UConn stats... Starters played really, really well against BC...

[DavidinNaples]

The formula for beautiful basketball probably doesn't include playing 14 different players, resting your starters for half the game and scheduling a tough opponent after only 10 days of practice. What stands out after the 84-67 victory over BC was just how well the starting group of KK, Ash, Azzi, Sarah and Serah played, in their limited 103 minutes. (Games have 200 combined minutes normally.) Consider the stats for the starters:

1. The starting five scored 67 points in only 103 minutes. BC scored 67 in the full 200 minutes.
2. UConn had 17 personal fouls, but the starters contributed only 2.
3. The game featured 19 turnovers by the Huskies, but only 5 by the original five.
4. The starters shot 26 of 37 from the field or 70.3%.
5. Of the 10 made threes, the starters had 9.
6. The subs shot 8 for 32 from the field or 25%.
7. The starters grabbed 17 of 37 rebounds and passed out 17 of the 29 assists.
8. Azzi had 20 pts in 23 minutes and Sarah scored 17 in 22 minutes. Even Serah added 15 pts in just 17 minutes.

The subs can be given plenty of slack for this first exhibition game. For 4 players it was their first UConn game. Two others (Carol, Yana) are playing after a long road back from injuries. The mix & match lineups, limited practice and first game nerves all impact performance. All that makes the starters stats even more impressive. The Southern Connecticut game is October 26th, in 12 days. Plenty of time to improve...

Go Huskies..!!

 

[EricLA]

The stats might have looked great, but I don't think KK was or Ash played "really really well". Not like they were in the NCAA's last season. I thought Azzi and Sarah looked like AA's. Serah was much better than I thought given Geno's comments about her offensive struggles. I thought Ash and KK were decent, but not great.

Just an exhibition game. Given that we lost to Columbia to start last season in the scrimmage, this was much better for sure.

 

[Centerstream]

It was good to see Ashlynn have a good shooting/scoring game as a starter. I think that it will be a really, really good thing if she continues this type of play. It will ease the scoring pressure that Azzi, Sarah and Serah will be under as the games begin. IMO.

 

[Skeets]

I knew the starting 5 had a really good game, but I didn't realize they out played the UConn bench by that extent. I'll give the bench some slack, but the starting 5? Wow!

 

[Jaydumo20]

The bench is gonna be the most exciting part about this team. I have a feeling we are going to see a ton of bench player time. By the end of the 3rd we'll be up by 30+ in 90% of our games. Welcome back to the early 2000s folks.

 

[JoePgh]

This is probably a "glass half empty" type of comment, but the game suggests to me that depth may be an issue for this team, except (atypically for UConn) in the front court positions. Kayleigh and Kelis were disappointing in the BC game -- hopefully this is temporary, but it was not what most of us expected (especially with respect to K-9). If Ashlynn is now going to be the starting "3" (which looks probable), then the shooting guard depth behind Azzi consists solely of Allie. She played pretty well (above expectations) against BC, but she was supposed to be third, not second, in the shooting guard depth chart.

The "hybrid" (3) position wasn't much better with respect to depth. I don't think Ashlynn is a natural at that position, although I think she will be competent at it (somewhat like Kelly Faris as a "4" about 10 years ago). Blanca certainly didn't play up to her press releases, and I don't think that will change very quickly. Caroline got far fewer minutes than I expected, and looked rusty, but she may shape up faster than Blanca at that wing position. Morgan is hors de combat for an unknown amount of time, and that now looks like more of a problem than it did before the BC game. If she can come back early in the season, she could be the answer to both depth issues (point guard and wing) because of her demonstrated versatility.

Depth in the front court seems to be as expected. "S?rah" in both incarnations looks as solid as we had hoped, and Jana and Ice are capable backups that can play both front court positions. Ayanna will knock the rust off and play at her freshman level before very long (maybe a month).

I certainly hope Morgan can come back sooner rather than later.

 

[fomalhaut]

People are reading an awful lot into the first practice game.

 

[HopJim]

This is probably a "glass half empty" type of comment, but the game suggests to me that depth may be an issue for this team, except (atypically for UConn) in the front court positions. Kayleigh and Kelis were disappointing in the BC game -- hopefully this is temporary, but it was not what most of us expected (especially with respect to K-9). If Ashlynn is now going to be the starting "3" (which looks probable), then the shooting guard depth behind Azzi consists solely of Allie. She played pretty well (above expectations) against BC, but she was supposed to be third, not second, in the shooting guard depth chart.

The "hybrid" (3) position wasn't much better with respect to depth. I don't think Ashlynn is a natural at that position, although I think she will be competent at it (somewhat like Kelly Faris as a "4" about 10 years ago). Blanca certainly didn't play up to her press releases, and I don't think that will change very quickly. Caroline got far fewer minutes than I expected, and looked rusty, but she may shape up faster than Blanca at that wing position. Morgan is hors de combat for an unknown amount of time, and that now looks like more of a problem than it did before the BC game. If she can come back early in the season, she could be the answer to both depth issues (point guard and wing) because of her demonstrated versatility.

Depth in the front court seems to be as expected. "S?rah" in both incarnations looks as solid as we had hoped, and Jana and Ice are capable backups that can play both front court positions. Ayanna will knock the rust off and play at her freshman level before very long (maybe a month).

I certainly hope Morgan can come back sooner rather than later.

Predict that Morgan will come back mid-year and be UConn's secret weapon by playoffs. UConn appears to have multiple players that can rebound or shoot but few can do both. At 6'2", Morgan has both assets as well as long arms to help on defense.

 

[ConnMotors]

Predict that Morgan will come back mid-year and be UConn's secret weapon by playoffs. UConn appears to have multiple players that can rebound or shoot but few can do both. At 6'2", Morgan has both assets as well as long arms to help on defense.

Sorry but, UConn doesn’t need a secret weapon this season. If Morgan my favorite player on this team was able to return at mid season she should think about taking a red shirt year. My opinion

 

[Bone Dog]

Watching the replay, I could really sense the pressure felt by everyone other than Azzi Sarah KK and Ash. I mean, picture it, there’s Geno pacing the sideline, running a hand through his hair like a menacing wizard brewing up a magic potion. This was the first chance for some of these kids to make an impression, and how could they not feel like any mistake would cost them something?

I imagine Kayleigh felt the pressure more than anyone. She has to know the backup pg spot is hers for the taking as things currently stand. But this probably only makes the pressure more intense. She really doesn’t want to disappoint on this stage. I have a feeling the next exhibition game we’ll see a much more composed performance from all these kids, and maybe Kayleigh most of all.