We didn't add anyone from the portal, but... (and it's a big BUT)

[hoopsfan22]

UConn looks great on paper. So you're a team that wants to beat them. What do you do? You fill your bench with the best you can find. You plan (and practice accordingly) to play 8, 9, even 10 deep. You plan to be as physical as the refs will allow, and you don't worry about racking up a lot of fouls if the refs call fouls based on the pushing and shoving, because you keep rotating your players; so no one gets in foul trouble. You plan to "hoist 'em up" and crash the boards if the shots don't always go in. And, again, you plan to get very physical under the basket, because, hey, the refs can't call them all.
And... the finese, skilled team loses...

It's the way the game is heading, or some might say is already here - ugly ball as I call it - lots of 62-55 grind it out war of attrition type of games.

 

[HuskyNan]

Hmmm, The Kid's career numbers at UCONN are 235/102 for a 2.30 a/to ratio.

Last year Muhl was 279/120 for a 2.32 a/to ratio. So she's not as bad (at this point in her career) as some people think.

And no, I'm not saying Muhl is a better PG than The Kid. However, I don't think Geno has a problem with playing 2 PG's. Especially when one of them can be a combo guard. He certainly has no problem playing 3 guards. Probably prefers it.

A lot of Nika’s turnovers were due to players playing out of position and not hitting their spots so Nika would throw the ball into the seats or simple mental fatigue. She wasn’t alone in that.

 

[wingsfan055]

What happens to the unused scholarship? Does it get carried over or is it lost?

 

[meyers7]

What happens to the unused scholarship? Does it get carried over or is it lost?

Ummm, I guess lost? If you're asking like that.

Teams get 15 scholarships every year. UCONN hasn't used 15 since 2000-2001.

 

[Gordo]

While a player may only average 6 min/game they could have had five or six games where they got 12-15 min and made contributions. If any of the new players show competence and total effort in practice they will get an opportunity in a game. That's the way Geno has run things.

Besides, I refuse to discuss the "problem" of a too deep roster. I'd like to experience that this coming season.

Where on earth did you find any actual difference in what I posted???

 

[Gordo]

Ummm, nope. That point wasn't in there. It had to be read into. Which I admit, I did not do very well.

In otherwords, you just can't admit you blew it!

 

[Gordo]

But I tend to believe some of you get infatuated with the new toy. I recall a few years ago how many on her were infatuated with Saylor Poffenbarger in that she was going to come in the 2nd half of her H/S year and beat out experienced UCONN players. That never came close to happening. There is too much new toy envy here.

Truer words have never been spoken! People (even those who should be knowledgeable) need to relax on claiming how good in-coming freshmen are going to be based on watching high school highlight videos.

 

[CL82]

Hmmm, The Kid's career numbers at UCONN are 235/102 for a 2.30 a/to ratio.

Last year Muhl was 279/120 for a 2.32 a/to ratio. So she's not as bad (at this point in her career) as some people think.

And no, I'm not saying Muhl is a better PG than The Kid. However, I don't think Geno has a problem with playing 2 PG's. Especially when one of them can be a combo guard. He certainly has no problem playing 3 guards. Probably prefers it.

I agree. The question is at some point in the season will someone else develop into a significant enough office of threat that they outweigh the presence of having two point guards Nika'a considerable defense of acumen.

 

[Surly1]

I agree. The question is at some point in the season will someone else develop into a significant enough office of threat that they outweigh the presence of having two point guards Nika'a considerable defense of acumen.

Let's take a look at recent history. In her freshman year, Nika started the later part of the season, alongside Paige and Christyn. Essentially, a 3 guard trio. Sophomore season, she started until Paige returned from her injury. Why? Because Geno wanted/needed Paige on the court alongside Christyn (a senior) and Azzi. Again a 3 guard trio.

Last season, Nika started with Azzi and Lou, until injuries racked that cohesion. Again, a 3 guard trio. With Lou moving on and Paige returning and slotting into Lou's spot, why should we not expect a 3 guard trio to start the season?

I'm not arguing for or against Nika starting. I'm stating she'll start based on Geno's history on being loyal to his upperclassmen (Nika) and his preference for a 3 guard offense. Not to mention that Nika deserves to start alongside the best shooting backcourt duo in the country available to him.

 

[hoopsfan22]

I agree. The question is at some point in the season will someone else develop into a significant enough office of threat that they outweigh the presence of having two point guards Nika'a considerable defense of acumen.

The team was 27th in the nation scoring 75.9 ppg without Paige or a healthy Azzi. We lose Dorka and Lou, but a fully healthy Paige and Azzi easily offsets the loss of their offensive output. On defense the team was 47th, so it seems the team needs more help stopping points than putting them up.

 

[Bills Fan]

UConn looks great on paper. So you're a team that wants to beat them. What do you do? You fill your bench with the best you can find. You plan (and practice accordingly) to play 8, 9, even 10 deep. You plan to be as physical as the refs will allow, and you don't worry about racking up a lot of fouls if the refs call fouls based on the pushing and shoving, because you keep rotating your players; so no one gets in foul trouble. You plan to "hoist 'em up" and crash the boards if the shots don't always go in. And, again, you plan to get very physical under the basket, because, hey, the refs can't call them all.
And... the finese, skilled team loses...

I think you have figured it out, Coach Pharos. I wish you hadn't posted it because now I don't think we can even be better than a .500 team as all our opponents will now know how easy it is to beat UCONN.

 

[hoophuskee]

And... the finese, skilled team loses...

No- they don't. Not always.

The better team wins. Not the tallest or most physical.

Fundamentals do count too.

 

[hoophuskee]

The team was 27th in the nation scoring 75.9 ppg without Paige or a healthy Azzi. We lose Dorka and Lou, but a fully healthy Paige and Azzi easily offsets the loss of their offensive output. On defense the team was 47th, so it seems the team needs more help stopping points than putting them up.

I expect Paige to be a better defender than Lou.
I expect Nika/Aubrey/ Edwards/Azzi/Caroline to be better defenders than they were last year.

The only spot they aren't better is Dorka's. We'll see how much of a Defensive impact she was vs the other players that may fill that role and how much the sum of all the other parts offset Dorka's.

 

[CL82]

I'm stating she'll start based on Geno's history on being loyal to his upperclassmen (Nika) and his preference for a 3 guard offense.

Somewhat agree. I don't think Geno's tendency to use upperclassman is because of "loyalty" so much as "trust". In my opinion he relies on upperclassman, much like pretty much every other coach in America, because they know the team's system and he trusts them to implement it. That is true in spades about Nika. Geno absolutely trusts her.

 

[CL82]

The team was 27th in the nation scoring 75.9 ppg without Paige or a healthy Azzi. We lose Dorka and Lou, but a fully healthy Paige and Azzi easily offsets the loss of their offensive output. On defense the team was 47th, so it seems the team needs more help stopping points than putting them up.

Fair point. On the other hand, as scoring goes up the need for lock down defense decreases. Geno will adapt to optimize the players he has. Provided we stay healthy, we should have the depth to be able to play aggressive defense if that's what Geno chooses.

 

[meyers7]

In otherwords, you just can't admit you blew it!

Well, I admitted I couldn't read your mind. I was probably in a "literal" zone at the time.

 

[meyers7]

I expect Paige to be a better defender than Lou.
I expect Nika/Aubrey/ Edwards/Azzi/Caroline to be better defenders than they were last year.

The only spot they aren't better is Dorka's. We'll see how much of a Defensive impact she was vs the other players that may fill that role and how much the sum of all the other parts offset Dorka's.

Don't know that our defense will be better, or even as good as last year. But I don't think it will really matter. I think our offense will be much better and will easily compensate for any defensive lapse.

 

[Skeets]

Let's take a look at recent history. In her freshman year, Nika started the later part of the season, alongside Paige and Christyn. Essentially, a 3 guard trio. Sophomore season, she started until Paige returned from her injury. Why? Because Geno wanted/needed Paige on the court alongside Christyn (a senior) and Azzi. Again a 3 guard trio.

Last season, Nika started with Azzi and Lou, until injuries racked that cohesion. Again, a 3 guard trio. With Lou moving on and Paige returning and slotting into Lou's spot, why should we not expect a 3 guard trio to start the season?

I'm not arguing for or against Nika starting. I'm stating she'll start based on Geno's history on being loyal to his upperclassmen (Nika) and his preference for a 3 guard offense. Not to mention that Nika deserves to start alongside the best shooting backcourt duo in the country available to him.

Little guys, like Geno tend to be guard-centric. (Not always, just a tendency.)

 

[Bone Dog]

Little guys, like Geno tend to be guard-centric. (Not always, just a tendency.)

Is Dawn an exception to this rule?

 

[Geesworld]

A healthy UCONN, is the best team in all of basketball.

The only thing potentially hurting this team is experience at the Post positions. Aaliyah and Dorka were a nice combo that will be hard to replace. Who is the player/s to fill that void of Dorka? Aaliyah is the only All American Post, that isn't allowed to play aggressive without having fouls called against her, so if the pattern continues, we will need some Post players step up. Ayanna/Ice, Jana/Deberry.

I see a lot of debate regarding Nika. Similar to Paige, Nika is the heart and soul of the team and she has a fiery attitude that teammates feed off of. Nika is the best pusher of the basketball and by far the best on ball defender. I love Paige but she gambles a lot on defense and doesn't apply on ball pressure the way Nika does. I'm not sure that is what we are wanting from our all world player (Paige) coming off a serious injury. I see Paige sliding over to run the offense in relief, along with KK.
Paige and KK, will make for a better offensive threat when running PG.

Paige, may need some protection from herself. I could see her maybe having minutes restrictions early which would potentially give Ashlynn and KK, some valuable minutes in the rotation. Limited of course but valuable none the less.

Aubrey and Caroline are obvious candidates for rotation minutes. I have a feeling it's Aubrey who gets the nod as a starter. If not she is first in to replace that 4 spot. Ashlynn could creep in some minutes as the season gets going.

 

[BRS24]

Imagine winning games with depth, along with starters not going more than 25 mins a night. That's my hope.

 

[hoopingcrane]

Has Geno ever moved a three year starter to the bench for their senior season? Let alone one that is the de facto team captain and one of the best defenders in the country, 2nd behind only Caitlin Clark in assists per game, and the 3rd best 3-point shooter on the team?

Ask Paige Sauer that question.
But for the argument that Nika won’t start because Paige is the better point guard, was Maria Conlon a better point guard than DT?

 

[hoophuskee]

Imagine winning games with depth, along with starters not going more than 25 mins a night. That's my hope.

Wow that's a scary thought. What a disaster that would be if you have arguably the 2 best player's in wcbb- if healthy ending up sitting 35%- to 40% of a game that you wind up losing in NCAA's along with Edwards an A/a sitting the same - imagine the disaster that would be?

It would realy be disheartening not being able to see Paige and Azzi not capable of playing no more than 25 minutes because of their injuries. Because who would sit energetic guards that are the among the best in wcbb in tight games for at tops no more than 10 minutes other than ealyl season injury precaution?

 

[CL82]

Imagine winning games with depth, along with starters not going more than 25 mins a night. That's my hope.

We've seen it before. I have to think after last year's endurance test, Geno may be inclined toward it.

 

[CL82]

Ask Paige Sauer that question.
But for the argument that Nika won’t start because Paige is the better point guard, was Maria Conlon a better point guard than DT?

No, but the Conlon teams lacked the amount of depth that this year's team will have if everyone stays healthy.

 

[meyers7]

Ask Paige Sauer that question.
But for the argument that Nika won’t start because Paige is the better point guard, was Maria Conlon a better point guard than DT?

She was the one who came to my mind too. But she was already losing time as a Jr. Granted it was to Jones/Williams/Cash, so....understandable.

Fr - 0 starts
So - 36 starts
Jr - 20 starts

But they did get her and Stacey an NC as a going away present.

 

[Gordo]

The team was 27th in the nation scoring 75.9 ppg without Paige or a healthy Azzi. We lose Dorka and Lou, but a fully healthy Paige and Azzi easily offsets the loss of their offensive output. On defense the team was 47th, so it seems the team needs more help stopping points than putting them up.

Not disagreeing with you, but in reality it doesn't matter how many points the defense gives up as long as the offense scores one more point than the opponent.

 

[visitingcock]

Not disagreeing with you, but in reality it doesn't matter how many points the defense gives up as long as the offense scores one more point than the opponent.

Oh, I disagree! It doesn’t matter how many points the offense scores if the defense gives up one more.

 

[Alydar]

The team was 27th in the nation scoring 75.9 ppg without Paige or a healthy Azzi. We lose Dorka and Lou, but a fully healthy Paige and Azzi easily offsets the loss of their offensive output. On defense the team was 47th, so it seems the team needs more help stopping points than putting them up.

Most of UConn's opponents played deliberate offense and UConn's short bench didn't allow much up tempo play. Possessions were low so total pts were too but early in the season when the team was still relatively healthy they had no trouble scoring. The short bench meant that aggressive defense and it's inevitable fouls was also off the table.

The depth this year, especially at guard, will allow more pressure on defense and an uptempo style of play. At least that's what I hope.

 

[Alydar]

Let's take a look at recent history. In her freshman year, Nika started the later part of the season, alongside Paige and Christyn. Essentially, a 3 guard trio. Sophomore season, she started until Paige returned from her injury. Why? Because Geno wanted/needed Paige on the court alongside Christyn (a senior) and Azzi. Again a 3 guard trio.

Last season, Nika started with Azzi and Lou, until injuries racked that cohesion. Again, a 3 guard trio. With Lou moving on and Paige returning and slotting into Lou's spot, why should we not expect a 3 guard trio to start the season?

I'm not arguing for or against Nika starting. I'm stating she'll start based on Geno's history on being loyal to his upperclassmen (Nika) and his preference for a 3 guard offense. Not to mention that Nika deserves to start alongside the best shooting backcourt duo in the country available to him.

When Bueckers came back in late 2022 they both started and senior Westbrook came off the bench.

If Ducharme is healthy and Griffin adds a little to her offense they are both better offensive options for pg Bueckers than Muhl would be. Muhl's only viable position is pg, unless she develops a more potent offense.