Who starts this coming season? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Who starts this coming season?

Who starts in November?

  • Evina

  • Christyn

  • Olivia

  • Dorka

  • Aubrey

  • Paige

  • Nika

  • Aaliyah

  • Azzi

  • Caroline

Results are only viewable after voting.
Easy answer to this.. the five players who will start this season will be the five players that Geno puts on the floor.
 
Posted this on another thread but it can fit here also!

I have my ideas who will be starting for UCONN WBB this coming season but there are so many factors that will be taken into consideration by the best coaching staff in WCBB!
Obviously practice performance will dominate the choices, also injuries or illnesses!
Remembering, as stated way above, CD2 was lame much of the end of her time at UCONN but Geno's loyalty to her and other seniors made a starter out of Carolyn Doty! She didn't average more than 10 minutes a game, but started all the games as I recall.
Some factors I consider for players to earn a starting position or play major minutes are:
Paige Bueckers - The winner of all major awards during her Freshman year will lead the team in minutes played!
Azzi Fudd - As mentioned many times previously she didn't come to UCONN to sit the bench, but she can average the 2nd most playing minutes coming off the bench! Her and Paige on the court together has everyone salivating at the possibilities!
Evina Westbrook - Another Senior who was one of the major reasons for the great development of the younger players and Geno will reward her for that!
Nika Muhl - Geno really likes Nika's moxy and toughness and he always rewards these type of players with game minutes!
Carolyn Williams - Another Senior that Geno will bend over backwards to reward her improvement mentally and physically from last season!
Olivia Nelson-Ododa - As a Senior she has that going for her but has not showed up mentally in some huge games that now she has to really step up to earn major minutes!
Aaliyah Edwards - Another young player that Geno thinks hung the moon. And is gathering big time experience with Canada's National Team!
Saylor Poffenbarger - It will be interesting to see how much her early appearance at UCONN aided her true Freshman year.
Mir McLean - An outstanding athlete that has to show she's also an outstanding BB player!
Dorka Juhasz - Everything screams big-time player and if she shows that ONO's starting could be in trouble!
Piath Gabriel - Could become very interesting if her skill level improves as much as a Sophomore as it did as a Freshman.
Caroline Ducharme - She comes in with an impressive resume from HS and USA teams. She'll factor in quickly at UCONN!
Amari DeBerry - Can wind up with important minutes if she lives up to her talent! Maybe a year away!
Aubrey Griffin - As Mir above, has to take her super athletic body into a much improved BB player! Develop some-kind of outside shot to go with that dominating defense!!

Remember everyone has potential, the difference is can they realize that potential?
 
Who finishes, IS more important than who starts. However, with the caveat of: what is the situation? If I need points, I'll have Paige, Azzi, and Caroline on the floor. If I need a stop, Nika, Aaliyah, and ONO will definitely be out there.
 
Lots of talent but very imbalanced team. So many wings & guards, but not much rebounding & post play. If Deberry & Gabriel cant contribute, Geno is left with 3 players to help control the paint. Not enough to win a Title, imo.
 
BostonBay said:
Lots of talent but very imbalanced team. So many wings & guards, but not much rebounding & post play. If Deberry & Gabriel cant contribute, Geno is left with 3 players to help control the paint. Not enough to win a Title, imo.
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In what world is this team “very imbalanced.” We may not be elite at the post level in comparison to South Carolina with Boston and now Cordoso. But I’m not sure I would use the word very imbalanced. I think your discounting AE, Liv, Dorka, AG and the rebounding ability of our guards (specifically CW and EW).
Another note, given we have such elite talent at the guard position, that is going to open up for post play. I’m assuming our players only got better over the summer...hopefully.
 
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BostonBay said:
Lots of talent but very imbalanced team. So many wings & guards, but not much rebounding & post play. If Deberry & Gabriel cant contribute, Geno is left with 3 players to help control the paint. Not enough to win a Title, imo.
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This is the most balanced (and talented) team in the history of UCONN WCBB, bar none.

Post (4/5) Nelson-Ododa, Juhusz, Edwards, DeBerry, Gabriel
Small forward (3/4) Griffin, McClean, Poffenbarger
Guard/Wing (2/3) Westbrook, Williams, Ducharme
Guard Bueckers, Muhl, Fudd

Geno LOVES versatile players. But there are literally 4 players at/over the height of 6'3". And Poff and CD are both a legit 6'2". Not much rebounding and post play? If you really believe that, than in the history of UCONN WCBB, there has NEVER been a team that would satisfy you.
 
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EricLA said:
This is the most balanced (and talented) team in the history of UCONN WCBB, bar none.

Post (4/5) Nelson-Ododa, Juhusz, Edwards, DeBerry, Gabriel
Small forward (3/4) Griffin, McClean, Poffenbarger
Guard/Wing (2/3) Westbrook, Williams, Ducharme
Guard Bueckers, Muhl, Fudd

Geno LOVES versatile players. But there are literally 4 players at/over the height of 6'3". And Poff and CD are both a legit 6'2". Not much rebounding and post play? If you really believe that, than in the history of UCONN WCBB, there has NEVER been a team that would satisfy you.
Expand ...
wouldn't you say the game has changed since those Sue Bird or even maya Moore teams? Watching Arizona in that final 4 game I was shocked to see how many of their big tall players could hit the jumper, more big players are adding offense to their arsenal. You can't just be a traditional big player anymore.
 
I really don't care who starts, I just can't wait to watch them play this season. I did pick PB, NM, ONO, CW, and EW to begin the season. Maybe Geno will employ the Doug Bruno method of basketball so they can have pressure defense for the whole game. Another words "Take No Prisoner's" type of games.
 
If azzi is healthy which is not a given. (According to an article last week her ankle was really bothering her.). But if she is,hard to see her not starting. PB and CW I think are no doubters. So that’s three guards but I just can’t see Geno not starting NM. He loves her. In an interview last week he even referred to her as a starter. So could he start four guards and liv? If azzi still hampered by injury fifth starter will be edwards.
 
wolfe613 said:
wouldn't you say the game has changed since those Sue Bird or even maya Moore teams? Watching Arizona in that final 4 game I was shocked to see how many of their big tall players could hit the jumper, more big players are adding offense to their arsenal. You can't just be a traditional big player anymore.
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Arizona’s biggest starter was 6’2” Kate Reese. The other 2 starting forwards were both 6’0”. The only true big to play for AZ was reserve Lauren Ware at 6’5”. Ware was 0/1 vs UConn.
 
Same 5 as this year.
Liv is the most vulnerable because of the number of different options + Geno seemed to suggest that she needed to improve a bunch over the summer.

Azzi, Aaliyah, & Dorka could come in for any energy boost, replacing any of the starters except Paige.
 
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Paige, CW, Olivia, Azzi, and Aaliyah. Plenty of substitutions depending on matchups and results.
 
I think you can pencil in Deberry in as an impact/talent similar to Aaliyah at the start of last season.
Aaliyah will be a MONSTER this season.
UCONN will be fine in the paint.
I do hope Gabriel recovers from her off season surgery.
Coach states that she has slimmed down and is doing what she needs to.
This team is MUCH better than last years.
I also like the non conference schedule to press this still young team.
Can’t wait!
 
I personally like Paige, Christyn, Evina, Aaliyah, and Olivia. Allows the floor to be balanced with shooters, rebounders, defenders and passers. Then Azzi, Nika and Dorka as the first group off the bench. Allows them to sub and maintain that floor balance.
 
Rblack335 said:
I personally like Paige, Christyn, Evina, Aaliyah, and Olivia. Allows the floor to be balanced with shooters, rebounders, defenders and passers. Then Azzi, Nika and Dorka as the first group off the bench. Allows them to sub and maintain that floor balance.
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I like your rotation, but note one omission. Aubrey creates instant energy when she comes into the game by creating general havoc with an opposing team’s offense. Geno will continue to use her to provide that defensive energy as he did when UConn roared back against Baylor in their 19-0 run.
 
The full court pressure defense squad: Nika, Aubrey, Christyn, Aaliyah, Olivia
The zone buster squad: Paige, Azzi, Caroline, Christyn, Dorka
 
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oldude said:
I like your rotation, but note one omission. Aubrey creates instant energy when she comes into the game by creating general havoc with an opposing team’s offense. Geno will continue to use her to provide that defensive energy as he did when UConn roared back against Baylor in their 19-0 run.
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This is why this year it's brutal to make up a starting lineup and to go further- to predict the next core beyond the starting 5. I think looking at this team as an overview, as long as Azzi is healthy, the flaw in this team vs other tough teams is inside scoring. Eventually, even DT and Bird in 01-02 (missed every 3 they took vs Oklahoma in the title game) needed big time inside scoring help.

In terms of Aubrey - it can go many ways. and exciting to see how it plays out. Dorka is one of the wildcards. I think the big key with her is if she can hit free throws. If she can hit her free throws it means ta least she is an inside threat. If she can't hit her free throws, then more than likely her .396 from 3 in 19-20 was an aberration. If she can't hit her free throws then it means UCONN can't rely on her to score inside unless she is wide open. The elite teams aren't going to make it that easy. But -- if she can hit her free throws then it means Aubrey (or Liv) may get eventually squeezed if one or both remain a struggle offensively.

Overall UCONN wants to push pace. Not play in a 55-54 grind game. As a result Geno is looking for offense. If Dorka is a legit threat offensively then as the podcast UconnCat posted a while back in which Geno speaks of that he wants 5 weapons on the floor - this will put pressure on Aubrey's minutes (and/or Livs). I don't think Geno is looking for a defensive stopper. I think he expects his team to be able to play good defense and not have to play 5 on 4 on offense.
 
I know this is a minority opinion but last night I watched the OSU/MD Big Ten championship replay from March 2020. Dorka, a soph. at the time, was easily the best player for OSU with 20 points including 4 of 7 from the 3 point line. All tournament selection. A starting five that includes Dorka could spread the floor effectively for outside shooting (Paige, CW and Dorka), driving/midrange shots (Paige, Evina and CW) and post play (Liv and Dorka).

Starting five:
Paige
Evina
CW
Dorka
Liv

Next five with plenty of minutes:
Nika
Azzi
Aliyah
Aubrey
Caroline

Mop-up and situational all stars:
Mir
Saylor
Piath
 
Purchase1 said:
Personally we have never seen geno switch a starting line up at the start of a season when all 5 of his starters return
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On the other hand, he put Paige in ahead of existing players. Starters are starters for a reason. It is tough to replace someone who already understands UConn schemes and plays with the energy and intensity necessary to be a starter at Connecticut. So I don’t think that Auriemma is necessarily adverse to it, I just think that it is rare when you have a generational talent coming in who would justify it.
 
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Purchase1 said:
Personally we have never seen geno switch a starting line up at the start of a season when all 5 of his starters return
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The only time I can think it happened was Hartley's junior year and I think that was largely because of a lingering foot issue that just took its toll on her shooting..
 
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CL82 said:
On the other hand, he put Paige in ahead of existing players. Starters are starters for a reason. It is tough to replace someone who already understands UConn schemes and plays with the energy and intensity necessary to be a starter at Connecticut. So I don’t think that Auriemma is necessarily adverse to it, I just think that it is rare when you have a generational talent coming in who would justify it.
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Hence the key words here being “returning starters” but I do understand your point! I just think in relation to last year especially, Anna started at the top of the season based off of her starting the year prior then was replaced by a couple of different options as the season went on. I think that’s what we may see this season but with the team we return I’m doubtful we will see much change in the starting lineup! Although I do see Aaliyah starting in place of Nika this season.
 
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