Three stories

[cwh20]

3)Will there be an allout press for 40 mins

No. With all the depth UConn has Geno could certainly employ this but that is not going to happen. An all out press might be the way to go if depth and speed was their strongest asset by far and they had some deficiencies elsewhere. That’s not the case. Uconn will play the same way they always have.

 

[BBallF]

I agree Kayleigh will play a lot but KK is the team's best on ball defender and, aside from perhaps Kelis, its fastest player, two things Kayleigh Heckel doesn't have over her. I think we will see KK start and then Kayleigh Heckel sub in for her, like KK did for KC, with Kelis getting mop up time in the BE blowouts.

I agree except that I think Kayleigh will play more minutes than KK did last year. One of KK's big drawbacks last year was the lack of a consistent 3 point shot. I watched Kayleigh carefully in the U19 tourney. She is a savvy point who can shoot the 3 and distribute well. She knew what she was doing by coming here.

 

[cferraro04]

I posted this way back...just before we acquired Kayleigh Heckel, so now that we have her...I need to amend the post. Kayleigh's name will be in red bold...to show where I edited the previous post. Otherwise, the post remains unchanged with the same questions at each position as players will compete for the start.

I will approach this differently: Whoever wins these match-ups will be our starting five. My guess would be Serah Williams, Sarah Strong, Caroline Ducharme (if healthy), Azzi Fudd, and KK Arnold. Depending on Geno's need during a game, the first subs will be: Jana at the 5; Blanca at the 4; Ayanna at the 3; Ashlynn at the 2, and Kayleigh Heckel Allie at the 1. Maybe Ice moves over to the 4 (would make sense). Gandy is just plain interesting at 6'6" (big body, and mobile). Morgan Cheli could play the 3, but she was a point guard in high school and would fit better as a 2 in UConn's system. The Allie vs Kelis match-up at the 1 is also interesting. We know that Allie can shoot the basketball, and Kelis is quick and a great on-ball defender. Then there is Kayleigh Heckel. Should we get her? She could vie for a spot at the 2 or the 1, but I don't see her starting over Azzi and KK.

Serah Williams vs Jana El Alfy vs Ice Brady vs Gandy Malou Mamel
Sarah Strong vs Blanca Quinones
Caroline Ducharme vs Ayanna Patterson vs Morgan Cheli
Azzi Fudd vs Ashlyn Shade vs Morgan Cheli
KK Arnold vs Allie Ziebell vs Kayleigh Heckel vs Kelis Fischer

Kayleigh Heckel?????

 

[Bone Dog]

Ayanna at the 3

Interesting post, Sensei. But I have a hard time picturing Ayanna as a wing. Her strength is as a rebounder and low post defender while midrange and perimeter shooting is more like a weakness.

Sarah Strong vs Blanca Quinones

Similarly, Blanca looks a lot like a wing and not a natural competitor for Sarah. She may well sub for Sarah occasionally, and her shotblocking skills will come in handy in the paint. But her strength as a slasher and a transition scorer suggest she’ll be stationed outside the paint much of the time. Sarah, by contrast, can play anywhere on the court and seems to have no natural competition.