Why UConn WBB freshman Gandy Malou-Mamel could be a 'really big factor' next year

[BRS24]

Gift article here.

Malou-Mamel arrived in Storrs this offseason as a project, a rare and raw 6-foot-5 center with an endless ceiling. But because of her lack of experience (she only began playing basketball at age 12), she’s not quite at the UConn standard just yet.​

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That’s why Geno Auriemma not playing in her games is strategic, not personal. He speaks highly of Malou-Mamel and believes in her future impact – whenever she’s ready.​

​

“Every day she gets better, every day she works hard, every day she's competitive,” Auriemma said following the Huskies’ holiday break. “She just has a lot of, you know, catching up to do because she started playing so late. She's an incredibly hard worker, and I couldn't be happier with how she's been since she's been on campus.”​

​

Malou-Mamel understands the situation she’s in. She’s mature enough to realize who’s ahead of her on the depth chart and where she needs to improve her game. The challenge to grow inspires her.​

​

“I don't think I can get discouraged being here where there's so many people to look up to, and so many people I can take notes from, and just resonate my game with,” she said in June during UConn’s summer workouts. “So, I don't think I could get discouraged at a place like this where there's such great players and such great history, because I'm just here to get better and to help contribute to the team.”​

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And yes, the article does claim that UConn can claim this year as a redshirt year, however a bunch of folks here on the BY have noted that the "4 game rule" is only for CFB, however many "experts" in the field say that it may also be applied to other sports in the future. I'm just trying to get ahead any debate about the rules as we know them and the future possibilities.

 

[diggerfoot]

Gift article here.

Malou-Mamel arrived in Storrs this offseason as a project, a rare and raw 6-foot-5 center with an endless ceiling. But because of her lack of experience (she only began playing basketball at age 12), she’s not quite at the UConn standard just yet.​

​

That’s why Geno Auriemma not playing in her games is strategic, not personal. He speaks highly of Malou-Mamel and believes in her future impact – whenever she’s ready.​

​

“Every day she gets better, every day she works hard, every day she's competitive,” Auriemma said following the Huskies’ holiday break. “She just has a lot of, you know, catching up to do because she started playing so late. She's an incredibly hard worker, and I couldn't be happier with how she's been since she's been on campus.”​

​

Malou-Mamel understands the situation she’s in. She’s mature enough to realize who’s ahead of her on the depth chart and where she needs to improve her game. The challenge to grow inspires her.​

​

“I don't think I can get discouraged being here where there's so many people to look up to, and so many people I can take notes from, and just resonate my game with,” she said in June during UConn’s summer workouts. “So, I don't think I could get discouraged at a place like this where there's such great players and such great history, because I'm just here to get better and to help contribute to the team.”​

​

And yes, the article does claim that UConn can claim this year as a redshirt year, however a bunch of folks here on the BY have noted that the "4 game rule" is only for CFB, however many "experts" in the field say that it may also be applied to other sports in the future. I'm just trying to get ahead of the rules as we know them and the future possibilities.

Given all the recent concerns and speculation, including some that she may not be practicing well, sharing this comes at a needed and opportune time. Thank you.

 

[uconnfan68]

"AI Overview"



In NCAA basketball, a "redshirt" year means a player practices but doesn't play in games, preserving eligibility, but the rules are strict: playing even one game usually costs a season, unlike football's allowance for up to four games. Medical redshirts are possible for season-ending injuries in the first half of the season (under 30% of games played), requiring school application, while regular redshirts just involve sitting out, often for development. The NCAA is considering aligning basketball rules with football's "four-game" threshold.



Types of Redshirting

• Traditional Redshirt: A player chooses to sit out a season to develop skills, adapt to college, or recover, without using a year of competition.
• Medical Redshirt: For season-ending injuries, granted if the injury occurs before the halfway point (around 30% of games) and the athlete played fewer than 3 games or 30% of contests.
• Academic Redshirt (D1): For freshmen not meeting initial academic eligibility but showing progress, allowing practice but not competition.

 

[Centerstream]

It's going to get quite interesting next season when Jana, Gandy and Olivia are competing for game playing time. Many here on the BY are going to have a favorite and there will probably be many threads and posts asking "Why isn't (enter one of the three players here) starting or getting more minutes?

 

[Huskee11]

When Geno speaks to the media he is also speaking to his players. One thing he is doing here is keeping her positive and motivated, although she seems to have a great deal of positivity and motivation in her own right. Also telling her he has her back. He is also encouraging a positive media narrative instead of allowing a negative one to seep out there.

The fact remains that Geno will have a lot of options in the frontcourt - Jana, Ice, Ayanna, The Big O - and of course Sarah and Blanca, and perhaps even Morgan, especially if he goes "small". Basically this year's team minus Serah, plus Olivia, and hopefully fully healthy and thus deeper. Then there is that fifteenth scholarship still sitting out there, which could be filled by another frontcourt player.

So the path to minutes for her does not get much easier. Arguably harder.

A perfect "redshirt" candidate, one has to wonder why they played her for a few minutes early in the season.

 

[EricLA]

Also if UConn lands Okeke next season, it will be even tougher to find PT in the post. I worry that Ice will be one of the "odd women out". At 6'3", she's not big enough to be a traditional post, not athletic enough to be a wing/forward, and will end up behind Blanca, Morgan, Olivia, and Okeke (should we land her) on the depth chart for the forward/center spots.

Same goes for Gandy, but if she's loving her time at UConn, maybe thinks she has a shot at playing professionally overseas, or even in the W should she progress enough, UConn is the best place for her, even if she only gets limited minutes in games. I would hope that by her junior year that would change and she could earn core group bench minutes...

 

[victor64]

A rare mistake if she doesn’t get the redshirt.

 

[Charliebball]

If Gandy doesn't see the court in Conference play, I don't think it has much to do with the quality of her practicing.........more likely she's sitting out because UConn believes they can redshirt her......

 

[Vowelguy]

Need comment from NCAA rules guru @stamfordhusky

 

[Dogstar]

It's going to get quite interesting next season when Jana, Gandy and Olivia are competing for game playing time. Many here on the BY are going to have a favorite and there will probably be many threads and posts asking "Why isn't (enter one of the three players here) starting or getting more minutes?

Well written, but you could've left the word " probably " out bcus there's no doubt about that.

 

[BobbyJ]

Also if UConn lands Okeke next season, it will be even tougher to find PT in the post. I worry that Ice will be one of the "odd women out". At 6'3", she's not big enough to be a traditional post, not athletic enough to be a wing/forward, and will end up behind Blanca, Morgan, Olivia, and Okeke (should we land her) on the depth chart for the forward/center spots.

Same goes for Gandy, but if she's loving her time at UConn, maybe thinks she has a shot at playing professionally overseas, or even in the W should she progress enough, UConn is the best place for her, even if she only gets limited minutes in games. I would hope that by her junior year that would change and she could earn core group bench minutes...

I tend to believe that she already is. Her very good fundamental skills coming out of HS have been stymied by the relative lack of athleticism and inability to play fast. I'm sure she's disappointed with how things have played out and whether she plays again this season or not, we'll have to see what happens in the spring. Regardless, GA's progress on roster building goes on. As for Gandy, she's right where she needs to be.

 

[BobbyJ]

If Gandy doesn't see the court in Conference play, I don't think it has much to do with the quality of her practicing.........more likely she's sitting out because UConn believes they can redshirt her......

This would be nice but under the current rules it can't happen. ANY time played eliminates the possibility of a non-injury waiver/redshirt. The amount of time played isn't the deciding factor, it's the participation in competition that matters. Without a documented season ending injury or illness, a redshirt is a no go. There's been lots of discussion to change the rule but nothing has been approved as of now. On edit, one avenue would exist for her. UConn and Gandy wouldn't apply for a waiver until her eligibility has expired after her senior/4th year. If the rules have been changed by then it would be a possibility.

 

[Gael]

Gandy played in the blowouts against Loyola of Chicago on November 12 and Xavier on November 20, but not since.

I don't recall any UConn scholarship player, or even a walk-on, who got NO time in the fourth quarter of blowouts. Maybe they only got a few minutes, but they got in the game.

Speculative reasons propounded for Gandy's situation make no sense to me.

1. Gandy can do (or is already doing) a traditional redshirt year, so this year won't count against her four years of eligibility. Wrong. She's played four minutes, and has hence burned one year of eligibility. The 2025-26 NCAA Division I Manual, Bylaw 12.6.3.1 states: "Any competition, regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a season of competition in that sport, except [for some sports other than basketball.]"

2. Gandy can nevertheless seek a medical hardship waiver (colloquially called a "medical redshirt") to get another year of eligibility. Wrong. Unless she has had "an incapacity resulting from an injury or illness" since that Xavier game (Bylaw 12.6.4.), and there's been no evidence of that.

3. Gandy and/or UConn are going to challenge the NCAA redshirt/hardship bylaws in court as unlawful discrimination. No chance of that, in my opinion.

4. By depriving Gandy of a few game minutes in blowouts, Geno is "more effectively developing her on the bench" as an eventual game player. This just makes no basketball sense to me. How can a bit of game time decrease a player's ability to perform in game time?

5. Gandy doesn't want to play this year but just wants to sit on the bench and "take notes." This also makes no sense to me. I've never known a bench player who didn't want to get game time minutes—to say nothing of a brave, young teenager who came all alone from Ireland for the very purpose of playing basketball in the U.S.

6. Gandy and Geno are saving her for "big things" in her sophomore and junior years. I don't think that's a realistic expectation because Jana El Alfy is already better than Gandy and because incoming freshman Olivia Vukosa and (possibly) Sara Okeke are much better talents than Gandy. Both, or all three, of those players would play over Gandy every year. Geno knows this, and Gandy should surely expect it.

I think the reason for Gandy's non-play is likely something else. My speculation isn't about something bad, but it is speculation, so I'm not going elaborate any further. I mainly just wanted to present the above arguments against other folks' speculations I've read in media and on the web.

 

[Charliebball]

Gandy played in the blowouts against Loyola of Chicago on November 12 and Xavier on November 20, but not since.

I don't recall any UConn scholarship player, or even a walk-on, who got NO time in the fourth quarter of blowouts. Maybe they only got a few minutes, but they got in the game.

Speculative reasons propounded for Gandy's situation make no sense to me.

1. Gandy can do (or is already doing) a traditional redshirt year, so this year won't count against her four years of eligibility. Wrong. She's played four minutes, and has hence burned one year of eligibility. The 2025-26 NCAA Division I Manual, Bylaw 12.6.3.1 states: "Any competition, regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a season of competition in that sport, except [for some sports other than basketball.]"

2. Gandy can nevertheless seek a medical hardship waiver (colloquially called a "medical redshirt") to get another year of eligibility. Wrong. Unless she has had "an incapacity resulting from an injury or illness" since that Xavier game (Bylaw 12.6.4.), and there's been no evidence of that.

3. Gandy and/or UConn are going to challenge the NCAA redshirt/hardship bylaws in court as unlawful discrimination. No chance of that, in my opinion.

4. By depriving Gandy of a few game minutes in blowouts, Geno is "more effectively developing her on the bench" as an eventual game player. This just makes no basketball sense to me. How can a bit of game time decrease a player's ability to perform in game time?

5. Gandy doesn't want to play this year but just wants to sit on the bench and "take notes." This also makes no sense to me. I've never known a bench player who didn't want to get game time minutes—to say nothing of a brave, young teenager who came all alone from Ireland for the very purpose of playing basketball in the U.S.

6. Gandy and Geno are saving her for "big things" in her sophomore and junior years. I don't think that's a realistic expectation because Jana El Alfy is already better than Gandy and because incoming freshman Olivia Vukosa and (possibly) Sara Okeke are much better talents than Gandy. Both, or all three, of those players would play over Gandy every year. Geno knows this, and Gandy should surely expect it.

I think the reason for Gandy's non-play is likely something else. My speculation isn't about something bad, but it is speculation, so I'm not going elaborate any further. I mainly just wanted to present the above arguments against other folks' speculations I've read in media and on the web.

Considering that she didn't look bad on the court for the few minutes she's played so far this season, I really don't understand it.....you'd have thought with Jana unable to play, yesterday would have been a great opportunity to get her 4 - 5 minutes....

 

[MilfordHusky]

I watched Gandy in warm-ups at one of the games (I think it was Iowa). She made her layups, including with the left hand, and made multiple midrange jumpers in a row. I was favorably impressed. I think she can play at UConn.

 

[Bone Dog]

It's possible to compare Gandy to other second tier centers around D1, like Tac and Dauda on SC, or Layla Hays on Iowa, and you might get a better sense of how far from game ready she really is. She's not yet as skilled as Tac or Dauda, but she's not that far off. By the end of next year, she could be close to where they are now.

 

[Bigboote]

They have three years to apply for a redshirt for Gandy. A lot can happen between now and then. For example, she might not need to redshirt, players might have 8-10 years of eligibility by then. 😜 One more than Ali Patberg. (I like Ali, still like seeing her on the Indiana bench, but I thought seven years was a bit much.) I think a non-injury redshirt for a couple of games is likely.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Need comment from NCAA rules guru @stamfordhusky

Several of the posters above are correct. As of right now, under current NCAA rules, she cannot red shirt. There is no question at all about this. Anyone who doubts it can easily access the NCAA bylaws. However, there is always a chance that the NCAA might opt to change the rule and make it more like football, where a player can play a few games and still take a red shirt. That might be what UConn is hoping for. Not playing her for a stray minute occasionally will not really affect her development and in any case.

Based on the wording used in the article, it appears that Vanoni does not understand the rule at all.

 

[Vowelguy]

Several of the posters above are correct. As of right now, under current NCAA rules, she cannot red shirt. There is no question at all about this. Anyone who doubts it can easily access the NCAA bylaws. However, there is always a chance that the NCAA might opt to change the rule and make it more like football, where a player can play a few games and still take a red shirt. That might be what UConn is hoping for. Not playing her for a stray minute occasionally will not really affect her development and in any case.

Based on the wording used in the article, it appears that Vanoni does not understand the rule at all.

Gracias.

 

[BBallF]

"AI Overview"



In NCAA basketball, a "redshirt" year means a player practices but doesn't play in games, preserving eligibility, but the rules are strict: playing even one game usually costs a season, unlike football's allowance for up to four games. Medical redshirts are possible for season-ending injuries in the first half of the season (under 30% of games played), requiring school application, while regular redshirts just involve sitting out, often for development. The NCAA is considering aligning basketball rules with football's "four-game" threshold.



Types of Redshirting

• Traditional Redshirt: A player chooses to sit out a season to develop skills, adapt to college, or recover, without using a year of competition.
• Medical Redshirt: For season-ending injuries, granted if the injury occurs before the halfway point (around 30% of games) and the athlete played fewer than 3 games or 30% of contests.
• Academic Redshirt (D1): For freshmen not meeting initial academic eligibility but showing progress, allowing practice but not competition.

I agree that those are the rules. Since Gandy has played in a game, she can't redshirt except for an injury. So one game renders you ineligible without an in jury, but 30% is allowed with an injury. Ask yourselves this question, why is football, a male only sport, treated so differently? Is it just a matter of "he who makes the rules..."? I think it is just another glaring example of gender inequity brought to you by the NCAA. When will they learn? They seem only to react tio litigation.

 

[EricLA]

I agree that those are the rules. Since Gandy has played in a game, she can't redshirt except for an injury. So one game renders you ineligible without an in jury, but 30% is allowed with an injury. Ask yourselves this question, why is football, a male only sport, treated so differently? Is it just a matter of "he who makes the rules..."? I think it is just another glaring example of gender inequity brought to you by the NCAA. When will they learn? They seem only to react tio litigation.

Anyone have Tonya Harding's number? 😉

 

[BBallF]

Anyone have Tonya Harding's number? 😉

It's really illogical and I think discriminatory.

 

[Gael]

Ask yourselves this question, why is football, a male only sport, treated so differently? Is it just a matter of "he who makes the rules..."? I think it is just another glaring example of gender inequity brought to you by the NCAA.

In addition to the four-game traditional (developmental) redshirt exception rule in football (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.6), student-athletes can redshirt for a year even if they play in nonchampionship segment games during that year in the sports of:

- Field Hockey, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball and Men's Water Polo (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.2);

- Baseball, Women's Beach Volleyball, Lacrosse, Softball, Men's Volleyball and Women's Water Polo (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.3);

- Freshman Men's Wrestling (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.7); and

- There may be ways to redshirt even with some participation in golf, tennis and rowing matches.

So, there's flex in the joints for traditional/developmental redshirting in many sports other than football. But apparently not for basketball, swimming, diving, and other sports that don't have nonchampionship segments—men's or women's.

Hence, the "play one second and you can't redshirt that year" rule, when it applies, does not do so based upon a discrimination between men and women in the same sport, but only between different sports. That, at least, is likely to be the NCAA's litigation position.

 

[BBallF]

In addition to the four-game traditional (developmental) redshirt exception rule in football (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.6), student-athletes can redshirt for a year even if they play in nonchampionship segment games during that year in the sports of:

- Field Hockey, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball and Men's Water Polo (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.2);

- Baseball, Women's Beach Volleyball, Lacrosse, Softball, Men's Volleyball and Women's Water Polo (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.3);

- Freshman Men's Wrestling (Bylaw 12.6.3.1.7); and

- There may be ways to redshirt even with some participation in golf, tennis and rowing matches.

So, there's flex in the joints for traditional/developmental redshirting in many sports other than football. But apparently not for basketball, swimming, diving, and other sports that don't have nonchampionship segments—men's or women's.

Hence, the "play one second and you can't redshirt that year" rule, when it applies, does not do so based upon a discrimination between men and women in the same sport, but only between different sports. That, at least, is likely to be the NCAA's litigation position.

Thanks but when they are talking about nonchampionship segment games they are talking about games that are not taken into account for purposes of an NCAA championship bid. So if lacrosse is allowed two games or x number of practice hours in the fall it doesn't count towards an NCAA bid and you can still redshirt. Of course, they are almost exhibition games. However, EVERY football game and EVERY basketball game other than exhibition games are taken into account for your record for an NCAA championship bid. So let's compare apples to apples. None of the sports you indicate above are similar in the sense that they are in a championship segment every single game. In football, you can play 1/3 of the season in a championship segment and still redshirt. In basketball, you step onto the court for one second of one in season game and you can't.

It doesn't matter if the intent is discriminatory if the result is. Why should football get this special treatment? Their players get to play in regular season games, get experience, improve, practice with the team and get another year of eligibility. Why shouldn't women basketball players, and all college basketball players?

I think a player like Gandy shows the complete unfairness of it. She is playing behind an All Big Ten Player and a starter on last year's NC team and the other competition she has in the front court is the likely POY. I am not suggesting that the analysis be on case by case basis but rather that her situation shows the unfairness that favors football by comparison in a glaring light. It discriminates against everyone who isn't a football player. It doesn't make it ok simply because it affects thousands of athletes negatively at the same time. The rules should apply equally to all.

 

[Gael]

Why should football get this special treatment?

I think it's obvious why a sport with an average of 119 (FCS) to 142 (FBS) players on the team would need a lot more developmental redshirt decision time than a sport with an average maximum of 15 players.

However, the wisdom or legality of these NCAA policies are tangential to this thread about why Gandy doesn't get playing time.

I don't buy any argument that Geno sits Gandy, even in big blowouts, because he's trying to set her up for a developmental redshirt year or for a medical redshirt year (via hypothesized bylaw changes). Nor do I believe any argument that keeping Gandy pinned to the bench will enhance her abilities or sharpen her skills to play center for UConn in future years.

It's something else, in my oft-wrong opinion, unless he does start to play her.