UCONN's Big Three for 2022-23 season

[RockyMTblue2]

It constantly amazes me how, on almost every post, people sleep on Amari. I think her improvement and contributions at the post will be the single most critical element in this team development. I've said this before, but it seems I'm saying it in a desert.

@JordyG I think it is obvious why people sleep on Amari. That includes me. I think we are all dying to be big fans, but she dug a hole at the end of the bench last year. Where is her head really now. They all know how to talk the talk, so I think we are waiting for some game performance to make us big believers. She's had the body all along, but needs her head in the game. I think she is going to deliver.

 

[cgshuskie]

I think Ayanna and Ice will push Amari into the forefront, if nothing else. Not literally, but by their effort, heart and grit. She can't remain in the background for another year! Let's go Huskies

 

[oldude]

I’ve made these comments previously relative to Amari. Bigs typically take more time to develop, and in Amari’s case we are talking about a player who’s entire senior season in HS was wiped out because of Covid, leaving her behind most of the freshman class.

While Amari’s PT was limited, what I saw in those minutes she did play is a Big with good hands, passing skills and a shooting touch out to the 3-pt line. Amari needed to improve her fitness level and develop her low post skills at both ends of the court, something that she made a significant commitment to accomplishing by spending the entire summer in Storrs working with Andrea Hudy and the coaching staff.

As UConn fans, I don’t think we can ask for more from Amari in terms of her commitment to improve. In a little more than a month we’ll get a much better look at Amari the basketball player. But from the pictures we’ve already seen, Amari is leaner and fitter than ever. I for one am expecting big things from Amari this coming season.

 

[cgshuskie]

Ditto Oldude

 

[Bone Dog]

While Amari’s PT was limited, what I saw in those minutes she did play is a Big with good hands, passing skills and a shooting touch out to the 3-pt line. Amari needed to improve her fitness level and develop her low post skills at both ends of the court,

I agree. The low post skills you mention looked to many of us like a lack of assertiveness in the paint, or seeming confused about how to play D. I also share your confidence that she'll have improved in these areas when we see her next.

I was particularly impressed by Amari's hands, her passing skills and her shooting touch. In these respects, she's a lot like Dorka, and can learn a lot from her. And like Dorka, she can hit from the perimeter, not like Azzi of course, but well enough to force a big to defend her out there, which is more or less what Dorka's perimeter shooting is like. This is something Liv and Aaliyah were not able to do. I suspect Ice will be able to.