What former UConn big (their best season) would you bring back for this team? Stewie excluded! | Page 2 | The Boneyard

What former UConn big (their best season) would you bring back for this team? Stewie excluded!

Tina is the obvious choice when you look at the overall player talent. In terms of need and fit with this team, however, I think what we are most missing is a defensive, rebounding, shot blocking C type.

Uconn teams have usually been very good on rebounding and exceptional on blocked shots. This year, not so much because of several things, but a Kia Stokes type of player would make a huge difference on this team if everyone else was healthy. Stef is fine, but her passing skills have a little less value on a team that gives big minutes to three very good point guards in Paige, Nika, and KK.

Similarly Stef's outside shooting would add more to a team that did not already have Paige, Azzi, Caroline and Q. For that reason I think there are even players far down the overall list that could be difference makers on this year's team that is missing Jana for the season and Ayanna for who knows how long.

Players like Kelly Schumaker could make a significant difference on this year's team even though she is nowhere near the top of the list for former C's. Anyway Tina's overall game puts her at the top, but after that I think it would be Kia over Stef regarding what would most help this particular team.
 
asuwish said:
Fight fire with fire Kara was 6'7" and national player of the year. That is the missing piece on THIS team.
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Point taken. However, I like to live in the NOW, so current conditioning was a factor for me. :cool:
 
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I'd go with Jamelle or my gal Asjha. Either one would help our rebounding, and no one would question our toughness. Still, I can't believe that no one has mentioned Swin.
 
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I’ll go with Stef as a big cause they need a player with an attitude and i’m going with. 5 for my big
 
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Shorty Dee said:
I would bring my hometown girl Jamelle, Kara and Tina. I would also add one of my favorites Maya Moore.
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There are a lot of fine answers here. But Maya imo is the best choice.
She is arguably the greatest wcbb ever. She averaged nearly 9 rebounds a game one year. So no one can argue about her tougness. She was a leader that lost-- what?; -- a total of 6 games if that for her entire career? And she was a leader. No "style" from the other team ever affected her game.

You put her with Paige -- and every other team is -- "done." Though ofc as mentioned above many fine answers. Put Tina or Stef for example -- -- "done" too. But with Maya - UCONN could still play thier game. UCONN would't be forced to play "A bigs game." That's what would happen when you put two super elite player's together in which they compliment one another as well.
 
Stef Dolson is not fast, not a leaper or shot blocker or great defender. She's a wide body who I still don't think would stop someone like Cardoza. Yes Kara was not fast but her size matches up and she could keep other bigs off the board. Dolson, who I really liked was not a national player of the year candidate.
 
asuwish said:
Stef Dolson is not fast, not a leaper or shot blocker or great defender. She's a wide body who I still don't think would stop someone like Cardoza. Yes Kara was not fast but her size matches up and she could keep other bigs off the board. Dolson, who I really liked was not a national player of the year candidate.
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Stef was the 2014 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year.
 
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Cuango said:
This would be a tough decision! Do you go with Stef, the all around skill set with enough bulk to battle Betts and Cardoso? Perhaps Kiah, the defensive wizard as we have plenty of offense. Wolters? Tina Charles, perhaps the greatest big of all?
I guess I’d have to go with Tina.
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This team is full of talent. Post defense, apologies to Edwards--size for size she is great. But Size you can't teach. Dolson is absolutely one choice.
However on Defense--there is only one---Kiah Stokes. She didn't swat ALL balls in row 35--she blocked and kept the ball. Few terrific driving/shooting guards--scored on her. STOKES--would make this the top team in America and an NC winner.
 
asuwish said:
Fight fire with fire Kara was 6'7" and national player of the year. That is the missing piece on THIS team.
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Different game different speed, lots of running--this is a FAST team--different era. By half time they'd need oxygen on the bench.
OviedoFLHusky said:
I'd pick Tamika Williams, for her high shot-making percentage. No more missed bunnies with her beneath the basket!
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Aah Tamika--she scores 60 percent ---who wouldn't directly under the basket? (paraphrasing Geno)
southofnorth said:
As great as Tina is, I’d go with Dolson for this team. Dolson played better at the high-low game and was essentially a 6’5 point guard when she had the ball at the high post. She had a good midrange shot (as did Tina), was like a wall when screening, and won defensive player of the year for a reason, too. Exactly the kind of post player UConn could use during any season.

There’s a reason Geno once said if he could coach 10 Stefanie Dolsons he’d coach forever.
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Stef came out of a school in upstate rural NY. She was NOT experienced. On her first or second game in a real season--she got stuck guarding Griner--and did a wonderful job on her. That one game established Dolson--and she got better. She was hated by ND--she could stop them--they couldn't stop her.
 
asuwish said:
She was a wing not a post
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Nobody said post, just big. Svetlana is 6'2, as tall as many of the others mentioned, and one of the most talented players ever at Connecticut (Auriemma mentions her quite often).
 
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