First off I want to acknowledge the fact that this is only their second game in a very unbalanced season...
Evina - Still like the vibe she brings when she's on the floor and she's involved. She brings good perimeter defense and leadership even if the other aspects aren't there for here in the moment. Her success going forward all comes down to her continuing recovery and what consistency she can find by the time the tournaments begin.
Christyn - Happy to see her go 3-8 from outside. She's obviously super important to the team this year but I still don't see the player I saw her freshman year and I hope that fire hasn't mysteriously gone out. For instance I never thought a lanky freshman Paige (and thats not an insult, I myself fall into that physical category) would make Christyn Williams look timid when going to the basket but thats how I see it...
Olivia - Better game from her, also glad to see her hitting from farther away as well. She'll need to develop a better face up game with the frame she has. She'll never be a banger inside (like someone else is further down the list) but I do think she's showing more and more toughness and resolve when going to the basket. I know she's critiqued for her low post ability but I also just think that isn't really where she'd be best, she has a lot of mobility for her size and length, and Geno says she's a good passer. I think she could actually help to pull defenders (she's often double and triple teamed which when judging her ability to score down low I think should be taken into consideration) away from the low post (opening up channels for cuts and drives) while also suiting her skill set and body type. Doesn't mean she can't post people up in iso. situations but I think she'd be better served getting the ball higher up in the key and facing up or backing her defender down and then looking to pass. Compare that to trying to force the ball in where she gets instantly swarmed by the zone. All that being said I definitely wish her overall finishing ability were a bit better at this point.
Anna - Quiet game from her and I don't have much good or bad to say, but with COVID and it being so early into the "season" I'm not panicking. She's still the teams go to shooter at this point but that's subject to change.
Aubrey - I'm a bit disappointed to see Aubrey being knocked down the depth chart by freshman but it is what it is. I'm not sure where she fits into this team at this point other than a super sub who can rebound and play pretty good defense, there haven't been any flashes of an evolved offensive skill set which worries me a little bit. I still think there's a lot of potential I just hope it gets developed (into a slasher).
Paige - Soooooo Paige is indeed going to take us to the promise land whether thats this year or next I don't know but wow she is impressive. The height she got on that last second drive/and one really stood out to me, she's deceptively athletic a lot like the last great UConn player and yes I am already comparing her to UConn greats.
Aaliyah - She has the kind of physicality where players bounce off of her as if there's energy radiating off her. I don't doubt that she will have a banner with her name on it when her career is said and done. I hope she brings some tough out of Olivia in practice.
Mir - Definitely a hell of a rebounder and seems like a pretty good finisher/defender as well for her experience level. I'm interested to see how her freshman campaign progresses as I have more uncertainty with her than I do with the two above her.
Nika - I'm giving Nika a lot of leeway in terms of her acclimation considering she's from a very different culture to our own, she's a freshman, and she plays one of the more difficult positions to master at UConn. You can tell she's still feeling things out and settling in but once she does I think she'll be a solid piece this season.
Piath - Happy she sunk both her free throws even if one wasn't counted, definitely very very raw in terms of the fundamentals I'm hoping she can be at a good building phase by the start of next season.
Summer - I actually loved watching her the last few minutes she seems like she carries herself very well on and off the court and is just happy to be a part of the program no matter how much she plays.
