Whose feeling confident that our seniors get sent off the right way?

[#12in21]

When their class came in as freshman, Geno commented that the three of Paige, Nika and Aaliyah were "players" and were going to have an impact. It was a large freshman class, and now as seniors they are the only three remaining - but what a three they have been! When the time comes each will have left their mark on the greatest wcbb program in history. Whether they leave after this upcoming season after bringing home #12, stay their covid year possibly add #13 or in Paige's case, one more year for #14 - who isn't feeling pretty confident that this class restores the tradition of seniors leaving Uconn with at least one title under their belt?

 

[Charliebball]

Sure looks like this team is built to reach a minimum of the semi-finals again............comes down to good health and some luck........it's about time UConn gets a bit of both..........

 

[CL82]

When their class came in as freshman, Geno commented that the three of Paige, Nika and Aaliyah were "players" and were going to have an impact. It was a large freshman class, and now as seniors they are the only three remaining - but what a three they have been! When the time comes each will have left their mark on the greatest wcbb program in history. Whether they leave after this upcoming season after bringing home #12, stay their covid year possibly add #13 or in Paige's case, one more year for #14 - who isn't feeling pretty confident that this class restores the tradition of seniors leaving Uconn with at least one title under their belt?

 

[JellyBean]

Each year, I am always hopeful that at the end of the year, UConn WBB are celebrating with a title. Like someone stated, we will need luck, everyone staying healthy, players understanding that for the team to be great, each player has to turn up their competitive nature, and lastly, everyone embracing their roles on the team and coming out on the floor with a level of courage unseen before.

Too many players hold back their play. Being fearful of going all out. Playing too cute. Worrying about making mistakes or looking silly, or missing a shot. If during practice, the players are healthy, hopefully they are going all out. That is just going to help push whoever the starters are to keep wanting to get better because they know that they got some players that want minutes on the floor.

 

[Carnac]

Sure looks like this team is built to reach a minimum of the semi-finals again............comes down to good health and some luck........it's about time UConn gets a bit of both..........

It's June. We haven't seen anything of this team except yet a few 10-15 second "tease" videos. Plus all of the pieces (injured/recuperating players) are not back with full contact clearance yet. It is not lost on me that there will be several other teams this coming season that will vie for the championship and will give UConn a serious run for their money. We must watch out and be on guard for the "Ohio States" in the tournament field next year. As talented as UConn will be this year, it WILL NOT be a walk in the park.

UConn will have to "aggressively" take what they want. Teams no longer fear UConn as in days of yore. Even some conference teams (Marquette, Villanova & St. Johns) no longer fear UConn. Pardon me, but I just can't get excited about the possible fortunes of our team in June. I'm guessing that the other top 10 teams will field competitive teams this year as well, and thus should not be taken lightly.

I need to see what they have and how viable they are before I crown UConn......in June. No doubt UConn will see South Carolina and LSU somewhere along the way in the tournament next year. I'll bet my turban and cape on that. There will be other teams they'll have to beat before they get to that point.

Remember we were humbled last year in game 3 of the tournament. I agree that at the very minimum, this team should reach the final four. March is 9 months away. Lots of things can happen between now and then. Let's not look that far down the road, but rather focus on games scheduled in the first and second week of November. Those tournament games in March will take care of themselves.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Well, I have no idea. These players could leave in 2024: Aubrey, Paige, Nika, Aaliyah, and Azzi. These players have to leave in 2024: no one. So, I don't know which players will be sent off. I hope we win, but we may not lose anyone.

 

[Cuango]

You’ll excuse me if I don’t join the doubters who, after one time coming up short of the FF after 14 consecutive appearances, (that absence, I might add, coming after a two year series of injuries the likes of which I have never seen in my life), are now questioning the potential of the most talented roster (on paper) we’ve had in many years!

A roster that is returning Paige, (who by herself is justification enough to warrant great expectations), Azzi, Caroline, and Ice + 4 extremely talented freshmen, not to mention an improved Aaliyah, a more mature and healthy Aubrey, ditto Ayanna, a fully comfortable Ines, and a healthy, hopefully hungrier Amari! All that, and a little something we like to call Nika Muhl!

As most posters have said repeatedly, all of these positive projections are based on the (reasonable) assumption that we will finally see a healthy roster. Sure, LSU has a talented roster, SC (while likely somewhat diminished) will still be tough, there is more true parity than we’ve seen in years (perhaps ever) but make no mistake, Marquette, Villanova, and St John’s still fear UConn! When a bully has beaten on you daily for 24+ days then catches a cold and skips a day, you don’t suddenly delude yourself that he is no longer a threat. There may be one, perhaps two teams that don’t fear us but even they have a very healthy respect for us!

I am very aware that talk is cheap and the team has to produce the goods but I think UConn has demonstrated a level of consistency and excellence over the past 15 years that warrants the assumption/expectation (with a healthy roster and coaching staff) that the Ohio State loss ( kudos to them) was an aberration and we will return next season to the standard of a FF meaning UConn and three others!

This team is fully loaded for bear and deserves, yes deserves, the usual, traditional high expectations that UConn teams have become accustomed to! My expectations for this team are very high and I am prepared to argue that they are totally warranted! If something happens that prevents them from achieving those expectations, well, I’ll deal with it then. For now, I’m having way too much fun dreaming about #12!

 

[AgStatesman]

This team is fully loaded for bear and deserves, yes deserves, the usual, traditional high expectations that UConn teams have become accustomed to! My expectations for this team are very high and I am prepared to argue that they are totally warranted! If something happens that prevents them from achieving those expectations, well, I’ll deal with it then. For now, I’m having way too much fun dreaming about #12!

 

[From France]

Paige is athleticaly a junior redshirst this coming year, so she could have 2024-25 as a senior and 2025-26 as covid year.
And she is eligible for the 2024 WNBA draft, but it could be 2025 or 2026.

 

[Bone Dog]

The most positive June indicator I see is the prospect of full practices. This has been lacking for the past 2 years. This is what those shiny new freshmen mean to me. A UConn team that can practice UConn basketball is what I have confidence in.

 

[hoopsfan22]

The most positive June indicator I see is the prospect of full practices. This has been lacking for the past 2 years. This is what those shiny new freshmen mean to me. A UConn team that can practice UConn basketball is what I have confidence in.

Didn't they have a full practice last June? Who was missing? Maybe Aubrey wasn't fully recovered from her back surgery yet?

 

[Bone Dog]

Didn't they have a full practice last June? Who was missing? Maybe Aubrey wasn't fully recovered from her back surgery yet?

Indeed. I’m sure they had a few. But there were hardly any full practices during the season because of injuries. You can’t run a full practice with only 7 players, which was the situation much of the year.

 

[ballerfan]

I’m usually cautious, but I feel strongly that UConn will win a title if Paige and Azzi are healthy. They also have a decent bench.

 

[Bigboote]

I'm not gonna make any predictions, but I'm really excited for this season.

I've been itching to see Ice play in a UConn uniform. I'm hoping she'll slide right into the mix and soon get 15-30 minutes a game. I hope Jana competes for time with her. And that Ayanna makes the sophomore leap we're all anticipating.

And I'm one of those who loves having two point guards on the floor. If Inês makes a sophomore leap and KK is as good as everyone here says she is, UConn will have four point guards and can have two on the floor at all times. I'm REALLY excited by that prospect.

The other thing that excites me is that in most games nobody will have to play more than 25-30 minutes. Those kids all looked exhausted at the end of last year. Geno cut back on practice time -- between that and the sapped energy, it eventually took its toll. It will allow Nika (and I think Inês) to pressure the ball in the back court, which I think UConn seriously missed last year.

 

[The CDR-Ret]

It's June. We haven't seen anything of this team except yet a few 10-15 second "tease" videos. Plus all of the pieces (injured/recuperating players) are not back with full contact clearance yet. It is not lost on me that there will be several other teams this coming season that will vie for the championship and will give UConn a serious run for their money. We must watch out and be on guard for the "Ohio States" in the tournament field next year. As talented as UConn will be this year, it WILL NOT be a walk in the park.

UConn will have to "aggressively" take what they want. Teams no longer fear UConn as in days of yore. Even some conference teams (Marquette, Villanova & St. Johns) no longer fear UConn. Pardon me, but I just can't get excited about the possible fortunes of our team in June. I'm guessing that the other top 10 teams will field competitive teams this year as well, and thus should not be taken lightly.

I need to see what they have and how viable they are before I crown UConn......in June. No doubt UConn will see South Carolina and LSU somewhere along the way in the tournament next year. I'll bet my turban and cape on that. There will be other teams they'll have to beat before they get to that point.

Remember we were humbled last year in game 3 of the tournament. I agree that at the very minimum, this team should reach the final four. March is 9 months away. Lots of things can happen between now and then. Let's not look that far down the road, but rather focus on games scheduled in the first and second week of November. Those tournament games in March will take care of themselves.

What I am hoping to see in the November games is the return to "winning the play in front of you" whether it is on offense OR {most importantly early in the season when the offensive is less 'pretty'} on defense {which tends to feed the offense}.

The more players who can shoot well from anywhere will help the offense side of the equation for the technical offense the Huskies run come together quickly. The ability to cause fast breaks from defensive stops tends to keep the players healthy {most of our women's injuries came in the 'grind it out' half-court offensive sets - Paige's plateau fracture being the exception}.

I, for one, will be praying for health, strength, endurance, and energy for all of the Huskies to "win the play in front of them" and the playing time, wins, and final results of the 2023-2024 season (still playing in April in Cleveland, OH...) will all take care of themselves!!!

Go Huskies!!!

 

[Bone Dog]

It will allow Nika (and I think Inês) to pressure the ball in the back court, which I think UConn seriously missed last year.

Now that you mention it, I’d really like to see Inês in full court pressure. She has the energy for it. What a captivating prospect!

 

[The CDR-Ret]

OT: One of my favorite lines out of "Unforgiven" is Little Bill replying to the fourth person who told him, "I thought you were dead!" Little Bill deadpanly said, "I thought I was dead too, but it turns out, I was in Nebraska."

 

[itsasport]

The above sounds like Mark Twain.

 

[Bills Fan]

Sure looks like this team is built to reach a minimum of the semi-finals again............comes down to good health and some luck........it's about time UConn gets a bit of both..........

Hey Charlie, what do you mean, semi-finals? I think their minimum is the NC!

 

[Bills Fan]

It's June. We haven't seen anything of this team except yet a few 10-15 second "tease" videos. Plus all of the pieces (injured/recuperating players) are not back with full contact clearance yet. It is not lost on me that there will be several other teams this coming season that will vie for the championship and will give UConn a serious run for their money. We must watch out and be on guard for the "Ohio States" in the tournament field next year. As talented as UConn will be this year, it WILL NOT be a walk in the park.

UConn will have to "aggressively" take what they want. Teams no longer fear UConn as in days of yore. Even some conference teams (Marquette, Villanova & St. Johns) no longer fear UConn. Pardon me, but I just can't get excited about the possible fortunes of our team in June. I'm guessing that the other top 10 teams will field competitive teams this year as well, and thus should not be taken lightly.

I need to see what they have and how viable they are before I crown UConn......in June. No doubt UConn will see South Carolina and LSU somewhere along the way in the tournament next year. I'll bet my turban and cape on that. There will be other teams they'll have to beat before they get to that point.

Remember we were humbled last year in game 3 of the tournament. I agree that at the very minimum, this team should reach the final four. March is 9 months away. Lots of things can happen between now and then. Let's not look that far down the road, but rather focus on games scheduled in the first and second week of November. Those tournament games in March will take care of themselves.

Carnac, you are in serious need of a dose of tonyc. It's ok to put your turban on and see NC # 12, 'cause it's gonna happen.

 

[Bills Fan]

I’m usually cautious, but I feel strongly that UConn will win a title if Paige and Azzi are healthy. They also have a decent bench.

DECENT? I'd put our "decent' bench up against any other in the country . If our bench means the non-starters then our remaining 9 "bench" players could beat just about every team in the country. Our depth is the best I can ever remember. Go Huskies! (Our decent bench of 9 would be, CD, KK, Ashlynn, Jana or Ice, Yanna, Ines, Amari, Aubrey and Nika. How many schools could beat that group?

 

[Charliebball]

Hey Charlie, what do you mean, semi-finals? I think their minimum is the NC!

I'm trying to maintain some semblance of rationality...............lots of good teams out there.......

 

[From France]

It's the deepest roster in many years, with no tansfers, just recruiting for the future to continue the present

 

[From France]

And if UCONN has their record for consecutives Final Four or Elite 8 appearances terminated, they still have a record to be more, the consecutives Sweet 16

 

[Bald Husky]

I'm trying to maintain some semblance of rationality...............lots of good teams out there.......

They haven't seen the real UConn team in 3 years. Seeing the others beat UConn the last 2, and the way they celebrated made me sick. This year is about redemption, and any team in their way will be curling up in a corner when we are finished with them. Taking no prisoners this year, and I will enjoy every minute of it. Go Huskies

 

[Huskee11]

Lots of reasons to think that this is the year. Finally.

UConn will go into the season healthy. They all look like they have been working out like crazy. I expect many of them to take a big step forward and I like the first year players a lot, including Ice.

Great depth.

Paige and Azzi, when healthy, are the best guard tandem in the country and it is not even close. Better than many WNBA teams, in fact.

Nika will not have to play anything close to 40 minutes and can play totally unleashed on the defensive end. Aubrey as well.

UConn can do things that it has not been able to do in ages. Mainly, they can press full court. That is a weapon that they have simply been unable to utilize due to the heavy minutes the starters have had to play and the fear of foul trouble.

As part of the great depth, the ability to go small, go big, go somewhere in between. Go offense. Go defense. Geno has to love the options he will have.

Scheduling helps, beginning with the trip to Europe. A tough out of conference schedule will allow them to hone their game. The Big East schedule should be easy since the top teams from last year, such as Villanova and Marquette, but other than Creighton, have taken a step backward; that will allow for rest, feel good games, and bench development.

Boston has moved on to the WNBA.

LSU has the talent to challenge. Let`s see how the chemistry works out. There have been NBA super teams assembled that put it together, and there have been some that did not.

Most importantly, UConn is on a Mission. Capital M. The season will be long but I don`t think it will wear on them like it did in 2022-2023. They will be able to peak in March and they will not let this opportunity pass them by.

 

[ballerfan]

DECENT? I'd put our "decent' bench up against any other in the country . If our bench means the non-starters then our remaining 9 "bench" players could beat just about every team in the country. Our depth is the best I can ever remember. Go Huskies! (Our decent bench of 9 would be, CD, KK, Ashlynn, Jana or Ice, Yanna, Ines, Amari, Aubrey and Nika. How many schools could beat that group?

I meant decent in the number of players Geno might use compared with last year, when they barely had a bench. I was referring to the depth. The quality of the bench is amazing.

 

[Bone Dog]

I meant decent in the number of players Geno might use compared with last year, when they barely had a bench. I was referring to the depth. The quality of the bench is amazing.

Totally agree. Our second 5 would probably be ranked in the top 20 of D1

 

[EricSD]

UConn will have to "aggressively" take what they want. Teams no longer fear UConn as in days of yore. Even some conference teams (Marquette, Villanova & St. Johns) no longer fear UConn. Pardon me, but I just can't get excited about the possible fortunes of our team in June. I'm guessing that the other top 10 teams will field competitive teams this year as well, and thus should not be taken lightly.

IMHO that will change this year. The past 2 seasons, especially last year, other teams could "smell the blood in the water", so to speak. UCONN was so injured that teams sensed opportunities they have never had before.

Not to sound over confident, but there's not a single team in the big east that will even come close to a 10 point loss. I suspect even the best teams in the BE will lose by 20+ going away. By the time UCONN has steamrolled over several teams, the fear factor will be back. Sure opposing coaches will do all they can to instill confidence, etc. in their teams, but there is only a small chance, IMHO, that any team is even within 10 by halftime.

Side note - all this assumes a healthy UCONN team this season.

And I'm one of those fans who feels that not only is UCONN #1, it's not particularly close between #1 and #2.

IMHO I think fans are a little gun-shy about UCONN these days. Given all the bad luck, and the ridiculous plethora of injuries, UCONN has not had the seasons anyone wanted or expected. Just my opinion, but that all changes this year.

 

[Bone Dog]

Remember the Stewie teams and how quickly they moved the ball in the half court offense? They were quick in transition, of course. But even in the half court they whipped the ball around the perimeter, into the paint and out again, and very few teams could keep up.

This is what I think we’ll see this year with so many top ball handlers on the floor at any moment. Nika Paige Azzi Aaliyah — this group is simply too well seasoned in the offense. Whoever the fifth starter is — Caroline or Ayanna or Ice or Jana — they’ll be working with a really tight unit.