Break up the Huskies

[huskyd]

In acknowledgement of the depth of talent on this year's UConn women's roster, I'd like to create two complete teams, either of which could win all or most of the games on the current schedule.
On the Blue team, I put Mo and Kia at guard; on the White team, Chong and Lou; I put Butler on the Blue team and Stewart on the White; I put Morgan on the White team, and Collier on the Blue; and I put Gabby on the Blue, and DJ on the White. In my humble opinion, these are two fairly balanced teams, though we aren't going to see them used as I propose. This is, after all, make-believe.
Perhaps Geno could use my two teams the way hockey subs in entire lines. Not going to happen. What will happen is that Butler will play with the "regulars" when the Huskies go half-court; Lou will replace Butler in an up-tempo game. The others will sub in.
Probably suggesting that either my Blue team or my White team could beat anyone else in the country is the height of arrogance. What, me worry?

 

[CocoHusky]

Make believe indeed!
Courtney?????????????????????
Brianna???
Tierney Lawlor?????????
All spectators????????

 

[EricLA]

Break up the Huskies? In a word, NO!

So you have Moriah, Kia, Collier, Butler, Gabby

And on the other team Saniya, KLS, Morgan, Stewie, DJB

I actually think either of those teams by themselves would probably lose to ND and SC (and maybe a few other top teams). Who do you have coming off the bench? Neither team can play for 40 minutes so if all you have is Ekmark, Lawler and Pulido, I would say they'd not be able to get past the very best teams in WCBB...

Having said that, it's amazing just how much talent this team has - this year, and moving forward. I would say that in spite of adding Dangerfield, UCONN will NOT be the favorite to win the NC next year. They have a phenomenal core in Nurse, Collier, KLS, and Tuck, but a lot will depend on how well they recruit in 2017. I think next year we make the final 4 (and maybe make it to the NC game) but don't win the NC. the following year, if we add Walker and a few others from 2017, I'd say we will be close to the top again. We will see tho!!

 

[CocoHusky]

I would say that in spite of adding Dangerfield, UCONN will NOT be the favorite to win the NC next year.

I would disagree primarily because I think Dangerfield will be special right away. Cox to ND could put ND in drivers seat for a NC. Tuck leaving early is the only other thing that could take UCONN out of the drivers seat to NC IMO.

 

[donalddoowop]

Why is there so LITTLE confidence in what Courtney will contribute? If she has recovered from her injury, and regained her shooting touch, she will be a mainstay in the 2016/2017 season. She was recruited for her three point accuracy and I believe she has worked hard on her overall game, based on a Geno comment, and will be a big contributor,
imo.

 

[UcMiami]

On the hockey line thought - Geno has done that a bit with team USA and this is the first team at uconn in a while with the depth to actually think along those lines. I could see him doing a bit of that, trying to build chemistry for next year - sitting Moriah and Breanna and maybe Morgan at the same time mid-game and letting Kia work with the younger players.

 

[JoePgh]

On this general theme, let's think about another alternative, which is a real 1st team and a real 2nd team with no expectation that they will be evenly matched. If I were guessing, I would do it this way:

1st team:

C / PF -- Stewart, Tuck (Stewie the defensive center; Tuck the offensive center; just like last year)
W -- Collier
SG -- Nurse
PG -- Jefferson

2nd team:

C -- Butler
PF -- Boykin
W -- G. Williams
SG -- Samuelson
PG -- Chong

Ekmark -- sub at the W and SG positions
Lawlor / Pulido -- play in practice and during garbage time (of which there will be a lot)

Now, take it one step further: Imagine that for a number of AAC games (certainly not USF), Geno actually starts the 2nd team above in about half of those games, and brings the first team off the bench. Against Colgate (for Stewie's homecoming), the 2nd team starts but with Stewie replacing DJB as PF.

In games that are expected to be competitive, and in about 50% of the remaining games, the real 1st team starts and the 2nd team comes off the bench, but plays as a unit as much as possible.

It would be completely different from anything that Geno has ever done, but it might be the best way to get everyone a reasonable level of playing time consistent with their skills.

 

[huskyd]

Make believe indeed!
Courtney?????????????????????
Brianna???
Tierney Lawlor?????????
All spectators????????

Stewart's on my White team, Coco. I wasn't factoring in subs; this is just fantasy awaiting reality.

 

[EricLA]

I would disagree primarily because I think Dangerfield will be special right away. Cox to ND could put ND in drivers seat for a NC. Tuck leaving early is the only other thing that could take UCONN out of the drivers seat to NC IMO.

Fair enough. I think UCONN will still be in the mix, but this year and the past 2-3 years, UCONN was the overwhelming favorite (in spite of some crazies who put SC as #1 last year)...

To your point, losing Stewie and Moriah will be HUGE for UCONN. No way can freshman Crystal do what Moriah will do this year. Senior Tuck and hopefully big jumps for the 3 fabulous freshmen will help ease the loss of Stewie, but I bet at least early on we aren't the #1 team... Plenty of time to see tho!

 

[huskyd]

Why is there so LITTLE confidence in what Courtney will contribute? If she has recovered from her injury, and regained her shooting touch, she will be a mainstay in the 2016/2017 season. She was recruited for her three point accuracy and I believe she has worked hard on her overall game, based on a Geno comment, and will be a big contributor,
imo.

I really like Courtney: fine, clean cut, good character young lady. BUT she, sadly, can't run, and those "ifs" you came up with (especially the one about shooting touch) are BIG. Chong came in to add points; she's still searching for her shot.

 

[huskyd]

Fair enough. I think UCONN will still be in the mix, but this year and the past 2-3 years, UCONN was the overwhelming favorite (in spite of some crazies who put SC as #1 last year)...

Also, Eric, Butler will be back next year. Add her to your core, and you have a team much like the one with Dolson at its heart.

 

[huskyd]

On this general theme, let's think about another alternative, which is a real 1st team and a real 2nd team with no expectation that they will be evenly matched. If I were guessing, I would do it this way:

1st team:

C / PF -- Stewart, Tuck (Stewie the defensive center; Tuck the offensive center; just like last year)
W -- Collier
SG -- Nurse
PG -- Jefferson

2nd team:

C -- Butler
PF -- Boykin
W -- G. Williams
SG -- Samuelson
PG -- Chong

Ekmark -- sub at the W and SG positions
Lawlor / Pulido -- play in practice and during garbage time (of which there will be a lot)

Now, take it one step further: Imagine that for a number of AAC games (certainly not USF), Geno actually starts the 2nd team above in about half of those games, and brings the first team off the bench. Against Colgate (for Stewie's homecoming), the 2nd team starts but with Stewie replacing DJB as PF.

In games that are expected to be competitive, and in about 50% of the remaining games, the real 1st team starts and the 2nd team comes off the bench, but plays as a unit as much as possible.

It would be completely different from anything that Geno has ever done, but it might be the best way to get everyone a reasonable level of playing time consistent with their skills.

Any combo is possible, Joe. What your first team doesn't do is to replace KML's points. Among the freshmen and folks on the bench, only Lou has the chance to do that. I think that KLS is your best shot on the wing. But I like that you're thinking about multiple teams in different situations.

 

[Boreifs]

Lots of speculation about Morgan Tuck leaving or staying after this season, and as far as I can tell none about Kia Nurse being able to leave after her junior year. I know she loves UConn, but the priority in her life is the Canadian National Team. As great an experience as UConn is, she would learn much more about the international game playing that final season in Europe and the WNBA. Losing her and Morgan Tuck after the 2017 season will be very, very tough to replace. That's another two all-americans.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Why is there so LITTLE confidence in what Courtney will contribute? If she has recovered from her injury, and regained her shooting touch, she will be a mainstay in the 2016/2017 season. She was recruited for her three point accuracy and I believe she has worked hard on her overall game, based on a Geno comment, and will be a big contributor,
imo.

I wouldn't say there's little confidence in her, but do you see who we have coming in and who is ahead of her? It's a tough spot to be in if you're competing for playing time.

 

[CocoHusky]

Stewart's on my White team, Coco. I wasn't factoring in subs; this is just fantasy awaiting reality.

Breanna Stewart
Brianna Pulido
Full UCONN roster can be found here to prevent future confusement:
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/conn-w-baskbl-mtt.html

 

[huskyd]

Breanna Stewart
Brianna Pulido
Full UCONN roster can be found here to prevent future confusement:
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/conn-w-baskbl-mtt.html

Thanks for the help here. I'll try to do better in future. Those two are difficult to confuse . . .

 

[CocoHusky]

Fair enough. I think UCONN will still be in the mix, but this year and the past 2-3 years, UCONN was the overwhelming favorite (in spite of some crazies who put SC as #1 last year)...

To your point, losing Stewie and Moriah will be HUGE for UCONN. No way can freshman Crystal do what Moriah will do this year. Senior Tuck and hopefully big jumps for the 3 fabulous freshmen will help ease the loss of Stewie, but I bet at least early on we aren't the #1 team... Plenty of time to see tho!

I agree-mostly. If this season plays out as expected UCONN will have beaten both ND and SC during the '15-'16 regular season and who knows what will happen in tournament. In a post MoJeff and Stewie clearly the gaps narrows but ND will not have a player on the roster that has experienced ANY success against UCONN (Cable & Mabrey? is the last left over from 2013) and South Carolina will be in the same boat (no players with success against UCONN). On the other hand UCONN will have a roster headed by Tuck, Nurse, Gabby, Chong that would have gone into BOTH Columbia and South Bend and won games. Now project a meaningful/Tournament game to a neutral site and I like UCONN's chances as long as Geno is coaching. I think the gap narrows as you said but I think UCONN is still the leader.

 

[CocoHusky]

Lots of speculation about Morgan Tuck leaving or staying after this season, and as far as I can tell none about Kia Nurse being able to leave after her junior year. I know she loves UConn, but the priority in her life is the Canadian National Team. As great an experience as UConn is, she would learn much more about the international game playing that final season in Europe and the WNBA. Losing her and Morgan Tuck after the 2017 season will be very, very tough to replace. That's another two all-americans.

Both the Canadian Men's & Women's national team events ( Olympic, Pan Am games, FIBA Americas etc..) do not conflict with a NCAA schedule. Those same events do conflict with a WNBA schedule. So Kia would be creating a conflict (WNBA) by leaving UCONN early.

 

[watanabe]

Cool concept, but not very realistic. Gotta have wanna-be's for next year or if they step up. It's an intensed competition that leaks greatness out of it's pores. Gotta keep pressure on the top, ALL the TIME. No incentive, no greatness. Basketball is NOT a socialist activity. I dont think???

 

[Boreifs]

Both the Canadian Men's & Women's national team events ( Olympic, Pan Am games, FIBA Americas etc..) do not conflict with a NCAA schedule. Those same events do conflict with a WNBA schedule. So Kia would be creating a conflict (WNBA) by leaving UCONN early.

Achonwa just took a leave from her WNBA team to play for the National team, so it is possible. I was thinking primarily of play in the European leagues, which is much more important for a player's international development than the WNBA. There is no question that Kia would be ready to play in both professional leagues after her junior year unless she suffered a serious injury in the coming 18 months.

 

[jsloanjr]

Good luck to UCONN..........39-0

 

[UcMiami]

Lots of speculation about Morgan Tuck leaving or staying after this season, and as far as I can tell none about Kia Nurse being able to leave after her junior year. I know she loves UConn, but the priority in her life is the Canadian National Team. As great an experience as UConn is, she would learn much more about the international game playing that final season in Europe and the WNBA. Losing her and Morgan Tuck after the 2017 season will be very, very tough to replace. That's another two all-americans.

Replying to you, but there are a lot of people who speculate in similar veins.
I find it strange how many people discount the benefits and fun that can be found in college life and getting a degree. I realize professional athletes have a route to a limited opportunity job that not all undergrads have, but ... it is also a career with a limited future - sometime in 10-15 years it disappears and then there real world takes over. But you talk to most successful people including WNBA players and the four years they spent in college are still remembered as a very special time of great joy.
For Uconn basketball players, they are getting a good education, a great coaching experience with world class coaches and facilities, a very good travel experience, and a stable team environment that they will never experience again. They do not have to seek out the gyms and weight rooms and training partners/coaches/trainers to help expand their skills - they are all provided gratis, as well as their housing and meals, and snacks, and nutritional regimes.
For Kia, she could leave school today and play professionally in Europe and for the Canadian team, but the professional life is much harder, the practice and coaching time is extremely limited and the chance to truly develop her individual and team skills is much less structured - professional play is not too far removed from AAU play where 'practice' and development is not a team priority. Yes, you are getting better competition generally, but the development is more an individual pursuit. For Kia, she will get plenty of international experience while in college during her summers.
For me, college was the most socially active time of my life - you just walked out you door and were engulfed in a myriad of choices of how to spend your leisure time, with thousands of people around you involved in the same general pursuits. Your friends and all their friends all lived within a short walk, and taking a short walk you couldn't miss bumping into numerous people you knew. Any environment I have lived in since college the effort involved in social activity was significantly greater. (Read the story of Bria and Kayla in Europe to get a real sense of the joys of professional life as a basketball player! I am sure it got better and it was a great life experience, but they probably would have traded it for an extra year of college eligibility without a second thought!)

 

[Gus Mahler]

Replying to you, but there are a lot of people who speculate in similar veins.
I find it strange how many people discount the benefits and fun that can be found in college life and getting a degree. I realize professional athletes have a route to a limited opportunity job that not all undergrads have, but ... it is also a career with a limited future - sometime in 10-15 years it disappears and then there real world takes over. But you talk to most successful people including WNBA players and the four years they spent in college are still remembered as a very special time of great joy.
For Uconn basketball players, they are getting a good education, a great coaching experience with world class coaches and facilities, a very good travel experience, and a stable team environment that they will never experience again. They do not have to seek out the gyms and weight rooms and training partners/coaches/trainers to help expand their skills - they are all provided gratis, as well as their housing and meals, and snacks, and nutritional regimes.
For Kia, she could leave school today and play professionally in Europe and for the Canadian team, but the professional life is much harder, the practice and coaching time is extremely limited and the chance to truly develop her individual and team skills is much less structured - professional play is not too far removed from AAU play where 'practice' and development is not a team priority. Yes, you are getting better competition generally, but the development is more an individual pursuit. For Kia, she will get plenty of international experience while in college during her summers.
For me, college was the most socially active time of my life - you just walked out you door and were engulfed in a myriad of choices of how to spend your leisure time, with thousands of people around you involved in the same general pursuits. Your friends and all their friends all lived within a short walk, and taking a short walk you couldn't miss bumping into numerous people you knew. Any environment I have lived in since college the effort involved in social activity was significantly greater. (Read the story of Bria and Kayla in Europe to get a real sense of the joys of professional life as a basketball player! I am sure it got better and it was a great life experience, but they probably would have traded it for an extra year of college eligibility without a second thought!)

I would think the loneliness and isolation would be crushing.

 

[hoophuskee]

I agree-mostly. If this season plays out as expected UCONN will have beaten both ND and SC during the '15-'16 regular season and who knows what will happen in tournament. In a post MoJeff and Stewie clearly the gaps narrows but ND will not have a player on the roster that has experienced ANY success against UCONN (Cable & Mabrey? is the last left over from 2013) and South Carolina will be in the same boat (no players with success against UCONN). On the other hand UCONN will have a roster headed by Tuck, Nurse, Gabby, Chong that would have gone into BOTH Columbia and South Bend and won games. Now project a meaningful/Tournament game to a neutral site and I like UCONN's chances as long as Geno is coaching. I think the gap narrows as you said but I think UCONN is still the leader.

I don't think so. . . -- but I hope you're a lot more right than I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hoophuskee]

Replying to you, but there are a lot of people who speculate in similar veins.
I find it strange how many people discount the benefits and fun that can be found in college life and getting a degree. I realize professional athletes have a route to a limited opportunity job that not all undergrads have, but ... it is also a career with a limited future - sometime in 10-15 years it disappears and then there real world takes over. But you talk to most successful people including WNBA players and the four years they spent in college are still remembered as a very special time of great joy.
For Uconn basketball players, they are getting a good education, a great coaching experience with world class coaches and facilities, a very good travel experience, and a stable team environment that they will never experience again. They do not have to seek out the gyms and weight rooms and training partners/coaches/trainers to help expand their skills - they are all provided gratis, as well as their housing and meals, and snacks, and nutritional regimes.
For Kia, she could leave school today and play professionally in Europe and for the Canadian team, but the professional life is much harder, the practice and coaching time is extremely limited and the chance to truly develop her individual and team skills is much less structured - professional play is not too far removed from AAU play where 'practice' and development is not a team priority. Yes, you are getting better competition generally, but the development is more an individual pursuit. For Kia, she will get plenty of international experience while in college during her summers.
For me, college was the most socially active time of my life - you just walked out you door and were engulfed in a myriad of choices of how to spend your leisure time, with thousands of people around you involved in the same general pursuits. Your friends and all their friends all lived within a short walk, and taking a short walk you couldn't miss bumping into numerous people you knew. Any environment I have lived in since college the effort involved in social activity was significantly greater. (Read the story of Bria and Kayla in Europe to get a real sense of the joys of professional life as a basketball player! I am sure it got better and it was a great life experience, but they probably would have traded it for an extra year of college eligibility without a second thought!)

I get surprised but opposite from you. I loved college- got my degree - and after 4 years I couldn't wait to go out and meet new challenges, and not be stuck in such a small dorm room or tiny apartment - looking to get away from the cheap food- which was several years away after graduation. . Once you get some form of financial security - to have the freedom - I also found to be fun. Found a job I loved and people I loved to work with. Got to travel a lot more.