UConn (only) recruiting (only) speculation

[Charliebball]

UConn only has one true point guard and that is KK...If she were to get hurt? They would be in trouble against Ohio St., SC, ND or any of the power houses next year...That is what I feel Geno is thinking?

Paige Bueckers is a point guard...........the fact that she is also a great shooting guard or small forward doesn't take away from the fact that she's a superb distributor of the ball.......now Geno may want her in another position but that doesn't mean she wouldn't do a great job if needed.......

 

[Charliebball]

I like her style. She's not a BIG big, but she's quick and has good instincts.

Coming from Vic's program, I'd expect her to be a real defender. But I'm not sure she actually is. She averaged just under 20 minutes in a loaded front court. I wonder why she's leaving. Is it because she didn't like how demanding Vic's defensive schemes are, or is it because she wanted more minutes? Either one of these would suggest she wouldn't like UConn as a destination.

I wonder if she knows that another big may be on her way to Texas......?

 

[hoopsdiva]

I wonder if she knows that another big may be on her way to Texas......?

Could be. Or maybe she's hedging her bets. If she waits til after May 1 to enter the portal and then Texas picks up another big, she would have to wait a year for eligibility. Or she could stay and potentially ride the bench.

 

[Zonepress]

But why disrupt the scheme if we don't have to. Paige is on a path to develop as an off ball facilitating G/F for her pro career so let's let her do that. We all owe her that. If we have the opportunity to obtain an experienced very good PG who was coached by a UConn family member then we should do it for spot #14 and hold spot #15 for a big. We have 2 spots.

The foolishness of your post suggesting that Paige Beckers needs to develop her guard and forward skills for a pro career is beyond the pale
She is and always will be the best point guard in college basketball....and that’s where she will be in the wnba. Period Full stop

 

[JoePgh]

I have difficulty with any suggestion that the best UConn back court combination when (and if) everyone on the roster is healthy could be any pair other than Paige and Azzi (PB and the J). If some other arrangement has to be made at the start of the season while Azzi completes her recovery, then that arrangement should be strictly temporary.

If Paige and Azzi are accepted as starters, then the only way that KK, Kaitlin Chen, or anyone else could be in the starting lineup is if UConn goes with a 3-guard lineup. At the beginning of the year, When Azzi and Aubrey may not be 100%, that is a reasonable option, but not afterwards. There are plenty of potential 3's on the roster (Caroline, Morgan, and Aubrey) who would offer more size and rebounding than a third guard, without any sacrifice in offensive production. Even Sarah could play the 3 and be a better option than a 3rd guard.

The depth chart for the 1 and 2 positions includes Paige, Azzi, KK, Ashlynn, and Allie already. That is a lot of injury insurance. Is it really fair to Kaitlin or anyone else to bring her in for yet more injury insurance? Or, if she turns out to be better than KK, Ashlynn, or Allie, is it fair to reduce their minutes to the vanishing point and make them into just injury insurance?

I agree that Paige's long-term position in the WNBA and other pro leagues is as a point guard. The reason Geno has played her off the ball is that UConn has been starved for other perimeter scoring threats. But (sans injuries) that will not be the case next season, so Paige should go back to her natural position, and UConn can take maximum advantage of her court vision.

 

[DEpup]

I'll keep my responses civil without shade unlike others.

In my opinion, DT is also a point guard and probably the best PG to never really play the position. I would argue that is Paige's path when you look at her size, scoring ability, facilitating skills, and just all around bball skill.

I personally would like her to mentally keep moving in that direction to develop her scorer's mentality and being off the ball helps that. She can do so much for a team without having the burdens of being the on paper PG.

And as a teacher, there is always an opportunity to grow and develop. Paige is amazing but perfection is a journey not a destination.

 

[HuskyNan]

This is a recruiting thread