Per the Cayman Island release of schedule, looks like they'll be playing two good teams (shame on the defending chamo lsu playing virginia and Niagara. But I guess it worked last year). First UCLA, then Kansas who returns a lot of starters and won the NIT. Tried to update the chart above.Just for fun/best guess, as we are still around 2.5 months away: potential starting lineups of uconn (not trying to be controversial jk) + each of most of the teams in the poll
Uconn @Texas @South Carolina Notre Dame UNC (Mohegan) @UMD @NC State UCLA(potential opp/ Caymand Islands) HC/ESPN Too Early Top 25 # Geno/1 Vic Schaefer/20 Dawn Staley/ 8 Niele Ivy/10 Courtney Banghart/19 Brenda Frese/17 Wes Moore/NR Cori Close/2 Center AE Taylor Jones Kamila Cardoso Kylee Watson Maria Gakdeng Allie Kubek River Baldwin Lauren Betts PF Aubrey Deyona Gaston Sania Feagin Maddy Westbeld Teonni Key Faith Masonius Mimi Collins Emily Bessoir SF Paige Shay Holle Bre Hall Cassandre Prosper Alyssa Utsby Lavander Briggs Madison Hayes Camryn Brown SG Azzi Shaylee Gonzalez Te'Hina Papao Sonia Citron Lexi Donarski Jakia Brown Turner Sania Rivers Charisma Osborne PG Nika Rori Harmon Raven Johnson Olivia Miles Deja Kelly Shyanne Sellers Zoe Brooks Kiki Rice 6th Woman Caroline Madison Booker Chloe Kitts H.Hidalgo Paulina Paris Brinae Alexander Aziah James Londynn Jones
Some notes:
*Since the game vs ND is later in the season, I think (crossing fingers) Olivia Miles should be healthy by that time.
*Conversely, against Texas, I probably would've put Aliyah Moore in the starting lineup but not sure if she will be 100 percent by that time. She suffered a torn ACL on December 11th last year. I think she will probably play but not sure if she'll be herself until hopefully February or March. Nevertheless, Texas was kinda hard to gauge. I think Shaylee, Rori and Gaston will definitely start. Last year Faye started more than Jones, but Jones dealt with quite a bit of injuries which has been somewhat of an unfortunate reoccurence in her career. I think Booker is super talented and should start day 1, but Holle is a senior, who plays super hard, so I could see Vic going with her.
*Similar to last year, I have no idea what Maryland is going to do with their starting lineup. They have a ton of wings, but really no bigs or point guards. I'm hoping Kubek, comes back string after getting hurt last year.
*I'm worried about NC State. They've been a perennial top 20 team. They were down a bit last year, and I think their roster got worse. But they do have some incoming freshman that I had no idea how to slot, but seem to be pretty highly touted.
This chart right here is why I think SC or Tennessee, frankly, could win the SEC. LSU, for all that talent, don't have a PG and Hailey Van Lith is a streaky shooter. So, no PG and suspect outside shooting could be troublesome, especially since Morrow and Reese are the same player.Just for fun/best guess, as we are still around 2.5 months away: potential starting lineups of uconn (not trying to be controversial jk) + each of most of the teams in the poll
Uconn @Texas @South Carolina Notre Dame UNC (Mohegan) @UMD @NC State LSU(potential opp/ Caymand Islands) HC/ESPN Too Early Top 25 # Geno/1 Vic Schaefer/20 Dawn Staley/ 8 Niele Ivy/10 Courtney Banghart/19 Brenda Frese/17 Wes Moore/NR Kim Mulkey/2 Center AE Taylor Jones Kamila Cardoso Kylee Watson Maria Gakdeng Allie Kubek River Baldwin Angel Reese PF Aubrey Deyona Gaston Sania Feagin Maddy Westbeld Teonni Key Faith Masonius Mimi Collins Aneesa Morrow SF Paige Shay Holle Bre Hall Cassandre Prosper Alyssa Utsby Lavander Briggs Madison Hayes Mikaylah Williams SG Azzi Shaylee Gonzalez Te'Hina Papao Sonia Citron Lexi Donarski Jakia Brown Turner Sania Rivers Flau'jae Johnson PG Nika Rori Harmon Raven Johnson Olivia Miles Deja Kelly Shyanne Sellers Zoe Brooks Hailey Van Lith 6th Woman Caroline Madison Booker Chloe Kitts H.Hidalgo Paulina Paris Brinae Alexander Aziah James Kateri Poole
Some notes:
*Since the game vs ND is later in the season, I think (crossing fingers) Olivia Miles should be healthy by that time.
*Conversely, against Texas, I probably would've put Aliyah Moore in the starting lineup but not sure if she will be 100 percent by that time. She suffered a torn ACL on December 11th last year. I think she will probably play but not sure if she'll be herself until hopefully February or March. Nevertheless, Texas was kinda hard to gauge. I think Shaylee, Rori and Gaston will definitely start. Last year Faye started more than Jones, but Jones dealt with quite a bit of injuries which has been somewhat of an unfortunate reoccurence in her career. I think Booker is super talented and should start day 1, but Holle is a senior, who plays super hard, so I could see Vic going with her.
*Similar to last year, I have no idea what Maryland is going to do with their starting lineup. They have a ton of wings, but really no bigs or point guards. I'm hoping Kubek, comes back string after getting hurt last year.
*I'm worried about NC State. They've been a perennial top 20 team. They were down a bit last year, and I think their roster got worse. But they do have some incoming freshman that I had no idea how to slot, but seem to be pretty highly touted.
My best guess at our 13 healthy players potential scoring averages for the 2023-2024 season.
It will vary game-to-game according to minutes played. I may be undercutting some players!
KK Arnold 8
Aaliyah Edwards 20 (will average a double/double with rebounds)
Qadence Samuels 8
Paige Bueckers 24
Nika Muhl 6
Ashlynn Shade 8
Ines Bettencourt 6
Ice Brady 6
Caroline Ducharme 10
Ayanna Patterson 4
Azzi Fudd 25
Amari DeBerry 3
Audrey Griffin 14
Total: 142 potential points but obviously each game will dictate the points scored!
Jana El Alfy would have gone for about 10 points per game with about 8 rebounds per game.
Just my opinion! Don't shoot the messenger!
Geew1992- - - No I'm predicting each players potential average points per game!Wait......... I'm confused. You're saying Nika and Ines will have the same amount of minutes? I can't stand behind this at all
Geew1992- - - No I'm predicting each players potential average points per game!
And how powerful UCONN will be this year!
I said, "My best guess at our 13 healthy players potential SCORING AVERAGES for the 2023-2024 season"!
That could be Amari's chance to shine.I just changed my vote to other. I'm thinking UCLA now.
Looking forward to seeing sophomore Lauren Betts, who will likely be much improved and getting more playing time.
This is a real question for many future BONEYARD threads!Can uconn defend ucla guards? will uconn double team betts?
I’ll call your Lauren Betts and raise you one Geno Auriemma! Sure, she’s 6’7” but Geno will have something for Miss Betts.Maybe we should re-do this question with the Cayman Island addition of
UCLA / Laurne Betts. I chose "other" , not because I see UCLA as equal to
some of these teams, but the "unequal" variable of 6' 7 " is a real issue!
The converse is an issue, too. I'd take Paige, Nika, Azzi, KK, Ashlynn, and Ines over Rice, Osborne, and Jones.Can uconn defend ucla guards? will uconn double team betts?
We shall see if they can defend those shifty guards of uclaThe converse is an issue, too. I'd take Paige, Nika, Azzi, KK, Ashlynn, and Ines over Rice, Osborne, and Jones.
Tournament.But lsu isn’t on the schedule.
Front line depth and physical play is a major concern. The script since the last time UConn won a Title is to force us to be a jump shooting team by being physical. That's how you beat UConn. Unfortunately, I don't think that' dynamic has changed. Losing Jana was a major blow to inside depth. AE is the only proven post player right now.
Will Brady a freshman be ready as a freshman?No one is going to pack the paint with Bueckers & Fudd. UConn has a wealth of 3pt shooters. Brady will give UConn their best paint presence since Stokes left.
Over the years the successful opponents have taken away UConn's passing lanes, disrupting the motion offense. With both Bueckers and Fudd UConn has players who can not only create their own shots but make them at a very high %.
Fowlball- - - UCONN will have no problem with UCLA!We shall see if they can defend those shifty guards of ucla
Fowlball- - Aaliyah will have Brady's back down low!Will Brady a freshman be ready as a freshman?
Fowlball- - Aaliyah will have Brady's back down low!
UCONN's guards will disrupt opponents offenses enough to help out their bigs!
Geno will make sure the post will be covered!
We shall see if they can defend those shifty guards of ucl
Will Brady a freshman be ready as a freshman?
Interesting you think ucla is overrated I believe they will be one uconn biggest challenges along with sc because of they massive post players that demand double teams.I don’t know much about Jones, but Osborne is very inconsistent, shoots very poorly, and though she occasionally has big games, she has to take an awful lot of shots to get there. Rice too, though lionized by ESPN, seems to have trouble making the ball go through the hoop, especially from behind the line, though in fairnes, she shoots a higher percentage from two than Osborne. We’ll see, but IMO UCLA is way overrated and while they have some nice pieces, I am skeptical as to Close’s ability to successfully step up in class! I do think Betts could be a big star in the making but am unconvinced that Close will be able to fully develop what appears to be a real talent, to it’s fullest potential!
I'm really looking forward to that matchup. As a Texas fan I hope we continue to play UConn every year in non-conference. The Huskies will always let you know whether you've got a squad or not. Much respect for Geno, his staff, and the program they've built over the past three decades. In my mind they are STILL the gold standard that everyone want to meet. Good luck to you guys this coming season!I think folks are really underestimating Texas