UConn's Transfer Paradox

[Carnac]

I think @Tonyc is going award the official Kibitzer Bad Ass Award. That feels right to me.

Yes, me too.

 

[Boreifs]

Observation: Threads about post players talk about 2 or 3 posts playing together. Threads about perimeter players talk about 3 or even 4 guards on the floor together. Our wings are being squeezed from both directions.

Most of this talk is due to the wealth of talent and the size of the roster which isn't a bad thing but something will have to give.

The issue may be terminology. Wing is most often used in a 1-2-2 set that features one point, two wings and two posts, whereas guards usually reference a 2-2-1 ( two guards, two forwards, one center). Distinguishing between a wing and a guard in the modern game is an exercise in frustration, particularly with all the five out offensive sets currently popular with so many coaches who have no size on their teams.

 

[Skeets]

Yeah, and his post game thread has become a “staple” here in the yard. I like to watch our games and be in the chat room at the same time. I enjoy reading the thoughts and concerns of those in the room. No one else in my family is a UConn fan, so I always watch the games alone. I like reading the observations of other UConn fans in real time.

Once the game is over, I head to OD‘s post game thread for further analysis from him and the rest of the regulars. Right after a game, it’s the place to be. I’ve already told him he’s created a monster.

With the Kibitzer’s unfortunate and untimely passing, I would like to see one of our regulars pick up Kib’s “Bad Ass of the game award“ baton and keep it going in his memory. The memorial Kibitzer Bad Ass of the game award.

It’s funny how a poster can start something like Kib did and it takes off. It too has become a staple in the yard. Maybe OD can incorporate the bad ass of the game into his post game analysis.

Maybe thread "owners", i.e. badass, post game, recruiting, moderator humor , etc. should be tacked to the top of the forum so that others don't accidentally step on thread domains. Because as you know, you need to be careful where you step in the yard

 

[The CDR-Ret]

Maybe thread "owners", i.e. badass, post game, recruiting, moderator humor , etc. should be tacked to the top of the forum so that others don't accidentally step on thread domains. Because as you know, you need to be careful where you step in the yard

Nicely done!

Don't want to track it around all over the place....

 

[MooseJaw]

I think that Liv, Aaliyah, and Dorka will all be vitally needed to cover the 4 and 5 slots for the simple reason that all of them are foul prone, and may not be able to play more than 20 to 25 minutes without getting into foul trouble. Caroline may also be part of this rotation for the same reason -- and I expect her to be foul prone also since she is not as agile as many of the players that she will be guarding. Hopefully it means that they can all play aggressively and not worry too much about fouling, since there are capable players who can sub in for them. So I think the minutes at the 4 and 5 positions will sort themselves out based on this consideration alone.

The player who may lose out on minutes is Aubrey, whose natural position is on the wing, but she needs a reliable jump shot if she is to play there. The same can be said of Mir.

I expect Paige, Azzi, and Nika to fill the minutes in the backcourt, and for Christyn and Evina to do the same for the wing with occasional help from Caroline / Aubrey / Mir.

I think Amari and Piath will probably get mop-up minutes, unfortunately.

You play for Geno you don't foul. Liv has been an exception so far, partly because of team makeup partly, I don't know the other side of the partly hope someone else can fill in the blank for me. One thing for certain, Geno's stance on fouls won't change even with the addition of more quality players.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Remember that DJ was out with CoViD and the recovery for wind capacity takes a while. I believe that residual issues that took to the end of the regular season to fully recover is what threw off her 3 pt shooting percentage. I think she will be closer to the accuracy of her sophomore year than last year...

Can't wait unitl they BATTLE!!!! (for Atlantis)

I expect her to be a better quality shooter because she'll have better quality shots because she'll have better quality teammates because UConn.

 

[Gus Mahler]

And remember, the triple towers concept is not one GA has to use consistently. Maybe only 2-3 times this year when they’re playing a team close, and can’t pull away, having difficulty making stops, and one of the opponent’s players is having a “career” game or in a zone like Chelsea Dungee (Arkansas) was against us. In a scenario of that nature, triple towers may be just what the doctor ordered.

And the 2 or 3 times a year (I would root for a few more) would give opponents something additional to prep for come tournament time.

I wonder who is the better shot blocker , AE or Amari.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I think @Tonyc is going award the official Kibitzer Bad Ass Award. That feels right to me.

I don't disagree but I'll nominate @RockyMTblue2 for consideration.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm flattered @Gus Mahler but that sounds dangerously like work.

 

[JoePgh]

You play for Geno you don't foul. Liv has been an exception so far, partly because of team makeup partly, I don't know the other side of the partly hope someone else can fill in the blank for me. One thing for certain, Geno's stance on fouls won't change even with the addition of more quality players.

Geno has had to tolerate quite a bit of fouling by his big players, especially in their freshman and sophomore years when they are learning techniques. Do you remember when Stef played in her second college game against Brittany Griner and fouled out in 8 minutes? Tina Charles was a foul machine in her early years, and even Stewie was foul prone in her early years. Aaliyah Edwards fouled a lot last year and it was tolerated -- because she was a freshman and because her play was needed. But she fouled out against Arkansas in minimal minutes, and missed the whole fourth quarter. Both Liv and Aaliyah had 4 fouls in the Baylor game, and either of them could easily have gotten a 5th foul on The Call at the end of the game. In that case, UConn might have had to play an overtime period without one of them.

Even if the player is experienced, the nature of post play leads to fouls -- direct contact, jostling for position for passes and then for rebounding position, shot block attempts. UConn's post players have been no exception to that. So it will be an unaccustomed luxury this year if there are more than two post players with sufficient size and skill to cover the 4 and 5 positions.

 

[cbraarj]

Liv will lose minutes this year. If Dorka plays like a first team player the way she did at Ohio State she will get the minutes.I can see Liv losing out on her starting position just like Paige did in 2000.

 

[Bald Husky]

I understand the concept. But think the idea of playing all 3 of them together for more than a short period of time isn't realistic for a few reasons.
1 -- If the high low is a focus you are ignoring two of the greatest midrange shooters in UConn's history.
2 -- The high post defender sags into the middle cutting off passes and giving liv open shots all day. Liv Shooting 17 footers is defensive coaches dream. (any combination of NM, PB, , CW, EW, DJ, AE and Liv, Liv is my least desired shooter form 17 and out)
3 -- It doesn't take into consideration the defensive aspect of matching up against smaller quicker players.
4 -- According to current knowledge it doesn't provide a viable substitution pattern without a substantial drop off in production.

While it is an interesting concept in a vacuum, I don't think it is practical for this UConn team.

The only way I would want to set up high/low is off screens to wings. Let Aaliyah come up to set a screen for Paige/Azzi and then back door the defender cut to the hoop. Once successful, that forces Aaliyah's defender to play the screens straight up allowing for either a shooter cut off the screen getting the ball from Liv or a pick and roll with the shooter.

The three trees together would be basically for defensive rebounds, letting the guards stay outside for fast break possibilities. On offense, AE and DJ would be constantly moving in and out, with AE on the wing for the 12 footer, while DJ moves around the 3 Pt line. ONO has shown that she is a capable rim protector, while the others can explore other options. AE and DJ will still be involved on the boards, but ONO will be the low post defender. This line up will work well against teams like Stanford who always sign players of size.

 

[huskeynut]

And remember, the triple towers concept is not one GA has to use consistently. Maybe only 2-3 times this year when they’re playing a team close, and can’t pull away, having difficulty making stops, and one of the opponent’s players is having a “career” game or in a zone like Chelsea Dungee (Arkansas) was against us. In a scenario of that nature, triple towers may be just what the doctor ordered.

In my post, I did not allude to using the triple towers a lot. However, if you have the potential for 3 bigs in at the same time, you don't dismiss it because of an abundance of very good guards. Its an option you use sparingly. You work through it in practice. Geno has done it before, as I mentioned.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I can see the triple towers as a way to get Amari a few minutes on the floor. It would avoid her having to play man-to-man and possibly some rough and tumble. The 2014 TT was so much fun because all three could block shots. not that Geno is obliged to coach for my viewing enjoyment. Also, I don't have a handle on what kind of shot blocker DJ is.

Fun to think about.

 

[Purchase1]

Couldnt think of another place to put this info but morgan valley has recently followed Florida guard Lavendar Briggs who just recently entered the transfer portal.

 

[oldude]

Couldnt think of another place to put this info but morgan valley has recently followed Florida guard Lavendar Briggs who just recently entered the transfer portal.

Interesting, particularly when added to the fact that Florida HC Cam Newbauer just resigned for “personal reasons.” The 6’1” Briggs was the Gator’s leading scorer at 20.1 ppg before a foot injury ended her season.

 

[HuskylnSC]

The three trees together would be basically for defensive rebounds, letting the guards stay outside for fast break possibilities. On offense, AE and DJ would be constantly moving in and out, with AE on the wing for the 12 footer, while DJ moves around the 3 Pt line. ONO has shown that she is a capable rim protector, while the others can explore other options. AE and DJ will still be involved on the boards, but ONO will be the low post defender. This line up will work well against teams like Stanford who always sign players of size.

you are still talking about something that would be used rarely (you named one opponent) and for a short duration. It's not worth the time this post has taken.

 

[Dwilliams02]

Unpopular opinion: this thread is a very good read. And this UConn team is very intriguing. Gonna be fun to watch them

 

[Alydar]

The beauty of having 3 posts is being to have 2 on the court at all times when you are playing in elite games, especially when one of them is as versatile as Edwards.

 

[Bald Husky]

you are still talking about something that would be used rarely (you named one opponent) and for a short duration. It's not worth the time this post has taken.

Good, so you don't have to read this. I'm not stupid enough to think it would be used at all times. This is just a scenario that can be used if needed, and I don't need to justify my opinion. Geno has endless possibilities and if the need is there, it is there. [ ]

 

[CocoHusky]

Interesting, particularly when added to the fact that Florida HC Cam Newbauer just resigned for “personal reasons.” The 6’1” Briggs was the Gator’s leading scorer at 20.1 ppg before a foot injury ended her season.

Briggs would really be in interesting transfer paradox for UCONN. On the positive side she has WNBA potential, is a relentless offensive force that can create her own shot and moves very well within the half court sets. Similar to the comment made about Dorka, Briggs will be an improved player simply by playing with better teammates. Also on the positive she has good mid range, good/great guard post up skills, and for a guard she is a monster on the boards and averaged 15+ then 20+ PPG playing in the SEC. On the down side let's call it what it is she is a medium accuracy, high volume shooter who is used to playing 35 minutes per game and shooting the ball 16+ times per game. As currently constructed I don't envision her getting half that many minutes or FGA/G at UCONN.
With all that said I'd still think UCONN should grab if she wants to come. Next year UCONN loses Evina and likely Christyn Williams as well. Personally I like the though of Briggs-who will be a established 3 year collegiate player competing for a starting position on the wing.

 

[oldude]

Briggs would really be in interesting transfer paradox for UCONN. On the positive side she has WNBA potential, is a relentless offensive force that can create her own shot and moves very well within the half court sets. Similar to the comment made about Dorka, Briggs will be an improved player simply by playing with better teammates. Also on the positive she has good mid range, good/great guard post up skills, and for a guard she is a monster on the boards and averaged 15+ then 20+ PPG playing in the SEC. On the down side let's call it what it is she is a medium accuracy, high volume shooter who is used to playing 35 minutes per game and shooting the ball 16+ times per game. As currently constructed I don't envision her getting half that many minutes or FGA/G at UCONN.
With all that said I'd still think UCONN should grab if she wants to come. Next year UCONN loses Evina and likely Christyn Williams as well. Personally I like the though of Briggs-who will be a established 3 year collegiate player competing for a starting position on the wing.

I also view Briggs as potentially having a greater impact in 2022-23, assuming E & Christyn head to the pros. She could be even more important if Rice commits elsewhere, leaving UConn with only 3 true guards: Paige, Nika and Azzi, all of whom could be starting in 2022-23.

 

[Florida Fan]

Yup. Totally agree. There was an article out there that I believe Liv told the freshmen she wishes it was this competitive when she was a freshman. She clearly hasn’t had a chance to go through that at practice or had any one really challenge her. Sometimes I think people think her ceiling is much higher than what it is or that she needs to be a bruiser when she’ll always be a finesse player. However I do think she has a tons of room for improvement and hopefully this year she is pushed to that.

It's great if Liv is going to be pushed for playing minutes. If Aubrey is being forced to shoot in practice, Liv must shoot 1000 times to master the fall-a-way and the foul-shot jumper. Aubrey will only be a bonefide WNBA prospect if she too developes a reliable outside shot. With that asset, plus her speed and athleticism, the sky is the limit. It could happen in the future, but would't it be wonderful for Aubrey, and the team, if she blossomed now.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

"... particularly against teams like SC and Stanford"

What do you think of this against SC and Stanford? Playing Liv in the high post for her passing talents and intermediate range jumper while playing Dorka and Aaliyah at the low post for there aggressive rebounding and strong finishing at the basket. The three pointers can be provided by potentially the team's best 3pt shooters, Paige, Azzi, and Caroline, to spread the floor and open up the key for Dorka, Aaliyah, and Liv. It isn't as though these players will always be on the floor. It also depends on Azzi's and Caroline's reaction the college game's speed and contact. "E" and CW will see lots of playing time but when it is obvious there is a need to spread the floor and open up the key then bring in the snipers Paige, Azzi, and Caroline.

just my view, but I don't think ONO is one you necessarily have to play, but in fairness it's hard to tell before you get a look at the newcomers.