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Post by magic on Nov 30, 2023 9:30:57 GMT -5
You guys are missing the point. It isn't about Nika being the problem. The problem is the lack of scoring and Nika just isn't a natural scorer. Right now she has taken 33 shots and made 17. Just under 6 shots /gm. I ask how many do you want her to take? This is the " dilemna". Uconn needs her grit and defense but she hurts the Huskies scoring ability without Azzi. Seems to me someone else has to emerge as a go to shooter along with Paige and they have to develop some inside scoring or nothing will change. I am anxiously waiting to see changes the staff has hopefully implemented going into Sunday. Why does it always have to be a blame game?
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Post by UConnChapette on Nov 30, 2023 10:00:50 GMT -5
The Nika/Paige question has resulted in a division in the fanbase. It is not just a question at this message board. It is a question on other message boards. It is a question on Twitter. I am sure it is a debate topic amongst the season ticket holders too. I don’t love the combination. But the solution on the bench is not obvious to me. We don’t have another shooter to bring in for Nika. And I do agree that Paige probably wears down quicker if she is bringing the ball up every possession. I think Geno just needs to go for it with the freshmen and take his lumps early in the season.Much of the fan base doesn't deal with lumps very well, here and elsewhere. They want their team, like their mashed potatoes, smooth as non-tapioca pudding.
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Post by UConnChapette on Nov 30, 2023 10:04:29 GMT -5
You guys are missing the point. It isn't about Nika being the problem. The problem is the lack of scoring and Nika just isn't a natural scorer. Right now she has taken 33 shots and made 17. Just under 6 shots /gm. I ask how many do you want her to take? This is the " dilemna". Uconn needs her grit and defense but she hurts the Huskies scoring ability without Azzi. Seems to me someone else has to emerge as a go to shooter along with Paige and they have to develop some inside scoring or nothing will change. I am anxiously waiting to see changes the staff has hopefully implemented going into Sunday. Why does it always have to be a blame game? I don't know...why does it?
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Post by magic on Nov 30, 2023 10:06:24 GMT -5
My point was not meant to be divisive as I'm a huge Nika fan. But, if the tires your using ain't pullin' ya thru the mud , it's time to change tires.
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Post by rukia on Nov 30, 2023 10:35:04 GMT -5
I think Q is a big solution. She is definitely a willing shooter. But the minutes have not really been there the last couple of games. And I find that to be bizarre considering the nc state game.
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Post by doggydaddy on Nov 30, 2023 10:39:48 GMT -5
My point was not meant to be divisive as I'm a huge Nika fan. But, if the tires your using ain't pullin' ya thru the mud , it's time to change tires. Except she ain’t no tire. She’s an engine.
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Post by chicagogg on Nov 30, 2023 11:42:38 GMT -5
My point was not meant to be divisive as I'm a huge Nika fan. But, if the tires your using ain't pullin' ya thru the mud , it's time to change tires. Except she ain’t no tire. She’s an engine. And Geno says exactly what DD just said - and in multiple interviews.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 17:13:37 GMT -5
Who knows? Maybe Nika turns out to be our best shooting guard option to help Paige. It’s not like Caitlin Clark is in the rotation. No doubt she will get a lot of PT. I guess our main point, or at least my main point, as stated all year now is that the team is better when the ball is in Paige’s hands as soon as possible.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 17:18:54 GMT -5
I’m sorry but Nika is not an engine. She’s a supplementary player who thrived when others around her are great. That’s ok when other players can drive the offense and she just needs to pass to them or screen for them. When she needs to create offense, like now, is when we have a problem. No doubt she has value but we need another scorer somewhere and no amount of passing is going to fix that if we do not have someone to help Paige put the ball in the basket.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 17:46:29 GMT -5
Qadence MIGHT be a solution but there are definitely no guarantees on that front. We've seen her throw up a lot of missed shots also with quite a a few low efficiency scoring games. I think Ashlynn or KK are just as likely to be scoring options and none of them are looking likely to carry the load. KK seems to add more overall value than the others.
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Post by doggydaddy on Nov 30, 2023 18:00:25 GMT -5
I’m sorry but Nika is not an engine. She’s a supplementary player who thrived when others around her are great. That’s ok when other players can drive the offense and she just needs to pass to them or screen for them. When she needs to create offense, like now, is when we have a problem. No doubt she has value but we need another scorer somewhere and no amount of passing is going to fix that if we do not have someone to help Paige put the ball in the basket. Argue that point with Geno. He has said that several times.
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Post by rukia on Nov 30, 2023 18:08:06 GMT -5
I think Nika can be an engine against middle of the pack teams like Minnesota, Kansas, and Ball State.
She will never be an engine against elite teams like South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Texas.
That was an argument I always made for KK. She “might” have a higher ceiling.
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Post by doggydaddy on Nov 30, 2023 18:48:25 GMT -5
I think Nika can be an engine against middle of the pack teams like Minnesota, Kansas, and Ball State. She will never be an engine against elite teams like South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Texas. That was an argument I always made for KK. She “might” have a higher ceiling. Geno didn’t qualify his engine comment with “but only against the middle of the pack” teams. So you too can take it up with him. I find this Nika belittling so distasteful.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 18:51:47 GMT -5
I agree wholeheartedly with Rukia. We don't know about KK but she "might" be a better option against top teams. So far we are not really seeing it right? We do see potential though even against better teams. Steals, getting to then rim. Penetration with kick outs and easy dimes. An ability to deal with quick players to stay in front of them. We need every advantage going forward.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 18:54:20 GMT -5
No one is belittling Nika. She's extremely valued. A solid team member. We are just looking for different combinations that might work and no player should be sacrosanct. I'd bench Paige if I thought it would help us win. It looks like Mulkey just did that with last year's tournament MVP.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 18:55:46 GMT -5
Geno looks like he's going to play Nika more than any other player. He thinks she is a core player. I think almost all of us would still play her at least 20-25 minutes.
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Post by doggydaddy on Nov 30, 2023 19:02:44 GMT -5
Geno looks like he's going to play Nika more than any other player. He thinks she is a core player. I think almost all of us would still play her at least 20-25 minutes. When the season started and it was a full compliment of players I think you would have been right. And Geno would have agreed playing her 20-25 minutes. He doesn't have that luxory now no matter what the "fans" want to see. I think almost all of us would consider her a core player. I can only think of a couple that wouldn't.
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Post by doggydaddy on Nov 30, 2023 19:04:18 GMT -5
I agree wholeheartedly with Rukia. We don't know about KK but she "might" be a better option against top teams. So far we are not really seeing it right? We do see potential though even against better teams. Steals, getting to then rim. Penetration with kick outs and easy dimes. An ability to deal with quick players to stay in front of them. We need every advantage going forward. Shocking.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 19:04:46 GMT -5
He thinks she's a core player and Aubrey isn't. Real difficult to understand that one.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 19:05:51 GMT -5
Guarding Harmon is a challenge. She is quick and difficult to stop.
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Post by rukia on Nov 30, 2023 19:30:18 GMT -5
He thinks she's a core player and Aubrey isn't. Real difficult to understand that one. even Geno gets things wrong
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Post by UConnChapette on Nov 30, 2023 20:12:31 GMT -5
He thinks she's a core player and Aubrey isn't. Real difficult to understand that one. What am I missing? Isn't Aubrey in the starting lineup for the last four games? Didn't she play the same minutes against Kansas as Nika, and nearly comparable minutes with Nika in the last four games? Seems to me Geno thinks they are both "core" players.
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Post by UConnChapette on Nov 30, 2023 20:16:21 GMT -5
Yes, some things may need to change, as Geno has indicated. But I sense another Nika vs everyone/anyone else turn to this thread. Let's not go there.
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Post by aubreyfan on Nov 30, 2023 20:57:25 GMT -5
Geno specifically cited Paige, Azzi, Aaliyah and Nika were the core players. Not Caroline. Not Aubrey.
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Post by rukia on Nov 30, 2023 21:26:35 GMT -5
What kind of change are you guys looking for? I am expecting us to lose. If we lose, but play better... would that kind of a change be acceptable?
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