When Azzi is healthy, she will become UConn's most important player

[sun]

UConn has reasons for hope until Paige returns.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

we are who the back of our trading card sez we are.
ms fudd's back of the card sez, quite boldly,
'insufficient data thus far.'
no card ever has a 'high school data' entry when a player moves on to the next level.
this is not complicated.

 

[hoophuskee]

we are who the back of our trading card sez we are.
ms fudd's back of the card sez, quite boldly,
'insufficient data thus far.'
no card ever has a 'high school data' entry when a player moves on to the next level.
this is not complicated.

And the back of her card right now definitely shows that he is an outstanding college 3 point shooter. And for this year's team no one is close to her in this regard.

 

[Littlemin]

And the back of her card right now definitely shows that he is an outstanding college 3 point shooter. And for this year's team no one is close to her in this regard.

Yeah, I always prefer my outstanding shooters to shoot well one game out of every three. The fact is, the jury is out on Fudd at the college level for any evaluator with a modicum of objectivity. Certainly injuries seemed to have played a part but there are many great players whose careers have been derailed or lessened by injuries.
My final word, I don’t think anyone is rooting against the young lady; I am certainly not.

 

[hoophuskee]

Yeah, I always prefer my outstanding shooters to shoot well one game out of every three. The fact is, the jury is out on Fudd at the college level for any evaluator with a modicum of objectivity. Certainly injuries seemed to have played a part but there are many great players whose careers have been derailed or lessened by injuries.
My final word, I don’t think anyone is rooting against the young lady; I am certainly not.

"Today" we'll hear from some posters that it is one games of 3. This is the stat you'll use and some others. That's fine. But if she shot well in 2 of the 3 in which the other games weren't a threat to lose I'm sure many will say "what good is it that she shoots well when UCONN doesn't need it?"

The fact is, the back of the card (which I was replying to) will state that right now Fudd is 8-18 from 3. Which is terrific.
And digging deeper the fact remains in the game which Azzi shot her best, UCONN was under great duress to lose, vs the others that she was able to play without being pulled for injury in which UCONN had no shot to lose.

Anyone with a modicum of objectivity cannot refute these facts. And as you say

"you are more than entitled to your opinion. I will form my own by what I see, not by what you say."

 

[Alydar]

we are who the back of our trading card sez we are.
ms fudd's back of the card sez, quite boldly,
'insufficient data thus far.'
no card ever has a 'high school data' entry when a player moves on to the next level.
this is not complicated.

I bet you were saying the same thing about Bueckers. To you a players' talent and skill cannot be judged until she plays in college. I usually adhere to that too. But some things are plain to anyone who looks.

 

[Littlemin]

I bet you were saying the same thing about Bueckers. To you a players' talent and skill cannot be judged until she plays in college. I usually adhere to that too. But some things are plain to anyone who looks.

You have no idea what I said about Bueckers but feel free to fill in the blanks, obviously it’s your style. And for the record, I criticized Bueckers plenty, not for her ability, which she, unlike Fudd, showed from the git go, but for her refusal to listen to Auriemma last year and playing “her way.“ It cost them dearly IMO against Arizona, where they very much needed her to hunt shots.
And yes, as a player goes up each level, to me, they are an unknown until proven on the court. Again obviously, not for you and you are entitled to your view.

 

[Alydar]

You have no idea what I said about Bueckers but feel free to fill in the blanks, obviously it’s your style. And for the record, I criticized Bueckers plenty, not for her ability, which she, unlike Fudd, showed from the git go, but for her refusal to listen to Auriemma last year and playing “her way.“ It cost them dearly IMO against Arizona, where they very much needed her to hunt shots.
And yes, as a player goes up each level, to me, they are an unknown until proven on the court. Again obviously, not for you and you are entitled to your view.

Wasn't this you??????
"no card ever has a 'high school data' entry when a player moves on to the next level"
I thought that comment applied to all incoming freshmen including Bueckers but maybe I'm misreading what you wrote.
I was referring to incoming freshman Bueckers, not a healthy Bueckers after 10 college games. What was on her card then????

 

[Rb335]

I think the best way to describe it is that out of the 3 injured players beyond Paige, Azzi returning would be the most valuable. She can score the basketball, which is our biggest liability right now. She can shoot the 3 at a high level, which is another big liability right now.

Getting back Nika allows us to shift Evina back to her normal position, but is likely going to bog down our offense even more. Potentially same with Aubrey.

Azzi coming back will open the floor for us and allow us to have more of a rotation at the guard spot.

 

[jazz]

if azzi can hit threes, and I think she can and will when she gets back, she will play. GA will then have to decide to either go small, or sit CW or EW. I hate the going small option and like the idea of reducing the minutes of CW and EW, who both are solid to pretty good players, but Azzi can be great and she can be great this year. The there is CD....for another discussion but she deserves minutes as well.

Problems with the above is defense. Neither Azzi or CD are particularly good at defense. Will they get better? I think they can but I still expect their defense to be an issue against better teams...think SC...

 

[AzzisBraids]

I've been mentioning after the last two losses that this team needs Fudd. You cite the reasons but imo there needs to be context. Fudd has to get open (and get off her shot effectively/not being rushed/not change her shot directory etc.) for her to realize her potential That is still a question. You spoke of South Carolina being on her so tightly/ "don't let her touch it." But if she is as elite as you say and we all hope, then South Carolina won’t be able to stop her from touching it. Superstar perimeter players if they are superstars don't get denied that often from touching the ball when they want it.

As far as the bold, there is no way you want Paige to be only a pass first point guard. She came to UCONN to expand her game as well. You also want her talents to be rise to be as complete as she can be. If Paige is extremely efficient at scoring (the best in wcbb) then why can't they both score rather than turning one of them to be "pass first?" The more alternatives you have in which players are very efficient (with Paige being last year's best), then the better that is.

I agree with your context here. I think Paige needs more moments to make incredible passes. Azzi is the best threat outside Bueckers. Paige calls herself a pass first point guard, that not's me. A few moments per game when she can show how good of a passer she is, gets her going. Right now she is the most potent offensive weapon. But others need to step up because for her it's score first, defense second and score again.

Geno has went on record saying two players that when they touch it, they should shoot it. One is Paige (stated in the pre-season people want her to average 10 assists this season but he wants her averaging 30 points.)

And we know who the other one is per the USF postgame presser.

 

[AzzisBraids]

I bet you were saying the same thing about Bueckers. To you a players' talent and skill cannot be judged until she plays in college. I usually adhere to that too. But some things are plain to anyone who looks.

I agree here, they picked on her on defense and she picked her moments but overall was a liability. I'd play zone until she figures it out but her shooting and spacing is so needed.

 

[hoophuskee]

I agree with your context here. I think Paige needs more moments to make incredible passes. Azzi is the best threat outside Bueckers. Paige calls herself a pass first point guard, that not's me. A few moments per game when she can show how good of a passer she is, gets her going. Right now she is the most potent offensive weapon. But others need to step up because for her it's score first, defense second and score again.

Geno has went on record saying two players that when they touch it, they should shoot it. One is Paige (stated in the pre-season people want her to average 10 assists this season but he wants her averaging 30 points.)

And we know who the other one is per the USF postgame presser.

He also said he wants her to shoot the ball. I don't recall as much that he wants her to pass the ball.

I realize what Paige had called herself. But Geno is trying to change that in her for the better so she can expand her game.

 

[gold2323]

She is injury prone for starters
Yes like an unknown ipo and unless you are in with underwriters there is a risk and unknown value of your investment.
Paige is a proven commodity like investing with Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.
But Azzi can be great but many factors are in her mix.

 

[Alydar]

He also said he wants her to shoot the ball. I don't recall as much that he wants her to pass the ball.

I realize what Paige had called herself. But Geno is trying to change that in her for the better so she can expand her game.

Geno's move of Bueckers from pg to sg was done because her passing was being wasted on players who have trouble making a layup. When your best passer and playmaker is also your best scorer what are you supposed to do? Bueckers best position is pg, with the ball in her hands. Mühl is better at pg than ONO/CW are as scorers.
It would be best if the seniors were better scorers but on the other hand, with Fudd and Ducharme seemingly capable of making baskets, the future is secure.

 

[sun]

She is injury prone for starters
Yes like an unknown ipo and unless you are in with underwriters there is a risk and unknown value of your investment.
Paige is a proven commodity like investing with Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.
But Azzi can be great but many factors are in her mix.

Do we really know enough to say that Azzi is injury prone?
She may or may not be injury prone, but is she any more injury prone than Paige?

We know Azzi played a lot during the summer, when she may have developed some symptoms.
On the other hand, Paige has also had 2 surgeries since the end of last season.
Does that mean that Paige is injury prone too?

Women BB players are at risk of having more injuries period.
Some more than others but it's mostly a matter of when and the nature of the injury.

Maybe Azzi has a bad knee or maybe it's not an issue that UConn will ever deal with.
And maybe Paige will have a bad knee now too.
It can happen to any player at any time, whether it's now or later.
Put it into perspective, every player is only one play away from injury.
Every time they take a fall or a charge they can get a concussion and be out of action for a while.
That's why every team is supposed to have depth on the bench.
It must be the biggest joke about WBB to think that players will never miss games.
Back up players need to be available to replace the starters for days or weeks at a time.
That's Geno's job to plan ahead.
Maybe UConn should recruit a CT All-State player who won't be interested in transferring but will play for pride.

 

[Alydar]

Maybe UConn should recruit a CT All-State player who won't be interested in transferring but will play for pride.

And maybe we should rejoin the Yankee Conference?

 

[Charliebball]

I've been mentioning after the last two losses that this team needs Fudd. You cite the reasons but imo there needs to be context. Fudd has to get open (and get off her shot effectively/not being rushed/not change her shot directory etc.) for her to realize her potential That is still a question. You spoke of South Carolina being on her so tightly/ "don't let her touch it." But if she is as elite as you say and we all hope, then South Carolina won’t be able to stop her from touching it. Superstar perimeter players if they are superstars don't get denied that often from touching the ball when they want it.

As far as the bold, there is no way you want Paige to be only a pass first point guard. She came to UCONN to expand her game as well. You also want her talents to be rise to be as complete as she can be. If Paige is extremely efficient at scoring (the best in wcbb) then why can't they both score rather than turning one of them to be "pass first?" The more alternatives you have in which players are very efficient (with Paige being last year's best), then the better that is.

getting Azzi touches is dependent not only on her own movement but on her teammate's timely screens and passes.........that takes practice of which there's been far too little with her.............over time I think we will see Azzi develop into the number one outside shooting threat other than PB followed by Ducharme.............if that trio remains healthy, that will be quite a formidable three headed monster......