Waiting on Kayleigh Heckel | Page 9 | The Boneyard
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Waiting on Kayleigh Heckel

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Several people here have misunderstood me regarding Heckel if she comes here. Maybe I just haven't expressed myself very well. I would have no problem with KK starting at PG if we cannot obtain Heckel (but I think we already have). We all know that KK deserves it. However, selfishly I just don't want to lose the enormous impact KK provides by coming off the bench. It really has nothing to do with who might be the better PG, it's what would be best for the team. It worked so well with KK & Kaitlyn last season!
 
I think regardless if KK starts or not, she will play somewhere around 22-26 minutes a game. She played closer to 30 last year but I think this is an aberration. After all, even Sarah didn't play 30 a game this year and Page was just at 30 a game. I don't think it matters if she starts or not, but I suspect GA likes the juice she and Shade bring off the bench.
 
Just.A.Fan said:
Several people here have misunderstood me regarding Heckel if she comes here. Maybe I just haven't expressed myself very well. I would have no problem with KK starting at PG if we cannot obtain Heckel (but I think we already have). We all know that KK deserves it. However, selfishly I just don't want to lose the enormous impact KK provides by coming off the bench. It really has nothing to do with who might be the better PG, it's what would be best for the team. It worked so well with KK & Kaitlyn last season!
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I think it's the selfish part when we are dealing with developing youth that I take issue with. KK needs to step into the starting PG role to keep moving forward in her career. She can't get pigeon holed by anyone just because she is really good at a certain aspect of the game.
 
Up to 9 pages for this Kayleigh Heckel?
6.1 PTS, 1.4 REB, 1.9 AST, 45.9% FG, 28.3% 3PT, 16.9 MIN

She looks like a great backup PG to me. Where are all the "Nika shouldn't start" people when you need them?
 
Another perfective. While I agree that Huskies could use another "point guard," would love to see them get one that could also create her own offense. The past few years, with Azzi frequently being out, when Paige slowed down, much of the time so did the offense. Slade is a good jump shooter, Arnold has a great drive to the basket, etc. but having one on one talents opens the floor for Strong, particularly when Azzi needs a break. This is a top 5 team no matter what but having this offensive skill could be that final key to the Championship.
 
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jeff30189 said:
Up to 9 pages for this Kayleigh Heckel?
6.1 PTS, 1.4 REB, 1.9 AST, 45.9% FG, 28.3% 3PT, 16.9 MIN

She looks like a great backup PG to me. Where are all the "Nika shouldn't start" people when you need them?
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They are getting overwhelmed by these guys.

shiny-and-new.jpg
 
I think too many are assuming we need to "replace" Paige. Reality check - you can't replace Paige.

Geno has 40+ years of coaching at the highest level. Don't think there is anything he hasn't seen or done.

The way the offense and defense function will not change. The players will change. The execution of both will look difference. You build around the talents you have. Again, Geno is the master.

Right now, KK is the successor to the PG role. She has earned it. And a reminder, KK started at PG in 2023 - 2024 as a freshman. That team went to the final four. Too many want to pigeon hole KK into the past year's role. If you have ever coached, you know that's a no-no. Especially for a potential transfer who has not committed yet and only avaeage 16 minutes a game.

Ash was a starter on the 2023 - 2024 team. She averaged 9.1 points per game. She shot the 3 well. The criticism she is a streaky shooter and doesn't have a pull up jumper in the lane. First, most 3 point shooters are streaky. Second, Ash does have the pull up jumper in the lane and she can drive the lane. Her role this past season did not allow her to do a lot of that. The offense was tailored to the Big 3.

The 2025 - 2026 team will evolve just as this past year's team did.
 
DEpup said:
I think it's the selfish part when we are dealing with developing youth that I take issue with. KK needs to step into the starting PG role to keep moving forward in her career. She can't get pigeon holed by anyone just because she is really good at a certain aspect of the game.
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Well "we" aren't developing anyone here, Geno is.
 
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DEpup said:
I think it's the selfish part when we are dealing with developing youth that I take issue with. KK needs to step into the starting PG role to keep moving forward in her career. She can't get pigeon holed by anyone just because she is really good at a certain aspect of the game.
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I agree with you but there is also the KK factor...she is dynamic coming off the bench and, as many TV analysts stated this past season, she changes the complexion of the game when she comes in. So to me it will be interesting how she is used.
My thought is that Geno doesn't "need" Heckel and is already pretty sure how he is going to use the current players. He could start KK or hope that another lower class (sophomore or freshman) player steps up.
So back to the original thread subject, having Heckel, or any other available PG from the portal, might work out, I think that the coaching staff is already working on next season with the current 14 players.
And remember, it's not always who starts, but who's on the court at crunch time - KK!!!!
 
Bone Dog said:
I hear your concern, but I think it may be framed poorly. As long as we think the next PG is a replacement for Paige, we’ll never be satisfied with KK or Kayleigh. It might make more sense to think of either or both of them as filling Kaitlyn’s shoes.

Paige is one of the GOATs, not a plug-n-play piece that even can be replaced. Geno is looking to restructure the team to highlight Azzi and Sarah as they lead the team back to the finals. This is a very different coaching task. What does he need to put in place around this pair of bucket-getters? His answer seems to be a solid low-post scorer, a bunch of ballhandlers, and a bunch of athletic wings. No single one of them will replace Paige’s production. But in aggregate they might significantly exceed it.

Another way to frame this question: last season Geno outfoxed the rest of D1 WBB by developing a ferocious smalll-ball lineup. He took what others perceived as a weakness and made it a strength. This season, he’ll have the personnel to go in the other direction with a lineup that can go big with any opponent and still go small as needed. This will be a very flexible roster. The only question (other than health) is whether he’ll have as much perimeter talent as this season.

Geno’s not looking for another Paige. He’s looking to set Azzi up for a tremendous senior season, and to let Sarah grow into the superstar who will lead the team in the following two seasons. I’d say he’s pretty much successfully prepared the way for this already.
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Well said!
 
hoopsfan22 said:
The attitude will change when she ends up at ND or Vandy.
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While that’s entirely possible, it’d be a bit surprising. A highly rated high school star who has already played on one of the premier WCBB programs, and makes it to the Final 8 during March Madness, in her Freshman year, decides to transfer. She has a chance to play for the best WCBB coach of all time, in a program that is second to none in developing guards, and is almost guaranteed to make it to the Final Four, and, whose current line-up, includes a generational talent (Strong), and likely, two other All Americans (Azzi, Williams), and is the team your family has been a fan of since you were a kid…..oh, and is a stone’s throw away from where you grew up. Oh, and did we mention, the head coach has said on more than one occasion, “you can never have too many guards”. We’ll know soon enough:D
 
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Jim R said:
While that’s entirely possible, it’d be a bit surprising. A highly rated high school star who has already played on one of the premier WCBB programs, and makes it to the Final 8 during March Madness, in her Freshman year, decides to transfer. She has a chance to play for the best WCBB coach of all time, in a program that is second to none in developing guards, and is almost guaranteed to make it to the Final Four, and, whose current line-up, includes a generational talent (Strong), and likely, two other All Americans (Azzi, Williams), and is the team your family has been a fan of since you were a kid…..oh, and is a stone’s throw away from where you grew up. Oh, and did we mention, the head coach has said on more than one occasion, “you can never have too many guards”. We’ll know soon enough:D
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You left out that her favorite player is Sue Bird….;)
 
KK says role can vary, and I can see KK once more coming in with AS and Jana as a rotation. Pretty awesome subs!
 
darrell said:
If this ends up being the case, then we simply move on.

Another ball handler and potential rotation player at PG is one thing, but having her (or not) won’t make or break next season.
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it won't make or break uconn's season, but it would be a mighty blow to hopes of the irish and commodores.
 
PacoSwede said:
it won't make or break uconn's season, but it would be a mighty blow to hopes of the irish and commodores.
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Certainly, Heckel would be a nice addition to either ND or Vandy. But I don’t see either team making a deep run during the NCAA tournament next season, with or without her.
 
Lambeau said:
KK says role can vary, and I can see KK once more coming in with AS and Jana as a rotation. Pretty awesome subs!
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So who will be the starting PG and the third guard/ small forward?
 
I assume K9 is at point and Blanca battles MC for the 3--Carolyn being eased in as tolerated.
 
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