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

[Beemer]

I think we need to rein in our expectations for Paige & the others returning from injury, Paige in particular. Yes it will be great to have them all healthy and ready to go.

However expecting any of them to come out of the gate 100% on their game isn't realistic. It's going to take some time for them to get re-acclimated to the speed of the game for one thing and some may struggle with that. Others may struggle confidence wise, it's hard to come back from a serious injury 100% confident in your ability to cut, jump, etc the way you did before the injury.

Let's all be patient & supportive of the wounded Huskies as they make their way back to the game.

 

[meyers7]

You missed the point @hoophuskee was making! All three (Paige, Azzi and Caroline) basically missed the entire past season. He wasn't in any way leaving Aaliyah or any other member of the team out of the equation.

If, IF, that was the point, then I guess I did miss it. But it's easy to miss a point when the point is not presented in the post.

 

[Surly1]

I'll take your word for the figures you've posted. However, you're overlooking some very important facts. That's the problem with "figures", they can be presented in many ways to make a point. For example, Nika started most of those games because Paige was not available! You are also forgetting that Caroline was plagued with injures throughout this past season. She was never in adequate condition to start, and only did when there was no one else. So to present her negative comparison is grossly unfair! She became a starter as a freshman and led the team to several victories before also sustaining injuries that sent her to the bench.

None of us here will have any input whatsoever into Geno's decision as to next season's starters. There are presumably some givens: Paige, Azzi, and Aaliyah, but the remaining two are most likely up for grabs.

You are reading "negative" as it pertains to Caroline. She primarily started 11 games as a frosh only because Paige and Aubrey were out. Her position on the court has nothing to do with Nika. They have different roles.

As for the figures, they remain facts. How you interpret them frames your opinion. My point about trends is they will continue until something reverses them. To argue differently is refusing to accept a pattern, and more importantly, Geno's history of how he manages his team. Caroline nominally fits in to a "2" or "3" role. Although she can do other things, she is more of a wing, spot-up shooter. I would argue that both Paige and Azzi, as #1 recruits and better shooters, are ahead of her in the rotation.

My assertion that Nika will start is based on how Geno values her role and she brings 3 years of experience at the point - something that Geno puts a premium on, if past history is any guide.

 

[CL82]

After a stellar junior season, why do people keep insisting that she'll come off the bench?

Because she plays the same position as the best player on the team and is a little turnover prone. Paige Bueckers is a better passer, has a higher basketball IQ while also being a major scoring threat. Sure you can play Paige as a two guard, and I suspect that's what may happen, but anytime you take the ball out of her hands you hurt the team. Nika's strengths, which are considerable, or largely derivative of her passing and running the offense. Undoubtedly, because very good at those things, Paige is better. I will say that Nika is in outstanding defender and disruptor.

I'm not saying that Nika will not start, I am just pointing out that there are reasons why she might not get the starting nod on a team that is as talented as Connecticut will be next season.

Although I think starting prognostications are at best informed guesses this early in the season, I suspect that Nika will start at the start of the year, but given all the talent that we have, it would not surprise me if someone else assumed a starting role in the second half of the year, giving us more offensive fire power.

 

[Fossil]

I'm confident that a healthy Brady is better than any of the grad transfers.

Rose colored glasses. Marrow is a beast and ice is untested. I hope ice plays as well as a seasoned vet. I still think Connecticut has a national championship caliber team, but LSU certainly made it harder with their additions.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Rose colored glasses. Marrow is a beast and ice is untested. I hope ice plays as well as a seasoned vet. I still think Connecticut has a national championship caliber team, but LSU certainly made it harder with their additions.

Morrow is not a center...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Good luck with that dream! While I agree with the thought, there is no way Geno is changing his behavior. If there was ever a time for him to do so, it was last year with Amari and it did not happen.

A little while back he saw one freshman and handed her the team. Maybe he'll see enough in these freshman to push them out on the floor now and then.

 

[Happydad745]

Back to back NC are rare, unless you go to UConn.

 

[Rowdy831]

If everyone is healthy my thought is Geno will play the other two positions with defense in mind. Nika is the two time defensive player of the year so I think she is in there. The other spot really is up for grabs but ideally it would be DeBerry since she gives you the most length but they have several great players and one is sure to step up.

 

[Gordo]

If, IF, that was the point, then I guess I did miss it. But it's easy to miss a point when the point is not presented in the post.

The point couldn't have been clearer!

 

[Kat]

Is there a deadline for teams to add transfer players to their rosters?

 

[Gordo]

You are reading "negative" as it pertains to Caroline. She primarily started 11 games as a frosh only because Paige and Aubrey were out. Her position on the court has nothing to do with Nika. They have different roles.

As for the figures, they remain facts. How you interpret them frames your opinion. My point about trends is they will continue until something reverses them. To argue differently is refusing to accept a pattern, and more importantly, Geno's history of how he manages his team. Caroline nominally fits in to a "2" or "3" role. Although she can do other things, she is more of a wing, spot-up shooter. I would argue that both Paige and Azzi, as #1 recruits and better shooters, are ahead of her in the rotation.

My assertion that Nika will start is based on how Geno values her role and she brings 3 years of experience at the point - something that Geno puts a premium on, if past history is any guide.

Yes, Nika and Carolina play different position and have different roles. But it is you who are pairing the two together and against one another as to who starts next season. I believe Paige is the best point guard on this team, perhaps one of the best (if not the best) point guard in the country. Nika only started 90% of those games because Paige could not play due to injury. Aubrey had nothing to due with Caroline starting (and winning games for us) as a freshman. Paige's injury and Azzi inability to play were what gave Caroline the opportunity. And, she proved more than capable until she too was injured at the same time Paige was able to return.

Nika is a fine player, but she is a point guard who has limited offensive skills. I just don't see a reason for her to be in the starting lineup provided everyone is healthy. Caroline on the other hand is a proven winner offensively, and when healthy is not bad defensively either. It's seems so easy for people on this site to forget how she can play when healthy! Other than those points, I agree with your assessments.

 

[Carnac]

Back to back NC are rare, unless you go to UConn.

One of the most often asked questions in sports.........which is harder to do, win a championship, or win 2 back to back? BOTH are extremely hard to do. As well all know, UConn was the last to do it in 2015-2016 (the Breanna Stewart era). Ask South Carolina how hard it is to do. They just missed doing it by the length of a fingernail. Ask any of the other schools that have won one since 2017.

 

[JBK]

Nika will start at point guard. Period.
Paige, Azzi, and Aaliyah are givens, if healthy.
I think, that, given Aubrey's back history (it's been mentioned previously that she, at times, needs to stop practicing and stretch/rest) she can be much more valuable as a missile coming off of the bench.
As for the 5th starter, I would love to see Amari grab it and run, but I don't see it happening. Too inconsistent. Aaliyah will need some help underneath, and that is not where Caroline belongs full time, given her injury history. So we're left with Ice, Jana. and possibly Ayanna, though she needs to relax and let the game come to her.
We'll see.
Let's Go Huskies!

 

[sun]

Is there a deadline for teams to add transfer players to their rosters?

IIRC it may be 10 days after the semester begins.
Although Ines wasn't a transfer, I think that was stated when she came to UConn.

 

[JBK]

We are all Nika fans and would agree she saved our season last year !!!
In the off season I hope for her sake she worked on her offensive game if her desire is to play in the WNBA. We also do not want teams double teaming AE and blocking the middle.
I don’t care if it is Nika or Paige that starts at the point, but we have to cut down on our year long turnover problem and must give no team the confidence to ever press us.
Caitlin Clark dissolved the OS press in about 3 minutes and we all know how we looked our last game —20 plus turn overs

 

[BRS24]

Is there a deadline for teams to add transfer players to their rosters?

The deadline to enter the portal to transfer and play immediately is May 11th, as long as the player has not already transferred. I would not be surprised if there are a bunch of portal entries that we won't hear about until after the 11th.

 

[HuskyNan]

Almost. If The Kid, Fudd and Edwards are healthy. But we'll still need contributions from Muhl, CFD, Griffin and 1 of Ice, El Afly or Deberry. Anything after that is just margin of victory.

With Paige and/or Azzi on the court, Ashlynn Shade will have a lot of room to operate. No one’s talking about her but she’s another tough-minded, athletic guard that shoots 40% from the perimeter.

 

[Cuango]

To me, limiting such a great player with so many gifts to just one one position would be the greatest tragedy of all.

She wouldn’t be limited to one position as she would switch to sg/sf when Nika came in. Anyone who believes Geno would limit Paige in any way except for health reasons has not been paying attention.

 

[wingsfan055]

Nika needs to develop a mid-range game if she wants to take her game to the next level. In many games, teams would drop off her and be more than willing to give her the shot. She can sometimes beat her player off the perimeter and penetrate and score. But, that was the exception. Paige running the point with the ball in her hands leads to so many more options for the half-court offense.

 

[SEbluebood]

That

A little while back he saw one freshman and handed her the team. Maybe he'll see enough in these freshman to push them out on the floor now and then.

A little while back he saw one freshman and handed her the team. Maybe he'll see enough in these freshman to push them out on the floor now and then.

That would certainly be a positive development!

 

[Skeets]

Because she plays the same position as the best player on the team and is a little turnover prone. Paige Bueckers is a better passer, has a higher basketball IQ while also being a major scoring threat. Sure you can play Paige as a two guard, and I suspect that's what may happen, but anytime you take the ball out of her hands you hurt the team. Nika's strengths, which are considerable, or largely derivative of her passing and running the offense. Undoubtedly, because very good at those things, Paige is better. I will say that Nika is in outstanding defender and disruptor.

I'm not saying that Nika will not start, I am just pointing out that there are reasons why she might not get the starting nod on a team that is as talented as Connecticut will be next season.

Although I think starting prognostications are at best informed guesses this early in the season, I suspect that Nika will start at the start of the year, but given all the talent that we have, it would not surprise me if someone else assumed a starting role in the second half of the year, giving us more offensive fire power.

Nika will start unless she has regressed from year to year. How long she stays in, how many minutes she gets will depend on what is happening in the game, turnovers, fouls, etc. I don't expect Geno to suddenly go deep in his regular rotation.

I do agree with the highlight portion of your post. In fact, I think you give BY'ers too much credit at guessing.

 

[CL82]

Nika will start unless she has regressed from year to year. How long she stays in, how many minutes she gets will depend on what is happening in the game, turnovers, fouls, etc. I don't expect Geno to suddenly go deep in his regular rotation.

I do agree with the highlight portion of your post. In fact, I think you give BY'ers too much credit at guessing.

Yeah, I guess the answer is "who knows?" I will point out though that Nika not starting doesn't necessarily mean that she regressed given the enormous influx of talent joining the team next season, both from healthy returning players and our extraordinary freshman class. Again, I think she will start at the beginning of the year, whether that changes midseason or so, we shall see.

 

[hoophuskee]

She wouldn’t be limited to one position as she would switch to sg/sf when Nika came in. Anyone who believes Geno would limit Paige in any way except for health reasons has not been paying attention.

Then why not start Nika? What difference would it make for Paige if Nika starts or not? Anyhow, wasn't the point I replied to was that Alydar had said Paige is the best pg and you don't move the best pg away from her natural position? That's the big reason why Alydar and others don't want Nika to start, isn't it? If that wasn't Alydar's point, then I apologize. But below is the partial-post I responded to and it reads to me that even if Nika comes in, Alydar seems to suggest that you don't move Paige off the pg spot.

"To me putting her anywhere but pg would be like asking Picasso to paint the floor of the Sistine Chapel instead of the ceiling."

 

[Longtime fan]

LSU and SC both added big impact players... BUT, we will be adding Paige and Ice to the mix. If we get anything near freshman Paige, that is the #1 addition in the country. We may even get a better Paige, 2 years older, smarter and stronger. Ice adds a refined offensive game and some size. Plus, we hopefully add 1/2 Azzi and 1/2 Caroline if they are at full health (tho Caroline may need a helmet since her head seems to be a magnet for elbows and other body parts). That is some pretty good additions!
So, what else do we have/need? Aaliyah needs to be even more of a beast inside than she was most of last year (AA level would be nice). Aubrey (if she returns, and I think/hope she will) should be a year more confident and can continue to be our Swiss Army knife. We have Nika, of course, though I'm not sure where/how she fits in. There is no questioning her grit and competitiveness. Her defense is top notch, her assists excellent (as her all time record shows), but her shooting can be inconsistent and her turnovers leave a bit to be desired. Will she be a starter? Or an important reserve. I just don't know. If Azzi and Caroline are fully healthy, I think Nika goes to the bench. I just don't see a starting five of Paige, Azzi, Caroline, Aaliyah and Nika. Might work in the Big East, but not against big, Top 10 foes. I don't see much of a roll for Ines.
As for the freshman, I don't expect much (other than from Jana) because if healthy, we don't really need much from them. If we do get something, it's means they have performed beyond expectations, which would great. Jana has needed size and skill and a half year in the program to get herself ready, so I expect some contribution from her.
So, what is our ceiling? A Natty, of course, though the road will be tough.
And as we have learned to our great dismay the past two years, the injury bug is always the great unknown.

I disagree about Nikka. Her increased turnovers, in my opinion, were due to the unrelenting pressure of having to be point guard 40 minutes every game. With KK on the court, not to mention Paige, Nikka can focus more on being the defensive disrupter that she is, and on ball distribution. If she plays 25 minutes per game, she will excel every possession. But your core premise is correct; we need a number of players to be 100% healthy all year, if we are going to have any shot at the NCAA title. And that is not likely. When four of your players ( Paige; Azzi; Ice; and Caroline) are coming off serious, debilitating injuries, hoping for 100% fitness and health
is a " Big Ask." I didn't mention Aubrey because full recovery from back injuries are even more difficult to forecast than knee problems and concussions. I believe she intends to play. but the back spasms she experienced at year end are worrisome. Naturally.

 

[Longtime fan]

Good luck with that dream! While I agree with the thought, there is no way Geno is changing his behavior. If there was ever a time for him to do so, it was last year with Amari and it did not happen.

I believe we won't see either KK of Shade "nailed to the bench." They will earn quality court time early. I don't know about Qadance. She would be a nice surprise. DeBerry earned her time on the bench. She may yet emerge as a force, but we saw very little of the energy and talent that foreshadow that. And you are certainly right about Geno; he isn't changing at this point

 

[hoophuskee]

Nika needs to develop a mid-range game if she wants to take her game to the next level. In many games, teams would drop off her and be more than willing to give her the shot. She can sometimes beat her player off the perimeter and penetrate and score. But, that was the exception. Paige running the point with the ball in her hands leads to so many more options for the half-court offense.

Having either Paige or Azzi pass the ball rather than shoot the ball limits UCONN's halfcourt Offense unless their pass leads to an uncontested 5 footer. Paige Bueckers shot 46.4% from 3 as a freshman. as the team's #1 option (the opposing defense tries its best to shutdown). That's equivalent to 69.6%. And if her 2pt shooting gets better than her frosh year, realistically who is going to shoot better than her other than near layups for others, or maybe a healthy Azzi?

 

[sun]

Then why not start Nika? What differecne would it make for Paige if Nika starts or not? Anyhow, wasn't the point I replied to was that Alydar had said Paige is the best pg and you don't move the best pg away from her naturral position? That's the big reason why Alydar and others don't want Nika to start, isn't it? If that wasn't Alyadar's point, then I apologize. But below is the partial-post I responded to and it reads to me that even if Nika comes in, Alydar seems to suggest that you don't move Paige off the pg spot.

"To me putting her anywhere but pg would be like asking Picasso to paint the floor of the Sistine Chapel instead of the ceiling."

Geno isn't just a rubber stamp when he makes decisions about PT.
Players should need to earn their PT each & every year based on the needs of the team and in light of the abilities of the players that are sitting on the bench.
If Nika plays too much PG then one of the other players will need to sit who may be able to contribute in ways that Nika isn't able to.
Geno needs to make the judgment whether Nika's skills are more valuable than the skills of others on the bench.
The needs can change minute to minute and game to game based on the opponent and the performance of the team.
Other talented players have just as much interest in being treated fairly by Geno as Nika does.
It's not always about playing favorites and following seniority.
More players may need to get a chance to showcase their abilities in real game situations.
Perhaps Nika isn't the only one who can pass the ball with authority, dribble up the court & make critical game decisions.
Some fans may have a different perspective than Geno does since he's also interested in developing players talents for when he really needs them.

 

[UConnCat]

I don't understand why a healthy Paige would prevent Nika from starting. When Paige and Nika were freshmen (2020-2021) Geno put Nika in the starting lineup halfway through the season. I recall Geno saying Nika made the team better. Nika started 15 games, all of which Paige also started.

What am I missing?

 

[hoophuskee]

More players may need to get a chance to showcase their abilities in real game situations.
Perhaps Nika isn't the only one who can pass the ball with authority, dribble up the court & make critical game decisions.

I agree with your post except I'd like to offer an alternative to your last few comments above.

Perhaps Nika is the 2nd (maybe 3rd if it's Azzi) best passer on this team and along with her stellar defense gives UCONN the best chance to win close games rather than young inexperienced freshmen and sophomores can provide.