Why didn't Geno have a bigger bench available?

[oldhusky]

At UConn they might be pretty good.
Expected players for this season included Paige, Fudd, Dorka, Edwards, Griffin, Ducharme, Muhl and Lou. That’s 8 so I’d say 7 and 8 are pretty good,
One of my favorite teams was 2000-01. At the start of the season the starters were Shea, Svet, Sue, Swin and Kelly Schumacher. That left Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones and DT as the 6th, 7th and 8th players so the 7th and 8th players weren’t too shabby.

Against more ordinary teams, Uconn frequently has bench players that are as good as the other teams best starter. Look at the 2016 championship team. Number 6 & 7 were Pheesa and Gabby, both future proven WNBA players. 8 & 9 were Sonia Chong and Natalie Butler. Both were drafted by the WNBA, Sonia played a year, and Natalie after she transferred led the nation in rebounding the next year. Courtney Ekmark was #10, and she transferred and became a starter for a Power 5 conference team.

Or how about Kia Stokes who was never a regular starter in her career here because of Stewie and Stephanie, but she just got her championship ring this year with the Aces. As you mention DT was not an immediate starter. In fact Shea Ralph's greatest claim might be for a season she kept Dianna on the bench.

More recently before her injury Mir was having a great season at Virginia, but got little time here. Saylor was a third stringer here starting at Arkansas. Espinoza-Hunter was a big scorer at Seton Hall and a non-factor here. The examples are really too numerous to mention. Most of the top programs, not just us, but also teams like South Carolina and Stanford have bench players that are usually significantly above average, with several that could be stars at most college programs. The top contenders sometimes don't have anybody that is below average or a weak link in their rotation. Their backups are usually highly ranked recruits.

 

[Majic Hands]

Next season with 14 players, everyone will wonder how will players 9-14 get any minutes...

Seems that may not be the case if Chris Dailey is the Coach during games.

 

[Mdoggie]

Big benches are hard to find.

 

[sun]

I like the idea of awarding a scholarship or two to a deserving Connecticut student because I believe that they would be less likely to transfer.
In 2023, two Connecticut high school basketball players were ranked as 2023 ESPN Top 100 recruits with both committing to Virginia Tech WBB.
#58 Carys Baker is a 6'1" forward at Loomis Chaffee that's a prolific 3 point shooter and volleyball player.
#65 Mackenzie Nelson is a 5'8" PG at St. Luke's School with a reputation for stealing the ball.
They're both 4 star recruits with a 93 rating & videos of them can be found on the Maxpreps site.
These are just 2 examples of CT BB players who could easily fill a need at UConn and I'm sure there have been many others.
Not sure if Carys Baker is the daughter or not of Vin Baker of the Hartford Hawks & Boston Celtics.

2023 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - espnW 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

 

[wingsfan055]

The transfer portal is a game changer. Let's take this year. Lou is probably the difference between us being a Final Four team or not. Also, Cardoso choosing SC over UConn in the portal is the reason SC is the clear favorite to repeat.

 

[JoePgh]

I like the idea of awarding a scholarship or two to a deserving Connecticut student because I believe that they would be less likely to transfer.
In 2023, two Connecticut high school basketball players were ranked as 2023 ESPN Top 100 recruits with both committing to Virginia Tech WBB.
#58 Carys Baker is a 6'1" forward at Loomis Chaffee that's a prolific 3 point shooter and volleyball player.
#65 Mackenzie Nelson is a 5'8" PG at St. Luke's School with a reputation for stealing the ball.
They're both 4 star recruits with a 93 rating & videos of them can be found on the Maxpreps site.
These are just 2 examples of CT BB players who could easily fill a need at UConn and I'm sure there have been many others.
Not sure if Carys Baker is the daughter or not of Vin Baker of the Hartford Hawks & Boston Celtics.

2023 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - espnW 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

Do you really think that players like these are likely to sign up to be benchwarmers at UConn rather than have a starting role at another top-quarter program, including nearby ones such as Seton Hall, Villanova, or St. Johns? Would coming to UConn even be a good decision from their standpoint?

 

[funkraider]

Pretending this 20, even 5 years ago is unrealistic. Players have the ability to move if they so desire. And they do. You are not going to be able to stockpile top talent on your bench for a year or two at most places. And even if there are players in the portal, are the compatible with the culture of UCONN? Geno is only taking a certain type of kid. These last two years have been anomalies. He's used this roster size and player rotation for 35+ years and he is the G.O.A.T. I defer to his experience and expertise.

 

[funkraider]

I like the idea of awarding a scholarship or two to a deserving Connecticut student because I believe that they would be less likely to transfer.
In 2023, two Connecticut high school basketball players were ranked as 2023 ESPN Top 100 recruits with both committing to Virginia Tech WBB.
#58 Carys Baker is a 6'1" forward at Loomis Chaffee that's a prolific 3 point shooter and volleyball player.
#65 Mackenzie Nelson is a 5'8" PG at St. Luke's School with a reputation for stealing the ball.
They're both 4 star recruits with a 93 rating & videos of them can be found on the Maxpreps site.
These are just 2 examples of CT BB players who could easily fill a need at UConn and I'm sure there have been many others.
Not sure if Carys Baker is the daughter or not of Vin Baker of the Hartford Hawks & Boston Celtics.

2023 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - espnW 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

I just looked up Carys Baker, she is definitely the daughter of Vin Baker. She looks just like him.

 

[Drumguy]

people forget just how much the cost of lumber has increased

Also, it's not really a bench, just a bunch of seats in a row.

 

[HuskyNan]

Make Nika practice only with the guys - that should cut down on injuries to the team. I can’t speak for the damage to the guys, though

 

[Performance]

It amazes me that with all UCONN has accomplished (repeated final fours, 11 national championships etc., etc. not to mention recruiting great players) people still question Geno as to why he does or doesn't do certain things

 

[HuskylnSC]

I think the BE rule is that in order to field a team you must have a minimum of 7 scholarship players.

That's the NCAA rule. 7 to start and one to finish as long as the ref's believe the one can ossibly win the game.

 

[Mdoggie]

It amazes me that with all UCONN has accomplished (repeated final fours, 11 national championships etc., etc. not to mention recruiting great players) people still question Geno as to why he does or doesn't do certain things

Because forum people always have the best answers. When what you think is never applied, you never see it fail so to you it’s always the best answer or solution. It’s that simple.

 

[Urshurak]

THAT will be Geno's dilemma, but he knows how to handle it. He'll always have plenty of "intelligent and informed" imput to fall back on from the Boneyard. Less minutes for the starters in games that are decided early.

Agree! I mean, all he has to do is ask and we will tell him what to do.

 

[Urshurak]

A freshman 7 or 8 playing behind an all American senior can be pretty dadgum good!

Yup, I'm in the Carolinas. I had a boss from Raleigh and every other word out of his mouth was "Dadgum!"

 

[CL82]

Why didn't Geno have a bigger bench available?​

I don’t know. What were you thinking of? Something like this?

 

[osceola48]

USC can't field a team either. But not because of injuries. It's because they have decided that "field" is a bad word.

 

[Forego]

Years ago the major men’s sports teams at most of the larger universities had junior varsity and freshmen teams. If a varsity player was lost to an injury they would elevate one of the junior varsity players to the varsity team. Freshmen teams went the way of the rotary dial phone and party lines when freshmen became eligible for varsity play. Junior Varsity teams have been in a steady decline toward obsolescence for years. I don’t recall any jv women’s teams at UConn - but Avery Point had a women’s basketball team for years. Does anyone know the status of that team (does it still exist, or is it on hiatus, the number of available players, or if players on that team are considered UConn players who could be moved to the Storrs team, immediately, in an emergency situation)? Hopefully this now a mute point - but could be useful if we get another 100 year’s storm sooner than later.

 

[Bald Husky]

That's the NCAA rule. 7 to start and one to finish as long as the ref's believe the one can ossibly win the game.

Thats why we need Azzi or Paige active, so if that happens and one of them is left holding the bag, we have a chance to win.

 

[Alydar]

Next season with 14 players, everyone will wonder how will players 9-14 get any minutes...

Creme will use that to make UConn a 3 seed preseason.

 

[Forego]

Moot

Years ago the major men’s sports teams at most of the larger universities had junior varsity and freshmen teams. If a varsity player was lost to an injury they would elevate one of the junior varsity players to the varsity team. Freshmen teams went the way of the rotary dial phone and party lines when freshmen became eligible for varsity play. Junior Varsity teams have been in a steady decline toward obsolescence for years. I don’t recall any jv women’s teams at UConn - but Avery Point had a women’s basketball team for years. Does anyone know the status of that team (does it still exist, or is it on hiatus, the number of available players, or if players on that team are considered UConn players who could be moved to the Storrs team, immediately, in an emergency situation)? Hopefully this now a mute point - but could be useful if we get another 100 year’s storm sooner than later.

Moot point. Sorry.

 

[Longtime fan]

How “good” are they if they’re 7th or 8th?

I don't remember the timing exactly, although it can be sourced easily. In any case, I would not have expected Geno to give Ines any playing time other than in routs. But she has changed some minds, I think. A pretty decent performance and contribution from a freshman unknown , except to Portugal. We'll see if he picks up where'd CD left off. In other words, will gene give Muhl several breathers during a game?

 

[visitingcock]

USC can't field a team either. But not because of injuries. It's because they have decided that "field" is a bad word.

Old relevant "USC" or new relevant "USC?"

 

[dabears17]

Old relevant "USC" or new relevant "USC?"

Not going to make this thread political, but the soon to be Big 10 U$C that almost beat the soon to be Big10 UCLA last Sunday.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Anyone beside Geno know that answer. Is the UConn Women's season in jeopardy due to the possibility of not being able to filed teams in the future due to injuries. Why not carry walk-ons? Too much trouble?

I'll bet a few months ago you said how is Geno going to give everyone enough minutes? And now what's with Geno? Why doesn't he carry 15 scholarship players and stash 3 or 4 more on a track or water polo or tiddlywinks scholarship?