Where UConn's Starting Lineup is Heading

[#1florida]

That’s an interesting take. But consider that last season’s leading scorer in WBB, and consensus NPOY, CC, brought the ball up, initiated the offense and also led the country in assists.

Oops, Last year Nika had 253 assists and Paige had 150. Hence, it freed up Paige to get in position for shots.

 

[oldude]

Oops, Last year Nika had 253 assists and Paige had 150. Hence, it freed up Paige to get in position for shots.

OK. In 2020-21, Paige led the Huskies in both assists and scoring, while earning consensus NPOY honors. There’s several ways to construct a lineup. IMO, having Paige initiate the offense with Azzi & Ashlynn spotting up for 3-pt opportunities, Sarah roaming inside & out and Jana posting up down on the blocks, beats every other combination UConn can put out on the court.

Paige will still get her shots, whether on give and goes with Sarah, high screens with Jana, exchanging PG/SG roles with Azzi occasionally or simply beating her defender off the dribble.

 

[The deacon]

Here’s what we’ve seen after a game:

• Paige
• Ash
• Sarah
• Ice
• KC

This can’t be the final lineup just because of returners. But how might it change? Here’s one guess:

• Azzi platoons with Ash in December,
• Jana and Ice continue to platoon, with Jana gradually getting more minutes as her game settles down
• KC and KK will platoon for the rest of the year, though they’ll probably yield some minutes to Paige at the 1.

As this lineup solidifies, and when Aubrey and Ayanna return, Q Allie and Morgan will fall out of the main rotation. But I don’t see either Aubrey or Ayanna as subs for Sarah unless both Paige and Azzi are both on the floor. This could mean the February-March rotation looks something like this:

• Paige Azzi Aubrey and Ash sharing minutes at the 2 and the 3
• KK and KC and Paige sharing minutes at the 1
• Sarah Aubrey and Ayanna sharing minutes at the 4
• Jana and Ice sharing minutes at the 5

If it were me, I’d prioritize having at least two perimeter threats, preferably three, on the floor at all times.

This is effectively a 10 player rotation, which is hard to sustain while getting the stars enough minutes to stay sharp on offense and tight on defense. My goal would be to make sure that by February Paige Azzi Sarah and Jana each get >25 minutes. I’d hope this would allow Ash and Aubrey to get ~20 minutes.

But this just guesswork, and Q or Allie or Morgan could surprise and take minutes from others. This could only be good news.

Interesting take on it all, Bone Dog... however, based on all Geno says, it would not be a surprise to him if Morgan is very much part of the rotation, and increasingly impactful... I'll take his word for it. We haven't seen enough to make a valid assessment.

I'm also curious how so many here just assume Azzi will be so great that she'll leapfrog many top players for extensive PT. As I've said on several other threads, I'm hopeful about her, but to assume she'll be the player she showed herself to be only in one brief burst of brilliance several years ago is, at best, presumptuous.

 

[jeff30189]

Jana 18 minutes, 17 pts, 11 rebs
Brady 22 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebs

Let's put that controversy to bed now. I had my doubts about the Jana hype, but she's going to be the real deal in a real hurry. Her and Strong are going to be a force to deal with down low for 4 years. Can I get an amen?

Sarah is already the real deal. Damn.

Jana, Sarah S, Paige, Ash and Kaitlyn start. You don't sit Ash - she can shoot, play solid D, and now she's really focusing on being more aggressive all over the court. Kaitlyn (at least for now) starts because she's a 5th year steadying presence on a team full of kids, and she can play a solid PG with or without Paige on the court. I think of KK as the change-of-pace PG who can press, run and be a nuisance. But until she finds a reliable shot and can really RUN the team (like Nika did, like Paige does) she can't be the starting PG.

Even when Azzi and Aubrey come back, I think they both come off the bench as needed for foul trouble, instant offense, more rebounding or whatever. They're both coming off serious injury, and I suspect Geno is more concerned with having them at the END of the season than what they do during the season.

Morgan, Allie and Q are the "bombs away" triplets - I guess you go with the hot hand, and get them PT during blowouts. Until Azzi and Aubrey get back you get Brady some PT during blowouts and to spell Jana when she's in foul trouble and pray that she finds whatever is missing.

 

[UcMiami]

I actually think Geno may decide the starters based more on his second five than the actual starters. He will want to make sure he can maintain continuity and cohesion when Paige (and Sarah?) are on the bench, so who can lead and keep the scoreboard ticking over will be important.

So ... in terms of guard/wings - if it is Paige, Chen, and Azzi starting, does Ash, KK, and ________ where the blank is some combination of Q, Allie, and Morgan work, or does Chen or Azzi need to be there with Ash or KK starting to balancing the effectiveness.

And in terms of the forwards what are the combinations that work best together between Ice, Jana, Sarah, Ayana, Morgan, and Aubrey when she becomes ready. For game 1 we saw Ice/Sarah start, and then a rotation of Jana with both of them because we didn't have Ayana or Aubrey, and Morgan was on limited duty. I think we will see the Ice/Sarah lineup as starters until more people become fully available.

 

[Rb335]

Assuming the team regains full health and players look good coming back from injury:

Mid season: Chen, Azzi, Paige, Sarah, and Jana. I think that would be our best 5, with KK and Shade first guards off the bench, and Brady and Patterson off the bench in the post. That’s a 9 player rotation.

End of season: KK, Azzi, Paige, Sarah, and Jana. Chen and Shade first guards off the bench. Griffin, Patterson and Brady the posts off the bench. 10 player rotation.

It’s tough because I don’t see Geno deploying all 14 players. But the four I left out are all really good.

Q appears to have made a leap, but you still get glimpses of where she’s indecisive or undisciplined.

Ziebell looks very comfortable, but could be more one dimensional. With our roster, 3 point shooting seems well covered so she’ll need to excel elsewhere to validate more PT.

Cheli is a wildcard for me. She looks big and strong and versatile. But until she’s on rhythm I’m not sure how she fits.

Ducharme- anything is a plus. One of my all time favorites, makes me sad what she’s enduring.

The good news is there will be tons of playing time for all 14 players through the big east schedule. So everyone will have opportunities to learn and grow. I just predict something more like a 9-10 player rotation in bigger games.

 

[DefenseBB]

oldude , you're wisdom is spot on. PAIGE is a given. Statistically the best player in Women's BB, JANA is a seasoned player because of her GREAT FIFA games in 3 years. ASHLYNN has proven she can play and score and her improvements this year are fantastic. SARAH has the drive and attitude that made her No.1 in college BB. CHEN will. do fine until AZZI is ready to play . The bench this year will be outstanding in any game coming up. Can't wait for Notre Dame game which will prove to everyone that this is UCONN's year. No naysayers need reply. GO FRESHMEN!!!!GO SOPHOMORES!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!

Um, FIFA vs. FIBA and just because Jana beat the likes Angola, Algeria and Madagascar (to name 3 rather pedestrian teams) when she faced quasi good teams, Egypt got crushed by Mali, Canada and Czech Republic where she didn't dominate (hence not GREAT).

The issue will be how does Geno want to handle the point guard position both offensively and defensively. As we saw last night, as soon as KK came into the game, her energy and disruptive style was able to ignite the team. Does this best play as a starter or as a reserve? If Kaitlin continues to make questionable passes that result in turnovers and she can't defend the quicker guards, she will go to the bench and come in as a "scoring guard".

I think before long the 4 guaranteed starters are Paige, Sarah, Azzi and Jana. The 5th spot will come down to Ash, KK or Kaitlin. Defensively, I think both Ash and KK have it over Chen. Quickness has KK over Chen. Ash just does so many little things well that she has to be considered to help the other 4 by not making mistakes.

The good news is we have lots of depth now (knock on wood) and as they say, it's not how you start but how you finish. Let's see what happens against UNC, Ole Miss, Louisville, Iowa State and SoCal at the end of a close game.

 

[Next 12]

I hope the ND game will be “Must Watch TV.” But as of right now, ND’s roster is dealing with a rash of injuries that make UConn’s issues appear insignificant. Watson & Bransford are out for the season. Westbeld, Citron & Karlen are all dealing with injuries and uncertain timetables for their return.

I didn't know that. I wanted our starting five against ND's starting five. I believe with all my heart it would have been a satisfying experience in a solid win.Now let' see how other coaches handle adersity lke Geno has to do. I believe it will show Geno's genius.

 

[Bone Dog]

Where is Kaitlyn Chen?

KC is Kaitlyn Chen. Sorry for the abbreviation.

 

[The deacon]

I didn't know that. I wanted our starting five against ND's starting five. I believe with all my heart it would have been a satisfying experience in a solid win.Now let' see how other coaches handle adersity lke Geno has to do. I believe it will show Geno's genius.

I had that wish, too, Next 12. It would be fun to see that matchup with all hands on deck.

As for the Irish, as much as most (nearly all?) here don't like 'em, they've experienced more than their share of injuries in recent years, too. This season is coming on the heels of a tough road health-wise last winter.

 

[diggerfoot]

That’s an interesting take. But consider that last season’s leading scorer in WBB, and consensus NPOY, CC, brought the ball up, initiated the offense and also led the country in assists.

This implies Auriemma would run an offense like Bluder or Sides. I don’t think so. Part of Bueckers superior efficiency numbers over Clark is due to her better decision making, but not all. Bueckers shooting percentages and A/T ratios will go down if used like Clark, just as Clark’s shooting percentages and A/T ratios would likely have improved if used more like Bueckers.

Bluder was a great coach, so I’m not claiming she should have coached any different, but it’s not the way Auriemma coaches.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

The BY’s annual preseason “Who will start?” thread is always fun with lots of different ideas from everyone. But we have now seen most of the team play twice, and I am beginning to see what could be an extremely formidable starting lineup emerging as follows:

• Paige – Duh……
• Ashlynn – Last season’s BEFOY has only gotten better. We all knew she could shoot the ball. But she has undergone a serious sophomore leap, improving her defense significantly, along with her passing, her ability to attack the basket and her overall court awareness. Ashlynn is also the fittest person on the team. She is capable of playing hard for 40 minutes a night without taking a breather.
• Sarah – She is everything as advertised and will only get better. We have not seen a freshman with her skillset since…well…Paige. With all her offensive ability, the thing that impresses me the most is what an incredibly tough defender Sarah is, with remarkably quick “pick pocket” hands.
• Jana – This may not happen immediately. Jana will still have some ups and downs, and there will be times when Ice, Ayanna and Aubrey will be better options. But Jana is most definitely the future for UConn in the post, with size, a remarkable skillset and a serious BA attitude. The future for Jana will be here a lot sooner than anyone thought before the season started,
• Azzi – This is the one you need a crystal ball to see, considering that Azzi has not played in almost a year, and Kaitlyn & KK are two really talented guards who are both competing for that last starting spot. But we are hearing intriguing comments about Azzi’s game from Geno, as well as some of the BY’ers who watched Azzi warm up with the team yesterday. A couple years back, when Azzi was healthy, she was second only to CC as the best scoring guard in WBB. Once she knocks off the rust, she could be that player once again.

So that’s my take on where UConn’s starting 5 is heading. Obviously, everyone needs to stay healthy. But think about what this lineup includes: 3 HS NPOY’s, a 6’5” post with maybe the best raw skillset of any Big in WBB and Ashlynn, the Energizer Bunny. Add in a deep and talented bench and #12 is a very real possibility.

Disagree. Although, I can see your point that your lineup (or one with Aubrey replacing Ash) is a higher gear lineup.

• But higher gear lineups are perhaps better utilized in really competitive minutes, with really competitive teams, as Geno did with Paige as lead point guard in last year’s USC game.
• Btw, my eventual starting lineup is Kaitlyn, Azzi, Paige, Sarah and Jana. Kaitlyn and KK will normally equally share point guard duties.

But there is no need to start with the higher gear lineup when another one would suffice especially as Geno has multiple mini-objectives on the way to building to the post-season.

What are the mini-objectives? (constraints in a constrained optimization)

• Paige is a very valuable resource. Geno wants her to be the most impactful in her minutes. Geno also wants her to be rested for the postseason. Geno might resort to his Diana approach.
• Kaitlyn is Carla’s special mentee, with 1 year of eligibility left, and has hopes for the next level. Geno’s calculus in bringing in Kaitlyn, provided she proved to be the player he saw and competed against, is already baked-in when he pulled the trigger on the transfer. And Geno has praised Kaitlyn so far.
• Part of Geno’s Kaitlyn calculus is a deducible conclusion that Geno feels that KK is not yet ready to be lead point guard. But Geno needs KK to develop this year into next year’s lead point guard (learned from Nika, Kaitlyn and Paige), if Paige and Azzi do move on. Having both Kaitlyn and KK as non-starters is counter to this mini-objective.
• This is a deep lineup. Apportioning minutes is already a challenge. No need to make it more challenging by front-loading rotations with the best players all season.
• The beauty of a deep bench is when the bench is developed and clobbers the other team’s bench. Ash and Aubrey can be the head of the spear of the bench wave.
• UConn’s team (positionless) offense and defense are predicated on interchangeable players. Starting out with the highest gear lineup may not be the best way to develop 10 effective freshmen and sophomores.

UConn program excellence is not just about 100% winning now. As Darko Muhl remarked, at UConn, “everything was done the right way”.

 

[Majic Hands]

Bluder was a great coach, so I’m not claiming she should have coached any different, but it’s not the way Auriemma coaches.

Thank goodness

 

[PacoSwede]

I suspect that had she not rolled her ankle, KK would have started yesterday’s game with Kaitlyn coming off the bench. As for Azzi, I think her best role is actually as a “combo guard” which she filled brilliantly for the USA under-19 world championship team in 2021. Azzi is a great scorer. But she’s also a wonderful passer and a solid defender.

then, yeah.
today, show me (a great blessing for uconn if she can).

i think, with excess if kinda inexperienced but versatile talent available, geno should not be shy in shuffling out players who begin having an off-night and give more time to the available bench.

also, i've seen kk's sometimes overly aggressive/wild play from her freshman year, especially when uconn's on offense, that i think, and hope, she's trying to calm. on defense, she's fine going for it now cause she can be subbed out this season if she runs into foul trouble. kk has room to grow; and it might take only a few games. she just has to control her high school instincts.

for those intent on seeing paige fill the point guard role: we have kk (who likely take over next year) and kaitlyn and morgan who are good in that role. And recall DT was the best point guard in fact (bird certainly can challenge in D's frosh year) but she never was the point guard -- much like paige. i predict a similar fate for P (including her post-uconn future).

 

[mhshuskies]

Paige, Shade, Chen, Strong and Jana looked like the best line-up over BU. At full strength, the Paige, Azzi, Shade, Strong and Jana line-up will be very tough to defend.

Generally agree, but who is the odd one out when Azzi starts, which will happen when she is healthy enough. I think the idea with Chen in the game is to not force Paige to be the nearly exclusive ball handler.

 

[Bone Dog]

That’s an interesting take. But consider that last season’s leading scorer in WBB, and consensus NPOY, CC, brought the ball up, initiated the offense and also led the country in assists.

Just to clarify the record, this was true of Caitlin, and this had consequences for her game, as @diggerfoot noted. But this is not how Geno uses this position. And as a side note, the very fact that Caitlin could take the wear and tear of these responsibilities is impressive.

Paige has not always "brought the ball up" in her career. This task was often left to KK and Nika last season, and Evina and Nika in her freshman year. I don't think you meant it this way, but folks often think of the PG solely as the person who "brings the ball up." The initiating the offense part is much more central to the task of a PG, as is the often overlooked managing court balance on offense to ensure that there is someone to get back in transition defense. Paige is often the one who "initiates the offense" even if this does not happen as soon as the ball crosses the half court line. Paige attends to court balance, though she is not the only one who does this for Geno. This is why the PG role at UConn doesn't always reside in a single player.

 

[oldude]

This implies Auriemma would run an offense like Bluder or Sides. I don’t think so. Part of Bueckers superior efficiency numbers over Clark is due to her better decision making, but not all. Bueckers shooting percentages and A/T ratios will go down if used like Clark, just as Clark’s shooting percentages and A/T ratios would likely have improved if used more like Bueckers.

Bluder was a great coach, so I’m not claiming she should have coached any different, but it’s not the way Auriemma coaches.

I don’t see Geno implementing Iowa’s offense. UConn runs a far more sophisticated read and react offense, that Paige runs brilliantly. While I have no doubt that Kaitlyn, KK and Azzi can all run the offense effectively, if required to do so, Paige is far and away the best offensive facilitator in WBB, whether she sets up her teammates or scores herself.

 

[Zonepress]

Generally agree, but who is the odd one out when Azzi starts, which will happen when she is healthy enough. I think the idea with Chen in the game is to not force Paige to be the nearly exclusive ball handler.

I truly hope you are right, but the assumption
That Azzi will return to her best is not at all certain
I would be extraordinarily happy if she’s able to contribute on even a part-time basis

 

[huskeynut]

So the big debate is Azzi or Ash. Fair enough.

When Azzi is finally cleared or says she is ready, Geno will work her into the lineup. She will not automatically start. Until then, Ash starts.

Then we wait and see how it goes. None of us really know what will happen. We may find that Azzi coming off the bench is a real weapon to change the game quickly.

 

[oldude]

So the big debate is Azzi or Ash. Fair enough.

When Azzi is finally cleared or says she is ready, Geno will work her into the lineup. She will not automatically start. Until then, Ash starts.

Then we wait and see how it goes. None of us really know what will happen. We may find that Azzi coming off the bench is a real weapon to change the game quickly.

Beg to differ. I think the big debate is Azzi, Kaitlyn or KK? Whatever the final starting lineup ends up being, these are nice problems to have, as opposed to last season when Geno had no real decisions to make after Azzi, Caroline & Aubrey all went down.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I think the starters will depend on the opponent in some cases. That along with the offensive plan for the game. For example, if I'm playing ND, there's just no way I can't see KK either starting or playing a lot of minutes to counter two guards that penetrate with the ease of water. Doesn't have to be a hockey line change, or even permanent, but a necessity. I think while kids want to start, they will buy in to a lot of players getting in the mix this season, starting or not. Me personally, while I wouldn't be looking past the BE schedule I would definitely see it as a huge opportunity to play my best players less and to play the newbies more and acclimate those coming off injury. Play it right and come March, you have more experience, rested players and the reinsertion of highly recruited players that your opponents have not seen in a while...and don't care to see. Great discussion because for the first time in a while...it's not bad news!

 

[oldude]

I think the starters will depend on the opponent in some cases. That along with the offensive plan for the game. For example, if I'm playing ND, there's just no way I can't see KK either starting or playing a lot of minutes to counter two guards that penetrate with the ease of water. Doesn't have to be a hockey line change, or even permanent, but a necessity. I think while kids want to start, they will buy in to a lot of players getting in the mix this season, starting or not. Me personally, while I wouldn't be looking past the BE schedule I would definitely see it as a huge opportunity to play my best players less and to play the newbies more and acclimate those coming off injury. Play it right and come March, you have more experience, rested players and the reinsertion of highly recruited players that your opponents have not seen in a while...and don't care to see. Great discussion because for the first time in a while...it's not bad news!

While many folks have suggested changing starting lineups to better match up with opponents, in Geno’s 40 years as a HC, he’s never done that. Once he’s set on his starting lineup, absent injuries, Geno rolls out the same starters game after game. That’s not to say that he won’t make an in-game personnel adjustment, depending on the opposition. But I think Geno’s belief is that the opponent needs to adjust to UConn and not vice versa.

 

[fomalhaut]

Why are you so obsessed with starters? If they stay healthy, they can send waves of fresh players at any opponent, and no one will have to be logging 35-40 minutes a game.

 

[oldude]

Why are you so obsessed with starters? If they stay healthy, they can send waves of fresh players at any opponent, and no one will have to be logging 35-40 minutes a game.

For better or worse, the starters will dictate the flow of games, or lack thereof. Against the top opponents, the starters will generally log Big minutes together, specifically because their execution as a unit is going to be superior to any other combination. Come tournament time, against top opponents, Geno has seldom if ever gone past a 7-8 player rotation.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

While many folks have suggested changing starting lineups to better match up with opponents, in Geno’s 40 years as a HC, he’s never done that. Once he’s set on his starting lineup, absent injuries, Geno rolls out the same starters game after game. That’s not to say that he won’t make an in-game personnel adjustment, depending on the opposition. But I think Geno’s belief is that the opponent needs to adjust to UConn and not vice versa.

I don't think he will vary greatly from that strategy, but the opponent and distribution of top talent has spread further over the years. Imagine being the opponent and not knowing which UCONN team you're going to be up against. Sometimes, it only takes changing a single piece on the floor and as you suggest, it may not be right at the start of the game. I always thought when Gabby was added to the floor...it just added an exponential burden to the opposition because she could contribute on both ends of the floor in a complimentary way.