- Joined
- Jan 29, 2012
- Messages
- 3,564
- Reaction Score
- 17,263
IMHO Geno will definitely have Nika in the starting lineup!
Geno is extremely loyal!
Geno is extremely loyal!
Sorry, Paige is the best ball handler, furthermore, there is nothing on a basketball court except defense that Nika does better than Paige! No disrespect intended toward Nika, just fact. Now I freely admit Nika may start as Geno will obviously make that call. I just think Paige is better choice to start and Nika a better choice for “shock and awe” off the bench. For what it’s worth, I feel the same about Aubrey! Those two are capable of completely changing the flow of any game, which is what you want in really good bench players.Yes, I have Nika as the main 5 because Nika is the best ball handling player in this team and we need her. (Paige can be but we will see)
But Caroline has the experience and height advantage. So I think she will be first out the bench then comes Ayanna (6'2") or Jana El Alfy (6.4"). JMHO
This is probably the greatest line up in women's basketball history.. With the exception of Breanna, if these players would of played together at their prime, respectively, there isn't another team in the history of women's basketball that would beat them. To put it in perspective, if you assemble a counter team of Sheryl Swoops, Tina Thompson, Lisa leslie, Dawn Staley, and Cynthia Cooper, they still wouldn't beat this uconn line up. That speaks volume about the Uconn basketball program and how effectively they develop their players. Just my humble opinion.My 2024 line up
- Charles
- Stewart
- Moore
- Taurasi
- Bird
Nope, wrong. Since every possible combination will be covered between now and the first game, we all can't be wrong.Sorry, Paige is the best ball handler, furthermore, there is nothing on a basketball court except defense that Nika does better than Paige! No disrespect intended toward Nika, just fact. Now I freely admit Nika may start as Geno will obviously make that call. I just think Paige is better choice to start and Nika a better choice for “shock and awe” off the bench. For what it’s worth, I feel the same about Aubrey! Those two are capable of completely changing the flow of any game, which is what you want in really good bench players.
What really matters I that we have so much talent on this team that we all may be wrong about who starts!
This is spot on. Going further the issue is not who is the best point guard overall, that is Paige no doubt, so what. The issue is using Nika and Paige together vs. Paige with a wing like Caroline or Aubrey. Nika pushes the pace, Paige does not. Nika is largely a one position player, Paige can be exceptional at 1-3, so when in the game together, Nika at the point is a way better pairing than Paige as the PG and Nika trying to be a wing.UConns best game is the transition game, always has and always will. Watching the old games, Paige does not push the ball in most instances, usually performing her shuttle step jog up the floor. Nothing wrong with that, because her best game is the half court game. Nika provides the push in the offence, and besides, what is wrong with having two great passing guards on the floor at the same time. Paige's scoring is what we need this year, and the ability to run around without the ball can only help her chances of getting her best looks. Enter Nika, who last year showed she could get the ball to the right people at the right time. With Nika at the point, Paige and Azzi can use their energy to get open and let her get them the ball in those open spots.
Disagree with your concern related to other teams pressing us as it relates to Nika. In tOSU game this season, if Nika and Paige were both on the floor and Aaliyah wasn't sitting with foul trouble that press would have not been an issue, in fact it would allowed us to get easy transition buckets and tOSU would have quickly abandoned it. Nika at Point alongside Paige and Azzi with Aaliyah at the four and ? as the fifth starter will be our best and most dangerous starting lineup, IMO. If one of our other bigs shows they can play at the level of those four we will be an incredibly hard team to beat.Paige, Azzi, Edwards then Hmmmm. Brady because she can play the elbow with her outside shooting and her ability to bang inside with Aaliyah playing the foul line elbow area.
I know I know Nika has the record for assists but we proved we can be pressed by quicker teams. A big weakness was shown and other coaches we try to do the same. Only a few could be effective because of the personnel needed to press us. So i think Aubrey who can act as our defensive stopper for my fifth starter. Nika and Caroline first off the bench.
Nice work, @12in21. I don’t expect to see Aubrey play 30 mins next season. The wear n tear on her showed eventually this season. I think we’ll see 20 mins/g. In fact, I hope no one averages 30/g except maybe Aaliyah, and definitely not Nika. Wouldn’t it be great to see Aubrey not having to wear a back brace on the bench, or Nika not wearing all that ankle armor? And Caroline not wearing an ice pack on her head?I agree w/ Kaizen for the starting five of the first game w/ the possible exception of Aubrey. If Ice or Jana show they are ready I believe one of them will get the nod at the five and Aaliyah will stay at the 4. Minutes will obviously adjust for individual players, but I did a summary of production for the OP's starting five and Caroline 1st sub, based on all except Paige's 22-23 stats (Paige's 20-21 stats are included, her best season). For Nika. Aaliyah, Aubrey 22-23 was their best season for all of their primary stats, Caroline, Azzi and Paige had better performances in certain stats other seasons as noted with an *. (see pdf attached)
The summary shows total minutes of 186.9 for those six, scoring 77.8/game with 30.5 rebs/game and 20.6 assists/game. 13.1 minutes remain unassigned. With probable minute adjustments among those shown the reserve minutes beyond Carolines would probably be closer to 20 minutes/game. With no true center included in the six shown we can assume rebounds would increase with some minutes going to other bigs . I believe that both assists and points per game would also be greater than this projection, based on the combination of varied talent Geno can have on the floor together both as starters and coming in off the bench. If healthy, we haven't seen this much potential in a number of years.
It's not that he's loyal, it's that Geno, whom I think most on this board would acknowledge is a really smart basketball guy, has repeatedly said what he thinks Nika brings to the team. Why would he leave the player who he says "believes she can do anything and makes everyone around her believe it too" on the bench? Why would he leave the player who lights a fire under the team on the bench?IMHO Geno will definitely have Nika in the starting lineup!
Geno is extremely loyal!
Whoaaaa. You're talking about 5 Hall of Famers here. ALL 5 would tear your heart out and shove it back in through another orifice. These 5 in their prime together would be extremely tough to beat five on five. I'd bet money if they were on a USA Olympic Team together IN THEIR PRIME, they would completely blow away the competition.This is probably the greatest line up in women's basketball history.. With the exception of Breanna, if these players would of played together at their prime, respectively, there isn't another team in the history of women's basketball that would beat them. To put it in perspective, if you assemble a counter team of Sheryl Swoops, Tina Thompson, Lisa leslie, Dawn Staley, and Cynthia Cooper, they still wouldn't beat this uconn line up. That speaks volume about the Uconn basketball program and how effectively they develop their players. Just my humble opinion.
This is my guess as well. When possible Geno would rather have his experienced players out there, and this line up is basically all 4th and 5th year players except for Azzi.Year 2023-2024 can be one of the best women basketball team in UConn history.
My guess of the starting five:
-Paige Bueckers
-Azzi Fudd
-Aaliyah Edwards
-Nika Mühl
-Aubrey Griffin
First out bench: Caroline Ducharme
That's right!!Nope, wrong. Since every possible combination will be covered between now and the first game, we all can't be wrong.
I can guarantee that the starting 5 will be the 5 that earned it in practice.
I'm afraid short of injuries like in the last two years, it is hard to find playing time for her even if she improves a great deal. She is probably the 4th best PG option behind Paige, Nika and KK, and KK may not get much time herself. As for the other two small positions two other players who may not be used much at least in their first year, Ashlynn and Q would probably also project to be ahead of her.Where’s the love for Inês? What happens if her sophomore jump is higher than the other player's improvement?
Another one bites the dust...
Whose minutes would you reduce so Ines can play more? Paige? Certainly not. Azzi? No. Nika? I don't care how much Ines may improve, she's not going to surpass those 3.Where’s the love for Inês? What happens if her sophomore jump is higher than the other player's improvement?
Another one bites the dust...