Year 2 for Allie coming up | The Boneyard

Year 2 for Allie coming up

Allie was the seventh ranked recruit in the 2024 class.
With her limited time, she showed a pure outside stroke.
Maybe her minutes were limited because really good players were ahead of her. Maybe she is a step slow defensively. I am not questioning whether she should have played more because we aren't privy to the staff's reasons.

In this age of the portal, she could have bolted and would have received interest from a wide range of suitors.

She stayed. The guard room is crowded so the competition for time will still be there.

I, for one, am cheering for the sophomore leap and she earns the minutes and has a great career at UConn.
 
Like @victor64, I have fairly high expectations for Allie. I think she comes to campus stronger, faster, fitter, and ready to have a great season. I expect a noticeable sophomore leap for her. She wasn't just #7 per HG. she was #9 per ASGR. and #2 per Blue Star.

I really hope she is the real deal and shows us why she was rated so highly by numerous services.
 
As you mentioned a crowded backcourt. Sadly, unless there is serious foul trouble Allie won’t see major minutes. What does help her is that UConn plays in the Big East where most games are blowouts. So playing time is available. With Azzi leaving that shooting guard slot will have minutes. Ashlynn will start however. Best wishes Allie…
 
ConnMotors said:
As you mentioned a crowded backcourt. Sadly, unless there is serious foul trouble Allie won’t see major minutes. What does help her is that UConn plays in the Big East where most games are blowouts. So playing time is available. With Azzi leaving that shooting guard slot will have minutes. Ashlynn will start however. Best wishes Allie…
Expand ...
Kind of bleak but I don't see it. If she puts in the serious work over the summer, she can be a giant asset for the team with her 3 ball. Yes, work on her speed, defense, and drive moves with and without pull ups. She has all of those shots by the way. Just a question of desire and sweat. This goes back to all of these predictions about Geno's 7-8 player team. Geno will coach the team he has. If it's 8 it's 8, if it's 10 it's 10. The only ones that are blowout minutes likely are Gandy and Kelis at this point due to their age and experience. Expect a lot of substitutions this year and a lot of pressing. I think a lot of Allie's fate is up to her, same for Morgan and Ayanna as well.
 
Allie’s main competition is Morgan. They’re both big guards who aren’t super quick and this shows on the defensive end. Morgan showed more on defense sooner than Allie last season and that got her playing time. But Allie is a more talented offensive player and not just as a spot-up shooter. She can put the ball on the floor and take it to the rim. This is something Morgan hasn’t shown any consistency in.
 
.-.
Allie should be able to get some minutes out there this season. A lot will depend on what she is working on over the summer. Whatever part of her game the coaching staff told her she needed to work on during the offseason will be the sign. Hopefully she comes into the summer workouts with a chip on her shoulder and take a spot.
 
victor64 said:
Allie was the seventh ranked recruit in the 2024 class.
With her limited time, she showed a pure outside stroke.
Maybe her minutes were limited because really good players were ahead of her. Maybe she is a step slow defensively. I am not questioning whether she should have played more because we aren't privy to the staff's reasons.

In this age of the portal, she could have bolted and would have received interest from a wide range of suitors.

She stayed. The guard room is crowded so the competition for time will still be there.

I, for one, am cheering for the sophomore leap and she earns the minutes and has a great career at UConn.
Expand ...
If she steps up for this team, then we will really be something. Like the old days.
 
HuskyNan said:
Expand ...

Realtor Expect More GIF by Katrina & The Team
 
One of my (many) favorites. I’m hoping she comes back in top shape and forces Geno to play her. I watched a lot of her games in HS and she can flat out light it up! Not just from three either. She can drive and finsh with the best of them and has a solid midrange game as well. As for defense, yes she may have struggled, though I didn’t see any major issues but I know her HS coach said that after he asked her to take on more of a defensive role, she worked hard and ended up being their best defensive player. He said she would take the opponent’s best player every game. I realize that’s no gurantee as to her potential in college but it does say that she is willing to work on that aspect of her game. I think we’re gonna see a leaner, tougher Allie next season and it would not surprise me in the least for her to be a star here before it’s all over.
 
ConnMotors said:
As you mentioned a crowded backcourt. Sadly, unless there is serious foul trouble Allie won’t see major minutes. What does help her is that UConn plays in the Big East where most games are blowouts. So playing time is available. With Azzi leaving that shooting guard slot will have minutes. Ashlynn will start however. Best wishes Allie…
Expand ...
Don't believe Ashlynn will be starting anytime.
 
.-.
ConnMotors said:
As you mentioned a crowded backcourt. Sadly, unless there is serious foul trouble Allie won’t see major minutes. What does help her is that UConn plays in the Big East where most games are blowouts. So playing time is available. With Azzi leaving that shooting guard slot will have minutes. Ashlynn will start however. Best wishes Allie…
Expand ...
Allie knocks down shots at a rate she and capable of (she is as good of a shooter as anyone) and plays defense, she is playing.
 
Key for any player not in the UConn starting 5 - and who wants to play more than in the garbage minutes - is to do what Geno is looking for: someone who can quickly impact the game. IMO from watching too many games he likes scorers (who doesn't?) but he looks mostly for players like KK and Ashlyn who can score if and when needed but who play with an especially aggressive, disruptive defense. Allie may be a great shooter but in game time situations whenever she is called upon she needs to produce quickly for whatever Geno is looking for at that particular time and do it consistently to get time on the floor.

Hopefully, she will have worked hard in the off season to not only hone her excellent shooting mechanics but also get stronger, increase her floor speed and improve her defensive skills. We all want to see a better, stronger Allie come November.
 
ConnMotors said:
As you mentioned a crowded backcourt. Sadly, unless there is serious foul trouble Allie won’t see major minutes. What does help her is that UConn plays in the Big East where most games are blowouts. So playing time is available. With Azzi leaving that shooting guard slot will have minutes. Ashlynn will start however. Best wishes Allie…
Expand ...
As the old saying goes, there will always be playing time for a great shooter and she's still the best or second-best three-point shooter on the team.......from what we know Allie hits as many shots in practice as any other player on the team but that hasn't translated in her actual game results.......I agree that the skills are there.......she needs to get into better game shape and work on the mental part of her game......
 
Tough to judge Allie who got a late start due to early injury. I would fully expect her play much more significant role this season.
 
Allie is a good perimeter shooter and she seems to be crafty. I’m not crazy about her shot mechanics, which resemble Carol’s in having a low release point. And like Carol she can score effectively at the rim and in the paint, which is key for big guards who aren’t super quick. Also like Carol, she knows how to get a smaller guard on her hip and drive on them. They both need to make up in smarts and anticipation what they lack in foot speed. This is one of the things Ash brings too. I’m not sure Allie can replicate Ash’s relentless defensive intensity. But something like it is a clear path to greater playing time for Allie.

Also, worth mentioning that Allie doesn’t miss layups. This means she can succeed in the screen and back cut game. If she earns minutes through her defense, Geno will run plays for her on offense.

I suspect Allie is smart enough to be patient at UConn. She was always the go-to player in high school. At this level, her talents are more niche, so she has to find new ways to make herself indispensable. This would be true on whatever top-20 team she finds herself on and she might as well figure it out here while she earns another ring or two. Even if she doesn’t get huge minutes next season I suspect she’ll see it as a good investment of her time and energy. The minutes will come.
 
.-.
All she needs to do is get in better shape, do some speed and agility drills, and work on footwork drills ( study film of Jalen Brunson) to become more than just a spot-up shooter from the corner or wing. She needs to learn how to shoot pull-up jumpers and attack closeouts while finishing at the rim or jumpers/floaters in the lane. He should study Azzi's game, who was known as a shooter when she came to UConn, but is not a shooter or scorer. Hopefully, she's working on those skill sets this summer.
 
No disrespect to all the numerous experts here on the BY, but we don't know squat about what will happen next season. Any player on UCONN may or may not be the next coming. Allie may outshine many next year, it's then up to Gramps to decide what minutes one of the Nation's premiere shooters gets. Allie has the goods, if she regains her confidence, it will be fun to watch what she can accomplish. I understand that it's the BY's job to decide early who accomplishes what in the next season, minutes, scoring etc. Fun to go back and see how we faired compared to actuality. One thing is clear from this thread, the BY is invested in Allie, and all Husky fans here want the best for the team, if that means Allie gets rotation minutes, we will champion her, if she doesn't get rotation minutes, she we will still have our support. Bombs away Allie.
 
I think at least this year Allie's best path to getting minutes is more at the 3 than the 2. I know she is thought of mostly as a 2, but she has the size and quite a bit of strength for the 3. If she is a little slow, that might be a better position for her defensively as well.

One problem with that is she didn't really rebound well, for a 2 much less a 3, so that seems to be a significant downside to playing her at the 3, but otherwise I think she could play there.

The competition at the 2 is brutal with Azzi, and Ashlynn, and Kaleigh as well. The 3 spot has top contenders too, but far less proven performers, and more uncertainty, leaving the door a little bit open for someone like Allie.
 
imho
AZ first has to first prove that she can play at the high level it takes to get meaningful minutes at Uconn
if that happens then playing time will take care of itself
 
HuskyNan said:
Expand ...

We all feel the same. She is an immense talent, held back only by her own tendency not to be the star. But to defer that glory to a teammate ( or several). Per coach, " it is all in her hands. She can be what she wants to be. " There is no doubt she is a UCONN player.
 
Galaxyshooter said:
All she needs to do is get in better shape, do some speed and agility drills, and work on footwork drills ( study film of Jalen Brunson) to become more than just a spot-up shooter from the corner or wing. She needs to learn how to shoot pull-up jumpers and attack closeouts while finishing at the rim or jumpers/floaters in the lane. He should study Azzi's game, who was known as a shooter when she came to UConn, but is not a shooter or scorer. Hopefully, she's working on those skill sets this summer.
Expand ...
If you go back and look at her high school highlights, you'll see that she's got a very well-rounded offensive game.......she's not just a three point jump shooter.......we still don't know how effective she can be based on the small sample size.....I view her as Azzi insurance because she will be the best three-point shooter on the team if Azzi gets injured
 
.-.
If you go back to las year and watch the early games Geno brought Allie in before others. (Morgan was hurt). Geno just wanted her to hit those threes -- just like in practice. Geno gave her 3-4 games to lite it up. College is different than HS. She did not shoot well. Geno thought she could be another Azzi off the bench. The shots did not fall. She had her opportunity to play more. When Morgan was healthy she got her opportunity and had some production--more than Allie. Hopefully Allie can be confident enough to produce at game time.
 
Cuango said:
One of my (many) favorites. I’m hoping she comes back in top shape and forces Geno to play her. I watched a lot of her games in HS and she can flat out light it up! Not just from three either. She can drive and finsh with the best of them and has a solid midrange game as well. As for defense, yes she may have struggled, though I didn’t see any major issues but I know her HS coach said that after he asked her to take on more of a defensive role, she worked hard and ended up being their best defensive player. He said she would take the opponent’s best player every game. I realize that’s no gurantee as to her potential in college but it does say that she is willing to work on that aspect of her game. I think we’re gonna see a leaner, tougher Allie next season and it would not surprise me in the least for her to be a star here before it’s all over.
Expand ...
I noticed, in her limited time, that she was able to drive to the basket and finish with her left hand. Just because she didn't get a lot of opportunities to show that, doesn't mean she can't.
 
PhillyCoach said:
If you go back to las year and watch the early games Geno brought Allie in before others. (Morgan was hurt). Geno just wanted her to hit those threes -- just like in practice. Geno gave her 3-4 games to lite it up. College is different than HS. She did not shoot well. Geno thought she could be another Azzi off the bench. The shots did not fall. She had her opportunity to play more. When Morgan was healthy she got her opportunity and had some production--more than Allie. Hopefully Allie can be confident enough to produce at game time.
Expand ...
This post is overly harsh. In the first four games of the year, Ali attempted nine three-pointers. She made three of them. In those four games, she played a low of three minutes (North Carolina) and a high of 15. I don’t think that’s being given a chance to “light it up”. No freshman in their first games, especially at the school like UConn, is going to rule the world unless you are a Sarah or Paige or Maya. Saying that Geno thought she could be another Azzi is a stretch. Azzi was the number one recruit in her class and thought to be the most pure shooter in the game. Allie was the third guard in her own class, behind Cambridge and Swords.

I think that the competition at guard was intense last year and not likely to get better this year. I just hope that she hasn’t become so discouraged that she won’t be able to realize her potential.
 
Charliebball said:
If you go back and look at her high school highlights, you'll see that she's got a very well-rounded offensive game.......she's not just a three point jump shooter.......we still don't know how effective she can be based on the small sample size.....I view her as Azzi insurance because she will be the best three-point shooter on the team if Azzi gets injured
Expand ...
^^^ this. She's Azzi's backup for sure.
 
.-.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,497
Messages
4,578,574
Members
10,489
Latest member
Djw06001


Top Bottom