I think that Nika is a fixture now at PG, because she sets a high pace on O and slows the pace of the opposing PG on D. This should hold true even with a fully healthy Uconn going into next year, i.e. Bueckers and Fudd will be the wings, and Carolyn and Aubry will be swing (at the 3 or 4) as core rotation players, or starters even on go-small lineups. KK may be ready to back-up Muhl at PG, when/if ready but, if not, Paige slides over to PG to when Muhl out. Edwards is a fixture at the 4/5, and Jana, Brady, Patterson, Debarri can figure out who else fills at the 5/4. Shade may be ready sooner than later to grab a few minutes and the other freshman will be more of a development project
Agree with this. I don't think next year's starting lineup is much of a question at all. Nika, Azzi, Paige and Aaliyah are locks to me although many will disagree. That is a tremendous foursome with a good mix of skills. The C or 5 position is the big question mark. I prefer Aaliyah at her natural position, so I don't want to see Ayanna or Aubrey at the 4 and Aaliyah the 5. Those players should be in the mix for Aaliyah's backup minutes.
Hopefully two from Ice, Janna and Amari, can handle the 5 position minutes, probably Ice and Janna. We have talented candidates for there, but of course they are all inexperienced and unproven, so they may not be really good right away.
Aubrey and Caroline should get significant minutes potentially being backup candidates for four positions. They are big enough that in a pinch they could play the 4, although they won't need to if Ayanna settles in as a very good backup 4. They could easily move into the 2 or 3, but of course there will not be many backup minutes there behind Azzi and Paige, and they could also both be candidates to come in for Nika, but they would not play the point, as you mention Paige would just slide over to the point.
I don't see Ashlynn getting rotation minutes unless there are injuries, and as for KK if she is very very good right away, she could get the Nika backup minutes and Paige stays as a wing, but for that scenario to happen you would have to prefer KK being in the game to either Caroline or Aubrey. That is a pretty high bar to achieve playing time for her.
In theory we could have players at the 1-3 positions featuring outstanding traits. Imagine the passing if you combined Nika, Paige and KK. The shooting if it was Paige, Azzi and Caroline. Or the defense if we moved Ayanna to the 3 and paired her with Aubrey and Nika. That would also be an incredible rebounding unit. KK, Paige and Azzi would have three players that could easily create their own shot.
If everybody is healthy there are so many interesting combinations. With Aaliyah looking like an All American at the 4, and presumably Ayanna ready to be a star backup, the 4 spot is more than covered. Even if Ayanna isn't quite where we hope she will be Caroline and Aubrey are small ball options and the bigs we are counting on at the 5 like Ice and Janna could help there if we need more size.
Everything looks loaded, just the uncertainty at the 5, but even there the potential looks good, it is just young and unproven. If someone can be good there, the other positions should be exceptional.
