MilfordHusky
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Welcome Kaitlyn!
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EricSD
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Well my post didn't age well LOL.One piece falls into place. Welcome to UConn Ms. Chen!! So excited to have her. Let's celebrate with some Beers!
Now we just need a big post player.
Maybe I should have said "let's celebrate and read some Book(s)"...
BRS24
LisaG
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ISWYDT
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Wonder what Q’s reactions or thoughts are?
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I feel the same way, but it’s okay. Geno and the other coaches will get the next player who perfectly matches his program’s goals. I am wishing Raegan Beers all the best!!
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Beers signed on to Oklahoma
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I don't see how Chen moves the needle for UConn. I don't like the fact that playing time for UConn's prized Freshman class will be reduced. Seems quite short sighted to me.
Having another guard who can facilitate and create their own shot (plus having experience) is never a bad thing.
The good thing is that playing time was probably not guaranteed for the Freshmen or Chen. If they buy into the program and trust in their abilities, it’ll all work out.
South Carolina this season was a testament to that. With Geno as the lead, I believe all will work out in everyone’s favor.
EricSD
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Really? Chen is here for 1 year. Neither Cheli nor Ziebell are pure PG's like Chen is. Chen brings 4 years experience under the tutelage of Carla Berube, a former UConn great.
To me there is zero downside. Either Kaitlyn starts and KK comes off the bench, or KK starts and Kaitlyn comes off the bench. Chen takes zero PT away from Morgan or Allie. If anything, she probably takes PT away from Paige, who would play the 1 (or maybe Azzi when she comes back).
Either way, Chen is a huge upgrade over Ines (as much as I loved her), and while a far different PG than Nika, her experience and maturity will be awesome for the team.
Earlier it was discussed that if KK starts, there is no one to come off the bench for her if she gets into foul trouble etc. At that point, Paige would slide over and play the 1. The way it stands, there will be no need for that as Geno will have 2 terrific PG's to rotate in and out.
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BoneDog’s post succinctly provides a likely answer:
Post 22: Post in thread 'MAJRS / JMASK vs TASSK First Year'
From all accounts, the team is a closed-knit group. They all felt the downs and ups of the season, and reaching the final four after all that has to be rewarding. They are very aware that practice could have been better if they have a full practicing squad, which they didn’t.
With the addition of Kaitlyn, they now have full practicing squads in November (10 players, with two opposing point guards where Paige plays mostly off-ball) for rigorous practices. So now they don’t only have to hear Geno’s teachings but they can practice those teachings with repetitions. In effect, this coming year will be what last year’s practices should have been.
The experienced veterans one-year from surgeries is January 2025. Before their return, it is reasonable (see the rest of the thread above) to expect that Geno will play 5+4+. The injured veterans will have to prove that they are ready and able to crack or add to Geno’s rotation when they return.
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Basketball 104 ; )
That and feelers for when Geno plans to retire, our beloved Princeton coach can fill the shoes.
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To me the best thing about Kaitlyn Chen coming to UConn is as an experienced PG that will be able to settle the girls if the unexpected happened during a game!
Can never have enough experience on your roster!
Can never have enough experience on your roster!
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If I remember correctly the sun does shine in April in Storrs! All are in agreement that we could do with a big to replace Edwards-- for a year or two. I bet the coaches have tried (and probably are still at it). The immediate ones have endless options, and for a host of reasons decided against(?) UCONN. None of the names populating these threads appear to be clueless, so I must respect their decisions. Now. we lost our PG-- and. let me strike right away: PB will play where ever she is needed; but, we do not have another PG who is qualified to run the show. Arnold was not the PG-- she had different tasks w/ PG-helping roles. I'm in shock at how fast and thorough the various schools have changed since March Madness. The addition of Chen is not (just) for insurance purposes, it is needed energy. I am optimistic about the coming health of the infirms, but I have questions. (Questions about a few key players and what they absolutely must improve upon this summer.)
So, there are three plusses for me. First, Uconn might help Chen to a draft status in a year; Second, she will provide the maturity and points needed for this team to compete; Lastly, I think if Chen does well it will shine on her coach at Princeton -- who I hope the Program will seriously consider when the time for a change comes about. Just saying.
So, there are three plusses for me. First, Uconn might help Chen to a draft status in a year; Second, she will provide the maturity and points needed for this team to compete; Lastly, I think if Chen does well it will shine on her coach at Princeton -- who I hope the Program will seriously consider when the time for a change comes about. Just saying.
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I'll have to chew on that...... Ok, a long shot...... In Geno, We Trust!
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For what?
Seems as if you are in the know, and I certainly am not. So please elaborate, why do you think the probabilities are so low?
I wouldn’t consider myself “in the know”, but Janiah has been very verbal (on multiple occasions) of her dislike of Geno and UConn. Could’ve been a result of Ayanna and Ice being recruited over her, I just personally can’t see either side being interested in one another at this point.
Again, I’d love to eat my own words because she has a pro-build and a pro-ready game and she’ll immediately make a title contender that much better.
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For feeling that she might be getting squeezed out. If I’m getting the minutes she got and now faced with this new addition, I’m saying yes, I need to get my butt in gear and work harder for minutes, but my initial reaction is getting pushed further down the bench.
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Oh, okay, you definitely knew more than me! If she had on multiple occasions publicly expressed dislike of Geno and UConn basketball, regardless of her physical attributes, she doesn't seem like someone who would be in Storrs next season.
MilfordHusky
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Kaitlyn will be our most experienced player. She played 3 full seasons. Paige played parts of 3 seasons. Aubs played parts of 3 seasons. Caroline played parts of 3 seasons, I think. Azzi played parts of 3 seasons. Ice, Yanna, KK, Q, and Ash played 1 season. Jana, Sarah, Morgan, and Allie haven’t played yet.
Another plus about Kaitlyn is that she hasn’t been injured.
Another plus about Kaitlyn is that she hasn’t been injured.
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Yeah adding some established leadership to the mix will definitely harm the underclassmen.
At first I had the same thoughts as you are expressing, but hopefully next season, especially before mid season, Paige won't have to be on the court 30+ minutes a game. Kaitlyn could help in this scenario.
HuskyNan
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EricSD
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So here are my thoughts FWIW. And for the record, agree that she needs to work super hard over the summer and address the weaknesses in her game.
When you recruit a player like Paige, Azzi, Sarah (ie. very top tier recruit), it's not that you AREN'T going to recruit over them, it's that you CAN'T - they are so good that no matter who you get that plays the "same" position simply won't be better.
Any other player, even including the greats, know that PT is not guaranteed, that you need to work your butt off in practices, have a great attitude, be a team player, etc. in order to earn minutes. Then you need to play well in games. Some freshmen come in and are simply incredible (Maya and Paige, for example). Others, even great ones, take time to develop (Tina, for example).
Geno had no luxury of a variety of players off the bench. Ice and Q were it in big games. Both had plenty of chances. Both struggled. Ice got her chance in spades when Edwards was out 2 games in the BET, and she totally shined. FINALLY! But Q never really came into her own.
It's very rare, if ever, that a top recruit who is a starter for UConn transfers out. The best players stay, play, and have great careers. It's the ones who aren't quite up to snuff who decide they want to leave for a different opportunity, and those are the reserve or bench players.
So if Q works hard, becomes a starter or key reserve off the bench, that will be great. If not, then she will need to decide what to do. But if you look at the overwhelming majority of players who have transferred in the past, none of them were starters, and only a handful would have ever even been key reserves for UConn.
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Don't jinx her.
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This new addition won't effect her. Q is not a point guard.
Bald Husky
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Right now, every player on our roster is a very good player or prospect. The end of the bench next year will be, well, I don't know how to put it. Every player on the roster has a chance to contribute many minutes during a game. This is the one thing that I was worried about in the past if we had this kind of roster, but it never was an issue with all the injuries. I hope Geno and CD will talk to the players individually and explain the fact than they will be trying out for PT, and if they don't get much, she just has to tell them that we will probably lose as many as 5 players after this year. This will be an extremely tough decision by the staff if they want to get down to a playing 8 or 9 for the tournament. It's possible that just about all will see time during the BE season, as the conference will be very bad next year with the portal losses to Marquette and Villanova. I just pray that they all will see the Big Picture for next year and the year after. With these players the future is very bright for us, and I would feel very bad if the players don't see it the same way.
CL82
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100%, Qadence is a shooting guard, she doesn't play the point. She will however not only be up against Bueckers and Shade same as last year, but the team also has Fudd coming back, and they have added Ziebell to the roster. In essence, with or without Chen, Q has some work to do in order to get her playing time. She can do that by not only in improving her shooting, but also becoming more effective in her defense, and her rebounding; let's be honest, Q is extremely athletic, she can run, she can jump through the roof - she has all of that potential!
For next season, Chen is going to take away playing time from KK Arnold; KK is the player who is going to be affected by Kaitlyn joining the team. That said, 1) the team graduated out Nika Muhl, 2) Ines Bettencourt transferred out, 3) Kaitlyn is a graduate student who will only be with the team for one season, 4) the team will almost certainly look for Kelis Fisher, yet another Point Guard who will be a Freshman the following year, to push hard for Arnold's minutes.
This is big time collegiate sports. Nothing is (or should be) a freebee! Every player had better work hard for their spot and hopefully, coupled with natural ability, it is enough to get them into the game. For about half of the players, it will not be enough, period. Some will not like it but will stick in out. Others, will go play at Arkansas...
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I wish I could categorically state that the addition of another guard to the mix will not affect her. So, if Chen is the primary point guard and that pushes KK and Paige to the shooting guard or the three position, no effect on Q? The effect is not centered solely on PT but her psyche.
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