Welcome Kaitlyn!

[StarMan]

Kaitlyn Chen will add great depth and dimension to our team. Welcome to UConn, Kaitlyn!

 

[hoophuskee]

Lol this constant fascination and having to have big players it’s hard to understand

It’s about having a really really good players who can play with each other regardless of size

I think many people have basketball PTSD
From the final against South Carolina, where we got completely overwhelmed inside
It wasn’t for a lack of size
Ono at 6:5 Allyah 6;3 and Caroline 6:2
UConn just wasn’t good enough that day
A year later, Iowa beat t basically the same team with the tallest player being 6/3

That being said I Ms Beers decides to come, that would be very significant

IMO its s threefold-- and as a result it impacts the perception of Kaitlyn-

1-- We have some old timers like myself that pre-Bird pre-Magic the NBA was dominated by bigs.
2-- Recency Bias - there hasn't been a super experienced perimeter player with a full team in a long time at UCONN.
3-- The title games South Carolina masked the massive injury issues UCONN had which leads to the misperception/recenly bias.

IMO someone like Kaitlyn could be better than KK and Ashlynn in as much if Azzi is/becomes healthy then UCONN could dominate from the perimeter and not the Iowa way with one player - but with efficient perimeter play.

 

[bantamlaker]

I looked at her stats to see what we can expect:

She shoots well - career 47% and 49% last year. Career 50% on twos and 52% last year. She's not a great 3 point shooter at 29% career and 32% last year. If she can make mid-range shots and lay-ups there are others who can carry the 3 point load.

She had 147 assists last year along with 38 steals.

One more important stat. She averaged 3.5 rebounds per game.
In comparison KK averaged 3.1, Ash 3.5 and Nika 4. We can expect that Kaitlyn will be going after rebounds as those three did,

 

[Bone Dog]

I went back and forth on this, but I've come around to seeing all the positives. She's an incredibly hard nosed player with a ton of pg experience and a good midrange game. If she can pick up the defense -- and why shouldn't she, coming from Carla's program? -- she'll fit right in. It mainly means more competition in practice and that is always a good thing.

Plus, I'm sure Geno cleared this with Coach P.

 

[Fore!]

what is she going to be studying at uconn grad school?

Advanced applied basketball theory

 

[oldude]

Lol this constant fascination and having to have big players it’s hard to understand

It’s about having a really really good players who can play with each other regardless of size

I think many people have basketball PTSD
From the final against South Carolina, where we got completely overwhelmed inside
It wasn’t for a lack of size
Ono at 6:5 Allyah 6;3 and Caroline 6:2
UConn just wasn’t good enough that day
A year later, Iowa beat t basically the same team with the tallest player being 6/3

That being said I Ms Beers decides to come, that would be very significant

UConn has won 11 national championships. During every one of those championships the Huskies have started at least one player, typically an AA, who was 6’4” or greater. On several teams, UConn had multiple BIGS: Rebecca/Kara, Stef & Stewie, etc.

I still remember watching Geno sub in Kiah Stokes to play with Stef & Stewie. Opposing teams struggled to get off a shot within 15’ of the basket or come close to getting a rebound. While size is not everything, having talented Bigs on the court can be a significant edge.

 

[Biff]

I knew something was up when she started following me on Instagram.

Who? Maggie or Kaitlyn

 

[Zarathustra]

what is she going to be studying at uconn grad school?

Basketball and something else, I forget.... a double major!

 

[hoopsdiva]

Basketball and something else, I forget.... a double major!

I think her major at Princeton was Medical Anthropology.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Advanced applied basketball theory

when someone actually finds out what she plans to study at UConn, maybe they can post it. UConn doesn't have advanced degrees in leadership (business or public administration are different) nor does it give degrees in medical anthropology.

 

[Staven]

Wonderful addition despite the number of guards UConn currently has. I'm sure Kaitlyn is smart enough (Wink! Wink! Princeton) to know she will have a place on this team being that she brings a wealth of experience. Besides with all the injuries the past two seasons who wants to take chances.

 

[Longtime fan]

Congrats. Not sure how I feel about it. We have a ton of guards and offense won't be the problem.

But timing could be an issue. I mean; I don't think AZZI is full game ready until February; Caroline is a question mark; Aubrey will be the last of the injured cleared to play, etc. But I agree that getting a BIG is more important. And we all know who I mean.

 

[Bone Dog]

UConn has won 11 national championships. During every one of those championships the Huskies have started at least one player, typically an AA, who was 6’4” or greater. On several teams, UConn had multiple BIGS: Rebecca/Kara, Stef & Stewie, etc.

This feels like it ought to be true, but I don't think it is. Just off the top of my head, the 2002 team was loaded with AAs, but the tallest starter was 6'3" Asjha Jones. I think it was the same with the NC team the following year, with the tallest starter being 6'3". Starting with Tina Charles, I think Geno was rarely without at least one "true big" until Stewie & Co graduated.

Of course, if we were willing to define "big" not just by height, the picture looks a lot different.

 

[Henry]

Welcome, Kaitlyn!

Considering that we don't know if Azzi will be ready to play when the season starts, and, given her injury history, I'm sure the staff will be very careful with her workload.

 

[oldhusky]

UConn has won 11 national championships. During every one of those championships the Huskies have started at least one player, typically an AA, who was 6’4” or greater. On several teams, UConn had multiple BIGS: Rebecca/Kara, Stef & Stewie, etc.

I still remember watching Geno sub in Kiah Stokes to play with Stef & Stewie. Opposing teams struggled to get off a shot within 15’ of the basket or come close to getting a rebound. While size is not everything, having talented Bigs on the court can be a significant edge.

Agree, and still hoping for that big. One thing the exceptional guard depth does, however, is offer an alternative to the traditional two big lineup. Without an addition, I am hoping Jana and Sarah are the real deal at the 5 and 4 respectively, and I think they will be, but both of course are unproven and inexperienced.

My main concern is when those two are not in the game. I am not nearly as confident in Ayanna or Ice, at least based on what they have shown thus far. When Aubrey returns we will have a good bench option at the 4, but if Ayanna and Ice are not getting it done, using Caroline, Morgan, Paige or Q at the 4 is a definite possibility.

We obviously will have some very good guards that will have trouble getting enough playing time, and the bigger ones can be used some upfront if the more traditional big backups are not producing. It's not the best option but a pretty decent one when you remember we played most of the season with Paige as a 4. Ice and Ayanna can get playing time if they produce, but if they don't small ball can return with some pretty good options. I still hope for two good bigs most of the time though.

 

[hoophuskee]

UConn has won 11 national championships. During every one of those championships the Huskies have started at least one player, typically an AA, who was 6’4” or greater. On several teams, UConn had multiple BIGS: Rebecca/Kara, Stef & Stewie, etc.

I still remember watching Geno sub in Kiah Stokes to play with Stef & Stewie. Opposing teams struggled to get off a shot within 15’ of the basket or come close to getting a rebound. While size is not everything, having talented Bigs on the court can be a significant edge.

Who was the player at or over 6'4 during 02-03 and 03-04?

 

[UConnFanMSM]

Welcome Kaitlyn!

 

[maple]

Congrats. Not sure how I feel about it. We have a ton of guards and offense won't be the problem.

Exactly my feelings.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I am amazed. Not that she committed, but we went for her. Oh well, what do I know.

 

[JellyBean]

Welcome to the squad, Ms. Chen!! Super excited to have you on the team. I do like this addition, but we will see how it all plays out but I do like the addition of Ms. Chen. Folks forget the fullcourt press Princeton put on us last year, that darn near won them the game. Guess who sparked that intense fullcourt defense? Yep. Ms. Chen. Kaitlyn's intensity on the defensive end, could. hopefully, encourage Coach G to apply a fullcourt defense. Put some pressure other teams for once.

 

[Zarathustra]

I'm happy to see Kaitlyn join the team. She an experienced point guard that will likely be able to contribute right out of the gate; will take the pressure off Allie and Morgan and let them integrate into the UConn system, which can take time; will let the back court play fast and aggressively without fear of foul trouble or fourth quarter exhaustion; will provide injury insurance.

I looked at her stats to see what we can expect:

She shoots well - career 47% and 49% last year. Career 50% on twos and 52% last year. She's not a great 3 point shooter at 29% career and 32% last year. If she can make mid-range shots and lay-ups there are others who can carry the 3 point load.

She had 147 assists last year along with 38 steals.

Question - she was at Princeton for three years, wky is she a grad transfer with one year of eligibility?

Answer...K. Chen had no more eligibility at Princeton... IVY LEAGUE RULES.

 

[Jim]

Question - she was at Princeton for three years, wky is she a grad transfer with one year of eligibility?

Ivy League does not allow grad students to play. The league also cancelled all winter sports in 2020-2021 due to Covid, so next year could be considered her Covid year.

 

[Dogstar]

I am amazed. Not that she committed, but we went for her. Oh well, what do I know.

I agree, I think that sometimes the portal can be prosperous and sometimes it can be poison.

 

[HuskyNan]

when someone actually finds out what she plans to study at UConn, maybe they can post it. UConn doesn't have advanced degrees in leadership (business or public administration are different) nor does it give degrees in medical anthropology.

It does have a medical school, a top 10 nursing school, the #26 ranked pharmacy school, and the #2 ranked kinesiology school in the country.

UConn Nursing in the Top 10 of National Online Programs - UConn Today

U.S. News & World Report placed the School as No. 8 in online nursing master's programs around the country, moving up 10 spots from last year, and ...

today.uconn.edu

UConn kinesiology department ranks #2 in the US

The University of Connecticut Department of Kinesiology rose in national ranking, placing second in the United States in a recent evaluation of doctoral programs. The National Academy of Kinesiolog…

dailycampus.com

 

[Dynastic]

what is she going to be studying at uconn grad school?

Dune Spice: What the biological and psychological effects will be in the 22nd Century... or did they cut that due to budget constraints?