It's that time again. The "Who starts?" debate.

[Vowelguy]

One reason Geno hasn't tinkered a whole lot with the starting lineup in the past is that he has rarely had
the depth of talent that he has on this team. Apart from Stef and Bria who, as seniors, will likely start every game, I tend to agree with David that he may vary the starters depending on the situation.

So many of our conference opponents will be uncompetitive so that Geno may start people in those games on a message/reward basis depending on who had a good week of practice and who might have been dogging it a bit.

The fact is that, apart from a handful of games, it won't matter a whole bunch who is starting as far as winning the game is concerned (of course it may matter to the kids themselves - which is why the carrot/stick approach might be usefully employed from time to time).

Never had this level of talent?! I beg to differ.

When has Geno ever varied the starting lineup game to game based on the situation?

Dogging it in practice?! If any starter is dogging it in practice, then we've got problems. It's driven into players the day that they set foot on campus that that is not allowed. It only happens with Frosh who havent learned yet and upperclassmen who are not the top players.

This team should have the best starting 5, by far, in the country. But the bench is very short. And it includes a player who has yet to turn the corner (Stokes) and a frosh. Given that 2 much more highly rated frosh didn't do a lot for 80% of last season, I'm not placing any bets on Chong accomplishing much right out of the box.
There will be ample game minutes to distribute. But not starting positions.

 

[DriveLH]

Stef and Stewie, interchangeable high and low. Stewie and KML, pick your 3 point poison. MoJeff and Bria, with Bria as the off guard. Tuck comes in for Stef, Stewie , or KML. She does need to shoot better. Stokes for either Stewie or Stef, no defensive problem but will need to score. Brianna, if she is healthy, will be the first backcourt player early in the season. Later on, who knows?

 

[Icebear]

I think Brianna Turner is a better 3 point shooter than Moriah and should start if healthy and back to form.

What!?!

 

[Vowelguy]

I think Brianna Turner is a better 3 point shooter than Moriah and should start if healthy and back to form.

I saw Brianna Turner playing a pickup game on campus with Stephanie Tuck, Moriah Hartley, and Kaleena Jefferson. ESPN's Mike Patrick was doing play-by-play.

 

[Zorro]

Give him a break. He meant Banks. Turner was a typo.

 

[reno tony]

The starting line will change by the end of the season. I think Geno may start the season out:
1 Bria
2 Brianna
3 KML
4 Breanna
5 Stef

Moriah or Morgan... will be the first off the bench.

All 9 will get plenty of play time. It will be interesting to see what the starting line up is by the end of the season.

I think if Brianna plays like she was when she got hurt, there will be a great battle between her and Moriah for the point. As much as I like Morgan, I hope Kiah really turns it on this year and gives her a run for the first big off the bench. I truly believe some of the best women's basketball will be played during the UCONN practices.

 

[vtcwbuff]

IMO Stewart earned a starting job.

Dolson
Mosqueda-Lewis
Hartley
Stewart
Banks/Jefferson

Banks if she's good to go, Jefferson if Banks needs more time.
Tuck as the 6th man
My big question mark - Stokes. If she "gets it" the way Banks figured it out last year then it's "Katie bar the door" 'cause UConn will be hard to stop.

 

[Zorro]

By first sub time, we should generally be ahead by 15+. I don't think it will make an iota of difference who starts. Or even a smidgeon. We could prolly start Watergirl and be up by 20 after 10. This going to be a season of just sitting back and enjoying the artistry, mojo be hanged.

 

[Sonny44]

There is not an editorial writer alive who doesn't have a pet issue to dust off about every six months and reiterate on his/her op-ed page or similar forum.

Similarly, Boneyard posters are perpetually afflicted by an irresistible compulsion to help Geno coach (but invariably following up their unappreciated and unwelcome advice with what I call the Poster's Disclaimer: "Just sayin.'"

Elsewhere, the Boneyard consensus seems to be that the UConn starting lineup will be Moriah (1), Bria (2), Kaleena (3), and Stef (5), and then Stewie, presumably the 4.

Which would logically establish Morgan as first off the bench ("sixth 'man'").

But wait just a minute!

The concept of having a really really good player to come off the bench and energize the team was created by Red Auerbach andthe first player to fulfill this role was Frank Ramsey. John Havlicek was the legendary -- some say immortal -- "sixth man." (How good was he in this role? Eight NC rings and 26,395 points good.) But I digress.

Aside from skill and stamina, what distinguished Hondo was that he could play two positions at an all-star level (btw, 13 NBA All-Star appearances).

For just a moment, let's think like Red as we consider our "sixth man" and rule out anyone on the UConn roster who is limited to one position. May I suggest that would realistically omit Stef (5), Moriah (1) and Morgan (4) from this equation. Still under consideration are Bria (1, 2), Kaleena (2, 3) and Stewie (take any number(s) you want).

Surely you know where I am going with this. Start Morgan (4), bring Stewie in at first time out to create the mother of all match-up problems and wreak havoc. Replace any starter with a cold hand, two fouls or a hangnail.

I nominate Stewie for "UConn Sixth Man." Another Havlicek.

Breanna not starting? Insane!

 

[MarlboroughMike]

My pedestrian experience with organized ball, leads me to think the 6th man offers a great psychological advantage. In my experience, when the other team subbed in, it was always a relief - it's going to get easier. To have someone like Stewart coming in as the 6th, and thus upgrading the talent level, it can be depressing to the opposition.

I like the idea, but think it should be taken up a notch. Starters: 1-Mojeff 2-Saniya 3-Brianna 4-Morgan 5-Kiah. At the first timeout, send in KLM, Breanna, Stef and Bria, keeping Morgan at the 4. It would create a huge psychological advantage and a psychological shock so great that the opposing team would fall to the floor, unable to get up. We would thus win by forfeit, thus saving potential injuries with the added benefit of being fresh for the tournament. (Actually I was a big Havlicek fan.) The above designated starters most likely win the AAC.

 

[Kibitzer]

Breanna not starting? Insane!

OK, so I am crazy and those who would start the game (start, not finish!) with Moriah, Bria, Morgan, Stef or Kaleena on the bench are the smart/sane experts?

I made my case. Make yours.

 

[Icebear]

My case: anyone jumping out of planes into war zones is at least partially insane. Oh, sorry, Kib, you meant the case for who starts. Thanks as always for service insane or not.

 

[Waquoit]

OK, so I am crazy and those who would start the game (start, not finish!) with Moriah, Bria, Morgan, Stef or Kaleena on the bench are the smart/sane experts?

I made my case. Make yours.

What is gained by having the best player in the country on the bench to start the game? I say nothing. The starting line-up is cut and dried. No reason to get cute or overcoach. You do realize that Havlicek was a 6th man over 40 years ago. The "6th man" thing was basically a sell job by Red to help preserve team chemistry. The vets had already won many rings by the time Hondo joined the team. Though Havlicek was good enough to start, the team he joined was winning every year. Why should a incumbent starter lose his job off a title? Once the Celts old guard moved on Hondo was a starter. Your plan is a reverse Hondo. You want the veteran player with a ring to sit. For no real benefit. How many games will this team need a spark of the bench, really?

 

[Kibitzer]

What is gained by having the best player in the country on the bench to start the game? I say nothing. The starting line-up is cut and dried. No reason to get cute or overcoach. You do realize that Havlicek was a 6th man over 40 years ago. The "6th man" thing was basically a sell job by Red to help preserve team chemistry. The vets had already won many rings by the time Hondo joined the team. Though Havlicek was good enough to start, the team he joined was winning every year. Why should a incumbent starter lose his job off a title? Once the Celts old guard moved on Hondo was a starter. Your plan is a reverse Hondo. You want the veteran player with a ring to sit. For no real benefit. How many games will this team need a spark of the bench, really?

We may not agree ("The vets had already won many rings by the time Hondo joined the team" and "The '6th Man' thing was basically a sell job by Red...." ) but I commend you for an otherwise solid argument to shoot me down. And I thank you for helping to stimulate this off-season discussion.

 

[Bestiarius]

I like the idea, but think it should be taken up a notch. Starters: 1-Mojeff 2-Saniya 3-Brianna 4-Morgan 5-Kiah. At the first timeout, send in KLM, Breanna, Stef and Bria, keeping Morgan at the 4. It would create a huge psychological advantage and a psychological shock so great that the opposing team would fall to the floor, unable to get up. We would thus win by forfeit, thus saving potential injuries with the added benefit of being fresh for the tournament. (Actually I was a big Havlicek fan.) The above designated starters most likely win the AAC.

And we'll set a new record as the only team to ever have a bench player make all-american, maybe 3 or 4 bench player AA's.

 

[Geno-ista]

Original as ever, I too commend Kib's imaginative proposal.

Hu will join me in supporting this wily tactic?

Tuck can play the 3 or 4.

DD- u think she could play the 3 effectively? She has a quick first step, she can pull up or drain a three(which I think she will do more of this season) she seams like a better 4/5 to me than a 3/4. Having said that, she is my personal favorite, And I think she can do almost anything !

 

[Geno-ista]

Love it. In watching the final four games over and over, I was amazed how often Geno played KML at the 2 with Dolson, Stewart and Tuck and Hartley at the point. And how effective they were.

I don't believe we have seen a healthy Dolson and a confident Stewart in the game at the same time.

This team has so much potential to be so good- it is scary- Scary!!! I can't wait for Stanford game. We will double them up!!!

 

[Geno-ista]

Geno has lots of options.... Regular = MoJeff, Hartley, KML, Stewie and Stef. Big = Hartley, KML, Stokes, Stewie and Stef. Fast = MoJeff, Hartley, Banks, KML and Stewie. No Seniors = MoJeff, Banks, KML, Tuck and Stewie. Really Big = KML, Stewie, Tuck, Stokes and Stef. Really Fast = MoJeff, Banks, Chong, KML and Stewie. You get the point.......

And anyone of those starting fives could win NC! If Banks still has most of her explosiveness by the spring! U r right- opposing teams have a match up nightmare!

 

[Geno-ista]

We may not agree ("The vets had already won many rings by the time Hondo joined the team" and "The '6th Man' thing was basically a sell job by Red...." ) but I commend you for an otherwise solid argument to shoot me down. And I thank you for helping to stimulate this off-season discussion.

Kibitzers- thought provoking- and not totally out of the question. Heck- if Banks , when ready, has her quickness and lightning fast first step, she could possibly become that person also. Stewie may not be out of the question!

 

[TroyHouse66]

Are you forgetting Red Auerbach's reserve secret weapon... Red's- 7th man off the bench concept?
Will we assume 'Becca Pope would be in the "Jungle Jim" Luscutoff role... (was that called "the 7th man" or just termed a "defensive tackle")

 

[Vowelguy]

There is a higher probability that I will start than there is that Stewart won't.

 

[meyers7]

As for Bird, for all his greatness, he was neither as durable nor as versatile as Havlicek.

Talent wise though, Bird was light years ahead Havlicek.

 

[Icebear]

Talent wise though, Bird was light years ahead Havlicek.

Yeah, she would kick his butt.

 

[meyers7]

My pedestrian experience with organized ball, leads me to think the 6th man offers a great psychological advantage. In my experience, when the other team subbed in, it was always a relief - it's going to get easier. To have someone like Stewart coming in as the 6th, and thus upgrading the talent level, it can be depressing to the opposition.

I think in general, the opposition is going to be depressed before the first sub comes in anyway. I doubt for most games we are going to need a 6th man spark off the bench.

Jefferson, Hartley, KML, Stewart and Dolson start. Tuck, Stokes, Banks, Chong get subbed in whenever Geno feels like it. He won't have need to do the quick sub (16 minute mark) for Doty this year either.

It will be interesting to see all the different combinations on the floor this year.

 

[meyers7]

Give him a break. He meant Banks. Turner was a typo.

Yea, I can see where one might get the letters B-A-N-K-S mixed up into T-U-R-N-E-R.