A return next year would be preferable to a return the year after. There is talent in the transfer portal and I'm sure UCONN is looking.
Can you name one? Walker, Collier, Gabby, Stewart, Tuck, Moore in recent history. Most of them are really SF but played the 4 none the less.Respectfully, I think there is more than one formula to make the Final Four. To argue that the only way for us to reach the Final Four is to have Edwards start and average 15 points and 8.5 rebounds a game is a bit reductionist. Not every UConn Final Four team had a power forward averaging 15/8.
Can you name one? Walker, Collier, Gabby, Stewart, Tuck, Moore in recent history. Most of them are really SF but played the 4 none the less.