Very Happy for Azzi

[Vowelguy]

Around mid-season I started to feel bad for Azzi, thinking that injuries had permanently derailed her career. Her great performances came inconsistently and she often seemed nervous or tentative. It's gotta be extremely tough to have had such early success but then never get back there because of a seeming never-ending string of bad luck injuries. And then you put pressure on yourself to be that good again ... and it spirals from there.

Then the SC game.
She finally had that star performance, and I recall thinking this must be such relief and such joy, to do what you may have doubted was ever possible again. [Not to get into a kid's head; who knows what she was actually thinking.]

And then she played great in the tournament. Aggressive on defensive. Very quick around the court. Not just a 3 point shooter.

Very glad she got this stretch of sustained high-level play, and hopefully more to come.

 

[Vancat]

Ordered my Azzi Fudd T-shirt the day she announced she was returning. I got it in the mail the day we won the UCLA game. I wore it yesterday. MOJO!!!

 

[microfich]

Azzi's light came on and we saw the emergence of greatness. Unbridled from injury and a secondary three point shooting role, she has exploded in effect. She will be a first team AA next season. Her shooting skill, when combined with superior quickness of hand, strength and speed will catapult her to the star of dominance.

I do feel she needs to find a way to impact the entire game, whether that is mental or physical training but full confidence in the staff to blend her and Sarah to lead next year's squad and keep the mountain top national flag blue and white.

 

[browns]

I don't know if she'll make 1st team AA..Betts..Hildago..an Bookers are probably a given and Sara should be a lock.. will voters put 2 Uconn players on the 1st team

 

[Dove]

She went from sad legacy to ultimate legacy (more to come!) in 5.9 seconds! The FF performances will never be forgotten.

 

[oldude]

Azzi exorcised a lot of demons in this year’s final 4 games. I expect her to dominate next season and earn her place among the HOH.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Probably posted in other threads, but nice articles:

https://www.ctpost.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/azzi-fudd-paige-bueckers-geno-auriemma-ncaa-title-20262152.php

and

More than a shooter: How Azzi Fudd lifted UConn to title

Azzi Fudd has long been considered a superb shooter. Now the UConn guard is also an NCAA champion.

www.espn.com

 

[Dove]

Azzi exorcised a lot of demons in this year’s final 4 games. I expect her to dominate next season and earn her place among the HOH.

She went from soft to "nails!!" in my book. A Title cures all the pain.

 

[jdote33]

She's really becoming quite the player. She had a right to left crossover and I think she finished with the left that was just filthy. Also it's a joy to see her be so strong and athletic after all the injuries. Like Fulwiley couldn't even catch her on some of those breakaway steals. I agree, couldn't be happier for Azzi. I feel like posting this multiple times, but I was at the NC State game a couple years ago and most people just think of Paige in that game (of course she was unreal) but Azzi was kinda the one who gave them a boost in the first half and finished with 19. After that game I was like I completely get the Paige and Azzi thing. Lol. Even prior to that game, one of her breakout games her freshman year was a tough game against USF in the Bahamas. And Geno after that game talked about her being more confident but also talked about Paige and Aziz being the Next DT and Sue Bird. I was even taken back by it, but Geno knows (the duos had 2 healthy tournaments together, 1 championship, 1 heartbreaking defeat although Azzi and Paige's was in the championship game). Anyways I always thought If they are healthy, I'm not guaranteeing a title but they will be hard to beat. I said it a number of times this season she really hasn't been that healthy so the slander was a bit strange. Even hearing her talk this week about her sickness in the championship game a couple years ago was eye opening. I've seen SC fans say a lot about her and her performance in that game. It was just a bit unfair. In any event sky is the limit for her. Like she's still not like 18 months post acl. She finally gets to have a healthy summer hopefully. I just think ppl got her all wrong. Fragile, just a shooter, mentally not strong, slow, won't step up in big games. All nonsense. Lol.

 

[Rowdy831]

To me Azzi was a great player all season. She might not have averaged 25 a game but she did play amazing defense every night. I was hoping she would enter the W this season where she really belongs and made room for the next wave but having her back is really a big deal for the team. I was happy she got the MOP of the FF but I have to admit I felt a little bad for Sarah at the same time.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think my local girl was recognized for her defense this year. She also seemed less reliant on the 3-ball, especially of late. As Geno noted, she can break games open. She also provides big momentum swings when we are behind. I'm hoping Azzi has a great season next year!

 

[cgshuskie]

Great to see Azzi overcome all of her injuries and mental reservations. I think she is back and if she stays healthy she will be a terror as she prepares for the W. Hopefully, she stays healthy and continues to build. An All American talent!!

 

[huskeynut]

Azzi expanded her offense. Not just the 3 point shot, but the mid-range jumper, the driving layup and that nice little floater. She has all 3 levels covered and this make her a deadly offensive weapon. Her ball handling is greatly improved.

Her defense has become almost elite. Picking the pocket of SC guards twice for easy layups was a thing of beauty.

She was finally healthy to be able to evolve as a compete basketball player.

She deserves a lot of praise for battling thru injuries.

Next year is going to be exciting to watch her grow even more.

 

[Geew1992]

The comeback was def bigger than the set back

 

[huskyd]

Around mid-season I started to feel bad for Azzi, thinking that injuries had permanently derailed her career. Her great performances came inconsistently and she often seemed nervous or tentative. It's gotta be extremely tough to have had such early success but then never get back there because of a seeming never-ending string of bad luck injuries. And then you put pressure on yourself to be that good again ... and it spirals from there.

Then the SC game.
She finally had that star performance, and I recall thinking this must be such relief and such joy, to do what you may have doubted was ever possible again. [Not to get into a kid's head; who knows what she was actually thinking.]

And then she played great in the tournament. Aggressive on defensive. Very quick around the court. Not just a 3 point shooter.

Very glad she got this stretch of sustained high-level play, and hopefully more to come.

Good observations. Let me add that I do not think we have yet seen the best of Azzi Fudd.

 

[UConnCat]

Shout out to Kaitlyn Chen for what she said to Azzi after the South Carolina game in February:

Fudd said she remembers Kaitlyn Chen telling her after the team’s win at South Carolina in mid-February, “This is why I came to UConn. This is the Azzi I committed here to play with. Not the Azzi that played against Tennessee (Fudd had 10 points and was 3-of-9), I don’t know who that was. I don’t want to play with her again.”

That's leadership.

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/azzi-fudd-paige-bueckers-geno-auriemma-ncaa-title-20262152.php

 

[Scotter]

I'm so happy for Azzi. I had started to accept that she might never have the chance to realize her potential. To have the confidence to take the ball to the basket and create those star type plays. She said she figured out she plays best when she is having fun and not putting so much pressure on herself and hopefully having played this well and winning this championship only further boosts her in releasing that pressure.

One thing Azzi doesn't get enough credit for, especially with her injury history, is her defense. I'm not sure when she came to UConn that a home was predicting for her to excel on defense, but it happened. Her being able to play consistently there last couple of months made a huge impact on the defense.

 

[UConnCat]

I'm so happy for Azzi. I had started to accept that she might never have the chance to realize her potential. To have the confidence to take the ball to the basket and create those star type plays. She said she figured out she plays best when she is having fun and not putting so much pressure on herself and hopefully having played this well and winning this championship only further boosts her in releasing that pressure.

One thing Azzi doesn't get enough credit for, especially with her injury history, is her defense. I'm not sure when she came to UConn that a home was predicting for her to excel on defense, but it happened. Her being able to play consistently there last couple of months made a huge impact on the defense.

Scotter!

Welcome back! For those who don't know, one of the best posters in the history of the Boneyard.

 

[Henry]

There was an article in the Courant where Azzi's father said this was vintage Azzi and that he's now seeing her play like she did before the injuries.