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Post by jonathan on May 6, 2024 8:28:16 GMT -5
You mean Leilani Kapinus? Never on UConn's radar. Another guard....But great news for Vandy. No. And it is more like strike 5 when you include players that could have helped but, as you say, don't seem to have been on our radar. At this point, I am hoping for a warm body that could surprise everyone if our "bad luck" continues.
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Post by bulkey on May 6, 2024 9:12:03 GMT -5
You mean Leilani Kapinus? Never on UConn's radar. Another guard....But great news for Vandy. No. And it is more like strike 5 when you include players that could have helped but, as you say, don't seem to have been on our radar. At this point, I am hoping for a warm body that could surprise everyone if our "bad luck" continues. No one who is worth getting wants to be thought of as a "warm body" to be thrown in if "bad luck" continues. It's a seller's market for bigs. Their value has increased exponentially since high school, since they are now proven and experienced. They want to go where they will start and be noticed, to position themselves for the next stage of their lives. UConn expressed interest in at least two other players besides Beers. Karlen would have been somewhat nuts to come to UConn. Is she going to get featured minutes over Sarah and Jana? Dauda hasn't committed yet, but I've be really surprised if she headed north and be a role player here. On paper, Cameron Williams (6' 3" Michigan) is maybe the only bigger player that might be interested in a sub job. On paper, good enough. In reality, she didn't show up against good teams.
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Post by swash on May 6, 2024 9:28:27 GMT -5
You mean Leilani Kapinus? Never on UConn's radar. Another guard....But great news for Vandy. No. And it is more like strike 5 when you include players that could have helped but, as you say, don't seem to have been on our radar. At this point, I am hoping for a warm body that could surprise everyone if our "bad luck" continues. There is nobody left in the portal that fits our needs. In order to strike out, you have to be in the batters box. One "swing (and miss) for the fences" for Raegan Beers. Took a shot, got close, fell to familiarity in that the assistant who recruited her to OrSt has been hired at OK. Clearly THAT was not going to be in a UConn offering. So, in our baseball analogy, robbed of a grand slam at the wall. Geno had one hit, too. Went after Kaitlyn Chen and found success. If you're in the group who believes KK will start, it is a single. If you think she'll (Chen) "replace Nika" and start right away ... that's at least an extra base hit. No one else was considered publicly beyond various unsupported rumors. You have already said that Geno wasn't trying to bring in a big over the past couple of years ... which we only think we know because ... we dismissed similar rumors in those years.
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Post by bulkey on May 6, 2024 9:41:22 GMT -5
Notre Dame now has the depth it feared it didn't have
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Post by mdoggie on May 6, 2024 10:25:42 GMT -5
ND could be a final 4 team. They are stacked!! Maybe even a finals team.
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Post by semper on May 6, 2024 11:12:13 GMT -5
Yup. Hate to say it....
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Post by jonathan on May 6, 2024 14:44:14 GMT -5
ND could be a final 4 team. They are stacked!! Maybe even a finals team. The final four seems almost destined to be from SC, USC, UCLA, ND and UConn. You can guarantee that we face one of the other four in our elite eight game and then two more in the final four. Parody of parity.
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Post by bulkey on May 6, 2024 15:20:09 GMT -5
ND could be a final 4 team. They are stacked!! Maybe even a finals team. The final four seems almost destined to be from SC, USC, UCLA, ND and UConn. You can guarantee that we face one of the other four in our elite eight game and then two more in the final four. Parody of parity. I would absolutely love to take that bet. It's getting increasingly rare that the top 5 teams produce the final four. And predicting that UConn is going to be either the lowest first or highest second seed is a bet I'd even be more eager to take. UConn was a third seed this year and came within a whisker of playing for the national championship.
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Post by ucchamp on May 6, 2024 17:53:32 GMT -5
The final four seems almost destined to be from SC, USC, UCLA, ND and UConn. You can guarantee that we face one of the other four in our elite eight game and then two more in the final four. Parody of parity. I would absolutely love to take that bet. It's getting increasingly rare that the top 5 teams produce the final four. And predicting that UConn is going to be either the lowest first or highest second seed is a bet I'd even be more eager to take. UConn was a third seed this year and came within a whisker of playing for the national championship. If Azzi is healthy for the whole year - as well as the UCONN team overall - and if Sarah Strong is very similar to the great three freshmen we saw come out of H/S last year Juju/Hidalgo/Booker -- then UCONN is probably the best team in WCBB. This isn't outrageous to believe as possible. Sarah Stong outplayed Joyce Edwards head-to-head and Joyce has looked terrific. Potentially UCONN is getting a super freshman (not just a very good frosh but a super one), and with Paige arguably the best player in WCBB -- and Azzi when healthy her sophmore year early was tremendous-- -- that is too much firepower to not be 1 or 2.
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Post by magic on May 6, 2024 18:50:43 GMT -5
Every Husky will have to have their personal best season to make the FF.
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Post by bulkey on May 6, 2024 18:55:53 GMT -5
Every Husky will have to have their personal best season to make the FF. Not even close. I don't understand why this is the case and why not for all the other teams.
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Post by mdoggie on May 6, 2024 19:09:36 GMT -5
Every Husky will have to have their personal best season to make the FF. Ridiculous.
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Post by swash on May 6, 2024 19:48:34 GMT -5
Every Husky will have to have their personal best season to make the FF. Ridiculous. Agreed. But I hope every single player meets this preposterous standard. Now that I think about it... Paige will likely be better a year post recovery KK, Ash, Ice and Q are likely to have a sophomore jump The new youngsters will probably move up from zero, having no WCBB history. Azzi has never had a healthy season, so should be able to beat that. Ditto Ayanna. Kaitlyn will have a stellar group to rack up assists and will have less defensive attention than ever before. Aubrey... that's asking a lot, but she'll have maximal motivation to impress the scouts from the W. Caroline is tough. She's had such stellar highlights, but also fits the "never had a fully healthy season" characterization. Personally, I want a great season for CFD so very very badly. First, because she's had such a terrible time and deserves a full recovery. Secondly, if she's the player we saw as a frosh this year, this season will be a rip roaring romp.
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Post by magic on May 6, 2024 20:28:15 GMT -5
Think carefully about my statement. There are players alone who have never completed A complete season.so that alone would be a personal best.
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Post by mdoggie on May 6, 2024 21:13:19 GMT -5
Think carefully about my statement. There are players alone who have never completed A complete season.so that alone would be a personal best. Did every player (that actually played) have a personal best season?
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Post by grrrrr on May 7, 2024 8:14:30 GMT -5
Usually teams that make the Final Four haven't had their seasons wrecked by injuries to key players. Maybe wrecked doesn't mean what I thought it meant.
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Post by larrylegend on May 7, 2024 10:01:56 GMT -5
Unfortunately UCONN’s most durable players over the past few seasons have just graduated. Remaining are some really talented players led by the fabulous Bueckers who now have established injury histories. If they all stay healthy, it should be something to see but that hasn’t been the trend. Like Springsteen said, “the most important ability is AVAIL-ability”.
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Post by bulkey on May 7, 2024 12:38:29 GMT -5
Unfortunately UCONN’s most durable players over the past few seasons have just graduated. Remaining are some really talented players led by the fabulous Bueckers who now have established injury histories. If they all stay healthy, it should be something to see but that hasn’t been the trend. Like Springsteen said, “the most important ability is AVAIL-ability”. No doubt, but hear me out on this. If Paige had gone pro this year, very likely she would have been the #2 draft pick (better than Clark, but a GM would get fired for passing on Clark). Next year, very likely #1. But wait!!! doesn't Paige have an injury history? Why would a GM risk a top 1 or 2 pick on such a player? And of course, the Patriots were wise enough not to waste a high draft choice on an Arizona tight end with an injury history...Oh wait! That would just be the greatest tight end in NFL history.... Thank goodness someone picked Cardoso really high because she had no injury history. Oh wait! www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/40096880/sky-rookie-kamilla-cardoso-miss-4-6-weeks-shoulder-injuryWe amateur fans have a very different view of "injury history" than do professionals who have to evaluate future talent, and who have statistics and their careers to think about....
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Post by bulkey on May 7, 2024 12:53:49 GMT -5
Who's left? Barker: no way she's coming to UConn. She'll star at an SEC school. Dauda would be perfect, except: 1. I'm betting she wants to stay south of the Mason-Dixon and 2. she wants major minutes. Maori Davenport, 6’5, C, Sr. in 16 mpg, she averaged 4.7 pts and 5.6 ribbies As a senior, she won't be a big commit for UConn; as someone who played at Arkansas Pine Bluffs she might feel like she died and went to heaven in Storrs. Problem is: is she any better than Amari, if Amari had gotten more minutes? I say: pass. Cameron Williams (6'3" Michigan): somewhat similar stats to Davenport, but obviously against much, much better competition and probably a lot better coached. A one year rental, so it wouldn't cost UConn anything going forward. But she started 16 games and I bet she is not interested in being the 3rd or 4th at her position. Mary Ashley Stevenson (6'2" Purdue). She had a really outstanding freshman year, averaging 10 and 5 against very solid competition. I'm surprised she's still in play. And maybe a brainiac, too (at least she went to Dalton). She's from NYC, and maybe wants to get back east. But it would be a 3 year commitment, and does UConn really want that? UConn already has an amazing 6'2" player for next year and aspirations for other greats the following year. She's gonna be really, really good, and too bad it's not a great fit. I'm betting another school in Indiana has its eyes on her.... I suspect the portal is closed in Storrs.
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Post by jonathan on May 7, 2024 13:24:11 GMT -5
Who's left? Barker: no way she's coming to UConn. She'll star at an SEC school. Dauda would be perfect, except: 1. I'm betting she wants to stay south of the Mason-Dixon and 2. she wants major minutes. Maori Davenport, 6’5, C, Sr. in 16 mpg, she averaged 4.7 pts and 5.6 ribbies As a senior, she won't be a big commit for UConn; as someone who played at Arkansas Pine Bluffs she might feel like she died and went to heaven in Storrs. Problem is: is she any better than Amari, if Amari had gotten more minutes? I say: pass. Cameron Williams (6'3" Michigan): somewhat similar stats to Davenport, but obviously against much, much better competition and probably a lot better coached. A one year rental, so it wouldn't cost UConn anything going forward. But she started 16 games and I bet she is not interested in being the 3rd or 4th at her position. Mary Ashley Stevenson (6'2" Purdue). She had a really outstanding freshman year, averaging 10 and 5 against very solid competition. I'm sort of surprised that she's still in play. And maybe a brainiac, too (at least she went to Dalton). She's from NYC, and maybe wants to get back east. But it would be a 3 year commitment, and does UConn really want that? UConn already has next year and has aspirations for the following year probably better talent. I suspect the portal is closed in Storrs. You are probably right about Barker but stranger things have happened so, never say never. I was with you on Dauda until I dug a little deeper into her stats. I am actually against this addition now. So that means we probably get her... You convinced me about Davenport. And the other two you mentioned don't excite me. How about the kid from Iowa State that played behind Audi Crooks. She didn't put up great numbers but she also didn't play many minutes. She is big and put up big numbers at her previous mid-major school. I am normally against kids that have already transferred before but this could be a unique situation. I don't think many people expected Crooks to do as well as she did.
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Post by meyers7 on May 7, 2024 13:26:46 GMT -5
Every Husky will have to have their personal best season to make the FF. Ummm, if every Husky had their personal best season, UCONN would go undefeated and win every game by 20+. However, that's not gonna happen. More than likely a couple to a few Husky won't even be playing next season.
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Post by swash on May 7, 2024 13:37:01 GMT -5
Every Husky will have to have their personal best season to make the FF. Ummm, if every Husky had their personal best season, UCONN would go undefeated and win every game by 20+. However, that's not gonna happen. More than likely a couple to a few Husky won't even be playing next season. You're right. We're doomed. in the past three years, each has been worse in injury impact than the previous ... and worse than most periods in history. Surely, that will continue and this season we'll have two all-star teams riding the pine. Or ... maybe they should just stop summer workouts altogether, just show up in November and throw out a ball. And we'll get Nike to make a new uni line with bubble-wrap and everyone will wear braces on every joint.... Okay, tongue returning to inside my teeth. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by magic on May 7, 2024 16:33:21 GMT -5
Ummm, if every Husky had their personal best season, UCONN would go undefeated and win every game by 20+. However, that's not gonna happen. More than likely a couple to a few Husky won't even be playing next season. You're right. We're doomed. in the past three years, each has been worse in injury impact than the previous ... and worse than most periods in history. Surely, that will continue and this season we'll have two all-star teams riding the pine. Or ... maybe they should just stop summer workouts altogether, just show up in November and throw out a ball. And we'll get Nike to make a new uni line with bubble-wrap and everyone will wear braces on every joint.... Okay, tongue returning to inside my teeth. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) My point was , people have stated all year tht it was difficult for Ice to get back in the " groove" because of her injury rehab and probably the mental aspects that went long with it . Azzi has had multiple knee injuries and has not been able to complete a season heathy. While myself, like many here expect her to star next to Paige in the backcourt, I will be guarded until I see her punishing opponents next March. I hope Caroline can return healthy and can contribute as we know she's capable of. We take a lot for granted . I think every teams needs to play their best to get to the FF. Uconn has had more injuries than most teams , consequently more question marks. It's all about championships. That's what I've been told by the team and Geno every year. If everyone is healthy and Jana and SS are impactful , Huskies are as good as anyone.
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Post by mdoggie on May 7, 2024 17:12:16 GMT -5
You're right. We're doomed. in the past three years, each has been worse in injury impact than the previous ... and worse than most periods in history. Surely, that will continue and this season we'll have two all-star teams riding the pine. Or ... maybe they should just stop summer workouts altogether, just show up in November and throw out a ball. And we'll get Nike to make a new uni line with bubble-wrap and everyone will wear braces on every joint.... Okay, tongue returning to inside my teeth. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) My point was , people have stated all year tht it was difficult for Ice to get back in the " groove" because of her injury rehab and probably the mental aspects that went long with it . Azzi has had multiple knee injuries and has not been able to complete a season heathy. While myself, like many here expect her to star next to Paige in the backcourt, I will be guarded until I see her punishing opponents next March. I hope Caroline can return healthy and can contribute as we know she's capable of. We take a lot for granted . I think every teams needs to play their best to get to the FF. Uconn has had more injuries than most teams , consequently more question marks. It's all about championships. That's what I've been told by the team and Geno every year. If everyone is healthy and Jana and SS are impactful , Huskies are as good as anyone. That’s fine Magic and totally different than saying every player has to have a personal best season, which we all would love by the way.
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Post by bulkey on May 7, 2024 21:30:00 GMT -5
Who's left? Barker: no way she's coming to UConn. She'll star at an SEC school. Dauda would be perfect, except: 1. I'm betting she wants to stay south of the Mason-Dixon and 2. she wants major minutes. Maori Davenport, 6’5, C, Sr. in 16 mpg, she averaged 4.7 pts and 5.6 ribbies As a senior, she won't be a big commit for UConn; as someone who played at Arkansas Pine Bluffs she might feel like she died and went to heaven in Storrs. Problem is: is she any better than Amari, if Amari had gotten more minutes? I say: pass. Cameron Williams (6'3" Michigan): somewhat similar stats to Davenport, but obviously against much, much better competition and probably a lot better coached. A one year rental, so it wouldn't cost UConn anything going forward. But she started 16 games and I bet she is not interested in being the 3rd or 4th at her position. Mary Ashley Stevenson (6'2" Purdue). She had a really outstanding freshman year, averaging 10 and 5 against very solid competition. I'm surprised she's still in play. And maybe a brainiac, too (at least she went to Dalton). She's from NYC, and maybe wants to get back east. But it would be a 3 year commitment, and does UConn really want that? UConn already has an amazing 6'2" player for next year and aspirations for other greats the following year. She's gonna be really, really good, and too bad it's not a great fit. I'm betting another school in Indiana has its eyes on her.... I suspect the portal is closed in Storrs.
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