Yanna is just happy to be playing ball again

[Geew1992]

After two years on the sidelines, Ayanna Patterson happy to be playing basketball again

Patterson should be entering her senior season, but little has gone according to plan during her UConn career.

www.uconnwbbweekly.com

 

[meyers7]

After two years on the sidelines, Ayanna Patterson happy to be playing basketball again

Patterson should be entering her senior season, but little has gone according to plan during her UConn career.

www.uconnwbbweekly.com

Glad she's back, but I'm not expecting a lot from her this year.

 

[cgshuskie]

I think Yanna will show out this year.... She doesn't have much time left but she is a great athlete. Now or never!!!!

 

[hoopsdiva]

I think Yanna will show out this year.... She doesn't have much time left but she is a great athlete. Now or never!!!!

Technically she could apply for 2 redshirt years. It's up to her if she wants to request any or both of those years.

 

[Bone Dog]

Technically she could apply for 2 redshirt years. It's up to her if she wants to request any or both of those years.

Could she? Wouldn’t that be six years total to complete 4 seasons. I though that after the Covid exemption expired the limit reverted to 5 years.

 

[hoopsdiva]

Could she? Wouldn’t that be six years total to complete 4 seasons. I though that after the Covid exemption expired the limit reverted to 5 years.

I believe exceptions can be applied for (though there's no guarantee they will be granted.) And at the end of the day, it's up to the individual athlete to decide if she even wants to apply for additional year(s) or if she's ready to move on.

 

[BobbyJ]

Could she? Wouldn’t that be six years total to complete 4 seasons. I though that after the Covid exemption expired the limit reverted to 5 years.

NCAA 6th Year of Eligibility

NCAA rules are notoriously difficult to navigate. Determining whether a player may be approved for a 6th year (instead of the standard 5 year limit) to complete their 4 years of eligibility is one …

borderingonwisdom.wordpress.com

 

[victor64]

My thoughts Yanna's playing time this year.

1. She looks healthy and strong. If the video snippets of her workouts provide any clues, the rust she discusses is not apparent. Game shape though is a different animal.

2. The problem is, it is a crowded position. If she plays the 4 or 5, she is competing with Sarah, Sareh, Ice, Jana, maybe CD, maybe Morgan and Gandy.

3. I would hope that she stays healthy, earns minutes when she can, gets rid of the remaining rust and commits herself to at least one more year after this.

4. Of course, it would not surprise me if she earned regular rotation minutes. She has that much ability.

 

[Bone Dog]

The problem is, it is a crowded position. If she plays the 4 or 5, she is competing with Sarah, Sareh, Ice, Jana, maybe CD, maybe Morgan and Gandy.

I wonder how crowded it really is. There are quite a few 6’2” players. But they aren’t all equally power forwards, which is exactly what Ayanna is. Sarah seems like she is the primary competition along with Ice. Blanca and Morgan could cover the 4 in a pinch, but they look more like wings to me. Serah could play the 4, but I doubt we’ll see her spend much (if any) minutes not at the 5. And Gandy is not likely ever to play anything other than the 5. Jana too.

I realize these position numbers don’t exactly fit UConn. But if I can translate to something more suitable, Geno will play Ice and Ayanna in the frontcourt when he wants a big strong player to support Serah or Sarah. They can supply muscle and strength, rebounding and defense, rock solid screens. What they won’t provide and several other players can is abundant offense. They will function more or less like Kiah Stokes did in her time. So, their minutes will be situational. And of the two, Ayanna is quicker and runs the floor better than Ice.

Morgan and Blanca and Carol will be competing for a different category of minutes. We could call it the 3, or we could describe it situationally. When Geno needs scrappy perimeter defense, a feisty long armed player to anchor the press at midcourt, or sudden offense, slashing to the rim and double teaming opposing bigs, he will send one of them in. Of the three, Carol may be the savviest, Blanca may be the most talented at the present moment, and Morgan at her best has really dependable ball handling skills and knows how to scrap for the ball in the paint. I suspect this season Blanca will mostly win this competition.

In the end, though, I expect the February starting 6 to be KK Azzi Ash Blanca Sarah and Serah. Of the 200 minutes available, this group will probably take up somewhat more than 120. The minutes up for grabs among Ayanna Carol Ice Kayleigh Morgan Allie Kelis Gandy amounts to something around 75, five or take. I have a feeling Gandy and Kelis will see the least out of this group, but not nothing.

 

[victor64]

I wonder how crowded it really is. There are quite a few 6’2” players. But they aren’t all equally power forwards, which is exactly what Ayanna is. Sarah seems like she is the primary competition along with Ice. Blanca and Morgan could cover the 4 in a pinch, but they look more like wings to me. Serah could play the 4, but I doubt we’ll see her spend much (if any) minutes not at the 5. And Gandy is not likely ever to play anything other than the 5. Jana too.

I realize these position numbers don’t exactly fit UConn. But if I can translate to something more suitable, Geno will play Ice and Ayanna in the frontcourt when he wants a big strong player to support Serah or Sarah. They can supply muscle and strength, rebounding and defense, rock solid screens. What they won’t provide and several other players can is abundant offense. They will function more or less like Kiah Stokes did in her time. So, their minutes will be situational. And of the two, Ayanna is quicker and runs the floor better than Ice.

Morgan and Blanca and Carol will be competing for a different category of minutes. We could call it the 3, or we could describe it situationally. When Geno needs scrappy perimeter defense, a feisty long armed player to anchor the press at midcourt, or sudden offense, slashing to the rim and double teaming opposing bigs, he will send one of them in. Of the three, Carol may be the savviest, Blanca may be the most talented at the present moment, and Morgan at her best has really dependable ball handling skills and knows how to scrap for the ball in the paint. I suspect this season Blanca will mostly win this competition.

In the end, though, I expect the February starting 6 to be KK Azzi Ash Blanca Sarah and Serah. Of the 200 minutes available, this group will probably take up somewhat more than 120. The minutes up for grabs among Ayanna Carol Ice Kayleigh Morgan Allie Kelis Gandy amounts to something around 75, five or take. I have a feeling Gandy and Kelis will see the least out of this group, but not nothing.

You detailed the situation perfectly. However, we come to the same conclusion. No matter how healthy she is, significant minutes, barring injuries, will be tough to come by. Possible because of her skills and physique but no matter what, it will take time to re earn Geno's trust.

 

[JellyBean]

Very excited for Ayanna.