UConn Needs Forwards!

[Longtime fan]

Morgan Cheli and Blanca. Forward problem solved.

Problem solved? Morgan hasn't played ( roughly) in two years and has not yet been healthy at UCONN. Her surgery took, to many of us earthlings, much longer than we anticipated. She is an unknown at this point. We can hope, but it is far too early to make book on it. As for Bianca, she showed some great things, but she also showed some correctable needs. We cannot assume ( though we can hope ) that she will make the " sophomore jump " we are all expecting. I think we need some support at forward.

 

[Charliebball]

Problem solved? Morgan hasn't played ( roughly) in two years and has not yet been healthy at UCONN. Her surgery took, to many of us earthlings, much longer than we anticipated. She is an unknown at this point. We can hope, but it is far too early to make book on it. As for Bianca, she showed some great things, but she also showed some correctable needs. We cannot assume ( though we can hope ) that she will make the " sophomore jump " we are all expecting. I think we need some support at forward.

I have zero worries about Blanca..........I expect her to play even better and more consistently next season.......Morgan will be as good as her body will let her be, but I view her more as a big guard or a wing........UConn needs a strong athletic rebounder and defender who can help Sara handle the physicality of South Carolina and other top-notch opponents....

 

[ucmiami2]

Geno is very selective in who he would even consider, with his first question to a transfer being 'what's wrong with you' being and example. If it is about the money he is not going to be interested, the money will come if you can play. And he is about the chemistry on the team first. I think he likes this team and likes his players, and is not 'chasing' anyone.

I suspect there are some conversations going on and we will not hear much before decisions are made. And I will not be surprised if no one is brought in as a transfer - consider K9 as our 'transfer' for this year and next.

 

[Charliebball]

Geno is very selective in who he would even consider, with his first question to a transfer being 'what's wrong with you' being and example. If it is about the money he is not going to be interested, the money will come if you can play. And he is about the chemistry on the team first. I think he likes this team and likes his players, and is not 'chasing' anyone.

I suspect there are some conversations going on and we will not hear much before decisions are made. And I will not be surprised if no one is brought in as a transfer - consider K9 as our 'transfer' for this year and next.

I don't know how they do it, but nobody keeps their recruiting as secretive as UConn.........

 

[oldude]

I don't know how they do it, but nobody keeps their recruiting as secretive as UConn.........

Unless a kid posts something on Instagram or some other social media platform, nobody knows who UConn is recruiting. You will never see anything from anyone at UConn unless and until a recruit/transfer formally commits to the Huskies.

 

[Brown Eyed]

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.

What game are you watching?

 

[donalddoowop]

Problem solved? Morgan hasn't played ( roughly) in two years and has not yet been healthy at UCONN. Her surgery took, to many of us earthlings, much longer than we anticipated. She is an unknown at this point. We can hope, but it is far too early to make book on it. As for Bianca, she showed some great things, but she also showed some correctable needs. We cannot assume ( though we can hope ) that she will make the " sophomore jump " we are all expecting. I think we need some support at forward.

Name a player who does not have correctable needs.

 

[Brown Eyed]

Problem solved? Morgan hasn't played ( roughly) in two years and has not yet been healthy at UCONN. Her surgery took, to many of us earthlings, much longer than we anticipated. She is an unknown at this point. We can hope, but it is far too early to make book on it. As for Bianca, she showed some great things, but she also showed some correctable needs. We cannot assume ( though we can hope ) that she will make the " sophomore jump " we are all expecting. I think we need some support at forward.

I am so glad that I don’t see what you see through your lens

 

[BB Dawg]

I am eager for Morgan’s return to the court. However, her shot attempts declined as the season progressed. She was passing up open shots.

She was a freshman… she will be ok

 

[Golden Husky]

I watched a video on YouTube that argued UConn's top five targets should be Jordan Lee (Texas), Liv McGill (Florida), Kymora Johnson (Virginia), Addy Brown (Iowa State) and Madison St. Rose (Princeton). Not all are forwards--as the title of this thread suggests--but the conclusion was that Brown was the best fit for UConn.

Your thoughts...

 

[Gael]

I watched a video on YouTube that argued UConn's top five targets should be Jordan Lee (Texas), Liv McGill (Florida), Kymora Johnson (Virginia), Addy Brown (Iowa State) and Madison St. Rose (Princeton). Not all are forwards--as the title of this thread suggests--but the conclusion was that Brown was the best fit for UConn.

Your thoughts...

I saw that video, which is from a source I find somewhat superficial. His conclusion is that Addy Brown is his "dark horse", even though his "most sensible fit" is Jordan Lee and that Liv McGill "would create the most dangerous version of UConn . . . and it's not close."

So, what did he conclude? I conclude that I don't care what he concluded, if anything.

 

[Zarathustra]

What game are you watching?

Agreed.... Blanca is and will be a pleasure to behold!

 

[sun]

In the NC game, I was super impressed by how well Betts could set multiple screens in sequence during the same possession which allowed UCLA's proficient dribblers to incrementally pentrate as well as providing options to get clear shots off or to kick the ball out. For the all of the criticism of Cori Close as a coach, only heavens knows who taught Betts how to accomplish such exquisite screening.
My point is that which UConn players will be able to accomplish such screening, even if UConn will have good enough ball handlers next season?
I'm all for acquring an insurance policy at center (or forward) for next season.
But no matter who we may be able to get, will they be able to emulate anything close what Betts & UCLA was able to accomplish?
I'm all in on Jana, and/or OV, and will also miss Ice, but UCLA had quite a talented & experienced team which was required to beat SCar.
It's more than just about who we can bring in or whether we need to bring in anyone new or not, but how UConn can implement needed changes to how they play the game.
Scoring only 48 points in the FF showed that something was lacking in offensive execution that UCLA clearly had the repertoire regarding how offense should be handled.
UCLA played some beautiful basketball and Betts & the whole team were executing their A game.
IDK if any transfer can help with acomplishing any of that but I don't see how a tranfer could hurt.
UConn needa their entire coaching staff to reboot the team and to recognize what they need to teach to be able to score in the big high pressure FF games.
As I always say,, if the coaches want the credit for wins then they also need to take the blame for losses.
The big losses are supposed to teach the coaches what they need to teach the players.
Reminds me of the Iowa game that ended with a moving screen call.

 

[HuskyNan]

I don't know how they do it, but nobody keeps their recruiting as secretive as UConn.........

There are very few women’s basketball teams with an entire board tracking recruiting. If UConn wants to keep their business private, they have to work very hard at it

 

[Centerstream]

UConn needa their entire coaching staff to reboot the team and to recognize what they need to teach to be able to score in the big high pressure FF games.
As I always say,, if the coaches want the credit for wins then they also need to take the blame for losses.
The big losses are supposed to teach the coaches what they need to teach the players.
Reminds me of the Iowa game that ended with a moving screen call.

The UConn Women's Basketball team is one year removed from winning a National Championship and at the same time setting a NCAA Tournament record for MOV in the FINAL FOUR and you say the entire coaching staff needs to reboot the team, etc.
UFB!!!!
Maybe some "fans" should reboot their thinking about the team and the coaching staff. Just a thought.

 

[Dugway]

I watched a video on YouTube that argued UConn's top five targets should be Jordan Lee (Texas), Liv McGill (Florida), Kymora Johnson (Virginia), Addy Brown (Iowa State) and Madison St. Rose (Princeton). Not all are forwards--as the title of this thread suggests--but the conclusion was that Brown was the best fit for UConn.

Your thoughts...

My opinion, I just don't think that the team needs are at the forward position. If there is a 'replacement' needed at all, my opinion is that this player would need to be a perimeter shooter, someone to help fill Azzi's shoes (if that is a possibility). In essence another Allie Ziebell.

That guy in the video seems to indicate that McGill from Florida, 'would create the most dangerous version of UConn', but I believe that if Chris Daley has a say in it, UConn will not bring McGill over. Jordan Lee from Texas? I think she is a Junior, and I can envision that UConn may try to get her. I still believe that Johnson from the Virginia program would play the role of Azzi Fudd the best. Addy Brown is a forward, and I started my comment by saying that UConn doesn't need forwards, which I understand is completely counter to the title of this entire thread but that's my feeling.

Of all of those listed in that particular video, if that is the entire selection pool (which of course it is not), the one that he discusses the least, is the one that I believe that Geno personally would like the most - Madison St. Rose, from Princeton. And I have no basis for this except "Princeton / Carla Berube" and how well Kaitlyn Chen worked out for UConn.

I think the most important thing that Geno will want, is good chemistry with the other players. That is a sisterhood, a personal bonding and love for each other that I am not certain too many other programs have, at least to the degree that UConn has. If a player is not of the right character and fit, I don't think that any amount of basketball talent will convince UConn management to bring them over.

 

[JellyBean]

I am of the opinion that we should add two players who are 6'4" or 6'6" with the ability to rebound. The way our health issues manifest themselves during the season, having those two players and hopefully they can stay healthy, will be an added plus for the team. Plus, a lot depends on the current team and what they do over the off-season with their development, their health, and what they were told to work on over the summer.

 

[uconnfan68]

I am of the opinion that we should add two players who are 6'4" or 6'6" with the ability to rebound. The way our health issues manifest themselves during the season, having those two players and hopefully they can stay healthy, will be an added plus for the team. Plus, a lot depends on the current team and what they do over the off-season with their development, their health, and what they were told to work on over the summer.

I want the female equivalent of Adama Sanogo and Donavan Clingan. Am I asking too much?

 

[oldude]

I want the female equivalent of Adama Sanogo and Donavan Clingan. Am I asking too much?

I think MBB has the bigger need right now. They want the male equivalent of Stef and Stewie.

 

[FairView]

Agreed.... Blanca is and will be a pleasure to behold!

Mirabile Dictu

 

[ConnMotors]

I am of the opinion that we should add two players who are 6'4" or 6'6" with the ability to rebound. The way our health issues manifest themselves during the season, having those two players and hopefully they can stay healthy, will be an added plus for the team. Plus, a lot depends on the current team and what they do over the off-season with their development, their health, and what they were told to work on over the summer.

Those two players that you are referring to are in the Class of 2028 and are #2 Sydney Douglas a 6’5” forward and #4 Ella Pepper a 6’4”tall wing.