Updated: UConn Lineup

[bbballfan23]

PG- CD (CW)
SG- MW (MC)
SF- Lou (Lou)
PF-Pheesa (Pheesa)
C- ONO (BC)

Backups are in ( ). As you can see Lou & Pheesa won’t be coming out much, nor will CD as long as she’s healthy.

Call me crazy but I think this team can win it all still. We will certainly miss Gabby, Z & Kia but how much more did we think we would miss Stewie, Mo & Tuck?? When people leave it presents an opportunity for someone else talented to step up.

I fully expect Pheesa & Lou to be close to 20-23 ppg next season. More defined roles now, less expectations. This team is going to be dangerous. I’ll be the person returning in December saying “I told you so...”

 

[Sonny44]

You are crazy. You asked for it.

 

[Eggman]

PG- CD (CW)
SG- MW (MC)
SF- Lou (Lou)
PF-Pheesa (Pheesa)
C- ONO (BC)

Backups are in ( ). As you can see Lou & Pheesa won’t be coming out much, nor will CD as long as she’s healthy.

Call me crazy but I think this team can win it all still. We will certainly miss Gabby, Z & Kia but how much more did we think we would miss Stewie, Mo & Tuck?? When people leave it presents an opportunity for someone else talented to step up.

I fully expect Pheesa & Lou to be close to 20-23 ppg next season. More defined roles now, less expectations. This team is going to be dangerous. I’ll be the person returning in December saying “I told you so...”

We did miss Stewie, Mo and Tuck. How many championships since they left? Gabby and Kia were the heart and soul of the team and the defensive pressure. Expect a pretty big drop next year.

 

[VAMike23]

It's still a great lineup, but with ONO as the big wild card, as well as MW and Williams.

We'll see how much ONO improves by tournament time - huge upside, but frosh will be frosh ... so who knows?

Should be a fun season. Huge proven talent coupled with huge unproven talent. I'm game!

 

[bbballfan23]

We did miss Stewie, Mo and Tuck. How many championships since they left? Gabby and Kia were the heart and soul of the team and the defensive pressure. Expect a pretty big drop next year.

That’s not the point. No one on here gave us a fighting chance either & we were favored heading into the FF that year. You have to get a little bit lucky to win it all, just ask ND & SC. Who knows, maybe we will find our luck next year in Orlando!

 

[oldude]

Don’t know about ONO as a starter from Day 1, if at all. If she becomes a starter it will take time, and a lot of work with CD to refine her game. Maybe by midseason, but I think there’s just as good a possibility that UConn goes small with CW as the 5th starter.

 

[Golden Husky]

PG- CD (CW)
SG- MW (MC)
SF- Lou (Lou)
PF-Pheesa (Pheesa)
C- ONO (BC)

Backups are in ( ). As you can see Lou & Pheesa won’t be coming out much, nor will CD as long as she’s healthy.

Call me crazy but I think this team can win it all still. We will certainly miss Gabby, Z & Kia but how much more did we think we would miss Stewie, Mo & Tuck?? When people leave it presents an opportunity for someone else talented to step up.

I fully expect Pheesa & Lou to be close to 20-23 ppg next season. More defined roles now, less expectations. This team is going to be dangerous. I’ll be the person returning in December saying “I told you so...”

Suggestion, since it's going to come up quite often: Let's refer to Gabby, Z & Kia as GaZia.

 

[Vowelguy]

UConn Roster:

SR = KLS, Collier
JR = CD, Batouly, Irwin, Bent
SO = Walker, Coombs, Gordon
FR = Williams, Ono​

The playing time will be there. Hopefully some kids will step up and demand it (thru their effort).

 

[Wbbfan1]

Perhaps Geno will Call Anriel Howard formerly of Texas A&M who's leaving as she is graduating in 3 years. She could be a Gruaduate Transfer and eligible to play right away. She wants to go to a school that can win a National Championship. She is from Atlanta, will probably be hard to get her to come this far north.

Anriel Howard - 2017-18 Women's Basketball Roster - Texas A&M University Athletics Department

 

[Vowelguy]

Perhaps Geno will Call Anriel Howard formerly of Texas A&M who's leaving as she is graduating in 3 years. She could be a Gruaduate Transfer and eligible to play right away.

Doubt it.

There's not much teaching involved bc she is only there for one year. For a coach who is very focused on doing things in a particular way, I'm not sure there's the time horizon he would want/need.

 

[eebmg]

Perhaps Geno will Call Anriel Howard formerly of Texas A&M who's leaving as she is graduating in 3 years. She could be a Gruaduate Transfer and eligible to play right away. She wants to go to a school that can win a National Championship. She is from Atlanta, will probably be hard to get her to come this far north.

Anriel Howard - 2017-18 Women's Basketball Roster - Texas A&M University Athletics Department

Perhaps being in Chennedy's shadow could have been an issue as well? Probably Miss St or SC. She would be a great get for either school I imagine.

 

[bballnut90]

PG- CD (CW)
SG- MW (MC)
SF- Lou (Lou)
PF-Pheesa (Pheesa)
C- ONO (BC)

Backups are in ( ). As you can see Lou & Pheesa won’t be coming out much, nor will CD as long as she’s healthy.

Call me crazy but I think this team can win it all still. We will certainly miss Gabby, Z & Kia but how much more did we think we would miss Stewie, Mo & Tuck?? When people leave it presents an opportunity for someone else talented to step up.

I fully expect Pheesa & Lou to be close to 20-23 ppg next season. More defined roles now, less expectations. This team is going to be dangerous. I’ll be the person returning in December saying “I told you so...”

They are more than capable of winning it all. I'd have them penciled in as the #2 team after ND. Still have 2 returning AAs, Dangerfield, plus the last two #1 recruits. If MW makes the standard sophomore jump that so many UCONN kids do (ex. Dangerfield, KML, Jefferson, Stewart, KLS, Collier, DT, etc.) then UCONN will have a whopping 4 AA candidates between her, Dangerfield, Collier and KLS. Not to mention CW and ONO. If you look at HS rankings, UCONN is hands down the most talented team in the country with three #1 recruits, a #3 recruit, #5 recruit and #6 recruit. Notre Dame's likely starting 5, for comparison, is #2, #3, #10, #11, and #24.

UCONN hasn't lost a game to a buzzer beater was 5 years ago when Stewart was an up and down freshman. Sure, the decks aren't stacked on UCONN quite as heavily as they've been the last few years, but I don't see how anyone thinks they aren't going to be an overwhelming favorite to make their 12th straight Final Four and a huge threat to win it all.

 

[oldude]

Doubt it.

There's not much teaching involved bc she is only there for one year. For a coach who is very focused on doing things in a particular way, I'm not sure there's the time horizon he would want/need.

Except that Howard is the closest thing to a UConn player on TX A&M. She plays tough defense, is a tremendous rebounder and has some Gabulous athleticism. For one season as a plug-in for the now departed Z, I would love to see Howard in a Husky uniform next season.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

They are more than capable of winning it all. I'd have them penciled in as the #2 team after ND. Still have 2 returning AAs, Dangerfield, plus the last two #1 recruits. If MW makes the standard sophomore jump that so many UCONN kids do (ex. Dangerfield, KML, Jefferson, Stewart, KLS, Collier, DT, etc.) then UCONN will have a whopping 4 AA candidates between her, Dangerfield, Collier and KLS. Not to mention CW and ONO. If you look at HS rankings, UCONN is hands down the most talented team in the country with three #1 recruits, a #3 recruit, #5 recruit and #6 recruit. Notre Dame's likely starting 5, for comparison, is #2, #3, #10, #11, and #24.

They had a whopping six all-american candidates this past year, and lose arguably the best all-around player in the sport. But even Gabby Williams wasn't a great player until her junior season. What is the likelihood of Megan Walker becoming an all-american as a sophomore?

I'd start the team about 8th in the rankings.

 

[MilfordHusky]

They had a whopping six all-american candidates this past year, and lose arguably the best all-around player in the sport. But even Gabby Williams wasn't a great player until her junior season. What is the likelihood of Megan Walker becoming an all-american as a sophomore?

I'd start the team about 8th in the rankings.

I don’t see Meg as an AA next year, but I’d compare her with sophomore Gabby or Tuck, if not sophomore Napheesa.

 

[bbballfan23]

I don’t see Meg as an AA next year, but I’d compare her with sophomore Gabby or Tuck, if not sophomore Napheesa.

You realize Pheesa’s sophomore season was among the best in UConn history right? 20pts, 9rebs a game & many thought she was the runner up to Plum for POY (not a close runner up, however). I’d be happy with 13pts, 6.5 rebs a game from Meg.

 

[Confident Carl]

Except that Howard is the closest thing to a UConn player on TX A&M. She plays tough defense, is a tremendous rebounder and has some Gabulous athleticism. For one season as a plug-in for the now departed Z, I would love to see Howard in a Husky uniform next season.

AGREE 1000%

 

[Confident Carl]

Except that Howard is the closest thing to a UConn player on TX A&M. She plays tough defense, is a tremendous rebounder and has some Gabulous athleticism. For one season as a plug-in for the now departed Z, I would love to see Howard in a Husky uniform next season.

Anriel getting rebounding position against Jessica Sheppard. Yeah we would be a better team with her for sure. I would love to be a fly on the wall in Dawn Staley's office if she were to choose UCONN over SC

 

[MilfordHusky]

You realize Pheesa’s sophomore season was among the best in UConn history right? 20pts, 9rebs a game & many thought she was the runner up to Plum for POY (not a close runner up, however). I’d be happy with 13pts, 6.5 rebs a game from Meg.

Yeah, that’s why I said it the way I did. I expect her to play more like sophomore Gabby or Tuck in terms of effectiveness and stats. In no way do I expect 20 ppg from Meg. Depending on other factors, I think 12 and 6 would make me happy.

 

[Shenandoah]

They had a whopping six all-american candidates this past year, and lose arguably the best all-around player in the sport. But even Gabby Williams wasn't a great player until her junior season. What is the likelihood of Megan Walker becoming an all-american as a sophomore?

I'd start the team about 8th in the rankings.

I'd put them definitely out of the top 5, with 4-5 losses on the year, and maybe finally getting that 1st AAC loss. Z is a huge loss, I'm afraid. 6'6" with experience is hard to replace.

 

[bbballfan23]

Okay, everyone like this post if you think UConn starts the season ranked outside the top 5 & ends with 5+ losses. I’d like to look back and laugh everyone.

 

[pvdoggy]

I'd put them definitely out of the top 5, with 4-5 losses on the year, and maybe finally getting that 1st AAC loss. Z is a huge loss, I'm afraid. 6'6" with experience is hard to replace.

AAC loss? Some of you guys/gals must be smoking some really good stuff.

 

[bbballfan23]

I don’t understand the mass hysteria/panic. We have 2 ELITE stars coming back & a lot of talent we really haven’t gotten the chance to see. We saw what Crystal was capable of when healthy.

Remember when Kia was chosen as Preseason POY 2 years ago when we didn’t really know what we had in Gabby, Pheesa & Lou!? It will all be fine.

 

[Golden Husky]

PG- CD (CW)
SG- MW (MC)
SF- Lou (Lou)
PF-Pheesa (Pheesa)
C- ONO (BC)

Backups are in ( ). As you can see Lou & Pheesa won’t be coming out much, nor will CD as long as she’s healthy.

Call me crazy but I think this team can win it all still. We will certainly miss Gabby, Z & Kia but how much more did we think we would miss Stewie, Mo & Tuck?? When people leave it presents an opportunity for someone else talented to step up.

I fully expect Pheesa & Lou to be close to 20-23 ppg next season. More defined roles now, less expectations. This team is going to be dangerous. I’ll be the person returning in December saying “I told you so...”

The departure of GaZia means the loss of your leading thief, two of your top three rebounders, your leading rim protector and your premier perimeter defender. Can next season's lineup defend? Who guards Ogunbowale and Durr? Walker? Is she quick enough? Lou? Wouldn't want to get her in foul trouble, right? Maybe CW? Does UConn become a predominantly zone team?

Lots of questions but I'm confident you Boneyard devotees have the answers.

 

[Undercovervol]

I think it's way to big of an assumption to claim that Megan Walker will start next year. No hate to her, but let's admit it: she wasn't Maya or Stewart her freshman year. That's fine, but I could see CW starting over her. I also think Geno will start the best 5 players he has, regardless of position. That could mean that KLS plays 4, Collier plays 5, CD plays point, CW plays 2, and MW could play wing. There's no way ONO starts next year unless she makes a huge leap.

 

[oldude]

The departure of GaZia means the loss of your leading thief, two of your top three rebounders, your leading rim protector and your premier perimeter defender. Can next season's lineup defend? Who guards Ogunbowale and Durr? Walker? Is she quick enough? Lou? Wouldn't want to get her in foul trouble, right? Maybe CW? Does UConn become a predominantly zone team?

Lots of questions but I'm confident you Boneyard devotees have the answers.

UConn played more multiple defenses this year then I can remember, including several types of zone, presses, traps and their more traditional man-to-man. In the past, Geno has joked about UConn not knowing what they were doing in a zone, but this year the Huskies were usually very sharp in their zone sets.

 

[jdubct]

Unlike many years, this year's freshmen can fill immediate team needs. For example, Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson started early on in the season because of need. They made their freshman mistakes and learned by playing. Ono brings size and skill. Williams athleticism, speed and generally good guard play. I expect Walker to make an important impact on the court. Hopefully, Coombs will be able contribute too. So, I hesitantly predict, that the January starting team will be Dangerfield, Williams, Collier, KLS and Ono with lots of opportunity for minutes from the bench.

 

[pvdoggy]

I think it's way to big of an assumption to claim that Megan Walker will start next year. No hate to her, but let's admit it: she wasn't Maya or Stewart her freshman year. That's fine, but I could see CW starting over her. I also think Geno will start the best 5 players he has, regardless of position. That could mean that KLS plays 4, Collier plays 5, CW plays point, CD plays 2, and MW could play wing. There's no way ONO starts next year unless she makes a huge leap.

Where are these people coming from with these silly suggestions? Sure, take your best PG and play her as a 2, and take a shooting guard (CW, if she even starts) and play her at the point. Oh brother.

 

[Undercovervol]

Where are these people coming from with these silly suggestions? Sure, take your best PG and play her as a 2, and take a shooting guard (CW, if she even starts) and play her at the point. Oh brother.

Whoops, I meant to write CW at 2 and CD at point. Regardless, I stand behind my overall point: Geno will put the best team on the floor he has, regardless of position.

 

[oldude]

I think it's way to big of an assumption to claim that Megan Walker will start next year. No hate to her, but let's admit it: she wasn't Maya or Stewart her freshman year. That's fine, but I could see CW starting over her. I also think Geno will start the best 5 players he has, regardless of position. That could mean that KLS plays 4, Collier plays 5, CW plays point, CD plays 2, and MW could play wing. There's no way ONO starts next year unless she makes a huge leap.

Your post is a bit baffling. Crystal played pg all season, with Geno stating she’ll be the pg on the U.S. National team some day, and you’re suggesting that Geno would move Crystal to the 2 guard and let an unproven freshman run the point. That won’t happen.

Lou, Pheesa, Megan & Crystal will definitely start, but there are a number of options for the 5th starter, and it could well change over the course of the season.

I am almost certain that on day 1, one of three returning players will be the 5th starter: Touly, Molly or Kyla. Once CW learns the offense, how to play UConn defense and hopefully gains Geno’s trust, she will have a shot to start as the 2 guard.

The other player with an outside shot to start might be ONO, since she’s the only true post on the team, but it requires significant development in her game, and I certainly don’t see that happening until mid-season or later.