Who will be the primary backup center for Jana?

[SoCalCanine]

Well, given the overwhelming consensus that she WAS playing injured her freshman year, I stand corrected and I am now even more hopeful of a breakout year for her this year!

 

[PJCLaw]

Most of what we read and have seen suggest its likely that Jana will start. However, my sense is, given the injury history, that Geno will limit her playing time to 20-25 minutes. So the OP question is quite relevant. While Ice played a lot last year somewhat due to a bench shortage, there will be a competition that gets settled on the practice floor. If KK and PB are on the floor, and given the backcourt depth, Geno will want a seriously up tempo game. Seems to me that favors the very athletic Ayanna and Sarah. Fun to think about.

"injury history" implies she has had a string of injuries, when the only injury that has been publicized is her Achilles injury last summer. So, are there other injuries she sustained in the past or while at UConn of which I am not aware? Otherwise, I think it misleads to imply she has more than just her injury last summer, unless you're talking about the team as a whole. If so, your reference to Jana in the sentence preceding you mentioning "the injury history" confuses the reader. Just saying.

 

[Bone Dog]

"injury history" implies she has had a string of injuries, when the only injury that has been publicized is her Achilles injury last summer. So, are there other injuries she sustained in the past or while at UConn of which I am not aware? Otherwise, I think it misleads to imply she has more than just her injury last summer, unless you're talking about the team as a whole. If so, your reference to Jana in the sentence preceding you mentioning "the injury history" confuses the reader. Just saying.

I assumed @rugbymate meant the team’s recent injury history, rather than Jana’s. I think you’re right that she’s only had the one injury.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

I go back and forth on this one. In the P3 conferences, the quality of opposition mainly builds up leading into March. But the Big East represents a curve with a shallower slope. All the teams have improved leading up to the conference championship, but they don't typically pose a serious challenge to UConn. Villanova two years ago was an exceptional year, and it was largely because of Maddie Siegrist.

His practice of having a tough OOC schedule in November-December, then turning to an easier conference schedule, until a couple of really tough games in February, then returning to conference play has been his practice for quite a while. What sort of rotation does he want to have by the time he plays SC or Tennessee or ND? That's the most revealing moment for me. I suspect Dawn has tended to use the UConn game in a similar way, to test out the rotation that has begun to gel.

I think Geno uses his conference schedule to sharpen his rotation, and while he often starts with something perhaps 10-deep, he usually ends with something more like 7 or 8-deep. This is also more or less what all the NC contenders end up doing. I think Dawn kept a deeper rotation last season than usual, which was impressive, and ominous for the rest of D1.

The question each season is whether Geno uses his conference schedule to deepen his rotation or to sharpen a shorter rotation. I'd like to think he'll keep a deeper rotation this year. But I always hope for that, as do many others. But the fact is, by March he needs to know his starting 5 can give 30 excellent minutes if needed, and that the next 2 or 3 can give 15-20 really solid minutes. This may require shortening the rotation as the season wears on. But he also may need to know that the 9th or 10th player can give solid minutes in case of foul trouble for a starter. This is inherently a chancey speculation.

With two mini-seasons — the second one featuring the projected return of the walking wounded during Big East play — I would tend to think it’s a hybrid this year: differentiated sharpening and deepening. (We have talked about this before)

The first mini-season will have a different (5)+3 [(5)+5 for running games] than the second mini-season.

• Each mini-season will be projected to have 10+ practice players (different from recent prior seasons);
• The returning experienced walking wounded who crack UConn’s (5)+3/(5)+5 rotations will need sharpening repetitions, which they can get in practice and in games;
• UConn’s second mini-season rotation will have available players with experience in the first mini-season’s practices and games;
• Big East play and UConn’s differentiatedly deepened rotation allows preserving Paige, Azzi, Sarah, Jana for the post-season and limits the freshman wall of several of UConn’s effective rookies.

In a normal year, “easier” Big East play allows Geno to shorten and sharpen his rotations with delta analysis teaching moments (there are two games with most BE opponents). There are generally around two challenging OOC opponents to avoid any leveling-down.

What Dawn does (deepening in the conference) makes sense since her talented team’s long-grind gauntlet is probably back-loaded with an overall schedule strength comparable to UConn’s.

 

[Alydar]

I think the P-4's conference schedules are generally not as brutal as they are often described by the media. Last season the AP had 5 SEC teams in their preseason top 25. Going into the tournament after week 20 there were only 2 SEC schools left in the top 25. In their preseason top 25 poll the AP had 2 non-P-5 teams and going into the tournament there were 4.
Admittedly this isn't compelling evidence but considering that the BE had as many top 25 teams as the SEC (2) once the regular season was over isn't it time to admit that the emperor (SEC) has no clothes on? I have to wonder how much good all that football money did for their wcbb programs?

 

[Zonepress]

I think the P-4's conference schedules are generally not as brutal as they are often described by the media. Last season the AP had 5 SEC teams in their preseason top 25. Going into the tournament after week 20 there were only 2 SEC schools left in the top 25. In their preseason top 25 poll the AP had 2 non-P-5 teams and going into the tournament there were 4.
Admittedly this isn't compelling evidence but considering that the BE had as many top 25 teams as the SEC (2) once the regular season was over isn't it time to admit that the emperor (SEC) has no clothes on? I have to wonder how much good all that football money did for their wcbb programs?

Every SEC women’s basketball program is light years ahead of anyone in the Big East other than
Uconn
To somehow make an argument that there is parity in the two leagues it’s kind of silly

 

[Alydar]

Every SEC women’s basketball program is light years ahead of anyone in the Big East other than
Uconn
To somehow make an argument that there is parity in the two leagues it’s kind of silly

Every { most} SEC women’s basketball programs are is {marginally} light years ahead of {most} anyone of in the Big East other than Uconn.

That I can agree with. The SEC has a lot of teams ranked 25-50 while the BE has a lot of teams ranked 45-90, with a couple in the 25-50 range. The difference between No 35 and No 70 isn't "light years> The curve flattens at that level. Yes, UConn is way ahead of the rest of the BE but they are also way ahead of those 25-50 SEC teams. Last year SCar had only one SEC game against a ranked team (I think). Those 25-50 SEC teams had no chance against SCar unless SCar played a mediocre game.
That doesn't mean that the SEC schedule isn't tough for the mid-range teams. The same can be said for the BE schedule but no one watches a BE game unless UConn is playing so they form their opinions of the BE based on that alone. People say "but look how UConn struggles in their P-4 games", ignoring that UConn is playing SCar, NDame, USC, etc. The tops of the power conferences.
I like to remind folks that when NDame moved from the BE to the ACC, the ACC was considered by many the top P-5 basketball conference. NDame went undefeated for both their 1st and 2nd years in the ACC.

 

[UCTitleTown]

I'd like to see QS converted to a center or at least get some time there. Very long arms could make her a good inside presence. I know it's thinking outside the box, but need to get her more minutes.

 

[Zanzman]

I'd like to see QS converted to a center or at least get some time there. Very long arms could make her a good inside presence. I know it's thinking outside the box, but need to get her more minutes.

Lol she is to short and to light she would pushed around to much

 

[Dugway]

I'd like to see QS converted to a center or at least get some time there. Very long arms could make her a good inside presence. I know it's thinking outside the box, but need to get her more minutes.

I re-watched a game from last fall, I think it may have been the game against Minnesota; I was jonesing, so I took that in this past weekend.

Anyway, the commentary announcer who was an ex-WNBA player, mentioned that earlier in the day in a conversation, Geno speaking about Qadence had said, "She is an absolute younger version of you! Of the ten or so things that it takes to be a supreme basketball player, Q has two of them. 1) She can shoot the leather off of the ball, and, 2) She has extreme confidence with an attitude that she is never going to fail! With those two, she can absolutely be a star; you are my proof of that!"

That said, I personally don't ever see Qadence being a post player.

 

[oldhusky]

I re-watched a game from last fall, I think it may have been the game against Minnesota; I was jonesing, so I took that in this past weekend.

Anyway, the commentary announcer who was an ex-WNBA player, mentioned that earlier in the day in a conversation, Geno speaking about Qadence had said, "She is an absolute younger version of you! Of the ten or so things that it takes to be a supreme basketball player, Q has two of them. 1) She can shoot the leather off of the ball, and, 2) She has extreme confidence with an attitude that she is never going to fail! With those two, she can absolutely be a star; you are my proof of that!"

That said, I personally don't ever see Qadence being a post player.

Q can't be expected to body up a low post bruiser type, and that would be the main disadvantage, but I think she could be considered a small ball 4 alternative along with Paige, Caroline, and Morgan. I am pretty sure Q out-rebounded Ice on a per minute basis, but I present that mostly as evidence we need more minutes at the 4 and 5 from players that can rebound better than both of those players.

I hope both Ayanna and Ice earn backup minutes behind Sarah and Jana respectively, but neither has performed "yet" at a level that is good enough IMO. Doesn't mean they can't or won't, just that so far it hasn't happened so there are major question marks. That is made even more uncertain by the fact we are counting on and expecting Sarah and Jana to be good and starters from day one, even though they haven't proven anything on this level either.

The only proven big returning is Aubrey who probably won't be ready at the start, and is more of a 3/4, but there is no doubt when healthy she can be a very good 4. Until then we need most if not all of our bigs to be the real deal from the start.

We don't really have a good plan B, using traditional bigs, if a couple of the players we are counting on don't come thru or get injured. On the other hand we have numerous very talented small ball 4 options and that may become the measuring stick to get playing time for non starting bigs.

I hope we don't have to go small ball, but having said that, if Ayanna or Ice are near their first year performance I don't think that is good enough to insure playing time vs. our smaller options.

 

[rugbymate]

I assumed @rugbymate meant the team’s recent injury history, rather than Jana’s. I think you’re right that she’s only had the one injury.

Thanks for pointing out the ambiguity....I was referring to Jana's recent injury only. The point i was trying to make is that the injury was serious enough that it will likely limit Geno's allotment of minutes to her. Hence, the back up question is highly relevant.

 

[Cuango]

I’m certainly no expert on medical matters but I’d be very surprised, given what I’ve seen and heard, if Jana is not a full go in the first game of the year. I believe minute restrictions for her, if there are any at all, will be more a function of foul trouble or coaching her up, rather than any lingering injury issues. Here’s hoping for a healthy, fun season for all! I can’t wait!!!!

 

[Alydar]

I’m certainly no expert on medical matters but I’d be very surprised, given what I’ve seen and heard, if Jana is not a full go in the first game of the year. I believe minute restrictions for her, if there are any at all, will be more a function of foul trouble or coaching her up, rather than any lingering injury issues. Here’s hoping for a healthy, fun season for all! I can’t wait!!!!

+1

I remember that Dolson was a foul machine as a freshman, often having to sit a lot of the 1st half of games. El Alfy appears very aggressive and wcbb officiating being what it is she will get called for a foul every time she has contact with a smaller player and the smaller players falls. That may influence Geno's decision on whether to start her.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

I'd like to see QS converted to a center or at least get some time there. Very long arms could make her a good inside presence. I know it's thinking outside the box, but need to get her more minutes.

How about being a Kalana Greene / Ashley Battle / Kelly Farris player in Geno’s schemes, but rangier and with better offense?

Geno will always find minutes for the spear of the defense against teams with nightmarish guards.

And that’s a baseline for a larger role in her next two seasons.

As for any concerns about our young bigs:

• Tamika, Swin and Ashja did well in their freshman year despite Sue Bird’s injury;
• Sarah and our bigs with the Sue Bird-injury-year learning experience (Jana, Ayanna, and Ice) will do as well, a la 2nd year of TASSK;
• Morgan, Aubrey (when she’s back) [hopefully Caroline too] should be able help out with spot duty in the post.

And, I do realize that what you said was probably tongue-in-cheek to highlight that Q is too talented not to get significant minutes.

 

[Tonyc]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

 

[Bone Dog]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

I agree completely. This is the essence of the positionless offense Geno likes to run. Having a dominant low post player is a powerful formula, but it’s not the only way to win. Also, I think it doesn’t prepare bigs for the W very well if they never develop perimeter skills.

Jana shoots 3s more or less the way Dorka did. She’s not as proficient as Paige or Azzi from 3, but she’ll have to be guarded out there. And it’s an opposing big who’ll have to guard her, which means the low post can be occupied by a forward or even a big wing at such moments, and Geno’s got plenty of those: Ice Ayanna Caroline Aubrey Morgan Allie, even Q who might really flourish in that role. That’s the high-low game Geno also likes to run.

Olivia passed really well from the high post and though I haven’t seen Jana do this, I expect she’ll develop this skill watching how Sarah does it.

It was a weakness of Olivia and Aaliyah’s game that they didn’t develop their perimeter shooting at UConn. Aaliyah compensated for it by developing her off-the-dribble skills on baseline drives and drives down the lane. This was also a feature of Dorka’s game. Jana is already a feeocious driver, especially down the lane. I imagine it can be kinda scary for defenders to have to confront someone her size moving that quickly and confidently with the ball.

These are reasons why I think the question of who Jana’s backup will be needs to be addressed quite broadly. I doubt Geno will use her simply as a low post banger, and this means it’s not so much a question of a single backup as of a complicated rotation. He’s got lots of pairs to go to, especially with a talent like Sarah expanding his options. Jana and Ice could make a tremendous pairing, or Jana and Sarah or Jana and Ayanna. But Ice and Sarah could be great. Or Sarah paired with Aubrey or Caroline… or Q.

Of all of these options, I have a feeling we’ll all come to love seeing Sarah and Morgan in this pairing the most over the next 4 seasons. It could feel a bit like Phee and Katie Lou all over again.

 

[Tonyc]

All these questions about being healthy. I expect all our injured reserves to see playtime this season and their playtime will be limited based on their healthy. Thats ok because we have alot of really great players who need to see playtime. At the guard we have Azzi coming back from injury. She's been spoken of as one of the best shooters in the game. I expect her to be a shooter. Caroline is another great shooter. I think both because they are coming back from injury will see minutes with most of their scoring coming from the outside and pull up jumpers and not banging down low where they can be rejuried. Banging down low will be for our bigs and we have some good ones. Chen has shown in her videos she can create her shot much like Paige does. Thats a terrific added dimension. We saw in the videos what she can do against top teams and that was with Princeton. She's now playing for UConn and alongside some terrific players who will demand defenses to focus on them which means Kaitlyn will be guarded one on one. Kaitlyn is very difficult to defend one on one. She will be a terrific pick up this season.

Geno will play everybody who is healthy. They will all see minutes based on the circumstances during each game. In big games there may be a smaller group that sees more action. In most games everybody will get their minutes.

There has been alot of talk about the center position. We have bigs who can play outside and dribble drive, they can penetrate, and they can score down low. Dont limit them. Let them play to their strengths. Trying to guard Jana outside 10ft is going to be hard because of her size and agility. Maybe we dont want her stuck down low for long lengths of time. Maybe we want her outside drawing her defender out opening up the middle. Just a thought. Play to your strengths and make opponents play to their weaknesses.

 

[hoophuskee]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

There is no way Jana is going to be playing "Wing." Unless your definition is 4 out and 1 in maybe with Patterson or Griffin. The definition of a Wing is a perimeter type that sits outside mostly. When you speak of "limiting" and you call Jana a "wing" that is exactly what you are doing is "limiting her. And when a player is called a center- where has it even been written that centers are not allowed to shoot from the outside?

Geno had once said that if he had Griner he would have also had her take outside shots more than she did at Baylor. He did the same with Dolson. They were Centers that can also shoot from the Outside. No reason why Jana can't be this.

Jana can't limit herself to being just a Wing (and she wou;ldn't be a Wing - she would still be the Center or maybe "a Stretch 4." But no way "A Wing.") If she is a Wing you can picture her flying down the left or right side on a fastbreak vs top tier teams?

She has to be able to punish smaller players inside. And really work on punishing anyone inside not just smaller players is most ideal. Otherwise she allows smaller players to guard her whenever her shot is off.

The problem with many “Bigs” is that they don’t want to be Bigs.

 

[Cuango]

I’m reasonably sure Jana will play some from the outside but unless she demonstrates the ability to shoot the three at a high percentage (35%+) her main work will be in the post. Of course, popping out for the occasional three will make her that much more dangerous in the post but I doubt Geno will want to see his loooong awaited stud post player spending too much time away from the basket! As for Jana herself, I think it’s been pretty well documented that she loves physical play and is very willing to bang down low. Obviously, Geno will have the final say but I’ll be very surprised if we do not see her playing mostly as a traditional post.

Don’t forget that this roster is absolutely full of dangerous outside shooters, great passers, and players with extremely high basketball IQs who will generate tremendous pressure from the outside (and midrange), thus opening up the middle for Jana to dominate. I’m fairly sure she will not be forced to demand many entrance passes as she will have willing and capable passers all around the arc at all times. Counting the days!

 

[Bigboote]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

Yes, I can see some high-low post play among El Alfy, Brady, Strong, and Patterson. I still miss the days of Dolson passing to Tuck or Stewie and Gabby to Collier. It'd be wonderful to have a year with a big leading UConn in assists; haven't seen that in awhile.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

When Crystal Dangerfield was a rookie at Minnesota, Reeve told her that she needs to master the pick-and-roll and its derivatives and related actions. Reeve was surprised that Crystal didn’t master it at UConn.

Crystal’s positionless basketball teams didn’t have the kind of post players (except for Napheesa) for that kind of simple staple effective play wrinkle to the offense. That wrinkle is latent with our great offensive guards.

The 2024-2025 team significantly does:

• Pick-and-pop (all except Ayanna?);
• Pick-and-roll (all).

Opposing bigs will need to pick their poison and not just camp out in the paint as most of our bigs can efficiently shoot-drive-pass (motion)-pass (point) almost anywhere on the court.

It seems it will be open season for our guards / wings (say, on drives to the basket unlike recent years). Spacing would be better, allowing more open shots.

 

[MooseJaw]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

Tony, you have some amazing posts, and I read and like them all. This one made me flip and at my age that says a lot. I could not agree more on this one. If I had the ability to give likes I would have given you one. My account has had the ability to give likes has been deleted. Consider this a page full of likes.

 

[Dogstar]

There is no way Jana is going to be playing "Wing." Unless your definition is 4 out and 1 in maybe with Patterson or Griffin. The definition of a Wing is a perimeter type that sits outside mostly. When you speak of "limiting" and you call Jana a "wing" that is exactly what you are doing is "limiting her. And when a player is called a center- where has it even been written that centers are not allowed to shoot from the outside?

Geno had once said that if he had Griner he would have also had her take outside shots more than she did at Baylor. He did the same with Dolson. They were Centers that can also shoot from the Outside. No reason why Jana can't be this.

Jana can't limit herself to being just a Wing (and she wou;ldn't be a Wing - she would still be the Center or maybe "a Stretch 4." But no way "A Wing.") If she is a Wing you can picture her flying down the left or right side on a fastbreak vs top tier teams?

She has to be able to punish smaller players inside. And really work on punishing anyone inside not just smaller players is most ideal. Otherwise she allows smaller players to guard her whenever her shot is off.

The problem with many “Bigs” is that they don’t want to be Bigs.

Jana can't limit herself to being just a Wing (and she wou;ldn't be a Wing - she would still be the Center or maybe "a Stretch 4." But no way "A Wing.")

EXACTLY!!...there's a big difference..
A Wing is usually a guard who can slip down to play forward and a Stretch 4 is usually a power forward or post tht can step out and HIT from an extended range (from the elbow out to 3pt range) with enough accuracy to draw the opponents forward or post away from the basket. The down side is if ur Stretch 4 is shooting a low percentage from outside it limits ur chances for offensive rebounds bcus the opponents will gladly give up tht shot. Ice and Jana both have to prove tht they can hit those shots at an decent percentage. Stewie did it of course. ..but she's a unicorn.

 

[Alydar]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

I also see El Alfy and Strong as an interchangeable high-low combination. Strong could be an amazing high post player given her passing and her 3pt shot.

With Bueckers being the primary attention of the defense on the perimeter all UConn's post players will have room to work.

 

[Bills Fan]

I also see El Alfy and Strong as an interchangeable high-low combination. Strong could be an amazing high post player given her passing and her 3pt shot.

With Bueckers being the primary attention of the defense on the perimeter all UConn's post players will have room to work.

Especially when Azzi and Ash are on the floor with Paige.

 

[DEpup]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

I would love if we could get to a Stewie and Tuck situation with our bigs easily playing in or out from one play to the next. I think Jana, Ice, and Sarah have that opportunity.

 

[Alydar]

Q can't be expected to body up a low post bruiser type, and that would be the main disadvantage, but I think she could be considered a small ball 4 alternative along with Paige, Caroline, and Morgan. I am pretty sure Q out-rebounded Ice on a per minute basis, but I present that mostly as evidence we need more minutes at the 4 and 5 from players that can rebound better than both of those players.

I hope both Ayanna and Ice earn backup minutes behind Sarah and Jana respectively, but neither has performed "yet" at a level that is good enough IMO. Doesn't mean they can't or won't, just that so far it hasn't happened so there are major question marks. That is made even more uncertain by the fact we are counting on and expecting Sarah and Jana to be good and starters from day one, even though they haven't proven anything on this level either.

The only proven big returning is Aubrey who probably won't be ready at the start, and is more of a 3/4, but there is no doubt when healthy she can be a very good 4. Until then we need most if not all of our bigs to be the real deal from the start.

We don't really have a good plan B, using traditional bigs, if a couple of the players we are counting on don't come thru or get injured. On the other hand we have numerous very talented small ball 4 options and that may become the measuring stick to get playing time for non starting bigs.

I hope we don't have to go small ball, but having said that, if Ayanna or Ice are near their first year performance I don't think that is good enough to insure playing time vs. our smaller options.

None of the four posts, Brady, El Alfy, Patterson and Strong are proven but the most proven is easily Brady, who played very well in the playoffs last season. She will be getting that sophomore boost and I'd say she's the most likely to start. It's called experience. She played a lot of minutes with Bueckers, Shade and Arnold. UConn posts are notorious for slow starts. And Brady knows the defense. I think she starts unless El Alfy truly is the top recruit in her class, in which case we should just be happy.

 

[CL82]

Let me take a different approach to this. If Jana is as good on the outside as we've heard she just might be playing more of a wing at times. Coming outside much like Stewie did. If that happens then who plays the middle? My guess would be ICE for starters with others giving her a breather. ICE likes to come out and hit 15 footers too. We just may have a group of bigs who can play inside and out. Ive seen videos of Jana driving the lane for pull ups and hitting shots from 15ft and beyond. Im not sure we will have a true post player looking at our lineup. I get the feeling that Jana may start down low however she may also be playing the wing at times. Picture our Bigs playing more like wings and much like the Stewie Dolsen Stokes days and with their height and size matchups are going to be tuff for opponents.

I can't see moving Jana from center where we need of big bodies to wing where we already have depth. On the other hand, I could see her taking threes from time to time which would force the opposing center out of the paint to defend, opening driving lanes and taking her out of position for rebounds.

 

[Just.A.Fan]

The problem with many “Bigs” is that they don’t want to be Bigs.

Truer words have never been spoken.