Who's the 5th Starter?

[huskyd]

The most asked question before the exhibition games was who's the fifth starter on this team? I'm not sure we got an answer. The first reaction is that Gabby was generally excellent and probably will get the nod. But I suspect we're going to see substitution by committee. For all of her many qualities, Gabby is not really tall enough to play inside and doesn't shoot well enough to play outside. She does have the experience of playing lots of minutes last year, and I think Geno will feel more secure having her in the five he sends out on the 16th.
The other candidate, Katie Lou, looked less than terrific. To my eyes she appeared almost frail--her hands weren't strong (rebounding), she seemed to drift around somewhat confused, and, of course her shot was not there. So: I conclude that it will be Gabby to start and see how it goes.

 

[Carnac]

The most asked question before the exhibition games was who's the fifth starter on this team? I'm not sure we got an answer. The first reaction is that Gabby was generally excellent and probably will get the nod. But I suspect we're going to see substitution by committee. For all of her many qualities, Gabby is not really tall enough to play inside and doesn't shoot well enough to play outside. She does have the experience of playing lots of minutes last year, and I think Geno will feel more secure having her in the five he sends out on the 16th.
The other candidate, Katie Lou, looked less than terrific. To my eyes she appeared almost frail--her hands weren't strong (rebounding), she seemed to drift around somewhat confused, and, of course her shot was not there. So: I conclude that it will be Gabby to start and see how it goes.

I viewed the game today via Husky Vision. I was surprised / pleased to learn that Gabby was going to start. I thought she played well, and only helped herself in her bid to become a starter. Collier again looked good. I believe she finished the game with a double-double. The rest of the starters played as expected.
I'll reserve my assessment of KLS until I've seen her in at least 5 games against formidable competition. The jury should be in by then.

Again, no Saynia, Natalie or DeJanae. They were in street clothes again still nursing injuries. Vanguard is a small parochial NAIA school from Costa Mesa California, that is the cat's meow at that level of competition, but they are no match for the huskies. They're tallest player is 6'2". They could not stop the huskies on the defensive end of the court, and found it difficult to get an open shot on the offensive end.

This was nothing more than a scrimmage. A chance for the Huskies to play at Gampel in front of a live crowd, and against someone other than themselves.
Everybody's shot was off in the early stages of the game. I'm guessing it was because of the different ball (men's) they were using today.

UConn was suppose to dominate this team as they did. It was good to see the bench players get a lot of floor time. We'll get a much better idea of what kind of team they are a week from tomorrow, when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to play Ohio State. Ohio State is ranked 6th in the AP polls, and 10th in the USA Today polls.

Ohio State is playing a very aggressive OOC schedule this year. They begin their season against the top two teams in the country. They travel to #2 South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks this coming Friday November 13, then are home to #1 UConn Monday Nov. 16. Not too many programs schedule that kind of competition right out of the gate.

A tip of the turban to Buckeye head coach Kevin McGuff, for his willingness to schedule top ranked teams early in the preseason, instead of a string of "cupcakes" like some programs do. We all get to see this game live. It's being nationally televised on ESPN2 at 5:30 pm EST.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I viewed the game today via Husky Vision. I was surprised / pleased to learn that Gabby was going to start. I thought she played well, and only helped herself in her bid to become a starter. Collier again looked good. I believe she finished the game with a double-double. The rest of the starters played as expected.
I'll reserve my assessment of KLS until I've seen her in at least 5 games against formidable competition. The jury should be in by then.

opinion on Collier but not KLS... (scratching head)

 

[Gate81]

1. tip the hat also to Vanguard. Last year they played exhibition against Stanford and Cal the same weekend. Now UConn. Courage.
2. because KLS has the lean Samuelson build, it just may take a little longer for her to build her strength at this level.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

In the pregame interview of Geno on HuskyVision Geno said he would continue to rotate the 5th starter and that "we don't know who that 5th starter will be."

 

[Carnac]

opinion on Collier but not KLS... (scratching head)

This is MY opinion. I'm sure others may disagree with my take, and that's fine. My reason for not expressing my opinion on KLS at this time is because I don't like to be critical of our girls. I'm a huge fan of the UConn women's team. Writing negative posts or comments about them serves no purpose. To answer your question, I've only seen ( I've viewed both games in their entirety) KLS in the two exhibition games. Since I've never seen her play in person, I can only go by what I read and what I see on TV.

Up to this point, I feel she has not played (so far) up to the hype or standards we were led to believe she can play at. What I'm trying to say in a nice way is that I'm not impressed with what I've seen of her up to this point. She started the first game. Why didn't she start the second game? So, I chose not to say anything about her.

I chose to say that I'll wait until the team (she) has played five games before I make an overall assessment of her skills and effectiveness to play at this level, and with this team. It should not take longer than that for her to adjust and settle down, and become comfortable with playing within Geno's system.

I've read (from other posters and articles) that the staff feels she is not ready to start just yet, because she needs to work on her defense. Also, her shooting at this time imo leaves a little to be desired. I've giving her (and everyone else) the benefit of the doubt in the last game because of the different size ball they used. I'm thinking she just hasn't settled down yet. Once she does, she'll be fine. Once she settles down and in, I expect her to pickup where she left off in high school.

That's what I'm waiting to see. For what it's worth, I think that KLS is the player she is touted to be, and she at some point will break out of her freshman cocoon, and play like the player that Geno and staff believes she can be.

Collier on the other hand has impressed me. I can say positive things about her (as have others who attended the games) play over the first two games. She has shown that she can play, and be effective at this level. In the brief glimpses we've had of her, I like what I see. Of the incoming freshmen, Collier may develop faster than the others. It's believed that all 3 will be great, but Collier just might make that transition to the college game faster than KLS or DJB.

The jury is still out on DJB because we have not seen her on the floor yet. So we cannot make any type of assessment on her until she takes the floor, and gets some minutes under her belt. Who knows, maybe she will develop faster than the other two. So, in short, I acquiesced to the old adage that "If you can't say something good about someone......"

 

[DaddyChoc]

Thank you Sir...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Up to this point, I feel she has not played (so far) up to the hype or standards we were led to believe she can play at. What I'm trying to say in a nice way is that I'm not impressed with what I've seen of her up to this point. She started the first game. Why didn't she start the second game? So, I chose not to say anything about her.

I repeat, in his pregame interview Geno said the 5th starter was planned to be rotated for a while. You cannot read anything in to KLS starting an exhibition game and Gabby starting the next. True, who starts Ohio might tell you something, but we may be in a situational choice line up choice for quite some time.

"The jury is still out on DJB because we have not seen her on the floor yet." How quick will that jury be?? KLS's was sure fast - course it wasn't even a 6 person jury.

An embarrassment of riches and our 15 seconds culture produces this!?

I like the general thrust of your post, but the expectations of some fans on the board are frankly unrealistic and their double standards ding their credibility, and I don't mean you.

 

[chrissaran]

There's no question in my mind, and possibly many others, based on the exhibition games, Gabby has played herself into the fifth position. With her versatility and expanded game, there seems little doubt that she will start. If Geno decides he needs he to provide a spark off the bench, then I would say Katie Lou. Napheesa and Gabby are alike, and at this point in their careers, Gabby is the better player.

 

[magic]

There's no question in my mind, and possibly many others, based on the exhibition games, Gabby has played herself into the fifth position. With her versatility and expanded game, there seems little doubt that she will start. If Geno decides he needs he to provide a spark off the bench, then I would say Katie Lou. Napheesa and Gabby are alike, and at this point in their careers, Gabby is the better player.

Just what part of Gabby's game has been expanded? I keep reading this, but IMHO, the only change I see is her foul shooting. You would hope she would have improved on her numbers from last season.

 

[ballhawk]

Besides free throws, Gabby's mid-range game has improved. Last year-nothing. This year- in the first game she made a mid-range jumper. Yesterday-she also made one but it was called off because of a three second violation. It also appears that her defense is significantly better (to the extent one can decide anything based on exhibition games). Her defense has been suffocating. She seems to be deflecting or stealing every pass that is thrown anywhere near her. She definitely looks like the fifth starter.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

and possibly many others

Well, sounds like it is time to have a rush to judgement vote to me! Poll, poll, poll...but you must reveal your moniker. OBTW my vote is none of the above. And I think Gabby is fantastic.

 

[magic]

I happen to also enjoy watching Gabby play, and I believe she has star potential. But, just because she made one 15ft shot in two games that counted doesn't qualify her game as " expanded". After all, she has had a full off season to work on foul shooting and defense, so I would expext some improvement in those areas. I expect Gabby to be among the 5 starters against OS in the opener, especially since they surely will be using a 3 guard type lineup.

 

[huskyd]

This is MY opinion. I'm sure others may disagree with my take, and that's fine. My reason for not expressing my opinion on KLS at this time is because I don't like to be critical of our girls. I'm a huge fan of the UConn women's team. Writing negative posts or comments about them serves no purpose. To answer your question, I've only seen ( I've viewed both games in their entirety) KLS in the two exhibition games. Since I've never seen her play in person, I can only go by what I read and what I see on TV.

Up to this point, I feel she has not played (so far) up to the hype or standards we were led to believe she can play at. What I'm trying to say in a nice way is that I'm not impressed with what I've seen of her up to this point. She started the first game. Why didn't she start the second game? So, I chose not to say anything about her.

I chose to say that I'll wait until the team (she) has played five games before I make an overall assessment of her skills and effectiveness to play at this level, and with this team. It should not take longer than that for her to adjust and settle down, and become comfortable with playing within Geno's system.

I've read (from other posters and articles) that the staff feels she is not ready to start just yet, because she needs to work on her defense. Also, her shooting at this time imo leaves a little to be desired. I've giving her (and everyone else) the benefit of the doubt in the last game because of the different size ball they used. I'm thinking she just hasn't settled down yet. Once she does, she'll be fine. Once she settles down and in, I expect her to pickup where she left off in high school.

That's what I'm waiting to see. For what it's worth, I think that KLS is the player she is touted to be, and she at some point will break out of her freshman cocoon, and play like the player that Geno and staff believes she can be.

Collier on the other hand has impressed me. I can say positive things about her (as have others who attended the games) play over the first two games. She has shown that she can play, and be effective at this level. In the brief glimpses we've had of her, I like what I see. Of the incoming freshmen, Collier may develop faster than the others. It's believed that all 3 will be great, but Collier just might make that transition to the college game faster than KLS or DJB.

The jury is still out on DJB because we have not seen her on the floor yet. So we cannot make any type of assessment on her until she takes the floor, and gets some minutes under her belt. Who knows, maybe she will develop faster than the other two. So, in short, I acquiesced to the old adage that "If you can't say something good about someone."

Dorothy Parker's spin on the old adage: "If you have nothing nice to say, come sit by me."

 

[Kaizen]

I repeat, in his pregame interview Geno said the 5th starter was planned to be rotated for a while.

With Ohio State, could it be Butler if she is recovered earily? Or is it Chong (Geno said she will be ready to play)?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

With Ohio State, could it be Butler if she is recovered earily? Or is it Chong (Geno said she will be ready to play)?

Neither. Saniya's injury is almost like the Tenn Chick's day to day thing and she is not needed to start or play. Can always throw Lou in, right Slu? Butler. I think that is confusion over some remarks by CD. Stick her in a fiberglass cast and have her hammer some Ohio post - naugh( UK spelling), a bad idea. Ohio bothers me, but not enough to risk Natalie. We have Gabby!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Can always throw Lou in, right Slu?

I'm thinking you have taken rather innocuous comments and formed an impression of my beliefs about Samuelson that isn't the case.

 

[HoopsFan21]

With Ohio State, could it be Butler if she is recovered earily? Or is it Chong (Geno said she will be ready to play)?

I don't think we will see Butler until at least mid-December. She was originally slated to return towards the end of the year, so if she's a couple of weeks ahead of schedule that means the middle of the month instead of the end of it.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm thinking you have taken rather innocuous comments and formed an impression of my beliefs about Samuelson that isn't the case.

Well, I'm glad to hear it Slu. I usually have a rather nuanced ear for what someone is saying, but I'm big enough to say I may have been wrong about the drift of your posts on the subject. Let's just cheer on our freshman and wish our injured reserve a speedy recovery. I hope she does not end up a Red Shirt but I am concerned.

 

[TitleTown]

With Ohio State, could it be Butler if she is recovered earily? Or is it Chong (Geno said she will be ready to play)?

No chance that Butler is ready to play in time for the Ohio State game. I think the middle of December is when we will see Butler for the first time in a Husky uniform. Chong is only going to start due to injury IMHO because Jefferson and Nurse are solidified at the 1 and 2 and the Huskies lineup with Chong at the 3 would be a little small.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

Dorothy Parker's spin on the old adage: "If you have nothing nice to say, come sit by me."

I always thought that came from Alice Roosevelt Longworth, who I think had a throw pillow
embroidered with something to that effect.