Updated: UConn Lineup | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Updated: UConn Lineup

Phillyconn said:
I’m not blaming. I’m saying that, had GW been a scoring threat from outside, we win 2 NC, and GW is all time great status.
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Almost any additional plays by anyone would've helped beat Notre Dame and Mississippi State.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Do UConn players often improve from one year to the next? Of course. But it shouldn't be forgotten that by the end of her freshmen year Lou was already an excellent player. Walker never reached that level and Coombs barely played.
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That's a very fair point.

Sluconn Husky said:
This will be Geno's biggest coaching challenge since 2011, perhaps since 2007, imo.
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I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I think that 2011 was a vastly greater challenge than this one. But even so, your views have made me question my previous confidence about next year. I still think UConn will be far better than #8 and a contender for the title, but you've made me see the other side of the issue. In general, I don't mind being proven wrong, but of course this is one of those times I really hope to end up being right!
 
Great timely thread....

I think that Katie Lou, Pheesa and Crystal are locks... I also think that MW is a lock too because while not in spectacular fashion, she earned it. I think the last spot comes down to Kyla Irwin and Batouly Camara. Out of the gate and based on Geno's substitution pattern this past season I will go with Kyra Irwin getting the start. She is more consistent, understands the UConn sets both offensively and defensively better than Batouly. She can be a consistent foul line jumper threat and Geno will play more zone to cover up his weaknesses. Batouly will probably play somewhat similar minutes as Kyla and the last spot will be filled by the two of them. Meanwhile both CW and Ono will be brought along slowly so that by the end of the season...mid to end of February they will commanding more significant minutes. As far as breaking into the starting line-up...I do not see either CW replacing Crystal or Walker. I do see a possibility for Ono to crack the starting line-up but she will have to work hard, prove that she has bounced back from her injury and learn the UConn system, all of which are a daunting task for a freshmen. The only reason I give her a shot at cracking the starting line-up is because her talent / size are ahead of Kyla and Batouly, but I remain somewhat skeptical as to it actually happening.

So, with that being said: Here is my annual prediction as to scoring / rebounds per individual player....I have been fairly close in this exercise over the past half a dozen seasons. This exercise is interesting because it attempts to see where we get the points and rebounds lost by our graduating seniors/ transfers. A lot of people wonder where can we make up 41.4 points and 18.4 rebounds. Luckily with what we have returning and what we have coming in we can get pretty close to last years numbers while being fairly conservative in our estimated projections for next season. What is not apparent or ascertained in this exercise is what we lose on the defensive end with Azure and Gabby's blocking abilities, with Gabby's perimeter and around the basket defense and Kia's perimeter defense as well as what we lose by Kia and Gabby getting in the passing lanes disrupting passes, getting tips and steals. But, at least this gives us a glimpse into the offensive potential that we can expect.

2017-2018

Katie Lou.............17.4 points..........4.5 Rebounds..........29.7 minutes
Napheesa.............16.1 points..........7.4 Rebounds..........28.8 minutes
Dangerfield........... 9.5 points..........2.1 Rebounds..........28.7 minutes
Walker...................5.8 points..........3.3 Rebounds..........15.5 minutes
Kyla........................2.4 points..........1.3 Rebounds............9.4 minutes
Batouly...................1.3 points...........1.3 Rebounds............4.8 minutes
Combs.....................1.1 points---------.8 Rebounds............6.7 minutes
Molly Bent..............1.0 points...........1.2 Rebounds...........7.5 minutes
Lexi Gordan----------.4 points----------.5 Rebounds...........3.9 minutes

TOTALS: 96.4 points / 222.8 minutes (counts overtime minutes) / game; 40.8 rebound / 222.8 minutes (counts overtime minutes) / game

Minutes lost from: Azura, Gabby, Kia and Espinosa-Hunter = 80.8 minutes
Points lost from: Azura, Gabby, Kia and Espinosa-Hunter = 41.4
Rebounds lost from: Azura, Gabby, Kia and Espinosa-Hunter = 18.4

2018-2019

Katie Lou......................19 points....................5,0 rebounds....................32 minutes
Napheesa......................18 points....................8.0 rebounds...................32 minutes
Dangerfield...................12 points....................2.5 rebounds....................30 minutes
Walker...........................14 points....................6.0 rebounds...................28 minutes
Kyla.................................6 points....................3.0 rebounds....................17 minutes
Batouly............................5 points.....................5.0 rebounds...................17 minutes
Combs.............................4 points.....................1.5 rebounds....................10 minutes
Molly Bent.......................2 points.....................1.5 rebounds....................10 minutes
Lexi Gordon....................4 points......................1.5 rebounds...................10 minutes
Christyn Williams...........5 points......................2.0 rebounds...................15 minutes
Olivia Nelson-Ododa......6 points......................4.5 rebounds....................15 minutes

TOTALS: 95.0 points / 222.8 minutes (assuming the same overtime minutes) / game; 40.5 rebounds / 222.8 minutes (assuming the same overtime minutes) / game
 
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Was this thread some kind of assignment for a creative writing class? Part presumptive, part assumptive and a part historical fiction; I think maybe I should lump them together and call it presumptive, assumptive fiction, As a class assignment you did quite well:D:D
 
IMHO the 5 starters for UCONN in 2018-2019 are:

Crystal Dangerfield PG Will become the top PG in Division I
MWalker SG Will follow Crystal Dangerfield with a great work ethic in the off season and come back at top level
KLSamuelson SF A 2x AA, 'nuff said
NCollier PF Another AA, 'nuff said
BCamara C Will channel the ability & heart of Jamelle Elliott and be a huge surprise

CWilliams SG Will continue what she showed in McDonald's AA game
ONO C Will slowly progress to a level that will be valuable help to the team by January

KIrwin F/C Will continue her improvement
Combs G Will show what coaches saw when recruiting her
LGordon G Will also show what coaches saw when recruiting her
MBent PG If she can make her self more offensive minded there could be + minutes for her

IMHO these girls will be on a MISSION to get back to "UCONN LEVEL" of play! Starting this off season!
 
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MilfordHusky said:
I don’t see Meg as an AA next year, but I’d compare her with sophomore Gabby or Tuck, if not sophomore Napheesa.
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Milford your a terrific poster but I must disagree comparing MW to a soph NC.
Can you start by telling me what MW strengths are on the court? Shooting? Ball handling? Defense? Rebounding? I’m still trying to figure out her sweet spot.
I know in high school she was more athletic than most.
 
Phillyconn said:
You can replace Gabby with MW, possibly even an upgrade because MW can shoot the three with confidence. CW can create her own shot, unlike Kia.
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Please report to the AAA board! MW needs to show me something before we can call her an upgrade over GW.
 
Does this line up make any sense?

Danger
CW( out of necessity to throw her in the fire)
LOU
PHEESE
BC

Bench

Walker- until she proves she can be otherwise
Irwin- will be improved
ONO- Probably is raw as a freshman

Very end of bench

Coombs
Lexi
Bent

Does any of this seem right?
 
Golden Husky said:
Another question is, With Kia gone, who locks down Laska, Durr, et al? I suspect UConn still will be able to score with efficiency but I worry that the defense, which was almost always there when the shooting went cold, won't be nearly as stifling.:(
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I can answer this one: we are going to need a LASKA LUCK.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Don't see how Camara played enough or showed enough to be in the starting lineup.
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Agreed. I have a gut feel with a healthy off season she will have a very solid year. We need a starter at 5 right?

I’m not high on MW and can’t give ONO the nod as a lanky freshman. I like Irwin but we’ll see.
 
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Here are the Game Score performances for Freshmen who played between 10 and 20 minutes since 2009-10 and also their changes from FR to SO seasons.

A couple had huge leaps (Collier and Jefferson), some good improvement (Moore, Faris, Battle, Banks), others modest improvement (Williams, Tuck, Chong, Valley. Note: Williams started from a high level but still improved) but there were also a couple that actually regressed (Stokes and Crockett).

WBB UConn Freshmen Game Scores 10-20 mpg.png

Change from Season to Season
Huge 2/12 = 17%
Good 4/12 = 33%
Modest 4/12 = 33%
Regress 2/12 = 17%

You make your own conclusions on the expected performance of Walker next year.
 
I think there are 3 givens for starters next year--Lou, Pheesa, and Crystal. For the other 2 slots, picking ANYONE requires a leap of faith. Some folks seem confident about certain players, including Megan, Christyn, Olivia, Batouly, Kyla, Mikayla, and maybe Molly or Lexie. When I look at the returning players, I think Megan is by far the closest. She had a fairly typical UConn freshman season. In the games when Lou was out, Megan played some of her best basketball, including at UCLA and at Temple. She also did a solid job in the regular season against Notre Dame. She is clearly the most talented of the remaining returners. She's very athletic and has skills.

I had been thinking that Megan would start and Christyn would be the best option as the 5th starter, because she really has game. But that would be a small lineup. Then I thought about what Geno did last year. He said there were concerns either way, but the easiest thing to do was keep 4 players in the same positions as the prior year and replace the one departed player. Thus, Crystal took Saniya's starting slot. If Geno follows the same approach as last year, he replaces Kia with either Megan or Christyn. Then, he replaces Gabby with his best option, whom I view as Olivia.

We know that Geno likes to bring in a sixth player who can change the complexion of the game. Christyn seems to fit that very well. Plus, Megan has more experience, so she draws the nod to start. Some think Meg can't play the SG position, but I think she can. I know Olivia is thin, but her legs look pretty strong, she competes and runs the floor, and she has wide-ranging skills. Geno started Tina and a freshman and then Stefanie as a freshman. I think he'll start Liv. I like what she showed in the All-American games.

I may change my mind over the next 6 months, but I'm thinking Lou, Pheesa, Crystal, Megan, and Olivia, with the dynamic Christyn Williams as the first player off the bench. I hope that Kyla or Batouly and Mikayla make very large leaps, but I see a drop-off after our first 6.
 
JustinesGuy said:
Milford your a terrific poster but I must disagree comparing MW to a soph NC.
Can you start by telling me what MW strengths are on the court? Shooting? Ball handling? Defense? Rebounding? I’m still trying to figure out her sweet spot.
I know in high school she was more athletic than most.
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Megan's strengths:

-Attacking the basket

-Getting to the FT line

-Rebounding

-Posting up

-Midrange jumper

-Hitting the corner three

Meg's body looks like a WNBA body. Her game is not anywhere near pro-ready. But she has a great combo of speed and strength.
 
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MilfordHusky said:
Megan's strengths:

-Attacking the basket

-Getting to the FT line

-Rebounding

-Posting up

-Midrange jumper

-Hitting the corner three

Meg's body looks like a WNBA body. Her game is not anywhere near pro-ready. But she has a great combo of speed and strength.
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Last year her game wasn’t uconn ready. I think in high school she was more physically gifted than her counterparts and when she stepped in to camp Geno and was playing with better players than her for the first time it was hard for her to handle. What was even more alarming was she didn’t show me she was better than our less gifted conference challengers. It should have been obvious who was premium talent when she was in those games especially with no pressure up 30 points!!

With starting slots open, and a year under her belt, yes maybe she starts to put it together. That would be great.
 
JustinesGuy said:
Last year her game wasn’t uconn ready. I think in high school she was more physically gifted than her counterparts and when she stepped in to camp Geno and was playing with better players than her for the first time it was hard for her to handle. What was even more alarming was she didn’t show me she was better than our less gifted conference challengers. It should have been obvious who was premium talent when she was in those games especially with no pressure up 30 points!!

With starting slots open, and a year under her belt, yes maybe she starts to put it together. That would be great.
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Megan played pretty good competition in high school, but she was able to dominate people physically, just as Tina Charles did. In college, the talent gap is very small, so she has to up the intensity and play smarter, just as Tina did. She’s on her way, I believe.
 
cferraro04 said:
Great timely thread....

I think that Katie Lou, Pheesa and Crystal are locks... I also think that MW is a lock too because while not in spectacular fashion, she earned it. I think the last spot comes down to Kyla Irwin and Batouly Camara. Out of the gate and based on Geno's substitution pattern this past season I will go with Kyra Irwin getting the start. She is more consistent, understands the UConn sets both offensively and defensively better than Batouly. She can be a consistent foul line jumper threat and Geno will play more zone to cover up his weaknesses. Batouly will probably play somewhat similar minutes as Kyla and the last spot will be filled by the two of them. Meanwhile both CW and Ono will be brought along slowly so that by the end of the season...mid to end of February they will commanding more significant minutes. As far as breaking into the starting line-up...I do not see either CW replacing Crystal or Walker. I do see a possibility for Ono to crack the starting line-up but she will have to work hard, prove that she has bounced back from her injury and learn the UConn system, all of which are a daunting task for a freshmen. The only reason I give her a shot at cracking the starting line-up is because her talent / size are ahead of Kyla and Batouly, but I remain somewhat skeptical as to it actually happening.

So, with that being said: Here is my annual prediction as to scoring / rebounds per individual player....I have been fairly close in this exercise over the past half a dozen seasons. This exercise is interesting because it attempts to see where we get the points and rebounds lost by our graduating seniors/ transfers. A lot of people wonder where can we make up 41.4 points and 18.4 rebounds. Luckily with what we have returning and what we have coming in we can get pretty close to last years numbers while being fairly conservative in our estimated projections for next season. What is not apparent or ascertained in this exercise is what we lose on the defensive end with Azure and Gabby's blocking abilities, with Gabby's perimeter and around the basket defense and Kia's perimeter defense as well as what we lose by Kia and Gabby getting in the passing lanes disrupting passes, getting tips and steals. But, at least this gives us a glimpse into the offensive potential that we can expect.

2017-2018

Katie Lou...17.4 points.....4.5 Rebounds.....29.7 minutes
Napheesa...16.1 points.....7.4 Rebounds.....28.8 minutes
Dangerfield...... 9.5 points.....2.1 Rebounds.....28.7 minutes
Walker....5.8 points.....3.3 Rebounds.....15.5 minutes
Kyla....2.4 points.....1.3 Rebounds..9.4 minutes
Batouly....1.3 points......1.3 Rebounds..4.8 minutes
Combs......1.1 points---------.8 Rebounds..6.7 minutes
Molly Bent....1.0 points......1.2 Rebounds......7.5 minutes
Lexi Gordan----------.4 points----------.5 Rebounds......3.9 minutes

TOTALS: 96.4 points / 222.8 minutes (counts overtime minutes) / game; 40.8 rebound / 222.8 minutes (counts overtime minutes) / game

Minutes lost from: Azura, Gabby, Kia and Espinosa-Hunter = 80.8 minutes
Points lost from: Azura, Gabby, Kia and Espinosa-Hunter = 41.4
Rebounds lost from: Azura, Gabby, Kia and Espinosa-Hunter = 18.4

2018-2019

Katie Lou.......19 points.....5,0 rebounds.....32 minutes
Napheesa.......18 points.....8.0 rebounds....32 minutes
Dangerfield....12 points.....2.5 rebounds.....30 minutes
Walker.......14 points.....6.0 rebounds....28 minutes
Kyla........6 points.....3.0 rebounds.....17 minutes
Batouly........5 points......5.0 rebounds....17 minutes
Combs.........4 points......1.5 rebounds.....10 minutes
Molly Bent........2 points......1.5 rebounds.....10 minutes
Lexi Gordon.....4 points.......1.5 rebounds....10 minutes
Christyn Williams......5 points.......2.0 rebounds....15 minutes
Olivia Nelson-Ododa.6 points.......4.5 rebounds.....15 minutes

TOTALS: 95.0 points / 222.8 minutes (assuming the same overtime minutes) / game; 40.5 rebounds / 222.8 minutes (assuming the same overtime minutes) / game
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Nice post. Appreciate your logic. As time goes on, predict Combs, Kyla, and Molly all see minutes reduced. Other players are more athletic, fit more situations, and will earn the playing time. Skills will likely dictate a 7 person rotation with the 2 frosh in that lineup.
 
JustinesGuy said:
Does this line up make any sense?

Danger
CW( out of necessity to throw her in the fire)
LOU
PHEESE
BC

Bench

Walker- until she proves she can be otherwise
Irwin- will be improved
ONO- Probably is raw as a freshman

Very end of bench

Coombs
Lexi
Bent

Does any of this seem right?
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Nope ...

You are relegating MW to the bench "until she proves she can be otherwise" and starting CW who hasn't even set foot on campus. Do you see a contradiction?

I feel for Coombs, it appears it will be a tough road for her .... from what I read she could be on blood thinners 3 to 6 months and her activity is limited until she is off the thinners.
 
CajunHusky said:
Nope ...

You are relegating MW to the bench "until she proves she can be otherwise" and starting CW who hasn't even set foot on campus. Do you see a contradiction?

I feel for Coombs, it appears it will be a tough road for her .... from what I read she could be on blood thinners 3 to 6 months and her activity is limited until she is off the thinners.
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Let me explain. For people like me that aren’t high on walker can not justify starting her. So then let’s progress off this line of thinking. If we don’t start walker then we need a guard to replace Kia right? Who’s left? Coombs, Bent, Williams, Gordon. You correctly stated Coombs is dealing with a condition/injury, and I think we all agree Molly and Lexi are not starter candidates.
That leaves you with the best high school player. By years end why can’t she start if she’s producing? I agree it’s not easy or typical to say a freshman will start at Uconn but we live in a very a typical world. Who would of thought the leader of the free world would have been a a reality TV star. Stranger things right?
 
.-.
hugefan said:
Now you have gone too far, Strangers Things lumped with .... he who shall not be named :oops:
Expand ...

I love stranger things. I have a very good show for u.... sneaky Pete on amazon prime. Very good
 
Well to start not knowing how the up coming freshmen will practice and all the other uconn freshman talk you have to start MW,iwatched her tapes and she can jump and according to Geno in one of the practices they showed he himself said MW can really shoot,so all the poeple doubting MW i think she will be really good ,and what you have left besides the freshman coming are junior's that havnt developed at all hardly and yet we are hard on MW ,i mean really
 
I don't understand why everyone keeps assuming that if Megan Walker starts, she will be the SG. IMHO her skills and body translate much better to the SF position and that is where she should play. I would much rather see Lou as the SG out there, which to my mind makes it even harder for the opposing team when she (Lou) posts up whoever is guarding her.
 
Iowafan61 said:
Well to start not knowing how the up coming freshmen will practice and all the other uconn freshman talk you have to start MW,iwatched her tapes and she can jump and according to Geno in one of the practices they showed he himself said MW can really shoot,so all the poeple doubting MW i think she will be really good ,and what you have left besides the freshman coming are junior's that havnt developed at all hardly and yet we are hard on MW ,i mean really
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If Seeing is believing then how can you advocate to start Megan Walker? She did not produce enough in her freshman campaign to blindly just give her a starting spot. Do u want to consider her? See if she made a big sophomore leap a la danger? Sure sounds good. I buy that.
 
Well i do agree on the improvement needed but i really think she has the talent ,and i also think that if there is ever a year to play freshman this will be the year,but Geno dont think that way,so what if we take a few loses beginning of or during the year,i think it bit us in the a## this year
 
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