Uconn need to start recruiting more BIGS

[j66kicker]

Firstly, I never said anything like "disarray".
Secondly, thanks for your support. We won 4 straight NC's with bigs like Stef, Stokes, and Stewie. Would you care to postulate how many we would have won without them? And of course we would have won our first one easily without Rebecca and Kara, right?

I agree we could use another big, but not ready to concede that "the succession plan has failed." Butler may yet prove quite serviceable and effective, surrounded by some super talents.

 

[DaddyChoc]

also, are other teams going to be any better... and not just on paper

 

[Carnac]

I agree we could use another big, but not ready to concede that "the succession plan has failed." Butler may yet prove quite serviceable and effective, surrounded by some super talents.

I like to use the time between the first game, and the last game before the Christmas break as a reasonable period of assessment, which is usually somewhere between 8-10 games. That's usually enough time to measure a player's potential and readiness to play. We can predict, wish and hope all we want to this summer, but those first 5 regular season games will reveal a lot to us and the staff., thereby giving all a glimpse into the near future.

 

[Charliebball]

My daughter and I have only been following UConn basketball for the past 6 years as she has grown from a grade schooler into a high school athlete. I would be the first to admit that the team's incredible record of success has spoiled both of us beyond repair.

Like many here, we find it hard to believe that any great recruit would have the "audacity" to choose any school other then UConn.

Apparently for the past few years, many recruits, especially the really good larger ones have not shared our rather biased viewpoint.

Was it because they simply wanted to stay close to home and home was thousands of miles away, was it UConn's notoriously tough training regimen, was it a perceived lack of playing time, or was it as simple as they were never in UConn's plans at all?

Most likely we will never know.

Does any reasonable fan think that the coaching staff has lost it's ability to recruit or that they just don't know where the best players are? Hardly......................but when you've been on top for so long and you're watching the rest of the field gain on you, it is a bit unnerving.

I know there's still plenty of talent on the roster and I look forward to seeing the growth of the new recruits. I expect a spirited defense of the NC..........but the worried/spoiled fan in me see's a shortage of forwards/posts in case of injury/foul trouble and I sure would feel better with a couple of additional reinforcements...............

 

[veryolddog]

If you recall, Texas, who we played in the tournament, had, at least 2 "big" young women and maybe a third. That did not seem to help them against the play of UConn. What about South Carolina? They were know for the 2 "big" young women also were scorers and shot blockers. The height is definitely helpful, but it seems like UConn prepares a balanced defense and offense that works more often than not. Couple that with speed, and passing and that makes a tough game for an opponent.

 

[Charliebball]

If you recall, Texas, who we played in the tournament, had, at least 2 "big" young women and maybe a third. That did not seem to help them against the play of UConn. What about South Carolina? They were know for the 2 "big" young women also were scorers and shot blockers. The height is definitely helpful, but it seems like UConn prepares a balanced defense and offense that works more often than not. Couple that with speed, and passing and that makes a tough game for an opponent.

Frankly, I'll take a mobile 6'2" - 6'3" over a plodding 6'5 - 6'7 any time..........when your front line is consists of 5'11" -6'1" you may run into trouble defensively............Stewart's ability to stuff the lane will be sorely missed......saved 10 points a game easily

 

[Blakeon18]

BTW remember that we are currently looking at 2 soph bigs..kinda local: Olivia Owens near Albany...and Mary Baskerville at Enfield High....both around 6'3". Say...Our Emblem...if you happen to know what AAU team [and age level] Olivia is playing for, please let us know.

 

[Charliebball]

BTW remember that we are currently looking at 2 soph bigs..kinda local: Olivia Owens near Albany...and Mary Baskerville at Enfield High....both around 6'3". Say...Our Emblem...if you happen to know what AAU team [and age level] Olivia is playing for, please let us know.

6'4 Olivia Owens of Niskayuna HS / Albany City Rocks.............she has an offer from Syracuse

 

[Carnac]

Frankly, I'll take a mobile 6'2" - 6'3" over a plodding 6'5 - 6'7 any time.....when your front line is consists of 5'11" -6'1" you may run into trouble defensively..Stewart's ability to stuff the lane will be sorely missed.saved 10 points a game easily

Charlie B, I could not agree with you more. Height is nice. We all know you can't teach it. But.......there's different types of height. Plodders can't run fast breaks, or get back on defense as quicly as mobile bigs can. How many times this year did Stewie lead a fast break?, or block an opposing player's fast break lay up from behind?. Take Ohio State's Shayla Cooper (6'2") and Notre Dame's Brianna Turner (who I predicted when she was a freshman, that she would be an All-American by the end of her junior year. I was correct, just a year off.) They're both very mobile (sprinters). Cooper alternates between the 4/5. She can do it all. Run, jump, rebound, pass and handle the ball, as well as score. They're both very good under the basket.

UConn had no problem with teams that had tall centers (Texas, South Carolina & Oregon State). In those instences, the opponents bigs were for the most part ineffective. Stewie and Tuck played a very large part in that. The quickest way to neutralize a big is to sit her with foul trouble.........early. After having several shot attempts blocked early in the game by Stewart, said bigs were reluctant to shoot after that, thereby reducing their effectiveness on offense.

Most bigs are would-be shot blockers, and are eager to contest anyone driving the lane. Tuck, Mo and Stewie had a "no fear" approach in driving the lane. I'm sure UConn will not alter its philosophy with respect to attacking the rim. Most of UConn's plays were designed to go to the BIG 3 this year, and rightly so. Next season, those plays will be run for someone else. I look for Collier, Samuelson, Williams, Nurse, Chong and Butler have their rolls significantly increased, as those plays will now be run for them. All of them can score, however, this year was not their year. They had three upper classmen that were infront of them, thus they were "role players".

For the next couple of years (except for Chong who will be a senior), it will be their turn. This year, we only saw glimpses of their latient talent. Next season, we'll get to see the full monte. They will enter into the season knowing this, and they'll be ready. I think next year's team will surprise and be better than fans and the media are predicting. Remember, Geno and staff has done far more with less. Getting next year's squad to that point where they will be at their best and most competitive will be job 1 for the coaches. Games that UConn won by 40+ points this season, they'll now win by 8-15 next year. Never under estimate the heart of a champion.

 

[Charliebball]

UConn had no problem with teams that had tall centers (Texas, South Carolina & Oregon State). In those instences, the opponents bigs were for the most part ineffective. Stewie and Tuck played a very large part in that. The quickest way to neutralize a big is to sit her with foul trouble....early. After having several shot attempts blocked early in the game by Stewart, said bigs were reluctant to shoot after that, thereby reducing their effectiveness on offense.

Some of those bigs like Turner and Wilson that UConn will face again this coming season will be far more effective with our two front court stars gone. I suspect that even with Natalie B busting her butt, those twin bigs on Baylor, and SC will have a much easier time dominating the paint against the Huskies. I have no doubt that Geno will come up with the best game plan possible but will that be enough to beat those top out of conference teams that are scheduled next season?