Why the optimism? With specifics, why will we be better?

[winlots]

Based on the tea leaves we've been able to gather at this point, PRIOR to the huge data haul we'll gather from/at the first EX-game tomorrow, what have we learned as of NOW from the Horde, our own spies, last years performances whether in high school or at UCONN, the grapevine etc, to make us think we're in a position to surpass last year's solid season?

To start things off, I'll shinny out on the limb, on the wrong side of the saw as usual:

We lose: HAYES...........plenty of speed, personality, a fine defender, able to have huge scoring nights. I don't have her data in front of me, but I'd guess we're giving up about 14 a game? 7 Rs, 3As, 3 Ss? (We might be able to subtract a few turn-overs, though, mainly from ill-advised drives thru massive traffic.....and some inconsistency from a key starter.)

We gain: re DOTY: sounds like she is in a much better place both physically and mentally, eh? I'd expect to see even higher quality leadership from her.....better scoring production....better management of the offense. ( I HOPE, but have seen no observations to support this, that her passing would become more reliable.) Might sound like alot, but I'll go with 5 more points per game....3 more assists, over whatever totals she brought last year.

FARRIS: really haven't seen much about her play thus far....some hints at improved leadership. Just based on another year of maturity and Senior status, I'll predict that more leadership, some upgrade in most aspects of her superb overall floor game. With the added firepower on the squad, I doubt if her scoring will go up much more than 3....and with the added rebounding power on this squad, I don't see her adding much there. I DO see a terrific senior season for her all around.

BUCK: have seen next to nothing on Buck thus far. Concerns me. Secret weapon? No substantial improvement? Too many BIGS providing competition? Think I saw a hint about greater confidence, and that is the key for her apparently. I'll go with adding another bucket per game for two points and another 2 rebounds. Will hope for an awesome final season....the potential still seems to me to be ther.

DOLSON: Alot of talk about more fitness and even more drive. If as much as reported, I don't see why she couldnt add four points per game and maybe five rebounds (where she was no tiger the past two years).

HARTLEY: Supposedly in better shape (prior to injury) and get a feeling that she might be more level-headed with maturity (hoping, therefore, for fewer of the Hayesian, Montgomerian, wild drives thru 14 massed defenders...and fewer passes to the band). Already a high scorer, so I'll go with another 3 points per game, another 2 assists as she grows up, and 3 less turnovers per game.

LEWIS: not seeing a whole lot about her, except that her condition might be good but not great? With maturity, another 3 points per game, couple more rebounds, and a couple more assists? (I'm factoring in here that she already scores alot and we are adding firepower from new sources and improved sources).

BANKS: MOre key confidence in place it seems. Certainly hope so as I am a huge fan of hers and have made no secret about the fact that I think she was not handled properly last year...either ini terms of the apparent and KNOWN "messages" she received from on high or in terms of her time in games. My worry is that when she returned from last Christmas, we got very similar news about, "I am a totally different person," if I recall correctly. She COULD be dynamite...don't forget the 19 or so she put on the board her first night out. I'll predict improved defense, fewer turnovers, four more points, two more As and two more Ss.

STOKES: also not seeing alot on here....and that concerns me ala the Buck cloak of silence. Obviously the potential is huge. But why is she not getting much ink thus far? Even omitted entirely from at least one set of Horde observations. Kinda thinking she either puts out or gets her butt nailed to the bench this year. Will call, hopefully, for four more points, 3 more rebounds, and another block or two on top of her solid performance last year re shot-blocking.

Which brings us to the new guys:

JEFFERSON: added dynamism and D and personality and smiles. Enough turnovers to wipe out the gain there from Hayes departure. Can see her bringing at least six points.....4 A....4S....even a couple of opportunistic boards.

STEWART: 10 P 5R 4A 3S with those wings (17 feet, wasn't it?) and 4 B. ANd alot else.

TUCK: 10 P 5 R 2 A 2 B And alot else. ((You can see, I tuckered myself out with all this effort....understand that I've already been on the floor for an entire game and am now playing on fumes in OT))

In summary, guess that adds about two hundred and eleventeen points or so (of course, I've handed out 49 minutes per kid). But at least it might provide a littler fuel for the hot stove. Or not.

 

[Olde Coach]

Based on the tea leaves we've been able to gather at this point, PRIOR to the huge data haul we'll gather from/at the first EX-game tomorrow, what have we learned as of NOW from the Horde, our own spies, last years performances whether in high school or at UCONN, the grapevine etc, to make us think we're in a position to surpass last year's solid season?

To start things off, I'll shinny out on the limb, on the wrong side of the saw as usual:

We lose: HAYES...........plenty of speed, personality, a fine defender, able to have huge scoring nights. I don't have her data in front of me, but I'd guess we're giving up about 14 a game? 7 Rs, 3As, 3 Ss? (We might be able to subtract a few turn-overs, though, mainly from ill-advised drives thru massive traffic.....and some inconsistency from a key starter.)

We gain: re DOTY: sounds like she is in a much better place both physically and mentally, eh? I'd expect to see even higher quality leadership from her.....better scoring production....better management of the offense. ( I HOPE, but have seen no observations to support this, that her passing would become more reliable.) Might sound like alot, but I'll go with 5 more points per game....3 more assists, over whatever totals she brought last year.

FARRIS: really haven't seen much about her play thus far....some hints at improved leadership. Just based on another year of maturity and Senior status, I'll predict that more leadership, some upgrade in most aspects of her superb overall floor game. With the added firepower on the squad, I doubt if her scoring will go up much more than 3....and with the added rebounding power on this squad, I don't see her adding much there. I DO see a terrific senior season for her all around.

BUCK: have seen next to nothing on Buck thus far. Concerns me. Secret weapon? No substantial improvement? Too many BIGS providing competition? Think I saw a hint about greater confidence, and that is the key for her apparently. I'll go with adding another bucket per game for two points and another 2 rebounds. Will hope for an awesome final season....the potential still seems to me to be ther.

DOLSON: Alot of talk about more fitness and even more drive. If as much as reported, I don't see why she couldnt add four points per game and maybe five rebounds (where she was no tiger the past two years).

HARTLEY: Supposedly in better shape (prior to injury) and get a feeling that she might be more level-headed with maturity (hoping, therefore, for fewer of the Hayesian, Montgomerian, wild drives thru 14 massed defenders...and fewer passes to the band). Already a high scorer, so I'll go with another 3 points per game, another 2 assists as she grows up, and 3 less turnovers per game.

LEWIS: not seeing a whole lot about her, except that her condition might be good but not great? With maturity, another 3 points per game, couple more rebounds, and a couple more assists? (I'm factoring in here that she already scores alot and we are adding firepower from new sources and improved sources).

BANKS: MOre key confidence in place it seems. Certainly hope so as I am a huge fan of hers and have made no secret about the fact that I think she was not handled properly last year...either ini terms of the apparent and KNOWN "messages" she received from on high or in terms of her time in games. My worry is that when she returned from last Christmas, we got very similar news about, "I am a totally different person," if I recall correctly. She COULD be dynamite...don't forget the 19 or so she put on the board her first night out. I'll predict improved defense, fewer turnovers, four more points, two more As and two more Ss.

STOKES: also not seeing alot on here....and that concerns me ala the Buck cloak of silence. Obviously the potential is huge. But why is she not getting much ink thus far? Even omitted entirely from at least one set of Horde observations. Kinda thinking she either puts out or gets her butt nailed to the bench this year. Will call, hopefully, for four more points, 3 more rebounds, and another block or two on top of her solid performance last year re shot-blocking.

Which brings us to the new guys:

JEFFERSON: added dynamism and D and personality and smiles. Enough turnovers to wipe out the gain there from Hayes departure. Can see her bringing at least six points.....4 A....4S....even a couple of opportunistic boards.

STEWART: 10 P 5R 4A 3S with those wings (17 feet, wasn't it?) and 4 B. ANd alot else.

TUCK: 10 P 5 R 2 A 2 B And alot else. ((You can see, I tuckered myself out with all this effort....understand that I've already been on the floor for an entire game and am now playing on fumes in OT))

In summary, guess that adds about two hundred and eleventeen points or so (of course, I've handed out 49 minutes per kid). But at least it might provide a littler fuel for the hot stove. Or not.

It is really difficult to project points or other stats because the minutes may be substantially fewer for the returning players -- because the Freshmen plus Stokes and Banks are so good. There will be a ten (or 11) player rotation for most games. I expect on most nights that no one will play more than 25 minutes.

If Geno plays "the subs" (or "B Team") for 20 minutes a game -- which I think he will often want to do -- then there is only 20 minutes left for the starters. I expect, for all but a handful of games, Geno will run this year's Husky Team much as he did the Olympic Team.

 

[msf22b]

I certainly trust Geno's judgement when he's watching a kid practice and he has been more than positive; elated, I would say in his impression of the skill-set that Stewie and Tuck bring to the team.
Forget all the mini-improvement of the returning group, on a certain level, it's not even required. Just play their normal game.
What one has here are two multi-skilled bigs that are rapidly fitting into the "system."
And plug whatever "deficiency" was noticable last season.
Add to that a depth we have not seen for ages and the die is cast for a run for the roses.

 

[sarals24]

I think you are underestimating the impact that having more perimeter scoring will have. Jefferson and Tuck and Stewart are ALL threats from the outside, which opens things up for Stokes and Dolson inside. Stef is much better when the defense can't collapse in on her like they did last season when Hayes wasn't hot. Faris was also left alone outside a lot. More quickness, a deeper bench and experienced freshmen (Stewart and Tuck have lots of experience and will contribute immediately, IMO) means a more up-tempo game and more full-court defense, both of which favor UConn.


It will be a luxury to have Caroline play a few minutes and then bring in firepower off the bench. Similarly to last year, and our freshman class this year is much more talented (and last year's was no slouch!) Imagine having KML, Stewart, Hartley, tuck as perimeter shooters in any combination along with Dolson and Kiah under the basket. Whoever has the hot hand will get the minutes, and I am betting the practices will be VERY competitive.

I think this year is going to be incredible to watch. What a collection of talent! And Geno is fresh off coaching a team of 12 extremely talented individuals to a perfect record in the Olympics, so I have very high hopes for the next few months.

 

[winlots]

It is really difficult to project points or other stats because the minutes may be substantially fewer for the returning players -- because the Freshmen plus Stokes and Banks are so good. There will be a ten (or 11) player rotation for most games. I expect on most nights that no one will play more than 25 minutes.

If Geno plays "the subs" (or "B Team") for 20 minutes a game -- which I think he will often want to do -- then there is only 20 minutes left for the starters. I expect, for all but a handful of games, Geno will run this year's Husky Team much as he did the Olympic Team.

OLDE: golly but I SSURE hope you are right re the deep rotation and potentially full use of the squad in MEANINGFUL minutes. Keeps people fresh throughout the game and wears HARD on the other team.....perhaps helps prevent injuries and, at least, prepares kids to step in for the injured when the lights are bright and the minutes count.....keeps everybody truly involved....etc etc.

 

[Shenandoah]

Excellent summation, Winlots. I think that part of the "I haven't heard much about her this offseason" for most of the returners, is that everyone is fawning over the Husky Pups. And with good reason, I'm sure. Whatever the case, I sure am looking forward to watching this team, this year.