UConn Needs Forwards!

[Steelerone]

Actually, Sara Williams didn't play that many minutes last year as expected and she didn't have near the impact in rebounding that Sarah Strong did. If Olivia is half as good as projected she should be the answer to our rebounding problem for the next four years.

 

[Stagnant]

Who are you talking about?

Cheli. It’s hard to find a year of basketball where Cheli wasn’t dealing with injuries. But that profile is very similar to Azzi Fudd and she managed to stay healthy during 25/26.

 

[visitingcock]

Actually, Sara Williams didn't play that many minutes last year as expected and she didn't have near the impact in rebounding that Sarah Strong did. If Olivia is half as good as projected she should be the answer to our rebounding problem for the next four years.

I’m sure she’s gonna be good but will she go through the typical frosh adjustment year that most bigs have?

 

[JellyBean]

Skylar Forbes be interesting I think.

Yep. When I saw that she entered the portal, my first thought was "I can see her wearing the UConn uniform". She doesn't force shots. Solid basketball IQ. She won't demand the ball much so that opens things up for others. Forbes is high on my list.

 

[packwrap]

I have noticed that many of those entering the portal have agents. To me that is crazy and would be a big no no as a player to bring in.

This is kind of tough to enforce, it's like trying to tell someone they can't use a lawyer.

Paige, Azzi and Sarah all have agents. The difference at UConn so far is that the agents are professional, reputable and have long term interest of players in mind.

 

[ConnMotors]

Someone posted that Morgan, Blanca and Sarah are 6’2”. Yes they are but Morgan has more of a wing not a true power forward. That person should be a player that has bounce, can rebound, make six foot shots and defend the paint. Is there a Alliyah Edwards out there?

 

[Woof]

Good Grief!!! Can we stop removing Ash from the starting lineup, especially for her senior year. She adds enough to the team that Geno sees and knows that she is not going to a non-starter role. These comments take me back to all the "stop playing or starting Nika" posts a few years ago. All she did was set all the Husky career assists records and play great defense!

The numbers don't support her starting or playing as much as she did. She literally regressed. The focus needs to be on how we can beat the best teams and, especially, SC. Shade has the benefit of being tough and physical. But her ability to score is limited. Her ability to score from the perimeter is now limited.

KK has to be on the floor for most of the game. We don't have a post that is a threat from the perimeter. We can't have a third person on the floor that can't score from the perimeter. One is fine. Two is ok but not great. Three is just too many. And it will be worse next year because we lose Azzi, who drew a lot of attention.

 

[oldude]

This is kind of tough to enforce, it's like trying to tell someone they can't use a lawyer.

Paige, Azzi and Sarah all have agents. The difference at UConn so far is that the agents are professional, reputable and have long term interest of players in mind.

The concern is that agents come in all shapes and sizes from wnba super agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas (Paige’s agent) to various uncertified and unaffiliated “street agents” who do not necessarily have players best interests at heart.

There is clearly tampering going on that involves middlemen (street agents). Deals are being done that can be one-sided financially. Eligibility and NCAA transfer regulations are violated. Such actions put players, coaches and schools at risk.

One interesting relationship between players and agents is IMG Academy in FL, where numerous star players on both the men’s & women’s side are from, including Lara Somfai & Kelis Fisher. IMG recruits top HS players globally. They are active in developing these players and securing scholarships at top colleges.

What IMG also is involved in is postgraduate placement of their former students through the portal. Undoubtedly, IMG was involved in Somfai’s transfer from Stanford to TCU.

 

[WiseWillie]

The concern is that agents come in all shapes and sizes from wnba super agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas (Paige’s agent) to various uncertified and unaffiliated “street agents” who do not necessarily have players best interests at heart.

There is clearly tampering going on that involves middlemen (street agents). Deals are being done that can be one-sided financially. Eligibility and NCAA transfer regulations are violated. Such actions put players, coaches and schools at risk.

One interesting relationship between players and agents is IMG Academy in FL, where numerous star players on both the men’s & women’s side are from, including Lara Somfai & Kelis Fisher. IMG recruits top HS players globally. They are active in developing these players and securing scholarships at top colleges.

What IMG also is involved in is postgraduate placement of their former students through the portal. Undoubtedly, IMG was involved in Somfai’s transfer from Stanford to TCU.

Those more familiar with the two would tell us that we need to distinguish IMG and IMG Academy,which was spun off and is owned by BPEA EQT (a private equity group) but which is still associated with IMG. It operates on three levels: the Academy as a training academy, and then IMG as a talent representation firm and as a sports marketing agency, working with both the players and the schools they play for. IMG/IMG Academyy has come under criticism claiming it has potential conflicts of interest since they represent both the college coaches and the athletes raising concerns that they could prioritize one client over another and/or influence player movement. IMG trains players who will end up at colleges also represented by IMG where they handle the training, promotion and marketing. The NBA has taken steps to penalize agents who represent both players and coaches, a role IMG has assumed. No matter which way this is viewed there certainly could exist a landscape of competing interests where IMG is concerned.

Maybe those more familiar with the IMG setup can provide more and more precise information.

 

[Charliebball]

The numbers don't support her starting or playing as much as she did. She literally regressed. The focus needs to be on how we can beat the best teams and, especially, SC. Shade has the benefit of being tough and physical. But her ability to score is limited. Her ability to score from the perimeter is now limited.

KK has to be on the floor for most of the game. We don't have a post that is a threat from the perimeter. We can't have a third person on the floor that can't score from the perimeter. One is fine. Two is ok but not great. Three is just too many. And it will be worse next year because we lose Azzi, who drew a lot of attention.

UConn will have a post that can actually shoot from the perimeter next season.......the Big "O"!!

 

[Charliebball]

There is a five star recruit who just asked for her letter of commitment to Tennessee to be rescinded. She would fit the bill perfectly.

I don't think that's happening.....

 

[Zarathustra]

Last year did have the luxury of Ayanna being available in case of an injury. This next year lacks that.

They should bring in someone. The OP suggests a true UConn level talent that is essentially the Heckel of power forwards. I suggest a career mid-major player that can accomplish Ayanna levels things (the way we brought in a Lou Lopez Senechal, though admittedly less likely to be that good) looking to finish their careers in style (while most playing the 4th quarter of Big East games).

Geno -- I suspect -- ignores us both and in the case of injuries tries to path the whole with Morgan and Allie.

I enjoyed the reference to "the HECKEL of power forwards" .... it sounds
like a rich source for highlight videos! K9+

 

[cleobel60]

UConn will have a post that can actually shoot from the perimeter next season.......the Big "O"!!

If KK & Ash are starting next year, then I think we will not win a championship. Neither one of them can shoot very well. They are very good defenders but offensively weak. No matter how much we like them they would probably be better coming off the bench just like they did during the 2025 championship year. We need a strong presence both inside and outside who can defend and shoot with accuracy consistently. Strong, Blanca will need big time help. Maybe Olivia. We don't know. However, my friends and I watch a lot of college women's basketball games, and I can see that we better do something to keep up with young ladies getting faster, more skillful, bigger & taller, and can shoot and defend like never before. I know that I am in a minority but start K9. She has more natural & better instincts at the point guard than KK. Then all you would need would be Sarah, Blanca, Olivia, and Jana. Jana needs to work on speed, hand strength, jumping, etc. She has all the size to be among the best, but she needs to work, work, work during the off season.

 

[GetReal2day]

We all love Ash and KK, but we really a guard like Skylar Forbes, big (6’3) that can attack the basket, get their own shot and finish.

 

[BannerTown]

If KK & Ash are starting next year, then I think we will not win a championship. Neither one of them can shoot very well. They are very good defenders but offensively weak.… I know that I am in a minority but start K9. She has more natural & better instincts at the point guard than KK.

I see this a little differently.

I think it is unfair to call KK offensively weak. She is a natural true point guard, not a score-first point guard like Hannah Hidalgo, and she is excellent in that role. She finished the season with 174 assists and just 43 turnovers, a 4.05 assist-turnover ratio, which was the second-best mark in Division I and the best single-season mark in UConn history. In the Elite Eight against Hidalgo, the National Defensive Player of the Year, she played 31 minutes and had zero turnovers.

She is not an elite scorer, and that is fair to say, but offense is about more than individual scoring. Facilitating, organizing, and making the right reads are a huge part of offense, too. In my opinion, when you factor all of that in, KK and Sarah are UConn’s best returning offensive players. Bart Torvik’s numbers reflect that too, with KK ranked seventh nationally in Offensive Rating and Sarah 12th, though Sarah carries a higher usage rate.

And I love Kayleigh, so this is not a knock on her at all, but I do not really agree that she has more natural point-guard instincts than KK. Looking at their per-40 numbers, Kayleigh scores 3.3 more points, but KK gives you 1.6 more assists, 0.5 fewer turnovers, 1.4 more steals, and 0.9 fewer fouls. Kayleigh’s Offensive Rating is 53rd, which is still very good, but it does not support the idea that KK is somehow lacking offensively.

To me, Geno used both of them exactly the right way: start KK as the steadier organizer, the better pure table-setter, and the safer low-mistake option to open games, then use Kayleigh a lot as a change-of-pace guard who is disruptive, fast, aggressive, and capable of changing the game with her energy.

 

[Bone Dog]

I’m a big fan of KK and Kayleigh. When I think back to what Kaitlyn contributed last season, it wasn’t blazing speed or the ability to create off the dribble. She was okay at those things, maybe almost as quick and as good a finisher and midrange shooter as Kayleigh. What she mainly had was three seasons of experience leading a team against tough competition. She arrived as an unflappable veteran.

I think senior KK and junior Kayleigh will look at least as good as Kaitlyn did last season — KK as a seasoned passer and even better defender than last season, and Kayleigh as an even better more confident scorer and passer. The two of them will give Geno what he got from KK and Kaitlyn last season.

I don’t see any need for a portal guard nor do I see a likely candidate. I also don’t see a striking need for a portal forward, though th case is less clear. Could Sarah and Blanca use a backup? Yes. It will probably be Olivia when Geno goes with a big lineup. But in the small and medium lineups, I could see one more athletic 6’2” player being useful. I’m not sure how essential it is. But if it allowed for more muscle in the paint and quick feet in transition I can support that.

 

[ERWUC65]

I’m a big fan of KK and Kayleigh. When I think back to what Kaitlyn contributed last season, it wasn’t blazing speed or the ability to create off the dribble. She was okay at those things, maybe almost as quick and as good a finisher and midrange shooter as Kayleigh. What she mainly had was three seasons of experience leading a team against tough competition. She arrived as an unflappable veteran.

I think senior KK and junior Kayleigh will look at least as good as Kaitlyn did last season — KK as a seasoned passer and even better defender than last season, and Kayleigh as an even better more confident scorer and passer. The two of them will give Geno what he got from KK and Kaitlyn last season.

I don’t see any need for a portal guard nor do I see a likely candidate. I also don’t see a striking need for a portal forward, though th case is less clear. Could Sarah and Blanca use a backup? Yes. It will probably be Olivia when Geno goes with a big lineup. But in the small and medium lineups, I could see one more athletic 6’2” player being useful. I’m not sure how essential it is. But if it allowed for more muscle in the paint and quick feet in transition I can support that.

"Forgive me for repeating myself, but with no changes where do we get Azzi's 20+ points per game?

 

[hoophuskee]

However, my friends and I watch a lot of college women's basketball games, and I can see that we better do something to keep up with young ladies getting faster, more skillful, bigger & taller, and can shoot and defend like never before.

The scores in the Final Four were, 62/51/48/44. These were 4 powerhouse teams. Not one-dimensional teams.

I am not saying you are wrong with your points overall on this and the other stuff I didn't include that you said-- but something happened in that FF that caused every team that had either prolific reg season offenses or got hot in the NCAA T(Texas) to play in the manner that they couldn't score. The lack of scoring from all 4 teams doesn't show off anything you say in bold.

There was a reason why Geno went off and ended up sending a letter to the NCAA. That was the probable main cause of the poor shooting - the refs. So you are probably right about the bold-- but unlesss they had Paige - ie another superstar -- all 4 teams couldnt score. So I'm not sure what replacement players you think could have helped the way the game was being played if the other three teams that had such good offenses couldnt score either.

 

[BRS24]

"Forgive me for repeating myself, but with no changes where do we get Azzi's 20+ points per game?

I wouldn't mind seeing more balanced scoring among 4+ players, although I haven't wrapped my head around who that would be as of yet. The semi game provided a glimpse of what if something goes wrong with your first two scoring options.

 

[hoophuskee]

"Forgive me for repeating myself, but with no changes where do we get Azzi's 20+ points per game?

The teamn scored 48 points in the FF. IMO they can find a way to score more than 48 points.

 

[Bone Dog]

"Forgive me for repeating myself, but with no changes where do we get Azzi's 20+ points per game?

This is not an unanswerable question, nor is it proof that Geno needs to hit the portal. You’ll forgive for saying that most of these demands for an immediate impact scorer sound rather like saying Geno should give up on playing UConn basketball.

Where will we get Azzi’s points from? More precisely, where will Azzi and Serah’s 24 total points come from? When you put it that way, the answer is easy to see. My guess is almost half of it will come from Blanca playing increased minutes. She averaged 11 points in 20 mins across the whole season, but 17 in the tournament (not counting the SC game). It’s not a stretch to think she’ll average closer to 20 if she plays closer to 30 mins. That’s half the difference right there.

I suspect Kayleigh and Ash will raise their scoring a bit, and I’m not prepared to discount Morgan. Most of all, I have a feeling we’ll get 10 points from Olivia.

I don’t think the problem Geno faces involves the arithmetic of points. It’s much more about sustaining the athleticism needed for both ends of the UConn system. Paige Azzi and Sarah gave Geno scorers who were also great defenders. Sarah and Blanca provide that. The real question is whether Olivia and Jovana and Kayleigh and Allie can be that too. We need scorers who don’t create any defensive liabilities.

 

[Charliebball]

"Forgive me for repeating myself, but with no changes where do we get Azzi's 20+ points per game?

Sara - +4
Blanca - +6
Olivia - +10

 

[cgshuskie]

Blanca needs to work really hard during the off season. She made some really bad
freshman mistakes in the Final Four game. She missed some really easy open shots.

 

[Woof]

UConn will have a post that can actually shoot from the perimeter next season.......the Big "O"!!

Hope is not a plan. No one has any idea, based on any relevant data, that she will be able to score from the perimeter at the D1 level, let alone against the top D1 teams. Bigs typically take time to adapt. Look at Betts' freshman year. And she was considered a far better prospect. She also isn't Tina Charles so don't expect THAT kind of a freshman year either. We need a proven big that can help us win NOW. That will give Vukosa time to adjust.

 

[oldude]

Hope is not a plan. No one has any idea, based on any relevant data, that she will be able to score from the perimeter at the D1 level, let alone against the top D1 teams. Bigs typically take time to adapt. Look at Betts' freshman year. And she was considered a far better prospect. She also isn't Tina Charles so don't expect THAT kind of a freshman year either. We need a proven big that can help us win NOW. That will give Vukosa time to adjust.

So I guess shooting 43% from the arc (6/14) for the Croatian Senior National Team in the recent Euroqualifier, playing with and against European professionals doesn’t count????

 

[Charliebball]

Hope is not a plan. No one has any idea, based on any relevant data, that she will be able to score from the perimeter at the D1 level, let alone against the top D1 teams. Bigs typically take time to adapt. Look at Betts' freshman year. And she was considered a far better prospect. She also isn't Tina Charles so don't expect THAT kind of a freshman year either. We need a proven big that can help us win NOW. That will give Vukosa time to adjust.

I'm confident that Olivia will be a real positive offensively next season........if you are aware of another post player with a better overall offensive game that's currently in the portal and would be a good fit for UConn, please let us know who that is.......

 

[ec33]

So I guess shooting 43% from the arc (6/14) for the Croatian Senior National Team in the recent Euroqualifier, playing with and against European professionals doesn’t count????

There is a National Gatorade Player of the Year award in every box of Wheaties.

 

[Woof]

So I guess shooting 43% from the arc (6/14) for the Croatian Senior National Team in the recent Euroqualifier, playing with and against European professionals doesn’t count????

No, it doesn't. When I see those numbers against the likes of USC, SC, LSU, UCLA and Texas, I will join you in your optimism.

 

[Charliebball]

Hope is not a plan. No one has any idea, based on any relevant data, that she will be able to score from the perimeter at the D1 level, let alone against the top D1 teams. Bigs typically take time to adapt. Look at Betts' freshman year. And she was considered a far better prospect. She also isn't Tina Charles so don't expect THAT kind of a freshman year either. We need a proven big that can help us win NOW. That will give Vukosa time to adjust.

I'm not sure how much high school video you've seen of the two players.........Betts never had even half of the offensive skill set that Vukosa currently has.......Olivia can play the four or five while Betts only started occasionally shooting from midrange later in her college career.....

 

[Woof]

I'm confident that Olivia will be a real positive offensively next season........if you are aware of another post player with a better overall offensive game that's currently in the portal and would be a good fit for UConn, please let us know who that is.......

We don't know because we haven't seen Vukosa against top D1 competition. Trygger is a known commodity. If we get her and Vukosa ends up being even better, great. If Vukosa struggles like most freshman posts, we have a known commodity. You do know that she will be a freshman, right? I can't emphasize that enough.